Uefa Stars Of The Future.

[Chrono]

Keep an eye on Andre Wisdom who plays with Buchtman at the academy. He's better than Buchtman. He's 15 (maybe 16 now) and has played for the U18s all season. He's played RB, CH and CM and never put a foot wrong. His decision making and tactical awareness for a kid are astonishing.

Wisdom beyond his years?

[red g]

When Rafa talk about Manchester having more money recently, he forgot to mention that a certain Macheda scored in 2 of Manures win this season.

If only we have youngsters that can step up to the first team as easily. In my opinion, Rafa just doesn't trust enough of the kids. He's always preferred young players with experience as N'gog and Lucas.

The only reason he got his chance to start with was they had injuries/suspensions to there strikers. He wouldnt have got a look in otherwise.

Just as N'gog is our young player he gets a chance when inhuries occur.
Sure nemeth woould have haad a look in this year barring injuries to

[Reece]

Keep an eye on Andre Wisdom who plays with Buchtman at the academy. He's better than Buchtman. He's 15 (maybe 16 now) and has played for the U18s all season. He's played RB, CH and CM and never put a foot wrong. His decision making and tactical awareness for a kid are astonishing.

Wisdom has also played for the England u18's I think.

[sitoca]

Insua has played a lot more than Macheda this season, he just hasn't hit the headlines because he isn't a striker and thus is unlikely to score. He has been very good though and that's a credit to Rafa for giving him the chance.

Can I ask which other kids you'd have given a chance to this season?

I'm not sure Insua would have been given the chance if Aurelio wasn't injured or Dossena difficulties in adapting to the English game.

I would have like to see players like Spearing or Nemeth be given more chances as a sub even if its only for a couple of minutes. Spearing cameo against Real Madrid should have happen more often in the league.

[Chrono]

I think the pre-season should give a clear indication as to who is likely to feature next year.

[sitoca]

The only reason he got his chance to start with was they had injuries/suspensions to there strikers. He wouldnt have got a look in otherwise.

Just as N'gog is our young player he gets a chance when inhuries occur.
Sure nemeth woould have haad a look in this year barring injuries to

But Macheda did step up when called upon to. We paid something like 1.5 mio for N'gog who has already played 18 games for PSG. And having seen both players played even though for only 2-3 games, I was expecting something more from N'gog.

Coming back to my point, if N'gog doesn't offer much more than Nemeth then the only reason why Rafa would pay 1.5 mio for him is his experience. Rafa doesn't trust his youth team until they gets enough playing experience. El zhar played bits and pieces but in my opinion they are too little. El Zhar could have played more if N'gog wasn't bought - as kuyt could have played up front and El Zhar on the right

[dww]

Kuyt was more effective on the right though - seems a bit of a false argument.

I agree that Rafa likes players to have experience but I think Ngog was bought as he was a more complete player and that there happened to be a opportunity to bag him cheap. Look at the reports from the recent England - France U21 match if we were talking about an English player everyone would have been raving about it. It's more than possible IMO that Rafa just rates Ngog higher than Nemeth.

[sitoca]

Kuyt was more effective on the right though - seems a bit of a false argument.

I'm talking about games when N'gog came on as a sub instead of El Zhar. Kuyt was certainly more effective on the right when Torres is playing.

All these are of course on hindsight. MOst of us here are all waiting eagerly for the next kid to come through from the youth team. Every season it ain't happening, the more impatient and anxious it gets. Its long overdue just like our league title.

[dww]

I'm not sure it is over due. Top quality players are rare in all youth teams and we have seen fringe players of varying quality in Warnock and Guthrie come in and young players from the reserves such as Insua and El Zhar. Is that really that different to what has happened at other teams except Arsenal who are willing to pay the sort of money we got Arbeloa, Agger and Lucas for on younger players?

Added to the fact that I think Rafa has had problems with how the youth setup has been run I think we have done about as well as one might expect. Hopefully the future will see improvements but I think we do okay as it is.

[red g]

But Macheda did step up when called upon to. We paid something like 1.5 mio for N'gog who has already played 18 games for PSG. And having seen both players played even though for only 2-3 games, I was expecting something more from N'gog.

Coming back to my point, if N'gog doesn't offer much more than Nemeth then the only reason why Rafa would pay 1.5 mio for him is his experience. Rafa doesn't trust his youth team until they gets enough playing experience. El zhar played bits and pieces but in my opinion they are too little. El Zhar could have played more if N'gog wasn't bought - as kuyt could have played up front and El Zhar on the right

they are different types of players though? Have you seen Kuyt up front recently? Kuyt has found his role in the team lets keep it that way

How many other top teams play youngsters regularly? only Arsenal and they are hardly setting the premiership alight. I think another important factor is Game Intelligence, Rafa loves a clever and intelligent player like Kuyt who uses his head and can drag players off others etc. I am not sure many youngsters posess that sort of intelligence which is maybe why he gives them a couple of years to get used to his way.

[dww]

they are different types of players though? Have you seen Kuyt up front recently? Kuyt has found his role in the team lets keep it that way

How many other top teams play youngsters regularly? only Arsenal and they are hardly setting the premiership alight. I think another important factor is Game Intelligence, Rafa loves a clever and intelligent player like Kuyt who uses his head and can drag players off others etc. I am not sure many youngsters posess that sort of intelligence which is maybe why he gives them a couple of years to get used to his way.

It is a valid question as to whether players are learning that in the youth/reserve setup at present though.

[brightred]

I thought Ecclestone looked the business last season but this year he seems to have gone backwards.

[carheex]

I agree with the glove

I use nemeth purely has an example - but he has been here as ressie/youth player for something like 2 maybe more years, and during that time has been mentioned as a top youngster, one for the future, and when he is ready he will be class - yet rafa went out and paid £1.5m or whatever it was for a striker who is 3 months younger than nemeth and went on to feature about 15 times or so in his first season!!!

If nemeth was anywhere close to ngog then surely we would have seen him once!!! So for me thats a major concern, when a talked about young star reaches 20 and he has not got close to game, he ain't going to make it here imo - bold statement maybe but i just can't see it.

To be fair i'd forget about el zhar - but I will make an even bolder statement here - other than insua who looks like he has the best chance of featuring - I can't see Spearing, Darby, El Zhar, Plessis, Nemeth, Pacheco, and i could prob add a few other names to the list, making 100 appearences between them! maybe even 50!!

El Zhar's an interesting one. In my opinion he's looked good when given the chance so even if you are capable you still might get forgotten about.
There is too much at risk to be able to try out a few youngsters these days. One mistake and the title's gone which is why we need to put all our efforts into purchasing players with quality and experience. Quite why people are so concerned about "youngsters" is beyond me.

[einar]

In what way was the difference vast?

Those who started when they where 20 had far less injuries.

[Exiled_red]

I think the pre-season should give a clear indication as to who is likely to feature next year.

Players who have a chance of breaking into the squad may get games in pre-season but not all those who play in pre-season will get minutes even in the Carling Cup