***city v soton official match thread***

[Dameerto]

Now that actually looked like a practised corner, even though it didn't come off.

[blues2win]

Mad by MDM. Denayer really has a chance next season.

[Moonchesteri]

That didn't need a yellow in the first fucking minute.

If it's worthy a yellow later in a game it's a yellow in the first minute as well. Right call imo

[Im_Spartacus]

As with others, I find it embarrassing and a little ridiculous that we've tossed the kids aside so readily for this game. Every other team that has nothing left to play for (and some with) are giving some a chance and we're not. It's bollocks and makes a mockery out of the academy.

Honestly can't see an occasion where he will give them a go. When if not in a dead rubber? Proved he won't do it in the cups.

Is it really that simple?

Ian Nacho faces a big international tournament, I'm fairly sure that whilst he will go on to play in the premier league, he will never play in another World Youth Cup, so why risk it?

The various views in recent weeks and months on this thread suggest that there are none who are definitely ready, and if fatigue has kicked in after a heavy season at all the youth levels, what do we gain by playing kids for 20 minutes in this particular game.

We also have a responsibility to the competition to give Southampton a game - we get criticised for everything else anyway, getting beaten and having Liverpool miss out on the Uefa would no doubt become our fucking fault if there were a couple of kids on the pitch, we would have devalued the competition, be ruining football and have fuck knows how long of negative publicity over it.

Come the start of next season if that situation hasn't changed, I'd be a bit pissed, but I'm happy to see a strong side out today

[Moonchesteri]

Now that actually looked like a practised corner, even though it didn't come off.

Yep. A good move, I liked it

[Dameerto]

We can give them a game - and if we end up with a three goal lead with 20 mins to play we can bring a kid on IF we have one on the bench. We've been in exactly that position a few times this season but without a kid to take advantage of it.

This is why I suggested Dyke should be agitating for an extra sub slot in the Prem exclusively for a youngster so the old fossils who don't like using kids will be at least forced to have one involved with the first team every game.

[Slim]

Uncharacteristic from Kolarov there.

[Saul Goodman]

Well taken free kick

[twosips]

As with others, I find it embarrassing and a little ridiculous that we've tossed the kids aside so readily for this game. Every other team that has nothing left to play for (and some with) are giving some a chance and we're not. It's bollocks and makes a mockery out of the academy.

Honestly can't see an occasion where he will give them a go. When if not in a dead rubber? Proved he won't do it in the cups.

Is it really that simple?

Ian Nacho faces a big international tournament, I'm fairly sure that whilst he will go on to play in the premier league, he will never play in another World Youth Cup, so why risk it?

The various views in recent weeks and months on this thread suggest that there are none who are definitely ready, and if fatigue has kicked in after a heavy season at all the youth levels, what do we gain by playing kids for 20 minutes in this particular game.

We also have a responsibility to the competition to give Southampton a game - we get criticised for everything else anyway, getting beaten and having Liverpool miss out on the Uefa would no doubt become our fucking fault if there were a couple of kids on the pitch, we would have devalued the competition, be ruining football and have fuck knows how long of negative publicity over it.

Come the start of next season if that situation hasn't changed, I'd be a bit pissed, but I'm happy to see a strong side out today

It is that simple, yes, imo. Nacho isn't the only one who deserves a go. Maffeo has been excellent all year, Angelino would deserve a spot on the bench. Garcia, Gunn, Barker based on his season as a whole. Glendon for skippering the EDS well all year or Byrne cos he's a talented tenacious little bastard. Many of them would have been deserving of a sub appearance. We have a responsibility to reward our kids with at least a token gesture to acknowledge their overall excellence this season. Even just two on the bench. It'd have been wholly deserved and the last thing we want is a reputation of being bad at bringing kids through. Pellers has history of treating this crop of kids badly and has done it all year.

You're having a laugh if you think naming barker and Maffeo on the bench would have been met with howls of derision from the footballing world. Every other team has done it. I get you're trying to be a voice of reason but I just simply don't agree.

[Mikhail Chigorin]

Arsenal are already 3-0 ahead after just under 20 minutes.

Whinger must think they've still got a chance of catching us....well, Mourinho did say we ought to have had points deducted.

[Im_Spartacus]

Well taken free kick

If there was ever evidence that we don't practice set pieces enough, that was it.

It actually looked like it was a pre-worked set piece until Toure banged it back to the defender with the move having completely run out of ideas.

[twosips]

Anyway, Yaya has been great so far...depressingly. Not seen him run this much with the ball in ages. Shame he'll leave.

[CTID Hants]

Cheers lads got it on viasat sport Baltic in the end

[Moonchesteri]

What a save! Wow

[Dameerto]

Fucking hell I thought that was going in when Aguero pounced on the rebound.

[Im_Spartacus]

Anyway, Yaya has been great so far...depressingly. Not seen him run this much with the ball in ages. Shame he'll leave.

It's almost like he's playing for a new contract or a transfer isn't it?

Cunt

[Moonchesteri]

Fucking hell I thought that was going in when Aguero pounced on the rebound.

I would've bet my house on it! 99/100 that's a goal

[Saul Goodman]

Well taken free kick

If there was ever evidence that we don't practice set pieces enough, that was it.

It actually looked like it was a pre-worked set piece until Toure banged it back to the defender with the move having completely run out of ideas.

Awful set pieces so far

[zuricity]

Foy could have shown a red there to Long.

[Dameerto]

cracking ball from Lampard in that attempted counter.