I read that City had fringe first-teamers in last night's reserve game.

These guys should obviously still put in professional (or semi-professional !?) performances, but you do have to wonder how easy it is for Jez George to 'manage' such players. With the greatest respect in the world, JG was barely a DML player, and a keeper at that, and not a keeper who was any good on pitch I happen to know!

It must be hard in that case for him to have a go at the senior players in the dressing romm - ?

Your comments suggest that you were not at last nights reserve game, so why should you imply that certain players did not give 100%.

Mr George's comments in the CEN are what I based my assumption upon.

Jez made comments printed in todays CEN which seemed a bit silly, after all he is only the youth team/reserve team manager.
In Wednesdays game Collins seemed to struggle but on the radio tonight the manager says he has an injury. Holden and Nightingale did ok although Holden could have done better on Lynns third goal,but he would have chanced giving a penalty and getting sent off when the game was all but over.
The youngsters just did not look strong enough on the day but I am sure they will benefit from the experiance. The ref was embarrasing by the way.

Shouldn't make any difference - it depends on whether the person knows what he's talking about. Alex Ferguson never played at a level anywhere near any of his players - and Gerard Houllier never played top level football at all.

I'm sure Jez can handle it.

up to a point. Those guys (and you forgot Wenger by the way) are the exception rather than the rule, and Ferguson and Wenger both played outfield, professionally.

I just think, hand on heart, I'd find it hard to completely respect the views of a manager who could not play on-pitch even at Jewson level.

Jez George has played at a decent enough level to do the job he is doing, ie managing the Reserves who are made up of mainly up and coming youngsters. Considering the other night was their FIRST defeat of the season, he can't be doing too much wrong. I didn't see the game, but IF the fringe first teamers who came in didn't give it their all (maybe because they were sulking at having to play in the Reserves) then that is down to them and not Jez George.

sort of my point really, he has enough authority with those youngsters - mainly U-17's I understand. But perhaps not with the senior players.

As I said in my original post, of course they should put in a satisfactory performance anyway.. just wondered if anyone shared my belief that it puts JG in a tricky position trying to 'boss' those players.

....jez Georges position re senior players in the reserves is no different to that of Dave Batch with the first team.

To be honest, I have seen better performances. Trying to put an objective view across, the young opposition were pretty spectacular. Our boys will do ok, though.