As a season ticket holder for the past 10 years, I have seen both crops of youngsters emerge. Yes, the previous crop was much better, but to put down the current crop is just insane.
Marek Stech is undoubtedly Petr Cech's understudy. Jack Collison is a different breed of Michael Carrick, one which does not rely on his passing, but his composure and skill. If he can develop passing and shooting, he will be a far better player than Carrick.
Nouble plays very much like Carlton Cole, with his back to goal, and with Cole, Zola and Clarke's help, he will become a quality player within 3 years (when he would have just turned 21).
Stanislas can play on the left OR right. Shows how much you know about football. Most of his goals have come from cutting in on the left and shooting. You don't need a left foot for that. He is also very handy at taking set pieces, has blistering pace, a good first touch, desire and work ethic. And as for defending. WHAT ARE YOU ON ABOUT. He is a winger. Do you see Ashley Young being celebrated for his defensive displays? NO. With his pace, he can track back well enough to annoy the opposition threat.
Hines is a player that never impressed me, until the season began. He has been sensational. Given that the only reason he is starting is because of injuries. He's not ready for a starting berth yet, which is why he doesn't look so good when he starts, because he is not experienced enough to know when to conserve energy, run for a ball etc. Of course, his stamina is not quite there for a full 90mins. He has two good, quick feet, pace, good awareness and when he improves his strength, finishing and movement (which come with age), he will be a force. By the time he is 26, he will be a far better player than Carlton Cole is at 26, and everyone knows how good Cole is right now.
Tomkins didnt impress me last year, but that was also because he was thrown in too soon. His neck muscles were weak, didn't have two feet, had bad positional sense and didn't have the aggression required. This year, he looks a class apart from his former self. Yes, he still lacks aggression (which I hope he does somehow develop because it's not the kind of attribute that magically appears). But now he has two good feet, more awareness, better positioning, a good header and the ability to block and tackle. I wouldn't be surprised if he goes to the next World Cup (when he will then be 24). Maybe not as a starter, but then again, apart from Cahill, there are not many young English centre backs coming through with astonishing promise.
Who else should I mention. Daprella? Ferrari? Terry Dixon (who everyone knows was a phenomenal talent at Spurs, and this is intelligence I have from various Spurs fans and season ticket holders).
Add to that list Jordan Spence, who has captained England at every age, we have a strong academy. Not the weak one you suggest.
Freddie Sears I do not rate at all. Having him back on loan though will be good for us. It just means we can rest an important striker like Cole or Franco for meaningless games like Arsenal in the Cup.
(Contributed by Anonymous!)
Jeez, you really are an idiot.
ReplyDeleteNo one is putting the club down more than you are on your silly little blog here and you have the cheek to tell others to back off?
Debate is healthy. Thanks for the contribution. I think this reads better without the obscene remarks but you may think differently. as the "editor", I have left your other post up in case you object to the corrections. Hope you are right and I am wrong! The wife says that's unlikely though based on your performance in other areas! ; }
ReplyDeleteJohan, I didn't write it! try to read through to the end in future, I know it's hard when your usual read is Janet and John!
ReplyDeleteAnd where is this evidence for Marek Stechs' ability?
ReplyDeleteBeing a season ticket holder for 10 years still means you would not have seen Nouble Stech or Daprela. I praise your optimism and I would like to think the same way, however I think you're too optimistic. I agree with Collison and Stanislas, and think they are future stars, however I would not call Hines sensational, that's an adjective I would label Messi with. Jordan Spence is a tricky one, and a player I can't see when we will risk, no championship games (realistically) and little chance of a gamble in defence.
Be fair, Stech looked world class when he picked the ball out of the net five times in that debut game for Bournemouth! He is getting a lot of opportunities to prove himself for the reserves apparently. What I don't get is why Daprella hasn't been tried if he is any cop. I mean, Spector at left back? Surely a future star would be a better option? But then, being left footed, Zola will probably give him his debut on the right flank!
ReplyDeleteAnd if Dixon is so good, why hasn't he even got a squad number given our current striker crisis?
ReplyDeleteNo one is denying they have talent.Given the correct coaching and guidance some of these players will possibly make the top grade.By rushing them through ,playing them every week ,however,they are having their weaknesses really exposed, which can badly affect their confidence.TOMPKINS is a good example of that,when he received bad press recently.
ReplyDeleteSpot on Essex. I remember 'Arry easing in Cole and resiting calls from the fans to play him. The needs of the player were put ahead of the immediate needs of the team. That is not happening at the moment. Players are being pressed into action and that is dangerous.
ReplyDeleteannonymous poster isnt taking into account the fact that the Premier League has gotten 10x 'harder' in the last 10 years.
ReplyDeleteThe league doesnt reflect the best talent in Britain anymore, it is the best in the world and thus the probability that the Essex boy will triumph is less.
Interesting observation hamalot. Not sure I agree though. There are lots of poor teams in the current Prem. How much do the Jimenezs, Spectors, Di Michelles etcetera add to the Prem? I doubt that Geoff Pike would be playing in the Prem now because he didn't "look the part" but he would compete a darn site more than a lot of the foreign mercenaries. Skill levels might be higher overall but if you look at how effective Fulham are, you have to wonder at the quality of the competition. Woy has taken a group of journeymen and organised them. The annoying thing is that three of them looked so ordinary in a West Ham shirt!
ReplyDeleteSome positive thoughts for the future... Hopefully this article is not a review of what the first team squad might look like if we get relegated and/or do not find new owners quickly! Even then it may be difficult to hang on to Collison and one or two others. In the short term we are going to need all the help we can get from the likes of Messrs. Green, Upson, Parker and Cole. Let's hope they are still about in February.
ReplyDeleteur worse then hammersfan here and i bet u rated sears 2 seasons ago give him a chance palac ewas the complete wrong choice of team t osend him to considering he hasnt being plai=ying up front all season yet hes still been playing quite well look wot zola did to cole who i still would sell if 20 mil came in
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