ViToMiNs' Player To Watch Thread 2010

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10/21/10 - Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe

Team: Club Brugge (Belgium)
Shirt Number: 32
Nationality: Belgium
Position: Defensive Midfielder
Secondary: Central Defender, Central Midfielder
Age: 22
Height: 1.85 m / 6.07 ft
Weight: 79 kg / 173 lbs


Report: A Club Brugge Colossus

"I get knocked down, but I get up again," could well be the motto of midfielder Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe – in more ways than one.
It hasn’t been the smoothest of rides for the Belgian of Ghanaian descent, but after returning to Belgium from a failed spell in Germany, the 21-year-old is now proving to be a colossus for Club Brugge .

Odjidja is predominately a defensive midfielder in Club Brugge 's 4-2-3-1 formation, but he can also play further forward in a more attacking role, or even as a central defender if needed. He played several times for Belgium Under 21s where he was more of a box-to-box midfielder.

Background and History

Odjidja-Ofoe is a product of the Anderlecht youth academy and was widely regarded as one of Belgium's best youngsters.

However, his frustration at a lack of regular first-team action led to his departure from Anderlecht for Hamburger SV in January 2008.

But he failed to break into the Hamburger side, playing eight times in the reserves (Hamburger SV II) and just twice in the first team.

A year in Germany was enough for the young Belgian, and he returned to his home land, this time to Club Brugge , for a transfer fee of €900.000.

And at Club Brugge he finally got a chance to prove himself, and grabbed it with both hands, shining over the last two years and helping the team finish third and then second in the league.

Strengths

Odjidja's technical skills come to the fore in various aspects of his game.

He has very good passing ability, almost never missing his intended target. He is also a two-footed player, naturally right footed but possessing very good shooting and dribbling ability with his left.

He is also a strong player - a required trait for his defensive midfield position - not only because of his size, but also due to his his mentality. He is a warrior on the field and will do anything to win the ball back.

Odjidja also has a very powerful shot. Although he usually sits too deep to get near the opposition's box, when he does - mainly against the league's weaker teams - he is very dangerous with his shots with both feet, and he has already scored two goals this season with his left.

He also has good vision, a key element for a player in his position.

Weaknesses

Although Odjidja's physical nature is certainly one of his strengths, he is sometimes too aggressive, illustrated by his 13 yellow cards last season.

He can also be a tad tardy with his decision-making during the game, leading to carelessness in possession. A player in his position has to make rapid decisions, and he can still improve that aspect of his game.

In fact, some of his yellow cards can be put down to late lunges after losing the ball.

Finally, although Odjidja is not a slow player, if he had a bit more pace, it could work wonders for his game, because he has the technical skills, physical ability good vision and shooting ability. A bit more speed would make him the perfect player.

Mentality

Odjidja is held in high regard at Club Brugge and is the leader of the young players at the club.

His best friends there are Ryan Donk, Ivan Perisic, Dorge Rostand Kouemaha, Nabil Dirar and Maxime Lestienne.

While he cannot be described as super professional, he has neither had any major disciplinary problems in his career, nor any run-ins with his coaches.

Current situation

There are several teams who have been showing interest in Odjidja over the last few months.

In March, it was reported that OSC Lille were interested in the player, while last November, only 10 months after his return to Belgium from Hamburg, other German clubs were linked with his services - Borussia Dortmund, Borussia Moenchengladbach and FC Koln.

Odjidja is contracted to Club Brugge until 2013, but a fee of €2-3 million should be enough to capture his signature.

Current form

Odjidja has been in good form since his arrival at Club Brugge , and there are many people in Belgium tipping him for the national team.

He could well be the player to take over the Belgium No. 6 jersey from 33-year-old Timmy Simons.


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Here you go Stunbel Please post more videos if you have them!

10/28/10 - Necip Uysal

Team: Besiktas (Turkey)
Shirt Number: 18
Nationality: Turkey
Position: Central Midfielder
Secondary: Defensive Midfielder
Age: 20
Height: 1.83 m / 6 ft
Weight: 72 kg / 158 lbs


Report: The Light at the End of the Turkish Tunnel

Turkish football may not be currently experiencing the best period in its history, yet Besiktas are still a massive name across Europe.
And between the likes of Guti , Ricardo Quaresma and Fabian Ernst , you can find the future of Turkey 's midfield – Necip Uysal .

19-year-old Uysal is a classic central midfielder with highly impressive abilities in all aspects of his game.

He has been a revelation at Besiktas since last season, and is already part of the Turkish national team, showing immense abilities for a midfielder of his age.

All signs suggest Uysal should have a truly bright future in the game.

Background and History

Uysal was part of Besiktas ' youth system since the age of 12. Impressive since the very beginning, Uysal performed well for the club and the national youth teams until reaching the age of 16 when then-Besiktas manager Ertugrul Saglam called him up to the first team.

Uysal was given a professional contract by the club when he was still just 16, as everyone at Besiktas quickly understood they had a gem on their hands. He made his league debut last season and played 11 times for the team.

"Besiktas is proud of you Necip" became a fan-favourite song, and this season Uysal became an integral part of the team.

Strengths

Uysal is impressive on both the defensive and attacking sides of the game. His abilities derive from his intelligence, physical qualities and his hard-working mentality.

Firstly, Uysal is a great reader of the game. He has exceptional tactical understanding, meaning his positional sense is unique for a midfielder of his age. Defensively, he switches between man-marking and zonal-marking when needed with no hesitation. Offensively he makes extremely clever forward runs. He is just never in a bad position.

Secondly, Uysal is versatile. Not only can he play as 50-50 midfielder, but also as a classic defensive midfielder (and usually he switches positions throughout the game).

He is strong, very balanced on his feet and is also a very mobile player with more than decent acceleration and pace for his position. His great tactical understanding of the game enables him to play as anchorman.

With his incredible ability to intercept passes, excellent timing to his tackles and superb tactical awareness and commitment he is great at breaking up attacks – a vital element for his position. Uysal even played as right-back once, and did it well.

Uysal is also a highly technically skilled player. He has very accurate passes. both long and short, and a very impressive and strong shot from distance. He is a creative player with great vision, and he can send defense-splitting passes when coming from deep to join the attack. He also has great one-touch and first-touch play - either with his feet or head.

In fact, heading ability is another one of Uysal 's virtues. He is quite tall and has a great leap and heading technique. With his great timing he can easily beat taller opponents in aerial battles and is an evergreen threat from set-pieces.

Weaknesses

Uysal has very few weaknesses, but those that he does have derive from his relative lack of experience.

He must improve his decision-making. Currently, Uysal makes mistakes defensively regarding when to man-mark a player and when to leave him to another teammate. In those very short spaces of time in which he still thinks about that decision, an opposition team can exploit that and create a hole in Besiktas ' formation.

Uysal also needs to work on his ball control. He does have decent control but sometimes, probably due to concentration issues, he doesn’t get hold of the ball quickly enough when it is passed to him.

He should also work on his anticipation when he faces several opponents, as currently he still usually goes for the "safe" choice of zonal marking instead of rushing out to close down an attacker when the situation demands that kind of action.

Uysal just needs to be more courageous. He sometimes appears very shy and lets the big stars of the team lead the game. He has already proved to be a very dangerous weapon (no less than Guti for example,) so he needs to gain more courage and participate even more in offensive moves.

All in all, he should take more responsibility on his shoulders, because already at this stage of his career he has what it takes to handle it.

Mentality

Uysal has superb mentality. On the field he is committed, determined and doesn't have an inflated ego. He has leadership qualities, and is not afraid to talk and give orders to older players. He is also not afraid to go into fierce tackles and he is not being affected by the crowd. He is very composed, and that is highly important for central/defensive midfielder.

Off the field, Uysal is a very intelligent person. He reads books as a hobby and is known in Besiktas for his opinions and knowledge on worldwide issues. He works extremely hard in training and matches, and is admired by his teammates for this dedication.

Yet Uysal does have a degree of insolence. When he was once asked which player is his role-model, he said, "No one, I want to be myself."

Current Situation

Uysal is currently an important first-team member and is considered a hot prospect for the future of the club. He has signed a contract extension to keep him at the club until 2015, with an annual salary raise. His price should go up from one match to another, especially as Besiktas are playing in the UEFA Europa League.


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11/04/10 - Marius Alexe

Team: Dinamo Bucharest (Romania)
Shirt Number: 10
Nationality: Romania
Position: Forward (L)
Secondary: Forward (C), Attacking Midfielder (L)
Age: 21
Height: 1.86 m / 6.1 ft
Weight: 75 kg / 165 lbs


Report: The Dinamo Bucharest Starlet to Restore Romania's Glory

Romanian football may not be going through the best of periods at the moment, with the national team a lowly 5th in their Euro 2012 qualification group behind teams like Belarus and Albania, but it seems that there is one reason for optimism.

In recent years, Romanian football has developed some really talented players who appear to have the ability to restore the national team to its former glory.

One of the most talented players in Romania today, and some will even say the best, is Marius Alexe , a 20-year-old forward from Dinamo Bucharest . This young promising player has managed to adapt very well to the side despite his young age and the fact that Dinamo have four other very good strikers in their squad.
And the youngster has already caught the eye of the world's biggest clubs.

Background and history

Alexe started his football career when he was 10 years old at Dinamo Bucharest . From the very beginning the talented boy attracted the attention of his coach, who was impressed with his attacking attributes and used him as a forward and later as a left winger.

Alexe, nicknamed "Tweety" at a young age due to his fondness for wearing a Looney Toons Cartoon shirt, adjusted very well to his role and was a vital member of all of Dinamo's youth teams.

His great potential didn't go unnoticed by Europe's top clubs, and in 2006, when he was 16 years old, Glasgow giants Rangers made an offer for him (according to rumours they bid €250K for the gifted striker), with fellow Scottish outfits Hearts and Aberdeen also expressing interest in acquiring his services. But Alexe opted to stay at his home club and gain experience in his homeland before thinking about a move abroad.

He was loaned to the Romanian side Astra Ploiesti and helped the team get promoted to Romania's Liga 1 with six goals in 23 games. His debut in Romania's Liga 1 came on August 2, 2009 with Astra, but his loan spell was cut short when Dinamo called him back after only three games for his adopted side due to his great performance against rivals Rapid, against who he bagged a brace.

He returned to his home club and scored another five goals in 29 games, gaining experience and becoming a crucial component of the first-team squad. Alexe also played for Romania Under 21s alongside his teammate Gabriel Torje, another talented and promising young player, and together they led the team in some great performances, although they ultimately ended up losing to England in the Euro 2011 qualifiers.

But many believe that due to Romania's poor showing so far in the Euro 2012 qualification campaign, it is likely that Alexe will be called up for the senior side's upcoming games in order to help them revive their bid to qualify for the tournament.

Strengths

Alexe is able to play both as a striker and as a left winger, but he seems to be most effective on the flank (although he once said that he would play even as a goalkeeper as long he is on the pitch). Alexe seems to have everything required in order to become a lethal winger.

His greatest assets are without a doubt his speed and technique. Alexe has great acceleration and very impressive pace, enabling him to dominate the left flank and leave opponents trailing in his wake. He possesses great dribbling skills, control and passing ability, which, along with his agility, make him a very tough player to mark.

He is very dangerous with the ball at his feet and even more dangerous when he has space, with his amazing maximum speed making him almost unstoppable.

Alexe is naturally right footed, but it is barely noticeable because he controls the ball so well with either foot. He is very elegant in his playing style, and just like Thierry Henry, he likes to wait on the left flank for the ball, before cutting into the middle and looking for the target.

Not only is Alexe able to produce scoring opportunities to his teammates, his great finishing allows him to score goals from almost any range, and that, together with his great heading ability, makes him an excellent option as a striker.

Weaknesses

First of all, in order to fulfill his potential, Alexe must gain more experience and first-team football. It is important to remember that this is only his second season in Liga 1, and before thinking about interest from Europe's big guns he must concentrate on becoming a better player.

His main weakness today is his physical strength. Alexe must work on that aspect of his game in order to become a deadly winger. If he wants to be able to cope with the world's leading defenders he must make sure he has the physical attributes that allow him to compete at the highest level.

He also needs to improve his fitness, as if he wants to move on to a better league he must be in better shape that will allow him to endure the rapid pace of the game in the top European leagues.

Alexe should also strive for perfection with his free-kicks. Alexe is a big fan of Cristiano Ronaldo and has cited the Portuguese star as his role model, but in an interview to the Romanian press he said he would actually be satisfied if he has the free-kick accuracy of his teammate Niculescu.

Becoming a real free-kick specialist will give Alexe's game an added dimension and make him even more dangerous.

Mentality

Alexe is considered a calm and, all in all, modest person, who is very dedicated to his club. One of his best characteristics is his determination and ambition. Alexe has big dreams of becoming a star in Europe, but he knows that he needs to do his talking on the pitch rather than to the press. It's easily to see him doing his best at every opportunity he is given. He works hard both in matches and training, and his motivation to succeed is clear.

Nonetheless, Alexe has admitted his fondness for clubbing, so hopefully he will act wisely and won't mimic his idol Adrian Mutu, who earned a reputation for being a trouble maker. Although it appears that Alexe is a mature young man and far from earning Mutu's reputation, he must always remain wary of the influence of his notorious agent, Giovani Becali, who has already led him to some stupid decisions in his career. If he keeps working hard and is able to concentrate on improving his game there is no reason he can't fulfill his huge potential.

Current situation

Dinamo are having real financial problems, and they will probably be interested in selling their stars as soon as possible for the right price. So far, Alexe has scored once in five Liga 1 games, but shone in Dinamo's 3-1 win in the Romanian Cup, scoring twice. Alexe is very much a wanted man at many clubs around the world, and last summer there were several reports claiming Chelsea were very interested in him and had even sent scouts to watch him play for Romania U21 against England.

Another team very interested in his services are Turkish side Galatasaray. The team's new coach is the greatest Romanian player of all time, Gheorghe Hagi, who admires Alexe's playing style and would like to see him play for his team. It appears that is more than just a rumor, and Alexe himself said he believed he could succeed at Galatasaray. If he leaves in January he is likely to cost €4-5 million.

Alexe is very ambitious and his biggest dream is playing for Real Madrid or Inter Milan.

And judging by his potential, if he keeps working hard and focusing on improving and varying his playing style, his dream may one day come true.


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11/11/10 - Tomoaki Makino

Team: FC Köln (Germany)
Shirt Number: 43
Nationality: Japan
Position: Central Defender
Secondary: Defender (L), Defensive Midfielder, Midfielder (L), Attacking Midfielder (L)
Age: 23
Height: 1.82 m / 5.97 ft
Weight: 77 kg / 169 lbs


Report: The Attacking Centre-back Starring for Sanfrecce Hiroshima

Attacking full-backs are plentiful in the modern game, with players like Maicon, Dani Alves and Philipp Lahm showing that marauding down the flank is a vital element for the position.

But an attacking centre-back?

Japanese centre-half Tomoaki Makino could well be closest to fitting that description.

He is a central defender, but not a typical one. He likes to go forward and knows how to score goals.

Although usually picked as a centre-back (and at times as a left-back), he often ends up playing much of his game in the offensive midfield.

Strange, but true.

Here's an evaluation on the Sanfrecce Hiroshima man.

Background and history

Makino is a product of Sanfrecce Hiroshima ’s youth system, and the most successful of a group of boys that grew up under the guidance of Serbian coach Mihailo Petrovi?.

He was a member of the Japan U-20 national football team for the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup and scored in his side's match against the Czech Republic in the tournament.

Makino's performances impressed the coach of the senior side, Alberto Zaccheroni, who called him up to his squad for Japan’s two friendly games against Argentina and South Korea in 2010, although he didn't end up playing in the games.

Perhaps the Italian manager feared Makino’s tactical indiscipline, and decided to rely on players who are better at sticking to their positions.

All the same, it would be wise for Japan to find a way of somehow fitting the 23-year-old into the side in the future.

Strengths

Makino’s best qualities are his athleticism and his versatility.

Makino is a right-footed player who can play as a central defender, a left back, and also in the attacking midfield if needed. When playing as a left back, he loves to charge forward and cut to the centre onto his strong right foot.

He has a very powerful shot with his right foot, giving him a total of 19 goals in his last three seasons in J1, a few of them coming from free-kicks.

He is also effective in the air, and scored more goals - using his head and his short and long-range shooting abilities - last season than some of the Japanese strikers picked in the 2010 World Cup squad.

Not only is Makino an attacking threat at set pieces, but also during open play. He has good dribbling abilities, not just relative for a defender, but his skills are also comparable to attacking players in the league.

With his ability to cover the whole pitch and contribute both defensively and offensively, he seems to be the designated heir of Marcus Tulio Tanaka in the national team.

Weakness

Makino isn't very reliable defensively, mainly because of his positional sense and tendency to go forward, and when the opposition dispossess his side, his absence from the defence is conspicuous and can be critical for his team.

Another weakness is regarding his dribbling, a weakness that comes to the fore when he is attacking down the flank. Makino makes numerous forays forward, sometimes playing like a left winger, but his decision-making can be poor in attacking positions. Makino will often try to dribble when he should whip in a cross, and despite having good dribbling skills, he tends to waste possession on too many occasions.

Aside from his positioning, Makino's other defensive skills also leave room for improvement. Although he is not weak in the tackle or in the air defensively, he can and needs to improve those aspects of his game.

It looks like it will be very hard for him to start for the national team as a centre-back (even with Nakazawa's retirement), as Japan have better options there, but he could well get more chances as a midfielder or a full-back.

Mentality

Makino is very charismatic and is a popular guest on TV shows. He is loved by fans and players alike due to his natural inclination to be a bit of a joker.

He sets the atmosphere at Sanfrecce, and is the mastermind behind the post-goal celebrations that have now became famous worldwide on YouTube.

More importantly, on the pitch, Makino is renowned for his charisma, mental strength and leadership, and in that sense would be a worthy addition to any professional football club.

Like Paul Gascoigne, his joking antics sometimes go a bit far, and should he move to Europe he would need to tone down his clowning about.

He is a very fit player who looks after his body well, never drinking alcohol and never eating too much. His fitness and determination are clear to see in matches, when he never gives up.

Current situation

Makino has scored four goals and chipped in with four assists this season for his side, who are mid-table in the J League with three matches to go.

Makino will be a free-agent at the end of 2010, and he has made it clear that he would be interested in a transfer to Germany or another European league.

Of course, he has received several offers from Japanese clubs, including a recent one from champions-elect Nagoya Grampus, who have reportedly offered him a three-year contract worth 43,000,000 yen per season (a little under €400,000).


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11/18/10 - Marco Jhonfai Fabian

Team: Chivas Guadalajara (Mexico)
Shirt Number: 8
Nationality: Mexico
Position: Attacking Midfielder (L)
Secondary: Attacking Midfielder (C,R), Forward (L,C,R)
Age: 21
Height: 1.7 m / 5.58 ft
Weight: 65 kg / 143 lbs


Report: Mexico's Next Attacking Star

The new wave of Mexican talent continues to unearth exciting prospects. The latest name to watch out for is Marco Fabian.

The young starlet is on the rise and is expected to join some of the other youthful and talented Mexican players who are already flooding Europe.

His club side, Chivas Guadalajara has built an impressive reputation for its ability to develop young stars. Carlos Vela and Carlos Salcido both began their careers with Chivas and most recently, former IMScouting Player to Watch, Javier Hernandez left the club for Manchester United where he has already made a big impression. It seems that Fabian could follow a similar path to success.

Background and History

Marco Jhonfai Fabian was born on July 21, 1989. He was spotted early on and recruited by Guadalajara as a promising talent. He spent ten years in the Chivas youth system, including appearances for their affiliate club Tapatio.

On November 10, 2007, Fabian made his first-team debut in a match against Jaguares de Chiapas in the Apertura tournament, coach Efrain Flores handing him his opportunity. He scored his first goal for the club in a 6-0 win over Morelia. His influence on the side has increased ever since then.

The following season, 2007-8, he established himself in Flores' side playing 21 games as a mere 18-year-old. Fabian's incisive attacking play and ability to beat defenders ensured he would be a regular during the following season too where he played a major role in Chivas reaching the final of South America's top club tournament, the Copa Libertadores. This term though, an end product has been added to his obvious talent and Fabian has scored an impressive seven goals so far.

Strengths

Fabian possesses many of the vital qualities for a successful attacking midfielder. He boasts tremendous speed and great technique in addition to impressive ball control. He is a very agile player with characteristic nimble foot-work who is capable of dribbling past opponents with ease. As such, he is an entertaining player to watch and relishes taking on defenders, who find it difficult to keep up with his footwork. Fabian is also versatile enough to play comfortably in every attacking position, which is testament to his footballing ability and also makes him an important weapon for the team.

At his current club Chivas, he usually plays on the left wing but likes to switch places with his team-mates during play, making it harder for opponents to track him and close him down when in possession.

When he is deployed out wide, Fabian likes to cut inside towards the centre or head straight for the penalty area in order to fashion a shot on goal or a chance for one of his team-mates. Although he is not exactly physically imposing, he actually has a very powerful shot at his disposal and is more than capable of scoring from distance. In addition to his scoring ability, Fabian is also particularly dangerous tearing down the wing with the ball at his feet, which usually ends with him crossing an inviting ball into the box.

Weaknesses

Fabian lacks great physical strength and bulking himself up is something that he must keep working on in order to deal with the top defenders, who are likely to exploit his relative physical weakness. He often loses out in shoulder-to-shoulder duals with his opponents. The 21-year-old is also weak in the air. This is partly due to his diminutive stature, he is only 5ft 5in tall. Yet, he can improve both his technique and timing in the air and thus do more to challenge for aerial balls.

Fabian has impressed in the Mexican league and also has experience representing Chivas in the Copa Sudamericana and the Copa Libertadores, where he played a major role in Chivas' run to the 2010 final, eventually losing out to Brazilian side Internacional. Yet, his footballing education is still relatively limited and he needs to widen his horizons, either abroad or at international level in order to really test himself against a whole variety of defenders and to experience a range of match situations.

Mentality

Fabian is very strong-willed and is very motivated to succeed. Far from being afraid of the tag of becoming Chivas' star player, Fabian relishes the pressure and responsibility that comes with it.

He explained in an interview with Mediotiempo.com,"I take it as a motivation. I know it's a big responsibility, and as such I have taken it upon myself in every game, not to crack under the pressure".

Fabian has also shown that he is not only motivated by his own personal success and fortune. Taking an impressively mature attitude, he has also indicated that he wants to embrace the wider responsibility of becoming a positive role model.

He further explained, "Ever since I was a kid, I said to my parents - even playing or not playing, I want to be an idol at Chivas, I want to be that image that children can follow and be successful".

Of course, he also has the ambition and determination to become an international player. Everything Fabian does appears to be focused on achieving his goal.

Fabian commented, "There are players who are already there, who went through a similar process, such as Vela and Hernandez. To show what I can do on the level of the national team is a dream for me".

Current Situation

Fabian is making great progress during the 2010/11 season and seems to be enjoying his best football to date. He has scored seven goals and contributed two assists in 21 games so far this term, by far the best return of his career. Step by step, Fabian has become one of the key players in the Chivas team thanks to some impressive performances. He has been a major factor in some striking wins during the season so far, including scoring a brace in Chivas' latest game against championship contenders Rayados de Monterrey.

Even though Fabian still hasn’t made his debut for the Mexican national team, he is already viewed as being an important part of the Mexican team to compete at the 2014 World Cup. Should he continue to progress the way he has done so far, he should soon provide serious competition to Deportivo La Coruna's Andres Guardado for the left wing spot in the national team. The fact that Mexico enjoys such high-quality competition for places is evidence of the great strides that Mexican football has made over the past few years.


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11/25/10 - Rajko Rep

Team: NK Maribor (Slovenia)
Shirt Number: 55
Nationality: Slovenia
Position: Attacking Midfielder (C)
Secondary: Attacking Midfielder (L,R), Forward (L,R)
Age: 20
Height: 1.77 m / 5.81 ft
Weight: 72 kg / 158 lbs


Report: Road Wide Open for Slovenian Starlet

There's a new bright whiz-kid in the Slovenian spotlights - NK Maribor 's promising midfielder RaJko Rep.

Brought in by legendary former Slovenia international and current NK Maribor sporting director, Zlatko Zahovic, Rep is considered the next starlet most likely to follow in the footsteps of other young prospects who made their way through Maribor to achieve success overseas in recent years, such as Palermo's Josip Ilicic and Armin Bacinovic.

And Rep is already attracting vast interest from clubs throughout Europe's major leagues.

Background and History

Rep was born on June 20, 1990, and started playing at the age of six at the Rogatec youth academy of lower league side NK Mons Claudius.

It was there that he was spotted by NK Celje, and at the age of 14 he signed his first professional contract.

He went on to score 56 goals for the NK Celje youth team in his first season - a local championship record that still stands until this day.

In order for him to gain experience, he was transferred on loan to second division side NK MU Šentjur during the 2009\2010 campaign, and later that season returned to top flight NK Celje as a first-team regular.

During his time at NK Celje he was named team captain at the age of 19, becoming the youngest skipper in the history of the club.

During his youth years, Rajko starred in all of Slovenia's international youth teams. He shined as captain of the U19 side, leading them to Europe's 2009 U19 championship finals in Ukraine and finishing as the qualification phase's top scorer with six goals.

And he was recently picked for the U21 side by coach Tomaz Kavcic.

Strengths

Rep is an all-round attacking midfielder with great technique who is also capable of playing as a forward/support striker, due to his great pace and agility.

These skills allow him to dribble past defenders and make him hard to dispossess.

But what is exceptional about Rep is his high level of game intelligence that belies his age. He reads the game so well, and he is the type of player who appears to have years of experience under his belt, always dictating his side's passing game with quick thinking and vision. He moves the ball calmly, yet quickly.

Rep likes to play deep, using one-touch passes and long, accurate cross-field balls, always keeping his head up to find the most suitable target for a pass, as a classic playmaker would.

Rep also attains excellent positioning with great off-the-ball movement, creating many scoring opportunities for himself.

He is blessed with a powerful right foot, but he is also capable of shooting with his left. He has good finishing ability, making him dangerous from any range.

Aside from his attacking qualities, Rep doesn't neglect his defensive duties. Although he's relatively small, he is a determined tackler and is able to dispossess bigger players.

Weaknesses

Rep's main weakness that stands out is his physique – his slight build being a disadvantage.

This shortcoming is most noticeable when Rep comes up against stronger defenders in shoulder-to-shoulder situations and in aerial battles. However, Rep is still young and could well develop his strength in the future, which would be crucial in achieving success at the highest levels.

Rep needs to gain more experience in order to sharpen some aspects of his game, such as decision-making and man marking, and he still needs to build up his confidence in order to become a much more dominant force.

Mentality

Rajko is a born leader, constantly geeing up and helping his teammates, and he will always put the team's success over his own. Rep's modest nature and maturity make him a true role model, a fact which he is very aware of.

After the 2009 U 19 Europe championship Rep said: "It's been a great honour for me to be captain. It's been a privilege to guide my team through this tournament. I'm not the type of player to shout a lot, I try to lead by example, to motivate the players before the match and lift their spirits afterwards if the game doesn't go our way."

His positive mentality was underlined after a 7-1 demolition at the hands of England Under 19s, when he said: "It's in our character to fight all the time; it's our way of achieving results. We went into each match looking to win, that's our mentality, and we're happy with what we've achieved."

Current form

Rep opened the 2010\11 season in a staggering form for Celje, and in doing so sparked interest from abroad in his services.

Teams such as Fiorentina, Stuttgart and Ajax - who almost signed him last summer - were after him but eventually he got what he said he wished for. "I was dreaming from an early age of playing for Maribor, so I'm very happy," he said after penning a contract with Slovenia's top guns.

Maribor are leading the SNL Championship by six points, and despite strong competition in the squad, Rep has made an instant impact as a regular. There is a consensus in Slovenia, that Rep will have great success leading the national team in the future.

It has recently been reported that Blackburn Rovers manager Sam Allardyce has agreed to pay £3 million in order to bring Rep to Ewood Park, although his valuation by club sporting director Zahovic is £5 million.

But Rep is keeping his feet firmly on the ground.

"Abroad? Frankly I do not think about it. I am waiting to prove myself at Maribor," he commented.

The road for Rep to achieve great things is wide open, and it appears just a matter of time before he fulfills his huge potential.


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12/02/10 - Kenneth Zohore

Team: FC Kobenhavn (Denmark)
Shirt Number: 18
Nationality: Denmark
Position: Forward (C)
Secondary: Forward (L,R)
Age: 17
Height: 1.88 m / 6.17 ft
Weight: 96 kg / 211 lbs


Report: A Huge Forward with a Huge Future

Weighing in at 96kg, and 1.88m tall, Kenneth Zohore is a giant of a striker, and he hasn't wasted any time in kicking off his career. He made his debut in the Danish Superliga in March 2010, at the age of 16 and 35 days, becoming the youngest ever player to feature in the Danish top flight. The young talent was linked with moves to Chelsea and Inter Milan even before he turned 15, and had trials at both clubs.

Background and History

Zohore started playing football when he was four years old at Skjold, a lower division club in Denmark. He lived all his life in Copenhagen, and moved to FCK reserves (KB) in 2006.

He caught the eyes of many scouts in Europe at a very young age due to his immense physical strength. He is a current member of the Denmark U19 side and he previously played for the Under 17s, scoring nine goals in 13 matches.

Strengths

Zohore is a huge striker with a fine left foot. His is able to beat any defender in physical duels, but aside from his strength he has very good positional sense in the box. He can play well with his back to goal, holding the ball up and shielding it with his body, before laying it off to a nearby teammate.

Zohore also possesses very good heading skills, both in terms of technique and timing. He uses his body well to take up a position before a cross comes in, and manages to meet the ball in air, beating his marker.

But Zohore's biggest advantage is not his physical strength, but his technique – both in his control and shooting. Given his size, he controls the ball so well and is able to dribble his way towards goal, passing defenders, before finishing with an accurate, powerful shot.

He can also pose a threat at goal from long distance with his left foot, and even though he is naturally left-footed, Zohore has pretty strong shots with his right foot, too, He even scored his first goal with a powerful right-footed shot from outside the area.

Zohore is also quite fast, taking his size into consideration. He is definitely not the quickest of players and can develop his speed a lot, but relative to his size, he has a good burst of pace with which he can pass his opponent, taking him by surprise.

Weaknesses

Zohore is a very young player. Although he is not yet 17, he is already playing his first season as a member of Danish champions FCK's first-team squad, and played his first 90 minutes at senior level in his side's last match against Randers.

So, it goes without saying that Zohore is inexperienced, and needs to improve his decision-making.

In addition, although he is quite a good finisher, and scored his first goal a few weeks ago with his weaker right foot (a fine shot from outside the area), he needs to be more focused and clinical in front of goal.

Also, in spite of the goal with his right foot, Zohore generally relies too much on his left foot and could be much more versatile and dangerous with the ability to use both feet more.

Mentality

Zohore was discovered very early in his life, and was tagged as a prospect at a very young age, before he turned 10 years old. When he moved from Skjold to FCK in 2006, he immediately started to work on his skills in a more professional way. He improved each season both at domestic and international level. He flourished in Denmark's U17 national team,scoring nine goals in 13 appearances and got promoted to the U19 squad. At FCK, he played for the Under 19s at the age of 15.

Zohore is a humble individual, currently focusing on gaining as much playing time as he can, and working on his shortcomings. He was quoted as saying his dream is to play for Chelsea, but he emphasised that he is far from being at such a level, and that at the moment he is focused on getting better every week and working hard in training sessions.

Current form

Currently Zohore is third-choice striker for FCK, behind Dame Ndoye and Cesar Santin in the pecking order. He is playing more and more though, and will probably soon turn into a regular.

Zohore scored his first goal a month ago, and is starting to show his qualities and become more involved in the team every week.

In Kobenhavn's last fixture, he played his first full match at senior level.

He also became the third youngest player to appear in the Champions League in October 2010, when coming on as a substitute against FC Barcelona.


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12/09/10 - Marco Reus

Team: Borussia Mönchengladbach (Germany)
Shirt Number: 11
Nationality: Germany
Position: Midfielder (R)
Secondary: Midfielder (L), Attacking Midfielder (L,C,R)
Age: 21
Height: 1.8 m / 5.91 ft
Weight: 70 kg / 154 lbs


Report: Another Young German to Mesmerise the World...and Perhaps Save Borussia Monchengladbach

Last summer, Germany captivated the world with attractive attacking football played by a young and determined World Cup team.

Watching the German national team became a source of enjoyment for many football fans around the world because of the elegant style of the ambitious side that included talented and, until then, quite unknown players such as Mesut Ozil and Sami Khedira. It was the complete opposite of the stereotypical image of the German national team, which was for long considered a tough, efficient but somewhat boring side. Germany showed the world that it had a great, young generation of players raised on the basics of attractive football.

And Marco Reus could be a symbol of that phenomenon. The young and very talented midfielder is nicknamed in his country "the new Marko Marin" - quite bizarre considering the fact they are both at the same age.

Background and history

Reus was born and raised in Dortmund. There he started his football career at the local club SV Dortmund, before later moving to Borussia Dortmund, where he played until he joined Rot Weiss Ahlen in 2006.

Despite his young age, the gifted midfielder played for Ahlen's second team, scoring a goal in only his second game. The following year, Reus broke into Ahlen's first team which played in the German third division. He featured in 16 games, and scored two goals, one of them which was vital to the team's promotion to the German 2nd Bundesliga.

2008/2009 was Reus' breakthrough season. He became an integral part of the team, playing 27 games and scoring four goals. At the end of that campaign, Borussia Monchengladbach decided to snap up the youngster to replace Marko Marin, who joined Werder Bremen. The Bundesliga side paid €1 million for Reus, and he didn't disappoint, scoring eight times in 33 games in his debut season in the German top flight.

Strengths

First and foremost, Reus has astonishing speed. Even though he plays in the Bundesliga - one of Europe's top leagues which has many fast players - it is impossible to ignore his electric pace and acceleration. Just like Marin, it is very typical to see the young midfielder run with the ball at his feet with opposition defenders trailing in is wake.

Not only is Reus a very fast player, he also has great technique. He controls the ball very well with both feet, has a great touch and excellent dribbling skills. A lot of his goals have come at the end of impressive solo runs where he combines his high speed with his top-class technique.

One aspect of his game that Reus has improved upon is his finishing. He scored eight goals in his first season in the Bundesliga, a handsome return for a midfielder, and he currently has a tally of five goals in 15 games this season. Reus has a very accurate shot and he is extremely dangerous in the box, not hesitating in the slightest in one-on-one situations.

Another of Reus' strengths is the fact that he is not a selfish player, quite the contrary. Reus uses his skills to create a lot of chances for his teammates – so far he has set up six goals this season.

He displays great team work and will always look for his teammates rather than try to go it alone.

Monchengladbach really reaped the benefits of the investment made in Reus as Marin's successor. The two players were found to have a lot in common, but the fans and the club directors were probably happy to find that unlike Marin, Reus' defensive work is very good – a very important attribute for a midfielder.

Another advantage of Reus is his versatility. Most of the time he plays as right midfielder, but he can also play on the left. Furthermore, thanks to his great attacking attributes, he can play in a more offensive role as an attacking midfielder on either side or even behind the strikers – a role he usually played when he was younger.

Weaknesses

So far, Reus has proved to be a genuine Bundesliga player, but it must be stressed that he is still only 21. He needs to gain more experience in order to improve his decision-making and ensure that he will be able to cope with the ambition of a big club in Germany.

Another aspect of the game that Reus needs to improve upon is his physical strength. As he is not especially tall (1.80m,) and plays in a league that is physically demanding, Reus must get stronger in order to be able to cope with well-built defenders common in the Bundesliga. If he works on this side to his game, he will get even more versatile and won't rely on his speed as his only weapon against them.

Mentality

Despite his young age, Reus is demonstrating real maturity. He hasn't had any disciplinary problems and he is well liked among Monchengladbach fans and his teammates alike, probably a result of the huge effort he puts in together with his modesty and his great team work.

Another estimable side to Reus is the fact that he is very consistent. Even though he is very young and his team is far from firing on all cylinders, he keeps improving and is becoming one of the team's leaders. While a lot of people in Germany thought he was a transient phenomenon and refused to get exciting by his great debut season, Reus has proved that he has real talent, continuing to show his superb skills week after week this term, too. Nowadays, doubters of Reus' potential are hard to come by.

Current situation

Reus' team, Borussia Monchengladbach, are having a terrible season and are bottom of the Bundesliga. Nevertheless, Reus is having a great season, scoring five times and providing six assists so far. No one will be surprised if Monchengladbach end the season in the same place, and it is likely that Reus will leave at the end of the season to a bigger team in Germany, even though he has a contract until 2015.

At present, Reus is certainly in the best form of his career, and it appears that he also has bright future for Germany's national team.

Whoever does decide to buy this great player will need to part with €5M-7.5 million – but it will be money very well spent indeed.


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12/16/10 - Sime Vrsaljko

Team: Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia)
Shirt Number: 14
Nationality: Croatia
Position: Defender (R)
Secondary: Defensive Midfielder, Midfielder (R), Attacking Midfielder (R)
Age: 19
Height: 1.8 m / 5.91 ft
Weight: 75 kg / 165 lbs


Report: The 'New Darijo Srna' on Arsenal and Tottenham's Radar

At just 18 years of age, right-back Sime Vrsaljko is already a hot prospect, and his name has been jotted down in the scouting notebooks of Europe's major clubs.

His market value is rising with every match he play,s as he is young and extremely talented, and no doubt his eventual transfer fee will be a high one.

According to transfer rumours, the Dinamo Zagreb management rejected a €4 million offer from Olympique Marseille in August 2010. In addition, some club board members confirmed that Arsenal, Tottenham and Sampdoria are keen on signing the Croatian wonder-kid. According to the latest reports, Dinamo Zagreb want €6-7 million for the young talent.

So who exactly is this in-demand teenager?

Club career

Vrsaljko grew up playing in his native city of Zadar, but his home club NK Zadar couldn't keep him for much longer and he signed for Croatian giants Dinamo Zagreb . Many people expected him to sign for Hajduk Split, which is a more of a "natural" move for good players from that part of Croatia. However, Vrsaljko followed in the footstops of Tottenham's Luka Modric, who also moved to Dinamo in his early years, and hasn't regretted his decision.

Vrsaljko played his first senior minutes in the Croatian league for NK Lokomotiva Zagreb, as a loaned player.

In the first part of season 2009/2010 he showed great potential and Dinamo Zagreb wanted him back. Ever since, he has been a regular first-team member and one of the most important players in the Dinamo squad.

International career

Vrsaljko played for all of Croatia's youth sides. He made his youth international debut on April 17, 2007, when he played for Croatia Under 15s in a friendly match against Slovenia.

He was also a member of the Croatian U19 team that reached the semi-final of the 2010 UEFA U19 European Championship in France.

Even though he can still play for the U19 team, Vrsaljko already made his debut for the Croatia U21 team in March 2010 against France.

There is no doubt that Vrsaljko is the future of the Croatian national team and he is sure to be a regular in the senior squad sooner rather than later

Technical skills

Sime has all the makings that decide the difference between average and top players.

• Vrsaljko has fantastic motor skills – He is athletic, agile and has the tremendous ability to change pace and direction while running with the ball. He is also fast and has great acceleration.

• He is a very smart player for his age – Although still just a teen, Vrsaljko is an intelligent player who understands the game very well, can anticipate moves and has excellent decision-making. He knows when to support the attack from his full-back position, when to stay at the back and has the nous to realise when his flank is going to come into play during a move.

• The Croatian also has good technical abilities – He posseses high quality dribbling skills and the excellent ability to go past players easily. He controls the ball superbly at his feet, even on the run, and his touch, shooting and passing abilities all show that he is a talented technician.

• Vrsaljko is an attack-minded full-back with excellent crossing ability – As an offensive oriented right-back who can also play as a right midfielder, Vrsaljko operates a huge amoung on the flank. He has top-class crossing ability, in terms of technique, power and accuracy, particularly for a player of his age.

• Vrsaljko has strong and very precise shooting ability - He has a fierece right foot that, combined with his ability to change direction, gives him the ability to cut into the middle and pose a threat at goal. As a result, opponents often don't know how to mark him as he can cut in and shoot, or burst down the line and send in a cross.

Mentality

Vrsaljko is quite a modest individual who up until now has not had any disciplinary issues or been involved with any confrontations with teammates, coaches or journalists.

He is a very intelligent, well-mannered and well-raised individual.

However, since a very young age, Vrsaljko has lacked consistency. One match he is good, and in the next he can be quite poor. He needs a bit of a stronger mentality in order to overcome that, but that is likely to come with age and playing experience.

Current situation

Vrsaljko has made 20 appearances for Dinamo Zagreb in all competitions this term, including in the UEFA Champions League qualifier against Sheriff Tiraspol and in the Europa League, which his side has just been dumped out of.

He has started every one of those 20 games, and has scored one goal and set up three so far this season.


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12/23/10 - David Templeton

Team: Heart of Midlothian (Scotland)
Shirt Number: 12
Nationality: Scotland
Position: Attacking Midfielder (R)
Secondary: Attacking Midfielder (L)
Age: 22
Height: 1.76 m / 5.77 ft
Weight: 63 kg / 138 lbs


Report: Scotland's Next Wing Wizard

Outside interest in Scottish football is often limited to the dominance of the Old Firm and the performances of Rangers and Celtic in Europe.

It might therefore be surprising that one of the brightest Scottish talents to emerge this season comes out of Edinburgh, not Glasgow. David Templeton is a gifted winger, playing for Heart of Midlothian , who has already made impressive progress in his short career. Despite his young age, he is one of the most important players in his team and many believe that he has the ability to become a mainstay of the Scottish national side.

Background and history

David Templeton was born in Glasgow on 7 January 1989. His father, Henry Templeton, is a former Ayr United player who was renowned for his great determination on the pitch and his somewhat wild lifestyle off the pitch. Henry was a big fan of Rangers legend Davie Cooper, and when his wife gave birth to their second child he decided to name the new born boy after his hero. Templeton junior's full name is in fact David Cooper Templeton. This is somewhat ironic as Templeton himself reveled in an interview in the Scottish press that later when his parents separated he lived with his mother, whose family were all Celtic fans and as a result little David ended up following the Bhoys.

David started his senior football career at third division side Stenhousemuir, where he enjoyed two successful seasons scoring 11 goals in 32 games. Due to his great form for the Warriors, Templeton was invited for a trial at Premier League side Newcastle United in 2006 and around the same time he was rewarded with international honours at Under-19 level. Eventually, in January 2007 Scottish Premier League side Hearts paid 30,000 pounds for the young winger. Templeton initially enjoyed a loan spell at Raith Rovers where he played 15 games, scoring 4 goals before had made his Hearts debut in May 2009. Since then he has become a regular first team player at Tynecastle Stadium and is very popular among the Jambos fans.

Strengths:

Templeton boasts excellent speed that is vital to his role as a winger. He possesses both great pace over distance and a burst of acceleration over small areas. Agility is another great asset of the Scottish youngster and he is well known for his tricky and quick playing style.

As the son of a keen Davie Cooper fan, Templeton recalls that his father showed him a lot of video footage of his idol. The Hearts youngster acknowledged that the elegant style of Cooper, the way in which he effortlessly and gracefully beat opponents, made an impact on him. Perhaps it is no coincidence therefore that Templeton has very good technique, impressive dribbling ability and ball control. He exhibited all of these attributes to score a wonder goal against bitter rivals Hibernian in the Edinburgh derby earlier this season.

Templeton started his career as a striker and later developed into a winger. But, one can still see the instincts of a striker in Templeton's composure in front of goal. He has very good finishing ability and scores his fair share of goals for the side.

Templeton is a very creative player with great vision of the game. He is comfortable with the ball on either foot and is able to play on both flanks. In addition to his finishing skills he is also a great crosser of the ball, able to provide dangerous crosses with both feet.

Despite his size (only 1.76 tall), David takes after his father in making the most of the physical attributes that he has. As a result, he is a very strong and determined player who always gives 100% for his team.

Weaknesses:

Templeton is taking the first major steps in a promising career, and therefore a degree of inexperience should be expected. This is clearly his breakthrough season, but the fact that he is not playing for one of the best teams in Scotland, let alone Europe means that the jury is still out on how far he can really go and how well he might adapt to a big ambitious club.

Much will depend on Templeton's consistency, his ability to produce his best form on a regular basis. He has made significant progress, but now he has made something of a name for himself and is a marked man. As a result there are expectations placed upon him and there is a degree of pressure to perform consistently. Time will tell as to how well he copes.

Another quality Templeton will have to develop is leadership. Many view him as one of Scotland's brightest talents with an international career beckoning. In order to make that a reality, he will have to exhibit real responsibility and leadership on the pitch for Hearts in order to make the step up to becoming a national team regular.

Mentality:

It seems that Templeton has already acquired a degree of maturity over the years. Playing as a striker in his childhood and younger days, Templeton readily admits that he was sometimes selfish, wanting to bag the glory of scoring for himself rather than the benefit of the team. However, today Templeton is far from the selfish youngster. He is viewed as very much a team player and has provided three assists for Hearts so far this season. Those that know Templeton talk about him as a mature, intelligent and wise player who has a real ambition to get better and better.

Current Situation:

Templeton is definitely the star of the Hearts side so far this season, leading Jim Jefferies' team into 3rd place. Templeton has scored 6 goals and provided 3 assists so far this term, and his performances have been rewarded with accolades including the SPL's Young Player of the Month award for November and the Goal of the Month for his great solo effort against Hibernian, also in November. He was also called up to the Scotland Under-21 squad for a European Championship play-off.

Many believe that in time, Templeton will break the record for the largest transfer fee paid for a Hearts player. The record for an outfield player is the 2.5 million pounds West Brom paid for Roman Bednar , while some reckon that he may even eclipse the 9 million pounds paid for goalkeeper Craig Gordon .

Templeton could develop into an international class player, but much will depend on how much more experience he gains at Hearts and how he handles a growing profile and reputation. However, should he continue to develop and improve as his talent suggests, Templeton may just find that it is his name that is revered by parents naming their young children in years to come.


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12/30/10 - Ehsan Hajsafi

Team: Sepahan (Iran)
Shirt Number: 28
Nationality: Iran
Position: Midfielder (C)
Secondary: Midfielder (L), Defensive Midfielder, Defender (L), Attacking Midfielder (L,C)
Age: 21
Height: 1.68 m / 5.51 ft
Weight: 64 kg / 140 lbs


Report: The Iranian Cesc Fabregas

With the Asian Cup on the horizon, it's time to shed some light on one of the continent's most exciting prospects.

Sepahan's Ehsan Hajsafi , only 20 years old, is set to become the new star for the Iran national team. The upcoming Asian Cup should unveil Hajsafi to the world as a truly unique prospect who has the potential to play in the biggest leagues of Europe.

Hajsafi has been a revelation in Iranian football over the last few seasons. A highly versatile midfield player, Hajsafi is one of the most talented players to emerge in Iran in recent decades. His potential is extremely high and the upcoming Asian Cup represents an excellent opportunity for European sides to scout this talented individual before he puts his signature on a highly-paid contract in one of the Gulf's leagues.

Background and history

Hajsafi, born on February 25, 1990 in Kashan, progressed through the ranks of Sepahan and all of Iran's youth national sides, notching dozens of appearances and goals for all his teams.

Hajsafi has been playing senior club football since 2007 with great success. He played two matches for Sepahan in the 2007 FIFA Club World Cup, made eight league appearances in the 2006/7 season and has gone on to become an instrumental first-team player ever since.

The 2007/8 season was great for him, as he played 32 league matches, scoring six goals. In 2008, he made his debut for Team Melli in a friendly match against Zambia, and rewarded his coach, the famous former Iranian player Ali Daei, with two assists in that game. Despite his tender age, Hajsafi has now already amassed 29 caps for Team Melli, scoring twice.

After another successful club season in 2008/9, 2009/10 was an interesting one for Hajsafi, as he was tested as left-back for large parts of the campaign. He continued his fine form despite the change of position, and Sepahan won the league title. This season he has again been one of the best performers for his side.

Strengths

Hajsafi is a complete player by almost every parameter required of a modern, successful footballer. His most important attribute is his football brain. Hajsafi has truly great understanding of the game, and ever since he started playing he has shown unique pose and self-confidence, and fantastic decision-making.

Due to this decision-making and ingenuity, many in Iran have been comparing Hajsafi with Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas. His intelligence gives him an edge over his opponents, as he reads the game exceptionally well and has highly intelligent movement around the pitch. His uses his exceptional footballing brain in every action, and he has great tactical awareness and positional sense. He just appears to have more time on the ball than his opponents.

Hajsafi is also a highly versatile player. He started his career as a central midfielder, where his footballing brain is best utilised, but he has also shown his ability to also play very well as a left-sided midfielder. Hajsafi is very quick, has excellent acceleration and decent pace with very good dribbling skills, so he is well suited to playing on the flank. Furthermore, for his height he has great natural speed, and possesses the required aggression and strength to get the better of taller opponents.

The diminutive midfielder has also played many times as a left-back, a position in which he has been used a lot lately for the national team. He has become a useful attack-minded defender for the national side, but he still needs to vastly improve his defensive abilities. Considering his great stamina though, the conclusion is that he can also develop in this role.

Hajsafi is also a highly technical player. He has a powerful shot with his left foot and he is a free-kick specialist who can score great goals from set pieces. Overall he has a very deft touch of the ball. He plays a lot with one touch, has excellent vision, and is a great crosser and passer of the ball.

Yet another of Hajsafi's strengths are his remarkably long throw-ins.

Weaknesses

Hajsafi is obviously not the strongest of players, owing to his short stature. His aggression and good balance often make up for this, but against very tall central defenders he can get lost in physical terms. That is also the reason why he is less useful defensively; he finds it hard to man-mark opponents who are stronger than he is. Needless to say, due to his height he also finds it hard to compete in aerial battles.

Another weakness of Hajsafi is that he somewhat lacks the ability to control his temper. While he is a player who demands the ball a lot and plays as if he is mature beyond his years, he can still lose control and make rash challenges on opponents leading to cards. That weakness has a lot to do with his age.

Mentality

Perhaps Hajsafi's biggest flaw is related to his mentality. He started as a smart, confident young lad with quality seen only in really top players, but his attitude became problematic with time.

Hajsafi is a bit undisciplined and is actually quite arrogant. He thinks he is a mega-star and has become a cocky person. This approach is a result of him getting a star role too early in his career, and he doesn't seem to know how to handle it very well.

With his exceptional talent, it is clear that this approach he has can be changed. He needs a better, more professional atmosphere around him, and a mentor to lead and guide him. Basically, he needs to move to Europe and to mature during the coming years.

Current situation

To Iranian eyes, Hajsafi seems to have been around for a long time. It's easy to forget that he is still only 20 years old. He is at the very beginning of his career and he can develop enormously to become one of Asia's finest prospects. He is contracted to his club until June 2014, and his price could depend on his performance in the upcoming Asian Cup should a potential buyer show interest in his services after the competition. It appears the club will not let him go for less than €800k, but he is most definitely worth that investment.


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01/06/11 - Santiago Garcia

Team: Nacional Montevideo (Uruguay)
Shirt Number: 20
Nationality: Uruguay
Position: Forward (C)
Secondary: Forward (R)
Age: 20
Height: 1.81 m / 5.94 ft
Weight: 80 kg / 176 lbs


Report: Nacional Montevideo's Bull Starting to Show His Worth

Nacional Montevideo striker Santiago Garcia is the new powerful force of Uruguayan football. The young bull is dominating the Uruguayan league with a very consistent and impressive scoring ratio.

Garcia seems like a type of striker who was just born to score goals. He is blessed with immense strength, speed, and goal sense that make him one of the brightest Uruguayan football prospects.

Garcia, who was expected to shine in the last few years, is finally starting to show his worth, and judging by his current form it won't be long before he finds himself in a more prestigious league.

Background and history

Garcia was born on September 14, 1990 in Montevideo. He started his career playing for Libertad Washington's youth teams, and in 2005 he moved to play for one of the biggest Uruguayan clubs – Nacional Montevideo . He started in the Nacional youth system and in 2008, at just 17 years old, he made his debut for the first team. Due to his physique and technique Garcia quickly managed to capture the attention of the local media and several other South American clubs.

Garcia is yet to make his debut for the Uruguay national team, but was part of the Uruguay Under-20 side that participated in the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

Strengths

Garica's main strength is his physical presence. He is very strong and powerful, and has great balance, making it hard to knock him off the ball. He is also a determined player and he is like a solid rock when he gets into the box.

Garcia also has great eye for goal. He has decent but not fabulous technique, is not a devastating dribbler and usually doesn't score spectacular goals that marvel the crowd and raise the roof. But he always seems to be in the right place at the right time - a great and very precious quality missing in a surprising number of strikers.

Most of his goals stem from his good positional sense, and along with his decent technique and physical strength, it makes him a scoring machine who is hard to contain.

Garcia is a clearly a right-footed player, but inside the box he is capable of scoring well with either foot. Although he hasn’t got such an impressive leap, his strength and his great heading technique make him lethal in the air. He scores and creates many goals thanks to his heading skills.

Weaknesses

Garcia has adequate speed for a player his size, and even though he is not lightning quick, he is fast enough to perform his attacking duties for his club. Nevertheless, it does appear that in order for him to be as efficient in a higher-level league as he is in Uruguay, he will have to improve his speed.

Furthermore, Garcia does suffer from lapses in concentration during a match, which sometimes leads to him "disappearing" for long periods.

Garcia is a young player and still hasn't had experience of football abroad or at international level in order to really test himself against a variety of defenders and gain the knowledge of dealing with a range of match situations.

Mentality

Garcia is a scorer, without a shadow of a doubt, but he is also a determined player who works for his team, covering a lot of ground and distributing the ball well to his teammates.

As he told goal.com, "I consider myself as a team player. I'm a goalscorer - that is, after all, my role, so it pleases me above all else to score goals - but I also like to cover the pitch to do my share of work.

"Whenever I play as a No. 9 I do my best to fulfill the functional role - looking for space and areas in which to shine."

Current situation

Garcia is certainly on the rise. He has become a first-team regular for his club, and his scoring rate is extremely impressive. He leads the Uruguayan scoring chart with 13 goals from 14 games and has a staggering efficiency ratio of a goal or assist every 72.13 minutes.

As can be expected, his popularity among the fans is growing and growing.

For the moment, he is still quite unknown outside of the South American continent, but once he starts playing for the Uruguay national team, Santiago Garcia will likely become a much more common name on the lips of European football fans.


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01/13/11 - Cameron Stewart

Team: Hull City (England)
Shirt Number: 32
Nationality: England
Position: Attacking Midfielder (R)
Secondary: Forward (C)
Age: 19
Height: 1.72 m / 5.64 ft
Weight: 72 kg / 158 lbs


Report: Are Hull Reaping the Benefits of the Next Manchester United Wing Wizard?

In December 2009, Manchester United travelled to VfL Wolfsburg for a Champions League Group B tie.

United ran out 3-1 winners, with Michael Owen hitting a hat-trick for the visitors and new Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko netting for the hosts.

But the match was particularly memorable for a largely unknown Manchester lad who didn't even step onto the Volkswagen Arena pitch.

Then-18-year-old Cameron Stewart was called up to Alex Ferguson's injury hit first-team squad, and although he ended up being an unused substitute, the experience of being around some of the best players in the world in the best club competition in the world has done him a world of good.

"Just being around the first team, training on the pitch and travelling with them wakes you up," he said back then.

Stewart certainly returned from the trip hungry for success, and at his current adopted club Hull he is showing signs of his wing wizardly that has seen him dubbed the "English Ronaldo."

History

Stewart made his debut for the Manchester United academy in 2006, rising through the youth ranks and also earning four caps for England Under 17s.

He broke into the reserve side in the 2008/2009 season, playing 16 times, including in the Manchester Senior Cup and Lancashire Senior Cup finals.

He was particularly impressive in a Manchester Senior Cup match against Bury, scoring once and providing two assists in a 5-0 win, and his displays earned him five caps for England Under 19s, the first coming in August 2009.

He continued to play for the United reserves the following season, but was soon rewarded with his dream Champions League call-up. He then returned to help United reserves to the 2009/10 Double.

In July 2010, Stewart joined Yeovil Town on loan, playing five times for the League One side, and moved to Hull City , again on loan, in November.

Stewart was initially loaned to the Tigers until January, but he has been so instrumental there that his deal has been extended until the end of the season, much to the delight of coach Nigel Pearson.

"His ability to run with the ball with pace is a big threat. Pace in any side gives you a different dimension," said the Hull manager.

Strengths

Stewart is a fast, skillful right winger with a great first touch and wonderful crossing abilities.

He has quick feet, isn’t afraid to take players on, and, just like Ronaldo, loves to use stopovers to outwit his opponents.

He is capable of scoring spectacular goals with his thunderous shot from distance, and, also like the Portuguese star, he is expert at cutting in from the flank and can also play as a striker. Due to his abilities and versatility, he can play on the left wing, too, and has done so for Hull this season.

Stewart is an energetic and positive player, always looking to make things happen for his side. He has a high work-rate and is an excellent team player, capable of creating chances for his teammates as well as of course for himself.

Weaknesses

As can be expected for player of his age, size and slight build, Stewart is a little weak and needs to add muscle mass and toughen up before he can play regularly at the top level.

And unsurprisingly for a skillful and inexperienced winger, he needs to improve his decision making.

But he is sure to rid his game of both of those weaknesses with time.

Mentality

Stewart is ambitious and extremely eager to learn. He has a great attitude and works very hard in training.

He has no disciplinary issues, either on or off the field, and his Manchester United coach at under 18 level, Paul McGuiness, said he was a pleasure to work with.

“He puts a lot of energy and enthusiasm into training, which, to go with the ability he has got should see him progress quickly,” said McGuiness.

Current situation

Stewart has made a major contribution at Hull and, although yet to find the net, he has set up three goals in his seven games so far.

Stewart's Manchester United contract expires at the end of the season. And while he was delighted to be in the company of the Red Devils greats, now, after tasting first-team action, he is unsure about whether to return to Old Trafford and fight for his place in the star-studded side, despite Alex Ferguson's willingness over the years to throw the kids into the deep end.

"I've only got six months left on my contract at United and I don't know if it's going to get extended," Stewart said recently.

"I'm really unsure at the moment so I've come here to play first-team football, get my name out there and then see where I am at the end of the season."

"There's only so much you can learn in training, no matter who those players are.

"Any young lad needs to be playing games to develop. It's one thing playing reserve games but first-team football means so much more.

"You're out there trying to win three points and climb the table, every time you play it's a big deal. This is a big man's game."

Cardiff City and Leeds United have been linked with his services, and should Stewart continue to progress, there's no reason he can’t ply his trade in the "big man's game" for a big side.

And some time in the future, he may follow the likes of Ronaldo, Ryan Giggs and David Beckham to become another legendary Manchester United wide man.


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01/20/11 - Andre Ayew

Team: Olympique Marseille (France)
Shirt Number: 20
Nationality: Ghana
Position: Attacking Midfielder (L)
Secondary: Attacking Midfielder (C,R), Forward (L,C,R)
Age: 21
Height: 1.76 m / 5.77 ft
Weight: 72 kg / 158 lbs


Report: One of Ghana's Brightest Sparks on Arsenal Radar

Ever since the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt, Andre Ayew 's career has been on the rise.

Ayew was one of the best players in the Ghana U-20 side, and was a vital part of the team's triumphs in both the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup and the 2009 African Youth Championships.

During the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup, Andre showed his immense qualities, even though he was somewhat overshadowed by the performances of Dominic Adiyiah, who finished the tournament as top goalscorer. Indeed, it was Ayew's crucial goals, assists and, most of all, determination that were instrumental as the Black Satellites won the tournament.

A year later, Ayew played for Ghana's senior side that reached the 2010 World Cup quarterfinals.

And he also progressed well at the club level, playing for Marseille's first team.

The stars seem to be shining for the bright youngster, who might turn out to be just as famous as his father, the legendary Abedi Pele.

Background and history

Ayew was born in Seclin, France, and is one of three brothers, with his siblings Ibrahim and Jordan also talented footballers.

Ibrahim, 22, is also a Ghana national team player and recently joined Lierse S.K. in Belgium's Jupiler League from Egyptian club Zamelek. And Jordan, who also plays for Marseille, seems to be just as an exciting football prospect.

Andre Ayew began his career at the age of 10 playing for his father's club, Nania, in Accra, Ghana. In 2005, after four years of plying his trade in the club's youth academy, he joined the youth ranks at Marsellie. Later on, he was loaned to Lorient and Arles in order to gain game experience, and this season (2010/11) he has broken into the Marseille first team.

Strengths

Andre is a left-footed player who usually plays on the left-flank. Nevertheless, he is an all-round player who can be utilised in every attacking role.

One shouldn’t be surprised to see him playing on the right flank, behind the strikers or even as a frontman.

Ayew has all the qualities to play in all those positions, as he is physically strong, fast and blessed with great technique. When Ayew combines his speed, strength and technical abilities to pass his opponents it almost seems unfair that one player is blessed with so many qualities.

His technical skills come in handy not only for dribbling but also for scoring. For a midfielder, Ayew has very good finishing skills, finding the net with apparent ease. And even though not very tall, Ayew he has a great leap and has no problem of scoring with his head.

Weaknesses

Ayew is still a young player, and just like many other players his age he lacks consistency. He tends to disappear from time to time, and doesn't always dominate as he should. He also needs to learn how to conserve his energy better.

Ayew should also further enhance his abilities to play as a winger and improve his running down the flank in order to cross the ball, as he tends to cut into the middle a bit too often. His attacking tactical sense still has room for improvement.

Mentality

Ayew has a great mentality. Despite his attacking prowess, he is not a complacent player who only plays when the ball is at his feet. He is actually a hard-working midfielder. He covers a lot of ground and he has great stamina.

He is a team player, who always works hard and likes to create goals for his teammates just as he likes to score himself.

Current situation

Ayew's status is growing with time. He has his coach's trust, and if he keeps on the current track Marseille is unlikely to be his last station.

At the moment, Ayew is mostly familiar in France and Ghana.

But teams like Arsenal are already tracking him, and it won't be long before Ayew finds himself the subject of a lucrative transfer.

Ayew is set to be one of Ghana's greatest promises for years to come and he is definitely a player deserving of football fans' attention.


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01/27/11 - Aleksandar Tonev

Team: CSKA Sofia (Bulgaria)
Shirt Number: 24
Nationality: Bulgaria
Position: Attacking Midfielder (R)
Secondary: Attacking Midfielder (L), Forward (R)
Age: 21
Height: 1.78 m / 5.84 ft
Weight: 69 kg / 151 lbs


Report: The CSKA Sofia Star Tipped to Restore Bulgarian Glory

In Bulgaria everybody is waiting for the successors of Hristo Stoichkov and Dimitar Berbatov.

And after some fruitless years for Bulgarian football, the country appears to finally have a youngster to be proud of.

Aleksandar Tonev is considered one of the biggest Bulgarian talents. The youngster has already been nicknamed "Kaka" by his Brazilian teammates who claim they have the same style.

Aside from the comparisons with the Real Madrid playmaker, Tonev has also been compared with Liverpool striker Fernando Torres. Former CSKA Sofia trainer Jesus Paredes, who worked with Torres in the past, said that the Bulgarian is just like the Spaniard, and that in some ways he is even better than the Liverpool striker was at his age.

Background and history

Tonev was raised in the CSKA Sofia youth system, and managed to break into the senior first-team squad at the age of 18 in 2008. However, after an impressive start for the first team in the Super Cup final on August 3, 2008 against PFC Lovech, his form declined somewhat and he failed to show his real talent.

The next few years were quite tough for Tonev. He found it hard to demonstrate his true ability at CSKA, and he was sent on loan to PFC Silven, where he spent the first half of the season on the bench due to his poor form.

However, he didn't give up, and after getting more chances to prove his abilities, he gained some more confidence that helped him become an important component for his new team.

In the summer of 2010, he returned to CSKA after some impressive performances at the end of the season for Sliven.

Strengths

Without a shadow of a doubt, Tonev's main strength is his technique. As an attacking midfielder and support striker he has great sharpness to his game, and he has no problems beating a man in one-on-one situations.

He has great ball control and a particularly deft touch with his right foot. Accuracy is another attribute Tonev can be proud of, as he is able to deliver excellent long and short-range passes.

Tonev is considered a very dangerous player, because in addition to his great technique, he boasts great speed and agility.

He is a smart player, who can quickly switch to top gear and burst past his opponent on the flank due to his excellent control and pace.

As far as his shooting is concerned, Tonev is very capable of surprising the opposition goalkeeper. He has a very strong right foot with which he can unleash dangerous strikes around the box, and he has already scored some real beauties from distance.

Tonev is a versatile player. Although he mostly plays on the right wing, or as a support striker, if needed he can be utilised on the left or in the centre of midfield.

Weaknesses

Of course Tonev still has some weak points, the main one being his inexperience. At times he makes the wrong decisions, and sometimes he acts too hastily or gets nervous without reason.

But those are all weaknesses of youth, and it is reasonable to assume that he will rid his game of those flaws under the right training.

Inconstancy is also still a problem for him, although he is becoming more of a consistent performer.

In addition, if Tonev wants to play at a higher level he will have to get stronger in order to cope with well-built defenders. Furthermore, Tonev is not a tall player, and his heading ability is below average.

He will therefore have to work on the defensive side of his game. Even though he is a winger and definitely an attack-minded player, in modern football every player is sometimes required to help the defence.

Mentality

Tonev is a smart player, and in the Bulgarian league one can often see that he is too sharp and clever for opposition defenders.

Tonev also has leadership skills, exemplified by his captaincy role in the CSKA and national youth teams.

He is very well disciplined, and is a diligent and hard worker. He is ambitious, and it appears that he will stop at nothing to achieve his dream of playing at the top level.

Current situation

So far in season 2010/11, Tonev has been the Reds' most creative player. He is always looking for the ball and trying to surprise his opponents. The loan spell at Silven seems to have worked wonders for his confidence, and today he is more consistent and composed. He is almost always a regular starter, and has played 18 games for CSKA this season, scoring a goal and providing an assist.

In November 2010, Tonev was selected as one of the 78 biggest young talents in the world by World Soccer Magazine.

And if he continues to progress and works hard on improving his game, he could well fulfill his dream.


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02/03/11 - Julian Draxler

Team: FC Schalke 04 (Germany)
Shirt Number: 31
Nationality: Germany
Position: Attacking Midfielder (C)
Secondary: Midfielder (C)
Age: 17
Height: 1.83 m / 6 ft
Weight: 70 kg / 154 lbs


Report: Schalke's Midfield Wonderkid Radiating Star Qualities

With 118 minutes gone, Schalke and Nurnberg were still level at 2-2, and it looked like the teams were heading to a penalty shoot-out in order to decide who would advance to the German Cup semi-final.

But just a couple minutes beforehand, a Schalke plan to upset their rivals in the dying minutes was set in motion by throwing a supremely talented 17-year-old into the fray.

The teenager required few touches of the ball to score an incredible 23-yard last-gasp extra- time winner, and immediately became a hit with Die Knappen.

"I cannot describe in words what I am feeling," the prodigious talent said after the match.

"To come on five minutes before the end in a stadium where you have always dreamt of playing and to score such a goal with such a shot in the last minute is just amazing."

And so his budding romance with the Schalke faithful kick-started in style.


Background and history

Julian Draxler, the youngest player ever to feature in Schalke's senior squad, has been a Schalke player since the age of eight.

With Schalke producing some of the most impressive talents on German soil in recent years, such as Real Madrid star Mesut Ozil and crucial players Manuel Neuer and Benedikt Howedes, it is no small feat to be considered one of the club's most exciting prospects.

And as he climbed up the highly sucessful youth ranks at Schalke, particularly impressing at U-19 level with seven goals in 12 showings this term, Draxler caught the eye of Dortmund scouts while producing an outstanding performance in a youth match between the sides.

Dortmund's youth academy chief Lars Ricken hailed Draxler as the Man-of-the-Match, and the league leaders, who have shot up to the top of the Bundesliga this year courtesy of their shrewd market dealings, seemed a possible destination for the talent.

But Schalke manager Felix Magath was quick to rubbish speculation linking the precocious teen with an exit, having recently convinced his parents that Draxler's rousing future at Schalke meant he could do without a high-school diploma.

This led the teenager to drop out of school in order to dedicate himself to football, sparking a wave of criticism within Germany.

Magath invited Draxler to train with the senior side during a winter training camp in Turkey, and Draxler did not seem at all out of place.

The 1.83m-tall midfielder made his Bundesliga debut on January 15, 2011 against Hamburg and played the last seven minutes. At 17 years and 117 days of age, he became the youngest Schalke player to ever represent the team in the German top flight.

Just three days after his initial showing, Draxler was signed on a professional contract until June 30, 2014, in order to ward off any potential suitors.

Magath's faith in the starlet meant he was allowed a debut start in the team's lineup - ahead of midfielders Jose Manuel Jurado and Edu - as they took on Hannover on January 22, 2011, and the youngster helped set up Raul for the team's 33rd minute winner.

And Draxler's magical January performances continued into the cup match against Nurnberg with a fantastic match-winner to stake his claim for a place in Schalke's midfield acres.


Strengths

Draxler is a confident boy who has got the silky technical skills required to become a top-drawer attacking midfielder.

He has shown propensity for tricking opposition players with an array of eye-pleasing dribbling runs and boasts very impressive vision in a similar manner to Arsenal star Cesc Fabregas at the same age.

Draxler possesses good accuracy in his passing and, combined with his vision, often works the right angle for a clever move forward.


Weaknesses

Somewhat of a flimsy build. Could have a difficult time jinking past robust players who would seek to shrug him off the ball before he gets the chance to run past them.

Obviously his inexperience is a factor which will come into play at the start of his senior Schalke career, but a learning curve is always expected.


Mentality

Hard to tell which way a 17-year-old will develop in terms of mental strength, but Draxler's first steps into Schalke's midfield have been encouraging.

Showed star quality in firing his team past FC Nurnberg in the German cup in the dying minutes of extra time, slipping past his marker before launching an unstoppable long-range shot.

His decision to leave school was met with less-than-favourable reviews, but was in line with the wishes of acclaimed manager Felix Magath and the player's parents.


Current situation

Draxler is in very good hands at Schalke under the guiding hand of Magath. The boss seems very keen on allowing the youngster to progress and he will likely be allowed ample playing time to hone his game after his cup heroics.

The future also looks rosy on the international front, as Germany boss Joachim Low is known to be an exponent of attacking football and has involved a spate of skillful young players during his successful, ongoing national team stint.

Having been capped seven times for the German U-18 side, scoring once in the process, Draxler is quickly showing what a capable player he already is.

And he has got the potential to evolve into a complete midfielder for club and country in the coming years.

Undoubtedly, Draxler is today considered one of Germany's most promising young midfielders, boasting magnificent technique and creative qualities that make him stand out even as young as he is.


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02/10/11 - Hugo Mallo

Team: Celta de Vigo (Spain)
Shirt Number: 2
Nationality: Spain
Position: Defender (R)
Secondary: Defender (L)
Age: 19
Height: 1.73 m / 5.68 ft
Weight: 69 kg / 151 lbs


Report: Spain's Future Marauding Right-back

One of the most impressive young players in the Spanish Segunda Division is Celta Vigo's right back Hugo Mallo .

Mallo is one of the biggest reasons Celta are near the top of the table fighting for promotion, and his ability has not gone unnoticed by bigger sides.

Recently it has been reported that giants Valencia are closely watching Mallo and are looking to sign him ahead of next season. It has also been reported that Villarreal, Juventus and Atletico Madrid are interested in the 19-year-old, who is a member of the Spanish youth national side and only started to play senior football last season.

All these great sides are interested in the player for good reason, as Mallo has the potential to become a top right-back for the Spanish national team in the years to come. Combining physical, technical and mental abilities, he is a highly impressive right back - definitely a worthy player to watch.

Strengths

Mallo is a great prospect, first of all due to his acceleration and pace, which are on par with the fastest players in Spain. The young right back has nimble movement with or without the ball. In addition, Mallo is a strong player for his height, has very good natural balance and is capable of holding off taller and heavier players.

Mallo also possesses excellent technical skills for a defender. He is very much attack-minded, has highly impressive dribbling skills and can cross accurately while sprinting. He has a very decent right foot and can pose a threat to goal with his shooting from distance.

The most import strength of Mallo is his intelligence. He moves very cleverly across the pitch, both offensively and defensively. His clever runs into deep positions benefit his team's attacking game, while he also maintains a high level of focus defensively, making very few mistakes. He is a mature player, far beyond his years.

Weaknesses

Mallo has very few weaknesses as a player. In terms of potential he is the complete package needed in a full-back.

Currently Mallo still receives too many cards. The reason is that he is highly determined, and is often over-aggressive. He needs to learn to be a little bit more composes in defence in order to avoid those cards.

In addition, Mallo doesn't have the technique of, say, Dani Alves. He has very good technique but it is not akin to the highest level of full backs in the world at the moment. He still needs to produce more in terms of scoring and assisting, but probably with time and due to his mentality and technical potential, this aspect will improve immensely.

Mentality

Mallo has a perfect mentality. He is an intelligent young lad, who is always willing to learn more and more about the game. His development is so fast mainly due to his impressive approach to the game. Mallo is a real team player with no ego in his game, while he is also very aggressive for the sake of his side, courageous and also can control his temper in a great manner.

"He is a guy with very good and clear ideas," Jose Ignacio, a former Celta Vigo player and today a Valencia scout, said about Mallo.

And Ignacio has been watching Mallo since the summer of 2009, so it's no wonder that now, after Mallo has gained experience in the Segunda Division, Valencia are aiming to sign him for next season.

Current situation

Mallo is contracted to Celta Vigo until the end of season 2013/14. However it seems unlikely that he will stay at Celta even if the side are promoted to the top flight at the end of the season. Celta badly need money, and Mallo deserves to play for a better side, so a deal is very likely to happen in the summer, with Valencia looking as the most likely destination of the right back. His price should be around €1.5-2 million.


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02/17/11 - Erik Lamela

Team: River Plate (Argentina)
Shirt Number: 10
Nationality: Argentina
Position: Attacking Midfielder (C)
Secondary: Attacking Midfielder (L,R)
Age: 18
Height: 1.83 m / 6 ft
Weight: 74 kg / 162 lbs


Report: River Plate's Rising Argentine Superstar

River Plate held firm to deny Barcelona the services of one of Argentina's most exciting prospects.

Growing up in the famed River Plate youth academy as one of the its greatest hopes, Erik Lamela started impressing football scouts at a very early age.

When he was just 12 years old La Liga giants FC Barcelona reportedly offered to pay his family over €100,000-a-year to move to Spain in order to secure a deal for the talent.

José María Aguilar, then president of the 'Millionaires', resisted Barcelona's advances for the player by countering with generous offers of his own.

Lamela's parents eventually struck an agreement with Aguilar to remain in Argentina and allow the rousing talent to keep developing his football at River's renowned youth academy - among South America's best.

Despite the player only taking his first steps for River's senior side in the 2010 Apertura tournament, the club has already rejected several offers from big European clubs, including a reported €12m offer from Italian powerhouse AC Milan.

Recent reports in Argentina suggest current River president Daniel Passarella has placed a price-tag of €25m on Lamela, who is at the age of 18 considered to be one of the world's top young prospects.

Lamela's clever movement and ability to dribble past defenders with seeming ease has inevitably earned him the title "The new Messi", but the 18-year-old is actually a very different player to the Barcelona superstar.

While the two share similarities in that they are both left-footed and boast outstanding technique, Lamela is not as fast as Messi and is forced to rely on his dribbling skill rather than dribbling speed to go past an opposition marker.

Lamela also attempts many long-range efforts and puts more power on his shots than his much-lauded compatriot.

One could say, if a comparison was necessary, that Lamela has more in common with Palermo star Javier Pastore or Real Madrid's Kaka in terms of playing style.

But he is, without a doubt, a very unique player.


Strengths

Lamela can be deployed as a central attacking midfielder behind the strikers or as a winger on either flank. He possesses superb technique in both his dribbling and shooting with his left foot.

The Argentine also sports impressive vision and creativity and can provide an accurate through ball to a teammate just as well as tucking away an effort on his own.

He is a top notch set-piece expert and is in charge of all of River's free kicks.

His best position is in the gap behind the strikers where he can threaten the goal with his powerful left-foot and composed finishing or pierce the opposition defence with a cleverly weighted pass.

Lamela's movement on and off the ball is intelligent and his decision-making is much better than his age would suggest.

But Lamela is no average 18-year-old player. He plays maturely and without fear as if he is a seasoned footballer.

Even as he is making his first steps in professional football, alongside childhood heroes Ortega and Almeyda, Lamela has quickly proved that he deserves to be named in his team's starting lineup by handling the expectations of him fantastically well.

Weaknesses
Even though he has got the height to compete aerially for the ball (1.83m), Lamela needs to improve his jumping. He is not involved enough with headers and loses too many high ball duels in midfield.

While he is a quick and agile player who's trickery on the ball is enough to confuse his markers, Lamela should work on his speed. This will prove most important if and when he makes his move to Europe, where the players are faster and the games are played at a higher tempo.

Although he did seem a bit insecure in his first games for River, he has quickly shrugged off any nervousness and is starting to look like a leading player.

Current situation
Lamela is, in his age group, truly one of the best players in the world. He only started playing regularly for River five months ago and is already a permanent fixture in one of South America's top clubs.

Indicative of his importance to River is the club's refusal to allow the player to miss pre-season training to travel with the Argentina U-20 side to the U-20 South American Championship held in Peru, even as they let fellow youngsters Funes Mori, Pezzella, Cirigliano, Mauro Diaz participate in the tournament.

Lamela has on several occasions assured River fans that he will not leave the club before winning a major trophy.

But with a string of European giants already showing serious interest in the 18-year-old, it seems to only be a matter of time before this supremely talented teenager finds himself strutting his stuff on the European stage.

Potentially, Lamela is clearly talented enough to reach the highest levels of football.


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02/24/11 - Frederik Sorensen

Team: Juventus FC (Italy) [on loan from Lyngby BK II (Denmark)]
Shirt Number: 43
Nationality: Denmark
Position: Defender (C)
Secondary: Defender (L,R)
Age: 18
Height: 1.94 m / 6.36 ft
Weight: 80 kg / 176 lbs


Report: Juventus' Defensive Starlet and the Future of Denmark's Back Line

The 18-year-old Dane has stunned everyone at Juventus by getting to grips with Serie A football with virtually no experience.

A general look

Frederik Sorensen is a towering young defender who has made considerable strides in a short amount of time with Juventus.

He is a determined centre-half who can also play as a full-back on either flank.

Sorensen is particularly competitive aerially and has proved to be robust and durable enough to consistently play in the Italian Serie A even at his young age.

Although naturally a centre-half, the Dane has been used as a full-back when required and generally did well.

His only evident flaw is that he seems to be lacking the pace to steam up and down the pitch fast enough and is occasionally caught out of position.

He is expected to learn and improve with age and experience, but it is safe to say the former Lyngby stopper has a real future in the game.


Club career

Sorensen was a FC Roskilde player before joining Lyngby in 2007 on a contract running until the end of the 2013 season.

He was spotted by Juventus scouts in a youth tournament and was signed for an undisclosed fee said to be in the region of €150,000.

Although he is currently on loan, Juventus have the option of making the deal permanent at the end of the season.

On November 7, 2010, due to absence of several key players, Sorensen was handed a starting berth in the heart of defence in a league match against Cesena, which Juventus went on to win 3-1.

Incredibly, it was Sorensen's first ever professional game and he has impressed to such an extent he has since deputised regularly for suspended or injured defenders in every position in Juventus' rearguard.


International career

Sorensen has been capped four times for the Denmark U-17 team. He also made one appearance for the U-18 national side in an unofficial friendly.

Technical skills

Remarkably, Sorensen is a very physically developed player even at the age of 18. He is well equipped to muscle players off the ball and compete in the air or on the ground with even the most robust players in the Italian Serie A.

He has good heading abilities and rarely loses an aerial duel. Not only because of his height, but also due to that he usually times his jumps right and has the positional awareness required to gain an upper hand over an opposition attacker.

He is relatively fast for his height and has done well to deal with faster opposition players in the Serie A. There is room for improvement here, though, if he is to become as good an option on the flanks as he is in central defence.


Personality

Sorensen is a reserved, hard-working player who has handled the pressure on him well and has been able to produce sound performances despite lacking experience in professional football.

He has shown character and resilience to cope with anything thrown at him thus far and has surpassed initial expectations of him.


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[Suneet]

Its crazy how good Lamela is.*


*if the video is the reality of how he plays.