I don't think he will turn out anything like Ramires!
Is he not set to develop into an Andres Iniesta-type player?
His technical ability and awareness are what stands out, am I right?
David Stowell @dstowellmedia
Larnell Cole absent from #MUTour due to a slight injury
Yep, Larnell Cole will develop into a much more creative player than Ramires is but wont have as much defensive solidity.
His positions are as an attacking midfielder on either flank or behind the striker. He may one day play in a deeper role in midfield but that wont be for a long time yet.
Larnell Cole is 5'6", Ramires is 5'11", the same height as Phil Jones.
Jones is 6'1
I see the comparison because of his stature and pace. Ramires has a good touch as well, if Cole can become a more creative Ramires then he will be some player.
Larnell's problem has always been his height/strength..or lack of it. He's always been very good technically and an intelligent player, he just has no physical presence at all.
Look at Raheem Sterling and Coutinho.
The thing is Coutinho is easily a better player than both of them. That's the difference. Sterling is probably more talented also.
But the point stands, no? We shouldn't expect Cole to be as good as Premier League starters yet, but they show that lightweight players can now prosper if they have the talent to back it up. Whether he does indeed have that talent is something we'll find out when he gets his chances.
Some of these lads are the same age though. Call them early bloomers, or whatever, but I think they're just better. Lingard isn't exactly small. I like having them both about because they're two of our better u21 players. But, for their sake, they need a permanent step up soon. Whether that happens here though, I'm not sure.
It's a fair point. Personally, I've never thought that Lingard had quite enough. He's very talented, but he's been showing the same level consistently for a while and I don't think he'll be United standard.
But Cole doesn't seem anywhere close to levelling off yet. He's getting better all the time. I don't think Sterling is much better, really - he just got an opportunity which United youngsters don't get, because 'Pool's squad is so shit by comparison. Coutinho, similarly, has had opportunities in the first team of big sides since a very young age (and is also more than a year older). Until you actually let Cole play first team football, it's unfair to assume that he wouldn't be as good at it as these lads.
I hate to write off our youngsters, especially two talented players like these, but I just don't think they have enough. It's fair enough saying they deserve a shot before being compared to people like Coutinho, but Coutinho is doing things in the Premiership that these lads aren't even doing in the u21s. There's nothing to suggest they'd do better at a higher level.
Cole is easy to get carried away about because he's got nice feet and is tidy. But he doesn't offer a lot defensively and he never really dominates the midfield at that level. In fact, we often have to play him out wide.
Have you not noticed over the past couple of months how he's shifted inside and he's really improved.
It's a fair point. Personally, I've never thought that Lingard had quite enough. He's very talented, but he's been showing the same level consistently for a while and I don't think he'll be United standard.
But Cole doesn't seem anywhere close to levelling off yet. He's getting better all the time. I don't think Sterling is much better, really - he just got an opportunity which United youngsters don't get, because 'Pool's squad is so shit by comparison. Coutinho, similarly, has had opportunities in the first team of big sides since a very young age (and is also more than a year older). Until you actually let Cole play first team football, it's unfair to assume that he wouldn't be as good at it as these lads.
I don't agree with that at all. If anything, Cole's the one who has looked like stagnating this season. A few good games at the end doesn't change the fact that it's been a mediocre season for him. Jesse, on the other hand, has taken his game to another level in terms of consistency. Granted, he's looked a bit tired for about a month or so, but prior to that he was one of our best players in every game he played.
I hate to write off our youngsters, especially two talented players like these, but I just don't think they have enough. It's fair enough saying they deserve a shot before being compared to people like Coutinho, but Coutinho is doing things in the Premiership that these lads aren't even doing in the u21s. There's nothing to suggest they'd do better at a higher level.
Cole is easy to get carried away about because he's got nice feet and is tidy. But he doesn't offer a lot defensively and he never really dominates the midfield at that level. In fact, we often have to play him out wide.
