alias75

Not sure why an U21 league would be any different?? most reserve teams are very young nowadays anyway, what these young players need is experience of the pressure that competitive football brings week in week out. I do think the U19 CL idea would be beneficial for their development though especially playing against teams from different countries with different styles and different styles of referees etc...

If you read what i said i don't disagree with those players you named except maybe Ayala and Shelvey. I do think its easier for fullbacks or attacking players to make the step up and would have no problem seeing Flannagan and Robinson as regular parts of the senior squad, but the truth is they aren't ready to be regular starters so will reserve team football and the odd first team game be better for their development than half a season on loan?? I think young players in those "spine" positions like central midfield or centre back do need more experience so players like Coady and Wisdom and maybe even Ayala and Shelvey i think need more experience. In Ayala and Shelvey's case they could go on loan to a lower level PL team with younger players like Coady and Wisdom maybe Championship level. Kelly is already part of the 1st team and you could argue he should be right back in our strongest team so of course he won't go out on loan, but if he is going to develop into a centre back in the future he needs games there to learn the position because at the very highest level its not easy to learn on the job. The league cup is the ideal opportunity to give him games there and also selective PL games so he can get experience in that position without being thrown completely in at the deep end.

Few people were talking about Ayala on twitter yesterday doing really well by all accounts. It was encouraging that Commoli said we will no longer be buying players in positions where we have promising young players blocking their way into the first team. Right back looks well stocked for the forseeable future with GJ, Kelly and Flannagan although given how well Flannagan has done it might encourage Kenny to try Kelly at CB sooner rather than later. Obviously we still need 1 left back but with GJ doing well there and Robinson looking like hes gonna be a player too we only need 1 player there when it looked like we might need 2 not long ago. Centre back is a tough one because experience counts for so much in that position, its very difficult to learn on the job in the PL, we do have a lot of talented young players in that position, Kelly, Ayala, Wisdom, i think Kelly could save us a fortune in the transfer market but you have to blood him slowly so he can adapt to playing there in the PL. Id hope those players currently in our U18 team like Wisdom, Coady, Suso, who play in those positions that are more crucial (spine of the team) go out on loan next season either to Championship teams or lower level PL teams its vital that they make the next step up and understand what its like to play with that type of pressure week in week out. With fullbacks and attacking players to some extent its easier to blood them compared to CBs or central midfielders because that spine of the team is so important.

His performances in the big games have been immense for the last 3 years now. Hes really developing into a top player, given what hes gone through and how hes dealt with it, he deserves all the praise he gets.

Hes not a wide player though, it would be like playing Alonso wide right you wouldn't expect much from him would you?? Think he needs to go out on loan next season and get a full season playing in centre midfield maybe to a PL team but probably to a Championship team. We'll be well covered in midfield next season anyway and Spearing is good enough for that 4th-5th choice central midfielder.

Made up for the players after the effort they put in they didn't deserve to lose. Playing in that type of game will do wonders for Flannagan, Robinson and Spearing. Yes we could have attacked better but we went into the game with a weakened team and lost 2 more experienced defenders during the game so you can't expect miracles from them. That said we did have some decent chances in the 2nd half and if Suarez had had one of his better days we could easily have scored at least 1 on the counter. All these injuries are going to prove a blessing because we're going to blood some very talented young players probably earlier than we should be but they'll benefit so much from it. It gives Kenny and Commoli a good chance to see what they can offer before they spend in the summer.

didn't we beat them at OT not long ago?? when they played a stronger side. Either way these are a talented bunch, we should still be in the youth cup to be honest we were much better than Utd until the players lost their heads but the bottom line is we want to be producing good players for the first team and there does seem to be a lot with a good chance.

Im sure quite a few of our side can play U18s again next season too, either way they've played some great stuff and i think its fair to say this is the most promising U18 team we've had in terms of potential to produce players for the 1st team. Maybe its just because we see a lot more of them now but i can't remember a group as talented as this. And apparently the U16's are meant to be better!!

He's still very young although physically he looks older than he is. Something like making better decisions is something you get with experience and from being put in those situations in a game situation time after time. I think one of the reasons someone like Sterling stands out is because even though he's only 16 he seems to make the right decision more often than not which is really encouraging.

photos on the official...

To be honest based on the tail end of this season i think we're pretty close to Arsenal and they'll probably lose Fabregas in the summer. Yes they'll have CL and we won't but surely this decision will be based on more than 1 season and im happier where we're heading compared to Arsenal who look like they have the same problems they've had for the last 3-4 seasons. If it is City id be tempted to insist on Hart as part of the deal, hes not as good as Reina but GK is such a tough position to fill and i do think hes a very good keeper so it could be an opportunity to get him cheaper than if he were on the open market if they really wanted Reina and it would take the hassle out of trying to secure a replacement, because GK is such an important position.

Great article and encouraging to hear we won't be signing players in positions that would block the progress of a promising youngster. You only have to look at the summer and the signings of Cole when we have Pacheco and Poulson when we have Spearing as examples of where a young players progress has been blocked by an aged player on huge wages providing little value for money. As the article said there are some positions where you need experience, id say CB is one of those positions but i do think we should be looking to blood Kelly slowly next season, giving him the odd game there so he can get used to playing there at PL level. We do have some promising young players at CB but its a very tough position to learn on the job because usually a mistake leads to a goal, but id like to see Wisdom out on loan to a championship side next season and the same with players like Coady and maybe even Sterling who probably aren't quite ready for the first team yet but need to experience what its like playing in a pressurised environment like the Championship, that surely would be better for their development than playing in the reserves.

Ok sorry you can remove my post if you like, i know the city is probably the worst place in the world for rumours so hopefully its not true.

Anyone else heard the rumours about Kenny?? hopefully its BS but it might explain why he hasn't been given a new contract.

Think it also shows we're teaching our young players the right way to play which is encouraging. You could have excused him for taking the easy option but he tried to pass it all night, watching the reserves and U18 it does look as if they're being coached to keep trying to pass it and its great to see someone come into the first team and have the confidence to play that way on their debut.

Yeah sometimes your forced into playing a young player and they surprise you with how well they make the step up, obviously its just 1 game but it does make you wonder how well some of our other young players would handle it if called upon. Personally i think it makes sense in every way to use our young players to fill the squad so the money we spend can be on quality. Have a squad of 15-16 top quality players and then use young players to fill the rest of the squad. The amount of money we're putting into young players suggests this will be part of a long term strategy.

Wow didn't expect that tonight, but i think it goes to show what happens when you have better balance throughout the team i.e proper fullbacks playing in their proper positions. Flannagan was excellent for someone to come into a game like that on your debut and play the way he did is a credit to him, it does make you wonder how a lot of our younger players will handle the step up. Kelly's come in and been one of our best players this season and now Flannagan slots in as if hes played 50 PL games. He passed it well and was never really caught out, thought Dirk worked really hard to help him out to. I would like to see more of our young players given a chance and used to help fill out the squad so money we spend can be on quality. Someone like Poulson is a prime example, we spend £5million on him plus who knows how much in wages when we already have Spearing who could do the job of a 4th choice central midfielder, its great when a young player comes in and does well not only for the fans but it gives all those other young players hope that they can do it too, this is definitely one of the most talented group of young players we've ever had so hopefully we can see 5 or 6 of them make the step up over the next few seasons. Carroll and Suarez showed what they're going to bring to the team, a genuine partnership with goal threat throughout the 90min, can't wait to see how they go with a proper pre-season and better players around them more suited to getting the best out of what they offer. Agree that we need a 3rd striker who can come on when they tire, maybe someone like Conor Wickham? If you were a City fan you'd be worried about where all that moneys gone, signing players with highly dubious mental strength (Ballotelli and Dzeko) and over priced English players that are quite average. Rumours that Tevez is off in the summer would be a worry cos hes one of the few they've signed with the right quality and attitude. Just goes to show how important the mentality of the player is as well as their ability.

Yeah Cole looks like hes forgot how to play football!! But because its Joe Cole im sure there'll be 2 or 3 teams prepared to take him off us and pay for the privilege. Hopefully his wages aren't a problem but he does strike me as the type of player that will leave and take a pay cut rather than sit on the bench. If hes told he has no future here i think he'll move, maybe back to West Ham, but im sure there are a few mid level PL teams that would take a chance on him still. With Pacheco i just think hes deserved a chance in the last few months even as a substitute. Cole has shown nothing when hes played, and its not as if we're blessed with talented technically sound attacking players with a bit of flair and vision.

It really is confusing why he hasn't figured more for us especially in the Europa Cup, hopefully he impresses while at Norwich and can take the place of Joe Cole next season. Cole has done nothing whenever he's had a chance all hes doing at the moment is taking a huge amount of money in wages and blocking a talented young player from getting a chance. I still think there are enough clubs stupid enough to give us 4-5 million for Cole and if thats the case we should move him on pronto and give Pacheco a chance. He isn't ready to be a consistent 1st team player at the moment, but last season he proved he can be an effective sub, he does have great movement and technical ability something we're not overly blessed with at the moment in the 1st team squad.

Huge summer for the owners but im pretty confident they know what they have to invest in the team to get us back to challenging for top 4. Hopefully we can still attract the quality of player good enough to improve us sufficiently. Man Utd will probably be spending plenty in the summer and Man City too, i guess our greatest asset at the moment is we can almost guarantee some of these players first team football and hopefully thats enough to get some like Enrique, think Cahill might be more difficult if Arsenal want him. We are being linked with the right types of players though which i guess is something everyone knows we need players with pace in the team hopefully with Commolli here that will happen.

We had 1 fit fullback going into todays game and its been like this for a while now, having poor quality of players is one thing and the quality of our squad does need improving but when you add to that a complete lack of balance throughout the side and its a miracle we are where we are really. It will be a pleasant experience just to see players playing in their proper positions and fullbacks playing fullbacks and left footers playing on the left, and central midfielders playing in central midfield, at the moment we can't even do that. Obviously losing GJ and Agger before half an hour was up seriously hurt our chances today. Everyone knows the squad isn't strong enough, but it makes the decision to allow Insua and Aquillani go out on loan for a season all the more incredible, that was the previous managers decision.

Thats how i feel, the lack of any sort of balance in the team is like nothing ive seen before, hopefully those areas get addressed and the knock on effect will go throughout the team. We're not going to see the best of Carroll or Suarez until we get at least 1 proper wide player and fullbacks that can get forward, Meireles has been one of our best players this season but once again hes being forced to play out of position. Obviously having to play our 4th choice CB isn't ideal either or having 1 fit fullback for most of the season. These things are all very frustrating but hopefully the summer will see 3 or 4 top players come in especially in those problem positions.

Knew it was going to be one of those days when we had to make 2 changes at left back before half an hour. The team lacks any balance at the moment, even before the changes we're playing CBs at fullbacks and right backs at left back and central midfielders out wide. Sods law that we get 2 injuries to our problem position and after that it was always going to be difficult. The balance of the midfield just isn't there, Carroll needs wingers and fullbacks pushing on and at the moment we have neither. WBA dominated most of the game and deserved at least a draw, thought the 2nd pen was a soft one, he definitely was going down before there was any contact but you felt something like that might happen. Figure maybe 5 of that team will be considered in our strongest 11 next season so while its frustrating it has little bearing on where we're heading except to confirm what we already knew, we need better quality and we need a proper left back and at least 1 proper wide player.

Notice he said how he had scouted Suarez too, which kind of contradicts what he said before. Almost trying to claim credit for his signing. How the hell did we end up with him in charge of our team for 6 months??

I agree the biggest problem he had when he first got in the team was confidence, you never felt his team mates trusted him and obviously that affected his confidence. When you play in the position he does you should see a lot of the ball and if your team mates don't want to pass it to you thats a problem. I don't think it was a coincidence that in those early years his better games usually came when Gerrard wasn't in the team. Obviously thats changed now, hes earnt the trust of the players and thats helped his confidence. He usually does very well in the big games and tactically he's very disciplined which is why Rafa loved him so much and im sure its part of the reason why Kenny and the new Brazil manager have him in their starting teams.