Manchester City

[Jenks]

Work has started on the Etihad campus:

With the abolishment of the 90 minute rule and restrictions on contact time, City could have an incredible academy set-up soon.

 

[Robbie]

City always had a top academy set up, even when they were flirting with relegation every season. Even recently they produced players like Stephen Ireland, Micah Richards, Michael Johnson (very talented player destroyed by injuries), Joey Barton, etc.

 

[Jenks]

Yeah but that place will take it to another level, especially with the new EPPP rules coming in.

 

[Fourteen]

Inspired by Barca's set-up isn't it? Is that a "Mini-Estadi" top-left?

Very nice anyway, promising future for Man City if they do it right.

 

[Jenks]

Top left is the actual Etihad stadium I believe, the one near the middle will be for the youth teams. I think a lot more clubs will be trying to emulate Barca to a degree, as to get category one status for your academy you have to have residential facilities for the kids, and every team in the PL is going to want to get cat 1.

 

[Robbie]

The biggest difference between English youth coaching and Barcelona, is that Barca uses half of the pitch when training younger players. Most English clubs use full regulation size pitches, and most English youth coaches only care about winning.

By getting big, tall, and fast lads, they overpower the opposition and easily win. Small and technical youth talents mostly can't even get a look in. Problem is, when they are older, physicality doesn't give that much of an advantage anymore.

More than just facilities, it's philosophy that must be adapted from Spain.

 

[Fourteen]

Yeah I thought it was, didn't realise they were building it so close, but that's also another positive aspect. You always hear stories from the players growing up in the old La Masia saying how they would look out of the window and see the Nou Camp and it would be a great motivation to them.

 

[Robbie]

Arsenal

Cesc - Diaby - Song = the 2013-14 Barca midfield

 

[Ursegor]

Not surprising really, there haven't been any new kids signed..

I don't want to be a party pooper but that's a bit tasteless.

 

[Ursegor]

Cesc - Diaby - Song = the 2013-14 Barca midfield

It's funny cus it's true. With Vermaelen as captain.

 

[Robbie]

Diaby will only have 2 years left on his contract after this season. He's a lot like RVP in that he'd be top class if he wasn't stretchered off the pitch every few weeks. If he stays fit all season, he's probably the next player that the richer clubs tap up.

 

[Ode to Django]

Diaby will only have 2 years left on his contract after this season. He's a lot like RVP in that he'd be top class if he wasn't stretchered off the pitch every few weeks. If he stays fit all season, he's probably the next player that the richer clubs tap up.

Arsenal need to to go for Yaya Banana.

 

[Robbie]

Interviews + highlights + analysis

Podolski sounds like Arnold Schwarznegger

 

[xaviniesta]

diaby was absolutely brilliant this game, which probaly means he will be very poor in his next 3. thats how it goes with him.

 

[Theodore Evelyn Mosby]

diaby was absolutely brilliant this game, which probaly means he will be very poor in his next 3. thats how it goes with him.

He wasn't poor against Sunderland, so either he's getting to be more consistent, or we'll see a 5 game slide ... minimum.