Socceroo Metcalfe to make Germany move

Strongly disagree about Olympics. He was outstanding against Argentina, should've got man of the match, then he bossed that little Pedri dude in the Spain game. Whole squad was a lot quieter against Egypt. Read on another forum he's been dealing with a few injuries this season. I'm sure he'll smash it in Germany. Good luck to him, wish him every success.

A great step up to a footballing country. What’s not to like about that.

So you make an claim, and I have to disprove it. Usually people making a claim have to prove it unless your a politician. So how many years do they need to be at a club to be 'homegrown' and is there a maximum age when they have to join. Understand you issues with City ownership but struggle to see how that has anything to do with whether City produce home grown players. As I stated, Metcalfe has been at the club for 7 years, Atkinson for 6 years. You seem to have a bee in your bonnet about how city recruit these youth players, but that's different from not then developing them, which was your original statement

i have zero against the player personally, hes proved his consistency and earnt a move - well done. however i do have issues with how city conduct there business in relation to youth players. as an example - no 17 year old in the country playing professional football should be on 6 figures a year, it sets a very dangerous precident. it is wrong on so many levels that a team like city can get away with paying players more than theyre worth, free accomodation/housing, free cars, even finding there parents jobs (theyre not the only a league club thats done this over the years - sydney, melbourne, wanderers and perth have all been guilty of these dirty tactics) domestic transfer fees wil lessen the blow, however they need to be implemented correctly - which means junior NPL clubs are fairly compensated for there initial work in training and developement.

I understand where you are coming from AA but surely it should be celebrated when any young Australian talent regardless of where they come from and who they played for now or in their formative year, gets to move overseas. And surely an experience getting picked up by any A-League club by a young player, and being developed during that time they are there is worthwhile. Whilst both Atkinson and Metcalfe and Arzani and Genreau came from other states isn't it pleasing to see them have had a good few seasons with the A-League and then go on from their career's at City to overseas postings and start to fill the Australian NT ranks. Whilst City might not be providing all youth from Victoria alone a pathway it is providing to my knowledge sound development of Australian players. But also is'nt it good that this dirty oil money can provide a higher income to both aspiring players like Raph and Bernardo and their father's or fund players like Gomulka or Tilio that a not so wealthy club may not. I see it as good for Australia, certainly not good for the other clubs but that is why I advocate that a transfer fees system within Australia should be in place and it's a traversty why this has not been implemented by now. I don't know what age it should start but at a guess, maybe at age 15?

happy for you to provide me data on the NPL youth teams of all a league clubs. city will still have the least amount of ‘homegrown players’ by a considerable margin compared to all other sides. this is what happens when you’re a big club, you dont need to produce local, you just buy it gomulka left for money, adelaide were never going to match citys offer (i dont think any a league club would either.) part of the deal to sign rapha was that his dad was given a job by the club (almost identical to bernados situation) its a dirty club, literally through oil money and there under handed tactics in player recruitment. all the arab owned clubs work like that (PSG, city group lol)

With St Pauli leading Bundes 2 we may well have 2 extra players in the Bundesliga next season joining Hrustic. That would be a plus. Metcalf is a very good player. I think he will do well in Germany.

great news

How is that any different to any major club in a big league overseas? Are you suggestion those 'dozen Adelaide prospects' would now all be A-League players if they had stayed in Adelaide. Taras Gomulka is someone you talked about last year never getting a chance and now he is. Stefan Colakovski is an example of what you would classify as a home grown player and how about Max Caputo. Metcalfe has been at City since 2015, Atkinson since 2016. Talk about trying to put a round peg into a square hole to fit a belief you have!

its well known that city dont develope 'home grown players' they pay youngsters alot from interstate to join them, its why they will never have any true respect when it comes to developement as an example over a dozen adelaide prospects have come through there doors in recent years

All the best Connor. With all the doom & gloom re aleague at the moment this warms the heart. I truly hope there will be a day when players in the aleague go straight to the top 5 tier leagues in Europe. But Bundesliga 2, Championship, Serie B is more than acceptable at this stage. Heck Connor might be in the Bundesliga, the way St Pauli is going!

I don't like City. I don't like their petro-dollars, I don't like their owners, I don't like their lack of fans and identity... But this is good news. When the petro-dollars came in to City, this is what we expected and its about time they start to deliver. On the pitch title winners last year but more importantly; - Atkinson (75 games, aged 22) - Metcalf (62 games, aged 22) Both had come through City NPL, both afforded opportunites over a couple of seasons to cement their place in the side. Only thing that might be better is they were actually from Melbourne :laughing:

Sad news actually. Another good player Australia couldn't hold. That is one of the reasons a-league haven't been able to engage supporters : every seed of idol leaves to early. And then some spend money bringing former players on (tourist) visa.

Has dropped the ball big time over last season where he was the main man for City. He can be a better version of Jackson Irvine, but Jackson Irvine is consistently super fit, Metcalfe was super fit last season, then he looked pretty ordinary at the Olympics and that has continued onward.

Exciting news

Well done lad. As a Garden Suburbs supporter, even though your lot are down the hill at Cardiff South, there's a lot of pride in seeing a local lad go to a footballing country like Germany. You will find it's another level. Embrace it, and to the next level again, get yourself into a top level comp son. Good luck and do us proud.

Well done Connor, I good move to a club where he could possibly play substantial minutes. Really enjoyed how he has developed at City over the years.