Dan Ashworth, the new FA director of elite development, charged with improving English youth talent, has named seven players who he feels will be the 'future of English football'. The list includes Jack Wilshere, Danny Welbeck, Wilfried Zaha, Thomas Ince, Raheem Sterling, former Saint Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Luke Shaw (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22104553). While this is obviously a compliment to Shaw's ability and despite the fact that this is a media stunt, full of players from bigger teams, it is slightly myopic and worrying that the new director has highlighted mainly pacey attacking players, many of whom are arguably not very technically gifted. Does this suggest that despite the clear benefits of English football will continue to favour strength and pace over technique and ability to read the game?
I spotted that one as well OROW as well, here's a link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22104553 Shaw is the youngest of those so clearly the England people will be trying to bring him on in their teams. I don't know if he has played for the U21s yet but he will be there next time round. In three years he'll still be a young defender, loads of time to develop yet, him and a newly signed up Adam up that wing, gonna be nice.
Hell of a statement. All of those players could fail to become world stars for various reasons. Wilshere needs to stop getting injured every season, and for the others it remains to be seen if they'll be getting regular games. Shaw obviously will if he stays at Saints, but will he? Welbeck needs to improve or move to a slightly lesser club if he wants to be a regular; Zaha, Ince and Sterling are yet to establish themselves in the top level, and Chamberlain should get into the Arsenal team a lot but you never know with Wenger's often baffling selection policy. Also I think he's overlooked Nick Powell who is a hell of a talent.
While this will be a massive ego boost to those 7 (which isn't necessarily a good thing) its surely got to make other up and coming english youth prospects like nick powell and ward-prowse feel a bit rubbish?
Non story for me. We don't care about players like this that we already know about. I'd prefer to hear about players playing at a much lower level. And like Joe said, he's missed out players like Nick Powell, and also Will Hughes of Derby.
Our boy Luke though, he's so young it's embarrassing, he is gonna be the man. Just had a look through the England teams (wiki ) to find out who the second best English 17 year old is... Jordan Ibe? Chuba Akpom? Ok in fairness that Will Hughes guy is very good.
Danny Welbeck, Wilfired Zaha?? Bit iffy on Ince being in that list as well, but great news .... but something we already knew
Or Kyle Walker, who is all pace and strength and no awareness or positional sense. Ps. I actually think Welbeck is one of the most exciting despite many other people's misgivings!
Danny Welbeck is 22, give him a chance. Some of you may be made to eat your words in the next couple of years.
I did say not the way he has been playing this season. I have no doubt he will improve, it's just a matter of how much.
