Neville Kneville said:
twosips said:
Yeah, even someone like Celina who is only slight just seems stronger, and he's faster too. Nippy, darty little player. I don't worry about his physique (which is great news, as he's a fantastically talented footballer) whereas Pozo's I do. I'd say all of them have more of a chance than Pozo at this second.
It sometimes takes senior players a full year to get it back after long term injuries though. I't wouldn't surprise me if Pozo suddely jumped up a level, in every aspect.
Pozo was a stand out academy player not long ago and I think he's struggled recently. I still wonder why he's being played as a central striker in a 4-3-3 because he doesn't look like he wants that role. He does provide a goal threat from a no.10 role but physically he struggles when playing a lone striker role. From his games with the first team I would say he was more often that not looking to make runs that just weren't picked up. He wanted to drop deep to get on the ball and influence things and I don't think it's in his nature to be looking at taking the ball over the top. He's similar to Silva in that respect - he likes the ball to feet rather than in space for him to run into. The problem he has is that he now doesn't look the stand out player in the EDS, others have improved and look very good.
I agree that when he gets over his injury that should see him take a real leap and improve again and hopefully his confidence can come back and he can press on. He needs a spell out on loan for me to decide where his future lies.
Lopes looks to be a very good player and the loan has been a weird one. Their tactics are appalling and their inability to keep the ball means chances for him to show his worth are few and far between. He has kept at it though and in the biggest game so far for him he's been the star man and scored the winner. He's the sort of player we are desperate for at the club and I would like to see him involved in the first team squad but I would expect him to face another season on loan.
As for the future for our academy players... I can't see changing manager as being positive in this regard. Pellegrini has watched the players first hand and he will have a view on who is to be integrated. I share the concerns that players were not utilised in certain situations when they should have been but a new manager will have high targets and he will be unlikely to risk failure in hitting those targets by giving young players game time. It's a concern that we view things in black and white still... you can't win anything with kids seems to be City's way of thinking.
I see it as similar to England's pointless friendlies... how can you judge potential England players when they are thrown together into a makeshift side in a meaningless game. It is much better to play the core players like Hart, Kompany, Yaya, Silva, Aguero and then introduce young players around them. That gives them the opportunity to shine alongside our key players and gives you a better indication of how well they will do. I'd rather that than a complete "B" team which is likely to put in a shaky performance anyway.