It must be hard to get in at united's youth, when they continually produce stars such as di maria, van persie, rooney, ferdinand, vidic, carrick, falcao etc etcianw16 said:http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/paul-scholes-column-as-a-manchester-united-man-im-worried-that-manchester-city-have-moved-ahead-of-the-game-at-youth-level-9919194.html
It has been no secret among people I know in football that City have taken great strides in their youth academy programmes, to the extent that there are even United players past and present who have, or at least once had, sons at City’s academy. That will be difficult for a lot of United fans to get their heads around. I guess when it comes to a parent wanting the right thing for their child, it takes precedence over even the deepest loyalties.
An easy mistake to make.cleavers said:It must be hard to get in at united's youth, when they continually produce stars such as di maria, van persie, rooney, ferdinand, vidic, carrick, falcao etc etcianw16 said:http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/paul-scholes-column-as-a-manchester-united-man-im-worried-that-manchester-city-have-moved-ahead-of-the-game-at-youth-level-9919194.html
It has been no secret among people I know in football that City have taken great strides in their youth academy programmes, to the extent that there are even United players past and present who have, or at least once had, sons at City’s academy. That will be difficult for a lot of United fans to get their heads around. I guess when it comes to a parent wanting the right thing for their child, it takes precedence over even the deepest loyalties.
{edit - sorry I missed phil jones out}
gordondaviesmoustache said:He is a disrespectful motherfucker.
Timperley_blue said:My 7 year old boy currently plays with both City and United Academies (kids are free to play for more than one club until they pass their 9th birthday). so I feel that I am well placed to comment here. Of course I am an incredibly proud Dad but having and being a life-long Blue I would be lying if I didn't admit to fantasies of my boy one day playing for City. I am more aware however, that in reality his chances of making it as a professional are close to nil - (85% of boys who have signed a professional contract at 19 are out of the game by the time they are 21).
Because of the reality, I simply want my lad to enjoy playing the game, as I did growing up. It keeps you fit and healthy and lessens the odds of you ending up in trouble. It also provides you with an active social life. He loves it and so do I. Taking this into account however, I have to say that the experience at United is a much more rounded one at present. The staff and coaches there adopt a much more pastoral approach and are keen to treat the boys as just that - boys. At City you get the feeling that you are more of a number on a production line. At United, all staff and coaches take an interest in the whole family - how's school? How's work? What are your plans foe Christmas etc. At City everything is much more sterile. Turn up, train, go home.
Now this approach may well work (and being a Blue I hope it does) and there is no doubt that at the moment City have the more talented youngsters (at U7 / U8 anyway) however, I can't help thinking that city are putting all of their eggs into one basket and hoping that they all hatch while United are casting their net much wider. We know that all kids develop at different rates so what happens if the small number of kids that City are concentrating on don't make it?
Timperley_blue said:My 7 year old boy currently plays with both City and United Academies (kids are free to play for more than one club until they pass their 9th birthday). so I feel that I am well placed to comment here. Of course I am an incredibly proud Dad but having and being a life-long Blue I would be lying if I didn't admit to fantasies of my boy one day playing for City. I am more aware however, that in reality his chances of making it as a professional are close to nil - (85% of boys who have signed a professional contract at 19 are out of the game by the time they are 21).
Because of the reality, I simply want my lad to enjoy playing the game, as I did growing up. It keeps you fit and healthy and lessens the odds of you ending up in trouble. It also provides you with an active social life. He loves it and so do I. Taking this into account however, I have to say that the experience at United is a much more rounded one at present. The staff and coaches there adopt a much more pastoral approach and are keen to treat the boys as just that - boys. At City you get the feeling that you are more of a number on a production line. At United, all staff and coaches take an interest in the whole family - how's school? How's work? What are your plans foe Christmas etc. At City everything is much more sterile. Turn up, train, go home.
Now this approach may well work (and being a Blue I hope it does) and there is no doubt that at the moment City have the more talented youngsters (at U7 / U8 anyway) however, I can't help thinking that city are putting all of their eggs into one basket and hoping that they all hatch while United are casting their net much wider. We know that all kids develop at different rates so what happens if the small number of kids that City are concentrating on don't make it?
Lock up the wife thenTimperley_blue said:. At United, all staff and coaches take an interest in the whole family