The future is bright, the future is blue.

As anyone who has followed this blog may know, I'm a big advocate of the work done in City's academy and the youngsters we have in the ranks at the moment are more promising than at any other time in it's 14 year history.

Today saw a City U17s side crowned champions of the Al Ain International Football Juniors Championship in Abu Dhabi. They also won all of their 4 games against the UAE, Al Ain U17, Valencia as well as NextGen champions, Inter Milan, scoring 10 and conceding just 4 in the competition.

What is particularly satisfying is after what may be considered a very poor NextGen series where City lost all of their games, they beat 2 of the top youth teams in Europe in this tournament.

In the NextGen series, City fielded a much younger side than most others having a lot of their U19s out on loan, meaning it was largely an U17 team playing 2 age levels above them. When the tables were evened up, City came out on top.

You might be thinking "yeah well it's just a poxy trophy no one cares about." Well try telling that to the lads that were out there. To these young lads, they have beat some of the best teams of their age group, and won a trophy. It breeds a winning mentality and that can not be valued enough.

City's U18s are also top of their respective Premier Academy League by 5 points, a league that also contains Liverpool, Everton and Manchester United academies. City's U18s have the best defensive and 2nd best scoring record in their group.

What is even more promising about the U18s performances is that they have a sprinkling of U16 players who play for them. Ashley Smith-Brown one of the first among them. A 16 year old defender who can play across the back and has several international appearances at youth level. There have been rumours that Barcelona are looking at signing him in the summer after impressing their scouts in the NextGen series.

Several of the players have been tipped for big futures in the game. Albert Rusnak, Devante Cole, Jordi Hiwula, Alex Henshall, this season's recruits Denis Suarez,and  Karim Rekik, and latest additions Marco Lopes and Jose Pozo.

The strike combination of Devante Cole and Jordi Hiwula (both England youth internationals) have been lethal this season, scoring 24 goals in a combined 33 appearances with Hiwula bagging 15 of them.

Alex Henshall, as I have mentioned before, has been shortlisted for Team GB's Olympic football squad which is headed by Stuart Pearce and is another England youth international.

In fact all of the above-mentioned players feature in their respective age groups at international level. But perhaps the most promising player coming through the ranks, recently sent on loan and regularly featuring for Portsmouth, is Karim Rekik who arrived at City this season aged 16. He has already featured for City's first team during the 2-0 win against Birmingham in the Carling Cup and featured regularly in the EDS which is essentially 2 age groups above his current level.

The EDS, who weren't registered for the Premier Reserve League this season aren't exactly devoid of talent. Playing in the Manchester Senior Cup, Central League Cup and a host of friendlies have seen several of the young players emerge as potential first teamers in the coming seasons.

Joan Roman is, at the moment, really pushing for a first team place. He was recently named on the bench for the first team and in his last outing for the EDS he scored 4 and assisted 2 of City's 8 goals against Stockport County reserves.

Roman isn't exactly a lone talent in the squad either. Courtney Meppen-Walter, Luke Coulson, Reece Wabara, Gai Assulin, and Jeremy Helan are all capped at youth international level.

Then we have Abdul Razak who has featured several times for City this season as well as having a loan spells at Portsmouth and now Brighton where he received MotM award in his first appearance. Dubbed the 'next Yaya Toure' by some prior to his arrival at City he has a lot to live up to, but clearly has the potential.  

One player who seems to have been overlooked constantly at international level is Harry Bunn. The striker who has just turned 19 was scoring in the EDS and making a name for himself last season and earlier on this season. He is now out on loan at Oldham Athletic after a couple of loan spells that didn't exactly work out the way the club had hoped initially.

And while we're talking about players out on loan, how could we forget John Guidetti? The young man has had a blinder at Feyenoord and the fans are petitioning the club to keep him on for another season. He has averaged a goal every 91 minutes, notching up 19 in 22 appearances as well as creating 8 goals for his teammates.

I know exactly what some are going to say when they read this, especially fans of a team down the road.

"Well you've bought half of those players too."

That is true, a number of them have been taken from academies of other teams, but they will all  or have all been a part of the academy system at City, therefore can still be classed as academy graduates when they feature for the first team.

Certain fans might also want to look closer to home when mud slinging about how many players aren't 'true' academy products as there are several playing for their first team this season who were poached from other academies or similar before their 18th birthday.  

Ryan Giggs (Manchester City)
Tom Cleverly (Bradford City)
Paul Pogba (Le Harve)

Wojciech Szczesny (Legia Warsaw)
Theo Walcott (Southampton)
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Southampton)

And the list goes on. There are others from both those teams but you get the idea and you wont hear anyone complaining about how any of them aren't 'true' academy graduates. The same rule has to apply to City. Just thought I'd get that one in beforehand.

I'm not saying that every single one of them is going to break into City's first team and become a regular, but with the talent and scouting network at City's disposal you would be hard pushed to say that none of them will make it when several of them are already knocking on the door at or before they even turn 20.

Who would you like to see getting some game time in the first team next season?


Twitter: @MikeWalshMCFC or @mcfcDSLeftFoot
Facebook: David Silva's Left Foot

The curious case of Freddy Veseli.

After a week or so break from blogging I thought I had best give myself a kick up the backside and get one done this week. And the topic today will be the laughable jibes of Frederic Veseli.

The 19 year old Swiss defender joined Manchester United on the last day of the transfer window in perhaps one of the strangest moves of the window. Now I couldn't actually care less about the actual transfer, and I'm not entirely bothered by what has been said either, but it's topical and something to write about.

The young defender failed to make an impact in the first team at City despite early signs of promise. He captained the Swiss U17 to world cup victory and has been a main feature in the youth ranks and EDS. He travelled to America on City's pre-season tour and took part in two of the games and did ok. Certainly nothing to write home about. The Closest he actually came to competitive action was being named on the bench once for a league cup game.

Veseli took to Twitter shortly after the confirmation of his transfer declaring his delight at joining United and delight that they had drawn level on points with City as well as adding #UNITEDCHAMPIONS to one of his tweets. Fickle much?

His agent felt like stirring it a little before the move had even gone through by saying he was moving to the "greatest club in the world" and that "l'avenir est ROUGE" (the future is red). Sounds like the next Kia Joorabchian if you ask me and about as professional.

It's not often players speak ill of each other when they've just left a club, but his actions prompted several of his ex-teammates to ask him to "show some respect", and quite rightly too. His actions showed a distinct lack of gratitude to the Club that actually brought him to England in 2008 and developed him to the point he is at.

Anyway, enough of that. What was the reason for such a move? His agent, Adam Bouskouchi, says it's because since City were taken over by the Sheikh, they have taken their focus of developing youth.

"These days, Manchester City are chasing titles and major trophies."

"It is difficult for them to have faith in youth because they obviously feel experience is the best way for them to get where they want to go.

"But that attitude didn't help Freddie, who just felt like he wasn't progressing. On that pre-season tour, both Roberto Mancini and - director of football - Brian Marwood said how well he had done. But since then, nothing."

The problem with what Bouskouchi is saying is that it's complete nonsense. It's no secret that City have had to go out and buy experienced players of a certain level to reach the targets set out for them. This also means that the current Academy and EDS have to up their game to get a chance in the first team.

We've seen a lot of the older EDS player leave recently due to them not being at the required level. And why is that? Because the bar at City has been raised almost immeasurably in the last 3 seasons. I have little doubt that Veseli may have had his chance in the squad had City been where they were  years ago, but they're not.

In the past City have possibly been guilty of looking at quantity over quality, with a large number of players coming through the ranks and getting a chance in the squad but only a small number of them were good enough to keep their place.

What City have had to do since the takeover is slowly move on the players that they don't feel will match up to the new standards, keeping the ones that they believe will, and bring in fresh players of a certain level to improve the overall standards within the youth set up.

One of these players, Karim Rekik, joined City in the summer at 16 years old. Karim almost instantly went ahead of Frederic in the pecking order and has been preferred in several games for the first team this season when the opportunity has presented itself.

In recent seasons we have also seen Dedryk Boyata emerge as a promising young defender at City and is currently on loan at Bolton to gain more experience. There are several other very promising players in the same situation as Dedryk and will be looking to push for a spot in the squad in the next season or two. So this notion that City have somehow forgot about their academy is a little stupid, almost as stupid as him moving to United to get a chance in the first team.

As the media like to put it, United are famed for their academy and ability to 'bring through youth', so much so that they still have 2 players of the class of 92 playing in the squad, one of which has just been called out of retirement because Ferguson doesn't trust his youth enough to give them a chance.

I wont go in to the reality of their academy and the apparent ability to bring through quality players from their own ranks. Those claims are largely exaggerated by the fans and media as they've had no one of real talent come through there since 1992.

Unfortunately for Veseli he was about 9th in line for a starting role at centre-back behind the likes of Kompany, Lescott, Toure, Savic, Boyata, Rekik, Meppen-Walter and right-back Micah Richards. Even at United he will be at least behind Ferdinand, Vidic

In short, Frederic is a jealous young man who was pushed further down the pecking order by a player 2.5 years his junior. Now at that age, that's got to be a little embarrassing so I'll forgive him his transgressions. But, just remember, it's not City's fault you hardly developed in the last 2 years is it?

It's not City's fault that several other young players are before you in the cue, so next time you have your agent speak out about City's apparent lack of youth development, stop and think for a minute and take a look around you.

But never mind Freddy, judging by your distinct lack of class and respect on the day of your transfer, you'll feel right at home at United.




Twitter: @MikeWalshmcfc or @mcfcDSLeftFoot.
Facebook: David Silva's Left Foot

One for the future: Interview with Alex Henshall

Last week one of City's brightest young talents received the news that he was on the shortlist for Great Britain's Olympic football team at the 2012 Olympic Games having played a number of games for England's U17s.

Since arriving from Swindon in June 2010 at 16 years old, Alex Henshall has impressed City's coaching staff and has been a regular feature for the U18s and also featured for the EDS in the NextGen series this season. Alex is one of a number of promising attacking players coming through City's ranks at the moment with Albert Rusnak, Devante Cole and Jordi Hiwula just 3 other names to choose from in the academy squad.

After the news that ex-City manager Stuart Pearce had shortlisted the 17 year-old winger, I decided to try and pin the pacey wide boy down to a few questions.

MW: Thanks for taking the time out for this, Alex. We'll jump straight into it. How do you feel about being shortlisted for the Team GB Olympic team? And is there any particular player you would like to play alongside should you make the final cut?

AH: Very happy and delighted with the news. At first I didn't think it was real and couldn't get my head round it, but yeah very happy! And definitely David Beckham. Always idolised him and would be a life time experience!

MW: You were nominated for City's goal of the season for your volley against Liverpool last season, is that the best goal you've scored so far?

AH: hahaha I took the goal well but yeah I would say it's defiantly up there without a doubt.

MW: Is there anyone in City's 1st team that you look up to or has influenced you since joining City, and why?

AH: Yeah, always been Adam Johnson. People always say we're alike but obviously he's better and experienced. I learn a lot off him just by watching him especially on and off the field!

MW: Are there any players in the U18s that you particularly enjoy playing alongside?

AH: I love playing with all of them, I'm not going to single anyone out. I think they have made me a better player playing with them I'm certain with that, and I think we have all got a good chemistry now :)

MW: Who is your favourite player in general?

AH: My favourite player at the moment is Gareth Bale. He's class at the moment and he plays like I want to play.

MW: How was it playing against your old side in the FA Youth Cup, and how do you feel about your opponents, Fulham, in the next round?

AH: Yeah like I always said I love my home town, I would never forget it! Was great going back and playing against them and also seeing friends and family all again. Also especially to show how much I progressed. Yeah Fulham, another good side. Think we're all looking forward to it. Another test for us and hopefully we'll come out with another victory.

MW: You've only been with City about 18 months or so, are you aware of the transfer connection City has with Swindon in the past?

AH: Umm yeah a few said to me when I signed that players like Mike Summerbee were there, if thats correct! But at the time I wasnt aware of it haha.

MW: Spot on. Which team do you support? Swindon, City, or another?

AH: Funny enough I actually support Liverpool! It's just a family thing, we all support them, but I must say I do support City a little bit now, because you know playing for them too and I like watching them :)

MW: What would you like to acheive in the next 12 months, and where would you like to be in the next 5 years?

AH: Well I'v always dreamt about being a Premiership player, So I hope I make it to the top level where ever I go and have a good career in the game. The next 5 years, umm, well hopefully I'll still be good then, haha! But nah, I still hope I'll be playing Premiership level and still progressing because I love doing what I do and I'll do anything to play.

Thanks again for taking the time out Alex, and hopefully that Premiership future will be with City in not too many years to come.

You can follow Alex on Twitter @AlexHenshall11. And myself @MikeWalshmcfc or the official David Silva's Left Foot profile @mcfcDSLeftFoot.

Alternatively you can like the official Facebook page David Silva's Left Foot for regular updates from this blog.

City's unique College partnership.

City are just buying a 1st team. Why don't City bring through youth like United? Why would any young player want to join Manchester City?

How many times have we heard those statements in recent years? I've spoke about City's youth policy time and time again on here and in conversation along with thousands of others but they never listen. It still gets mentioned on an almost daily basis by some brainless idiot who lives their lives believing everything they read in the tabloids. However the notion that City pay no attention to their Academy becomes increasingly moot as the evidence continues to mount up.

Such evidence is the reason for this post. Manchester City have publicly announced their partnership with St Bede's College, a rather distinguished local educational establishment, which began last September. "What's the big deal?" I hear you say.

Well this new and unique partnership dramatically changes the way City's Academy works for the players in the 14-16 age group. Previously, they were taken out of their schools one day a week for training with City's coaches, as well as additional training in the evenings at Platt Lane.

Now they are all at the same school receiving a quality level of education, and get to work with City's coaches on a daily basis whilst they are there. No other club in Englsih football has developed a partnership of this kind. City's head of the Academy, Mark Allen has spoken on a number of occasions about the changes being made by City at youth level and the desire to help the boys develop into well rounded individuals both on and off the pitch. 

“It's a pre-scholarship football and education programme, and we worked in partnership with St Bede's to give the boys a timetable that gave them appropriate education for their age with access to the right number of GCSEs.

"We have married that with a full time football programme that works towards our plan to create the elite players that we want at Manchester City in the future."

One way in which this programme is benefiting the players is that they are not only getting to spend more time learning about and playing football, they are also able to spend more time with their family because they are no longer having to go back out in the evening for training. It's a more stable and structured set up for the Coaches, the players, and just as importantly, their parents.

City's U14s coach Jonathan Hill, who also spoke to mcfc.co.uk, is pleased with how the boys have taken to the new set up and how they have developed.

“Integrating at the school has been good for their discipline, and that has transferred into the football.

“The boys have really got into the programme, and while daily training has been hard on them we have found that they have had very few injuries.

“It’s been really positive, the boys have matured and I can already see a big difference in them.”

The fact that Hill has seen improved character and application in such a short space of time is excellent news for the club as this is almost a trial run for when City's new training complex is built. When that comes around the Academy players will be taught in-house under a similar education and training system.  

So are City only focusing on buying their 1st team? That has never been the case despite recent spending.

Why don't City bring through youth like United? They do, and the 'bring through youth' tag at United is largely a myth (as you can find in a link below).

Why would any young player want to join Manchester City? Because they putting in as much effort as, if not more for the all-round development of young players than any other club in the football league.

Other articles you might like in connection with City's Academy are;

• Another step closer
• Eric talking out of his Cantonarse

Twitter: @MikeWalsh1880
Facebook: David Silva's Left Foot

Another step closer

Yesterday saw Manchester City submit the planning application for their new 80 acre development program after a 6 week public consultation in which 97% of people voted in favour of the project. We will find out in December whether the plans have been approved or not.

I wont go into too much detail about everything that is planned as I've covered most of it before but here's a quick overview.

The new complex will consist of;

• Space for up to 400 Academy players to train and study alongside senior players.
• 1 half size and 11 full size youth development pitches.
• 1 half size and 4 full size first team pitches.
• Accommodation and classroom facilities for 40 young players.
• 1st team changing, gym, refectory and rehab centre.
• 7000 capacity stadium (5000 seating) for youth team matches.
• The stadium will also be open to the public during certain times.
• Staff offices and media centre.
• Bridge linking the Etihad Stadium and rest of the Etihad Campus to the site.
• 5.5 acres specifically for use by the community which could include education facilities and sports institute.

You can find out more about the proposals at mcfc.co.uk and manchestercityfootballacademy.co.uk. But before you go, here's a collection of pictures and videos showing what City has planned.

Aerial view by night...

... and by day

Outside the 7000 capacity stadium...

... and inside.



The bridge connecting the site to the Etihad Stadium



Makes you proud doesn't it? :)

@MikeWalsh1880



Eric talking out of his Cantonarse.

So we're close to the 'meaningless friendly' that is the Charity Shield, which just so happens to be the first Manchester Derby of the season. I'm sorry, but no derby of any kind any where is meaningless, whether it's a friendly or a Champions League Final. But that's just my view on it. And it would appear that is the view of the media as you can guarantee that the week before the kick off the media will be having a dig at City.

This week has been no different with the press jumping on a couple of quotes from Mario (which incidentally aren't anything new), then going on about Tevez having 4 extra days and missing the Community Shield (like he was going to feature after 2 days training anyway), and now we have that fountain of knowledge and wisdom that is Eric Cantona mouthing off about City's apparent lack of youth development.

Yes you heard that right, City's lack of attention to youth development. My reaction was probably somewhat similar to your own. There is no way on this planet that the views of this man will not be seen through massive red tinted glasses so they will be absolutely perfect for the build up to such a 'meaningless' derby on Sunday.

One of the very best parts of this tripe is that Cantona actually admits "I don't know how City work." Well if that's the case 'king' Eric, then keep your trap shut!

He then goes on to say that City are only interested in spending to build a team instead of developing youth and then states City "will not be as strong as United who are bringing through young talent."

Oh give me a break, United have had one good crop of players come through or joined their youth ranks in the last 20 years. Giggs, Scholes, the Neville brothers, Beckham, and Butt. Who have United brought through their ranks since then? Anyone of real note? Ermmm...

Wes Brown? Averaged 19 games per season in all competitions for United. Hardly a first team regular, and now at 31 he's moved to Sunderland.

John O'Shea? Averaged 25 games per season in all competitions for United. I little better but again, considering united have been playing between 50-60 games a season for god knows how long it's not exactly that impressive.

There have been others who have made appearances in United's first team of course, but how many have actually made any sort of impact and become a first team regular?

You honestly can't expect me to count the £27m purchase of Wayne Rooney at the age of 18 as developing youth, or even the purchase of Cristiano Ronaldo for £12.5m, again at 18 years old. Although both developed as players at United, they're were hardly products of any sort of youth system there.

What about their current squad? How am I going to judge this fairly? Well how about using UEFA's own home grown rule? Would that be a fair way to judge whether someone has been developed as a youth? I think it would, after all the player needed to be under 18 when joining the club so would be considered home grown after his 3rd season with them before turning 21. This is how the FA and UEFA are judging youth development. Have United developed any players that fall into this bracket playing for them now?

Nani? No, they bought nancy boy when he was 20.

Anderson? No, they bought him the same year as Nani at 19.

What about Fabio and Raphael? They were brought to the club at 18 too.

Obertan? No, the peanut was 20 when he joined United.

Chris Smalling? Well he is considered home grown, but United bought him for £10m from Fulham at 20 years old so he's not been developed by them.

Hernandez? Certainly not. He may look as though his parent's still get a babysitter to look after him but mushy pea is 23 years old and only joined them last season.

Not looking that good for this fantastic youth policy United are meant to have according to Cantona is it? But ok, here are some that can be considered in that home grown by United bracket

Danny Wellbeck is one, he was on loan at Sunderland last season, it is yet to be seen whether he breaks into the 1st team at United.

Tom Cleverly is home grown, but like Wellbeck has not yet broke into the 1st team and spent last season out on loan at Wigan.

Darren Gibson falls into the category of home grown and developed by United. He is also featuring for 1st team, however he is already 23 and is usually a bench warmer at best.

Frederico Macheda can also be included amongst them and at 19, he still has a chance make an impact in the first team, but the jury is out for now.

In fact the only player that is home grown that United have developed themselves since the initial crop in the early 90s that is playing for them regularly and is in the 2011-12 squad is Scottish international and Sloth (the Goonies) lookalike, Darren Fletcher. If I am wrong in that, please, please correct me.

And as Sloth would say, "Heeyyy youuu guuuysss!" How on earth is that in anyway anything to be proud of? The idea of United consistently bringing top youth players through their own ranks is a complete myth, they've brought in one crop of 6 players in the last 20 years, and had a further 3 players in that time who have had any sort of impact in the squad.

Since the birth of City's Academy in 1998 it has produced around 40 players who have debuted in the first team. Admittedly not all have made a big impact but to say City don't develop youth is ludicrous.

I wont name all the debutants, but I'll go through a few that have played a number of games for the Club since 1998;


Shaun Wright-Phillips and Micah Richards at the FA Cup parade.

Shaun Wright-PhillipsMicah Richards
Joey Barton
Stephen Ireland
Nedum Onuoha
Michael Johnson

Other notable players still playing in the premiership are;
Dickson Etuhu (Fulham)
Glenn Whelan (Stoke)
Tyrone Mears (Bolton)
Daniel Stirridge (Chelsea)


Alex Henshall on England duty in the U17 World Cup

Here are the players that made a playing debut in the 2010-11 season alone

Chris Chantler
John Guidetti
Ryan McGivern
Ben Mee
Abdul Razak
Javan Vidal
Reece Wabara

City also currently have 7 English players featuring at international level between U16-U20 squads.



Denis Suarez on City's American tour

Just for further evidence that City are looking to the future, here is a quick list of some of the players signed by City from other clubs in the last 2 seasons and their age upon signing;

Alex Henshall (17)
Karim Rekik (16)
Juan Roman (16)
Albert Rusnak (17)
Denis Suarez (17)

Hardly ageing stars are they? And I assume the news about City's planned 80 acre training complex that will be able to provide world class facilities for around 400 academy players hasn't reached Eric either? No, thought not, otherwise he wouldn't come out with verbal excrement.

So, Eric, would you like to rethink your statement about City not thinking about their youth?




@MikeWalsh1880