ViToMiNs' Player To Watch Thread 2010

brehme1989

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I agree, I think you're been too harsh on him Yuko. He's impressed me everytime I've seen him play. I think Liverpool are rumored to be after him. I agree with Ninis being a huge talent, but Mitroglou also looks like he could be a hit for Greece.

Ps: Top thread Vito, keep it up

They say he has a bid from Bayern now, can't be certain as the media here always exaggerate in favor of Olympiakos, perhaps he's negotiating a new contract with them.

Mitroglou is another average player. Has literally no skill with the ball, but can score quite a lot since he gets into situations(similar to Inzaghi)

How many times have you actually seen Torosidis play? He's not considered one of the best by Greek fans tbh.

The best Greek players (in general opinion) are:
- Sokratis Papastathopoulos(Genoa)
- Sotiris Kyrgiakos(Liverpool)
- Kostas Katsouranis(Panathinaikos)
- Giorgos Karagounis(Panathinaikos)
- Nikos Lymberopoulos(Frankfurt) probably the best Greek player in terms of talent in the last 10 years, even better than Karagounis, but he got old
- Giorgos Samaras(Celtic)
- Ioannis Amanatidis(Frankfurt)


Then you have the likes of Vasilis Torosidis, Avraam Papadopoulos, Sotiris Ninis, Giourkas Seitaridis(injuries prevented him from being still among the best), Theofanis Gekas, Ieroklis Stoltidis(he had some major injuries lately), Angelos Basinas, Dimitris Salpingidis...

I repeat, if you want players-to-watch from Greece it's Papastathopoulos, Ninis and then perhaps Katsouranis. The rest are nothing special really. Though Kyrgiakos, Karagounis, Samaras and a few others are worth mentioning. Torosidis is considered good because there isn't any quality players at left back and he is not bad there either.

P.S:

About Torosidis, just read that Man City and Sunderland are the main clubs behind him, both willing to pay 4m euros, but his agent says he will only accept to bring to Olympiakos an offer worth 7m euros. The report says that Marseille and a couple of German teams want him as well.

Also, important note. He was supposed to sign for Man City, but ROBERTO MANCINI halted the deal as he didn't want him :p
 
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jmaster

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javier-hernandez


01/28/10 - Javier Hernandez

Team: Chivas Guadalajara (Mexico)
Shirt Number: 14
Nationality: Mexico
Position: Striker
Secondary: N/A
Age: 21
Height: 1.73 m / 5.68 ft
Weight: 62 kg / 136 lbs


Report: Mexico's New Striking Sensation

Javier Hernandez Balcazar, also known as "Chicarito Hernandez" is fast becoming the next big Mexican striking prospect and could make an impact sooner rather than later.

Up until the beginning of the 2009/10 season, Javier Hernandez was mostly known in Mexico thanks to his father, Javier "Chicharo" Hernandez, who was part of the Mexican national team during the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. In addition, his grandfather was also a well known professional player and an icon at Chivas Guadalajara , having scored over 50 goals for them including the 500th goal in the club's history.

Javier Hernandez arrived on the scene in style, scoring a goal 5 minutes after he came on as a substitute during his debut back in 2006. Despite showing some glimpses of his talent during his first 3 years as a professional player, it was far from clear whether Hernandez would be able to deal with the expectation on his shoulders as part of such a rich footballing family. The challenge for Hernandez was to become a well known player in his own right, thanks to his own strengths and ability rather than his family background.

From the start, Hernandez showed that he has an excellent attitude towards the game and has every chance of becoming a decent player but no one was prepared for what was to come. Since the beginning of the 2009/10 season, Hernandez has absolutely been on fire and it doesn’t appear that his form will dry up any time soon. He scored 11 goals in 17 matches during the Apertura tournament (the first half of the season), leading his club to the playoffs and was also named as a candidate for "Striker of the tournament". As the Clausura (second half of the season) got underway he continued just where he left off and has already scored 4 goals in 2 matches.

Hernandez has shown great striking instincts this past year. He is very dangerous inside the box, which is where he scores most of his goals, and is always a threat to the defense. He demonstrates tremendous movement and anticipation and as a result reads the game very well and is able to move into space to receive the ball and shoot on goal. Even though he is not very tall he is very good in the air and only needs a split second of freedom inside the box to score. Hernandez has great composure and concentration in front of goal. Combined with excellent finishing skills he has all the tools to be a lethal striker.

Hernandez is currently best known inside of Mexico and made his debut for the Mexico national team back in September 2009. As long as 'Chicarito' continues to display high caliber performances during the season, he is likely to be included in the Mexican World Cup squad. If so, IMScouting believes there is a very good chance that Hernandez will be one of the discoveries of the tournament, developing an international reputation.

One thing is for sure, it won't be long until Hernandez is noticed by clubs around the world and will find himself playing in a prestigious league. Hernandez has all the skills that a striker needs in order to succeed in any league around the world. He is very quick, strong and has the ability to score with both feet as well as with his head. But perhaps more importantly he has the natural instincts and mentality of a top class striker.

Hernandez is step by step becoming one of the best strikers in Mexico and it seems that the little "Chicarito" is actually going to be a big star.


[youtube]VJk-OempCJI[/youtube]
This dude is talended! Are there any clubs from Europe interested in him?
 

vitomins

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georginio-wijnaldum


02/11/10 - Georginio Wijnaldum

Team: Feyenoord Rotterdam (Netherlands)
Shirt Number: 25
Nationality: Netherlands
Position: Attacking Midfielder (C)
Secondary: Right Midfielder, Central Midfielder, Attacking Midfielder (R)
Age: 19
Height: 1.72 m / 5.64 ft
Weight: 69 kg / 151 lbs


Report: The New van der Vaart

Georginio Wijnaldum is without a doubt the most talented young player in the Eredivisie.

The 19-year-old is a natural number 10 and his style of play is similar to Real Madrid’s Rafael van der Vaart, attack minded and technically accomplished with both feet. Wijnaldum reads the game well and has a football intelligence that is much more developed than older players.

He may be just 19 but he has picked up a lot of experience as this is his fourth season in the senior squad at Feyenoord. Wijnaldum made his debut for the Rotterdam giants when he was 16-years-old and 148 days and in the last two seasons he has established himself as a consistent starter, contributing immensely to Feyenoord’s playing style.

Wijnaldum’s early life was not so easy. When he was a child his mother moved to Amsterdam and he stayed with his grandmother in Rotterdam who raised him. His childhood was not easy and therefore he became a very shy person and is relatively quiet.

With 65 Eredivisie games already behind him in the senior team of Feyenoord, Wijnaldum has established himself as a player with great speed and dribbling ability. He can play in the centre of the midfield and on the right side as well, he can also play as an offensive midfielder.

He has very good game vision and he currently plays as a kind of playmaker that comes from the right side. He can shoot with both feet, although his right is stronger. Another factor that stands out is his mature level headed mentality shown under all the adulation. "From the last matches I’m relatively positive and there’s some progress in my play. I’ve played in different positions but my favourite is number 10," said Wijnaldum.

The 5.6ft midfielder appears to have a smart outlook on life: "Of course I want to continue improving myself, becoming better but it’s important to have a clear head and to have pleasure playing football. I don’t force things and don’t put pressure on myself. When the trainer decides to play another system then I have to accept that as that’s also part of the learning process."

Off the field the Feyenoord supporters and his colleagues are all enthusiastic about him simply because he’s a good guy. Wijnaldum: "I’m always quite relaxed but like every young boy I like to joke and have fun but I never go in the forefront as I prefer to stay in the background."

His good performances haven’t gone unnoticed by Europe’s top clubs and Liverpool, Chelsea, Everton and Real Madrid have been following the young midfielder. But, the soft spoken polite talent isn’t planning to leave in the immediate future.

Wijnaldum: "Of course it’s nice to hear that there’s interest but if I look at my future, firstly I want to be important for Feyenoord. If you want to be fully prepared for the top foreign leagues then I believe you have to have learned everything in the Eredivisie. So it requires a few more years and Dirk Kuyt is a perfect example of that when he left Feyenoord. He left the club when he had the experience and he was the best player. I’m just a beginner and have only been in the starting line up for 6 months and there’s still so much to learn."


[youtube]ZSeI3pMUkao[/youtube]
 

vitomins

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afroto


02/18/10 - Afroto

Team: Al Ahly Cairo (Egypt)
Shirt Number: 33
Nationality: Egypt
Position: Attacking Midfielder (C)
Secondary: Attacking Midfielder (R, L), Left Forward, Striker
Age: 20
Height: 1.63 m / 5.35 ft
Weight: 65 kg / 143 lbs


Report: The Egyptian Messi

Afroto is an Arabic term which describes either a little genie that makes wishes come true or equally a little demon that never gives you a minute's peace. Both descriptions fit perfectly the new star of Egyptian football - Mostafa Mohamed Selim – who is known in the country as Afroto .

The 20 year-old attacker put in some eye-catching displays for the Egyptian national side during the under-20 World Cup on home soil back in October. Yet, he had to wait until last week to make his debut for Egyptian championship side, Al Ahly, which has suffered a recent wave of injuries. And what a debut it was!

The Red Devils were 1-0 down at half-time against lowly Police Union when Afroto was introduced to the game. During a magical performance, he scored the equalizer with a superb curling free-kick, earned the penalty which gave Al Ahly their second goal and scored their fourth to cap a remarkable display.

Just one look at Afroto shows that he is far from being the typical potential Egyptian star. The stylish playmaker is a diminutive player, yet extremely speedy and creative. His high caliber technique and unpredictable movement on the pitch have already earned him a standing ovation from the Al Ahly crowd at the end of the Police Union game - a very rare gesture by the fans for such a young player.

"I expected that Afroto would make such a big impact," Al Ahly coach Hossam Al Badri said after the game. "Young spirit is really needed, that's why I chose to play Afroto and Ahmed Shoukri in the second half."

Now, after becoming a hugely popular figure in Egyptian football following his appearances for both club and country, Afroto will have to handle the pressure. Al Ahly have recently ordered Afroto not to talk to the media to help him keep his feet on the ground.

The club have sensibly taken into consideration Afroto 's immature temperament as he is no stranger to controversy. Al Badri snubbed him for several months after he provoked opposing fans during a youth league game between the Cairo giants and Ittihad in November last year.

"The media gave me credit I do not yet deserve," the playmaker said after his debut. "I did not win the (Club) World Cup with Al Ahly or the African Champions League (with Egypt) to be praised like that. I'm a young and inexperienced player and such media exposure could affect me. I have been dreaming of this debut for a long time, so I should grasp this chance with both hands."

In tactical terms, Afroto is a stylish playmaker capable of producing defence-splitting passes who also feels very comfortable playing as a winger, mainly on the left flank, due to his dazzling speed and dribbling abilities. Afroto can also play as a supporting striker due to his excellent shooting ability and non-stop movement supporting the main striker. This versatility is another feature which makes Afroto a huge star in the making.

A host of European sides have already been rumoured to be interested in signing Afroto ahead of next season. Stuttgart and Sporting Lisbon are considered to be the most serious candidates to secure his services. Swiss sides Grasshoppers and FC St Gallen have also been mentioned, but they apparently dropped their interest as Afroto has his heart set on joining only a major European league should he move in the near future.

With some improvement to his fitness and decision making ability, this left-footed wizard is set to become one of Egypt's greatest stars in the coming decade and could take Europe by storm. Many in Egypt have already dubbed him 'the Egyptian Messi'. In time, Afroto has the opportunity to make good the comparison with the Argentinean superstar.


[youtube]iQSWdef7NYk[/youtube]
 

vitomins

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milan-badelj


02/25/10 - Milan Badelj

Team: Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia)
Shirt Number: 16
Nationality: Croatia
Position: Central Midfielder
Secondary: Attacking Midfielder (C), Defensive Midfielder
Age: 21
Height: 1.84 m / 6.04 ft
Weight: 76 kg / 167 lbs


Report: The New Zvonimir Boban

When Luka Modric signed for Tottenham Hotspur, the biggest concern at Dinamo Zagreb was who would replace the diminutive playmaker. Soon enough everyone realized there was no reason to worry since coming through the ranks was one young player who had all the makings to be a future star of the club - his name was Milan Badelj .

Milan Badelj was born on February 25, 1989 in Zagreb. He is a completely modern midfielder and Dinamo Zagreb 's new Luka Modric , even though many football experts compare him in terms of physical attributes and playing style to Croatian legend Zvonimir Boban. Badelj is also called “The jewel from Dinamo” for his elegant style of play, clever passing and fine technical ability. He has great potential to be a true star and that is the reason why many European clubs are interested and are keeping track of this young talent.

Club career: Milan Badelj made his first steps as a kid in a small local football club NK Ponikve. His talent was well recognized all over Zagreb and in a very short period of time he moved to play for NK Zargeb in their youth ranks.

His major career milestone came during 2007, when Croatian giants Dinamo Zagreb recognized his high potential and signed him. Badelj was immediately sent on loan to NK Lokomotiva (in the third Croatian league) in season 2007/2008 where at the age of 18 he played his debut season in a senior squad and finished with statistics of 28 matches and seven goals scored.

Badelj's surprisingly fantastic season out on loan set the ground for a comeback to Dinamo Zagreb . Towards the 2008/2009 season, all Croatia's football experts and commentators naturally assumed that Badelj would play a bench player role and that Dinamo Zagreb brought him back in order to strengthen their squad. Badelj proved them wrong; he soon became not only a regular first team member, but the "conductor of Dinamo’s band" from midfield. Badelj showed huge progress and made a total of 31 appearances, scoring four goals in the Croatian first division. During that season Badelj also played in 12 Champions League qualification and Europa league matches.

Milan Badelj started season 2009/2010 as a proven player and as one of Dinamo Zagreb 's stars. Some great performances in the domestic league and Europa League proved that he is ready for the big time of European football. In 2009/2010 he has played 27 games in all competitions up until now, and scored nine goals, which is a fantastic statistic for a midfielder his age.

International career: Milan Badelj was a member of all Croatian youth national teams. From the Under-17 (14 appearances, one goal), through the Under-19 team (8 appearances, no goals), and up to Under-21 level (4 appearances, one goal) – Milan Badelj played a major role and was a very important player in those national teams ranks.

Milan Badelj has been spoken about as a hot prospect for Croatia's senior national team, and many football experts in Croatia have long expected that he would already have made his debut for the full national side. Croatia national team head coach Slaven Bilic has not called him up yet, but this is expected to happen very soon, especially if Badelj will continue to play at his present high level and show his great potential.

Technical skills: Milan Badelj , even though he is just 20, is almost a complete football player. A modern midfielder with some fantastic characteristics - his main virtues are his excellent technical ability, in terms of ball control, the way he runs with the ball at his feet and the ability to go past a player in a one on one situation.

Another high quality is his high and very precise passing skills and vision of the field - he is a great assist provider and very often sends magnificent balls to any teammate who makes the right movement. His "no look pass" ability is quite impressive as well. Badelj's excellent passing is derived from his great vision of the field. Badelj is a quick player who makes great runs and moves tirelessly on the pitch in order to dictate the play. In addition, Milan Badelj has a strong and precise shot on goal from long and close distance.

Milan Badelj is also an aggressive player who can get stuck in and is capable of winning almost every duel with opposition players, and that's why he can play as a defensive midfielder as well. Badelj could improve his defensive coordination in order to be a more complete player as he has the ability to do so. Badelj also needs to significantly improve his aerial and heading ability, as he admits, to a more sufficient level in order to play at the highest European level of football in his position.

Personality: Milan Badelj is a very intelligent, kind, nice and easy going person who is well liked in the dressing room. Badelj has been at Dinamo Zagreb since the age of 16-years-old, and up until now has never had a confrontation with someone inside or outside the club. He is a true professional who takes his career very seriously and lives a professional sportsman’s style of life. According to publications in Croatia, he is also a very serious candidate to become the captain of Dinamo Zagreb . The club's fans adore him.

Value: Milan Badelj ’s market value getting is increasing from match to match. According to IMscouting.com Badelj is valued at four million euros. The midfield schemer has long been tracked by English giants Manchester United, whose scouts watched him several times, German sides Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen also kept an eye at the player. Badelj's contract at Dinamo Zagreb expires at the end of season 2011/2012.

Injuries: Milan Badelj has not suffered any major injury up until now in his career, but the player suffers from Asthma, this did not bother him up until now during any match and it doesn't create any problems for him to regularly manage a footballer’s training regime.


[youtube]syrsjkJZbIs[/youtube]
 

Besnik

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Thank you vito!! :thumbsup:
 

vitomins

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MARCH 2010


sebastian-blanco


03/04/10 - Sebastian Blanco

Team: CA Lanus (Argentina)
Shirt Number: 10
Nationality: Argentina
Position: Right Midfielder
Secondary: Left Midfielder, Central Midfielder, Attacking Midfielder (C, R, L)
Age: 21
Height: 1.66 m / 5.45 ft
Weight: 64 kg / 140 lbs


Report: The Next Star of Argentinean Football

Sebastian Blanco is one of the biggest talents currently playing in the Argentinean Primera Division. The 21-year-old is a brilliant creative right-sided midfielder. He is known not only for his talent, but also because he has a special personality, different from most other Argentinean players.

Born in Lomas de Zamora, Blanco has extraordinary ball control. Combining high acceleration and decision making of a mature and complete footballer, as a result Blanco has been labeled the next star of Argentinean football.

Even though he's naturally right footed, he can shoot, dribble and pass the ball with both feet. Blanco has superb vision of the field and he is very good at creating chances for his teammates. He is able to build an attack from the beginning and is definitely the player to dribble on counter attacks due to his speed, technique and mature decision making.

Blanco started to play football when he was four- years-old, and has been connected to Lanus since he was very young. He debuted in the Primera Division in 2006 and has since established himself as a major player in the Lanus first team.

The 5.5ft midfielder was part of the squad that won the Apertura championship in 2007, a historic first top flight title for Lanus. Steadily over the last few seasons Blanco has played more often. In 2008/2009 he scored five goals and provided three assists in 39 appearances.

Already this season he has equaled his goal tally from the previous campaign and in 30 appearances has added eight assists. His form in 2009/2010 was tempered by a sending off in September against Atletico Tucuman which was for two bookable offences by the 38th minute of the match.

As a result of his impressive displays (see video below) Blanco has been linked with Italian Serie A sides Lazio and Sampdoria. He recently extended his contract with Lanus until the end of the 2011/2012 season but like many players in Argentina it will not take a great deal of money to secure this promising starlet.

Although unlikely to be part of Diego Maradona’s 2010 World Cup squad in South Africa, Blanco appears to be one of the next stars headed for the Argentina national team. The Lanus midfielder has one cap to his name so far in a friendly against Panama in May 2009. Blanco came on as a second half substitute in a squad based only on Argentinean domestic players.

Blanco is the ideal modern attacking midfielder as he's versatile, can play in many midfield positions, in the center or on either wing. His extreme pace aligned with his high technique and ability to use both feet for passing and scoring (even though he's right footed), means a transfer to one of Europe’s major clubs seems very close.

He can be utilized in all midfield positions but is best on the right or left side, where he can use his ball control to either dribble his way towards the center or find the hole in the flank and cross to a teammate in the box.

The 21-year-old attacking midfielder has also received attention due to his style of taking corner kicks. Sometimes he tries to swerve the ball into the goal with the outside of his foot and it would be spectacular if he scores a goal in this manner.

Off the pitch, Blanco is known as a player to keep the morale of his team mates up and showing he still has a connection to his roots, he is also the coach of his neighbourhood team.


[youtube]MoExU89neG8[/youtube]
 

FCBarca

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This dude is talended! Are there any clubs from Europe interested in him?

Catch his header against the Kiwis in the recent friendly?...Pretty impressive
 

ElCuchu

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El Cuchu, Bobo,
I would like to help you, but i can just tell you that most of them i bought in Football Manager 10 and they become good player.:p
 

vitomins

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sebastian-coates


03/11/10 - Sebastián Coates

Team: Nacional Montevideo (Uruguay)
Shirt Number: 19
Nationality: Uruguay
Position: Central Defender
Secondary: N/A
Age: 19
Height: 1.96 m / 6.43 ft
Weight: 86 kg / 189 lbs


Report: One of the Most Promising Players in South America

Sebastian Coates is one of the most promising players on the entire South American continent. This is not only due to his talent and skills but also because of his size. At the age of 19, this physical prodigy (1.96cm tall and 86kg), is considered the next hope for the defence of Uruguay’s national team in the upcoming years.

Coates has played as a centre-back for the Uruguayan side Nacional Montevideo since he was 11-years-old. He came through the ranks and was the captain of all the youth categories of the club. Coates’ talent was spotted early on and he was part of the Uruguayan Under-17 national team back in 2007.

Step by step Coates continued to progress and in 2009 he was part of the Uruguayan Under-20 side at the South American Youth Championship (Sudamericano sub-20), where the Uruguayan team finished the tournament in third place. Coates was considered one of the leading players of the team in that tournament, together with another highly rated prospect, Nicolas Lodiero – a former IMScouting Player to Watch. Later on, he was also part of the Uruguayan Under-20 team which played at the Under-20 World Cup in Egypt. Where the Uruguay team reached the last 16 - losing to Brazil 3-1.

Coates has also featured for the Nacional first team and has already produced some highly rated performances, especially in the 2009 Copa Libertadores (see video below). His displays and potential makes a move to Europe during summer 2010 something that is very likely to happen. Teams from Italy have already spotted the young starlet and his name has already been linked to clubs such as Inter Milan, Palermo, Fiorentina and it was also reported that Juventus sent scouts to follow Coates’ performances.

The 19-year-old is a very tall and very strong player. Even though, he is not extremely fast, he has long legs and great timing with his tackles. These skills together with his strength and size, makes it a really tough task to try and pass him by dribbling or through upper body strength. Even for quick and skilled players.

Coates’ heading game is tremendous and his size and strength gives him an advantage against almost any player. He is capable of marking any player inside the box in set play situations and at the other end of the pitch; he is capable of scoring.

One might say – "OK, so he is tall and strong, that gives him some natural advantages but what about his technique? And for his size, isn’t he a clumsy player?" Well, that is not the case with Coates.

Even though, he is not a dribbler, for his size and role on the field he has decent technique. He is capable of controlling the ball and can hold on to it for a while. He is also capable of quick movements which can help him keep the ball at his feet or break free from his opponents at dead ball situations inside the box. He also has decent passing skills and is a very confident player.

It is very likely that Coates will be part of the Uruguay national team in the upcoming 2010 World Cup but it is not certain that he will play, as for the moment the Uruguay coach – Oscar Tabarez, might prefer more experienced players at the back. But, as much as there can be a sure thing in football, at the next World Cup in 2014; Coates will surely play a major part.

All in all, Coates has tremendous potential and it seems that under the right guidance and with more game experience, he actually might become a world class defender. He still needs to improve some aspects of his game, like his acceleration, but for his age he is really something special.


[youtube]rRz5FOJ-kPA[/youtube]
 

vitomins

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david-alaba


03/18/10 - David Alaba

Team: Bayern München (Germany)
Shirt Number: 27
Nationality: Austria
Position: Attacking Midfielder (L)
Secondary: Left Defender, Left Midfielder, Left Forward
Age: 17
Height: 1.74 m / 5.71 ft
Weight: 68 kg / 149 lbs


Report: Louis van Gaal's New Jewel

David Alaba is only 17 but he is the new wonder kid of Bayern Munich.

His mother is from the Philippines, his father from Nigeria, whilst he himself was born in Vienna and grew up playing for the youth team of Austria Wein. Before he moved to Bayern in 2008 he rejected offers from Inter Milan and AC Milan when questioned why, he said: "Because Bayern Munich have been the most interested. When they invited me and showed me the whole area, they gave me the feeling that I can feel comfortable here and that they will always keep an eye on me."

Alaba is the youngest player of all time to ever play an official match for Bayern Munich and the Austrian national team. At the age of 17 years and 112 days he made his debut for Austria. He came on as a substitute against France in the 80th minute, in the 3-1 defeat against Les Bleus.

It wasn’t just the major European club teams that spotted Alaba. He could also represent Nigeria and Germany at international level whilst the Philippines were also interested. In an interview with a German sports magazine in the summer, Alaba said: "There was a request from the Philippines, but Nigeria have never approached me. And Germany would anyway never been an issue, since I have no connection to the country."

Originally Alaba was a left midfielder but remarkably Bayern Munich head coach Luois van Gaal has used him in recent games as a left-sided defender. The former Ajax and Barcelona coach, no stranger to young starlets, said: "He is a left back, although he himself does not consider himself as one."

On the left wing Alaba can use his great speed and technique to help Bayern’s attack. Alaba is very skillful with the ball and he can take on players very easily, his passing ability is also very good and for such a young player he has a good vision of the field. Crucially he has a strong left foot and can play all along the left flank as a left back, in midfield, or even as a left forward.

Alaba has already shown that despite his young age he is a very mature player. Following an injury to Diego Contento, Alaba was called up to play against Fiorentina in the second leg of the recent Champions League tie. Bayern’s chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge praised Alaba, who touched the ball more than all the other players on the pitch, said: "He played very well and this was his first full game for Bayern Munich."

Van Gaal pronounced himself "very satisfied" with Alabas’ appearance: "He is 17 years old, playing his first 90 minutes and at this stage, he has looked good and made the opponents' work hard, his performance has not lowered my confidence.” Bayern midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger added that "he played very well."

Since his Champions League display, there has been much hype surrounding Alaba. When asked if he has any weaknesses, he said: "Sure, I have weaknesses. Especially on my right foot, which is not yet at the same level as the other. Even in the physical area, I have to work. I think I'm not really strong in any area, I have much to learn."

When he asked what is he has to do in the long term Alaba said: "I always put my little goals that I want to achieve step by step. My next goal is to prevail and one day play in the first team. Then I want to go to England, preferably to Arsenal."

Next June Alaba will be 18 and he is expected to sign a professional contract for the Bavarian giants. With van Gaal’s guidance Alaba has the potential to become a huge star, he has the talent to do so but he needs to grab the opportunity with both hands, if he does so almost all pundits in Germany predict a wonderful future in the game.


[youtube]F0-4BcqiHYY[/youtube]
 

vitomins

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giorgos-efrem


03/25/10 - Giorgos Efrem

Team: Omonia Nicosia (Cyprus)
Shirt Number: 7
Nationality: Cyprus
Position: Attacking Midfielder (R)
Secondary: Attacking Midfielder (L, C)
Age: 20
Height: 1.7 m / 5.58 ft
Weight: 67 kg / 147 lbs


Report: The Hottest Prospect in Cyprus

The professional game is littered with great players who proved their doubters wrong and Omonia Nicosia schemer Giorgos Efrem looks like being one of the latest to battle back from disappointment.

Hopes were high for Efrem when he joined Arsenal at age 15 and impressed for the Gunners in their Under-19 side and for the reserve team. Father Andreas was a full Cypriot international and the youngsters burgeoning talent seemed to suggest a bright future at the highest echelons of European football.

When he was released to Rangers in May 2007, Arsenal’s Head of Youth Development Liam Brady described how difficult it was for Arsene Wenger to let Efrem go: "George is absolutely someone who could go on and have success with Rangers, he's a busy and technical player and it was a tough decision whether or not to let him go."

During his spell with the Gunners Efrem trained alongside the likes of Thierry Henry, Robert Pires and Cesc Fabregas and looks to have taken this experience to his performances at Omonia Nicosia in 2009/2010.

The 5.6ft midfielder only lasted two seasons at Rangers and it would be easy to say that Efrem failed in Scotland after struggling to make the grade in London, in truth though he received few opportunities at the Glasgow giants. And when he was sent on loan to Dundee United he impressed, scoring two goals in his first two games for the Scottish First Division side.

In 2009/2010 Efrem has rebounded from his disappointments abroad and firmly established himself as the hottest prospect in Cyprus. Despite a lifetime of European football experience behind him, the midfield schemer has enjoyed life back in Cyprus with Omonia Nicosia and was a major reason behind the club’s first place finish.

Still only 20, Efrem had a real purple patch at the back end of 2009 and displayed all his qualities to suggest he is too good for the 1. Division in Cyprus. He has reminded close observers of his career of his main qualities, Efrem is a fast intelligent player who can score as well as create.

So far in 2009/2010, Efrem has scored seven goals and provided seven assists in 27 appearances in the Cypriot top flight. He is also relatively strong for his diminutive size and is also a set-piece taker which has also been valuable for Omonia. His versatility is also a major boost for coach Takis Lemonis.

Predominantly a right-sided attacking midfielder Efrem is two-footed and can play through the middle and on the left.

Efrem has good positioning and his goals often come from wide positions where he has drifted inside without the opposition taking notice. He is a fine playmaker who can beat players with his technical ability.

The Cypriot international is not selfish and likes to include his team mates where at all possible. Efrem will often cut inside and look to play an Omonia player in on goal with a cute through ball.

The 20-year-old also has extensive international experience. He was called up for the Cyprus National Team in March 2009 but a minor injury forced him out of the team. In September 2009 he made his first two appearances for the Cyprus first team squad. He also captained the Cyprus U-21 team.

Efrem’s slight stature and his largely failed experience in Europe point to a player that may only be able to perform well in Cyprus. In addition he also needs to improve defensively.

But, his time at Arsenal and Rangers could turn out to be a crucial spell in his career. Another season or two of success at Omonia and Efrem will have outgrown the Cypriot league. With his experience of playing abroad and a growing number of international caps, he could well be a success in Europe in the future.


[youtube]aCovP5WNhxk[/youtube]
 

vitomins

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^^^^Another one for you Yuko! :p
 

Stunbel

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I would like to give you another name which you might find exciting..

Muhammed Demirci

Team: Besiktas U-16
Shirt Number: 10
Position: Attacking Midfielder (C)
Secondary: Midfielder (C), Forward (C)
Age: 15 (3 January 1995)

He is playing at Besiktas since he was only 9 years old and we have waited for him for 6 years so far.. He will probably join trainings and even main squad of Besiktas next year so he can improve his game with the help of Guti and others.. He has a medical issue which made him unable to grow up (very similar to Messi's) however, with some good treatment over years his height and physique is pretty normal now.

Inter, Chelsea, Barcelona, Manchester United, Villareal and PSV are among the teams who were interested with him very seriously, but there is no way he will be sold, as i said we are waiting for him to grow up for almost 6 years.. :)

Now i'm posting a video of him, when he was only 10 years old and playing with Besiktas U-13 team against a team with full of 13 years olders.. You will be amazed with his game reading ability and cleverness..

[youtube]kiUA_JriWMs[/youtube]

And yeah, he is 15 years old now and he is still just as good, carrying Besiktas U-15 team and Turkish National U-16 Team to trophies..
 
Last edited:

Suneet

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Stunbel, I have to say you have made Besiktas my second fav club. Heck, you make me like Quaresma, that is some acheivement.
 

Stunbel

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Stunbel, I have to say you have made Besiktas my second fav club. Heck, you make me like Quaresma, that is some acheivement.

Well you have made Inter my second fav club as well, so thats a fair deal :p I even considered to buy an Inter jersey yesterday (asked to a store and they told me that new jerseys will arrive in few weeks), i've never bought any jersey other than Besiktas all my life long..

And topic-related what do you think about him, looks promising huh? :)

And here is a video showing U-14 Final Game last year (he was 14years old), which Besiktas won 3-0. Muhammed scored 2nd and 3rd goals, you can see him with #10 Jersey. There isn't much about his gameplay on this video tho, except the incredible 2nd goal.

[youtube]yMwRaGguGl8[/youtube]
 

Suneet

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Well I'm a little scared of believing youtube videos. IMO you can really start judging footballers at age 18, before that the player is still learning. At 18 they become professional and when its about earning money, the real pressure starts. Before that you play for joy.

I'm impressed by the kid and I hope he turns into the next Zidane or something, but these things only time will tell.
 

Big Willy

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10 years of FIF
sebastian-coates


03/11/10 - Sebastián Coates

Team: Nacional Montevideo (Uruguay)
Shirt Number: 19
Nationality: Uruguay
Position: Central Defender
Secondary: N/A
Age: 19
Height: 1.96 m / 6.43 ft
Weight: 86 kg / 189 lbs


Report: One of the Most Promising Players in South America

Sebastian Coates is one of the most promising players on the entire South American continent. This is not only due to his talent and skills but also because of his size. At the age of 19, this physical prodigy (1.96cm tall and 86kg), is considered the next hope for the defence of Uruguay’s national team in the upcoming years.

Coates has played as a centre-back for the Uruguayan side Nacional Montevideo since he was 11-years-old. He came through the ranks and was the captain of all the youth categories of the club. Coates’ talent was spotted early on and he was part of the Uruguayan Under-17 national team back in 2007.

Step by step Coates continued to progress and in 2009 he was part of the Uruguayan Under-20 side at the South American Youth Championship (Sudamericano sub-20), where the Uruguayan team finished the tournament in third place. Coates was considered one of the leading players of the team in that tournament, together with another highly rated prospect, Nicolas Lodiero – a former IMScouting Player to Watch. Later on, he was also part of the Uruguayan Under-20 team which played at the Under-20 World Cup in Egypt. Where the Uruguay team reached the last 16 - losing to Brazil 3-1.

Coates has also featured for the Nacional first team and has already produced some highly rated performances, especially in the 2009 Copa Libertadores (see video below). His displays and potential makes a move to Europe during summer 2010 something that is very likely to happen. Teams from Italy have already spotted the young starlet and his name has already been linked to clubs such as Inter Milan, Palermo, Fiorentina and it was also reported that Juventus sent scouts to follow Coates’ performances.

The 19-year-old is a very tall and very strong player. Even though, he is not extremely fast, he has long legs and great timing with his tackles. These skills together with his strength and size, makes it a really tough task to try and pass him by dribbling or through upper body strength. Even for quick and skilled players.

Coates’ heading game is tremendous and his size and strength gives him an advantage against almost any player. He is capable of marking any player inside the box in set play situations and at the other end of the pitch; he is capable of scoring.

One might say – "OK, so he is tall and strong, that gives him some natural advantages but what about his technique? And for his size, isn’t he a clumsy player?" Well, that is not the case with Coates.

Even though, he is not a dribbler, for his size and role on the field he has decent technique. He is capable of controlling the ball and can hold on to it for a while. He is also capable of quick movements which can help him keep the ball at his feet or break free from his opponents at dead ball situations inside the box. He also has decent passing skills and is a very confident player.

It is very likely that Coates will be part of the Uruguay national team in the upcoming 2010 World Cup but it is not certain that he will play, as for the moment the Uruguay coach – Oscar Tabarez, might prefer more experienced players at the back. But, as much as there can be a sure thing in football, at the next World Cup in 2014; Coates will surely play a major part.

All in all, Coates has tremendous potential and it seems that under the right guidance and with more game experience, he actually might become a world class defender. He still needs to improve some aspects of his game, like his acceleration, but for his age he is really something special.


[youtube]rRz5FOJ-kPA[/youtube]

I've saw him live in a Libertadores' match, he's a fucking beast! Inter should look at him in a couple of years.
 

vitomins

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ozan-ipek


04/01/10 - Ozan Ipek

Team: Bursaspor (Turkey)
Shirt Number: 33
Nationality: Turkey
Position: Central Midfielder
Secondary: Defensive Midfielder, Left Midfielder
Age: 24
Height: 1.87 m / 6.14 ft
Weight: 85 kg / 187 lbs


Report: A Turkish Box-to-Box Midfielder with a Big Future

Bursaspor’s 23 year old midfielder Ozan Ipek is one of the biggest talents to emerge in Turkish football.

Although Ipek is playing his first full season in the Super Lig, he has played a great role in Bursaspor ’s extraordinary success this season which may end up in the most surprising championship title in the history of the Turkish top flight.

Ozan Ipek, was born in 10 November 1986, has started his professional carrier in Batman Petrolspor in 2004. After a few seasons in the minor league he eventually, in 2008, transferred to a relatively good team, Bucaspor of the Turkish second division, where he became the star of the team as he scored 10 goals and provided 10 assists in 18 matches.

These displays over the course of half a season for Bucaspor attracted the attention of Bursaspor ’s coach Ertugrul Saglam and Ipek moved into the Super Lig with this transfer. Bursaspor paid a fee of just €130k to Bucaspor.

In the second half of the 2008/2009 campaign, Ozan made just six appearances for Bursaspor as he adapted to the Turkish top flight. This season the 23-year-old has reached the peak of his career so far, he has played 23 games of Bursaspor and scored eight goals.

He has also shown his versatility, playing as a central midfielder till the arrival of Ertugrul Saglam at Bursaspor which forced him to play on the left wing.

Ipek has a tremendous left foot. Through his high-calibre technique and speed he is the most effective left-sided midfielder in the league this season – and it is important to take into account that he is originally a box-to-box midfielder.

Often he will cut into the middle of the pitch from his starting position on the left and he is impressive when driving through the centre of midfield. With his physical attributes he is usually successful in tackling when performing his defensive duties.

His sense for positioning is also good, so he knows where to be without the ball. But the sharpest attribute about Ozan is his self-confidence. His decisive, quick-minded runs and strong shots make him an extremely dangerous player for his opponents.

Ozan Ipek signed a new contract with his team in January, which expires at the end of season 2011/2012. One month later he scored two goals in the last six minutes against Fenerbahce which brought his team a 3-2 victory.

Two weeks later he made his first national team debut in a friendly match with Honduras as a 62th minute substitute for Arda Turan. It seems Ozan Ipek is set for a bright future in the game.


[youtube]c-SFUJKRbxw[/youtube]
 

vitomins

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danny-wilson


04/08/10 - Danny Wilson

Team: Liverpool (England)
Shirt Number: 22
Nationality: Scotland
Position: Central Defender
Secondary: N/A
Age: 18
Height: 1.87 m / 6.14 ft
Weight: 79 kg / 173 lbs


Report: The New Alan Hansen

There has been a huge amount of hype surrounding 18-year-old Rangers defender Danny Wilson for over a year now. Despite the fact that very few had seen him play, there were rumours linking the 6.1ft centre back with a move away from Ibrox before he had even played for the SPL champions.

A product of the Rangers youth system, Wilson made his debut in October 2009 in a League Cup match against Dundee. First team opportunities were a little harder to come by until injury problems hit Rangers’ small squad and he was handed a start in a difficult Champions League away match at Unirea Urziceni in November 2009. At 17 Wilson was one of, if not the best, players on the pitch on the night.

Since that match in Romania Wilson has cemented his place in the Rangers first team due to the injury and absences of Algerian central defender Madjid Bougherra. As the Gers storm to another SPL title Wilson has been an assured presence at the heart of the defence. He has hardly put a foot wrong and he has leaned on the experience of David Weir alongside him who is Rangers skipper and about to turn 40.

Wilson is a cultured left-footed defender who knows when to time a tackle and can also pick out great cross field passes. With good physical presence he is good in the air at both ends of the pitch and at Rangers he has been part of a winning side in the league and also picked up experience of the Champions League.

In a short time Wilson has proved his quality at attacking set pieces. He claimed his first senior goal with a towering header in the fifth minute of the 4-1 win at Hearts (see video below). And last night the young defender headed down for Kenny Miller to score the final goal in a 3-1 victory over Aberdeen.

Despite a number of composed performances Wilson did show his inexperience in the League Cup final against St Mirren in March. He was sent off with 19 minutes remaining with a naïve tug on Craig Dargo when Rangers were already a man down.

Aside from this aberration Wislon looks to be level headed for his age as well and those that know him have said he is smart and articulate. This is shown with his leadership skills which have been prominent from a young age. He has captained both the Rangers Under-19 team and the Scotland Under-19 national side and has also been called up to the Scotland Under-21 squad but is yet to play.

His performances in the second half of 2009/2010 are also set to be recognised next month with pundits calling for him to be crowned Young Player of the season in Scotland.

South of the border Wilson has been a constant source of transfer gossip, even before he made his Rangers debut. In recent weeks this has ratcheted up a notch due to Rangers’ financial problems and as his contract expires in 15 months.

Liverpool and Spurs are among the clubs reportedly interested and Martin Bain, the Rangers chief executive, said recently that, "Two English Premiership clubs approached us in January and since then I have had the odd discussion and we have seen people coming along to watch our players and you can see who they are coming along to watch, I can confirm that Liverpool have expressed an interest, but a lot of clubs are keeping abreast of Danny’s situation."

In recent years Rangers have sold Jean-Alain Boumsong and Carlos Cuellar to English clubs and the bottom line is that they cannot afford not to offload him this summer if he does not sign a new deal. Some in Scotland have called on Wilson to stay and learn his trade in the SPL for a few more years.

Famously another cultured Scottish defender, Alan Hansen, moved to Liverpool when he was just 22 and Wilson could probably learn more in the English game and he undoubtedly has the talent to succeed in the Premier League.


[youtube]x38EoXSqotk[/youtube]
 
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