Year 2000: World Soccer's 100 Most Promising Youths

El Tiki Taka wrote:Football in general doesn't take into account the players develop differently

What does that mean exactly? 'Football'?

Big clubs in general look to sign young talents, if they don't look like they'll be superstars they're sent on their way. They wont sign a 24 year old unless he's established, ignoring the fact that they still aren't at their peak and could develop.

L r d wrote:

Tweesus of Nazareth wrote:Its bizarre. About 15 have probably fufilled their potential, then aother 15 or so have gone on to become very good, but the rest have become nothing at all special! I'd have thought that at least half would have been at least decent.

To me it's not so bizarre. When you look at rafa's policy of buy 100 and hope 5 turn out good you can see the percentages must be something like that. Wenger is a genius i keep hearing...yet for every cesc there has been 3-4 failures.

LRD Wenger aint a genius at all...I mean if you buy all those uber-talents from poorer teams....and only RVP and Cesc turn out to be topclass...And RVP always had it anyway...so basically its only Cesc...

Wenger sucks

Sinterklaas,Fey kent hem wrote:

L r d wrote:

Tweesus of Nazareth wrote:Its bizarre. About 15 have probably fufilled their potential, then aother 15 or so have gone on to become very good, but the rest have become nothing at all special! I'd have thought that at least half would have been at least decent.

To me it's not so bizarre. When you look at rafa's policy of buy 100 and hope 5 turn out good you can see the percentages must be something like that. Wenger is a genius i keep hearing...yet for every cesc there has been 3-4 failures.

LRD Wenger aint a genius at all...I mean if you buy all those uber-talents from poorer teams....and only RVP and Cesc turn out to be topclass...And RVP always had it anyway...so basically its only Cesc...

Wenger sucks

& you have to ask yourself, is Cesc even that special?

L r d wrote:

Tweesus of Nazareth wrote:Its bizarre. About 15 have probably fufilled their potential, then aother 15 or so have gone on to become very good, but the rest have become nothing at all special! I'd have thought that at least half would have been at least decent.

To me it's not so bizarre. When you look at rafa's policy of buy 100 and hope 5 turn out good you can see the percentages must be something like that. Wenger is a genius i keep hearing...yet for every cesc there has been 3-4 failures.

Really? I guess you're just counting foreign signings here.

We signed an Italian, who died in a car crash, Tavlaridis, who was Cr@p. Most of the rest have at least gone on to play in a top league though - Aliaidiere, Volz etc.

1. Yakubu Abubakari Ajax Amsterdam (Ned) Ghana
2. Titus Tiberius Bramble Ipswich (Eng) England
3. Rabiu Afolabi Napoli (Ita) Nigeria
4. Julius Aghahowa Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukr) Nigeria
5. Pablo Aimar River Plate (Arg) Argentina
6. Mohamed Al-Shlhoob Al-Hilal (SAr) Saudia Arabia
7. Mohammed Aliyu AC Milan (Ita) Nigeria
8. Matthew Amoah Vitesse Arnhem (Ned) Ghana
9. Nicolas Anelka Paris-SG (Fra) France
10.Juan Arango Monterrey (Mex) Venezuela
11. Gerald Asamoah Schalke 04 (Ger) Ghana/Germany
12. Emile Baron Lillestrom (Nor) South Africa
13. DaMarcus Beasley Chicago Fire (USA) USA
14. Igor Biscan Liverpool (Eng) Croatia
15. Wilfred Bouma PSV (Ned) Holland
16. Wes Brown Manchester United (Eng) England
17. Moises Candelario Emelec (Ecu) Ecuador
18. John Carew Valencia (Spa) Norway
19. Fabian Carini Danubio (Uru) Uruguay
20. Iker Casillas Real Madrid (Spa) Spain
21. Antonio Cassano Bari (Ita) Italy
22. Cristian Chivu Ajax Amsterdam (Ned) Romania
23. Lambros Choutos Olympiacos (Gre) Greece
24. Philippe Christanval Monaco (Fra) France
25. Joe Cole West Ham United (Eng) England
26. Bobby Convey D.C. United (USA) USA
27. Walter Corazo Emelec (Ecu) Ecuador
28. Paulo Da Silva Lanus (Arg) Paraguay
29. Stephane Dalmat Paris-SG (Fra) France
30. Sebastian Deisler Hertha Berlin (Ger) Germany
31. Boubacar Diarra SC Freiburg (Ger) Mali
32. Aruna Dindane Anderlecht (Bel) Ivory Coast
33. Landon Donavan Bayer Leverkusen (Ger) USA
34. Kieron Dyer Newcastle United (Eng) England
35. Edu Celta Vigo (Spa) Brazil
36. Emre Belezoglu Galatasaray (Tur) Turkey
37. Samuel Eto'o Mallorca (Spa) Cameroon
38. Fabio Aurelio Valencia (Spa) Spain
39. Francisco Farinos Inter Milan (Ita) Spain
40. Pascal Feindouno Bordeaux (Fra) Guinea
41. Barry Ferguson Rangers (Sco) Scotland
42. Gabri Barcelona (Spa) Spain
43. Ronald Garcia Bolivar (Bol) Bolivia
44. Steven Gerrard Liverpool (Eng) England
45. Helton Vasco da Gama (Bra) Brazil
46. Ahmed Salah Hosny VfB Stuttgart (Ger) Egypt
47. Pius Ikedia Ajax Amsterdam (Ned) Nigeria
48. Junichi Inamoto Gamba Osaka (Jap) Japan
49. Isaac Primeiro Agosto (Ang) Angola
50. Juan Flamengo (Bra) Brazil
51. Carlos Idriss Kameni Le Havre (Fra) Cameroon
52. Robbie Keane Leeds United (Eng) Ireland
53. Harry Kewell Leeds United (Eng) Austraillia
54. Mateja Kezman PSV (Ned) Yugoslavia
55. Mickael Landreau Nantes (Fra) France
56. Peter Luccin Paris-SG (Fra) France
57. Luis Filepe Sporting Braga (Por) Portugal
58. Claudio Maldonado Sao Paulo (Bra) Chile
59. Rafael Marquez Monaco (Fra) France
60. Matuzalem Napoli (Ita) Brazil
61. Phillipe Mexes Auxerre (Fra) France
62. Aaron Mokoena Ajax Amsterdam (Ned) South Africa
63. Ahonnier Montano Parma (Ita) Columbia
64. Tresso Moreno Metz (Fra) Colombia
65. Emile Mpenza Schalke 04 (Ger) Belgium
66. Adrian Mutu Verona (Ita) Romania
67. Szilard Nemeth ASK Inter (Slvk) Slovakia
68. Andres Olivera Sevilla (Spa) Uruguay
69. Micheal Owen Liverpool (Eng) England
70. Christos Patasatzoglou Olympiacos (Gre) Greece
71. Andrea Pirlo Inter Milan (Ita) Italy
72. Claudio Pizarro SV Werder Bremen (Ger) Peru
73. David Pizzaro Udinese (Ita) Chile
74. Stipe Pletikosa Hajduk Split (Cro) Croatia
75. Prince Daye Bastia (Fra) Liberia
76. Luis Gatty Ribeiro Bolivar (Bol) Bolivia
77. John Arne Rise Monaco (Fra) Norway
78. Juan Roman Riquelme Boca Juniors (Arg) Argentina
79. Leandro Romagnoli San Lorenzo (Arg) Argentina
80. Ronaldinho Gremio (Bra) Brazil
81. Tomas Rosicky Borussia Dortmund (Ger) Czech Republic
82. Walter Samuel AS Roma (Ita) Argentina
83. Roque Santa Cruz Bayern Munchen (Ger) Germany
84. Javier Saviola River Plate (Arg) Argentina
85. Simao Barcelona (Spa) Portugal
86. Gonzalo Sorondo Defensor Sporting (Uru) Uruguay
87. David Suazo Cagliari (Ita) Honduras
88. Jean-Micheal Tchouga FC Basel (Swi) Cameroon
89. Rodrigo Tello Sporting (Por) Chile
90. Christian Timm 1.FC Koln (Ger) Germany
91. Razundrea Tjikuzu SV Werder Bremen (Ger) Nambia
92. Svetoslav Todorov Litex Lovetch (Bul) Bulgaria
93. Joselito Vava Bolivia Bolivia
94. Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink FC Twente (Ned) Holland
95. Nicola Ventola Atalanta (Ita) Italy
96. Tobias Willi SC Freiburg (Ger) Germany
97. Xavi Barcelona (Spa) Spain
98. Ngidid Yemweni Daring Club Motema Pembe (DR Congo) DR Congo
99. Jonathan Zebina AS Roma (Ita) France
99. Ishmael Addo Hearts Of Oak (Gha) Ghana
100. Emmanuel Zulu Zanaco (Zam) Zambia

Went on to become 1st class players

Above Average players

Became Average players

The rest either became less than AVG are i've never heard of them

A Average list at the end of the day

Spankeltoe wrote:

Sinterklaas,Fey kent hem wrote:

L r d wrote:

Tweesus of Nazareth wrote:Its bizarre. About 15 have probably fufilled their potential, then aother 15 or so have gone on to become very good, but the rest have become nothing at all special! I'd have thought that at least half would have been at least decent.

To me it's not so bizarre. When you look at rafa's policy of buy 100 and hope 5 turn out good you can see the percentages must be something like that. Wenger is a genius i keep hearing...yet for every cesc there has been 3-4 failures.

LRD Wenger aint a genius at all...I mean if you buy all those uber-talents from poorer teams....and only RVP and Cesc turn out to be topclass...And RVP always had it anyway...so basically its only Cesc...

Wenger sucks

& you have to ask yourself, is Cesc even that special?

According to your opinion, he's $h!t. Which just goes to show how worthless your opinion on all this is

Tweesus of Nazareth wrote:

L r d wrote:

Tweesus of Nazareth wrote:Its bizarre. About 15 have probably fufilled their potential, then aother 15 or so have gone on to become very good, but the rest have become nothing at all special! I'd have thought that at least half would have been at least decent.

To me it's not so bizarre. When you look at rafa's policy of buy 100 and hope 5 turn out good you can see the percentages must be something like that. Wenger is a genius i keep hearing...yet for every cesc there has been 3-4 failures.

Really? I guess you're just counting foreign signings here.

We signed an Italian, who died in a car crash, Tavlaridis, who was Cr@p. Most of the rest have at least gone on to play in a top league though - Aliaidiere, Volz etc.

You can say that about almost every flop at a big team Djemba Djemba to Villa, Diouf to Bolton, Cisse to Marseille, Gabri to Ajax, Cygan to Villareal,.

BTW Claudio Maldonado should be included as an above average player.

Messiah, Bouma should probably be red as well. He's an international for a pretty big international side at least.

El Tiki Taka wrote:

Tweesus of Nazareth wrote:

L r d wrote:

Tweesus of Nazareth wrote:Its bizarre. About 15 have probably fufilled their potential, then aother 15 or so have gone on to become very good, but the rest have become nothing at all special! I'd have thought that at least half would have been at least decent.

To me it's not so bizarre. When you look at rafa's policy of buy 100 and hope 5 turn out good you can see the percentages must be something like that. Wenger is a genius i keep hearing...yet for every cesc there has been 3-4 failures.

Really? I guess you're just counting foreign signings here.

We signed an Italian, who died in a car crash, Tavlaridis, who was Cr@p. Most of the rest have at least gone on to play in a top league though - Aliaidiere, Volz etc.

You can say that about almost every flop at a big team Djemba Djemba to Villa, Diouf to Bolton, Cisse to Marseille, Gabri to Ajax, Cygan to Villareal,.

Djemba Djemba wasn't a youf player though, neither was Cygan, Diouf, Cissé

What are you on about?

Tweesus of Nazareth wrote:

El Tiki Taka wrote:

Tweesus of Nazareth wrote:

L r d wrote:

Tweesus of Nazareth wrote:Its bizarre. About 15 have probably fufilled their potential, then aother 15 or so have gone on to become very good, but the rest have become nothing at all special! I'd have thought that at least half would have been at least decent.

To me it's not so bizarre. When you look at rafa's policy of buy 100 and hope 5 turn out good you can see the percentages must be something like that. Wenger is a genius i keep hearing...yet for every cesc there has been 3-4 failures.

Really? I guess you're just counting foreign signings here.

We signed an Italian, who died in a car crash, Tavlaridis, who was Cr@p. Most of the rest have at least gone on to play in a top league though - Aliaidiere, Volz etc.

You can say that about almost every flop at a big team Djemba Djemba to Villa, Diouf to Bolton, Cisse to Marseille, Gabri to Ajax, Cygan to Villareal,.

Djemba Djemba wasn't a youf player though, neither was Cygan, Diouf, Cissé

What are you on about?

His point remains the same though, greening,wallwork for example. These players are failures regardless.
Wenger had a lot of failures yet he is a genius. So maybe if you put some spin on this list, they will say they found the twice wpoty when he was at gremio.

Top players from Holland list

Rising Stars of the Netherlands 1999/2000 (Descending order)

1.
Name: Rahamat Mustapha “Riga”
Current Club: Vitesse (Hol)
Date of Birth: 10/10/1981
Position: Midfielder
Previous Clubs: None
Comments: Because of a lot of injuries he was given the chance to play first team football and he didn’t fail. A move to a European powerhouse is soon on the horizon for the Ghanaian goddess. Rivaldo watch out.

2.
Name: Romano Denneboom
Current Club: Heerenveen (Hol)
Date of Birth: 29/01/1981
Position: Striker
Previous Clubs: VV Spijkenisse (Hol)
Comments: Another good prospect at Heerenveen. After Tomasson and Van Nistelrooy now they’ve got Romano Denneboom. Plays at Heerenveen for a few years now, but this year he broke into the starting line-up. And he showed some class-acts. Good pace and plays a little like Kluivert. Strong on the ball and good technique. Due to his arrival another prospect at Heerenveen, Klaas-Johan Knevelman, moved to local team Drachtster Boys.

3.
Name: Ruud Van Nistelrooy
Current Club: PSV Eindhoven (Hol)
Date of Birth: 01/07/1976
Position: Striker
Previous Clubs: FC Den Bosch (Hol), Heerenveen (Hol)
Comments: The best striker in Holland at the moment. Topscorer as well with 19 goals in 12 games. Given his big break by Arie Haan who enjoyed his kung-fu impressions as pre-match entertainment along with his father who sang MC Hammer ‘You can’t touch this’. Ruud’s father was notoriously attacked at De Kuip after confronting fans who booed his son, shouting to them ‘Stop! Hammer time!’. Ruud will soon move to a European powerhouse along with Rahamat Mustapha and both will be joined by Ruud’s mother who currently sings the Carpenter’s ‘Close to You’ in the home changing room before every match Ruud plays in.

4.
Name: Kew Jaliens
Current Club: Willem II (Hol)
Date of Birth: 15/08/1978
Position: Defender
Previous Clubs: Sagu Boys (Hol), Capelle (Hol), DCV (Hol), Sparta Rotterdam (Hol)
Comments: Many people thought he would move to the bigger club in Rotterdam, Feyenoord. But on the contrary he moved to Willem II, the club who’s playing in Champions league. He’s a reliable and quick defender who’ll probably will leave in a few seasons to a really big club. Has been bought by Co Adriaanse, one of the Dutch manager prospects, has the same ideas as Van Gaal.

5.
Name: Anthony Lurling
Current Club: Heerenveen (Hol)
Date of Birth: 22/04/1977
Position: Midfielder/Attacker
Previous Clubs: FC Den Bosch (Hol)
Comments: After a bad start and because of a lot of injuries he played a few games in the starting line-up at Heerenveen, just as Denneboom. And he did pretty well. He scored some good goals. Can play in midfield as well as an attacker. I think the attacking role will suit him more. Maybe he’ll go the same way as Van Nistelrooy and then we could expect a lot of him.

6.
Name: John Nieuwenburg
Current Club: Ajax (Hol)
Date of Birth: 24/12/1978
Position: Defender
Previous Clubs: Oranjeplein (Hol), Sparta Rotterdam (Hol)
Comments: A $4 million buy of Ajax this season and he didn’t impress much, but as most of the new players at Ajax he should become the best defender in the Netherlands since Ronald Koeman.

7.
Name: Kevin Hofland
Current Club: Fortuna Sittard (Hol)
Date of Birth: 07/06/1979
Position: Defender
Previous Clubs: Limburgia (Hol)
Comments: Only his first year in the starting line-up and he has been linked with a move to PSV or Feyenoord. Recently Udinese (Ita) showed some interest. He’s a solid defender, strong on the ball and a lot of pace. Next year he will be at a top team in Holland.

8.
Name: Victor Sikora
Current Club: Vitesse (Hol)
Date of Birth: 11/06/1978
Position: Striker
Previous Clubs: RODA Deventer (Hol), Go Ahead Eagles (Hol)
Comments: This lad is forming a striking partnership with Pierre van Hooydonk. At first there were some critics saying he couldn’t handle the level of the highest dutch competition, but he does well. Also playing for u-21 but not a regular yet. He’s a quick and strong striker, more playing around Van Hooydonk, to finish goalscoring opportunities from Pierre.

9.
Name: Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink
Current Club: FC Twente (Hol)
Date of Birth: 07/11/1978
Position: Attacker
Previous Clubs: Quick ‘20 (Hol)
Comments: Together with Van Bommel the best players currently in the U-21 squad. They could be in the national side, but with the likes of Bergkamp, Kluivert “et all” it’s difficult for these players to get in that squad, so they’re still in the U-21’s. Vennegoor is a quality striker with an excellent finish. Scores from impossible positions as well as from easy positions. Will be leaving for a big club in the summer probably.

10.
Name: Rob Wielaert
Current Club: PSV Eindhoven (Hol)
Date of Birth: 29/12/1978
Position: Defender
Previous Clubs: None
Comments: A player nobody in Holland had heard of and suddenly he appeared in the starting line-up at PSV. Played some good games, in the Champions league as well and he did quite well. He’s a solid defender who plays on the right side. Hailed by Rinus Michels as “the most important young defender to arrive in our country. Rob’s a true champion who I am sure will lead our country to its ultimate glory: the Fifa World Cup.”(Hol).

11.
Name: Edwin Linssen
Current Club: VVV (Hol)
Date of Birth: 28/08/1980
Position: Midfielder
Previous Clubs: None
Comments: The only prospect from the first division as far as I know. Plays an important role over there and this is his second year as a starting player. Controls midfield with ease and has a good shot. Should move to a bigger club in a few years.

12.
Name: Richard Knopper
Current Club: Ajax (Hol)
Date of Birth: 29/08/1977
Position: Midfielder
Previous Clubs: Feyenoord
Comments: At the moment probably the best player at Ajax, together with Brian Laudrup. Ajax bought Laudrup for a leaders role in midfield but it appeared that Knopper played this role better, because he’s quicker and has a better view than Laudrup has. This says something about the qualities of Knopper. It seems that Ajax have, after Kluivert, Bogarde, etc. another superstar. He has a good shot as well.

13.
Name: Theo Janssen
Current Club: Vitesse (Hol)
Date of Birth: 27/07/1981
Position: Midfielder
Previous Clubs: None
Comments: One of the biggest prospects from the youth squad of Vitesse. Is already a regular in the first team and does very well. Good technique and a good view of the game.

14.
Name: Mark Van Bommel
Current Club: PSV Eindhoven (Hol)
Date of Birth: 22/04/1977
Position: Central Midfielder
Previous Clubs: RKVV Maasbracht (Hol), Fortuna Sittard (Hol)
Comments: One of the two Dutch u-21 stars, together with Vennegoor of Hesselink. Played excellent for Fortuna Sittard and earned a transfer to PSV. He has a good view and is a solid midfielder. Dictates midfield at PSV, together with Johann Vogel, Swiss international.


15.
Name: Rudy Mann
Current Club: Cambuur Leeuwarden (Hol)
Date of Birth: 28/08/1981
Position: Striker
Previous Clubs: ?
Comments: Not a regular yet, but that’s mainly because of the “big” names he has in front of him. And Cambuur have a striker from Feyenoord on loan, who’s pretty good as well. But during pre-season he impressed with a few good goals. His touch is amazing and he’s very strong on the ball. Should be a good prospect for troubled Cambuur, who’s in relegation trouble already.

What ever happened to Kevin Hofland?

Krimbo wrote:What ever happened to Kevin Hofland?

Yeah, Advocaat really wanted to sign him at Rangers. Instead they got Konterman! Woops

The Bulk wrote:
3.
Name: Ruud Van Nistelrooy
Current Club: PSV Eindhoven (Hol)
Date of Birth: 01/07/1976
Position: Striker
Previous Clubs: FC Den Bosch (Hol), Heerenveen (Hol)
Comments: The best striker in Holland at the moment. Topscorer as well with 19 goals in 12 games. Given his big break by Arie Haan who enjoyed his kung-fu impressions as pre-match entertainment along with his father who sang MC Hammer ‘You can’t touch this’. Ruud’s father was notoriously attacked at De Kuip after confronting fans who booed his son, shouting to them ‘Stop! Hammer time!’. Ruud will soon move to a European powerhouse along with Rahamat Mustapha and both will be joined by Ruud’s mother who currently sings the Carpenter’s ‘Close to You’ in the home changing room before every match Ruud plays in.

I thought he played in Germany for a few years and then moved to Feyenoord this summer. I haven't heard much about him recently though.

Spankeltoe wrote:

The Bulk wrote:
3.
Name: Ruud Van Nistelrooy
Current Club: PSV Eindhoven (Hol)
Date of Birth: 01/07/1976
Position: Striker
Previous Clubs: FC Den Bosch (Hol), Heerenveen (Hol)
Comments: The best striker in Holland at the moment. Topscorer as well with 19 goals in 12 games. Given his big break by Arie Haan who enjoyed his kung-fu impressions as pre-match entertainment along with his father who sang MC Hammer ‘You can’t touch this’. Ruud’s father was notoriously attacked at De Kuip after confronting fans who booed his son, shouting to them ‘Stop! Hammer time!’. Ruud will soon move to a European powerhouse along with Rahamat Mustapha and both will be joined by Ruud’s mother who currently sings the Carpenter’s ‘Close to You’ in the home changing room before every match Ruud plays in.

1.
Name: Rahamat Mustapha “Riga” - Levante's best player

2.
Name: Romano Denneboom - always thought he was overrated

3.
Name: Ruud Van Nistelrooy - WC striker

4.
Name: Kew Jaliens - decent to good defender.

5.
Name: Anthony Lurling - shame, mental problems

6.
Name: John Nieuwenburg - was good for Sparta...that's about it.

7.
Name: Kevin Hofland - very good player, regular at Feyenoord.

8.
Name: Victor Sikora - c**t, c**t, c**t. Thinks he is the greatest since he played for Ajax.

9.
Name: Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink - usefull, yet unspectacular.

10.
Name: Rob Wielaert - had his best season last year. Might still go on to bigger things.

11.
Name: Edwin Linssen - who?

12.
Name: Richard Knopper - faded quickly, didn't he had mental problems also?

13.
Name: Theo Janssen - still stuck at Vitesse, should have moved way earlier.

14.
Name: Mark Van Bommel - became a international class midfielder.

15.
Name: Rudy Mann - who?

Krimbo wrote:What ever happened to Kevin Hofland?

He is back mate, he made a good start at PSV..then got injured a lot...went to Wolfsburg...and since this season CB of Feyenoord! Based on his form he should be in Oranje! But van Basten never selects Feyenoord players!

Hofland was once very highly rated , replacement for Stam I use to hear.

They missed the best of them all...but was already a bit older then! Jean-Paul van Gastel!! Juventus made a 20 million offer for him...as well as Roma!

Konterman was pretty good..since he went to Scotland he became some religious nutter!

Funny that the nr 1 on that list is going to play relegation football (not his first time. And the nr 3 is the current and future player of team that is 1st in Spain

And then Theo Janssen..almost 8 years gone and still at Vitesse The Dutch version of Gareth Barry

World soccer knowledge of the Dutch league is close to zero. No decent pundit would have come up with a list like that in 2000. Their best whatever lists are usually a joke.

On Hofland, he's doing well at Feyenoord. Having said that, he a very limited CD: lacks pace and contributes f@ck all to build up. Good attacking header though.

Here's a similar list for English talent in 1999

1.
Name: Michael Owen
Current Club: Liverpool (Eng)
Date of Birth: 14/12/1979
Position: Striker
Previous Clubs: None
Comments: Everyone knows of Michael Owen since France 98, but injuries have hampered his progress recently for Liverpool & England. If fit he will be one of the stars of Euro 2000 now England have assured qualification.

2.
Name: Joe Cole
Current Club: West Ham United (Eng)
Date of Birth: 08/11/1981
Position: Attacking Midfielder
Previous Clubs: None
Comments: Now a regular in the Hammers first team at only 17, Cole is the player all of England see as the successor to Paul Gascoinge. He has already played for the Under-21's and should earn his first cap soon.

3.
Name: Rio Ferdinand
Current Club: West Ham United (Eng)
Date of Birth: 07/11/1978
Position: Central Defender
Previous Clubs: None
Comments: Elegant centre half who has potential to be one of the world's best, his form has been suspect of late but interest in him from the likes of Man United, AS Roma and Madrid show how highly he is rated. Capped by England two years ago for the first time against Cameroon at Wembley and impressed.

4.
Name: Jonathan Greening
Current Club: Manchester United (Eng)
Date of Birth: ??/??/19??
Position: Right / Centre Midfield
Previous Clubs: York City
Comments: Not as well known as the above players but has as much potential. Sir Alex Ferguson has such a high regard for Greening that he earned a place on the United bench in last seasons European Cup final. He has recently been capped by England's Under-21's with only a certain David Beckham keeping him out of United's first eleven.

5.
Name: Frank Lampard
Current Club: West Ham United (Eng)
Date of Birth: 21/06/1978
Position: Centre Midfield
Previous Clubs: None
Comments: Captain of the Under-21's for the past season or so, Lampard earned his first England cap against Belguim recently and did well. A very robust and creative midfielder who scores goals in the style of a young Bryan Robson.

6.
Name: Jonathon Woodgate
Current Club: Leeds United (Eng)
Date of Birth: 22/01/1980
Position: Central Defender
Previous Clubs: None
Comments: Already capped by England at senior level, Woodgate has emerged as one of the most talented defenders in the Premiership. flair, Passing, tackling, he has it all in abundence. One of several young leeds stars who will be challenging Man United for supremecy in England very, very soon.

7.
Name: Wes Brown
Current Club: Manchester United (Eng)
Date of Birth: 16/03/1979
Position: Right / Central Defender
Previous Clubs: None
Comments: Wes Brown is the man earmarked to take over as United's Captain and chief defender in years to come. Capped by England this year at only 19 he and United's other young star John Curtis could be England's defensive pairing for many years to come.

8.
Name: Lee Hendrie
Current Club: Aston Villa (Eng)
Date of Birth: 18/05/1977
Position: Midfielder
Previous Clubs: None
Comments: Very slim and weak looking player which proves deceiving. Has a brilliant eye for passes other players wouldn't dream of. Another England cap who hasn't quite shown his form of last season because of injuries but plenty of time ahead to gain superstar status.

9.
Name: Emile Heskey
Current Club: Leicester City (Eng)
Date of Birth: 11/01/1978
Position: Striker
Previous Clubs: None
Comments: Nicknamed Bruno due to his huge frame and physical appearence, Heskey is a very akward opponent who can frighten the life out of defenders. Capped by England, his only weakness is his lack of goals which will come in time.

10.
Name: Francis Jeffers
Current Club: Everton (Eng)
Date of Birth: 25/01/1981
Position: Striker
Previous Clubs: None
Comments: Along with Kevin Campbell, Jeffers saved Everton from relegation last season and has started this one nearly as well. very qiuck who scores goals for fun. A short temper could be his downfall as seen in the recent Merseyside derby when he could have cost Everton the win they deserved.

Some things sound familiar. See Michael Owen and his injuries in the first example!

How did Greening get so far up that list? I don't even remember him being that good in the first place?

"....at only 19 he and United's other young star John Curtis could be England's defensive pairing for many years to come."

Ouch.

Hlebanukkah wrote:"....at only 19 he and United's other young star John Curtis could be England's defensive pairing for many years to come."

Ouch.

John Curtis went to Blackburn, then God knows where after that!

The Bulk wrote:
6.
Name: Jonathon Woodgate
Current Club: Leeds United (Eng)
Date of Birth: 22/01/1980
Position: Central Defender
Previous Clubs: None
Comments: Already capped by England at senior level, Woodgate has emerged as one of the most talented defenders in the Premiership. flair, Passing, tackling, he has it all in abundence. A keen Paki-basher, Woodgate is one of several young leeds stars who will be challenging Man United for supremecy in England very, very soon.


8.
Name: Lee Hendrie
Current Club: Aston Villa (Eng)
Date of Birth: 18/05/1977
Position: Midfielder
Previous Clubs: None
Comments: Very slim and weak looking player which proves deceiving is exactly what he is.

Hendrie is v talented but has not done much.

Spankeltoe wrote:I counted 9 that went onto be something approaching World class.

Casillas, Riquelme, Gerrard, Eto'o, Owen, Anelka, Pirlo, Wes Brown & Ronaldinhio.

You've included Wes Brown and not Simão?

Tweesus of Nazareth wrote:Its bizarre. About 15 have probably fufilled their potential, then aother 15 or so have gone on to become very good, but the rest have become nothing at all special! I'd have thought that at least half would have been at least decent.

I guess it depends on who you're putting in what category...

I'd say Romagnoli is a very good player, and Tello became a competent (decent) LB with great crossing ability.

Edit: You may not have even seen these players in action since this list was even put together however... perspectives.