The Big "Paucity of English Youth Talent" Debate!

It's because Sancho hasn't done anything yet (as you put it) that it is a prediction to say he will - rather than waiting till he's all over the back pages. But I have seen Sancho enough at u18 level to know he will be at least a top player - England level at least. Now that would be a real shock if he wasn't. I have indeed been critical of Rashford. And that was actually based on seeing a hell of a lot of him playing when he was nothing to speak of much at all. He was certainly a surprise and there might be others, although I can't think of one off hand. By the way, I have also been critical of players I do rate - and continue to do so, when appropriate. I'm not one of those who won't have a word said against a player, like some on here have been over players like Crowley. At club level, every time I saw him it seemed he hardly touched the ball and couldn't get in the game (I'm not including the odd clips put up on here).

My record is actually very good. You mentioned Sturridge, I proclaimed him a future England player at 14. And spent several years after arguing with City fans on forums like this, with them arguing he was nothing and that Ashley Grimes and Chad Evans were much better. Around the same time I was arguing with United fans that Welbeck would play for England's seniors, they didn't agree and claimed Fabian Brandy and Chris Eagles were much better. You mentioned Kane, I announced him as a real prospect just weeks after he left school.

 

It will be obvious about Sancho before you know it. He will be an England player, if he doesn't get a career destroying injury. I wasn't suggesting you could tell where every young player would end up. Just that Sancho was a knocking bet.
It is well known on this forum, that if I watched Crowley in a game and reported that he had been very quite, some members would start howling.

I watch a lot of youth football and give my views on many England youth players. Ravel Morrison is a player (like many of course) that I expected to do great things.
By the way, I mentioned Welbeck, he was still at school when I said he'd play for England - and it was before Ferguson said they had a special talent in the youth team (without naming his name). United fans had no idea it was him. By the way, on seeing Pogba once, his debut in the u18s, I put a thread up in a United forum saying he would solve their midfield problem and save them £30 million (that's when £30 million was a lot of money).

 

Because Sancho is so obvious. Not long now.

 

Obviously most players don't come into the Sancho category. And obviously, again, there will be those you don't think much of at all to start with. There are players I have been touting for some time but I still see faults in them that they need to address before the can fulfil their potential. Kasey Palmer is one such player - talented lad but doesn't always seem to be giving his all. Needs to be a bit more "at it". Callum Gribbin is another one. Tammy Abraham didn't step up last season as one would have hoped. Going out on loan would appear to have been just the spur he needed.

Marcus Rashford is a very good example of that when his chance came. Not long before that he had been anonymous when United u18s were hammered 5-0 by Chelsea in the youth cup.

 

I gave what I thought was a possible scenario for Sancho on here, in May:

If say, he makes his debut by this time next year for City (yes I know, but we're not talking Brandon Barker here), or even if they wait until after the summer break and introduce him in the pre-season games he could then become part of the squad and progress as the season develops. He'll then be an obvious choice for Hodgson, with the fans and pundits demanding it. (It would help to clear his pathway if City sent Diaz out on loan back to Spain.)

 

Talking of players who did look outstanding in the u16 VS games, one that sticks out for me is Matthias Fanimo (West Ham). He was really outstanding (same group as Sterling and Redmond), had a hell of a lot going for him (was worryingly one footed though (left)) but seemed to hit the buffers on leaving school and moving up to u18 level.

 

It's my view that any English club, including City, will give an English player as talented as Sancho every chance. He doesn't, I think, need to be playing at say, Manchester United, to be given a chance.

 

[QUOTE="Cevno, post: 34538405, member: 67868"

@TheGuardian How do you compare Sancho with a Angel Gomes ? And who else are close certainties from U18 ranks as per you ?[/QUOTE]

They both have a similar style about them. With Sancho being more of a runner with the ball. I said on here not long ago that Gomez now really needs to impose himself on u18 games, now the new season is underway. And he's been quick to do just that. He's looking very good indeed and prepared to do the running as well. A real top prospect. He doesn't look quite so off-puttingly dwarfish as before. Hopefully he still has a bit of growth to come. I mentioned a little while back, from what I have seen so far, that I was impressed by the look of Dan Loader in that group - a classy and quality player it seems. But the same as just said, I'd have to see a little more of him at u18 level this season

When you say "close certainties" I'm not totally sure what level you mean. Anyway, the only player in that group that I've claimed will rapidly move through the levels and become an England senior player is Dujon Sterling (some time ago). But anyone who has read my posts over a period may recall there are others in that group who I rate. Mason Mount being an obvious one - can usually be relied upon to come up with a touch of class to create or score a goal. His physique is somewhat off-putting though. There are others I thought looked like real prospects just from the u16 coverage - Reiss Nelson, tricky, match winning sparky type. Andre Dozzell, classy looking left-footer in need of a good meal and a gym membership. Martell Crossdale is another. He also needs a run in u18 football now to see how he goes. And Trevoh Chalobah should make it as premiership defender.