Rony Lopes

[LoveCity]

There may not be a buy-back clause because apparently relations between club and player (or player + entourage) have broken down pretty badly.

Also, people shouldn't act like this is our fault. He is 19, not 23, and like Denis Suarez has put us in a position where we have to sell or lose him for a compensation fee next summer, because he will not renew his contract. No club playing on a level like ours would make 19-year-old Marcos Lopes a regular - he is talented but by no means a freakishly good young player. They might give him occasional sub appearances and cup games, which we could, but he wants more than that.

21-23 has been a normal age for some of European football's best players of recent generations to break through from a top academy into a top team. I can understand why some might want to leave, but they could also be patient and develop a little more, then have a greater chance when they're 21-23 years old and mature footballers. An 18-20yo is not going to break through at a club of our status unless he is incredibly, ridiculously good. Like Sterling, who is barely older than Lopes.

 

[abellwillring]

I never really understand why the player would even consider coming back? Barca have successfully brought former youth players back with Fabregas and Pique, but they are Barca, a superpower that can pick practically any player they want and sign them. I don't know what the circumstances are in which Lopes would willingly come back to us after we showed no faith in him whatsoever. We could have a buy back clause of 50p... it doesn't matter.

Because when a young kid goes, he knows it's because he isn't good enough yet to play over established players. Lopes knows he isn't better than Silva or Nasri yet. Very few are. He's definitely not better than a guy who just won the player of the year in the German league. And he doesn't offer the same sort of play as Jesus Navas -- he's firmly down the pecking order for no other reason than he isn't better than these players. He knows that, you know that, I know that.

If he goes away and continually shows that he IS better and we want him back, then we won't spend money to bring him here unless we intend to play him. That is why a you try and include a buy-back clause. It isn't about a lack of faith, it's about reality. In this case, I think there probably won't be one due to the big up front cost. Monaco are probably paying a little more now since they won't possibly lose him later.

 

[Benarbia]

I think this is a fab deal for us 9 million at his age, unproven and last year of his contract. It's a master stroke

 

[Proy]

There may not be a buy-back clause because apparently relations between club and player (or player + entourage) have broken down pretty badly.

Also, people shouldn't act like this is our fault. He is 19, not 23, and like Denis Suarez has put us in a position where we have to sell or lose him for a compensation fee next summer, because he will not renew his contract. No club playing on a level like ours would make 19-year-old Marcos Lopes a regular - he is talented but by no means a freakishly good young player. They might give him occasional sub appearances and cup games, which we could, but he wants more than that.

21-23 has been a normal age for some of European football's best players of recent generations to break through from a top academy into a top team. I can understand why some might want to leave, but they could also be patient and develop a little more, then have a greater chance when they're 21-23 years old and mature footballers. An 18-20yo is not going to break through at a club of our status unless he is incredibly, ridiculously good. Like Sterling, who is barely older than Lopes.

I think that basically sums up my feelings about this. The academy in general as well.

I don't think we will see anything productive in terms of first team from it, for 2/3 years when they come into the right age bracket for the club.

One or two will make it and that will save us millions.

And the ones that don't we have given them a platform to go on and be professional footballers elsewhere, whilst learning in a top quality environment with great players.

These kids all have agents these days and they are demanding too much too soon. You don't just walk into the first team at Manchester City unless you are absolutely good enough.

We are cherry picking the best youngsters around and they will have to wait their turn. That will have been made clear.

If only 2/3 make it the academy has served its purpose. Right now the first team is the priority and if you're not good enough but think you deserve first team football, well you know where the door is.

 

[Frede Fup]

We should try to sign Martial from Monaco. Extremely talented. Not this summer, but maybe next year..

9 million for Lopes is a great deal.

 

[Mr HJ]

There may not be a buy-back clause because apparently relations between club and player (or player + entourage) have broken down pretty badly.

Also, people shouldn't act like this is our fault. He is 19, not 23, and like Denis Suarez has put us in a position where we have to sell or lose him for a compensation fee next summer, because he will not renew his contract. No club playing on a level like ours would make 19-year-old Marcos Lopes a regular - he is talented but by no means a freakishly good young player. They might give him occasional sub appearances and cup games, which we could, but he wants more than that.

21-23 has been a normal age for some of European football's best players of recent generations to break through from a top academy into a top team. I can understand why some might want to leave, but they could also be patient and develop a little more, then have a greater chance when they're 21-23 years old and mature footballers. An 18-20yo is not going to break through at a club of our status unless he is incredibly, ridiculously good. Like Sterling, who is barely older than Lopes.

Good post Sir!

 

[Matty]

There may not be a buy-back clause because apparently relations between club and player (or player + entourage) have broken down pretty badly.

Also, people shouldn't act like this is our fault. He is 19, not 23, and like Denis Suarez has put us in a position where we have to sell or lose him for a compensation fee next summer, because he will not renew his contract. No club playing on a level like ours would make 19-year-old Marcos Lopes a regular - he is talented but by no means a freakishly good young player. They might give him occasional sub appearances and cup games, which we could, but he wants more than that.

21-23 has been a normal age for some of European football's best players of recent generations to break through from a top academy into a top team. I can understand why some might want to leave, but they could also be patient and develop a little more, then have a greater chance when they're 21-23 years old and mature footballers. An 18-20yo is not going to break through at a club of our status unless he is incredibly, ridiculously good. Like Sterling, who is barely older than Lopes.

As long as we have some form of percentage of any sale then that's all that really matters.

 

[BadApple]

You literally dont make sense in any of your posts here. Also according to your logic Lopes is not our academy graduate lol

I've never said he's not our academy graduate. As long as I make sense in my mind haha!

I will try and make sense now then :-)

In my opinion youth don't get enough chances at big clubs, but that's just how it is due to the quality at the top clubs plus the pressure to win that comes with being a big club and we are new to being an elite club. I've come to understand that and to be honest I don't really care whether we buy players or bring them through the academy.I've followed City my whole life and remember most players who have come through the system such as:- Gary Mason, Chris Greenacre (loved him thought he was going to be the next Fowler), Jim Whitley (hit the post with a screamer against Bradford from about 30 yards I was sat in the old south stand thinking wow), Danny Allsop I could go on and on, at the time I thought that some would make it big time (blue tints maybe) none of them ever did. At the moment Its not a major issue as I don't see any players we have let go become world beaters! Our 1st team squad is full of world beaters all of them, every single one of them and I trust the structure and management at the club to make a professional decision after all they see tomorrow's future more or less every single day in front of their own eyes.

Only time will tell if this is the right decision or a wrong one, but I'm under the impression he was not willing to sign a new contract (paper talk)? Due to this I think he was rightly sold.

Have a good evening Sir.

 

[Blue Haze]

No loss. I didn't see the technical ability in him to make our squad. He was quick but nowhere near fast enough to make up for it.

Wrote him off after watching him on loan. He looked meh against poor French clubs.

 

[George Hannah]

I'm hoping an option on Fabinho has been obtained - seriously good RB and DM and our current occupants are not getting any younger.​

 

[Manchester1894]

I can't help but feel we failed him on this one and hope we don't repeat the mistake with Denayer.
Carling Cup games need to field at LEAST 5 youth players and see how far it takes us. Last season we didn't give the kids a chance properly IMO. Lopes had a good year away considering he got an injury and was primed to join up this season and at least get a chance to breakthrough. This is the player that Viera said was an example to EVERY player in the academy. Nobody was more profressional or hard-working. We've just let him go?! Disappointed and wish him luck. We'll never know how good or bad he was for us...

 

[Stiff Little Wingers]

I'm firmly in the camp of if they are good enough, they will break through. However, there is a message coming through from many that they believe they are or have shown enough promise to be given a chance. With all due respect to these posters, unless you are a professional trainer, your views will be seen as just an opinion from a supporter like the rest of us.

It also seems convenient to put the lack of trust on Pellergrini, where (and we don't know for sure), it could be PW saying to Pellers that these kids are not ready yet.

Genuine question and not looking for a keyboard barny.

I would like to ask these posters though what in their opinion represents a chance?

Is it a full 90 min game
A cameo when the game is won
Sitting on the bench
AN Other

 

[BringBackSwales]

There may not be a buy-back clause because apparently relations between club and player (or player + entourage) have broken down pretty badly.

Also, people shouldn't act like this is our fault. He is 19, not 23, and like Denis Suarez has put us in a position where we have to sell or lose him for a compensation fee next summer, because he will not renew his contract. No club playing on a level like ours would make 19-year-old Marcos Lopes a regular - he is talented but by no means a freakishly good young player. They might give him occasional sub appearances and cup games, which we could, but he wants more than that.

21-23 has been a normal age for some of European football's best players of recent generations to break through from a top academy into a top team. I can understand why some might want to leave, but they could also be patient and develop a little more, then have a greater chance when they're 21-23 years old and mature footballers. An 18-20yo is not going to break through at a club of our status unless he is incredibly, ridiculously good. Like Sterling, who is barely older than Lopes.

But isn't that the point, Sterling is not much older BUT the big difference is that he has had a lot more chance to prove himself

 

[almir]

We came to the point where it's hard to see why would any teenager sign for us. I I'd be 15-16years old talented kid with multiple chances to pick the club it wouldn't be City. Apart Chelsea, all big clubs give more chances to their youth than us. Even Real Madrid.

 

[abu13]

It's a shame he didn't make the grade with us bu we have to accept that any player getting into our squad is going to have to be an exceptional talent, furthermore they will more than likely spend at least 2 seasons out on loan before being a shot at the squad. What we can't pass up though is the importance of bringing young players through who we can then sell on for a healthy profit. If you compare the fee we are reportedly getting for him to what we got for Dzeko or Jovetic it makes sense. We will get the majority of these decisions right but at some point someone will slip through the net ( see Pogba at the swamp ). As long as the club are wise enough to insert a sell on clause and an option to buy back then we will be fine.

 

[SamTheGuru]

I think that basically sums up my feelings about this. The academy in general as well.

I don't think we will see anything productive in terms of first team from it, for 2/3 years when they come into the right age bracket for the club.

One or two will make it and that will save us millions.

And the ones that don't we have given them a platform to go on and be professional footballers elsewhere, whilst learning in a top quality environment with great players.

These kids all have agents these days and they are demanding too much too soon. You don't just walk into the first team at Manchester City unless you are absolutely good enough.

We are cherry picking the best youngsters around and they will have to wait their turn. That will have been made clear.

If only 2/3 make it the academy has served its purpose. Right now the first team is the priority and if you're not good enough but think you deserve first team football, well you know where the door is.

I really do think you are living in dream world if you think we are going to have youth products coming up through the system. We are now sitting at the top of the football ladder, producing talents with the youth infrastructure we have, purely to create % and £ income for the future. It is increased income, and you would like to think that we have the ability to buy these players back at first refusal for a slightly reduced fee.

 

[Stiff Little Wingers]

I'm firmly in the camp of if they are good enough, they will break through. However, there is a message coming through from many that they believe they are or have shown enough promise to be given a chance. With all due respect to these posters, unless you are a professional trainer, your views will be seen as just an opinion from a supporter like the rest of us.

It also seems convenient to put the lack of trust on Pellergrini, where (and we don't know for sure), it could be PW saying to Pellers that these kids are not ready yet.

Genuine question and not looking for a keyboard barny.

I would like to ask these posters though what in their opinion represents a chance?

Is it a full 90 min game
A cameo when the game is won
Sitting on the bench
AN Other

We've had a great start and I agree if the kids are good enough they will come through but how are we going to know they are good enough? Not through training that's for sure. There seem to be 2 ways and we don't use either now.
1. Identify a really good young kid and develop a strategy to bring him through and see how he does. I loved Peter Barnes when I was a kid. He had to break into team with Tueart.,Marsh, Royle,King Colin, Asa etc. He came on a few times as sub and I think I saw his first game when he replaced Tueart and scored v Carlisle I think. Most people knew he was going to be pretty good. Next season we won the LC he played a few more and we knew he was really talented then but sometimes he was inconsistent but great players like Dennis or King Colin, Marsh etc would win us the game anyway. Next season we nearly won the league he was a regular and after that an England player. Same strategy worked with Gary Owen. Other times not so good with Kinsey for example.
Are the blues who don't care about bringing young lads through (and by implication not caring about the City tradition of doing this for so many years) really saying that we could not play Lopes or Denayer for example home to the likes of the bottom 6 at least and have so lilts faith that Kun, Silva, YaYa would not win the game if the youngster had a shocker? Against Watford for example do people think resting Navas, swapping Raheem to the right and giving Lopes a go on the left would have Watford thinking we've got City on toast here. Worst case is he's not good and we ought to still win and best case is we may have a player here. How did Sterling come through at Liverpool? At City according to some he would never have got a game at 17 or whatever because he wasn't as good as Nasri or Silva or Navas Etc!!!

2. The other way is to loan them out to a club and standard where they can actually stand out. I accept now that young lads can be bought young like Joe Hart. He went to Birmingham in the PL, was outstanding and now look at him? I thought Denayer was going this way playing for Celtic in the CL etc and on the odd occasion I saw him, looking so composed and good and for fucks sake playing for a hugely talented Belgium team - thought at least he can get a few games or sub appearances or at least get loaned out to a PL club to really start getting him ready for the first time and what happens / he is loaned out yo God knows where and if I was him I would leave unless there is a promise of first team here next year. Unbelievable decision not to have him in the first team squad this year.

Such good transfer activity this summer yet no sign if any talented young players anywhere near other than Kelechi. I really hope he can be play a few games at the right time this season. I'm not sure about any of the others and haven't seen much but Lopes, Denayer and Kelechi in the squad would have been great for me.

Maybe next year

 

[Silva_Spell]

Disgusted with this

A real downer on what was a good window

 

[Wiirdo]

Fucking shocker.

Bad form this from City. From shipping Denayer out on loan after promising to not buy another defender and now ruined talks with Rony.

Tbf £9m is good value for a player in the last year of his contract but I would have liked to see him here.

 

[JoeMercer'sWay]

it's unfortunate, but to get through in an attacking midfield role here you have to be exceptional, and he isn't Hazard.

Might be upset now, but it's a good fee, there are players behind him in the queue who have the chance, and who knows, if he really delivers in a couple of years, with someone like Pep at the helm, I'm sure differences can be put aside and he could come back. As it is, he wasn't the most exciting in pre-season, and whilst promising at Lille last season, he didn't make the case for "you really can't ignore me now", and the staff have obviously decided we have better options going forward. It's always a shame when you lose someone close to breaking through, but like Weiss, Guidetti etc. it's just a part of the process and we'll move, there's always someone else.