Sorry mate, and I can't be arsed arguing any further because I've done it for years on here, but your opening sentence is rubbish. The manager is playing them because they are good enough, not the other way round. I am pretty sure that all of our managers have said to Txiki that if you produce them good enough, I will integrate them. That's totally understandable when a manager's entire career is judged on results. Pep used very few youngsters last year because none were ready. This year they are. Happy days.
Fans at every club, particularly those who watch the junior matches, whinge constantly that more kids should be "given a go". Fans like homegrown kids, particularly strikers. The pressures on a club like ours at every game mean that we can't just keep throwing in every Tom Dick or Harry who shows promise. This is a fucking well run club, in my opinion, and contrary to the media clichés, we are doing it dead right at Academy level IMO.
No actually, Foden & Diaz have done nothing yet in the first team.
The only bit of 'bearing fruits' is the fact they are on the pitch.
Loads of players could have been 'on the pitch'. Some would have done ok.
The 'bearing fruits' bit, would come later.
It isbn't a special thing for a kid to get on the pitch, even at a club of City's level. It just became a big thing, because it happened so infrequently.
Pep used plenty of kids at Barca, many of whome never made it. Same with Ferguson at the swamp.
But they were all useful, as loads of ours could have been.
The problem with this 'argument' year in year out, is that people insist on having one that isn't there.
People such as myself & twosips have never complained about kids not getting 'extended runs' in the team, just about them getting a chance to get onthe pitch here & there, when their performances merit it.
That has not happened nearly enough in the past. Hopefully, this is the start of it & eventually giving game time to players like Diaz & Foden will start to 'bear fruit'.
