If anyone has a player below the standard of Rafael then that team has quite an awful player on their books.

could be worse, could be lumped with Jack Wilshere

comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 3 minutes ago
If anyone has a player below the standard of Rafael then that team has quite an awful player on their books.
---------------

Half a season under Pellegrini and 20 consecutive games in the City team and Rafael would be the finished article.

Just needs a bit of fine tuning.

Didn't city lose in a homegrown/youth final yesterday evening.....

Maybe pellegrini should take over the development sude

Or side even

Didn't city lose in a homegrown/youth final yesterday evening
-----
City kids were told to throw the game so as not to bring too much attention on to their amazing talent.

Such a good job that none have made it through the youth ranks and into the first team for quite a while....

Arouna, I would be amazed if a kid came through the ranks of City or Chelsea ever again.

There seems to be something in the water when it comes to coaching kids in this country. They look good for a moment but very rarely become top drawer.

There seems to be something in the water when it comes to coaching kids in this country. They look good for a moment but very rarely become top drawer.

==

Really?

Really?
--------------
Just watch Ross Barkley.

He shows glimpses of stardom.
But I bet in two years time he will not make the City, Arsenal, Chelsea or Liverpool side.
Better talent will appear from abroad.

I am just looking at how Richards has fallen away at City, yet Sturridge is on fire?

Maybe it is the clubs they have gone to that give them a chance?

Maybe it is the clubs they have gone to that give them a chance?
----------------
Totally agree with that.

I've always thought a talented kid thrown in at the deep end, playing alongside finished article players will come good.

Look at Rooney at United, Fabregas and Ramsey were playing CL football at 17.
If Barkley was put in the Chelsea midfield and told he was going to be played week in week out he would become a star.

Sadly not happening.

Why are we talking about Barkley, you seem to want to knock him? Rooney was the Star of EURO 2004 as an Everton player, yet failed at every other major finals since. Barkley is going to Rio as an Everton player abd like Lallana will excel. Hell, even Stones made standby lost while Richards rots at City. He can't even get a game ahead of the bloke with a ponytail.

Rodwell really excelled when he made the move into the City midfield

Yet played for England at Everton?

Maybe its the club and not the player

Maybe its the club and not the player
----------
Exactly.

The best teams with the best players tend not to take risks with kids anymore.

Rodwell has been injured virtually since he joined us, both Pellegrini and Mancini have sing his praises a few times.

I think the complete opposite in that you'll see a lot of youth coming through in the next few years.

Not really risking it with Rodwell if two managers ring his praises.

Or the others who are performing at the highest level

Well we can't really risk it with him being injured anyway. My point was more that he is seen as a long term option and if it doesn't work out, that is more down to him than anyone else.

Richards?

What about Richards? He played more games than Zabaletta in the title winning season and has only managed three games at a time before getting injured since.