LoveCity said:
WNRH said:
It seems it is a new era for the academy/reserve set up. The old guard so to speak is being moved on and the new guard of the U18's this season and next is coming together. I'm pretty excited for the 16-18 year olds we have at the moment.
The 18s do seem very talented and technically good, if even 1 of them could make it, it would be great for the club especially as nearly all of them are British. Emyr Huws seems to done well lately, he was called the next Aaron Ramsey when we got him. And George Evans has had a good season too, promoted to EDS having just turned 17.
But we'll eventually have to stop buying just to free up a slot or two to give a youngster a chance. Right now they have so little chance, for example a chance for Suarez or Roman would only likely come if Nasri and Silva are both injured and if we buy Hazard that's a third capable of doing the playmaker role.
The thing is with Suarez and Roman is that they are still young. Too many fans in this country assume that if you aren't making headlines at 17 then you have no chance which is rubbish. I never get carried away with players making the headlines at 17, 18 because they might have peaked, whilst someone else is just developing nicely but won't be ready til they are 21, 22.
I'm guessing quite a lot of people would have Pedro in City's squad, he will be playing in the el classico tonight and yet he made his debut at 21, a perfect example of someone who just developed at a nice pace whilst everyone else around him peaked.
But again it's going back to what i said before, you need to impress on loan to have a chance here. Roman next season needs to go out and make a name for himself. If he can't make a name for himself in the championship at 19 then his chances here will be limited, it is ok scoring 4 against a lower league conference side's reserves but it won't give Mancini knowledge that he can do it against a prem side.
I always look at Tom Cleverly as the perfect example. Wasn't a wonderkid and spent time away from the club gaining experience and came back a player who had 75 games behind him at League 1, Championship and Premier League level. When he's needed, Ferguson has no trouble using him as he's not this inexperienced kid.
For me next season, Roman needs to go out on loan for the full season and Suarez i'd keep for 6 months for the Next Gen league and Carling Cup games and then send him on loan in Jan.