Luca Scapuzzi And Rest of the Kids

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

Ok son, you might be talent after all. Looking at the highlights from last night two assists and a goal is not a bad tally. Especially for a striker who played 29 serie B games last season without scoring once. I was quite impressed with him on those preseason games as well.

I didn't see the whole game so how did people think other kids did last night? Razak, Suarez and Rekik that is.

[Dameerto]

Scapuzzi probably had the best game out of the kids, Razak looked like a very useful 'Nige' (again) and even managed to get into a few decent positions further forward, but gave the ball away cheaply a bit too often (hopefully he'll learn from it though). Savic started off with a few daft choices that gave the ref some decisions to make (and one where he thankfully didn't see it) but settled down later, and Suarez and Rekik came on too late for me to form any meaningful opinions about.

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

Cheers mate. Razak is really intriguing prospect as he is still only 18.

[kinkylola]

thought razak looks like a young "all action" midfielder. Not afraid to put himself about, pretty quick trying his hand at spraying passes around and tackling in the midfield. I like that type of player a lot and while he still has some developing to do, I think he has a lot of technical and physical potential.

I was impressed by scapuzzi's quickness, he seems very fleet footed and a great pass for dzeko's goal. unlucky to have the OG given (is that official?). put himself about well and always a willing runner, tracked back quite a bit and had one really excellent turn in the box early on.

If they played for the rags they'd each be worth 20m a piece and be earmarked for early induction into the senior national teams as potential saviors.

[Slim]

Early Fernandes.

Have to see which way he goes.

[john@staustell]

Rekik is the lad for me. Imagine the furore if SCM had a 16-yr-old CB playing like that. Cos its us though he hardly gets a mention of course. Not seen him put a foot wrong yet, he will be genuine quality for us.

Razak is classy at times but needs to wake up a bit (sorry, get more experience).

Scapuzzi - personally I think he's crap, and I wonder what he would be like NOT playing in the league's best squad? But I may well be wrong (it happens occasionally) and obviously Bobby sees something in him.

[Wonderwall]

I thought Suarez looked better than Razak and Scapuzzi put together and he was only on the field for a few minutes.

Razak always looked like he was trying to recover a situation when he should be in full control, and Scapuzzi looked OK but just average. Suarez on the other hand looks lik ethe next David silva, he is very comfortable on the ball and wants it all the time. I really like the look of this lad.

[john@staustell]

I thought Suarez looked better than Razak and Scapuzzi put together and he was only on the field for a few minutes.

Razak always looked like he was trying to recover a situation when he should be in full control, and Scapuzzi looked OK but just average. Suarez on the other hand looks lik ethe next David silva, he is very comfortable on the ball and wants it all the time. I really like the look of this lad.

True. Forgot him! Suarez and Rekik is the way to go.

[Slim]

I thought Suarez looked better than Razak and Scapuzzi put together and he was only on the field for a few minutes.

Razak always looked like he was trying to recover a situation when he should be in full control, and Scapuzzi looked OK but just average. Suarez on the other hand looks lik ethe next David silva, he is very comfortable on the ball and wants it all the time. I really like the look of this lad.

I think the difference between Silva and Suarez is when Silva gets the ball, he has a touch and looks to move forward. Some times he can't and he lays the ball off and moves, whereas Suarez last night I thought even when he had time he took the easy option too often of laying the ball back to de Jong or Razak.

And Scapuzzi looked better than I thought, certainly needs some more time but his Milner-like cross for the 5th showed he is on the same wavelength as this team.

[shortagain]

You watched David Silva as a 17 year old then!

[Slim]

Yes I did.

What's your answer now smartarse?

[Avalon]

Suarez looked quite good and that dummy by Scapuzzi was quite nifty too and he is not afraid to take on his man.

I'm not sure about Rekik, the kid's only 16 and England has a legacy when it comes to hot prospects and them not making it. I still believe he would have been better off staying at Feyenoord. In two years time, he would have been a regular for them.

As for Razak, he gave away the ball too cheaply, but his run through the middle was really nice.

[john@staustell]

Suarez looked quite good and that dummy by Scapuzzi was quite nifty too and he is not afraid to take on his man.

I'm not sure about Rekik, the kid's only 16 and England has a legacy when it comes to hot prospects and them not making it. I still believe he would have been better off staying at Feyenoord. In two years time, he would have been a regular for them.

Yes but most 'hot prospects' are merely media myths, or at the least look out of place when first thrown into a first team match. This boy looks sheer, utter class and how you can doubt that is beyond me. He has the air of a 26-yr old player in the body of a 16 year old. And all the more unusual for being a CB as well. And a left CB at that.

If he had been left in the kids squad I would agree a little that he should stay in Holland, but Mancini knows what he has got here. By the time he is 18 he will have Jolene's spot.

[Dronny]

Suarez looked quite good and that dummy by Scapuzzi was quite nifty too and he is not afraid to take on his man.

I'm not sure about Rekik, the kid's only 16 and England has a legacy when it comes to hot prospects and them not making it. I still believe he would have been better off staying at Feyenoord. In two years time, he would have been a regular for them.

Yes but most 'hot prospects' are merely media myths, or at the least look out of place when first thrown into a first team match. This boy looks sheer, utter class and how you can doubt that is beyond me. He has the air of a 26-yr old player in the body of a 16 year old. And all the more unusual for being a CB as well. And a left CB at that.

If he had been left in the kids squad I would agree a little that he should stay in Holland, but Mancini knows what he has got here. [highlight]By the time he is 18 he will have Jolene's spot[/highlight].

I'm begging you that he'll never take my man....

[ruralblue]

Young Suarez was the one who really stood out for me. Didn't get much game time but some good little runs, clever turns and seems to have a certain something about him!

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

Suarez looked quite good and that dummy by Scapuzzi was quite nifty too and he is not afraid to take on his man.

I'm not sure about Rekik, the kid's only 16 and England has a legacy when it comes to hot prospects and them not making it. I still believe he would have been better off staying at Feyenoord. In two years time, he would have been a regular for them.As for Razak, he gave away the ball too cheaply, but his run through the middle was really nice.

Yes but we needed to sign him before his 18th birthday in order for him to qualify as homegrown in those retarded UEFA rules that were created to "even the competition". That's working well.

[john@staustell]

Suarez looked quite good and that dummy by Scapuzzi was quite nifty too and he is not afraid to take on his man.

I'm not sure about Rekik, the kid's only 16 and England has a legacy when it comes to hot prospects and them not making it. I still believe he would have been better off staying at Feyenoord. In two years time, he would have been a regular for them.

Yes but most 'hot prospects' are merely media myths, or at the least look out of place when first thrown into a first team match. This boy looks sheer, utter class and how you can doubt that is beyond me. He has the air of a 26-yr old player in the body of a 16 year old. And all the more unusual for being a CB as well. And a left CB at that.

If he had been left in the kids squad I would agree a little that he should stay in Holland, but Mancini knows what he has got here. [highlight]By the time he is 18 he will have Jolene's spot[/highlight].

I'm begging you that he'll never take my man....

He will take it just because he can....

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

You watched David Silva as a 17 year old then!

Silva was regular in La Liga since about when he turned 18 if my memory serves me. Bit of a prodigy if you will. Productive since day one as well. We got some good youngster who may or may not make it but I don't think (natural) talentwise any of them come close to David Silva.

[Dronny]

Suarez looked quite good and that dummy by Scapuzzi was quite nifty too and he is not afraid to take on his man.

I'm not sure about Rekik, the kid's only 16 and England has a legacy when it comes to hot prospects and them not making it. I still believe he would have been better off staying at Feyenoord. In two years time, he would have been a regular for them.

Yes but most 'hot prospects' are merely media myths, or at the least look out of place when first thrown into a first team match. This boy looks sheer, utter class and how you can doubt that is beyond me. He has the air of a 26-yr old player in the body of a 16 year old. And all the more unusual for being a CB as well. And a left CB at that.

If he had been left in the kids squad I would agree a little that he should stay in Holland, but Mancini knows what he has got here. [highlight]By the time he is 18 he will have Jolene's spot[/highlight].

I'm begging you that he'll never take my man....

He will take it just because he can....

Boom tish!!

[Douglas Higginbottom]

I am always loathe to get over excited about new young players as I have seen it all too often.There seems to be a great desire to make out we have found the next superstar just because they can make a 10 yards pass,a good tackle or run with the ball for 10 yards.From last night we have 4 players being talked about plus there is Roman who hasn't yet been geiven the step up but getting noticed.

Rekik for me is the one who stands out the most.Partly because he is still so young but looks assured and is already a beast of a player.I have now seen him play quite a few times and he definitely has something I havent seen before in such a young defender even though he still makes plenty of mistakes and has loads to learn. He seems to have everything ,pace,strength and possibly most of all an air of confidence.I would be staggered if he didnt make it at the top level.

Scapuzzi. A few good moments last night of course but that is surely to be expected when we were so dominant for that spell.Overall though I wasn't convinced about his involvement in the game.That isn't meant as a criticism but simply of the reality of what I saw and to a degree what I have seen in other games.His confidence grew though and maybe Mancini sees him as a viable option as our 4th striker.Not convinced though.

Razak.I have to say he looks the business. A bit raw and clearly far from the finished player but will learn a lot from playing with the likes of Yaya,Nigel and Barry. He is another with great confidence and allied to good strength I think he will make it.His big learning is about awareness of what is around him which all the top players have.He does get found out a little and although he is very strong on the ball it doesnt get you out of everything.Also the passing side of his game.It isnt bad but he does give the ball away badly a bit more then he should.Learning the one twos with a quick pass and move to creat a little time and space and we will have a real player.

Suarez.I keep having to remind myself that he is only 17. Watching him play in the under 18's derby at the swamp recently was a pleasure.He wasnt brilliant but showed enough class in bits that showed fantastic quality. He runs really well with the ball and has that great ability to weight his passes,especially short ones which can kill defences.He does tend to have his head down a little too much and miss passes but that I am sure will come. The comparison with Silva might might be putting pressure on him unnecessarily but there are some siimilarities.Great that he was involved last night for a few minutes and more opportunities need to be found.He is only 17.

The other one is Roman.Similar to Suarez in so many ways but imo not as good and for me gives the ball away cheaply far too often which I don't think Suarez does.Scored a wonderful goal on Tuesday and was involved in 2 others but even in that match did a lot of poor things which could have been punished if there had been any opposition.That seems to be his game.Always involved in the good things that happen.

In the 2 nextgen games I have seen he wasn't that influential.Must learn to pass more then trying to run with the ball all the time.Definitely a player but I am just unsure of what his level will be.