100 Young Players to look out for

Flamed Diving

Bubs101 wrote: »

In fairness, Ferguson took him on when he was 14 or so and wasn't judging him on the same criteria that he would have other 14 year olds. Adu would have been a franchise player in the MLS the next year so there's no way he would have accepted a youth contract at Man Utd so you've got to assume Ferguson was testing him for first team backup, he wouldn't have gotten a work permit anyway.

I've seen a decent bit of him for Benfica on Betfair TV and he is a really good impact player, like a left footed Wallcott

This was before he joined Benfica, after he left MLS. Ferguson took him on trial and rejected him.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/6166780.stm

Raoul

Frisbee wrote: »

Never heard that one before...

Sorry can't find the proof! But yeah supposedly he had the chance to sign him before he went to Juventus.

Funny thing I just seen, Jack Walker's reply to talk about Rovers signing Zidane: "Why do you want to sign Zidane when we have Tim Sherwood?":pac:

Tom65

I hate that list. I'm only 20 and it makes me feel very old.

Raoul

Tom65 wrote: »

I hate that list. I'm only 20 and it makes me feel very old.

Yeah, me too.:o

FatherTed

I've seen Adu play a few times for the US and in MLS. He is good player but is perhaps a little light weight.

Xavi6

Raoul wrote: »

Sorry can't find the proof! But yeah supposedly he had the chance to sign him before he went to Juventus.

Funny thing I just seen, Jack Walker's reply to talk about Rovers signing Zidane: "Why do you want to sign Zidane when we have Tim Sherwood?":pac:

Sure Brian Horton rejected Luis Figo back in 1993 when he wanted to come to City. Happens to the best of us! :pac:

Peyton Manning

I believe it was Eric Cantona who recommended Zidane to Fergie.

Also, Graemme Souness rejected the chance to sign a young Eric Cantona for Liverpool.

Mitch Connor

From what I have heard Fergie said - we DID look at Zidane but by the time we did, the deal was already in place for him to sign for Juve, and Fergie was happy enough with his midfield so wasn't all that bothered.

CHD

Fergie turned down a young Essien aswell i think.

Adu will never live up to expectations.

Mitch Connor

CHD wrote: »

Fergie turned down a young Essien aswell i think.

Adu will never live up to expectations.

No, we wanted to sign him, and Muntari when they were 16, but we couldn't get work permits for either.

Essien also, apparently, stole some shirts, which didn't go down well!:D

ibh

Archimedes wrote: »

Interestingly enough, heres a similar list that was compiled in 2001:

1. Djibril Cisse (STR, Auxerre)
2. Andres D'Allesandro (AM, River Plate)
3. Leandro Bonfim (AM, Vitoria/PSV Eindhoven)
4. Fernando Jose Torres (STR, Atletico Madrid)
5. Jermaine Pennant (R/WNG, Arsenal)
6. Rafael Van der Vaart (C/MF, Ajax)
7. Florent Sinama-Pongolle (STR, Le Havre/Liverpool)
8. Piotr Trochowski (AM, FC Bayern Munich)
9. Anthony Le Tallec (AM/CFWD, Le Havre/Liverpool)
10. Mourad Meghni (AM, Bologna)
11. Pedro Mantorras (STR, Benfica Lisbon)
12. David Odonkor (FWD, Borussia Dortmund)
13. Darren Fletcher (C/MF, Manchester United)
14. John Welsh (C/DM, Liverpool)
15. Kim Kallstrom (CM, BK Hacken)
16. Philippe Mexes (CB, Auxerre)
17. Johnny Heitinga (CB, Ajax)
18. Juan Andreu Melli (CM, Real Betis)
19. Baldo Di Gregorio (CB, Eintract Frankfurt)
20. Andres Iniesta (AM, Barcelona)
21. Milan Baros (STR, Liverpool)
22. Marius Niculae (STR, Sporting Lisbon)
23. Fabricio Coloccini (CB, Milan/on loan to Alaves)
24. Ricardo Bernardo Quaresma (L/WNG, Sporting Lisbon)
25. Maicon (RWB, Cruzeiro)
26. Hugo Viana (CM, Sporting Lisbon)
27. Arjen Robben (L/WNG, Groningen/PSV Eindhoven)
28. Julio Colombo (CB, Montpellier)
29. Gregory Vignal (LB, Liverpool)
30. Jermaine DeFoe (STR, West Ham United)
31. Gareth Barry (LB, Aston Villa)
32. Marat Izmailov (AM/FWD, Lokomotiv Moscow)
33. Hassan Yebda (DM, Auxerre)
34. Leandro Romagnoli (AM, San Lorenzo)
35. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (CFWD, Ajax)
36. Dean Ashton (CFWD, Crewe Alexandria)
37. Ednilson (AM, Benfica Lisbon)
38. Chris Kirkland (GK, Liverpool)
39. Emilliano S. Dudar (CB, Velez Sarsfield)
40. Helder Postiga (STR, Porto)
41. Ahmed 'Mido' Hossam (STR/LWNG, Ajax)
42. Joaquin Sanchez (L/WNG, Real Betis)
43. Diego Ribas (AM, Santos)
44. Jay Lucas (CFWD, Southampton)
45. Niko Kranjcar (AM/CFWD, Dinamo Zagreb)
46. Christian Petereit (RB/CB, Schalke 04)
47. Ewerthon (STR/FWD, Borussia Dortmund)
48. Gael Givet (CB/LB, Monaco)
49. Francesco Lodi (AM, Empoli/Parma)
50. Massimo Donati (DM, AC Milan)
51. Gatti Ribeiro (RWB, Blooming)
52. Jeremie Aliadiere (STR, Arsenal)
53. Francesco Tarantino (LB/CB, Athletic Bilbao)
54. Lourenco Da Silva (FWD/LWNG, Sporting Lisbon)
55. Alexander Ludwig (L/WNG, Werder Bremen)
56. Landon Donovan (STR, San Jose Earthquakes)
57. Ricardo Costa (CB, FC Porto)
58. Filip Trojan (L/WNG, Schalke 04)
59. Carlos Martins (CM, Sporting Lisbon)
60. Serhat Akin (STR, Fenerbahce)
61. Johnnier Montano (AM/FWD, Parma-on loan to Verona)
62. Mark Fotheringham (C/MF, Celtic)
63. Rubinho (GK, Corinthians)
64. Michael Chopra (STR, Newcastle)
65. Edward Johnson (STR, Dallas Burn)
66. Johnny Van Beukering (STR, Vitesse)
67. Santino Quaranta (STR, DC United)
68. Andreas Hinkel (RB/RWB, Stuttgart)
69. Bojan Djrodjic (L/WNG, Manchester United)
70. Matteo Brighi (CM, Juventus)
71. Cherno Samba (CFWD, Millwall)
72. Hassan Ahamada (LWNG/STR, Nantes)
73. Theo Janssen (LM, Vitesse)
74. Derik Boateng (AM, Panathinaikos)
75. Mauro Rosales (R/WNG, Newell's Old Boys)
76. Dulee Johnson (STR, BK Hacken)
77. Fernando Macedo Nano (L/WNG, Barcelona)
78. Michael Essien (D/MF, Bastia)
79. Andres Oliveira (STR/FWD, Perth Glory)
80. Candido Costa (AM, Porto)
81. Tuomas Aho (CB, My-Pa)
82. Dimitar Berbatov (STR, Bayer Leverkusen)
83. Thijs Houwing (CFWD, Twente)
84. Labinot Harbuzi (AM, Malmo FF)
85. Michael Zepek (CM, Bayer Leverkusen)
86. Mika Vayrynen (AM, FC Jokerit)
87. Ramon Calliste (STR, Manchester United)
88. Christoph Preuss (RWB, Eintract Frankfurt)
89. Keith Kelly (CM, PSG)
90. Aldo Jara (FWD, Cerro Portano)
91. Kieran Richardson (L/WNG, Manchester United)
92. Leonardo Santiago (L/WNG, Feyenoord)
93. Shaun Maloney(STR, Celtic)
94. Azar Karadas (CFWD/CB, Brann Bergen)
95. Kaka (AM, Sao Paulo)
96. Benjamin Auer (CFWD, Borussia M'Gladbach)
97. Daniyel Cimen (LB/CB, Eintract Frankfurt)
98. Erdal Kilicaslan (CFWD, Bayern Munich)
99. David Prutton (D/MF, Nottingham Forest)
100. Alexander Hleb (AM, Stuttgart)

Tusky wrote: »

Didnt expect to see Nemeth on the list but am glad hes there. The guy looks like he could be a great player in a couple of years.

I'm pissed to see him on the list. What happened the players on the older list who were at Anfield at some stage???:eek:

There is one notable exception in Torres. It reinforces a belief i have had for a long time that Liverpools youth setup is not doing the business in terms of helping players make that final step towards being regular first team players in a good team.
And i don't mean the youth team itself but there seems to be a problem nurturing talented players in the 17-21 yr age group.

Hopefully Nemeth, Lucas et al don't go the same way.

CHD

Tauren wrote: »

No, we wanted to sign him, and Muntari when they were 16, but we couldn't get work permits for either.

Essien also, apparently, stole some shirts, which didn't go down well!:D

Sure?

Thought he had him on trial and decided not to sign him. Same same really i suppose.

LOL at the shirts thing!

Lemlin

Sorry to ressurrect a very old thread but this lad signed for Blackburn today:

48) NIKOLA KALINIC, Attacker (CROATIA, Hadjuk Split) 05-01-1988

Looks like a decent player and fee could rise to 12 million.

JPA

1. Djibril Cisse (STR, Auxerre)
2. Andres D'Allesandro (AM, River Plate)
3. Leandro Bonfim (AM, Vitoria/PSV Eindhoven)
4. Fernando Jose Torres (STR, Atletico Madrid)
5. Jermaine Pennant (R/WNG, Arsenal)
6. Rafael Van der Vaart (C/MF, Ajax)
7. Florent Sinama-Pongolle (STR, Le Havre/Liverpool)
8. Piotr Trochowski (AM, FC Bayern Munich)
9. Anthony Le Tallec (AM/CFWD, Le Havre/Liverpool)
10. Mourad Meghni (AM, Bologna)
11. Pedro Mantorras (STR, Benfica Lisbon)
12. David Odonkor (FWD, Borussia Dortmund)
13. Darren Fletcher (C/MF, Manchester United)
14. John Welsh (C/DM, Liverpool)
15. Kim Kallstrom (CM, BK Hacken)
16. Philippe Mexes (CB, Auxerre)
17. Johnny Heitinga (CB, Ajax)
18. Juan Andreu Melli (CM, Real Betis)
19. Baldo Di Gregorio (CB, Eintract Frankfurt)
20. Andres Iniesta (AM, Barcelona)
21. Milan Baros (STR, Liverpool)
22. Marius Niculae (STR, Sporting Lisbon)
23. Fabricio Coloccini (CB, Milan/on loan to Alaves)
24. Ricardo Bernardo Quaresma (L/WNG, Sporting Lisbon)
25. Maicon (RWB, Cruzeiro)
26. Hugo Viana (CM, Sporting Lisbon)
27. Arjen Robben (L/WNG, Groningen/PSV Eindhoven)
28. Julio Colombo (CB, Montpellier)
29. Gregory Vignal (LB, Liverpool)
30. Jermaine DeFoe (STR, West Ham United)
31. Gareth Barry (LB, Aston Villa)
32. Marat Izmailov (AM/FWD, Lokomotiv Moscow)
33. Hassan Yebda (DM, Auxerre)
34. Leandro Romagnoli (AM, San Lorenzo)
35. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (CFWD, Ajax)
36. Dean Ashton (CFWD, Crewe Alexandria)
37. Ednilson (AM, Benfica Lisbon)
38. Chris Kirkland (GK, Liverpool)
39. Emilliano S. Dudar (CB, Velez Sarsfield)
40. Helder Postiga (STR, Porto)
41. Ahmed 'Mido' Hossam (STR/LWNG, Ajax)
42. Joaquin Sanchez (L/WNG, Real Betis)
43. Diego Ribas (AM, Santos)
44. Jay Lucas (CFWD, Southampton)
45. Niko Kranjcar (AM/CFWD, Dinamo Zagreb)
46. Christian Petereit (RB/CB, Schalke 04)
47. Ewerthon (STR/FWD, Borussia Dortmund)
48. Gael Givet (CB/LB, Monaco)
49. Francesco Lodi (AM, Empoli/Parma)
50. Massimo Donati (DM, AC Milan)
51. Gatti Ribeiro (RWB, Blooming)
52. Jeremie Aliadiere (STR, Arsenal)
53. Francesco Tarantino (LB/CB, Athletic Bilbao)
54. Lourenco Da Silva (FWD/LWNG, Sporting Lisbon)
55. Alexander Ludwig (L/WNG, Werder Bremen)
56. Landon Donovan (STR, San Jose Earthquakes)
57. Ricardo Costa (CB, FC Porto)
58. Filip Trojan (L/WNG, Schalke 04)
59. Carlos Martins (CM, Sporting Lisbon)
60. Serhat Akin (STR, Fenerbahce)
61. Johnnier Montano (AM/FWD, Parma-on loan to Verona)
62. Mark Fotheringham (C/MF, Celtic)
63. Rubinho (GK, Corinthians)
64. Michael Chopra (STR, Newcastle)
65. Edward Johnson (STR, Dallas Burn)
66. Johnny Van Beukering (STR, Vitesse)
67. Santino Quaranta (STR, DC United)
68. Andreas Hinkel (RB/RWB, Stuttgart)
69. Bojan Djrodjic (L/WNG, Manchester United)
70. Matteo Brighi (CM, Juventus)
71. Cherno Samba (CFWD, Millwall)
72. Hassan Ahamada (LWNG/STR, Nantes)
73. Theo Janssen (LM, Vitesse)
74. Derik Boateng (AM, Panathinaikos)
75. Mauro Rosales (R/WNG, Newell's Old Boys)
76. Dulee Johnson (STR, BK Hacken)
77. Fernando Macedo Nano (L/WNG, Barcelona)
78. Michael Essien (D/MF, Bastia)
79. Andres Oliveira (STR/FWD, Perth Glory)
80. Candido Costa (AM, Porto)
81. Tuomas Aho (CB, My-Pa)
82. Dimitar Berbatov (STR, Bayer Leverkusen)
83. Thijs Houwing (CFWD, Twente)
84. Labinot Harbuzi (AM, Malmo FF)
85. Michael Zepek (CM, Bayer Leverkusen)
86. Mika Vayrynen (AM, FC Jokerit)
87. Ramon Calliste (STR, Manchester United)
88. Christoph Preuss (RWB, Eintract Frankfurt)
89. Keith Kelly (CM, PSG)
90. Aldo Jara (FWD, Cerro Portano)
91. Kieran Richardson (L/WNG, Manchester United)
92. Leonardo Santiago (L/WNG, Feyenoord)
93. Shaun Maloney(STR, Celtic)
94. Azar Karadas (CFWD/CB, Brann Bergen)
95. Kaka (AM, Sao Paulo)
96. Benjamin Auer (CFWD, Borussia M'Gladbach)
97. Daniyel Cimen (LB/CB, Eintract Frankfurt)
98. Erdal Kilicaslan (CFWD, Bayern Munich)
99. David Prutton (D/MF, Nottingham Forest)
100. Alexander Hleb (AM, Stuttgart)

They got some fairly big hitters on that list right, and a lot of who?

Eire-Dearg

John Welsh ahead of Kaka et al!

flahavaj

LOL at Adu being born in 1989.

Dublin_Gunner

JPA wrote: »

They got some fairly big hitters on that list right, and a lot of who?

Well you've only highlighted a few 'big hitters' as you call them.

Considering you have Van Der Vaart and Barry on your list, you should have highlighted:

Torres (how did you miss that one!), Cisse, Odonkor, Fletcher, Heitinga, Baros, Quaresma, Maicon, DeFoe, Postiga, Givet, Donovan, Costa, Hleb.

I would classify a 'big hitter' as you call them by those who've had successful professional careers, and International caps, as well as playing for some of the bigest sides in Europe.

I'm even sure I've missed some in my quick scan, but your highlighted list is terribly short.

JPA

Dublin_Gunner wrote: »

Well you've only highlighted a few 'big hitters' as you call them.

Considering you have Van Der Vaart and Barry on your list, you should have highlighted:

Torres (how did you miss that one!), Cisse, Odonkor, Fletcher, Heitinga, Baros, Quaresma, Maicon, DeFoe, Postiga, Givet, Donovan, Costa, Hleb.

I would classify a 'big hitter' as you call them by those who've had successful professional careers, and International caps, as well as playing for some of the bigest sides in Europe.

I'm even sure I've missed some in my quick scan, but your highlighted list is terribly short.

Ya, I missed a couple first time round but I edited them in since before you posted. But then I wasn't using your criteria.

Royale with Cheese

Cherno Samba? A ha ha ha ha

Dublin_Gunner

JPA wrote: »

Ya, I missed a couple first time round but I edited them in since before you posted. But then I wasn't using your criteria.

Well if you're going to highlight Barry & Ribas - I fail to see how you could leave out most of whom I noted...

dor83

Dublin_Gunner wrote: »

Well if you're going to highlight Barry & Ribas - I fail to see how you could leave out most of whom I noted...

Mexes should be added too.

JPA

Bloody hell lads, make your own freaking list!

Dublin_Gunner

dor83 wrote: »

Mexes should be added too.

I actually meant to type him in my last post!


All in all, its a pretty decent list, considering a hell of a lot of those players made it in the big time.

dor83

Dublin_Gunner wrote: »

I actually meant to type him in my last post!


All in all, its a pretty decent list, considering a hell of a lot of those players made it in the big time.

Yeah, considering how young and unknown most of those players were at the time it would have been very hard to predict and they got some the best players in the world right too. You could make one hell of a good team from that list.

Headshot

JPA wrote: »

Bloody hell lads, make your own freaking list!

kiko

end of list :pac:

eZe^

All of La Masia will be on the next one... :P

8-10

Mitchell Donald and Jan Vertonghen are my tips for the future that don't seem to have been mentioned yet. No prizes for guessing who I support!

Donald didn't get off the bench in the first league game on Sunday but he looked awesome in pre-season. Then again he was great in the friendlies last year and didn't get much of a look in at first-team. But he's the new Hedwiges Maduro!

Mr Maroon

Lorenzo Ariaudo.