Brandon Barker

[supercity88]

People need to calm down on this Barker hype. He will not make a difference for us. There are better players at EDS level than him. It would make more sense to re-call Lopes and play him than put Barker in there. He's played one game at senior level and that was a friendly. He was poor. He wanted to entertain and play his natural game but he made mistakes like taking his eye off the ball and dribbling when better options were on. He's been played above his age group consistently and he can spend another season developing at the level he is or out on loan to gain confidence. He'd be pretty easily dealt with at senior level by a bit of muscle. Yes he's a quality talent but we'd be wrong to play him at this stage.

There doesn't need to be this mass panic. We're in an appalling run but we've still shown bright flashes. We smashed the rags in the opening ten minutes, we played good possession football against Palace. The sides we will play from here on out will come at us and if we show the same form as in the opening ten minutes against the rags, for 90 minutes we will win our remaining games.

There's a big difference between throwing him and having him as an unused substitute.

Being an unused substitute in a few games this season would give Barker a chance to get used to first team surroundings a little before a good loan move next season. Maybe get a little run out if we're 3-0 or 4-0 up in a game (unlikely the rest of this season!).

I've always thought 7 substitutes is way too much and 1 or 2 of those should be filled with young players.

I don't get this stick him on the bench, give him 5 minutes at the end talk people seem to think is positive. He would learn far more on the pitch than on the bench, at any level. He can watch the first team on tv and learn what he needs to. The first team has better players but the pre-match prep will be almost identical to what he does anyway. It will give him a glimpse of where he wants to be, but there are better players than him at the club and he should be playing for the EDS.

 

[Cheadle_hulmeBlue]

People need to calm down on this Barker hype. He will not make a difference for us. There are better players at EDS level than him. It would make more sense to re-call Lopes and play him than put Barker in there. He's played one game at senior level and that was a friendly. He was poor. He wanted to entertain and play his natural game but he made mistakes like taking his eye off the ball and dribbling when better options were on. He's been played above his age group consistently and he can spend another season developing at the level he is or out on loan to gain confidence. He'd be pretty easily dealt with at senior level by a bit of muscle. Yes he's a quality talent but we'd be wrong to play him at this stage.

There doesn't need to be this mass panic. We're in an appalling run but we've still shown bright flashes. We smashed the rags in the opening ten minutes, we played good possession football against Palace. The sides we will play from here on out will come at us and if we show the same form as in the opening ten minutes against the rags, for 90 minutes we will win our remaining games.

your basing that on one game - a friendly, where he only played for 45 minutes and was barely passed to, if you base it on the whole season he's been brilliant. i dont see why we shouldn't have someone like him a place on the bench, why not ? id rather have him there then players like nasri, dzeko, toure and kolarov all of which dont want to play for us. who knows he could be good enough for us now, newcastle played adam armstrong a 17 year old a tiny lad against us and he was great. Wilson, james hesketh, armstrong, grealish ,ibe, are all examples of young players who have played a few games for the first team. The experience of that and just getting a chance is more beneficial then playing for the eds. He could be good enough now, even if he's not some time just on the bench would be good for any young player.

he's going to make mistakes he's a young lad any young player does. Id give him angelino, maffeo and possibly bryan a spot on the bench at least for the rest of the season. They'd put more effort in then most of the players we have now. If angelino, barker were at any other club than us and chelsea they would have at least been on the bench or played.

 

[CityFan94]

People need to calm down on this Barker hype. He will not make a difference for us. There are better players at EDS level than him. It would make more sense to re-call Lopes and play him than put Barker in there. He's played one game at senior level and that was a friendly. He was poor. He wanted to entertain and play his natural game but he made mistakes like taking his eye off the ball and dribbling when better options were on. He's been played above his age group consistently and he can spend another season developing at the level he is or out on loan to gain confidence. He'd be pretty easily dealt with at senior level by a bit of muscle. Yes he's a quality talent but we'd be wrong to play him at this stage.

There doesn't need to be this mass panic. We're in an appalling run but we've still shown bright flashes. We smashed the rags in the opening ten minutes, we played good possession football against Palace. The sides we will play from here on out will come at us and if we show the same form as in the opening ten minutes against the rags, for 90 minutes we will win our remaining games.

There's a big difference between throwing him and having him as an unused substitute.

Being an unused substitute in a few games this season would give Barker a chance to get used to first team surroundings a little before a good loan move next season. Maybe get a little run out if we're 3-0 or 4-0 up in a game (unlikely the rest of this season!).

I've always thought 7 substitutes is way too much and 1 or 2 of those should be filled with young players.

I don't get this stick him on the bench, give him 5 minutes at the end talk people seem to think is positive. He would learn far more on the pitch than on the bench, at any level. He can watch the first team on tv and learn what he needs to. The first team has better players but the pre-match prep will be almost identical to what he does anyway. It will give him a glimpse of where he wants to be, but there are better players than him at the club and he should be playing for the EDS.

Watching the first team on tv and being on the first team substitutes bench is completely different IMO.

Being involved in front of a 46,000 crowd, warming up with the team, being in the dressing room with the team before and after the game, seeing how the players prepare, seeing Pellegrini and Kompany's team talk. Being in the dressing room with a bunch of talented 16/17 year olds is very different to being in the dressing room with world class athletes and winners like Kompany, Zabaleta and Aguero.

Even being an unused substitute on Sunday, Barker would learn a hell of a lot.

 

[blue b4 the moon]

I've advocated having 1 or 2 of the EDS/ U18's on the bench for every game. Half the bench realistically aren't going to get on anyway and it'd be great experience in matches like the WBA game.

We've normally got three of Zaba/Sagna/Kolarov/Clichy/MDM/Mangala on the bench...pointless as they can all cover each other's positions.

 

[Neville Kneville]

Barker having a quiet game in Abu Dhabi means nothing. The more time he gets the better he will get. That was his first few mins. Abd if he did exactly the same in the first team, it wouldn't be a catastrophe, be would soon settle & sit in the game.

He could be a game changer from the bench. He's a quick, skillful, powerful lad. It's a great pity that there is a fear of giving such a potential asset half an hour to see if he breaks through. Years ago they wouldn't have even thought twice about it.

It's all so fucking safe these days & then we give shirts to experienced players who do fuck all, then give them another chance, then another. But it is such a risk that Barker might have a quiet game.

 

[SlimShadyRus]

Barker having a quiet game in Abu Dhabi means nothing. The more time he gets the better he will get. That was his first few mins. Abd if he did exactly the same in the first team, it wouldn't be a catastrophe, be would soon settle & sit in the game.

He could be a game changer from the bench. He's a quick, skillful, powerful lad. It's a great pity that there is a fear of giving such a potential asset half an hour to see if he breaks through. Years ago they wouldn't have even thought twice about it.

It's all so fucking safe these days & then we give shirts to experienced players who do fuck all, then give them another chance, then another. But it is such a risk that Barker might have a quiet game.

+1

 

[CityFan94]

Barker should be on the bench for the QPR game.

We haven't got a great deal left to play for, plus there's a chance we could go 2 or 3 nil up in this game.

Could be a good opportunity to give Barker a run out.

 

[Nixon_The_Bike_Thief]

Barker should be on the bench for the QPR game.

We haven't got a great deal left to play for, plus there's a chance we could go 2 or 3 nil up in this game.

Could be a good opportunity to give Barker a run out.

Unlikely, for 1 I believe he is currently injured and for 2 if he is fit he is likely to play a final on Friday night.

 

[.A.]

He seems to be lacking the work rate to play as an orthodox winger in senior football; somebody in the club should lock him in a room a couple of afternoons a week and make him watch videos of Thierry Henry.

He's similarly lethargic in his body language, is fast and can destroy defenders when coming into the box from wide left; evolving him into a second striker is probably the best way to maximise his potential. Keeping him closer to goal and preserving his energy would enable him to focus primarily on doing damage. He can pick a pass and beat a man, and rather than playing a geriatric Lampard behind Aguero, Brandon in there would be more beneficial to us long term.

 

[supercity88]

People need to calm down on this Barker hype. He will not make a difference for us. There are better players at EDS level than him. It would make more sense to re-call Lopes and play him than put Barker in there. He's played one game at senior level and that was a friendly. He was poor. He wanted to entertain and play his natural game but he made mistakes like taking his eye off the ball and dribbling when better options were on. He's been played above his age group consistently and he can spend another season developing at the level he is or out on loan to gain confidence. He'd be pretty easily dealt with at senior level by a bit of muscle. Yes he's a quality talent but we'd be wrong to play him at this stage.

There doesn't need to be this mass panic. We're in an appalling run but we've still shown bright flashes. We smashed the rags in the opening ten minutes, we played good possession football against Palace. The sides we will play from here on out will come at us and if we show the same form as in the opening ten minutes against the rags, for 90 minutes we will win our remaining games.

your basing that on one game - a friendly, where he only played for 45 minutes and was barely passed to, if you base it on the whole season he's been brilliant. i dont see why we shouldn't have someone like him a place on the bench, why not ? id rather have him there then players like nasri, dzeko, toure and kolarov all of which dont want to play for us. who knows he could be good enough for us now, newcastle played adam armstrong a 17 year old a tiny lad against us and he was great. Wilson, james hesketh, armstrong, grealish ,ibe, are all examples of young players who have played a few games for the first team. The experience of that and just getting a chance is more beneficial then playing for the eds. He could be good enough now, even if he's not some time just on the bench would be good for any young player.

he's going to make mistakes he's a young lad any young player does. Id give him angelino, maffeo and possibly bryan a spot on the bench at least for the rest of the season. They'd put more effort in then most of the players we have now. If angelino, barker were at any other club than us and chelsea they would have at least been on the bench or played.

As I said... he's played 1 game at Senior Level and was poor. He was passed to but he kept taking his eye off the ball and mis-controlling. The crowd wanted him to run at players and he took the wrong option. It's natural. He's young. He's come from an age group below and established himself as one of our best young talents in the EDS. He's been brilliant at youth level and for England but its a different kettle of fish to the first team. I've seen the arguments about the desire and hunger young players have and I actually agree. Considering we've sewn up third (unless we resort to being shite again) then I'd definitely look to give the likes of Pozo and Barker game time. It will help get more clubs interested in a potential loan and give them a chance. Unfortunately I'm one of those that is sceptical of young players and I don't think the current environment at City is one that a young player will do well in if thrown in. There are so many scape goats and everyone is so quick to point the finger at poor players I fear that young players will be equally slated unfairly.

Look at Pozo - played out of position, suffers and injury and is only now regaining form and confidence. Grealish is playing for a Villa team that was shot of confidence and was therefore under performing. But it's a completely different level to where we are playing.