This morning while watching the Socceroos vs Oman match, I had a friend in the UK message me asking for my thoughts on a recent Guardian article.
I am reasonably familiar with The Guardian newspaper and its football experts are well respected.
The article in question comes out annually by the paper and involves the incredibly hard task of predicting, the best young players in the world.
As soon as you load up the page, two players in the top row will be familiar – Mohammed Toure from Adelaide United and Josh Rawlins from Perth Glory.
I have spoken about my role in the Toure brothers’ development on here many a time, but I want to look at key point from last season and this upcoming one.
Mohammed experienced the first major injury of his career last year, a bad hamstring tear that took several weeks to recover – his youthful exuberance in tackling also earnt him a red card.
In preseason training he is now taller, stronger and more explosive.
New to the dynamo’s arsenal, is the ability to hold the ball up with his back to goal – Toure has been used as a central striker in training rather than his usual winger position, this new position was evident to Australian audiences in the recent FFA Cup round of 32 fixture.
Perth Glory’s Josh Rawlins is another interesting pick by The Guardian.
Rawlins captained Australia at the U-15 Championship and also was selected for the under 17 World Cup.
He is extremely calm and composed on the ball and has the temperament of a much more experienced player, rather than a typical brash 17-year-old.
Rawlins can play anywhere in defence as well as central midfield, a utility player of sorts – while useful in multiple systems, the fact he hasn’t got a locked in spot could prove problematic for further progress.
Judging from preseason, it looks like he has finally found a home at RB.
Would they have been chosen by myself for the list? probably not, but that’s the tricky thing about predicting youth – there are variables only the players can control.
Is the diet bad?
Do they have a supportive home life?
Are they hanging around a bad crowd?
Are they doing well in school?
Are they spending too much time playing ultimate team in FIFA?
What is the temperament and ego like?
Three quarters of the players on this year’s list won’t play for a big club – going from a youth prodigy to a consistent first team player takes hard work, dedication and in most cases; a lot of luck.
The previous Australian picks from years gone by from The Guardian prove my points.
Daniel De Silva’s time in Italy and Holland didn’t go to plan and he has spent the past few seasons rebuilding his career – Macarthur will be the fourth A-League side he will have represented at only 24 years old.
From a personal point of view; Panos Armenakas is a player I was certain would succeed after his wonderful spell at the AIS.
His career so far has spanned time in England, Italy, Belgium, Greece and Denmark – Armenakas is only 23 years old.
Noah Botic is a player I have spoken about at length as having “it”. His time in Germany was cruelly cut short by injuries and the world-wide pandemic.
At 19 years of age the kid nicknamed ‘Baby Viduka’ will be hoping to light up the A League this season with Western United.
Jacob Italiano is still toiling away in his third season in Germany’s lower divisions and surprisingly is still only 20 years old.
Sebastian Pasquali spent time at one of the best European teams for youth development; Ajax – but finds himself at 21 years old in the A League with Western United.
Western United have a third player from a previous Guardian list- 21-year-old Dylan Pierias – who had an impressive last season.
Predicting youth is like trying to get 21 in black jack – a lot of is down to luck and sometimes the cards you expect just don’t fall your way.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
thats because alot of agents benefit greatly from on sales of thier clients, alot couldnt care less about thier clients welfare
Winter
Guest
You are only as good as your last game. Having a career in sport is brutal as you are judged every week on your performance. A few weeks off and you could find yourself at another team. Plus you have to be lucky as well to be in the right team at the right time to look good as well. Also being injury free helps keep that sense of invincibility for longer. Juniors doesn't mean much as one of the comments said as people could be taller and bigger than the other players earlier and than everyone catches up. Plus getting a run at training doesn't mean anyone is going into the starting 11. It's a career not for the faint of heart and a lot of people just end up doing normal things after football even in their mid 20s. Npl players have a day job.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
Good point mf. I had two class mates play for Australia in rugby, one later became quite a legendary coach and another was a highly regarded winger. Those two were ordinary at school, good but not the best, both were standouts in other sports at school (cricket and athletics). The really good rugby players at school faded after they left school.
Punter
Roar Rookie
Good article AA, really enjoy your insights on the good young players coming thru.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
hes signed, im assuming web developers are as slack as the owners in building a new stadium lol
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
There are a lot of articles on football sites that read as advertisements from player agents; usually along the lines of how marvellous some young player is and the imminent risk of them being capped by someone else.
Nick Symonds
Guest
It's been reported that they signed him, but Noah Botic isn't on the WU squad list: https://www.wufc.com.au/teams - Noah Botic goals: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7hy4-iyx0I
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
i've been asked to not say much about our S&C department online i'll let you read between the lines :)
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
i've wrote on here before about a few adelaide youth players who had thier heads turned interstate due to $$$ one club offered the players dad a job, another team gave a seperate players parents a new car. all the things you've heard about in europe about what clubs give to players to sweeten a deal happens here in australia as well, the only difference is the $$$ amount between for arguments sake man city and Sydney fc. its not just youth players, its senior players as well. i will forever laugh at perth glorys management team at the time who said robbie fowler was living with his team mate when he was at perth. they got caught out and it turned out fowler was living in this mega mansion in one of the best parts of perth lol
Franko
Guest
Its always something with these guys, hard pitches? poor management of workload? Just feel like out youngsters are very brittle, as soon as they go to Europe its the same story.
Melange
Guest
AA - that could be the basis of another article, the behind the scenes tricks in player transfers
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
i said botic is 'baby viduka' lol very similar playing style, have been keeping an eye on him from interstate https://www.theroar.com.au/2021/08/03/in-noah-botic-western-united-have-signed-the-baby-mark-viduka/
Nick Symonds
Guest
Noah Botic = Next Mark Viduka Cristian Volpato = Next Harry Kewell - Sounds like a new golden generation. There are at least 5 Next Tim Cahills coming through as well: MUSTAFA AMINI OLIVER BOZANIC ERIK PAARTALU TERRY ANTONIS MITCH NICHOLS https://www.goal.com/en/news/1717/editorial/2011/08/23/2624997/who-is-the-next-tim-cahill-five-australian-midfielders-ready-for-
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
yengi has been struggling pre season with a knock, this weekends match might come a little too soon for him I'll have a close look at training later on
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
alot of club sides also pay for thier prodigys to be on lists just like this - to drum up interest in the player so they can sell him
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
I often wonder if these lists do more harm than good. How did they come up with Ri Il-Song? Pundits would have seen him for a total of 3 matches playing the might of the u16 sides from Guam, Singapore and Hong Kong. As far as I am aware April 25 (the club he listed as being with) haven’t kicked a ball in anger since 2019 (COVID resulted in the league being cancelled and I understand that continues to this day).
Franko
Guest
Glad to see Toure adding some strings to his bow. Will he start at No9 ahead of Yengi though, Yengi looks the goods to me though temperament may be an issue?
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
if you exclude the money and fan attendance, the MLS and a league aren't too dissimilar. how they are approaching youth development is definitely interesting and worth a deeper dive into a lot of young American players are now firmly entrenched in many European club teams
Midfielder
Roar Guru
I worked in the US on two different projects and had an extended holiday over there on a third trip... I find those that criticize the MLS don't have an appreciation of the US media markets and their general sporting environment...
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
funny you mention the US one of my colleagues is gonzalo segares, :angry: he's the coach of the US under 15 side and we talk once a month (email alot though) sharing different ideas and patterns we've seen in our countries youth systems. its interesting hearing his views on US soccer youth and why so many of their young players are playing in Europe now (considering much like Australia, football is a 4th tier sport there) he has been trying to get to australia for a for years now and myself to the US, but its a bit tricky with the pandemic lol