Name our top three prospects

[Tony P]

Just been watching the U18s on the os. Some names there I'd never heard. Who are our best up and coming players at that level and in the level above?

[Ted Hughes]

Impossible to say at this stage, until they are tested at a higher level.

There is a hell of a lot of talent in various age groups. Some will fall away, but at last, I recon some will come through.

There is too much talent for all of it to go missing.

Pozo, Lopez & Denayer are 3 I would expect to make it, but quite how far they can go, we will see when they get a bit older.

[Nigels Tackle]

micah richards?

[Bridge'srightfoot]

I'm beginning to think the youngsters may not get a chance.
For example at 5-0 against Spurs after an hour, it was surely the ideal opportunity to get Guidetti on?
Instead we put Garcia on. Why?
Sometimes you just have to throw these youngsters into the deep end and see if they sink or swim.

[Dunnylad]

I'm beginning to think the youngsters may not get a chance. For example at 5-0 against Spurs after an hour, it was surely the ideal opportunity to get Guidetti on? Instead we put Garcia on. Why? Sometimes you just have to throw these youngsters into the deep end and see if they sink or swim.

To be fair, Guidetti was only on the bench because Kolarov pulled out of the original bench lineup - in those circumstances he was never likely to feature.

[Bridge'srightfoot]

I'm beginning to think the youngsters may not get a chance. For example at 5-0 against Spurs after an hour, it was surely the ideal opportunity to get Guidetti on? Instead we put Garcia on. Why? Sometimes you just have to throw these youngsters into the deep end and see if they sink or swim.

To be fair, Guidetti was only on the bench because Kolarov pulled out of the original bench lineup - in those circumstances he was never likely to feature.

Even so. It was the ideal opportunity to get a youngster on. 5-0 against a top side. It would have given him a good opportunity in a no pressure environment. If we're not gonna give a youngster a chance in that situation then when are we?
Were you honestly happier seeing Garcia come on?

[Bleed_Blue]

Even so. It was the ideal opportunity to get a youngster on. 5-0 against a top side. It would have given him a good opportunity in a no pressure environment. If we're not gonna give a youngster a chance in that situation then when are we?
Were you honestly happier seeing Garcia come on?

We are not even trying to be holistic

But December will speak a lot with FA and Carling cup matches ahead

[Tru_Blu]

http://www.newsnow.co.uk/A/682858589?-1808:813

[MilnersJaw]

it is nice that the club is spending hundreds of millions on state of the art training grounds, but realistically these youngers are not going to be brought through. in spain barcelona can shove them in the B team and they can develop from there. in england the situation is different, the owners demand results and since we have the money and building rep now, we buy the best we can, which leaves no room for youngsters.

from a fans perspective it is good and bad. you want to see your team do well, but like now some of us are annoyed we can't see some of the young ones either.

[Tesl]

Guidetti is nearly 22, I'm not even sure its even fair to call him a youngster anymore. Seems for whatever reason he just won't make it.

[Fidel Castro]

Guidetti is nearly 22, I'm not even sure its even fair to call him a youngster anymore. Seems for whatever reason he just won't make it.

Probably cos he's just not good enough.

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

Guidetti is nearly 22, I'm not even sure its even fair to call him a youngster anymore. Seems for whatever reason he just won't make it.

It's a funny thing. Our own youth products always get a "youngster" pass 'til about 24. Remember how people were talking about Michael Johnson for example. It's only in past year or so people have stopped calling Micah youngster. This has happened with lot of other players as well.

I'm not completely writing Guidetti off. All I'm saying is that 95% of top footballers were quite close to their best at the age of 22.

[Blue Since 76]

It's a funny thing. Our own youth products always get a "youngster" pass 'til about 24. Remember how people were talking about Michael Johnson for example. It's only in past year or so people have stopped calling Micah youngster. This has happened with lot of other players as well.

I'm not completely writing Guidetti off. All I'm saying is that 95% of top footballers were quite close to their best at the age of 22.

Look at Guidetti's stats from his season at Feyenord - he at least had what it took to be a good European player. That he's disappeared for 18 months was down to serious injury, not lack of talent. Whether he can ever be sharp enough to be a top footballer again, who knows.

If Pellegrini doesn't expect to play him this season, we need to send him on loan, in England and preferably to a premier league side - West Ham, Palace, Stoke all look desperate for a striker. If he goes there and looks like Benteke, we'll all be looking forward to having him back. If he can't get past Chamakh to make the first team, then let him go in summer.

[Breks]

It's a funny thing. Our own youth products always get a "youngster" pass 'til about 24. Remember how people were talking about Michael Johnson for example. It's only in past year or so people have stopped calling Micah youngster. This has happened with lot of other players as well.

I'm not completely writing Guidetti off. All I'm saying is that 95% of top footballers were quite close to their best at the age of 22.

Johnson was quality, shame how his career was cut short. Didi Hamman said that Johnson was a better player the Gerrard at the same age. He could of been a City legend, real shame.

[JamieMCFC]

I'm beginning to think the youngsters may not get a chance.
For example at 5-0 against Spurs after an hour, it was surely the ideal opportunity to get Guidetti on?
Instead we put Garcia on. Why?
Sometimes you just have to throw these youngsters into the deep end and see if they sink or swim.

I think you are completely wrong. I don't think to many youngsters will be given a chance over the next couple of years. Not because the club doesn't want too. But because the current crop that might have broken through before the takeover just aren't good enough for where we are going. I think eventually with the infrastructure and investment going into youth development we will see some players start to break through to the first team. I think the problem with most supporters is they are looking for right now and why is so and so player on the bench. But with some things you need to take a step back and look at the long term. As far as Barca having their B team. I think our owners have found away around this.

[Beefymcfc]

None of our youngsters will be good enough, until we give them a try. The truth is, forget al this holistic pish unless we are talking about getting money back for expensive players, that we need to prove ourselves which leads to managers having to play the tried and trusted. City's youngsters are the future but here and now, they are still that.

Anybody know how many of the youth are making through in the other top European teams? Let's say Rags, Chelsea, Barca, Real, PSG, Milan etc?

Fighting for the top, and sponsorship, requires teams to be fighting hard for the top spot, the youth doesn't really get a chance, especially in our position.

[Bridge'srightfoot]

I'm beginning to think the youngsters may not get a chance.
For example at 5-0 against Spurs after an hour, it was surely the ideal opportunity to get Guidetti on?
Instead we put Garcia on. Why?
Sometimes you just have to throw these youngsters into the deep end and see if they sink or swim.

I think you are completely wrong. I don't think to many youngsters will be given a chance over the next couple of years. Not because the club doesn't want too. But because the current crop that might have broken through before the takeover just aren't good enough for where we are going. I think eventually with the infrastructure and investment going into youth development we will see some players start to break through to the first team. I think the problem with most supporters is they are looking for right now and why is so and so player on the bench. But with some things you need to take a step back and look at the long term. As far as Barca having their B team. I think our owners have found away around this.

You've looked way to deeply into what I said.
Answer me this. At 5-0 against Spurs with half an hour left would you rather see a young striker, who tore apart the Dutch league given a chance to come on or would you rather see Javi Garcia?
There was zero risk with bringing him on.

[Blue Since 76]

You've looked way to deeply into what I said.
Answer me this. At 5-0 against Spurs with half an hour left would you rather see a young striker, who tore apart the Dutch league given a chance to come on or would you rather see Javi Garcia?
There was zero risk with bringing him on.

I'd rather have seen the tea lady than Garcia

[Bridge'srightfoot]

You've looked way to deeply into what I said.
Answer me this. At 5-0 against Spurs with half an hour left would you rather see a young striker, who tore apart the Dutch league given a chance to come on or would you rather see Javi Garcia?
There was zero risk with bringing him on.

I'd rather have seen the tea lady than Garcia

That substitution really baffled me. Fair enough we wanted to give Aguero a rest but why bring on a defensive midfielder, especially if it's Javi garcia?!
Made no sense, was the ideal opportunity to at least give Guidetti 20 minutes or so in a no risk situation.
He might not be good enough, but at least give him a chance in those circumstances.

[Blue Since 76]

Anybody know how many of the youth are making through in the other top European teams? Let's say Rags, Chelsea, Barca, Real, PSG, Milan etc?

All the rags players have come through their youth system. Most of the current squad were born within site of the swamp.

Barca is probably still the exception, but the clubs you name above are all looking for top class players, plus the odd world class one. If you think just in all the English leagues how many players there are good enough to play for one of the top 4 success compared to how many professional players there are, the chance of a top 4 player coming through at a top 4 club is actually quite small. If you remove the players clubs buy at 16 and then make out are from their academies, the percentage will be even lower.