Wonderwall wrote:PrezIke wrote:Crossie wrote:We won't need to buy English talent from other clubs. We've got all the talent we need already in our EDS and youth teams.
Peps job is to take a fucking chance on a few of them and develop them, coach and mentor them into being all that they promised they could.
This summer should be used as a clear out of the players Pep will already know are too old and stuck in their ways or not able to play his way. Nasri, Martin, Yaya, Zabs, Clichy, mabybe the 2 Ferns, maybe Mangala but I'd be interested to see what can be done with him still.
We need 1 world class centre midfielder. Full back is a great position for a youth player because there is a lot of natural cover so we need to see what we've got coming through for those positions.
Then the big CB question. Has Kompany got it left in him? Especially after this summers fucking European Championships.
Well..."We don't need to," yet we did buy Roberts, and doubt that will be the last time.
I don't think we are going to close the door to poaching young talent from lower level clubs, like other bigger clubs have in the past and still engage in today as well.
No academy, no matter how good, is going to produce THAT many first team players. If anything, a key variable to having a strong academy is producing players well trained to sell to other clubs. This mean it's a revenue creator, as well as help attract young talent with hopes even if they don't make our first team squad will attract interest from other clubs around the world due to reputation for our scouting and academy training.
I happen to think that we have academy players that would do a good job now for the first team with the right players in the team to help them grow. Tosin and Humphreys are two cracking talents, tall strong, pacey with a footballing brain.
The full backs are will known and we have midfield talent in celina, barker, Garcia and roberts
In the younger age group, Kongolo, nmecha and brahim are also fantastic talents.
Last but not least, Gunn is a cracking keeper coming through.
Don't forget the loanees that will come back too.
The future is bright.
Completely agree that we do seem to have a strong pool of young talent across the EDS, Under 18s, and out on loan, which bodes quite well for the club's future.
As you of course know, talent at a young age is not the only variable in determining how well a player will do in the future at the highest level. The Prem is a unique league that some players can struggle to perform, even whilst having proven track records in other good leagues.
I hope they all make it to the first team, but some will likely not. For every Iheanacho there are far more Michael Johnson's out there (I know that's a bit extreme of an example, but you know what I mean).
To make our first team you need to be more than good, you need to be able to get games with a club that expects to win trophies in all competitions. That's a very high standard. Some players could turn out to be a Trippier and make it elsewhere in the Prem, but seeming just a notch below what we are looking for.
Either way, I am excited for the youth we posses, yet I do believe buying players like Roberts won't end if the club thinks it is worth the investment.
Watch on 