Comparing the development of great young English players

Shearer scored a hattrick against Arsenal on his league debut at 17.

Micheal Owen was established in the Premiership at 17, I'm sure Matt Clark can tell you about Owens career.

 

By 17, Owen was an England international.

 

With any luck, Rooney could be the next Landon Donovon and play for his national team at the next WC. Rooney is full of potential.

 

Yeah, with any luck

 

Landon Donovan?

Nah

Clint Mathis maybe but not LD.

 

Landon......who?

 

my sentiments exactly.

 

i think Robbie Fowler made his Liverpool debut fairly young (17? 16?), and i believe he scored 100 goals faster than anyone before him for LFC.

someone who's a bit older than me can confirm that.

 

In his first 11 games for Leeds (at 17) Smith got a few goals and a couple assists.

He did better than Rooney is doing now, who has 2 goals and 1 assist.

Smith has had the best debut i would think....

his first TOUCH in the premiership was a shot which ended up beating the keeper at the far post (from about 20 yards) No first touch to steady, just struck the ball.

That was the equilizer at Anfield. Hasselbaink got 2 more and we won 3-1.

 

Fowler made his pro debut at age 18, I believe. A League Cup match against either Fulham or Oldham. Scored one in the first leg, and then and unbelievable 5 (yes, five) in the return leg.

Matt Clark was present to witness Robbie's rise, and could probably comment on this better than me. I know he also holds the record for quickest Premiership hattrick ever. 4 1/2 minutes against Arsenal. That was probably done at age 22 or so.

 

It was fulham away.

 

From soccernet.com

Burst onto the Liverpool scene in September 1993 when he scored all five goals against Fulham in a League Cup match and swiftly made a name for himself as the best finisher in English football.
Scored over thirty league goals in 1994/95, 1995/96 and 1996/97 to cement this reputation.

Suffered a knee injury in the 1997/98 season and was out for many months.

He returned for the 1998/99 season and grabbed eighteen goals, overshadowed by a disgraceful incident with Graeme Le Saux and a simulated cocaine sniff along the goal-line during a derby game with Everton which saw him banned for six matches at the end of the season.

...and then more about England and being "England's most natural finisher...

 

Clan,
He's just some kid that bagged a few goals at the last World Cup. Anyone can do that, right? lol

 

You mean like Norman Whiteside?

 

Or Michael Owen? Or Pele? Man, the arrogance of some of the American footy fans is stunning. A kid is setting Premiership alight at barely 17 and one chooses to compare him to someone who couldn't buy a game in Bundesliga at 20????

 

Anyone else notice that our resident Nobel Laureate, Wildman262, changed his favorite team on his profile?

If you're going to be a glory-hunting little prick, try to make it less obvious.

 

el urchinio, believe me, I know quality players. I've named the top 10 Premiership players on mulitple occasions. Would you like to see the list?

I named Donovan, because he was a young lad that has had some success in the WC. Could Donovan play in the Premiership? Without a doubt.

 

Dr Wanker, what have I done to deserve such hostility directed at me? I enjoy many teams in Europe. Is it okay to change my favorite team or am I bound to it for life?

 

Ah, the certainties of life. Death, taxes, and Wildman leaving a pile of wit everywhere he posts.

 

But that wouldn't necessarily make him brilliant - Jason Roberts plays in the Premiership.
As do hundreds of others.

 

Earlier than the premiership i realise...but the Whiteside reference was quite obviously totally lost on him.

 

Clan, are you giving me stick? Not lost on me.

 

If i give you me stick, how am i gonna get about