Dan Crowley

[richard moore]

He does look a bloody player.

I can see the comparison with Wilshere. Wilshere is in the Iniesta mould where if you get too tight he will glide past you and if you stand off him he will pick a pass. The assist was a great pass and watching him glide past the opposition there does remind me of him.

For those who don't rate Wilshere, I really don't understand. He is the stand out player in his generation by a mile for me. He could play for Barcelona.

Stand out player in his generation by a mile? 'Amazing' would be a shorter way of putting it and would fit with the current vernacular of describing everything thus when in fact it isn't. For which see, Wilshere, a slightly better than average English midfielder which isn't exactly difficult when the competition in your generation is made up of Tom Cleverley et al. Presumably Gareth Bale belongs to another generation then?

[peter w]

It's what Arsenal do. 

Generally there's not many players that come directly through their ranks from 10-12+

They just cherry pick the better players from other sides from home and abroad, and offer the family of the player involved incentives (not bribes, not bribes at all).

I was told by a colleague at work about Wenger directly tapping him up a month or more ago.

The person who told me said her friend had a lad who was a 'good footballer' and his family had been invited (and went) to Wengers house to chat about their son playing for Arsenal.  She told me his name (Crowley). 

It was interesting because she didn't know anything about football and wasn't making any comment other than how good this kid was compared with his mates.  She didn't know much about him other than she thought he might be on Villa's books.  In other words she wsasn't bullshitting or or trying to big up a story.

Anyhow, I was amazed how clubs are able to get away with this sort of thing. 

No different  to what we did to Brighton for Barry.

[Hillbilly]

He was wearing gloves in that England U-17 clip. He has to go.

[eamonn]

Would you share a plate of pink wafers with Arsene? Come on Dan, it just doesn't make sense.

[not3bad]

News now is full of it today.  The Dan Crowley story I mean.

[hartman_1982]

He does look a bloody player.

I can see the comparison with Wilshere. Wilshere is in the Iniesta mould where if you get too tight he will glide past you and if you stand off him he will pick a pass. The assist was a great pass and watching him glide past the opposition there does remind me of him.

For those who don't rate Wilshere, I really don't understand. He is the stand out player in his generation by a mile for me. He could play for Barcelona.

Stand out player in his generation by a mile? 'Amazing' would be a shorter way of putting it and would fit with the current vernacular of describing everything thus when in fact it isn't. For which see, Wilshere, a slightly better than average English midfielder which isn't exactly difficult when the competition in your generation is made up of Tom Cleverley et al. Presumably Gareth Bale belongs to another generation then?

*English player of this generation. He is that too. I can't believe anyone who watches Wilshire can't be impressed by his talent. He is by far and away the most technically gifted English footballer already. He is a superb talent.

[MonsXI]

I know a few lads that know his family and apparently a very grounded lad, never seen him play so can't comment on his ability.

[barrysleftfoot]

 Did i read that he is actually a Villa fan?

 Mark Burke was a fantastic 15 year old,but never seemed to develop.Good luck to the lad, but lets see where he is in 3/4 yrs time.

[Chris Smith]

He does look a bloody player.

I can see the comparison with Wilshere. Wilshere is in the Iniesta mould where if you get too tight he will glide past you and if you stand off him he will pick a pass. The assist was a great pass and watching him glide past the opposition there does remind me of him.

For those who don't rate Wilshere, I really don't understand. He is the stand out player in his generation by a mile for me. He could play for Barcelona.

Stand out player in his generation by a mile? 'Amazing' would be a shorter way of putting it and would fit with the current vernacular of describing everything thus when in fact it isn't. For which see, Wilshere, a slightly better than average English midfielder which isn't exactly difficult when the competition in your generation is made up of Tom Cleverley et al. Presumably Gareth Bale belongs to another generation then?

You're significantly underestimating Wilshire, in my view, Richard. The initial comment might have been a little over the top, but he's already a step above "slightly better than average". 

[paul_e]

He does look a bloody player.

I can see the comparison with Wilshere. Wilshere is in the Iniesta mould where if you get too tight he will glide past you and if you stand off him he will pick a pass. The assist was a great pass and watching him glide past the opposition there does remind me of him.

For those who don't rate Wilshere, I really don't understand. He is the stand out player in his generation by a mile for me. He could play for Barcelona.

Stand out player in his generation by a mile? 'Amazing' would be a shorter way of putting it and would fit with the current vernacular of describing everything thus when in fact it isn't. For which see, Wilshere, a slightly better than average English midfielder which isn't exactly difficult when the competition in your generation is made up of Tom Cleverley et al. Presumably Gareth Bale belongs to another generation then?

You're significantly underestimating Wilshire, in my view, Richard. The initial comment might have been a little over the top, but he's already a step above "slightly better than average". 

No he isn't, really, he isn't.  In flashes he shows that he has a good chance of becoming a fantastic player in the future but right now he's more potential than anything else.  If he was as good as some of you seem to think Arsenal wouldn't be struggling to make the top 4, especially considering that Cazorla really is that good.  At the moment Wilshere is good enough to be a regular in a side in the europa league places, ie about on a par with barry, petrov, milner.  He may have better technique than them and be easier on the eye but until he's regularly controlling games (which is what he's there to do) he'll be a long way from the player a lot of people think he is.

[Chris Smith]

I don't follow your logic at all, Paul. Arsenal's major problems are defensive, hardly something you can blame on him. One player isn't going to make enough difference to compensate for those frailties.

[paul_e]

I don't follow your logic at all, Paul. Arsenal's major problems are defensive, hardly something you can blame on him. One player isn't going to make enough difference to compensate for those frailties.

I'm saying he's not the stand out player in a side who have been in the top 4 for years and have now fallen out of it.  Yes they have defensive issues but they've also struggled to break teams down a lot in the last couple of years (last year they got into the top 4 on RVPs goals alone, many of which he made for himself).  That coincides with the time when Wilshere has been heavily involved.  Ok he's had a big injury in the middle of that period but he's still played 20odd games this season and has only really looked like bossing things in a handful of those.

Again, he'll probably go on to be a great player but he's not a great player yet.  He reminds me a lot of bale 3-4 years ago, who looked likely to be a top player as there were a lot of good things to him but he wasn't using those skills well enough.  With experience he's adapted his game to make the most of what he has and is now one of the 3-4 best players in the league.  If Wilshere can adapt in a similar way then he'll be worthy of the praise he's getting but for now he's not some world class player who is going to be Englands savior.

[Chris Smith]

I don't follow your logic at all, Paul. Arsenal's major problems are defensive, hardly something you can blame on him. One player isn't going to make enough difference to compensate for those frailties.

I'm saying he's not the stand out player in a side who have been in the top 4 for years and have now fallen out of it.  Yes they have defensive issues but they've also struggled to break teams down a lot in the last couple of years (last year they got into the top 4 on RVPs goals alone, many of which he made for himself).  That coincides with the time when Wilshere has been heavily involved.  Ok he's had a big injury in the middle of that period but he's still played 20odd games this season and has only really looked like bossing things in a handful of those.

Again, he'll probably go on to be a great player but he's not a great player yet.  He reminds me a lot of bale 3-4 years ago, who looked likely to be a top player as there were a lot of good things to him but he wasn't using those skills well enough.  With experience he's adapted his game to make the most of what he has and is now one of the 3-4 best players in the league.  If Wilshere can adapt in a similar way then he'll be worthy of the praise he's getting but for now he's not some world class player who is going to be Englands savior.

You've clearly seen more of him than I have, Paul, so I'm not going to argue. I'm just saying that whenever I've seen him he's looked more than "slightly better than average" which is the comment I first disputed.

[Mister E]

I don't follow your logic at all, Paul. Arsenal's major problems are defensive, hardly something you can blame on him. One player isn't going to make enough difference to compensate for those frailties.

I'm saying he's not the stand out player in a side who have been in the top 4 for years and have now fallen out of it.  Yes they have defensive issues but they've also struggled to break teams down a lot in the last couple of years (last year they got into the top 4 on RVPs goals alone, many of which he made for himself).  That coincides with the time when Wilshere has been heavily involved.  Ok he's had a big injury in the middle of that period but he's still played 20odd games this season and has only really looked like bossing things in a handful of those.

Again, he'll probably go on to be a great player but he's not a great player yet.  He reminds me a lot of bale 3-4 years ago, who looked likely to be a top player as there were a lot of good things to him but he wasn't using those skills well enough.  With experience he's adapted his game to make the most of what he has and is now one of the 3-4 best players in the league.  If Wilshere can adapt in a similar way then he'll be worthy of the praise he's getting but for now he's not some world class player who is going to be Englands savior.

You've clearly seen more of him than I have, Paul, so I'm not going to argue. I'm just saying that whenever I've seen him he's looked more than "slightly better than average" which is the comment I first disputed.

Biggest problem Wilshere has is his fitness - whether it's football injuries or other recreational problems.

[richard moore]

We shall see regarding Wilshere. Chris is right to pick me up on the fact that he is better than 'slightly better than average' although I still stand by the comment I first disputed and that I think there is too much hype about him at this stage. I've been wrong in this sort of situation plenty of times before and it isn't that long since we were all saying the same about Bale. I even have to admit that Mascherano who I slated at the bindippers, looks pretty useful playing for Barcelona