20 teenage footballers who will rule the world

[Wonderwall]

This is from who ate all the pies in 2008 - a few familiar names on that list!

http://www.whoateallthepies.tv/lists/48 ... _foot.html

There is a more recent one from a couple of weeks ago by the guardian, not heard of most of that top 40 the guardian supply TBH

http://www.theguardian.com/football/blo ... d-football

[Peter Doherty (AGAIG)]

Christ, I thought this was going to be a thread about James Bond villains.

[Nickyboy]

Back in 2008 it says Aguero needs to work on his consistency and temperament....

His consistency is there, but he still shows flashes of a hot head with his rash two footers!!

[Ted Hughes]

Unlike many of the teenagers featured here, Richards has already played for his country at senior level. There is no limit to how far this young colossus can go in the game. He’s very comfortable at full-back and centre-back, and he should, fitness permitting, be an England regular for the next decade. The two immense performances he put in for Man City against Man Utd in the league this season show that he relishes the big occasion, although he needs to improve his concentration levels in lesser games. England and City are lucky to have him.

That's an absolutely spot on description of Micah Richards at that age. One of the best prospects ever, & a potential central defender. Better at cb then actually than Mangala has been so far this season. Both those 'immense' performances vs the rags were at cb.

Tragedy what has happened with him.

[DoomMerchant]

Unlike many of the teenagers featured here, Richards has already played for his country at senior level. There is no limit to how far this young colossus can go in the game. He’s very comfortable at full-back and centre-back, and he should, fitness permitting, be an England regular for the next decade. The two immense performances he put in for Man City against Man Utd in the league this season show that he relishes the big occasion, although he needs to improve his concentration levels in lesser games. England and City are lucky to have him.

That's an absolutely spot on description of Micah Richards at that age. One of the best prospects ever, & a potential central defender. Better at cb then actually than Mangala has been so far this season. Both those 'immense' performances vs the rags were at cb.

Tragedy what has happened with him.

It really really is. And sadly I don't think even he truly knows why. I'm sure Herb does tho.

Cheers

[Goaters 103]

Unlike a lot of those on that list that failed to live up to their potential, Richards played in and won an FA Cup Final, and also was a key figure in a title winning campaign so if that's his lot, its a better career than 90 odd percent enjoy. Too many injuries, and simply didn't move on as a player.

That must be the only one of those type of lists that Freddy Adu wasn't on!!

[iwasthere2012]

This is probably an appropriate topic to ask, does anyone know what's going on with the new Nigerian lad, Iheanacho.
He seems to have gone off the radar altogether.
I know he needs a work permit, but is he training at City or is he still with Columbas or whoever it was he was training with.
Does anyone know if City are genuinely interested in signing him, and is he going to be the world beater, that some people seem to believe.

[phips]

hahaha, Anderson?

[phips]

This is probably an appropriate topic to ask, does anyone know what's going on with the new Nigerian lad, Iheanacho.
He seems to have gone off the radar altogether.
I know he needs a work permit, but is he training at City or is he still with Columbas or whoever it was he was training with.
Does anyone know if City are genuinely interested in signing him, and is he going to be the world beater, that some people seem to believe.

a more appropriate one might be the "Kelechi Ihenacho" thread. might be.

[Cocacolajojo1]

The strike out rate of that list is what, 1 in 7, if we're counting players that actually are great players now. Not bad guesswork but again, it's just fucking impossible to know who will make it. Or it was for the people who made that list.

[Cocacolajojo1]

Ps. The guy who wrote the piece on the Swedish prospect is a complete tool. I mean, on the level that you're embarrassed when watching him on TV and you want to reach out and hug him and tell him that everything's gonna be ok, he's just a bit out of his league. And it's been like that for like 10 years now. I don't get it. Anyways, if he was the one who picked out the player he wrote about, then you know, go ask your grand mother what she thinks of it. She'll know as much.

[nottsblue]

Just goes to show that you can never tell which players are gonna make it. Not even to the top, but in football in general. Possibly three or four of that list aren't even footballers now or at such a low level they aren't even on the radar. Lots of factors determine this, not least luck.

Now, our EDS squad is one of the best in the country, if not Europe. How many realistically do we expect to make it at City? What would be acceptable? Three, Four, Five even? Or maybe be like a Barca and wheel out three or four a year but sell them on after a year or two and keep the one top player. After all, after Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets how many have stayed in their first team long term?

We haven't just spent the thick end of £200m to have one or two make the top grade, surely. From the reports from Doug, Ted and others, it would appear we have the nucleas of some great players in the making who may be ready in a year or two. Possibly even earlier in one or two cases.

If one of the reasons talented 17 and 18 year olds don't make it is lack of game time, is it worth blooding our boys a bit earlier than we ordinarily would? It would mean effectively writing off the league but IF we are say 10 pts down at start of January, what have we to lose? I'm not suggesting playing a whole team, maybe blood four or five lads and perhaps givevthem experience of 10/15 games. After all, we still want to finish as high as we can, but I for one would have one eye on the future

[Ted Hughes]

Depends what you mean by 'make it'.

Some would say Joey Barton has 'made it'. I would be surprised if quite a lot of our academy players don't end up playing at a decent level. Indeed you can see from Lopes, Rekik, Denayer; their clubs would sign them tomorrow if we gave them the ok. So in effect, 3 have already cracked it as footballers. Guidetti probably the same.

That's not bad when you consider City haven't even started introducing the academy players yet. 4 already playing in top leagues in the respective countries. Dennis Suarez is another.

I think we have plenty on par or better than those as prospects, certainly better than Suarez.. Be a bit of a surprise if some don't end up playing for us.

[iwasthere2012]

This is probably an appropriate topic to ask, does anyone know what's going on with the new Nigerian lad, Iheanacho.
He seems to have gone off the radar altogether.
I know he needs a work permit, but is he training at City or is he still with Columbas or whoever it was he was training with.
Does anyone know if City are genuinely interested in signing him, and is he going to be the world beater, that some people seem to believe.

a more appropriate one might be the "Kelechi Ihenacho" thread. might be.

Fair point.
Found the topic on page two.
Just thought regarding the future batch of world beaters, some that more than me might have an opinion, as to whether he's going to be amongst them.
I'll go back to the Ihenacho topic.

[iwasthere2012]

This is probably an appropriate topic to ask, does anyone know what's going on with the new Nigerian lad, Iheanacho.
He seems to have gone off the radar altogether.
I know he needs a work permit, but is he training at City or is he still with Columbas or whoever it was he was training with.
Does anyone know if City are genuinely interested in signing him, and is he going to be the world beater, that some people seem to believe.

a more appropriate one might be the "Kelechi Ihenacho" thread. might be.

Fair point.
Found the topic on page two.
Just thought regarding the future batch of world beaters, some that know more than me might have an opinion, as to whether he's going to be amongst them.
I'll go back to the Ihenacho topic.

[twosips]

I think this list contains only footballers born in 97. Iheanacho, having just turned 18, will have been born in Oct 96. He'd be on there otherwise, definitely. Same reason Odeegard isn't too, as he's actually too young for the list. Weird structure to it cos surely players like those two would be dead certs otherwise.

[iwasthere2012]

Ok thanks.
Have to say I was impressed with the little I saw of him pre season, but it's hardly enough to really know what he'll make of himself.

[LookMumImOnMCF.net]

If you're into this sort of thing, In Bed With Maradona comes out with their 100 players under 21 about this time of year. It's a bit design heavy, but can be a decent read. http://inbedwithmaradona.com/

[iwasthere2012]

Had a quick look. Should be interesting when the list comes out.

[getdressedmctavish]

Anderson. Altidore, fucking hell. Personally I like the Coventry left back, but after reading this I'm keeping quiet about it.lol