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This may sound snarky, but I am especially surprised to hear this from a Liverpool fan. CL has been the only real taste of success for Liverpool in the last 30 years (save for a few domestic cups, but I think we can all agree those are below the CL and Prem). I figured if anyone was going to take up the CL banner, it'd be 'Pool fans
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BigPapa brings up an especially interesting case in Bayern. They have always had a large number of home grown players, while supplementing that with (mostly) smart purchases. I have to think that their history of success + a large catchement area + extremely good German coaching have all played a part. Being the most popular club in Germany mean parents want their kids in that youth system and kids want to be there. Once you're in the system, the coaches are able to nurture the players to the best of their abilities. Just doing a quick look at their Wiki and I see Lahm, Muller, Contento, Alaba, Badstuber, Schweiny, Can, and Kroos. Alaba may be a stretch, but if you play U-17, that`s basically the Bayern youth system. Frankly, that`s pretty close to a damn good starting 11.
Biggest problem facing England is highlighted in this article (dated, but I believe the ratios still hold true) - http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2...ortage-england
England isn`t that much different than Spain, Italy or Germany, but they are dwarfed in terms of coach output. Perhaps the new academy at St George will help change the mentality in English youth soccer, but that is going to take timeThree years ago an official report concluded that coaching is the "golden thread" leading to international success, but new Uefa data shows that there are only 2,769 English coaches holding Uefa's B, A and Pro badges, its top qualifications. Spain has produced 23,995, Italy 29,420, Germany 34,970 and France 17,588.Comment
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my views are coming from the club's videos and press releases so it's not like i'm just pulling shit out my arse and trying to convince you it's roses ... just not my style
i think there is a year-old article or video on the mcfc.co.uk website where Patrick Vieira talks about emulating Barcelona with the youth academy. and an example of City willing to pay for the 17-19 year olds is where they paid more than Barcelona was willing to shell out for Suarez. the club is obviously looking to be a leader in youth development and i expect it to succeed, in time
and my opinion of patience comes from some interview Al Mubarak did after winning the premiership. he said something about how it is still early and how the club still has a long way to go. since Sheikh Mansour doesn't do many interviews for the club i just go with Al Mubarak to get a feel for how ownership is thinking
... but i'm obviously seeing things through sky blue colored glasses since everyone else and their mother disagrees with my views. so be it*<|8-DComment
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Just to respond to the Chelsea bits:
Bruma is still just 20, and Terry is still just 31. I think he's still going to be on loan for the next 1-2 years. What he becomes after that? Who knows. (Supporting your point, of course).
McEacheren really got set back when Sigurdsson broke out with Swansea last year, he just didn't get the time that Chelsea expected him to get. He's been fantastic by all accounts at Middlesborough this year, and I think next year he would be a player that you we could afford to give more minutes in the first team next year. But I doubt that happens.
Romeu I think will become a constant in the first team. He is the backup for Mikel in that role of our midfield 2 right now. And I think he will get his minutes this year. He's looked good whenever he's been on the field.
Sturridge I think does have the quality, and with Torres really starting to look like he could use a break, I could see him getting more minutes in the near future. He's our only other true #9 on the team (Piazon or Moses is probably our 3rd striker currently). And he had a fantastic goal-scoring record last year playing as a striker on the wing.
I think De Bruyne should be mentioned in the same group as Oscar and Hazard. I think he is Lampard's replacement, personally. But he also provides more depth at any of the 3 AM spots. No way he isn't in our first team next year.
Marin I think was a depth buy. Seemed great at the time for only 7m, but he continues to be plagued by injuries justifying his price a bit.
Don't forget Lukaku who I think will be in the first team next year or the year after.
As far as all of our other loanees, they're all under 20 and I think benefit more by getting minutes than playing with our youth or reserve team. I honestly think we're starting to get it more right with our youngsters, in a way that could lead to them making it with our first team.Comment
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and i don't know what Mark Hughes was thinking letting Sturridge get away*<|8-DComment
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I tend to believe what I see.
I see a club that took the absolutely shortest route possible to success - money. And it did so without regard to any possible consequences. That is not patience.
And I'm talking about clubs committing to a true youth development policy by playing them. Not just spending money on those 17-20 year old players but actually playing them with some regularity. Manchester City does that. Arsenal does that. Barcelona does that. When I see Mancini actually decide to give a 20-year old Abdul Razak a chance to play regularly for the 1st team instead of spending 20m on Javi Garcia, then I'll believe in the commitment to developing youth. Until then, its words and more spent money. Nothing more.Comment
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I'm also of the opinion that unless you are Fergie, Wenger, or Moyes, no manager is making personnel decisions. Like when people credit AVB for bringing in Mata, Cahill and Romeu, I always lol. But yeah, letting Sturridge go was silly.Comment
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but we are talking about recent efforts whose benefits won't be realized for years (in regards to the youth academy). i acknowledge City's academy hasn't been so great in the past but i see a bright future with what is going on right now.
we'll see what actually happens*<|8-DComment
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It's fair to hope for a bright future, but Chelsea is the perfect template of how things actually work out. It's been almost 10 years so far and I can't think of one youth player that has broke into the team since '03. Things are just barely starting to look up, and even that's not for certain. Luckily for us Abramovich loves/has grown to love Chelsea and I don't see him ever abandoning us. You'd better hope your sugar daddy ends up the same.Comment
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One means you are the best domestic team, the other means you are best of a continent and basically the world. Domestic titles are more grueling, but the competition faced in the CL blows any domestic league out of the water.
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