Got to agree with MITO here, how are you comparing by young hidden gems and then mentioning city buying young players at STUPID prices.
Again for every cheap young and up coming player with potential that makes it, you are getting a lot of **** in there too.
Half your team is a great example to that:
- Moreno, cheap and upcoming so far a failure
- Markovic, major flop
- Can, solid player in the team, not a world beater and certainly not at the level of title challenger (yet)
- Alberto, gone
- Firmino, has been pretty hit and miss - lacking the consistency at the moment to be a great player and he was bought in the expensive category. He could go onto be world class
- Gomez, has time but so far been unfortunate with injuries so miss
- Grujic, not been given an opportunity yet plus injured
- Origi, has time but not fulfilled potential yet
- illori, gone
- Borini, gone
- Coates, gone
- Allen, gone
The only gems bought before their cost rocketed because of performances have been countinho, suarez and sturridge (unfortunately he's always injured).
Everyone else that has been bought has been of the same level and not gone onto the next level. Out of this list, there has definitely been some in there that Jimmy would have recommended as decent buys and taking to the next level. Off the top of my head it would be Origi, Firmino, Markovic, Moreno, Can and maybe Coates. Grujic and Illori i think he would have been happy as prospects.