Been reading the Manchester City forum on their ban.
Found the post below a bit odd given that the only two young British players currently playing for City's first team come from the youth setups of QPR and Barnsley whilst Deli Alli (Milton Keynes Dons) has just won young player of the year.
Whilst I think Everton have a good academy and a history of producing players that get into our team, different setups will suit different kids and perhaps "roughing" it at one of the lower league clubs academies might teach kids a hunger that they just don't get at one of the premier league academies?
http://forums.bluemoon-mcfc.co.uk/t...-imposed-on-city.328243/page-19#post-10177261
But it doesn't work like that... a smaller club does not improve your chance at making it, you'll get first team football sooner but a much poorer football education which will stand you in better stead in the long run? I know which I'd choose anyway. You've not really explained why Oldham would be better than Manchester City... it's really not you only think it is, you have to be careful equating first team football at a much lower level sooner with a poorer footballing education is better than the best education you can get with a team of professionals that will find you a club for first team football should you not make the first team.
At the end of the day the kid from Oldham would be much less likely to make it to the level required at City that's a fact and a major flaw in your reasoning, just because a lad from our academy doesn't make the first team doesn't mean he's failed completely he'll still be at a higher level than the Oldham kid.