Can you guys please give me a list of the most promising youngsters currently playing in your professional league? Could be young professionals U17, youth team players, guys just coming into their own.. ect ect. Name, Age, Position would be great….
Sorry about this, but do you mean promising youngsters playing in the Irish league or just promosing future internationals playing anywhere?
Mancester Unites John O'Shea and Sunderlands Thomas Butler, both with 1 cap and are regulars in the U21 side are very very promising youngsters who should hold down regular starting places for their clubs this year. O'Shea is a centre half and captain of the U21 side and is the very highly rated, was told by Alex Fergusson he saved him spending 20m on another centre half. Thomas Butler is a winger who plays left side for Sunderland but, being right footed, can also play right wing or even central. He's rated as an exciting prospect because he has good dribbling ability but amazing passing, crossing and shooting. Sean Thornton is a 19 year old who just signed for Sunderland is expected to be a star in a few years, also a winger mainly but can play central, very skilful attack minded player. Graham Barret of Arsenal is a striker who is also rated highly but may have to move to get first team football. There's also yet another winger, 19 year old Michael Keane is an exciting player who is a main stay in the Preston North End first division side. Then there's the likes of Steven McPhail, played a full season in 99/00 and played brilliantly, was an amazing talent, got injured and is now battling to regain his place in the Leeds side. He's a player who plays deep and uses his birlliant passing ability to unlock defences. He's now 22. West Broms Joe Murphy just signed from Tranmere is a goalkeeper who has a very bright future, he is an amazing shot stopper but also very commanding of his area, will take a while to break into the side but no doubt is one to break into the team soon. Along with Aston Villas Heridersson, a goalkeeper on their U19 cup winning side with a bright future. There's also Paul McGraths son, Chris McGrath, who plays for Liverpools under 19s side. He supposedly plays like his father and the whole Liverpool youth academy is excited about this kid and if he's anything like his dad, then there's good reason for it too. I'll leave it to Don Homer to list the Eircom Leagues brightest prospects.
One to look out for in a few year's time is Willo Flood at Man City - the star of our current U-16 team. He has amazing potential apparently - Brian Kerr rates him as one of the best players he's ever worked with. He plays as a right winger at the moment, but they believe that once he gets a bit stronger, he'll be able to run the game from the centre of the park. This guy has it all - tackling, dribbling, shot, pace, workrate, intelligence, and deadly from free kicks as well! Mickey Doyle (midfielder) at Celtic is highly rated by Celtic as well...although if Healy can't get near the team then we probably won't see him for a while...
Sunderland afc have a large contngent of good Irish players.Their under 21s recently won a tournement in the channell islands beating teams like Manu and Barca and at least half the team were Irish lads.Also Glen Whelan from Man City is a cracking youngfella.