Have we got the best youngsters in the League?

[LeeB]

They're all fucking ace, they just need someone to put a decent framework together for them to work in.

[myf]

Theyd probably do a great job for us in the championship

[richardhubbard]

Delph could play wide left if he sorts his head out.


He played there for Leeds when he broke threw

I can't see it.

[pauliewalnuts]

How many of them are actually "kids" though?  Most of them are in their early 20's and if they were that good they would have been regulars before now.  To put it into perspective,  the likes of Rooney, Gerrard and Michael Owen were top players in the Premiership in their teens and I don't think any of the lads we have are at that level. 

Yes, but you've picked three of the best players of their generation to compare them against, and one who is one of the best players in the world.

That's a bit of an unfair comparison isnt it?

There are plenty of very good footballers who also didn't reach the levels of the three you mentioned and at that age.

[tomd2103]

How many of them are actually "kids" though?  Most of them are in their early 20's and if they were that good they would have been regulars before now.  To put it into perspective,  the likes of Rooney, Gerrard and Michael Owen were top players in the Premiership in their teens and I don't think any of the lads we have are at that level. 

Yes, but you've picked three of the best players of their generation to compare them against, and one who is one of the best players in the world.

That's a bit of an unfair comparison isnt it?

There are plenty of very good footballers who also didn't reach the levels of the three you mentioned and at that age.

True and maybe the comparison was a little unfair.  I suppose the point I was trying to make was that some of the players referred to as kids are in fact in their early 20's and are only really playing because there is noone else.  If they had been that good, they would have featured before now.  People are talking about building the future of the club on these players, when they haven't even proved they are Premiership class yet.

[Matt Collins]

We've got a very strong batch. But I'm not sure any of them are going to be top, top players Richard. Hope I'm wrong.

Clark will be without a doubt imo. I rate him higher than Cahill when he was here and I liked Cahill.

I like Clark too. But every year I think he's going to cement a place at centre back. He's 22 now. When is this actually going to happen?

[Hookeysmith]

Lichaj - i think is a very good player - at right back - certianly better than the pub player we have there

Bannan - I do like him but he has to do the simple thigns right - too many 40/50 yard killer passes that dont come off

Clarke - Future captain and great player - needs to be CB as his pace lets him down in the centre

Herd - gets about the pitch well and gets stuck in - very good in the air and can chip in will goals as proven at reserve level  / Anfield

Gardener - good skill and composure - lack of pace is clear but it would really help him if he was played in his right CM position insetad of wide

Baker - the goal aside (which i think is more Givens fault for not talking) i thought he was very dominant at United

Weinmann - love his movement and battling qualities - fantastic finish against Stoke showed that he has really good technique

Albrighton - came and went and then came back again - obviously a confidence player and he is struggling with this team at present - put him in a confident / winning team and he will return to the form we know he is capable of

Stevens - not seen him play but hear decent reports

Carruthers - dont know a lot about him but his cameo was impressive - i love players who run at the opposition

I think the other thign is media coverage - if say half of these players put in the very same performances under the same conditions (thrown in due to injuries etc) for Arsenal / Man U then they would be getting huge amounts of press exposure

The problem is they currently play for the most boring, uninspiring team in the league and that is a shame for them

[kipeye]

I think people forget that great players start off as promising youngsters. Rooney and Owen were exceptional in they were outstanding at a very young age. The former has not improved in the last 3 or 4 years-he constantly gave the ball away on Sunday as he does regularly, and the latter got poorer as he turned 26. Gerrard looked out of his depth when he played his first season.
You might say they had good coaching- their talent would have been seen by others if not. We have a great team with Sid et al despite the real doubts about the manager-at least he is playing them and hasn't bought in a load of superannuated hacks which was what O'Neil did.
i would also add that OX-Face Chamber pot and the other Arsenal elite didn't look so good last night.

[darren woolley]

We have got a good crop of youngsters coming through I just hope we manage them properly so they can develop into top players that's why the manager has to put his arm around them when needed and take them out of the firing line when he has to we need to make sure that we don't knock the confidence out of them.

[Dante Lavelli]

To me it appears the structure is working, as in we are consistently producing players of a certain quality.
What we’re waiting for is finding the gem that really stands out.  It will happen but I’m not convinced that such a player is within the current crop.

That is not a criticism of any of the players.  Having 5-10 homegrown squad players is a saving of probably 20m to 30m on transfer fees.  That’s impressive.

[Big Dick Edwards]

37 pages, 3 until we get into a huge argument about Delfouneso, 5 until the subject of Bannan comes up and who knows how many until we get onto my favourite subject which is we produce loads of ok youngsters along the lines of Byfield, Lee, Carruthers (Martin), Kerr, Olney, the Moores x 2 et all but very few top notch ones

Oh and Bradley, been trying to remember his name for the last few minutes. He was another destined to be a world beater!

How could you forget Dean Glover?

[SirSteveUK]

My little game..

Without looking, place these 4 in order of age - oldest first

Herd
Albrighton
Bannan
Delfouneso

[supertom]

My little game..

Without looking, place these 4 in order of age - oldest first

Herd
Albrighton
Bannan
Delfouneso

Herd, Bannan, Albrighton, Delfouneso?
I may have muddle the 1st two, but I believe the last two are right. They've all passed 20 though I'm sure.

[N'ZMAV]

No.

[garyshawsknee]

37 pages, 3 until we get into a huge argument about Delfouneso, 5 until the subject of Bannan comes up and who knows how many until we get onto my favourite subject which is we produce loads of ok youngsters along the lines of Byfield, Lee, Carruthers (Martin), Kerr, Olney, the Moores x 2 et all but very few top notch ones

Oh and Bradley, been trying to remember his name for the last few minutes. He was another destined to be a world beater!

How could you forget Dean Glover?

And Mark Blake.