http://www.espnfc.com/manchester-ci...-academy-no-first-team-players-for-three-year
I know this is a more general article about the academy, but interesting that the club expects top quality youth products in about 3 years...when this u16 group will be 18/19 years old.
Manchester City still expect it to take as much as three years for their academy to start regularly producing first-team players, senior sources have told ESPN FC.
In the meantime, the club still see graduates as potential trump cards in what is likely to be a shrinking Premier League transfer market over the next few years.
As such, the sources say that City feel any players that come in the next three years are a bonus to the team until the changes being put in place start to take effect.
The club's hierarchy also feel that the huge broadcasting deals could actually mean that youth production becomes a key advantage in the Premier League over the next few years.
In the meantime, the club still see graduates as potential trump cards in what is likely to be a shrinking Premier League transfer market over the next few years.
As such, the sources say that City feel any players that come in the next three years are a bonus to the team until the changes being put in place start to take effect.
The club's hierarchy also feel that the huge broadcasting deals could actually mean that youth production becomes a key advantage in the Premier League over the next few years.
I know this is a more general article about the academy, but interesting that the club expects top quality youth products in about 3 years...when this u16 group will be 18/19 years old.