The start of the new season brings with it hope and expectation for everyone, fans, managers and players alike. It does not matter what happened last season or in the summer, the slate is wiped clean come August and we are all allowed to dream.
For the precocious teenagers at clubs around England they are hoping this will be the season that will make their dreams come true. It is a tough road and for every Wayne Rooney there is a raft of talented youngsters who did not quite have what it takes to survive at the top.
There is something about youthful talent that gets fans excited, that wide eyed enthusiasm, the feeling that something special might just happen. Remember Wayne Rooney’s goal against Arsenal when playing for Everton or Kiko Macheda’s stunning strike against Aston Vila last season?
Here is Epl Talk’s guide to the five youngsters we think are the ones to watch this season in the Premier League.
1. JACK WILSHERE, ARSENAL
It seems that young Jack is the talent on everyone’s lips at the minute. After some impressive performances for Arsenal in pre-season the hype machine is mentioning him in the World Cup frame for England. It may seem sudden but Arsenal fans will tell you this one is very special. Wilshere has been at Arsenal since childhood and became a regular in the reserves at the age of sixteen. Check out this YouTube link for an example of what Jack has been delivering, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITVSdAzBjXY. He has been training with the first team for some time now and made his Premier League debut against Blackburn last season, becoming Arsenal’s youngest league debutant in the process. Wilshere possesses great balance, is not afraid to take people on and, as we have seen in the Emirates Cup, has an eye for goal. He has developed physically over the last 12 months and this could be the season where Arsenal unleash his talent on the Premier League.
2. JAMES MCCARTHY, WIGAN
Wigan’s new signing has had much to contend with in his career to date. McCarthy made his debut for Hamilton Academicals at the age of 15 and was an integral part of the Hamilton side that gained promotion to the Scottish Premier League. He had been linked with a variety of clubs but this summer the timing was right for the teenager to move to England and Wigan may have picked up a real star. Highlighted as a red hot prospect in Scotland from a very young age, McCarthy declared his intention to play for the Republic of Ireland national side. This has not gone down well with the natives and throughout his teenage years McCarthy has been subject to regular abuse from fans. His performances in the midst of this suggests he has the temperament, character and talent to prove himself in the Premier League.
3. FABIAN DELPH, ASTON VILLA
Things may have gone horribly wrong for Leeds United in the past few years but they are still capable of unearthing talented players. Fabian Delph’s performances for the Yorskshire club convinced Aston Villa to part with £5 million to secure the 19 year-old’s services. Delph was a part of England under-21 squad for this summer’s European Championships and has had many admirers since he broke into Leed’s first team. Blessed with remarkable physical attributes for one so young Delph can break things up in the midfield but also possesses the energy and pace to drive from deep positions. Martin O’Neill has made a point of developing young English talent at Villa Park and in a relatively thin squad Fabian Delph could get his chance to show the Premier League what he can do.
4. KYLE NAUGHTON, SPURS
This young full back seems to have come a long way in a short space of time and this summer Tottenham won the race for his signature after impressing for Sheffield United. The time seemed right for a move following a consistent season where he was voted in the Championship team of the season. Naughton has represented England at under-21 level but it will be interesting to see how he copes at the graveyard of full backs, White Hart Lane. Spurs seem to collect right and left sided defenders but all the noises about Naughton seem positive and he could buck the trend that has seen the likes of Chris Gunter and Gareth Bale fail to establish themselves following moves.
5. FEDERICO MACHEDA, MANCHESTER UNITED
A fairly obvious choice given his magnificent cameos at the tail end of last season. The 17 year-old seems to have it all and Lazio are still gnashing their teeth over a player they feel Manchester United ’stole’ from them. This season could be very big for Macheda as Ferguson has placed faith in the forwards at his disposal following the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo. It would be silly to think Macheda will be a regular starter but if he can develop on the foundation of last year and get more games under his belt everyone at Old Trafford will be pleased. He has the look of a star perhaps this season he will show more of his talent.
This is a selection of those to watch out for, which young players do you think will be capable of establishing themselves this season?
{ 24 comments… read them below or add one }
epl is a joke….serie a has more young talent and actual established names….balotelli, hamsik, paloschi, sanchez, pastore, etc etc etc
you know whats funny J they just named 5 players that are very talented and are not establised in EPL hehehe if we go on with lists of establised young players it would crush seria A by a mile!!!
Thats why so many Serie A teams were in the final 8 of the champions league last year, as opposed to the mere 4 the EPL had, you are right , what a Joke!
The Only reason 4 EPL teams made it to the Final 8 is because 3 of them had to face weak Italian squads, If they played against squads that could field a competitive team, perhaps the EPL would not have had 4 teams in the final 8, EPL is a Joke, why even watch ?
Why don’t you go to serie a talk and save us all the time of reading your useless post.
As a Wigan fan in the US, I am eager to see the young one play. Wigan rarely gets any coverage or match time in the US but Week 1 will be great for me as I hope to see both McCarthy and Delph as Wigan visit Aston Villa!
Great start to the US TV coverage this season for me and hopefully we can frighten the Villans with our awesome orange away kits to nick a point or three…
You may also add to the list Junior Stanislas ( at West Ham). It could be a big year for him if Zola gives youth a chance.
i was surprised not to see junior up there especially after his final couple of games last season. its gonna be a big year for him and the other academy members like collison and tomkins, with the lack of signings.
Does anyone besides me remember “the Young Ones “?
i do, hilarious. actually went to school with rik mayall’s daughter.
I was scrolling down waiting for someone to point out the fact that a Young Ones image is used for this article. Awesome.
“Darling Fascist Bullyboy, …”
I would be hesitant on Wilshere. He will most likely get some time early in the season with Rosicky picking up another setback on his injury and Nasri out for the first month or so of the season, but I wouldn’t expect miracles immediately.
It’ll probably most resemble Walcott’s first real season where he got some apperances of the bench and a few goals. The only real difference I can pick out is that Jack’s got great technical skills, ball control and vision, compared to Walcott who had shear pace and willingness to get to the by-line and get a cross in. Wilshere likes to cut into the middle more and pass through the defence.
Macheda comes out on this list heads and heels above the rest.
I really can’t remember seeing a player that talented at his age in many many years.
He really is that good and I hope Ferguson does consider a regular start for him.
Here is an excellent young player who will break into Man City’s team this season mark my words. U heard it here first. Vladimir Weiss
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iu-p9LiHot0
Looks very talented alright, I wonder though how he is going to break into the team with all the money they have spent at City?
City have one of the most productive academies in England but what happens to those young players now? The powers that be there are more interested in the here and now than developing young players.
weiss is an amazing talent, but will he get any real games with so many players vying for spots??
i think personally some of chelsea’s youngsters on loan could be interesting, either doing well or falling flat on their faces. Chelsea seem to have loaned out quite a few reserve players to EPL clubs this season sinclair, di santo and mancienne.
ish
It is a misconception that city have so many players they have let 16 leave (6 of which were strikers) 4 or 5 on loan and brought 6 in (3 of which strikers).
he will be vying for a place with Shaun W Phillips when playing with wide players and maybe Tevez otherwise (not an easy task granted) but I believe the odd ten minutes as a sub will get longer as the season progresses.
Jozy Altidore
Yeah I think Jozy will be great…looking forward to seeing him on ESPN on sat…Him against JT should be a great matchup.
Apart from Macheda we know abit about him know and he may not get as many games as the other but he is still awsome, the rest definately but I’d want to add Di Santo on loan to Blackburn from Chelsea.
Jay Spearing for Liverpool? Or Insua? Or Pacheco? I am probably adding a bit of bias to this post but yet Insua was fabulous last year when given the opportunity and the talk around Anfield is that Spearing is a “young Gerrard” and Pacheco a “young Torres”. Yes I know this burden doesn’t always help a player and sometimes they don’t live up to expectations but Spearing was fabulous against Real in the Champs League. Some do live up to expectations a la Yoann Gourcuff -> “the next Zidane”.
So I’m not completely biased I’m going to throw another name out here, of another young Mersey-sider. Jack Rodwell.
Daniel Sturridge is somewhat of a household name, but I think he breaks out this year. Especially with a chance to shine when Drogba goes to the African Cup of Nations in the winter.
All very good points, however im going to shine a light on some unknown players so this forum doesnt look completely like every other lol
here is some to look out for you may not have heard of yet
NEXT BIG STAR!!! BENIK AFOBE – england youth/ arsenal player – look him up, gonna be biggg!!!!
- victor moses/ shaun scannell – crystal palace
- prosenik – chelsea
- noble lazarus- burnley
- jonjo shelvey – f**kin awesome – charlton believe it or not lol
- nordbeit/jay-emmanuel thomas both arsenal on loan to some1 lol
- gai assulin – barcalona
- bolatelli – international (already a star in italy)
- nikola saric – liver- nevagetajob- pool fc
- fran merida – arsenal
there loads more i just cant think!!! much love danny boy
THESOCCERTREE.COM coming soon!!!! big things!!!!
have a guess what team i support based on the bias lol