Could you develop both to their full potential whilst still trying to win now? I doubt we have the minutes to spare or the game results to risk. Developing Bajcetic to his full potential will be challenge enough given our midfield options.
The answer is no, it’s becoming extremely difficult to develop any young player at a top club to their fullest potential now. Look at Carvalho as a good example of how hard it can be for a player who’s ’not quite there’ yet in his development, if results start to go awry they’re the first out of the side if senior players are available. Bajcetic played as much as he did out of sheer desperation, he’d also been at the club a while which meant he’d come from academy ages and developed more on our watch.
Footballers are finally starting to use their brains more when planning the route of their careers. The days of City signing Rodwell, Sinclair etc every summer and just letting them rot on their bench aren’t quite gone, but now the modern player knows it makes a lot more sense to go to a Brighton, a Dortmund, a Leipzig, play regularly, develop out of the limelight and not only will the big clubs come calling, you’ll be ready to succeed there.
I wouldn’t be shocked if Bajcetic went on loan to support his development, we aren’t in the same stage of desperation as we were when he played and he desperately needs consistent minutes given he’s lost a year of development. Anyone that thinks you can develop young lads by sticking them in League cup games and getting scraps off the bench is mad. They either need to go in and play regularly (Trent) or they need to go out on loan and come back ready (Bradley). There’s simply no way we could develop two teenage 6s at the same time unless one was already established in the side. I really like Bajcetic but his injury really has set him back a year.
