Max Meyer is a lot more of a shooter/goalscorer than Gotze was coming out of the youth systems. If Mario's the german Iniesta, Meyer is the german Messi. Still exciting to see the kid make his debut and do well.
He looks like a player with a decent head... of course he is still adjusting to the Bundesliga (trying to just run on to defenders and beating them like he easily could in junior), but he seems to realize that he can't compete in the league in dribblings and challenges and always seems to find an open man before he runs himself into trouble. I have a little worry he's getting rushed though.
He looks like a player with a decent head... of course he is still adjusting to the Bundesliga (trying to just run on to defenders and beating them like he easily could in junior), but he seems to realize that he can't compete in the league in dribblings and challenges and always seems to find an open man before he runs himself into trouble. I have a little worry he's getting rushed though.
Yeah, I've been very pleased with his decision making so far, adapting to what works in the bigtime is something that seems to come very naturally for him, which is a trait I value a lot in young players. I'm not too worried about him being rushed, like Draxler and Gotze he has shown at a very young age that he'll adapt and figure out what works, but this all depends on what happens with Schalke
The whole future at schalke is very up in the air, do they keep their play up and secure that CL spot, meaning the funds to keep guys like Bastos and add some depth, or do they slump again and have to let Bastos return to Lyon and maybe even sell someone? If they keep it up I think they'll bring along Meyer as he's ready, if they have to start selling then they run the risk of having to bring him along too quickly, but again i'm not too worried about him, unlike a lot of young players who'll struggle and get frustrated if they're asked to play at a level above themselves, he seems like the type who'll adjust and works his way through it. Although ideally they let him spend next year mostly working on his strength, fitting in with the 1st team, and filling in for the established attackers.
Don't know if this was already posted here, it ranks club academies in terms of how many current "top 5 league" players they produce (would have been nice to see if filtered down to top 3 or so but that would probably just devolve into an argument
(edit:
Following the links from that page, I found this really interesting interactive map where you can see how Africa generally Feeds France, which in turn feeds England.
)
Thanks, very interesting table.
Not surprised France develops that many talents, but they lack the elite players at some positions (RB and LB until recently, GK since Lloris, creative wingers, strikers...). But yeah, CB and midfielders are numerous. The depth is amazing at those spots.
Besides Silva, I should have said. But yes, I mean in L1, not nec. French. Thanks
1- Silva
2- Nkoulou
3- Sakho (was good when he played, stats prove it, but hasn't played that much)
4- Ecuele-Manga
5- Chedjou (had a so-so season though)
6- Basa
7- Bisevac
8- Hilton (had a great year last season)
9- Umtiti (has played LB too)
10- Lucas Mendes
11- Lovren (had an awful season)
12- Pejcinovic
13- Alex
14- Abdenour
15- Perrin
16- Zouma (has been great when he's played and obviously on his way up this list)
United's Adnan Januzaj has won the Adidas Golden Ball award for the best player of the 75th edition of the Blue Stars/FIFA Youth Cup held in Zurich, Switzerland. He's a great talent along with the other Belgians in our academy. Hopefully Moyes gives him a chance this season.
Thanks, very interesting table.
Not surprised France develops that many talents, but they lack the elite players at some positions (RB and LB until recently, GK since Lloris, creative wingers, strikers...). But yeah, CB and midfielders are numerous. The depth is amazing at those spots.
RB- Corchia is fantastic, really wish he'd have declared for gli azzurri But being born in France, can't blame him for his choice
Corchia a very nice RB, especially going forward. Still a bit too fragile defensively, and he can make some bad choices.
Still he's a very good RB overall.
But being born in France, can't blame him for his choice
