Despite the woes of the first team, the burgeoning talent we have at youth level continues to provide hope for the future, and perhaps some defence of Emenalo's work.
None more so than one Jeremie Boga. A really special talent, only just turned 17 and beats 19/20 yr olds with ease. 3 years age diff is a massive amount to give away at that age. But its not the dribbling skills that make him special, it's the all round package. Bulky for his age, yet unexpectedly agile, he's got an eye for a pass, great spacial awareness, and shows a high degree of footballing intelligence.
Watching the Derby youth cup game, I remember him trying to make an audacious reverse pass to Kiwomya (?) near the end which would have put him straight through. Didn't quite pull it off but I found myself disagreeing strongly with Clive Walkers commentary when he said the pass didn't look on, and he should have tried the simple square ball instead. I'm strongly of the opinion that Walker is in no position to pass judgement as to whether or not the pass was on as he wasn't on the pitch so would have failed to pick on up the subtle movements, momentums, dynamics, and angles of the situation. Boga 'intuited' a pass that few would have, showing great vision and imagination which are innate qualities, not learned. We, and English football in general, should be encouraging creative football at that age, and not drumming it out of players and transforming special talents such as Boga into another safe square ball robot. How the hell do you think Spain got so damned good at the passing game? Besides which, he was practically in the opp penalty area so not exactly in a risky situation if posession was lost. He should keep on with his imaginative football and Walker needs to take a bath on that one. Rant over.
Still early days, but if Boga keeps developing we'll have a 25m+ player on our hands in 3 or 4 years - he's easily in the same class as Oscar/Hazard.
None more so than one Jeremie Boga. A really special talent, only just turned 17 and beats 19/20 yr olds with ease. 3 years age diff is a massive amount to give away at that age. But its not the dribbling skills that make him special, it's the all round package. Bulky for his age, yet unexpectedly agile, he's got an eye for a pass, great spacial awareness, and shows a high degree of footballing intelligence.
Watching the Derby youth cup game, I remember him trying to make an audacious reverse pass to Kiwomya (?) near the end which would have put him straight through. Didn't quite pull it off but I found myself disagreeing strongly with Clive Walkers commentary when he said the pass didn't look on, and he should have tried the simple square ball instead. I'm strongly of the opinion that Walker is in no position to pass judgement as to whether or not the pass was on as he wasn't on the pitch so would have failed to pick on up the subtle movements, momentums, dynamics, and angles of the situation. Boga 'intuited' a pass that few would have, showing great vision and imagination which are innate qualities, not learned. We, and English football in general, should be encouraging creative football at that age, and not drumming it out of players and transforming special talents such as Boga into another safe square ball robot. How the hell do you think Spain got so damned good at the passing game? Besides which, he was practically in the opp penalty area so not exactly in a risky situation if posession was lost. He should keep on with his imaginative football and Walker needs to take a bath on that one. Rant over.
Still early days, but if Boga keeps developing we'll have a 25m+ player on our hands in 3 or 4 years - he's easily in the same class as Oscar/Hazard.
