Neville Kneville
Well-Known Member
I think this is currently a close to impossible question to answer, & the reason for that is simply that it's a different game, playing alongside top players, & hardly any of our kids have so far been given the opportunity to do it. Some of the best ones, may shit out, when the chance comes.
Imo, there are absolutely loads who could make it at City & some who look like certainties, but the way it usually works is, that one or two of the certainties, are found to lack something & just don't do it, & one or two of the players who looked not quite good enough, find it easier than you (& perhaps they) expected, & suddenly, alongside better players, their game works & they leap forward & practice hard & become the dog's bollocks.
The key to it all though, is you have no idea until you actually start playing them, as it takes time for some to adapt, & we don't fucking play them. Brandon Barker was quiet in Abu Dhabi, but playing with Silva a few times, he probably won't be. (Playing with Kolarov, he might as well get a fucking job in a chip shop). But it could be, he shits out & doesn't produce it. The only way we find out, is to play him sometimes. Same with lots of them.
If we don't start doing so soon, we will have far too many at the age where they need to be around the first team, & that means that some players will end up going on loan, then leaving, without us ever finding out if their game could have been raised by playing at City.
That could easily have happened to Evans, & may still.
I won't slaughter Pellegrini now, as he does go & watch them, & has them training with the first team & I rate what he's done as a manager. But next season, he'd better fucking start thinking of the club, & these players' development, or he can fuck off for me.
No more Sinclairs.
Imo, there are absolutely loads who could make it at City & some who look like certainties, but the way it usually works is, that one or two of the certainties, are found to lack something & just don't do it, & one or two of the players who looked not quite good enough, find it easier than you (& perhaps they) expected, & suddenly, alongside better players, their game works & they leap forward & practice hard & become the dog's bollocks.
The key to it all though, is you have no idea until you actually start playing them, as it takes time for some to adapt, & we don't fucking play them. Brandon Barker was quiet in Abu Dhabi, but playing with Silva a few times, he probably won't be. (Playing with Kolarov, he might as well get a fucking job in a chip shop). But it could be, he shits out & doesn't produce it. The only way we find out, is to play him sometimes. Same with lots of them.
If we don't start doing so soon, we will have far too many at the age where they need to be around the first team, & that means that some players will end up going on loan, then leaving, without us ever finding out if their game could have been raised by playing at City.
That could easily have happened to Evans, & may still.
I won't slaughter Pellegrini now, as he does go & watch them, & has them training with the first team & I rate what he's done as a manager. But next season, he'd better fucking start thinking of the club, & these players' development, or he can fuck off for me.
No more Sinclairs.