26 Jan 2015 14:07:21
Does anybody know if Wilson has a new contract signed yet?
I was under the impression it runs out in the summer, but I may have missed something.
Haven't we got a few young players with contracts expiring in the summer?
Nope, his deal still runs out in the summer and no word has been spoken about it.
Cheers Fresh, a bit concerning.
SPB - He is the only young one I personally think will make the grade, so the only one I'm worried about really.
Yes Beast I agree.
I think the likes of Blackett and McNair will be moved on once we have better first team defenders. Can't see any keeper making it and it looks as though Pereira wants to leave to but even he I think would struggle to make it.
We need to nail Wilson down. I don't think he should be starting for us all the time right now, but in a season or two he will be something else with the pace and finishing capabilities he has.
Peirreras contract runs out as well which would be ashame he played well tonight very talented rumour today that psg are sniffing
We do seem very quick to write people off. Not everyone can be a star so young, give these guys a chance.
AJH - Its more to do with the calibre we need now. I'm all for giving youth a chance, but you have to be the elite of the elite to make it at a top club directly from youth, it's just too competitive to have passengers now and win things. Just look at Chelsea & City.
27 Jan 2015 12:29:48
Beast,
Is that City who are looking more and more unlikely to win anything this year?
You know the point I am making. Those CB positions will be filled in the summer and an elite wide player or 2 signed as well. So it will be very hard for youth players to break through imo.
Wilson is the only one that realistically stands a chance.
27 Jan 2015 16:01:08
Beast, young lads all develop mentally and physically at different ages, tho. Just because they haven't shone as bright at 16, doesn't mean they won't by the time they've filled out their frames and matured.
My wee lad has stalled a bit at the minute. Plays for the local top flight's under 13 side. Started off as a left winger in the u10s, but now he's playing full back, with the possibility of being moved to centre half. The reason? At 12 years of age, he's nearly 5ft 9 - just won't stop growing. Unfortunately he hasn't the strength in his legs now. He's went from being one of the quickest in the team, to the second slowest, all because of his growth spurt.
It's a really frustrating time for him, but credit to the coach. Could have dumped him. Instead he told me that Josh's intelligence on the pitch, his reading of the game, and his passing ability, will help negate the loss of pace somewhat He said he wouldn't dream of dropping him, because he's hopeful, once Josh puts some muscle on his legs, and grows into his frame, that he'll have a decent wee footballer on his hands. He makes sure he regularly tells Josh this too, to keep his spirits up.
Sorry, didn't mean to turn this into a post about my son, but I think it's an example of how to treat kids in football, rather than not taking into account the different growing stages that wee fellas will go through. They're not all ready to show their potential at 20, never mind at 12. It depends how much we're prepared to give them every opportunity
Noucamp.
I understand what you are saying exactly. I went through it myself, I was a high flyer from 10-16, I stopped growing for a couple of years pretty much, had a bad knee problem (Osgood-Schlatters) and that was it for me. I couldn't recover to the level I was at, despite a late growth spurt.
My point is really simple and not against developing young players as they are the future. I think it is very difficult for clubs like us, City & Chelsea to gamble playing 18-21 year olds that are not already elite, because one passenger can be very costly, there is so much money in the game now that they can afford to not gamble and wait for other clubs (with less money and pressure) to bring players to term and then pay big money for them, when they are the finished article.
I don't agree with this, but it is what is happening. Only the ultra elite 18 year olds will play regularly for the top clubs now. So this is why I think top clubs shouldn't even be allowed to rape other clubs for their young prospects because it is much harder for them to get good quality fooball. Look how many of our young players are loaned to the wrong teams or simply don't develop.
McNair & Blackett will be at lower Prem teams in a couple of years in my view. Other players like Perreira who are really talented won't get enough games, so will either go on loan (so they train with lesser players and play at a lesser standard) or will rot.