Manu Garcia

[Otamendi's Beard]

I was waiting for that jonny,the stereotypical youngster reply......have you even watched him play? I haven't witnessed anyone physically intimidate him or knock him about,he's as tough as he is talented - I have no concerns other than his need for experience.

I watched him play a lot actually, though thanks for the attempt to imply that I haven't.
Also, it's not really a stereotypical answer as I'd give a different answer for the likes of Barker, Iheanacho, etc. However, thanks again for implying that that's all I ever say... yawn.

Throwing in a player, that is essentially a boy, against seasoned professionals could result in injuries. He needs to build up a bit more strength to hold his own week in week out.

You're clearly blinded by how good you think he's looked in pre-season. Yet as Hungarian Blue pointed out he actually gave possession away a fair bit and I saw moments of him being pushed off the ball by a team with an average height of about 5 ft 6.

He needs to carry on developing and he'll no doubt be a class player.

 

[FantasyIreland]

No worries,I think we can both agree we have a star,i just think we'll see him shining much earlier than you,however,it may have to be on loan given our options.

 

[BlueDejong]

Looks like Xavi

 

[supercity88]

Physically he might not be ready. If he is to play a central role he might not get given the protection and one barge off the ball and the opposition would be at our defence. That's part of the reason Barkley was pushed further forward, just to diminish some of the responsibility from him should he give the ball away. You give it away in the no.10 role and there's still a lot for the opposition to do.

In terms of passing, he gave the ball away a few times but it wouldn't take long for him to take that out of his game. In friendlies where the side is completely thrown together it's tough to know each persons strengths. What was positive is that, like Silva, he puts the ball a couple of yards in front of the player he is passing to and that gets them moving forward. The top playmakers do the same. He'll pass to feet in tight situations but if there's space he puts it in front of the man.

He's got the intelligence and technique to go very far in the game. I'd love to see him have another year in the EDS and play occasionally for the first team, off the bench or in the cups. I don't think he'll be used enough abroad and depending where he goes I'm not sure he'll progress as much as he can sticking with City's EDS. He was fast tracked to the EDS last season so another year there won't do him any harm. The same with Barker.

 

[oldius]

Excellent prospect. Definitely looks ready for occasional appearances in the first team to me and only then will we really know if he is ready.

He has technique, balance, vision, awareness and passing ability. There's not much missing that experience won't bring.

 

[Hungarian blue]

He was fast tracked to the EDS last season so another year there won't do him any harm. The same with Barker.

Surely agree on Garcia, will be good to play him in the EDS - age wise it's still a level or two above 'his'. Also, he can play in both FA Youth Cup and Youth CL this season (in the latter case, even 2 seasons).

Not entirely agree on Barger, though. He will not be eligiblie for these 2 competitions, and 20-25 games in Vieira's EDS side are fine, but hardly enough. And whilst I'd love if Pellegrini would use them at least in the League Cup for short cameos, I have my strong concerns. Especially as ahead of Barker we have currently Lopes in the pecking order (and Iheanacho, and Pozo, who I think should go on loan, too). I'd be comfortable with a policy like play Barker and Roberts on the right, and left, respectively, from the start of the season. Should be a joy to watch and they should tear apart the other U21 sides, but as the season goes, he needs a loan elsewhere, I think. Surely a Championship side should knock on the door by that time.

 

[supercity88]

Surely agree on Garcia, will be good to play him in the EDS - age wise it's still a level or two above 'his'. Also, he can play in both FA Youth Cup and Youth CL this season (in the latter case, even 2 seasons).

Not entirely agree on Barger, though. He will not be eligiblie for these 2 competitions, and 20-25 games in Vieira's EDS side are fine, but hardly enough. And whilst I'd love if Pellegrini would use them at least in the League Cup for short cameos, I have my strong concerns. Especially as ahead of Barker we have currently Lopes in the pecking order (and Iheanacho, and Pozo, who I think should go on loan, too). I'd be comfortable with a policy like play Barker and Roberts on the right, and left, respectively, from the start of the season. Should be a joy to watch and they should tear apart the other U21 sides, but as the season goes, he needs a loan elsewhere, I think. Surely a Championship side should knock on the door by that time.

My concern is where his loan options would be. If we arrange a loan move where he gets regular game time then that's good but I wouldn't want to see him kicked to shreds in the Championship. Yes he has to toughen up, but you do get a higher level of protection in other leagues and in the prem. In the Championship they will just kick him, and they'll be allowed to. This could harm his confidence and that could see him regress.

We saw last season that Lopes got decent playing time, although not at a club that used him particularly well, but he still had the opportunities to develop. Zuculini on the other hand was barely used and has lost a year of development because of it. If we can send Barker to a good club with chances to play then I'd be happy for him to go on loan. The Dutch league, or French league with Cambuur or Lille could provide opportunities for him, and Pozo. Otherwise I think it's best he stays in the EDS and sees who comes calling for him. We need to be careful with where we loan players. I don't see him being able to harness his skills at a club that plays long ball football or in a league where he isn't offered adequate protection.

 

[Hungarian blue]

My concern is where his loan options would be. If we arrange a loan move where he gets regular game time then that's good but I wouldn't want to see him kicked to shreds in the Championship. Yes he has to toughen up, but you do get a higher level of protection in other leagues and in the prem. In the Championship they will just kick him, and they'll be allowed to. This could harm his confidence and that could see him regress.

We saw last season that Lopes got decent playing time, although not at a club that used him particularly well, but he still had the opportunities to develop. Zuculini on the other hand was barely used and has lost a year of development because of it. If we can send Barker to a good club with chances to play then I'd be happy for him to go on loan. The Dutch league, or French league with Cambuur or Lille could provide opportunities for him, and Pozo. Otherwise I think it's best he stays in the EDS and sees who comes calling for him. We need to be careful with where we loan players. I don't see him being able to harness his skills at a club that plays long ball football or in a league where he isn't offered adequate protection.

But to imagine Barker in Netherlands or Ligue 1 is a bit weird, being a local lad and all. And it's not like the Championship is only about kicking the opposition until it hardly breathes.

Ibe and Lingard did both quite well as wingers; in fact, I would say they progressed a lot there, and now seem to be capable of producing Premier League level.

A scenario with Barker starting the season in the EDS under Vieira's guidance and then loaning him out in about January on a short-term loan deal to a Championship team that badly needs a creative and fast winger is ideal in my view. Don't forget that loan deals abroad are for 6 months or for the whole season and normally it's not even allowed to cancel it before the loan contract ends. Loans like Zuculini's, as you state it too, are really a disaster of a dealing. That's why I see much lower risks in English short-term loans as they are allowed for basically any time interval.

That being said, I'm quite sure that he would rip apart the Eredivisie already. :)

 

[supercity88]

But to imagine Barker in Netherlands or Ligue 1 is a bit weird, being a local lad and all. And it's not like the Championship is only about kicking the opposition until it hardly breathes.

Ibe and Lingard did both quite well as wingers; in fact, I would say they progressed a lot there, and now seem to be capable of producing Premier League level.

A scenario with Barker starting the season in the EDS under Vieira's guidance and then loaning him out in about January on a short-term loan deal to a Championship team that badly needs a creative and fast winger is ideal in my view. Don't forget that loan deals abroad are for 6 months or for the whole season and normally it's not even allowed to cancel it before the loan contract ends. Loans like Zuculini's, as you state it too, are really a disaster of a dealing. That's why I see much lower risks in English short-term loans as they are allowed for basically any time interval.

That being said, I'm quite sure that he would rip apart the Eredivisie already. :)

That's a good point you make, particularly in relation to Lingard. If he can cope with the physicality of the Championship then he'll certainly come on leaps and bounds. I remember Ronaldo getting kicked to shreds in his first derby and he was so quiet that game (aside from hitting the bar). It didn't take long for him to step up to the physicality of the league though. As long as you don't go to Micah Richards levels and lose pace etc in pursuit of strength then it's fine. I don't think the club are in any rush to get younger players to first team level, we've plenty coming through the pipeline. I just hope that we don't lose any because we decide a year in the EDS would be more beneficial than a loan.

 

[BigOscar]

I'd have thought the fact that he hasn't even been a regular member of the EDS starting XI yet would suggest they think he's probably not ready to be playing full games as senior level yet. This is probably the year when he does start week in week out in the EDS and probably be the star man for the UYL squad and builds up his fitness levels and core strength to get prepared for the gruelling nature of the mens game (a bit like what Barker has done last year). Then next year he either goes out on loan or breaks into the first team squad, depending on how he's doing.

Him getting starts in preseason is pretty reminiscent of Rony Lopes going out on tour when he was about 16 or 17 as well and starting games, then he went back to the youth team and did well, so got a goal scoring cameo in the cup. He's put himself in the first team managers mind and that can only be a good thing for his future.