George Evans

[.A.]

I'd be delighted to see a City team competing at the top area of the league, with a bunch of homegrown kids in the squad, & I wouldn't give a toss if that meant we didn't win it.

But 95% of the whinging fuckers on here would, & people like Aguero would.

We have to find the right balance to keep everyone happy & also bring through the kids.

The thing is, the teams that put faith in youth and invest in the best domestic talent are the ones that create dynasties and win. Barcelona binned off a load of talented mercenaries in Eto'o, Deco, Ronaldinho and Henry, replaced them with young Spaniards and created one of the greatest clubs sides ever.

Bayern brought through the likes of Kroos, Muller and Alaba, bought in young German talents like Boateng and Neuer and became the best in Europe, and massively contributed to Germany winning the World Cup.

Buying the likes of Aguero, Toure and Silva makes perfect sense, but we shouldn't be polluting the league with garbage like Garcia, Fernando and Navas. Evans could do no worse than the two aforementioned midfield misfits have, and would add to the kind of identity that we need to forge if we are going to succeed in Europe and become the next great English club.

 

[LoveCity]

I'd be delighted to see a City team competing at the top area of the league, with a bunch of homegrown kids in the squad, & I wouldn't give a toss if that meant we didn't win it.

But 95% of the whinging fuckers on here would, & people like Aguero would.

We have to find the right balance to keep everyone happy & also bring through the kids.

The thing is, the teams that put faith in youth and invest in the best domestic talent are the ones that create dynasties and win. Barcelona binned off a load of talented mercenaries in Eto'o, Deco, Ronaldinho and Henry, replaced them with young Spaniards and created one of the greatest clubs sides ever.

Bayern brought through the likes of Kroos, Muller and Alaba, bought in young German talents like Boateng and Neuer and became the best in Europe, and massively contributed to Germany winning the World Cup.

Buying the likes of Aguero, Toure and Silva makes perfect sense, but we shouldn't be polluting the league with garbage like Garcia, Fernando and Navas. Evans could do no worse than the two aforementioned midfield misfits have, and would add to the kind of identity that we need to forge if we are going to succeed in Europe and become the next great English club.

I agree but the quality hasn't been there meaning we kind of had to buy our squad fillers. It's starting to appear but our youth system has been miles off the first team for years. The gap isn't so big now. Mancini tried players like Ibrahim, Razak and Boyata remember and other than a brief glimmer of potential from Boyata, they were no good. So the talent hasn't been there to fill the squad except maybe Denis Suarez in his final year at City when he probably should have been on the bench more. It may be a different matter now, the level has quite clearly shot up from 4 or 5 years ago. Comparing Angelino to Greg Cunningham, Maffeo to Ryan McGivern, Barker to Weiss (yes Weiss, who we completely overrated... look at his career path), Denayer to Reece Wabara and Ambrose to Harry Bunn... it's a huge increase in quality. As for Evans, there is no player I've wanted to make it at City more but why is he back in League One for a second loan spell? Where are the offers from Championship and Premier League teams? This can often be a sign the player isn't good enough. Rekik has clubs like Milan, Juventus, PSV and Marseille on his trail and is deemed not good enough on here.

 

[Manchester_lalala]

I'd be delighted to see a City team competing at the top area of the league, with a bunch of homegrown kids in the squad, & I wouldn't give a toss if that meant we didn't win it.

But 95% of the whinging fuckers on here would, & people like Aguero would.

We have to find the right balance to keep everyone happy & also bring through the kids.

The thing is, the teams that put faith in youth and invest in the best domestic talent are the ones that create dynasties and win. Barcelona binned off a load of talented mercenaries in Eto'o, Deco, Ronaldinho and Henry, replaced them with young Spaniards and created one of the greatest clubs sides ever.

Bayern brought through the likes of Kroos, Muller and Alaba, bought in young German talents like Boateng and Neuer and became the best in Europe, and massively contributed to Germany winning the World Cup.

Buying the likes of Aguero, Toure and Silva makes perfect sense, but we shouldn't be polluting the league with garbage like Garcia, Fernando and Navas. Evans could do no worse than the two aforementioned midfield misfits have, and would add to the kind of identity that we need to forge if we are going to succeed in Europe and become the next great English club.

I agree but the quality hasn't been there meaning we kind of had to buy our squad fillers. It's starting to appear but our youth system has been miles off the first team for years. The gap isn't so big now. Mancini tried players like Ibrahim, Razak and Boyata remember and other than a brief glimmer of potential from Boyata, they were no good. So the talent hasn't been there to fill the squad except maybe Denis Suarez in his final year at City when he probably should have been on the bench more. It may be a different matter now, the level has quite clearly shot up from 4 or 5 years ago. Comparing Angelino to Greg Cunningham, Maffeo to Ryan McGivern, Barker to Weiss (yes Weiss, who we completely overrated... look at his career path), Denayer to Reece Wabara and Ambrose to Harry Bunn... it's a huge increase in quality. As for Evans, there is no player I've wanted to make it at City more but why is he back in League One for a second loan spell? Where are the offers from Championship and Premier League teams? This can often be a sign the player isn't good enough. Rekik has clubs like Milan, Juventus, PSV and Marseille on his trail and is deemed not good enough on here.

Both good posts. I think a couple of years time, some of our older big name players will be moved on to make way for our talented youth players. I'm not bothered about the press hammering us all the time, but they would massively lay off us once we get a bunch of our own academy graduates into the team. I personally cannot wait too see quality footballers from our academy to play for us. Weather it's this batch of the eds lads like barker or the even younger at in the under 16s, it's inveitable that we will end up with academy lads in our team. We haven't built the best academy in the world and hired two ex barca guys who built one of the best ever sides in club football, just to show off.

 

[jollylescott]

First of all congratulations to George on scoring a fabulous goal. The pride he showed in the post-match interview was lovely to observe.

Football is a funny game and sometimes it's about taking opportunities and shining at a particular moment. George certainly did that, so who knows what the future may hold for him.

I wasn't able to watch the game as I was at work. I read that our young Spanish playmaker (Garcia) came on for our slightly more experienced counterpart. Also Maffeo played as well. Any reports on either of those two, or the other youngsters, would be much appreciated.

 

[eversince 76]

Both good posts. I think a couple of years time, some of our older big name players will be moved on to make way for our talented youth players. I'm not bothered about the press hammering us all the time, but they would massively lay off us once we get a bunch of our own academy graduates into the team. I personally cannot wait too see quality footballers from our academy to play for us. Weather it's this batch of the eds lads like barker or the even younger at in the under 16s, it's inveitable that we will end up with academy lads in our team. We haven't built the best academy in the world and hired two ex barca guys who built one of the best ever sides in club football, just to show off.

Bit the way I see it tbh. I would like to come up with some stats showing many academyplayers at their club were first loaned out and often been not very succesful. Or what clubs actually presented academyplayers that turned out great players for their club (and not at other clubs). I would even add a stat showing how many great foreign players had a difficult first year in the EPL. I haven't got time, but I'm sure we are not that different to any other club for these matters. Comparing our academy a few years back and now, or comparing it with other topclubs who started getting in very talented players years before us, to me it shows we have done a lot of catching up. A lot!

 

[Cheadle_hulmeBlue]

the problem for geroge evans is that no matter how good he plays, he won't be given chance. In dubai ? he was one of the best players on the pitch, the next game we had was boro in the cup and he wasn't even on the bench. He scored a brilliant goal last night and if kelechi or pozo scored that goal everyone on here would be going crazy about it. he isn't progressing stuck in the youth team. If i was him and wasn't given a chance soon id definitly leave

 

[FantasyIreland]

the problem for geroge evans is that no matter how good he plays, he won't be given chance. In dubai ? he was one of the best players on the pitch, the next game we had was boro in the cup and he wasn't even on the bench. He scored a brilliant goal last night and if kelechi or pozo scored that goal everyone on here would be going crazy about it. he isn't progressing stuck in the youth team. If i was him and wasn't given a chance soon id definitly leave

He went on loan last season,it was very successful and has certainly progressed him.

He isn't 'stuck' in the reserves,he has played a few games as his loan ended......I'm sure the club have something similar,at a higher level,lined up for him next season.

 

[ell]

the problem for geroge evans is that no matter how good he plays, he won't be given chance. In dubai ? he was one of the best players on the pitch, the next game we had was boro in the cup and he wasn't even on the bench. He scored a brilliant goal last night and if kelechi or pozo scored that goal everyone on here would be going crazy about it. he isn't progressing stuck in the youth team. If i was him and wasn't given a chance soon id definitly leave

Sadly agree with this. Surely rather than bringing Yaya and Navas off the bench vs Southampton we could have given George a run out?

 

[jimharri]

 

[.A.]

I'd like to see both him and Barker sent to Leeds next season; got faith in Uwe and I'm sure he'd keep up his end of the bargain if we gave him two talented young players. Can't see Pellegrini being interested in giving him a crack, even in the cups.

As others have said, his two opportunities with the first team have seen him play a perfect 40 yard assist for Jovetic and now a decisive 35 yard winning goal; not much else that he can do to prove himself really.

He's an interesting player; not naturally tenacious for a holding midfielder, he reminds me a bit of Carrick but seems to have a more expansive, Xabi Alonso-esque passing range.