by thebigbangtheo » Tue Feb 02, 2021 3:55 pm
Regards the little clutch of academy players that have come through, if we wind things back a couple of seasons, Reiss Nelson is the one that would have gotten the majority of votes for the most likely to crack the first team and establish themselves ahead of the others. Or put more simply, he was the one expected to do what Saka has done.
That this young man is blessed with a high degree of natural ability is not in question to me.
However, where doubts have started to creep in is with regards to him having the mental fortitude to make that next step up like Saka, who in all fairness has already taken two more further steps forward than his mate.
The mentality of a 16 year old Wayne Rooney was the foundation stone of his becoming the superstar top scorer for United and England, not his technical ability, that was secondary, and pretty much the same could be said about Alan Shearer.
If Nelson is struggling with that requirement, then maybe being told that HE has become surplus to requirements and the team containing two of his best friends was moving onwards and upwards without him might be the motivating factor he needs to apply himself correctly and at least fulfill his potential even if it has to be elsewhere.