Which former academy graduates...

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Prestwich_Blue

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Following on from the debate over playing the EDS lads, I was thinking about which former academy products might, at their peak, have got in the current side.

SWP is an obvious one of course who would certainly get in. Strangely, I'd also make a case for Joey Barton, who is a very solid midfield player in the Fernando/Fernandinho mode.

Onuoha might still be here if he hadn't fallen out with Mancini and Kieran Trippier was quite impressive for Burnley and would do as a back-up. Stevie Ireland would, based on that wonderful half-season he had but not otherwise. Sturridge certainly would, as would the Michael Johnson we saw play so well before it all went wrong.

Any others?
 
Vlad Weiss had the talent to be a decent squad player if he'd done the hard work.
 
All excellent players,but none would get in our present day team.
They were all just below top class and the clubs that they are now playing for, bear that out.
 
Chappie said:
All excellent players,but none would get in our present day team.
They were all just below top class and the clubs that they are now playing for, bear that out.
Click to expand...

think sturridge would get in our squad, but i agree for everyone else!

would like to think michael johnson could have improved to play at this level, unfortunately we'll never know
 
es1 said:
Chappie said:
All excellent players,but none would get in our present day team.
They were all just below top class and the clubs that they are now playing for, bear that out.
Click to expand...

think sturridge would get in our squad, but i agree for everyone else!

would like to think michael johnson could have improved to play at this level, unfortunately we'll never know
Click to expand...

I think, at his peak, SWP would have given Navas a run for his money. Barton would have been a useful squad player, but not a regular starter. Ireland's 1 season of brilliance was the exception rather than the rule for him, but if he'd been able to play like that for several seasons he'd certainly have been another squad option. The likes of Onuoha and Johnson I'm not convinved would ever have been good enough.
 
To be honest, SWP at his very best would have a slight chance. No one else I can think of. Not even Sturridge.

This is not a surprise as the level of youthplayers in every department has dramatically improved over the last 3 or 4 years. Especially the U18 holds a lot of really fantastic players with high expectations. If we could deliver one youngster every year it would be a great achievement. But I reckon the plan is already there for Viera to take over from Pellegrini and bring with him a handfull of players that will determine the next decade of succes.
 
Micah should be in here, if he hadn't gone to the olympics he could still be a vital part of the squad.
 
Chappie said:
Cheadle_hulmeBlue said:
sturridge and definitly micheal Johnson.
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Michael Johnson in place of who in our Midfield ?
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not really sure on that one. But having watched him for many years in the youth team i think without the injury he had he would be in our team now.
 
It's always possible that some of these players would have done a Zabeleta and improved dramatically when surrounded by high quality team mates.
 
On talent alone and not club grown/ homegrown status? Probably only Sturridge, and even he might be a push with his attitude and unwillingness to accept not being the star man. A peak SWP would be a useful supersub/squad player, but he was always a bit too erratic to be a regular starter at a top team. A peak Micah would obviously be in the squad. Barton might just of been good enough to be a squad man, but his attitude would never of been allowed, especially for someone as unimportant as he would be. Michael Johnson is hard to say, as he shone so briefly it's impossible to know whether he'd of become a world beater or just another english player who never kicked on, he's got a bit of a Diana thing going for him now.

None of these players ever really became regulars in top teams, except maybe Sturridge (briefly).
 
Cheadle_hulmeBlue said:
Chappie said:
Cheadle_hulmeBlue said:
sturridge and definitly micheal Johnson.
Click to expand...
Michael Johnson in place of who in our Midfield ?
Click to expand...

not really sure on that one. But having watched him for many years in the youth team i think without the injury he had he would be in our team now.
Click to expand...
I also watched him for many years and with or without the injury,he would not have even made this squad.
He was another in the long line of kids who were just below top level.
Harsh but true.
 
Chappie said:
Cheadle_hulmeBlue said:
Chappie said:
Michael Johnson in place of who in our Midfield ?
Click to expand...

not really sure on that one. But having watched him for many years in the youth team i think without the injury he had he would be in our team now.
Click to expand...
I also watched him for many years and with or without the injury,he would not have even made this squad.
He was another in the long line of kids who were just below top level.
Harsh but true.
Click to expand...

well i dont agree with that, but thats my opinion
 
eversince 76 said:
To be honest, SWP at his very best would have a slight chance. No one else I can think of. Not even Sturridge.

This is not a surprise as the level of youthplayers in every department has dramatically improved over the last 3 or 4 years. Especially the U18 holds a lot of really fantastic players with high expectations. If we could deliver one youngster every year it would be a great achievement. But I reckon the plan is already there for Viera to take over from Pellegrini and bring with him a handfull of players that will determine the next decade of succes.
Click to expand...
Sturridge would comfortably get in our side
 
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