Who is he? Where does he play?
He is a Dutch midfielder currently playing in the EreDivisie with Vitesse Arnhem. He is a box-to-box central midfielder with great energy and he bears an uncanny resemblance to the much-hated teen-pop sensation Justin Bieber.
He's more popular than Bieber though?
He is, already a regular in Vitesse's side at the age of 20 having played 41 times over the past year, scoring 12 goals thanks to his Frank Lampard-esque ability to time runs into the box to perfection. He was integral to the Netherlands under-21 side that went to this summer's European Championship in Israel and has 1 cap in Louis Van Gaal's senior team. If that isn't enough, he was also named the 2012-2013 Dutch Football Talent of the Year.
Ah! Pretty good then?
Yes he is, but those smart souls at Vitesse knew that 3 years before us as he was handed his debut in the side aged 17 in April 2010. 3 years later he has clocked over 100 appearances in the engine room for the Vitas and is ready to move on. His ambition is justified too, he boasts an armory of long range and short range passing which allows him to spread raking diagonal balls to stretch play, or even thread clinical through balls to the striker, such is his remarkable vision.
His brilliant control and deft touch means he can spread a pass immediately too, vital for when he is pressed hard by the opposition. His passing ability is indicated by his 1223 completed passes over the course of last season, he very rarely wastes a ball or gives it away.
You make a very good sale...
He's not half bad off the ball either, able to mix it up (to borrow Sunday League terminology) in the midfield with a good tackle, he doesn't back away from the fight. Winning the ball back to distribute it with intelligent vision and reading of the game is his style, though he can just as easily spring into a run forward to move the ball into the attack, he is best deployed in a double pivot system with somebody who can minimise his defensive contribution.
If he's that good, won't he be moving to a major club?
Well.... it's funny you should ask that because, with all due respect to Vitesse, he is on the shopping list of that handsome old ragamuffin Jose Mourinho who has seemingly convinced multi-quasi-ultra-huge billionaire Roman Abramovich to reach behind his sofa to find that spare £8 million to agree a deal with Vitesse. The player will join subject to a medical and will be signed, in all probability, to become a long-term replacement for Frank Lampard. A deep midfielder who can easily move forward, Van Ginkel will add a fresher, younger dimension to Chelsea's aging midfield. He will have to work on his strength though, as this literature points out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_Il6Gximnw
Showing posts with label Chelsea. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chelsea. Show all posts
Thursday, 4 July 2013
Wednesday, 12 June 2013
ASIER ILLARAMENDI
Who is he? Where does he play?
Xabi Alonso went from the heart of the Basque country with Real Sociedad all the way to the very top of the game with Spain's World Cup winners, now Asier Illaramendi is following him as the heir to the throne of the Spanish metronome. 23 and a graduate of the potent Sociedad academy, the small defensive midfielder is passing his way to greatness.
Not hard to guess what he does then....
Just passes, passes and passes the ball. Besides Markel Bergara in Sociedad's 4-2-3-1 system, the deep-lying Spaniard attempted a mammoth attempted 1606 passes last season and completed 1296 of them, giving him a pass percentage of 81%. He created a total of 33 chances though the majority of his work is done deep in midfield, where he is tasked with winning the ball back (121 tackles in total) and moving it on. His gifted use of the ball helped Sociedad qualify for the Champions League as Phillipe Montanier's men completed a superb year in La Liga.
So just like Alonso then?
He is blessed with intelligent use of the ball but, rather like Alonso, the defensive side of his game usually goes underrated. Last season he intercepted attacks at a rate of 2.3 per game, totaling 75 and suggesting he is adept at nipping attacks in the bud with fine reading of the game and positioning. His work-rate is also very commendable, showing willingness to win the ball back for his team, though he needs to work on his discipline, 49 fouls and 11 yellow cards suggests he can be slightly over-enthusiastic.
Currently out in Israel with the under-21s isn't he?
He is, chalking up a pass percentage of 93% out there, "you can take the midfielder out of Spain" and all that..... but cringe-worthy adages aside, if he wasn't competing with such sublime talent, he'd probably be worthy of a place in the senior squad. He now has 14 caps for the under-21s after representing the under-19s and the under-17s before that, with the latter he finished runner up in the U-17 World Cup back in 2007.
Will he stay at Sociedad?
He is contracted in San Sebastien until 2018 and Sociedad now have the lure of the Champions League to offer him, so the odds on him staying will be pretty good, though that has not deterred Real Madrid who seem desperate to land Illaramendi. The release clause in his contract stands at 30 million euros and rightly so given the quality he has shown. Manchester United and Chelsea have also been linked with the player, summed up in this neat little article.
Xabi Alonso went from the heart of the Basque country with Real Sociedad all the way to the very top of the game with Spain's World Cup winners, now Asier Illaramendi is following him as the heir to the throne of the Spanish metronome. 23 and a graduate of the potent Sociedad academy, the small defensive midfielder is passing his way to greatness.
Not hard to guess what he does then....
Just passes, passes and passes the ball. Besides Markel Bergara in Sociedad's 4-2-3-1 system, the deep-lying Spaniard attempted a mammoth attempted 1606 passes last season and completed 1296 of them, giving him a pass percentage of 81%. He created a total of 33 chances though the majority of his work is done deep in midfield, where he is tasked with winning the ball back (121 tackles in total) and moving it on. His gifted use of the ball helped Sociedad qualify for the Champions League as Phillipe Montanier's men completed a superb year in La Liga.
So just like Alonso then?
He is blessed with intelligent use of the ball but, rather like Alonso, the defensive side of his game usually goes underrated. Last season he intercepted attacks at a rate of 2.3 per game, totaling 75 and suggesting he is adept at nipping attacks in the bud with fine reading of the game and positioning. His work-rate is also very commendable, showing willingness to win the ball back for his team, though he needs to work on his discipline, 49 fouls and 11 yellow cards suggests he can be slightly over-enthusiastic.
Currently out in Israel with the under-21s isn't he?
He is, chalking up a pass percentage of 93% out there, "you can take the midfielder out of Spain" and all that..... but cringe-worthy adages aside, if he wasn't competing with such sublime talent, he'd probably be worthy of a place in the senior squad. He now has 14 caps for the under-21s after representing the under-19s and the under-17s before that, with the latter he finished runner up in the U-17 World Cup back in 2007.
Will he stay at Sociedad?
He is contracted in San Sebastien until 2018 and Sociedad now have the lure of the Champions League to offer him, so the odds on him staying will be pretty good, though that has not deterred Real Madrid who seem desperate to land Illaramendi. The release clause in his contract stands at 30 million euros and rightly so given the quality he has shown. Manchester United and Chelsea have also been linked with the player, summed up in this neat little article.
LAZAR MARKOVIC
Who is he? Where does he play?
That, for once, isn't just the banal recurring question we use to get this gig on the road, it is a rather difficult poser. The thing is, nobody is really sure. We know he is a 19 year old Serbian striker but we don't exactly know what club he plays for.....
Huh? Of course you do! You know how to use the internet, right?
Yes, of course we know how to use the internet, but it's the web that has been spreading a web of Markovic-related confusion over the past week. The striker has been playing for Partizan Belgrade, where he has just come off a season in which he scored 7 goals and assisted 7 in 19 league games, but Chelsea have apparently signed him, only to loan him to Benfica for 2 years. However, this has been disputed by Benfica who claim they have signed him out-right on a 5 year deal.
Oh right... yeah... confusing... so what does he offer?
Pace and a hell of a lot of it. Being just 175cm tall, Markovic possesses fine balance and a turn of speed that is comparable to lightning and is effective on the counter attack. However, his main position is not on the shoulder of the defender, instead he has been deployed on the right, the left and behind the striker as a trequarsita. His pace is effective in moving between the lines, dragging defenders around as he searches for space, though his finishing needs work, as he utilises fine intelligence to drift into threatening positions but struggles to take the majority of his chances.
So we don't know who he plays for, or where he plays... great...
Benfica will be a great help for the next stage of his career, with Markovic claiming compatriot Nemanja Matic has recommended Lisbon to him;
“Even today I spoke with Matic and he was telling me that Benfica is a club with more fans, very organized and with plenty of history, and he wished me the best of luck in this important step,” Markovic told Benfica TV.
It is certain that Markovic will be playing his football at Benfica next season, but if the words of Partizan club president Dragan Djurcic are anything to go by, he will be on loan from Chelsea.
And how's he doing for Serbia?
Fine.. he has taken just 2 years to rise from the under-17s to the senior team, with whom he now has 7 caps. Playing usually as a second striker, he has 1 goal to his name, coming against Chile in a friendly.
As we have mentioned, Markovic's pace can be deadly on the counter attack, as seen here in Partizan's Europa League game vs Inter Milan, which can be seen here http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xy7cti_lazar-markovic-vs-inter-milan-in-the-uefa-europa-league-oct-26th-2012_sport
It was a performance that caused Inter Milan coach Andrea Stramaccioni to call him a "player with exceptional qualities and impressive acceleration" whilst Javier Zanetti said he was an "interesting player who impressed me"
And if that isn't praise enough......................
That, for once, isn't just the banal recurring question we use to get this gig on the road, it is a rather difficult poser. The thing is, nobody is really sure. We know he is a 19 year old Serbian striker but we don't exactly know what club he plays for.....
Huh? Of course you do! You know how to use the internet, right?
Yes, of course we know how to use the internet, but it's the web that has been spreading a web of Markovic-related confusion over the past week. The striker has been playing for Partizan Belgrade, where he has just come off a season in which he scored 7 goals and assisted 7 in 19 league games, but Chelsea have apparently signed him, only to loan him to Benfica for 2 years. However, this has been disputed by Benfica who claim they have signed him out-right on a 5 year deal.
Oh right... yeah... confusing... so what does he offer?
Pace and a hell of a lot of it. Being just 175cm tall, Markovic possesses fine balance and a turn of speed that is comparable to lightning and is effective on the counter attack. However, his main position is not on the shoulder of the defender, instead he has been deployed on the right, the left and behind the striker as a trequarsita. His pace is effective in moving between the lines, dragging defenders around as he searches for space, though his finishing needs work, as he utilises fine intelligence to drift into threatening positions but struggles to take the majority of his chances.
So we don't know who he plays for, or where he plays... great...
Benfica will be a great help for the next stage of his career, with Markovic claiming compatriot Nemanja Matic has recommended Lisbon to him;
“Even today I spoke with Matic and he was telling me that Benfica is a club with more fans, very organized and with plenty of history, and he wished me the best of luck in this important step,” Markovic told Benfica TV.
It is certain that Markovic will be playing his football at Benfica next season, but if the words of Partizan club president Dragan Djurcic are anything to go by, he will be on loan from Chelsea.
And how's he doing for Serbia?
Fine.. he has taken just 2 years to rise from the under-17s to the senior team, with whom he now has 7 caps. Playing usually as a second striker, he has 1 goal to his name, coming against Chile in a friendly.
As we have mentioned, Markovic's pace can be deadly on the counter attack, as seen here in Partizan's Europa League game vs Inter Milan, which can be seen here http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xy7cti_lazar-markovic-vs-inter-milan-in-the-uefa-europa-league-oct-26th-2012_sport
It was a performance that caused Inter Milan coach Andrea Stramaccioni to call him a "player with exceptional qualities and impressive acceleration" whilst Javier Zanetti said he was an "interesting player who impressed me"
And if that isn't praise enough......................
Wednesday, 8 May 2013
WILFRIED BONY
Who is he? Where does he play?
He is Vitesse Arnhem's 24 year old Ivorian striker who has been scoring goals for fun over in Holland. A strapping lad at 6ft and weighing 85kg, defenders in the Dutch league may be getting a reprieve as he is linked with a move away from the Gelredome as his scintillating form has forced clubs from around Europe to sit up and take notice of his availability.
24? That's a bit old for us isn't it?
Perhaps, but when you're scoring 31 goals in 28 games in your second full season in a new league, it is hard to ignore. Bony is powerful, able to throw defenders around with his robust physical strength which also makes him a force in the air. He is not particularly quick, but he is adept at finding space with good movement, or even by shrugging defenders off in order to link the play. The defending in the Dutch league affords him a lot of space from which to work his quality, allowing him to make chances for himself and find space in the box.
This is what his game is about
Ivorian, big, powerful, plentiful scorer of goals, there is no surprise in the fact he is often described as the "new Didier Drogba".
Would that bode well for the future?
It remains to be seen. Scoring goals in the EreDivisie is good, but Afonso Alves, Middlesbrough's Brazilian figure of mockery, was potent, as was Bas Dost and Luuk De Jong who have both moved on to Germany. Bony's sheer athleticism and powerful strength will stand him in good stead against continental defences, but he may struggle against improved markers who will reduce the space he is allowed to produce his quality.
The surprise at Bony's form is best summed up by this Dutch football blog, who indicated some may think he was on drugs if he was a cyclist. 70% conversion rate??? Test him for doping...
Will he move on in the summer?
Aston Villa had an £8 million bid rejected for him last summer before they moved for fellow striking powerhouse Christian Benteke, whilst Liverpool have also shown an interest. After signing from Sparta Prague for 4 million Euros, hitting 46 goals in 63 games and becoming a regular for the Ivory Coast with 18 caps, they should be prepared to make a substantial profit on the one they call "the African Hulk". He has also been linked with Chelsea and West Ham as the Premier League calls for another physically dominant force.
He is Vitesse Arnhem's 24 year old Ivorian striker who has been scoring goals for fun over in Holland. A strapping lad at 6ft and weighing 85kg, defenders in the Dutch league may be getting a reprieve as he is linked with a move away from the Gelredome as his scintillating form has forced clubs from around Europe to sit up and take notice of his availability.
24? That's a bit old for us isn't it?
Perhaps, but when you're scoring 31 goals in 28 games in your second full season in a new league, it is hard to ignore. Bony is powerful, able to throw defenders around with his robust physical strength which also makes him a force in the air. He is not particularly quick, but he is adept at finding space with good movement, or even by shrugging defenders off in order to link the play. The defending in the Dutch league affords him a lot of space from which to work his quality, allowing him to make chances for himself and find space in the box.
This is what his game is about
Ivorian, big, powerful, plentiful scorer of goals, there is no surprise in the fact he is often described as the "new Didier Drogba".
Would that bode well for the future?
It remains to be seen. Scoring goals in the EreDivisie is good, but Afonso Alves, Middlesbrough's Brazilian figure of mockery, was potent, as was Bas Dost and Luuk De Jong who have both moved on to Germany. Bony's sheer athleticism and powerful strength will stand him in good stead against continental defences, but he may struggle against improved markers who will reduce the space he is allowed to produce his quality.
The surprise at Bony's form is best summed up by this Dutch football blog, who indicated some may think he was on drugs if he was a cyclist. 70% conversion rate??? Test him for doping...
Will he move on in the summer?
Aston Villa had an £8 million bid rejected for him last summer before they moved for fellow striking powerhouse Christian Benteke, whilst Liverpool have also shown an interest. After signing from Sparta Prague for 4 million Euros, hitting 46 goals in 63 games and becoming a regular for the Ivory Coast with 18 caps, they should be prepared to make a substantial profit on the one they call "the African Hulk". He has also been linked with Chelsea and West Ham as the Premier League calls for another physically dominant force.
Friday, 19 April 2013
ANDRE SCHURRLE
Who is he? Where does he play?
He is Bayer Leverkusen's German midfielder who has been in the news quite a lot recently as he edges very close to a move to Chelsea. The Blues have been persistent in their pursuit of Schurrle after having a bid rejected at the start of the season. Now they are back, better, harder, faster and stronger, and ready to land their blond-haired 22 year old for the same price of his age, 22 million euros.
22 million euros?! Is he worth that much?
Chelsea's new transfer-market habit seems to be skillful, young, talented attacking midfielders, after Oscar, Eden Hazard and Victor Moses came through the luscious Stamford Bridge arrival suite* in the summer, so they may say yes, he is. Many lazy commentators, like myself, who look at his 11 goals and 6 assists from 34 appearances this season, would also say, yes, he is.
*I don't know what Stamford Bridge's arrival suite looks like, I'm just guessing.
So he's quite productive then?
He is. His 15 goal season for Mainz in 2010 earned him an £8 million move to Leverkusen where he has impressed as the pharmaceutical club finished 5th last year in the Bundesliga and sit 3rd this time round. Starting usually as a left-attacker in a 4-3-3 system, he combines startling pace and close control to dribble inside from wide areas. He is mostly a direct goal threat, hitting a total of 47 shots this term, but can also lay-off opportunities for his team-mates, creating 34 chances so far.
He fits into the system well then?
It's his impressive athleticism and energy that allows him to run the left-side of the 4-3-3, operating well in the counter-attack driven philosophy of Lewandowski and Hyypia. He likes to drop off, picking up the ball on the turn and running it towards goal, as shown by his prolific dribbling rate of 3.4 per game. He rarely chooses to beat his man on the outside, instead moving centrally to shoot (averaging 3.5 shots per-game), or link-up the play with other members of the attack.
We'll get to watch him more often soon then?
His move to Chelsea looks extremely likely so yes, we will. If you'd have been paying attention however, Schurrle made a couple of appearances in Joachim Loew's German side in last year's European Championship as his worth to the counter-attack came into play in the latter-stages of the tournament. He broke into the senior side in 2010 and has gone onto make 22 appearances, scoring 7 goals. His quality has been known in Germany for years and Chelsea seem set to reap his counter-attacking talent.
For more, you can read this http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/andre-schrrle-scouting-report-lowdown-1835452
He is Bayer Leverkusen's German midfielder who has been in the news quite a lot recently as he edges very close to a move to Chelsea. The Blues have been persistent in their pursuit of Schurrle after having a bid rejected at the start of the season. Now they are back, better, harder, faster and stronger, and ready to land their blond-haired 22 year old for the same price of his age, 22 million euros.
22 million euros?! Is he worth that much?
Chelsea's new transfer-market habit seems to be skillful, young, talented attacking midfielders, after Oscar, Eden Hazard and Victor Moses came through the luscious Stamford Bridge arrival suite* in the summer, so they may say yes, he is. Many lazy commentators, like myself, who look at his 11 goals and 6 assists from 34 appearances this season, would also say, yes, he is.
*I don't know what Stamford Bridge's arrival suite looks like, I'm just guessing.
So he's quite productive then?
He is. His 15 goal season for Mainz in 2010 earned him an £8 million move to Leverkusen where he has impressed as the pharmaceutical club finished 5th last year in the Bundesliga and sit 3rd this time round. Starting usually as a left-attacker in a 4-3-3 system, he combines startling pace and close control to dribble inside from wide areas. He is mostly a direct goal threat, hitting a total of 47 shots this term, but can also lay-off opportunities for his team-mates, creating 34 chances so far.
He fits into the system well then?
It's his impressive athleticism and energy that allows him to run the left-side of the 4-3-3, operating well in the counter-attack driven philosophy of Lewandowski and Hyypia. He likes to drop off, picking up the ball on the turn and running it towards goal, as shown by his prolific dribbling rate of 3.4 per game. He rarely chooses to beat his man on the outside, instead moving centrally to shoot (averaging 3.5 shots per-game), or link-up the play with other members of the attack.
We'll get to watch him more often soon then?
His move to Chelsea looks extremely likely so yes, we will. If you'd have been paying attention however, Schurrle made a couple of appearances in Joachim Loew's German side in last year's European Championship as his worth to the counter-attack came into play in the latter-stages of the tournament. He broke into the senior side in 2010 and has gone onto make 22 appearances, scoring 7 goals. His quality has been known in Germany for years and Chelsea seem set to reap his counter-attacking talent.
For more, you can read this http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/andre-schrrle-scouting-report-lowdown-1835452
Thursday, 4 April 2013
ISCO
Who is he? Where does he play?
Francisco Roman Alarcon Suarez, or Isco to me and you, is Malaga's very highly rated attacking midfielder, who, at the age of just 20, has broken into Spain's full team and played over 60 times the club down on the Costa Del Sol after starting life with Valencia.
Why did Valencia get rid of him?
Despite Mestalla chiefs initially seeing him as the heir to David Silva in midfield, he failed to make the breakthrough to the first team, playing just 7 times. He showcased his talents in the B team, with Malaga seeing enough to spark his 6 million Euro release clause to purchase him in the summer of 2011, together with Joaquin, Van Nistelrooy and Santi Cazorla as the Anchovies, as they're cutely known, went a bit spend-crazy under their new Qatari owner.
How's he doing at Malaga then?
Very well, helping them qualify for the Champions League for the first time in their history in tandem with Cazorla in a magically technical midfield. The teenager played 35 times scoring 5 goals. Now, with the pesky Cazorla out of the way at Arsenal, it has yielded new opportunities for Isco, with Manuel Pellegrini seeing him the natural replacement in attacking midfield. This season, he has hit 8 goals, passed at a rate of 84% accuracy and has created 32 chances from 29 appearances, helping Malaga into the quarter finals of the Champions League and 5th place in La Liga.
He won an award didn't he?
He did. Italian newspaper Tuttosport handed him the 2012 Golden Boy award, the prestigious gong which is given to Europe's most talented player under the age of 21.
So what makes him so good then?
An ability to do pretty much anything in the final third. His 5 ft 9 inch frame allows him to burst away from the big burly defensive midfielder into the hole behind the attacker, mainly Roque Santa Cruz at Malaga, to feed him with a large array of passing. However, this year, he has amassed a rather disappointing total of just 1 assist with 3 more coming in the Champions League. This is not to undermine his work in the final third however, where he has averaged 1 created chance per game.
This year, he has added a goal-threat to his armory. He has the 8 in the league, with another 3 in Europe, mostly coming from his willingness to get shots away on the edge of the box. He has a shooting accuracy of an impressive 65% from a total of 57 shots on goal so far this season. His slight frame can also allow him to sneak into the box to support Santa Cruz to get on the end of the supply from Joaquin, Julio Baptista and co. in Malaga's midfield.
Will he leave in the summer?
He jolly well could do given Malaga are floating down the proverbial brown-coloured creek minus a paddle as they fight tough UEFA sanctions on financial mismanagement. The prospect of a European ban awaits the club, so Chelsea, Arsenal and the like await with bated breath waiting to take him to England. Whether he is ready, at such a young age, remains to be seen.
Manchester City have been repeatedly interested, but their approaches were dealt a blow as the player signed a new deal to extend his stay in Spain to 2016, also increasing his buy-out clause from 15 million euros to 30 million. But with Malaga struggling for money and the hugely talented 20 year old possibly going on a diet of no-European football, it could be worth a bid. COME ON, YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO!!!!!!!
Francisco Roman Alarcon Suarez, or Isco to me and you, is Malaga's very highly rated attacking midfielder, who, at the age of just 20, has broken into Spain's full team and played over 60 times the club down on the Costa Del Sol after starting life with Valencia.
Why did Valencia get rid of him?
Despite Mestalla chiefs initially seeing him as the heir to David Silva in midfield, he failed to make the breakthrough to the first team, playing just 7 times. He showcased his talents in the B team, with Malaga seeing enough to spark his 6 million Euro release clause to purchase him in the summer of 2011, together with Joaquin, Van Nistelrooy and Santi Cazorla as the Anchovies, as they're cutely known, went a bit spend-crazy under their new Qatari owner.
How's he doing at Malaga then?
Very well, helping them qualify for the Champions League for the first time in their history in tandem with Cazorla in a magically technical midfield. The teenager played 35 times scoring 5 goals. Now, with the pesky Cazorla out of the way at Arsenal, it has yielded new opportunities for Isco, with Manuel Pellegrini seeing him the natural replacement in attacking midfield. This season, he has hit 8 goals, passed at a rate of 84% accuracy and has created 32 chances from 29 appearances, helping Malaga into the quarter finals of the Champions League and 5th place in La Liga.
He won an award didn't he?
He did. Italian newspaper Tuttosport handed him the 2012 Golden Boy award, the prestigious gong which is given to Europe's most talented player under the age of 21.
So what makes him so good then?
An ability to do pretty much anything in the final third. His 5 ft 9 inch frame allows him to burst away from the big burly defensive midfielder into the hole behind the attacker, mainly Roque Santa Cruz at Malaga, to feed him with a large array of passing. However, this year, he has amassed a rather disappointing total of just 1 assist with 3 more coming in the Champions League. This is not to undermine his work in the final third however, where he has averaged 1 created chance per game.
This year, he has added a goal-threat to his armory. He has the 8 in the league, with another 3 in Europe, mostly coming from his willingness to get shots away on the edge of the box. He has a shooting accuracy of an impressive 65% from a total of 57 shots on goal so far this season. His slight frame can also allow him to sneak into the box to support Santa Cruz to get on the end of the supply from Joaquin, Julio Baptista and co. in Malaga's midfield.
Will he leave in the summer?
He jolly well could do given Malaga are floating down the proverbial brown-coloured creek minus a paddle as they fight tough UEFA sanctions on financial mismanagement. The prospect of a European ban awaits the club, so Chelsea, Arsenal and the like await with bated breath waiting to take him to England. Whether he is ready, at such a young age, remains to be seen.
Manchester City have been repeatedly interested, but their approaches were dealt a blow as the player signed a new deal to extend his stay in Spain to 2016, also increasing his buy-out clause from 15 million euros to 30 million. But with Malaga struggling for money and the hugely talented 20 year old possibly going on a diet of no-European football, it could be worth a bid. COME ON, YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO!!!!!!!
Thursday, 7 February 2013
NEILTON
Who is he? Where does he play?
He's a young versatile forward playing for Brazilian club Santos, he has stupid hair, sublime skills and an eye for goal. He has been dubbed "the next big thing" in Brazilian football, but where have we heard this all before.... hang on.....
Are you writing about Neymr again?
Nope, I'm writing about Neilton who just so happens to be a doppelganger for the 21 year old wonderkid who seems bound for Barcelona. In Neilton, Santos have a natural heir at 19 years of age, and even though the young pup has vehemently maintained the similarities end at the hair and the pretty tanned face, nobody can escape the comparison in talent that was so obviously evident as the 19 year old prodigy tore Palmerias apart at junior level the end of January.
Are clubs chasing him like they are Neymar?
Oh yes, top European clubs are attracted to talented Brazilians like the Tory Government are to U-turns, or at least the British tabloids claim they are; Chelsea and Manchester United are currently watching Neilton as he plays in the Copa Sao Paulo Under-19s' tournament, according to the Mirror anyhoo. Roman Abramovich, the wily old Russian oil dealer, has sniffed the bargain of Neilton's reported £5 million release clause and has started monitoring his progress with all the tact of a Soviet spy.
Hmm... isn't it a bit too soon for a move?
Well yeah, judging by the lack of research available on Neilton, he hasn't quite yet gathered the same level of hype and adulation afforded to Neymar, who was tracked documentary-style by ITV in Brazil's friendly with England on Wednesday night. You can read an in depth account of his breakthrough hat-trick against Palmerias here and you can rest comfortably in the knowledge that this lad is going to be a star, just like Neymar....
He's a young versatile forward playing for Brazilian club Santos, he has stupid hair, sublime skills and an eye for goal. He has been dubbed "the next big thing" in Brazilian football, but where have we heard this all before.... hang on.....
Are you writing about Neymr again?
Nope, I'm writing about Neilton who just so happens to be a doppelganger for the 21 year old wonderkid who seems bound for Barcelona. In Neilton, Santos have a natural heir at 19 years of age, and even though the young pup has vehemently maintained the similarities end at the hair and the pretty tanned face, nobody can escape the comparison in talent that was so obviously evident as the 19 year old prodigy tore Palmerias apart at junior level the end of January.
Are clubs chasing him like they are Neymar?
Oh yes, top European clubs are attracted to talented Brazilians like the Tory Government are to U-turns, or at least the British tabloids claim they are; Chelsea and Manchester United are currently watching Neilton as he plays in the Copa Sao Paulo Under-19s' tournament, according to the Mirror anyhoo. Roman Abramovich, the wily old Russian oil dealer, has sniffed the bargain of Neilton's reported £5 million release clause and has started monitoring his progress with all the tact of a Soviet spy.
Hmm... isn't it a bit too soon for a move?
Well yeah, judging by the lack of research available on Neilton, he hasn't quite yet gathered the same level of hype and adulation afforded to Neymar, who was tracked documentary-style by ITV in Brazil's friendly with England on Wednesday night. You can read an in depth account of his breakthrough hat-trick against Palmerias here and you can rest comfortably in the knowledge that this lad is going to be a star, just like Neymar....
Tuesday, 20 November 2012
RIECHEDLY BAZOER
Who is he? Where does he play?
A bit young, Bazoer is a 16 year old central defender currently at PSV Eindhoven, sparking an FBI-style manhunt across Europe for the prodigy's signature after voicing his desire to leave the Dutch club in the summer.
Oooh.. interesting... do go on...
He was offered a 3 year deal at the Phillips Stadion back in October, just as the defender turned 16, as the Dutch giants try desperately to hold on to one of the brightest prospects in Dutch football, but it looks like that is all in vain as Ajax have won the race to cast the net and land the prize catch of Bazoer, according to reports.
Ajax? Hmm...
It is Dutch legislation that 3 years is the most you can offer to a player under the age of 18, so it looks like the Eredivisie champions may have landed him on a similar deal. The Amsterdam ArenA is a kind of nurturing nursery for talented crop, so it will suit his exciting development, plus he will work with defensive guru Frank De Boer, a bonus for any defender learning the trade.
So what's the big fuss?
Bazoer has already played 8 times for the Dutch under 17 team as he steps foot on the ladder of international recognition, he is quick and strong, displaying an intelligent reading of the game for his youthful age. Perhaps the biggest compliment to his potential is that Newcastle, Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal were involved in the chase for the kid, with Bazoer keen on a move to England. Eindhoven were desperate for him to remain in Holland where he would be ensured first team football.
Why did he want to leave Eindhoven?
Eindhoven have their own impressive honour roll of youth graduates and are thriving at the top of the Dutch league under Dick Advocaat, but with the club struggling to compete on a financial level with some of Europe's elite, Sporting Director Marcel Brands had to admit defeat in his attempt to hold onto the youngster. Brands gave him the choice between money and development and in the end, Bazoer chose Ajax. Keep an eye out for this promising 16 year old.
A bit young, Bazoer is a 16 year old central defender currently at PSV Eindhoven, sparking an FBI-style manhunt across Europe for the prodigy's signature after voicing his desire to leave the Dutch club in the summer.
Oooh.. interesting... do go on...
He was offered a 3 year deal at the Phillips Stadion back in October, just as the defender turned 16, as the Dutch giants try desperately to hold on to one of the brightest prospects in Dutch football, but it looks like that is all in vain as Ajax have won the race to cast the net and land the prize catch of Bazoer, according to reports.
Ajax? Hmm...
It is Dutch legislation that 3 years is the most you can offer to a player under the age of 18, so it looks like the Eredivisie champions may have landed him on a similar deal. The Amsterdam ArenA is a kind of nurturing nursery for talented crop, so it will suit his exciting development, plus he will work with defensive guru Frank De Boer, a bonus for any defender learning the trade.
So what's the big fuss?
Bazoer has already played 8 times for the Dutch under 17 team as he steps foot on the ladder of international recognition, he is quick and strong, displaying an intelligent reading of the game for his youthful age. Perhaps the biggest compliment to his potential is that Newcastle, Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal were involved in the chase for the kid, with Bazoer keen on a move to England. Eindhoven were desperate for him to remain in Holland where he would be ensured first team football.
Why did he want to leave Eindhoven?
Eindhoven have their own impressive honour roll of youth graduates and are thriving at the top of the Dutch league under Dick Advocaat, but with the club struggling to compete on a financial level with some of Europe's elite, Sporting Director Marcel Brands had to admit defeat in his attempt to hold onto the youngster. Brands gave him the choice between money and development and in the end, Bazoer chose Ajax. Keep an eye out for this promising 16 year old.
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