Oliver McBurnie

The kid who was our top scorer at youth level
The kid who went to play in a tournament for Man Utd and was top scorer
The kid who scored goals at international youth levels for Scotland
Yeah you could tell he was crap and lucky to make it

 

To be fair to Fools Gold there were a fair few City fans who were far from sure about Ollie - I always thought there was something there but have to be honest the extent of his elevation has surprised me and happy to admit he has proved me wrong. Assuming his medical today goes well I for one will really look forward to seeing how he copes in the Prem

 

It's harder to judge most young players than people realise. Potential is much less obvious than some think. Often people look at a young player and only give them a chance if they're immediately having a big impact on games. Sometimes it's just the subtle bits that you need to spot, and you take a punt that the rest can be developed and coached. It's not unusual for an average looking 19 or 20 year old in league 1 or 2, to have a breakthrough season and transform themselves over a year or two to look like completely different players.

 

Thats what I mean about there was something there - his control was good, he looked like he had time, his movement was often correct - but it was putting it all together as a young player that was the problem. Ollie also had the height and build to develop strength wise which has helped. Over the past few years here at Woking we have had an assortment of young lads on loan in the striker position who did well and a number of them have gone onto better careers in the leagues - Ollie Palmer, Jack Marriot, Dan Holman and Louis Moult to name but a few.
I know a coach who still think Omari Patrick will develop, lets face it his impact to date has largely been based on his first appearance in a City shirt and he has stalled totally since then - but who knows for sure what he might attain in the next few years

 

Lets be honest, Swansea could have looked at McBurnies stats on paper and thought why not.

£250k for a PL club is like £10 to any of us. A very low risk with very high rewards.

 

To be fair fools gold is right. Just because McBurnie had scored goals at junior level means very little in the grand scheme of things. Theres potential there but Swansea and their scouts were the ones that took a calculated risk and put the money on the table. Easy to say in hindsight that he would be a full international playing in the premiership as there was nothing to suggest that under Parkinsons tutorship.

 

For Patrick to develop any further he needs to develop a ‘football brain’, something which is badly lacking in his game. Until he has that he’s going nowhere fast.

 

£250k to a Premier League club is not a calculated risk by any imagination. It is chicken feed.

 

In the terms of premier league millions i agree but it was Swansea that put the money down, there was no bidding war as such, McBurnie could easily have have been a flop as many of these so called next big things have. As it is Swansea's actions have made everyone a winner, their development of the player has brought them a big windfall on an unknown player and we (hopefully) benefit to the tune of nearly £3 million in the end.

 

Let's be honest, the Oli McBurnie situation kind of unpicks the thread a little on those that claim they could see Jordan Pickford was going to be ace even when he was clearly below the standard very early on in his City tenure.

Kids are kids, they aren't ace right away, to expect them to be or to claim they were is almost always nonsense.

The only young player I can remember who looked to be 'ready' straight away was Andy O'Brien.

 

I don’t think you can develop a football brain as such, it’s more a natural skill and you’re sort of born with it. Patrick will do well to play in the Conference North in my opinion.

 

He could have been a flop, absolutely. And if he was - I very much doubt they would have lost any sleep over it.

As it happens every one is a winner.

 

A fair point, the top players have it in abundance. Its what sets them apart from the also rans.

 

Oli having a medical at Sheffield United now according to Sky Sports news, fingers crossed all goes well.

 

He chose the correct club. Some of the premiership youngsters at the big clubs should look at this. First team games , now big wages and a cut of the transfer fee

 

Dean richards

 

Never seen a 17/18 year old look so comfortable on the ball, whilst also having the positional sense of a player far beyond his years.

 

You make a very good point.
Omari has been written off by the majority.
He’s still a young lad and who’s to say with some patience, support and good coaching it won’t all fall in to place. He’s got the build and pace.

 

Fantastic player. Was always going to play right at the top level.

 

Wasn't Graeme Tomlinson deemed 'ready'? Man Utd paid a relatively similar price to Ollie, though without the amazing 'add ons' .