Which former academy graduates...

Johnson would have grown into a top class player, he'd be in that midfield today.

SWP - at his best he would have played in this team, i'd say he was better than Navas is now.

Sturridge. Would score a bucketload.
 
SWP for Navas
Sturridge for Dzeko/Jovetic
Micah (if it wasn't for the injuries), if not then Trippier for Sagna
Maybe Michael Johnson (but it's hard to tell he only really played for 6 months) for Lamps.

I think they'd have an advantage over some because they're H/G, like Boyata and Sinclair do.
 
I think people need to get the idea out of 25 world class players out of their heads. United's squad has won titles with Johnny Evans, Tom Cleverly, John O'Shea, Wes Brown, Kieran Richardson and many others like this.

Personally, I'd take:

Sturridge - obviously, he'd take the 4th spot

SWP - in front of Navas, but that may be because I find Navas impotent. Sinclair if you like Navas

Johnson - in front of Lampard

Barton - in front of Fernando

Richards - in front of Sagna

Mee - in front of Boyata

Schmeichel - in front of Caballero

I'd also take Denis Suarez back as he's impressed me at Sevilla, probably in front of the one out of Navas or Sinclair not picked above.

8 homegrowns and 8 club trained without significantly weakening the squad. Only SWP, Johnson and Barton aren't really available today out of them aswell though I wouldn't take back Mee knowing Denayer is coming back next season

It's worth pointing out by the way that that Burnley side who came here and nicked a point after being 2-0 had more City Academy graduates in it than the Man City team did.
 
Regardless of his ability and attitude, Sturridge was, and still is, injury prone. If he was still at City we would all be moaning about his recurring strains and tears.

It’s worth remembering that SWP was only 29 when he was discarded by Mancini.One brilliant season, but was badly advised and slowly went backwards. As much as we all wanted him to succeed, he was never the same second time round.

Micah was arguably the most successful, but I still maintain that Michael Johnson had the most talent. However, as somebody has already alluded, we’ll simply never know.
Perhaps we would be saying the same about Vladimir Weiss if he had suffered a bad injury in 2009 and we hadn't witnessed him slowly fading from prominence.

Barton is a strange one because during our regular sloppy complacent moments I sometimes feel that we need his fire.

I haven’t seen enough of Trippier to form a constructive opinion. Let’s see where he is this time next year.
 
Sturridge would
Micah would if he wasn't injury prone
SWP - without any shadow of a doubt would. Can't believe that some are saying no or just a squad player. If he played like he did in the season before he left, he would be a 1st teamer every game
 
Sill think that we missed a trick letting Ahmed Benali go.. Fallowfield born and bread

City payer from 9 yrs old

Part of the FA Youth Cup winners team and England cap playing a year up.
Excellent attacking mid

Now (IIRRC) playing for Brescia in the Italian league 2nd tier


Look out for Tosin Addabeyou... big rangy defender in the Micah style... EDS and already England capped
 
I agree 100% that SWP in his Pomp was a much better player than navas. Loved the excitement when he got the ball knowing anything was possible.

Not sure about any of the others. I've never been convinced about sturridge.
 
None quite frankly. SWP was an awful passer, MJ has potential only, Micah has no brain, Weiss over-rated, I needn't go on.
 
Prestwich_Blue said:
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?
Click to expand...
Sad sad thread
 
Barton? Are you on drugs? The answer is not a single one of them. Sturbridge may be a squad member but is not fit to lick Sergio's boots.
 
We're not really here said:
Barton? Are you on drugs? The answer is not a single one of them. Sturbridge may be a squad member but is not fit to lick Sergio's boots.
Click to expand...

Yeah, none of them can lick the boots of world class players like Scott Sinclair, Dedryck Boyata, Richard Wright and Matija Nastasic.
 
Damocles said:
We're not really here said:
Barton? Are you on drugs? The answer is not a single one of them. Sturbridge may be a squad member but is not fit to lick Sergio's boots.
Click to expand...

Yeah, none of them can lick the boots of world class players like Scott Sinclair, Dedryck Boyata, Richard Wright and Matija Nastasic.
Click to expand...

Erm I didn't mention any of the four you listed. I merely said Sturridge is not on the same planet as Sergio and he is the only graduate who would get any sort of game time. Yeah others could train with the squad and never play like the ones you mention but the question was who would be good enough and the answer is none.
 
We're not really here said:
Damocles said:
We're not really here said:
Barton? Are you on drugs? The answer is not a single one of them. Sturbridge may be a squad member but is not fit to lick Sergio's boots.
Click to expand...

Yeah, none of them can lick the boots of world class players like Scott Sinclair, Dedryck Boyata, Richard Wright and Matija Nastasic.
Click to expand...

Erm I didn't mention any of the four you listed. I merely said Sturridge is not on the same planet as Sergio and he is the only graduate who would get any sort of game time. Yeah others could train with the squad and never play like the ones you mention but the question was who would be good enough and the answer is none.
Click to expand...

So double Premier League winner Micah Richards wouldn't get in our squad?
 
Damocles said:
We're not really here said:
Damocles said:
Yeah, none of them can lick the boots of world class players like Scott Sinclair, Dedryck Boyata, Richard Wright and Matija Nastasic.
Click to expand...

Erm I didn't mention any of the four you listed. I merely said Sturridge is not on the same planet as Sergio and he is the only graduate who would get any sort of game time. Yeah others could train with the squad and never play like the ones you mention but the question was who would be good enough and the answer is none.
Click to expand...

So double Premier League winner Micah Richards wouldn't get in our squad?
Click to expand...

1. He isn't a double winner.
2. 3 years ago yes, now no. Whether he is better than Sagna is open to debate but I'd go for Sagna for the simple reason he is fit and therefore a more reliable back up.
3. The OP said get in our side. I take that as actually playing on a regular basis. So again I'd say none.
 
Johnson could be doing Lampards job if his injuries hadn't hit so hard. Scored a really good goal against villa if I remember right played a little one-two around the half way line, ghosted up the pitch and curled it in around the edge of the box.

As a grown man I cried when SWP left and I'd love to see him at his peak in our team now but he'd probably be a lot less effective in our team now that defences sit a lot deeper against us although Navas scored some SWP style goals early last season.

Sturridge would definitely have a place in our squad - he's not really like other English strikers.

A player like Willo Flood might actually do better if he came through the academy now although he's probably still too skinny
 
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