These are exciting times for Manchester City. A team finally gelling, seemingly bottomless pockets of cash and passionate fans have all combined to realize a potential which has been in the offing for the past few seasons. The owners are beginning to see the fruits of their financial labors, yet probably their most important investment has only recently become finalized. Plans have been confirmed for a new 80 acre training complex to ensure that success today is continued in the years to come.
Brian Marwood has stated, quite obviously, that there is a ‘need for sustainability’ and that regular spending on big name players ‘cannot be sustained’ in its current levels. As rewarding as signing the world’s best players is, there is most definitely greater satisfaction in sweeping all accolades available with home grown talent, akin to the Barcelona model. Manchester City have the resources to copy such a system to an extent whereby in the longterm it could even surpass the Catalan football factory.
Indeed, upon looking at the plans, the emphasis on the youth team and its close proximity to the first team is very similar to that of Barcelona’s La Masia nursery. This proximity is important, allowing a more aspirational atmosphere for the youngsters, seeing the promised land of the first team and the talents they could one day be rubbing shoulders with. City’s prospective complex includes a 7,000 seater arena for youth team games, an accommodation block and in total 17 football pitches. There is also the provision for education facilities which will ensure that their graduates will not only be talented footballers but also well rounded individuals prepared for the non-footballing world.
To maintain standards the first team will also benefit from this complex. First team training pitches, indoor training pitches, a bespoke first team centre with an emphasis on changing, medical, dining and relaxation facilities all ensure that Manchester City will be at the forefront of the footballing world off the pitch also. Brian Marwood has emphasized the hard work needed to make this project a success, all great projects start somewhere and City have got some catching up to do.
Although maybe not quite as slick as La Masia, Manchester United have had great success with bringing youth players through and City have recognized they need to compete with their red adversaries on this battleground. Danny Welbeck and Tom Cleverley are top of the most recent class of graduates, but going back further in time the list of individuals of note is extensive. There are obvious and less obvious reasons why such a production line is so necessary for a continually successful club. Not only would the likes of Cleverley and Welbeck be cheaper than foreign ‘wonder-kids’, they are also English and will go on to aid the compliance of league enforced home grown player quotas. But on a more local level there is an importance too. It is brilliant that Manchester City invest in the community and give inspiration and act as a role model for the misguided youths of the city, yet surely the best way of creating a bond with the local area is to have local lads pulling on the sky blue shirt for the first team. At the moment it is only Micah Richards who does this, but Manchester City are planning and more will surely come with time.
As frustrating as it might seem regarding Manchester City’s impending domination of english football, it is refreshing that the owners have been longsighted enough to think about a grander scheme rather than instant success. There is no coincidence that Spanish success at international tournaments is mirrored by the club success of Barcelona. Hopefully these plans for Manchester City will one day transcend to an international level and benefit England.
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