James McAtee

FantasyIreland said:
Great news,he fits the profile of player this squad favours and has very much earned his opportunity to prove he is worth a place with the first team.

'Double training sessions' in an effort to prove/establish himself (no going on the piss for a fortnight in Greece/Ibiza etc) clearly shows the attitude matches the talent.
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FI, he’s one I’m hoping really gets a look in this season.

I’ve tried not to comment on transfer news, and I know a plethora of people want new signings but a chance or few would be nice for McAtee.
 
decmancity said:
Hes back in training with his personal coach.
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It's amazing. The way he kills the ball stone dead, actually putting a slight spin on it so that it's coming back to him, with the side of his foot, is exactly like Mahrez. Bernie can do it too. It drops so as to make the defender think he can get to it, but he can't. I don't see anybody else in the squad who can do that. Kev can't. Erling Haaland certainly can't. Maybe, sometimes, Phil. Of course, a footballer has to have many, many other qualities, but it's always peculiarly satisfying to see it, for me. Especially when it's come from a pass that has sailed over from the other wing.
Actually, it also reminds me of Ronnie.
O'Sullivan, that is.
 
BridgyDids said:
I didn’t know he was the great-nephew of Alan Ball!

Hopefully James will have more success at City than his great Uncle!
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Alan's management "skills" were tailor made for city's gallows humour but as he would and did tell the players often he truly was a fantastic footballer so great genes for James to have.
 
Wondering if having won the CL finally pep is now finally willing to give substantial minutes to young players.
 
failsworthblueboy said:
I wouldn't be surprised if this were true, James is an amazing talent with the potential to make it with us.
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I would love to think so. But it always boils down to this: they've got to break into the best club side in the world. If they're in on merit, fine. Otherwise, no other reason whatsoever to put them in there. Pep has to win trophies. That's his main brief. So far, he's done it pretty bloody marvellously. It was great to see Rico blooded last season, because he looked so incredibly comfortable. Cole should be persevered with. But they won't be in anything other than the early rounds of the league cup, and the odd ten to twenty minutes in PL matches that are not must-win (in itself, a rarity, frankly).
From their own point of view, I could well understand them thinking, “Well, look, I can get a place at a strong Championship side, and start most matches. Or maybe even a middling PL side. Why should I let these precious years go by?”
It's a balancing act, and it's a tricky one.
 
FantasyIreland said:
The original source........no reason to dispute when you consider his talent,his contributions to a promotion winning team,and his fantastic potential.

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I’m not disputing any qualities he might have, just being aware that his agent has been leaking several things the past few months to carefully selected journalists to get a narrative going, pieces of “information” that work well in the aggregator age. I can smell it from afar. It’s his job, there’s nothing wrong with that. I’m just not naive to buy everything.
He did a good job with Sheffield United, but there is a bias when people try to paint his contributions as more than they were. It took him awhile to find some consistency in the second division. We all want him to do well, but I’d listen when even Sheffield United fans who loved him in the second half of last season think he’s still not good enough to make our bench. If he’s being brought back to add quality to our training sessions and be an extra body for inconsequential moments, and a “you can make it!” token Academy advertisement, it’d be terrible for his career. We know how Pep works
 
BrazilianGus said:
I’m not disputing any qualities he might have, just being aware that his agent has been leaking several things the past few months to carefully selected journalists to get a narrative going, pieces of “information” that work well in the aggregator age. I can smell it from afar. It’s his job, there’s nothing wrong with that. I’m just not naive to buy everything.
He did a good job with Sheffield United, but there is a bias when people try to paint his contributions as more than they were. It took him awhile to find some consistency in the second division. We all want him to do well, but I’d listen when even Sheffield United fans who loved him in the second half of last season think he’s still not good enough to make our bench. If he’s being brought back to add quality to our training sessions and be an extra body for inconsequential moments, and a “you can make it!” token Academy advertisement, it’d be terrible for his career. We know how Pep works
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There should be a few games before Xmas where he can get minutes - League Cup and (hopefully) Champions League dead rubbers. If he is going to make it he needs to grasp those chances. He can always go on loan after Xmas if he has not made progress.

I know that it is easy to compare him with Palmer last season and fear the worst but he (Palmer) did play in 25 matches - many as a sub - so if McAtee were to get similar opportunities next season he would have a chance to impress.
 
BrazilianGus said:
I’m not disputing any qualities he might have, just being aware that his agent has been leaking several things the past few months to carefully selected journalists to get a narrative going, pieces of “information” that work well in the aggregator age. I can smell it from afar. It’s his job, there’s nothing wrong with that. I’m just not naive to buy everything.
He did a good job with Sheffield United, but there is a bias when people try to paint his contributions as more than they were. It took him awhile to find some consistency in the second division. We all want him to do well, but I’d listen when even Sheffield United fans who loved him in the second half of last season think he’s still not good enough to make our bench. If he’s being brought back to add quality to our training sessions and be an extra body for inconsequential moments, and a “you can make it!” token Academy advertisement, it’d be terrible for his career. We know how Pep works
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Of course we have a habit of bigging up our kids,sometimes unrealistically so.
With James though,he has that midfield maestro about him,he's a player that makes the game look easy and that is pure natural talent - he has now added some physicality to his armoury and learnt what it takes to to compete in a promotion fighting and winning set up.

I dont think 30m is unrealistic for a kid with those qualities and top class potential,and i also believe he will get enough playing time here to improve him further and maintain his hunger to succeed.
 
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