Talented Youth

[splara10]

After hearing about our alleged attempt to sign Nuri Sahin from Dortmund (Arsenal Fail to Land Dortmund Gem (http://skysports.planetfootball.com/list.asp?hlid=296383&cpid=22&CLID=&lid=2&title=Gunners+fail+to+land+Dortmund+gem&channel=football_home)), I think it might be interesting to aggregate some of the more talented youth players in one thread. I know we've discussed some of these in other threads, but I'm curious as to thoughts on potential stars in each position. I would argue that we should leave out kids like Robinho who have already moved to a large club.

A few names:

1. GK - Proto
2. Right Back - Cicinho
3. Left Back
4. Center Back(s) - Kompany
5. Right Wide
6. Left Wide
7. Attacking Mid(s)
8. Defensive Mid(s) - Kompany, Mascherano (too old perhaps), Mikel, Huddlestone
9. Striker(s) - Babel, Bojinov

[Teso Dos Bichos]

I would argue that apart from Mikel, the rest are either well known, proven or at established clubs. I find it better if you define a rough age limit for the players.

[DC_Gunner]

After hearing about our alleged attempt to sign Nuri Sahin from Dortmund (Arsenal Fail to Land Dortmund Gem (http://skysports.planetfootball.com/list.asp?hlid=296383&cpid=22&CLID=&lid=2&title=Gunners+fail+to+land+Dortmund+gem&channel=football_home)), I think it might be interesting to aggregate some of the more talented youth players in one thread. I know we've discussed some of these in other threads, but I'm curious as to thoughts on potential stars in each position. I would argue that we should leave out kids like Robinho who have already moved to a large club.

A few names:

1. GK - Proto
2. Right Back - Cicinho
3. Left Back
4. Center Back(s) - Kompany
5. Right Wide
6. Left Wide
7. Attacking Mid(s)
8. Defensive Mid(s) - Kompany, Mascherano (too old perhaps), Mikel, Huddlestone
9. Striker(s) - Babel, Bojinov


Based on the U20s, and other observtions looking at non-arsenal youth:
1. GK. I thought Vermeer (NED) and Vanzekin (NGA) were both pretty impressive- but it's hard to tell with young keepers

3.LB- Taiwo, Wynne

5.RW, Delura

7.AM Fredy Guarin, Adu, Aliev,Promise Isaac,
8.DM Mikel, Feilhaber (for real), Zabaleta
9.S Messi (good lord), Wason Renteria, Affelay, Babel, Pelle

[rifkin]

9.S Messi (good lord), Wason Renteria, Affelay, Babel, Pelle

Is Babel the guy from Ajax? And isn't he an AM and not a striker.

[jegerpenge]

Is Babel the guy from Ajax? And isn't he an AM and not a striker.

I know that Babel is a striker...he may be able to play in midfield, but he is a striker.

[DC_Gunner]

babel plays winger and striker for ajax.

A couple notes on my post:
1. Lack of defenders- traditionally defenders bloom later- a couple players had pretty good tournaments but generally they were pretty mistake prone.

2. Lack of Brazillians- I only saw one game (relatively dour v. Argentina), and no one really stood out- many players looked pretty good- but it's hard to say. Same goes for the Morroccans, great slashing attacking wing play- but many players seemed able to do it.

3. High number of Americans- I've seen them more than anyone else plus feilhaber and wynne really had sick torunaments. Adu I watch on a weekly basis and I don't doubt will be a star- he had only a pretty good tournament, but keep in mind he was the youngest player there by about a year and Sigi played him out of position on the wing- which is super wasteful.

Oh, and LLorente, Jona and Silva all looked real good for the spaniards.

[Cannon]

Are we looking at youth that could move to Arsenal in the near future? Some of the guys listed certainly can't because of permit problems and the FIFA/UEFA rule on movement by age.

[splara10]

Let's call it under-21. I know that eliminates some of my earlier suggestions. As for whether these folks would come to Arsenal, I'd just love to see some kind of list of up-and-coming youth that Wenger (and others) might be looking to poach.

[Teso Dos Bichos]

In that case, you might find some suggestions here:
http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=171731

Not sure how helpful it will be, but it is a start.

[splara10]

In that case, you might find some suggestions here:
http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=171731

Not sure how helpful it will be, but it is a start.

My bad - excellent thread. Thanks Teso. We can probably close this one out.

[Teso Dos Bichos]

You would be best keeping this open, as things have changed and you do want an Arsenal perspective on it. Use the other thread for reference.

[ports485]

I would consider John Obi Mikel an attacking midfielder rather than a defensive one. His tackling is actually one of the weakest aspects of his game. He reminds me more of Seba Veron than anyone else, and Veron is definitely a playmaker.

Anyways, here are some more young players to keep in mind:

* = senior international

Hatem Ben Arfa (France U21, Lyon) Attacking Midfielder/Striker/Left Wing
Jeremy Toulalan (France U21, Nantes) Defensive Midfielder
Emerse Fae (Ivory Coast*, Nantes) Defensive Midfielder/Left Wing
Mathieu Bodmer (France U21, Lille) Defensive Midfielder
Jeremy Mathieu (France U21, Toulouse) Left Back/Left Wing/Defensive Midfielder
Raffaele De Martino (Italy U20, Bellinzona) Defensive Midfielder
Valon Behrami (Switzerland U20, Lazio) Right Wing/Right Back
Marco Motta (Italy U21, Udinese) Right Back/Right Wing
Anthony Vanden Borre (Belgium*, Anderlecht) Central Defender/Right Back/Defensive Midfielder
Francis Banecki (Germany U20, Werder Bremen) Central Defender/Defensive Midfielder
Sully Muntari (Ghana*, Udinese) Defensive Midfielder
Christian Obodo (Nigeria*, Udinese) Defensive Midfielder
Mourad Meghni (France U21, Bologna) Attacking Midfielder/Left Wing
Ron Vlaar (Holland U20, AZ Alkmaar) Central Defender
Dudu Cearense (Brazil*, CSKA Moscow) Defensive Midfielder
Daniel Carvalho (Brazil U20, CSKA Moscow) Attacking Midfielder/Left Wing
Aidan McGeady (Republic of Ireland*, Celtic) Attacking Midfielder/Right Wing/Left Wing
Georgios Samaras (Greece U21, Heerenveen) Striker
Fernando Llorente (Spain U20, Athletic Bilbao) Striker
Lukas Podolski (Germany*, Cologne) Striker
Per Mertesacker (Germany*, Hannover) Central Defender
Jeremy Menez (France U19, Sochaux) Striker
Arouna Kone (Ivory Coast*, Roda JC) Strker/Right Wing
Salomon Kalou (Holland/Ivory Coast, Feyenoord) Striker/Right Wing/Left Wing
Rio Mavuba (France*, Bordeaux) Defensive Midfielder

[DC_Gunner]

Vlaar is sick, Tiendalli also looks like the real goods as a wing back.

[DC_Gunner]

Ports, what do you think of Samir Nasri? He seems to be getting siginificantly more pt this year, but I'm not quite sold (I'll take Ben Afra as the "next zidane" ie best young French soccer player of North African descent any day.
I try to follow Ligue 1 (largely because I'm an Ivory Coast fan and a fan of African soccer in general) but I don't get to watch it week in week out.

[Cannon]

What about the French kid Balde who did so well in the UEFA U19's last month? I watched the highlights and he looked very good. Scored a bunch and got assists.

[n4100]

I'd argue that anyone who's watched the German national team the last year, especially the Confed Cup knows a lot about Mertesecker and Poldolski. Rumor has it that Podolski is already on Bayern's radar. I think he's better than Schweinsteiger who's already at Bayern, but plays mid, not up front. I wasn't too keen on Mertesecker, but again, as DC_Gunner pointed out, defenders tend to bloom late. He's good, attacks corners very well, just needs to adjust to playing at a high level consistantly.

[ports485]

Ports, what do you think of Samir Nasri? He seems to be getting siginificantly more pt this year, but I'm not quite sold (I'll take Ben Afra as the "next zidane" ie best young French soccer player of North African descent any day.
I try to follow Ligue 1 (largely because I'm an Ivory Coast fan and a fan of African soccer in general) but I don't get to watch it week in week out.

Samir Nasri has potential but as for French youngsters who could one day move to Arsenal I wouldn't include him. Ben Arfa and Jeremy Menez (who I forgot to mention) are better prospects in my opinion.

Nasri has silky touch, superb for his age, decent vision, problem is he's not as strong as he looks (he has a low bulky build but seems to get blown over all the time) and he's lacking in pace. Ben Arfa has the same touch and lack of strength but seems a lot pacier and more direct. Neither of them are really in the Zidane mold, Mourad Meghni has that covered.

Ben Arfa's issue is that he has quality players ahead of him, whereas Nasri's "competition" in midfield at Marseille doesn't amount to much.

[ports485]

I'd argue that anyone who's watched the German national team the last year, especially the Confed Cup knows a lot about Mertesecker and Poldolski. Rumor has it that Podolski is already on Bayern's radar. I think he's better than Schweinsteiger who's already at Bayern, but plays mid, not up front. I wasn't too keen on Mertesecker, but again, as DC_Gunner pointed out, defenders tend to bloom late. He's good, attacks corners very well, just needs to adjust to playing at a high level consistantly.

Even though they're well known I still think we'd have a good shot at attracting Mertesacker and Podolski, and they're both still at smaller clubs, so I figured I'd include them. Notice I wasn't naming youngsters who were already at giant clubs like Bayern, Juve, Chelsea, etc.

[antifan]

You would be best keeping this open, as things have changed and you do want an Arsenal perspective on it. Use the other thread for reference.
Piss off, Troll!



;) :D

Seriously, what happened to the old Teso?

[supaman_x]

Samir Nasri has potential but as for French youngsters who could one day move to Arsenal I wouldn't include him.
Nasri just signed an extension with Marseille, presumably with a boosted release clause as Lyon did with Diarra. I'm using a crap computer at the moment, so it won't link properly. Sorry.
http://skysports.planetfootball.com/list.asp?hlid=296223&lid=11&cpid=24&title=l'OM+starlets+sign+on&channel=france