Exactly. It's ok to have hopes and dreams but any kid/parent who thinks being in the academy is a route to the first team is looking a little too far ahead. If they are thinking that, it's their expectations that need to adjust, rather than the club giving them false hope. And as you say, they'll be better for being with us and more likely to make it at a lower level.But it doesn't work like that... a smaller club does not improve your chance at making it, you'll get first team football sooner but a much poorer football education which will stand you in better stead in the long run? I know which I'd choose anyway. You've not really explained why Oldham would be better than Manchester City... it's really not you only think it is, you have to be careful equating first team football at a much lower level sooner with a poorer footballing education is better than the best education you can get with a team of professionals that will find you a club for first team football should you not make the first team.
At the end of the day the kid from Oldham would be much less likely to make it to the level required at City that's a fact and a major flaw in your reasoning, just because a lad from our academy doesn't make the first team doesn't mean he's failed completely he'll still be at a higher level than the Oldham kid.
We are a shambles behind the scenes at the moment. Drugs, tapping up wtf is going on
What drugs?
Ahh. Thought somebody had been done for "drugs" that I hadn't heard about.The fiasco with not informing the testers on two desperate occasions where players were
Exactly. It's ok to have hopes and dreams but any kid/parent who thinks being in the academy is a route to the first team is looking a little too far ahead. If they are thinking that, it's their expectations that need to adjust, rather than the club giving them false hope. And as you say, they'll be better for being with us and more likely to make it at a lower level.
Another 2 words. RYAN GIGGS. It's gone on for years. I wonder if Gill will investigate that one. Oh no hang on he is still connected to the rags even though he's employed by the FA. But I suppose at the end of the day rules are rules.2 words UTTER INCOMPETENCE
Maybe the point you are missing is some of these players would have dropped out anyway we can take on a lot more than an Oldham can and our expectations are far higher is the difference so we will see it more, it's not just the talent that determines their success it's the drive and self belief. You want to blame the club for everything when it's not at all like that, pursuing a career in football is a risk to begin with the parents and the kids themselves are aware of this don't fool yourself and stop making victims from nothing. It's better to have had the chance and failed at a higher level than the same thing at an Oldham, what harm could it really do them if they do end up dropping out of the game due to their own choices, you get more out of it than just learning what to do on the pitch. I don't believe we would be taking on anyone who would be better placed at an Oldham to begin with either, we wont be taking on many late bloomers they have to show the potential early on, they will have to compete with what we already have afterall.This is simply untrue.
We are falling into the fatal trap of assuming that because we've bought the best facilities it makes us the best academy. It doesn't.
The rhetoric you've stated their is precisely why the rules are in place, because the big clubs will say precisely this 'even if it doesn't work out with us, you'll be better off anyway'. It's a myth. The attrition rates of PL clubs is higher and the number of players who drop out of football completely are higher.
It's better for City to have more pulling power to attract who they consider to be hottest prospects (but this is also a notoriously difficult area to spot a kid at 9 who will actually be good enough at 16+), but it's certainly not necessarily the best option for all those who don't make it. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying City can't be the best option for some, it's just not going to be for all, and that's the implication in the phrase 'having the best possible opportunity at City'.
If you are 9 years old and two clubs are interested in you (say City and Oldham), it does not mean that joining City is a no-brainer and increases the chances of success. It doesn't.