Liam Delap signs new contract until 2026

[Gareth Barry Conlon]

Lavia and palmer are the obvious ones. I’d rather we kept them then signed Philips and doku. THB and delap I think will go on to be top players as well

Obviously it’s all ifs and maybes right now and they all probably did need to leave

Lavia is the one for me where we didn't have a lot of depth in his position and bought Philips to do that role.

But his move to Southampton made him the player he is. And no one was getting past rodri unless he got injured so its difficult to say we let him go to soon or that we dint try to bring him back. Our mid 3 of the last few years of kdb, Silva, rodri was not going to give much room for a lavia. It is what it is and we have have to make the calls based on how things are going at the time.

 

[Gone for a Burton]

Palmer was the one that looking back maybe we shouldn't have let go however not seen fuck all of him in the big games he has played for Chelsea.

The circumstances with Palmer remain a mystery....
stay...or go...but no loan seems out of character for City.

Is there a back story ?

Ps..no one, including himself and Chelsea, expected his form, confirming that football ain't an exact science !!

The clammer for this, that, and the other new signing, is predictable at times like this when so many become experts in hindsight.

However, with a mainly full and fit squad, where would these new players have played even if they had settled in perfectly to a new, and intensely demanding, environment ?

We've seen that it can take experienced internationals a full season to find their feet...Merlin,Dzeko,Bernie, Rodders,Boulders +++....

Many 'elite' footballers only look 'elite' because of the standard of the leagues they play in. When they appear in the PL they struggle with the intensity and physicality and are quickly condemned as rubbish and a waste of money.

Pep tried to make two young Spanish lads a success at City but, whilst they were technically, good they simply weren't at a physical level to succeed at City.

Nunes was a star at wolves, and a regular in the Portuguese national team.
Tall,elegant, technically good...but as weak as piss.

Anyhowoop, 78 points to play for including 6 agin the dippers, 6 games to win the FA Cup, CL knock outs to come.

Rule out City at your peril doubters !!

 

[kaz7]

He needs to stay at Ipswich and develop. All he needed was consistent game time, which we can’t provide most of our young players. They have to pretty much be ready made instantly, which 99% of youngsters aren’t.

I’m starting to think we’ve made a mistake getting rid of some of these youngsters who have gone on to become top players/ prospects and would have improved our squad

We have made a fortune out of them and brought first team players with the money , that is the main point in have the academy , not to have a team of local lads

 

[RayCTID]

Lavia and palmer are the obvious ones. I’d rather we kept them then signed Philips and doku. THB and delap I think will go on to be top players as well

Obviously it’s all ifs and maybes right now and they all probably did need to leave

Lavia has had plenty of injuries since he left City.

 

[Stiff Little Wingers]

Lavia is the one for me where we didn't have a lot of depth in his position and bought Philips to do that role.

But his move to Southampton made him the player he is. And no one was getting past rodri unless he got injured so its difficult to say we let him go to soon or that we dint try to bring him back. Our mid 3 of the last few years of kdb, Silva, rodri was not going to give much room for a lavia. It is what it is and we have have to make the calls based on how things are going at the time.

I disagree with this. Lavia is still pretty young, why could he have not stayed with us and learnt through training, sub appearances and a few games to improve? Then he’s there to cover for Rodri, possibly play alongside and also cover for others.
Then at the end of let’s say 2 years or so he may want to move on, we get a better price and that’s that. Or he stays in a bit longer and li and behold he could have had a full season.
I do think Pep has a weakness in just not giving young potential enough of a chance. Even with first teamers on the bench we still have 5 we can bring on. If City go 2 up or even 1 up then in many cases it’s all over so he could have given Lavia more chances and Rest Rodri

 

[Stiff Little Wingers]

Mcatee unfortunately is not good enough and won’t be here next season. Injury crises and the worst run of form and he still can’t get in the side.

Tidy player and exactly the type we need but of higher quality.

Do you not think he might improve just a tiny bit if he was given a few games.
Not every player has to be world class. Why can’t “come in, do a decent job and learn” be good enough?

 

[wolviedinho]

Do you not think he might improve just a tiny bit if he was given a few games.
Not every player has to be world class. Why can’t “come in, do a decent job and learn” be good enough?

Good point.

Why has pep not trusted him? He compliments Mcatee enough. I thought he would be given a bigger role with the lack of creative players but the games he has played, he has went missing for large parts. Sometimes you forget he is on the pitch.

I hope it’s not another palmer situation in a season or 2.

Don’t think anyone knows his level yet. Maybe if city were more stable he would have gotten mins. Out of the league cup don’t help his chances.

 

[BlueMoonRisin’]

We have made a fortune out of them and brought first team players with the money , that is the main point in have the academy , not to have a team of local lads

I both agree and disagree. I think the main point is to integrate academy players into senior squad first and foremost, and if they don't make it we sell for pure profit.

And what was once an old chemical factory(Clayton Aniline) on Ashton new road, derelict for several years due to ground being heavily contaminated was decontaminated for us to build one of the world's best, if not the best academy is a credit to our owners who had the foresight and shrewdnessto to invest in it.

It's producing a stream of youngsters to our first team squad and those that have not made it have been sold on for a combined total(reputed) of over £500.

And when I'm having an argument with a rag or red scouser I remind them about where some of our "dirty Arab oil money" has been invested, and this helps shut them up.

 

[Xhavenjoe]

We have made a fortune out of them and brought first team players with the money , that is the main point in have the academy , not to have a team of local lads

We made a lot of money but that money has been spent on some players ( not all) who are no better than those we sold.
Lavia Doyle Palmer THB all sold for way less than we paid for Philipps Nunes etc

 

[Stiff Little Wingers]

Agree, was tge same with the Brighton kid when he scored a couple of goals. Not sure if seen him since. ? Ferguson

Think Ferguson has had injuries. In mine and many peoples views, he is an outstanding talent