Lamine Yamal v Cole Palmer

horsechoker

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Is it fair to compare them?

They're probably the 2 best young attacking players in the world right now. Despite Yamal's age he's playing like a 20 something.

Palmer is doing it in a harder league though.
 
How is this an actual comparison? Palmer could almost be Yamal's father.
 
Of course it's fair. But they're pretty similar in terms of performance level so it's kinda pointless.

What we should do is throw Antony in there for a point of reference
 
How is it that other teams end up with great wide players (even at 16/17 years old) and we have a bunch that can barely do anything and cost a fortune (Antony, Sancho) or are among Europes highest paid players (Rashford)
 
redNATION said:
How is it that other teams end up with great wide players (even at 16/17 years old) and we have a bunch that can barely do anything and cost a fortune (Antony, Sancho) or are among Europes highest paid players (Rashford)
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You know how.
 
Palmer is 5 years older and plays in a very different manner, it’s a completely pointless comparison.
 
I’m just glad we’ve moved on as a society from thinking Foden is at this level
 
A better comparison could be between Yamal and Estevao, when Estevao has had a couple of years in Europe.
 
GlasgowCeltic said:
I’m just glad we’ve moved on as a society from thinking Foden is at this level
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I’d take Yamal easy. Seems to have much more to his game.
 
How about comparing a sponge cake to a Ferrari? This site loves atrocious comparisons.
 
Revival2024 said:
How about comparing a sponge cake to a Ferrari? This site loves atrocious comparisons.
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Imagine the outrage if there was a thread Haaland vs Hojlund, when the difference in their development and age is about half of the difference between Palmer and Yamal :lol:
 
They’re not really that comparable as players.

Whilst I think Palmer is extremely good, I’d probably pick Yamal.

You mention the weaker league tax, but one thing you fail to mention in Yamal’s defence is how he was pretty much Spain’s best attacker to help win them the Euros (although in Palmer’s defence he did do well in the limited minutes he got).
 
Far too early to deem them the two best young attacking players in the world given the existence of Bellingham, Wirtz, Musiala, etc.

But if I had to pick one player out of that whole group to build around it would be Yamal just because his trajectory is so unusual that I think he has the best chance to be that next level generation-defining player.
 
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If Lamine Yamal were English youse have made him King of England by now

Ffs
 
RG77 said:
I’d take Yamal easy. Seems to have much more to his game.
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What doesn’t Palmer have in his game out of curiosity? His passing is fantastic, his crossing is fantastic, he can score any type of goal in open play, can score from free kicks, is automatic from the penalty spot, scores against the big teams. He can dribble and beat players with the ball at his feet. He’s also doing all of that in a much tougher league.

Palmer is an extremely complete footballer. So what does “much more to his game” mean?
 
Orc said:
What doesn’t Palmer have in his game out of curiosity? His passing is fantastic, his crossing is fantastic, he can score any type of goal in open play, can score from free kicks, is automatic from the penalty spot, scores against the big teams. He can dribble and beat players with the ball at his feet. He’s also doing all of that in a much tougher league.

Palmer is an extremely complete footballer. So what does “much more to his game” mean?
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He's got no pace and has a weird face. Plus he's really, really northern.
 
duffer said:
He's got no pace and has a weird face. Plus he's really, really northern.
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True, he’s got absolutely no “aura” to him as the kids say today. :lol: He’s a really awkward guy.
 
Why is there a need for such a comparison? :lol:

Palmer reminds me of Havertz's hype when he first came through at Leverkusen, he was hailed as a dangerous 2nd striker and top threat in the box who could do everything (his height is deceptive, never seen Kai too effective aerially) and ultimately both are Müller type players. They aren't out and out strikers or midfielders, they are very good at finding opportunities in the spaces left unmarked between the opposition midfield and backline and can pull CBs/MFs out of position. Such players as good as they are, are exciting when mainly when they score because they aren't gifted with technical brilliance on the ball and mainly excel at finding space to make decisive touches.

Yamal is a technically brilliant creative winger who may very likely top La Liga's assists table at 17 this season if not the next few ones. The quality of the balls he delivers is excellent and he is a rare example of a fully European academy developed player with legit South American street football flair, dribbling, and technique. Nobody will say "If his name was Yamalinho he would be contending for BdO" because even Brazilian fans would want Yamal starting for them over Vini. Everytime he gets the ball the touches are exciting, people are beginning to expect wizardry....
 
Powderfinger said:
Far too early to deem them the two best young attacking players in the world given the existence of Bellingham, Wirtz, Musiala, etc.

But if I had to pick one player out of that whole group to build around it would be Yamal just because his trajectory is so unusual that I think he has the best chance to be that next level generation-defining player.
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This gets a chuckle out of me given one’s just sauntered to a European Championship with young player - and goal - of the tournament without breaking a sweat whilst all of the others huffed and puffed with every sinew and came up short.

Of course the sample size is tiny, but the trajectory is off the charts to this point in time; even among wonder kids like the rest of them are, this is clearly something else.
 
horsechoker said:
Is it fair to compare them?
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No. Palmer is more than 5 years older.

The only player in the Premier League in the same age group as Yamal (born 2007) who is getting any kind of playing time is Nwaneri at Arsenal.
 
Fortitude said:
This gets a chuckle out of me given one’s just sauntered to a European Championship with young player - and goal - of the tournament without breaking a sweat whilst all of the others huffed and puffed with every sinew and came up short.

Of course the sample size is tiny, but the trajectory is off the charts to this point in time; even among wonder kids like the rest of them are, this is clearly something else.
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Yamal, Musiala, and Wirtz were a refereeing error in extra time away from potentially switching outcomes in the European Championship. I'll never understand how a team accolade like this supposedly makes one suggestion a fact and the other one laughable. Tiny margins.

Bellingham scored a goal just as amazing in the European Championship by the way.
Musiala ended up on 3 goals with fewer games, Wirtz on 2 goals with fewer games, Bellingham on 2. Yamal, who was of course amazing in the tournament, ended up with 1 goal.

Yamal is an extremely special kid of course, but the hype is unreal at the moment.
 
Yamal and it's not even close for me. Despite Palmer being really good too
 
desertegil said:
No. Palmer is more than 5 years older.

The only player in the Premier League in the same age group as Yamal (born 2007) who is getting any kind of playing time is Nwaneri at Arsenal.
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But people in here are saying Yamal is better. Yamal is playing like 23 year old coming into his prime
 
Lyricist said:
Yamal, Musiala, and Wirtz were a refereeing error in extra time away from potentially switching outcomes in the European Championship. I'll never understand how a team accolade like this supposedly makes one suggestion a fact and the other one laughable. Tiny margins.

Bellingham scored a goal just as amazing in the European Championship by the way.
Musiala ended up on 3 goals with fewer games, Wirtz on 2 goals with fewer games, Bellingham on 2. Yamal, who was of course amazing in the tournament, ended up with 1 goal.

Yamal is an extremely special kid of course, but the hype is unreal at the moment.
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I’m sorry but the comments around all of these players from the tournament itself are documented here; none of the others were on Yamal’s level. There’s no hype to that.
 
Palmer is a much better player at the moment. Yamal is still extremely young but some of you are way OTT with the hype you are building around him.
 
Orc said:
What doesn’t Palmer have in his game out of curiosity? His passing is fantastic, his crossing is fantastic, he can score any type of goal in open play, can score from free kicks, is automatic from the penalty spot, scores against the big teams. He can dribble and beat players with the ball at his feet. He’s also doing all of that in a much tougher league.

Palmer is an extremely complete footballer. So what does “much more to his game” mean?
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For me I don’t consider either is passing, dribbling nor crossing as particularly fantastic. Not that he is bad or anything but a lot of the assets of his game are rather ‘solid’ but I don’t think he particularly excels at anything. Though he is seemingly putting up the numbers. So fair play there.

Yamal I’d consider a better dribbler and have greater decision-making. Especially at his age. On top I’d say he is more well defined as an attacker: a real wing player, which I don’t really see with Palmer. Or not to that extent I guess.

With all that being said: there is a non-zero chance Barca runs him into the ground like they’ve been doing most of their talents so who knows what things will look like in a season or two.
 
Fortitude said:
I’m sorry but the comments around all of these players from the tournament itself are documented here; none of the others were on Yamal’s level. There’s no hype to that.
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In WhoScored's player ratings for the European Championship Yamal (7.61 rating on average) sits at #3 for best rated player of the tournament, with Musiala (7.51 rating on average) at #7.
I just don't think the 0.1 difference in averages or the difference between #3 and #7 warrant "a chuckle" for comparing these placers or for mentioning them together when talking about the best young players in the world.

Wirtz ended Bayern's title dominance with Leverkusen, won the cup, and became German player of the year ahead of Musiala.
Bellingham was player of the season for the team that won the Champions League.
Musiala had his own Agueroooo moment the season before last.
Yamal is insane of course. But it's not like only because he's burst onto the scene in such stunning fashion, none of those others exist anymore. Bellingham, Wirtz, and Musiala all have years of being excellent under their belt.
 
Kush said:
Palmer is a much better player at the moment. Yamal is still extremely young but some of you are way OTT with the hype you are building around him.
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People are saying it because Yamal was the star of the Spanish team that won the Euros against an England team where Palmer was a substitute, and he won the Young Player award with 4 assists for Spain who had a much harder draw versus England. He is better than Palmer at 16, 17 and now too.

The last time people felt this excited was for 18yo Mbappe at Monaco and WC2018, and the previous time was probably Messi?
 
I’m pretty damn happy with Cole. I don’t watch Barca play, but Yamal looks to be an exciting young player. I hope they both keep growing with their respective games.
 
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