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Trying to look at it from a neutral perspective, I have to say that what City have achieved is impressive and their impact on the youth scene in Manchester began long before the opening of their City Football Academy this week, an event which seems to have generated more publicity in some quarters than the arrival of Christmas.

It has been no secret among people I know in football that City have taken great strides in their youth academy programmes, to the extent where there are even United players past and present who have, or at least once had, sons at City's academy.

That will be difficult for a lot of United fans to get their heads around. I guess when it comes to a parent wanting the right thing for their child, it takes precedence over even the deepest loyalties.

But things change and you can take nothing for granted. In the modern era, United, with their history of being the greatest talent producer, have to watch that they do not become second choice in their own city.

mr_nool wrote:He's not really saying anything though, and there are a lot of backhanded compliments as well.
We haven't won the youth FA cup since 2008, so clearly we don't breed winners?

That's a very typical text for someone who has to write something/anything, but doesn't really have an opinion.

That it is City who are getting the better players in the local area. How that has happened, I cannot say definitively but it will come down to more than one factor.

Clearly, the offer of a professional contract when a boy turns 17, and the size of that contract, can never be ignored.

It is also about the coaching too. I am more in favour of creating footballers who know how to do the jobs they need to do in a game. At City the emphasis has, I am told, been more about teaching kids to play in certain systems.

I Just Blue Myself wrote:

mr_nool wrote:He's not really saying anything though, and there are a lot of backhanded compliments as well.
We haven't won the youth FA cup since 2008, so clearly we don't breed winners?

That's a very typical text for someone who has to write something/anything, but doesn't really have an opinion.

Spot on. Some pointless statistics about FA Youth Cup winners, some reminiscing about his own youth and some platitudes to barely string those together.

That it is City who are getting the better players in the local area. How that has happened, I cannot say definitively but it will come down to more than one factor.

Clearly, the offer of a professional contract when a boy turns 17, and the size of that contract, can never be ignored.

It is also about the coaching too. I am more in favour of creating footballers who know how to do the jobs they need to do in a game. At City the emphasis has, I am told, been more about teaching kids to play in certain systems.

You don't say, Paul, but what's your point!