As Manchester City slumped to their fourth consecutive defeat to Brighton at the Amex Stadium you got the sense that the City squad is beginning to appear old. The legacy of seven years of title battles and long cup runs, coupled with an injury crisis, looks to have caught up to Pep Guardiola’s side. But as you look across the Premier League and Europe you see City academy graduates spread far and wide. City’s academy is a production line for quality footballers. But you do get the sense that City are missing out on playing some of their academy graduates by selling them so frequently.
During Manchester City’s defeat to Brighton, there were three City academy graduates on the pitch. Phil Foden, Rico Lewis and Jahmai Simpson-Pusey were all part of City’s starting lineup. James McAtee was an unused substitute. That is a positive for the champions. The hope is that one day the City academy produces players who can crack into City’s first team. It is a slow process, but the academy is producing players at the appropriate level to play for Manchester City. Oscar Bobb is currently injured, but he is another player who has risen through the ranks to become a City first-team player. But as the Manchester City squad appears to look old you do look across at what might have been with the players City have sold in recent seasons.
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Players such as Cole Palmer, Liam Delap, and Morgan Rogers would come in handy at Manchester City right now. All three would have a role in Pep Guardiola’s squad currently if they were at the club. The same could be said for Taylor Harwood-Bellis. But the champions did make a sizable profit from the sale of each player.
Each player has shown just how good they are since leaving Manchester City. Liam Delap would be a handy backup to Erling Haaland. Morgan Rogers could’ve provided much-needed life and energy to City’s midfield. Taylor Harwood-Bellis would likely have slotted into City’s defence during their current injury crisis. Cole Palmer could’ve provided the goal threat that City are lacking outside of Erling Haaland. The next Man City match Cole Palmer will feature in is at the Etihad when Chelsea visit in January. Tickets for the game can be found at the link provided to see how Palmer fares against his old team.
But the counterargument to that is the players mentioned may not have developed in the manner they have if they stayed at Manchester City. Opportunities are few and far between in Pep Guardiola’s squad. So while Palmer, Rogers, Delap and Harwood-Bellis would’ve been handy it’s doubtful they’d be the players they are if they stayed at Manchester City. That is unfortunate but just the way it has panned out.
The new crop of youngsters in City’s academy are getting opportunities to impress. That is great to see. But when you see so many City academy graduates playing well across the Premier League and Europe you do think that City have missed out in some way.
