Not that I doubt what you're saying. The back log or jam of 18-20 year olds makes perfect sense and sounds a mess. But is that really the job of the first team manager?
Rightly or wrongly Pellegrini didn't fancy the older lads. So why are they still there?
Is it not the job of the Achademy director and EDS manager to sort this?
Personally I don't think Guardiola will have time to asses every team from u16's to first team.
He may identify a few players he feels should work with the first team in pre season but shouldn't somebody he trusts, the club trusts be responsible for the structure at the club?
Pep is going to have his work cut out coaching the first team a new system without clearing paths for the more talented youth players. Next summer maybe.
If you're right and I'm sure you are, it sounds like the u16's should be more than good enough for the 18's and pushing for the EDS. Some of the u18's and EDS pushing the first team.
So surely that leaves many of the EDS redundant. I've watched a fair bit of EDS, no expert mind and players like Barker, Glendon and Horsefield look way off. Faupala, Ambrose look like they may be closer but if there's better and younger they should be moved on.
Viera going and seemingly not much happening anywhere in the club till Pep arrives I think mistakes are deeper entrenched than the first team manager.
Whilst Pellegrini was in his later stages, these decissions should have been taken out of his hands. Txiki, Marwood, Viera et al should be making these calls.
It seemed to me that the whole club stood still for 9 months.
Viera gone with no real replacement.
Youth seemingly stagnating, log jam as you say.
Pellegrini treading water till he was replaced. Only interested in what was best for him, easiest for him.
To me it seems we've wasted best part of a year, if you're correct it seems that stagnation is running deep.
To defend the club though, I assume the idea is to get better and better youth prospects and the change in direction will take time.
Whilst it sounds like Campbell is a fantastic prospect, surely the idea is his replacement will be as good or better.
I agree with you that too much blame is being laid at Pellegrini's door - it's easy to blame him now he's gone, but it's not the first team manager's job to sort out loans and sell players who he thinks aren't ready yet.
On seeing there was a "log jam" forming, why didn't the club start organising more loans? Sell a few of the kids who clearly won't make it? Why did the club leave long term youth academy development to a manager they were going to replace in 12 months? You can't blame it all on Pellegrini.
However I think you're wrong RE Pep. He will know every kid in the u21's and u18s by the end of the summer. That's just how he is. The first thing he said in his very first Bayern Press conference - "I need to know everything about the club as quickly as possible, right down to the youngsters in the youth academy".
He will see the youth academy as integral to his job, not an extra obligation which he might not have time for because the first team needs so much work.
We already know he's contacted several of the academy players on loan, so it seems he's already got stuck into the EDS tapes and looked at the players.