Brandon Barker

[boothy_]

I can't believe we didn't have any youth players even in the squad last night. Newcastle played a 17 year old and a 19 year old they trusted them. Surely we could have given someone like barker or pozo 20 minutes at the end at least. We never give them a chance. What's the point in having an academy if they never play

It's quite shocking really, I reckon having a youngster in that squad last night would of made a world of difference, not only would they not have been coasting but neither would the other ten who seemingly thought turning up was enough to win (at least, thats the impression I got from that performance. Supreme arrogance).

Seeing last nights team sheet made me wonder, coming in Pellers spoke about how youngsters should be given chances (something about promoting two a season or something similar). Has he actually been any good regarding youth? I mean, Mancini did abit in comparison but right now it feels ridiculous.

Yeah i agree, they seem to have no chance of getting game time at the moment which is so disappointing. I think it would have also given the crowd a bit of a lift with someone new to get behind. As well as injecting some enthusiasm into the game which is massively needed with how we have been playing. Ive been more hopeful this season with it being Pellegrini's second season that we might see more new faces, but there is no sign of that at the moment. Can only hope that this changes by the time the FA cup comes along.

 

[waspish]

Pelegrini doesn't give a toss about our youngsters! The reason is he knows he has to win trophies also he will be gone within 3 to 4 years so why would be give a toss! That's the problem we going the chelsea way who haven't brought 1 younger through since Terry

 

[bluechampion7891]

yep hated it that not any one was named in the squad even. i wouldnt have mind losing if we blooded 2 or 3 younger ones

 

[SlimShadyRus]

yep hated it that not any one was named in the squad even. i wouldnt have mind losing if we blooded 2 or 3 younger ones

I'd be really happy with 1-2 (not 0-1) loss with the Mancini-10-WBA-LC-like-squad

 

[WNRH]

Was a disgrace how there was no EDS lads in the squad last night.

Holistic?

 

[LoveCity]

Was a disgrace how there was no EDS lads in the squad last night.

Holistic?

Been arguing with someone on Twitter about our League Cup selection. He thinks we can't be picky and have to win as many trophies as we can

My reply was that Mancini fielded a team of kids in 2010 against West Brom (and lost) because we had other priorities. I'd never write off a trophy, but we won the League Cup last year so it's a distant #4 on the priority list and should have been used to give others a run out. And if we then got to the final stages, maybe bring in the big guns like Baconface did against us in the semis a few years ago.

Now by fielding such a strong side in the League Cup, namely Silva, we have jeopardised both our league campaign (United and Southampton among the games he'll miss) and Champions League campaign (CSKA and possibly Roma he'll miss).

This team probably would have done no worse and surely would have shown more collective hunger: Willy, Kolarov, Demichelis, Nastasic/Boyata, Sagna, Fernandinho, Fofana, Sinclair, Pozo, Navas, Dzeko. Two EDS players, the fringe of the squad, and a few kids on the bench who could have come on.

Mourinho has been giving more kids a chance lately (Ake and Solanke + Baker on the bench) and is under far more pressure with Roman looking down at him than Pellegrini is.

The ongoing identity crisis of Manchester City... wanting to be a Barcelona-ish club with a less ruthless approach than many rivals, yet a selection policy that gives fewer youths a chance than the pressure cooker environments of Chelsea and Real Madrid.

 

[moomba]

I think you need a mix. It's no good to throw a team of kids in, we need 2 or 3 to come in and play with established names and get the experience of playing with top players. Was really disappointed Pozo didnt get a start let alone a spot on the bench, and now that we have won a league cup (in recent times) I'd certainly prefer that we use the competition to give some game time to some of our kids.

Must have been really disheartening for them that not one of them got a chance.

 

[FantasyIreland]

Scored again tonight.The blog suggested he had a good game and linked up well with Angelino.

 

[spinzer]

Scored again tonight.The blog suggested he had a good game and linked up well with Angelino.

It is a cracking left side with Angelino and Barker. But i can't imagine too much defending going down on that side lol.

 

[jaiguruKun]

Seems to be a lot of buzz about this lad. Anyone have any clips of him?