Still thought he could do a little more in his starts.
That's prob fair comment ,as I didn't see all of those games he played when he returned after injury.i do remember him struggling out on the left, and it's a shame that those last few games are what most City fans have left as a memory of the player ....
Altho the start of this season he showed signs of how Importantt a goal scorer he could be for us..
For me..., I still stand by my prediction.. ( made ,early season) he has the talent to be one of the best players on the planet. That was based upon what I saw at youth team level for City, ( his stats are absolutely top notch ,and I struggle to think of one of our academy players ,over the years ,who could equal them....a question maybe for the academy experts on this forum? )
Just watching his control of the ball,his vision,touch,passing ability
Heading ability in the 6 yard box, willingness to use both feet, a calm head on young shoulders in a mixed up topsy turvy West London outfit..
And..the way he scored his 1st champions league goal for City away from home,nerveless...off the bench.within minutes ,opens his body out to send a 20 yarder into the net with the keeper clutching at fresh air. That's real talent.
Early days, but the skill of the player is there for all to see.
Look at the way he made Rodri collapse in a heap on Saturday, the best defensive midfield player in the world bar none ,made to look silly after a body swerve and nifty technique,takes Palmer drifting away with the ball in centre mid. That's real talent,imo.and he has done that to quite a few premier league centre mids this season.it wasn't a one off.
The issue now is consistency. Has he got it ?
I as a blue, hope he goes all the way to the top, for it all reflects very well on our youth set up....and I understand he destroyed man utd youth teams at every level ,over the years,playing for us,which shows,imo a dedicated professional outlook...destroying your boyhood favourites.
Looking at things strictly from the players point of view...when you know your a brilliant footballer and you 've sat on a bench for City as an unused sub 67 times......of course you are going to look further afield.
A young ,brillant ,footballers life can ..be very short.
Ask Paul Lake...