Yeah I absolutely couldn't make up my mind, intended on doing 2 per position for 22 and then got sidetracked a bit For what it's worth, they are in order of priority, so you can assume the first names listed to comprise a nominal starting eleven. I grouped those other six U17s and U16s together just because I think they're a longer way off right now and as such their fortunes could conceivably vary much more than those who've established themselves a bit more. It's one thing impressing at that level, but another altogether in how they bridge the gap into men's football. I suspect if we'd have done this exercise a few years ago Brandon Barker would've been in there as he was City's hot next thing at the time, but such has been his progress since (not terrible progress I might add) that suddenly we've moved on from him.
Perhaps you're talking about a time before I was reading this forum, but since I've been here I think there have always been widely differing opinions on Barker's merits. By the way, did you deliberately leave out Pickford, Alexander-Arnold, Tom Davies, Will Hughes...? I know you had to leave out someone.
I can't say Brandon Barker would be my example of that. I've not seen him in quite some time but I was very critical of him well before he went out on loan.
Left out Pickford because I don't think he's nearly as good as is made out, same for Davies (a very willing and capable runner but loads left to prove technically). Hughes has played five seasons now (four plus one injured) without getting out of the Championship and I think that or lower Prem might be his peak, and I had no real reason for omitting TAA other than wanting to mention other right-backs. I like him, think he could be a really good option, but I like Kenny and James a bit more.
How's this for a cracking future England player prediction: Liverpool's attacking midfielder Curtis Jones - he'll be 21 in 2022. He's a clever, sharp witted player with great skill and touch who can weight his passes, as well as direct them accurately. Good dribbler, scores goals and good stamina to get back and forward as necessary. Unusually, he seems comfortable kicking the ball with either foot, as he sees fit. English players with all these qualities are, of course, in very short supply. But he does look flat footed and splay footed - which I find a little off putting.
Pickford Kenny Stones Holding Chillwell Doyle Loftus-Cheek Foden Roberts Sancho Kane ( 4- 2 - 3 -1 ) im a bit biased though, being a city fan
4-2-3-1 GK: Pickford RB: Alexander-Arnold CB: Stones CB: Oxford LB: Sesegnon CM: Oakley-Booth CM: Onomah RW: Roberts CAM: Sancho RW: Rashford ST: Kane 4-3-3 GK: Pickford RB: Alexander-Arnold CB: Stones CB: Oxford LB: Sesegnon RCM: Davies CM: Oakley-Booth LCM: Hughes RW: Roberts ST: Kane LW: Sancho
Well I have no faith whatsoever in my ability to predict this, but since everybody else has had a go: GK Jack Butland (29) RB Dujon Sterling (23) CB Phil Jones (30) CB Joe Gomez (25) LB Luke Shaw (27) CM Eric Dier (28) CM Jack Wilshere (30) AM Angel Gomes (22) RW Raheem Sterling (27) LW Jadon Sancho (22) ST Harry Kane (29) Ages on 1 November 2022, since moving the tournament away from the summer has been heavily mooted. Yes, Phil Jones. And Wilshere, and Shaw, and Gomez. The odds of them all being fit at the same time currently look about a billion to one, but I don't really care because any team that I might pick instead isn't going to be right anyway - I like them all and I hope they're in the team in 2022. I feel a bit sad about leaving Patrick Roberts out but I can't really justify backing him ahead of Sterling or Sancho, and Ross Barkley could be our best player, completely out of the picture, or anything in between. It also seems wrong not to have anyone older than 30, but I can't bring myself to predict that Jordan Henderson will be in the England team for the whole of the next five years, and Hart and Clyne are really the only other ones I've seriously considered. Eric Dier is there because I can honestly see that happening, but it may be a slightly reactionary response on my part because the current criticism of him seems so over-the-top.
As usual not expect to get anyone right etc. 2022 is too far away. GK Jack Butland (29) RB Dujon Sterling (23) CB Axel Tuanzebe (25) CB Tomori (25) LB Ryan Sessegnon (22) DM Eric Dier (28) CM Lewis Cook (25) AM Angel Gomes (22) RW Raheem Sterling (27) LW Marcus Rashford (25) ST Harry Kane (29) Subs: Woodman (25), Alexander-Arnord (25), Tom Davies (24), Patrick Roberts (25), Tashan Oakley-Boothe (22), Reiss Nelson (24), Michael Keane (29), Jadon Sancho (22), Joe Gomez (25), Ben Chillwell (26), Tammy Abraham (25), someone 18ish like Shola Shoretire or Karamoko Dembele or whoever.
No one has mentioned Crowley - have we completely lost faith in him? I think a year ago many would have had him as a starter at No.10. I don't see mention of Mason Mount either, and not much of Marcus Edwards. Surely the odds have to be that at least one of these truly talented playmakers have to come through? Gomes is of course another option. Anyway, with that optimism in place, here's my attempt:,starters listed first Butland, Pickford, Woodman Walker-Peters, Arnold-Alexander Da Silva, Sessegnon Jones, Keane Stones, Oxford Dier, Chalobah Ali, Onomah Crowley, Mount Roberts, Edwards Kane, Abraham, Sterling, Sancho
Crowley is an odd one, seems to have been left out of the system for some time now for whatever reason I'm not sure, maybe form or maybe a lack of commitment to England as seen him being linked to a switch to Ireland sometime back however everything seems quiet now so guessing he's still committed to England?
I think Gray has a lot more potential than Redmond, and I can see Holding and RLC being major players if they start getting regular first team football especially the latter, as for Welbeck i think he might miss out if everybody is fit and available.
RLC's apparent apathy is disappointing. There are surely loads of clubs that would give him game time, even in the Premier League.
The fact that Chelsea would rather buy Bakayoko and put him in the team a head of RLC tells you all you need to know, because his lack of progression as a footballer compared to say Dele Alli over the last few seasons has been a major disappointment. And it makes me question how much does he really want it, because if he is still at Chelsea when the season starts instead of being out on loan at another Premier league team, then questions really do need to be asked about whether he has the desire to make it to the very top IMO.
Is RLC apathetic? I've had the impression from the papers that he has wanted to go out on loan but Chelsea have repeatedly chosen to keep him in house. This is from November 2015: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...January-loan-teenager-t-break-Chelsea-XI.html Chelsea have treated him badly, either because they've need an extra home grown option around the squad or because they've been trying and failing to turn him into their next John Terry in house.
It's a few years, I think, since a lot of people on here started howling if I pointed out he'd had a quiet and ineffectual performance. Even though they hadn't seen the game themselves. Some were still holding out hope he'd hit the big time, until recently it seems. As regards his attitude, does anyone recall that photo of him shaking hands with the then England manager, Roy Hodgson? As he shock his hand he was looking the other way - Gordon Brown style.
I still hold out hope for him. Of all the no 10s coming through he seems to have a slight edge - in talent at least. He's got more pace than Mount for example. His attitude is certainly questionable, but then money and hype and moving from city to city will get to most teenagers. Hopefully he will grow up. Talking of which, he has grown up in a physical sense and is no longer a midget. He's 5'9 which is plenty big enough for his position.
I doubt Crowley has more pace than Mount, who is quicker than some might think. I doubt he's 5ft 9, as well.
Some people still do, especially with regards to that oxford spell where he got sent back. The lower leagues are tough, but these boys have to get down their and take their chances and have the right mentality if they want to succeed long term