FA Youth Cup Final last night.

[malwayne]

Instead of watching Leeds v Leicester , I watched the whole of this game instead between Chelsea and Man City , which was very entertaining and eventually won 3-2 by Peps up and coming youngsters. There looked to be a lot of talented youngsters on parade, but it’s my guess not many of them will come through the system to be given a chance at the higher level. One example being Phil Foden, whom Pep called “the best youngster he’s ever seen”, yet he cannot command a regular place at the Etihad. There is something mysterious about the ages between 18 and 21 , whereby a lot of good young footballers go missing for one reason or another. It’s been like this for years. What’s the point of spending money on developing someone, over a period of time, then not give them the opportunity to see what they can do. The only exception to this I can think of,is Frank Lampard who had to blood the likes of Hudson Odoi,Mount and one or two others , because due to injuries he had no other choice. These players haven’t done too bad since then, have they ?
I’d like to see more clubs give their youngsters a fair chance, but due to the pressure on current managers they all want success straight away and would rather spend millions on a player from abroad. Something not right somewhere. In my book, it was always”if you’re good enough, you’re old enough”. Whatever happened to that philosophy ?

[The Bedlington Terrier]

Quantum Leap Theory malwayne. Even one of our best prospects from the Development squad is feeling the heat.

It's a quantum leap into the EPL and not many can make it.

[1959_60]

Good question Mal.

Footy is much more based on physical fitness these days though, and the youngsters may not develop the natural stamina until later.

In days gone by a winger, for instance, could stand on the touchline having a fag while their team was defending.

Nowadays all players have to run around like blue arsed flies tracking back, closing down etc, for the whole 90 minutes.
At 18 or 19 most simply will not have the stamina levels required. Same applies to all types of sport involving stamina. A ****ager will never win the Tour De France etc.

[Supersub6]

The problem is that we are in the same syndrome as the PL.
In the last 10 FA Youth Cup Finals there have only been 9 teams involved. Chelsea have won it 6 times and been runners-up twice. Manchester City won it last night and hve been runners-up 4 times, in fact 4 out of the last 6 finals have been between City and Chelsea.
Manchester Unites, Norwich and Liverpool are the other winners with Arsenal, Blackburn Rovers, Sheffield United and Fulham having appeared in finals.