Players you're looking forward to seeing next season

londonredmaniac

I suffer delusions of grandeur
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Righto...coming away from having an embolism about the idea of starting next season without signing a central midfielder I focused on something positive. There are a number of players in the reserves and academy I'm looking forward to keeping an eye on next season. Some are obvious...but I thought it would be an interesting thread to share some thoughts in.

So, in no particular order:

1. Davide Petrucci.

After that horrible injury it's good to see him playing again. Impressed me again and looking forward to seeing how he develops. Would a loan move be the most sensible option? Somewhere in the Championship? Bit early to be involved in the first team? Whatever I look forward to watching him develop.

2. Mats Daelhi

Every time I've watched him he's been fantastic. Loves t be on the ball, seems to do the right things with it and is a player I have genuine high hopes for. What's the shout? A few years in the reserves before a loan move? He really does look a confident, energetic and imaginative lad.

3. Jack Barmby

Not without his critics, he's another I just enjoy watching. Touch of class, good vision, scores his share of goals...views?

4. Adnan Januzaj

Not seen alot of him to be fair. But reports from the better informed on here tell me he is probably our stand out youngster in the academy. Should be interesting to see how he develops next season. An exciting prospect from all I hear.

5. Jesse Lingard

Added some goals to his game this season and seems to have come on and progressed well. He might well be loaned and I'll be interested to see what he can do against bigger and more developed opposition. Always impressed me mind.

6. Larnell Cole

Recent interview with him showed him to be very down to earth and someone who genuinely enjoys his football. You don't get much higher praise than off Sir Paul...so be interesting to see what goes on with him if he goes on loan. Will he stay as a central midfielder?

7. Will and Michael Keane.

Shame about the injury to Will and one hopes he can come back in the same form as he showed last season because, quite frankly, he was sensational at reserve level. His control and ability with the ball at his feet is sublime and as a finisher...he gives me real hope we have a gem. Michael might be another set to go on loan and he looks solid, confident and might be another that goes the Johnny Evans route. Impressed and look forward to seeing more.

8. Andreas Perreira

Okay...I've only seen him on youtube...but fecking hell he looks a class act at youth level. I imagine he'll be in abouts the academy for a year or two?

9. Tyler Blackett

Many think he has more talent then Fryers...and I thought Fryers looked a decent player. Again...quite a few on here who know more than I do.

10. Ryan Tunnicliffe

He's full blooded in the challenge, a real competitor and can certainly pass the ball. Is he the closest of our current young crop to the first team? A few loan spells already...again should be an interesting season for him.
 
All of the names in OP I look forward to seeing. Nothing better than watching a young player go from raw talent through to maturing and reaching the first team. Out of that list I would say almost all of them have the potential to make a big impression here. Obviously it takes more than technical ability to make it but that's one hell of a good start
 
There's a few players that you haven't mentioned I'm looking forward to seeing as well.

Tom Lawrence - Thought he really stepped up early last season as one of the senior players at academy level. Unfortunately he missed a lot of football due to injury so I'm looking forward to seeing how he adapts to reserve football next term.

James Wilson - Really excited about watching him develop at the club. Seem to be a class player and the impact he made a a schoolboy last season was impresive, particularly considering he missed time with a pretty serious injury. We lack a bit of depth up front so he'll have the chance for plenty of games again.

Joe Rothwell - Really liked the look of Rothwell early last season but again he was another who picked up an injury which kept him out for large part of the season. Seems a really hard working midfielder who is a composed passer and also has goal in him.

Ben Pearson - Really nice footballer but a bit on the small side. However that didn't stop him getting stuck in every time he played last season. He was by no means disappointing last season but I could see him coming on leaps and bounds this year a la Jessie Lingard and Larnell Cole in recent years.

I think it's fair to say we've got a very exciting bunch of technically gifted players coming through the ranks at the moment.
 
Most interested in Tunnicliffe, Janujaz, Petrucci, Cole, Lingard, Will Keane and Cofie.

If I'm not mistaken Janujaz was only with the academy team last season, if he played for the reserves I missed it, I'm hoping he'll make the step up to the reserve team this season. He was by far the name that stuck out the most from the academy team games, highlights and articles I saw.
 
I'm hoping Amos gets a loan spell where he can start next season, he's really put on some strength, I thought he looked very strong for us last season.
 
Dæhli, Pereira and Januzaj of the academy-kids, Davide from the reserves :drool: I have no idea how we'll fit in all of them in a few years though!
 
Agree with all them londonred.

Also people should keep an eye on Ben Pearson and Joe Rothwell. I loved watching these two play together and im sure the more others see of them they will also.

They are similar in that they are both midfielders who enjoy possession and have fantastic technique and one touch play with and eye for a killer pass and a goal as well. Where they differ is Roth has more pace and can be played out wide as well as through the middle, whereas Ben has great tenacity when winning the ball back despite being a small lad. He also is excellent at finding space for himself. He is the deep lying playmaker who keeps things ticking over and is always available and his passing range is fantastic. He can shoot too. He is a tough little lad as well and his only weakness was his size and this became less and of a problem as the season went on last year.

They both missed a huge chunk in the middle of last season through injury, but as they returned towards the end they were bossing the games against older stronger teams which looked very encouraging. They also have a great understanding with eachother as they are both local lads who have been at the club since a young age and they have played together right the way through, including for England.

Also interested to see how Lawrence, Mcullogch and Charni get on in the reserves next year.

Obvious one but keep an eye on Perreira also.
 
The OP's right, Blackett does have more talent than Fryers. I've always liked the look of him. Amazing athlete for his age. Aspects of his game need work but the talent's there.

As for the others:

-I'd like to see Cole get a loan move. It could be the making of him.
-Like Pogue, I was disappointed when Keane got injured. He had a great chance of either having a few first-team games here or going on loan and getting more regular football elsewhere.
-I think Petrucci has a decent chance of getting some first-team football this year. I think he's outgrown the reserves, so maybe a loan move?
Overall, this year's academy side looks really exciting with some excellent, technically-gifted young midfielders (Daelhi, Januzaj etc.) coming through.

One other thing that I'd love to see is a striker coming through in the academy. We've been short in that area over the last 2 years. Maybe Sam Byrne will do it.
 
In the first team, I'm looking forward to seeing Petrucci and Brady hopefully cutting their teeth in the first-team, with someone like Michael Keane building on his sub appearance last season. Hopefully Macheda finally makes a breakthrough as he's been treading water for too long now IMHO.

Away from the first team then loan moves for Amos and Tunnicliffe at upper Championship teams should be the making of them.
 
I'm looking forward to see how Joshua Harrop comes along next season. Supposed to be very talented and did very well against Swansea in my opinion(in the youth cup).
 
Here's how I'm looking at it now. I'm excited about the kids coming through...massively so. If Fergie hasn't identified the player he wants to bring in fine.

I don't mind having a transitional season either...but for the love of god don't bring in cut price shite and let the kids have a go.

I'm happy for Powell to have a go. I'm happy for Petrucci to get his chance and I'm hoping to see Robbie Brady get a few games. If Tunners doesn't go on loan and he is biting in the challenge let's have a look...see if he can give us something different.

I want a world class central midfielder...but if we don't get one I'd like to see some of the kids given a real chance.

All that being said...it's just an opinion. I'm sure Fergie and his team know a little bit more than me ;)
 
Jack Barmby's the one I'm looking forward to watching. He was by far the most talented player in the youth team last season. He's got that classy ease of doing things that other players find difficult. Even in both of the Youth Cup semis against Chelsea he was the best player on the pitch for either side. He just seems to tire very easily and is extremely lightweight, but hopefully those are the areas where he will progress.

Mats Daelhi is interesting too. He looks like he's escaped from the Arsenal school of pointless attacking midfielders, but if he can add the cutting edge he'll be a really exciting player.


To be honest, there's not really any others for me, going from the reserve and youth cup teams of last season. Petrucci is very talented but at some point he's going to have to do something other than linger around in the reserves, and he wont be thrown into the first team often enough for it to be much help to him.

Will Keane had been finding reserve football far too easy for a long while but I wouldn't think he'd make it as a top level striker. The injury is a huge shame for him but he'll bounce back. Tyler Blackett I like, but it might just be because he's ridiculously huge and takes freekicks hard.

A lot of people place hopes on or talk up Tunnicliffe but I just don't see it. He runs around a lot and tackles people. When he's got the ball at his feet he's nowhere near good enough. Pogba was head and shoulders above every other player at reserve level in terms of talent (with the possible exception of Petrucci), and he couldn't get a game, so I can't see any of the other midfielders or forwards stepping up.

There's a couple on the list I've never really seen play so can't comment on.

Plus I liked the look of Rothwell when I saw him play. He was very good at the Milk Cup last year, but he suddenly disappeared.
 
londonredmaniac said:
Here's how I'm looking at it now. I'm excited about the kids coming through...massively so. If Fergie hasn't identified the player he wants to bring in fine.

I don't mind having a transitional season either...but for the love of god don't bring in cut price shite and let the kids have a go.

I'm happy for Powell to have a go. I'm happy for Petrucci to get his chance and I'm hoping to see Robbie Brady get a few games. If Tunners doesn't go on loan and he is biting in the challenge let's have a look...see if he can give us something different.

I want a world class central midfielder...but if we don't get one I'd like to see some of the kids given a real chance.

All that being said...it's just an opinion. I'm sure Fergie and his team know a little bit more than me ;)
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The problem is he had Pogba on the books last season. You wont find a better kid on the planet to slot into central midfield and "give a go"...and then when it came down to it, Fergie selected players like Park, Gibson, Rafael, Rooney, etc to play there instead.

None of the current crop of youngsters are at Pogba's level. Powell I've not watched properly and Petrucci is pretty close, but they're both attacking players...if there's one thing I'd like to see less than slotting people who aren't midfielders into midfield, is slotting kids who aren't midfielders into midfield (see Phil Jones and Champions League group stage exit, and Frederico Macheda the left footed winger).
 
noodlehair said:
The problem is he had Pogba on the books last season. You wont find a better kid on the planet to slot into central midfield and "give a go"...and then when it came down to it, Fergie selected players like Park, Gibson, Rafael, Rooney, etc to play there instead.

None of the current crop of youngsters are at Pogba's level. Powell I've not watched properly and Petrucci is pretty close, but they're both attacking players...if there's one thing I'd like to see less than slotting people who aren't midfielders into midfield, is slotting kids who aren't midfielders into midfield (see Phil Jones and Champions League group stage exit, and Frederico Macheda the left footed winger).
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You can't have watched Pogba very much to come to that conclusion.

Petrucci out-performed him in every game I watched them play last season and when he is playing well Pogba does his best work in the exact same areas of the pitch that Petrucci and (apparently) Powell like to play. All three of them are central midfielders with an eye for a goal. If anything, Petrucci is the most defensively minded of the lot. Certainly looked a lot more willing to get stuck in and make some tackles than Pogba did last season.

I do agree that it's unlikely that either Petrucci or Powell will see much first-team football next season but if they do it will be in the Carling Cup. At which point they'll need to perform a hell of a lot better than Pogba did if they want to have any hope of starting a PL game.
 
Pogba didn't looked impressive at all in the reserves. Yes he was the most talented of them all, but he didn't really dominated the midfield even at reserve matches. I thought the likes of Petrucci, Lingard(in midfield) out performed his last season.
 
KM said:
Pogba didn't looked impressive at all in the reserves. Yes he was the most talented of them all, but he didn't really dominated the midfield even at reserve matches. I thought the likes of Petrucci, Lingard(in midfield) out performed his last season.
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Agreed. It was frustrating to watch. He definitely has all the tools to be a top player but he seemed a long way short of putting it altogether. With hindsight, you'd wonder if his focus was what it should have been. Maybe his head was already in Italy?
 
Pogue Mahone said:
You can't have watched Pogba very much to come to that conclusion.

Petrucci out-performed him in every game I watched them play last season and when he is playing well Pogba does his best work in the exact same areas of the pitch that Petrucci and (apparently) Powell like to play. All three of them are central midfielders with an eye for a goal. If anything, Petrucci is the most defensively minded of the lot. Certainly looked a lot more willing to get stuck in and make some tackles than Pogba did last season.

I do agree that it's unlikely that either Petrucci or Powell will see much first-team football next season but if they do it will be in the Carling Cup. At which point they'll need to perform a hell of a lot better than Pogba did if they want to have any hope of starting a PL game.
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KM said:
Pogba didn't looked impressive at all in the reserves. Yes he was the most talented of them all, but he didn't really dominated the midfield even at reserve matches. I thought the likes of Petrucci, Lingard(in midfield) out performed his last season.
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You're a pair of weirdos. Pogba stuck out so much in the reserves it was completely embarassing. I agree Petrucci looked good but he's not nearly as comfortable on the ball as Pogba is. Especially when he's having to sit behind the play.

Who outperformed who is a bit of a different argument. Valencia out performed Rooney last season for me. Rooney still stuck out as being obviously our best player.

Although having said that there were very few reserve games Pogba played where he wasn't the stand out player for me. One or two where he was stuck out on the wing, and that one against Newcastle (I think?) where he played most of the game limping around with an injury and for some reason wasn't taken off.

He's definitely a significantly better and more natural central midfielder than anyone else we have/had at that level. It was the same in the youth team the previous season.
 
noodlehair said:
You're a pair of weirdos. Pogba stuck out so much in the reserves it was completely embarassing. I agree Petrucci looked good but he's not nearly as comfortable on the ball as Pogba is. Especially when he's having to sit behind the play.

Who outperformed who is a bit of a different argument. Valencia out performed Rooney last season for me. Rooney still stuck out as being obviously our best player.

Although having said that there were very few reserve games Pogba played where he wasn't the stand out player for me. One or two where he was stuck out on the wing, and that one against Newcastle (I think?) where he played most of the game limping around with an injury and for some reason wasn't taken off.

He's definitely a significantly better and more natural central midfielder than anyone else we have/had at that level.
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It's directly relevant when you're talking about reserve/fringe players trying to get picked for the first team. Don't perform, don't get picked. Simple really.

Regardless who was the "best" player for our reserves last season (and I assume here you're using "best" to mean the player who has the most potential, in which case I agree) my point stands about the position him and Petrucci played. Fergie's recent comments (along with Dario Gradi's and those from Powell himself) would seem to indicate that his "natural" position is also in central midfield. Which means all three of them play the same position.
 
It's simple for me.

Most talented out of the bunch- Pogba

But was he the best performer in our reserve last season- Not by a long shot.
 
Pogue Mahone said:
It's directly relevant when you're talking about reserve/fringe players trying to get picked for the first team. Don't perform, don't get picked. Simple really.

Regardless who was the "best" player for our reserves last season (and I assume here you're using "best" to mean the player who has the most potential, in which case I agree) my point stands about the position him and Petrucci played. Fergie's recent comments (along with Dario Gradi's and those from Powell himself) would seem to indicate that his "natural" position is also in central midfield. Which means all three of them play the same position.
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I haven't seen enough of Powell to comment. In fact I've only watched hm play once, in the Play Off final, where he wasn't in midfield. Other than that there's just loads of youtube clips of him scoring goals from about 40 yards against dodgy keepers. We'll have to wait and see with him I guess.

Petrucci might have played a similar role to Pogba in the reserves, but Pogba's a far more natural central midfielder. Petrucci is more suited to attacking and opening up defences, where as Pogba is a natural at keeping the ball and finding the right pass from anywhere on the pitch. Surely you can see that? There's no way I'd be comfortable with Petrucci playing instead of Carrick or Scholes in a two man midfield, for example, where as someone like Pogba probably could.

KM said:
It's simple for me.

Most talented out of the bunch- Pogba

But was he the best performer in our reserve last season- Not by a long shot.
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But then it's interesting how you've worked out he was the most talented reserve player when last season was the only season he really spent playing at reserve level.

I don't really care if other players looked like they put more into it. He stuck out like a sore thumb as being a level or two above the rest talent wise and that's what you're looking for really. Even in that game where we stuck Cleverley, Jones Smalling etc. in the team, he still looked the most comfortable player talent wise.
 
noodlehair said:
I haven't seen enough of Powell to comment. In fact I've only watched hm play once, in the Play Off final, where he wasn't in midfield. Other than that there's just loads of youtube clips of him scoring goals from about 40 yards against dodgy keepers. We'll have to wait and see with him I guess.

Petrucci might have played a similar role to Pogba in the reserves, but Pogba's a far more natural central midfielder. Petrucci is more suited to attacking and opening up defences, where as Pogba is a natural at keeping the ball and finding the right pass from anywhere on the pitch. Surely you can see that? There's no way I'd be comfortable with Petrucci playing instead of Carrick or Scholes in a two man midfield, for example, where as someone like Pogba probably could.
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Glimpses of that the season before last. very little in 11/12.

For me he looks very comfortable on the ball, has a cracking shot and a good eye for a pass (when he's given time and space) but he never looked close to being the sort of player you're describing. Didn't work hard enough and his movement was mediocre, at best. Had a habit of letting games (and opposition runners) pass him by. And that's against reserves opposition. Even the much-maligned Darron Gibson seemed to have a better idea of what's required from our central midfielders than Pogba did.

In all his first team games (bar that impressive cameo where he had a completely free role against Stoke) the same flaws were exposed. It was embarrassing for the poor lad against Leeds (or maybe Palace?) when he came off the bench, only to play so ineptly that Fergie had to switch him into central defence to try and get a grip of midfield again. For me, he's a very classy young player who will probably go on to have a great career. He's got a lot of hard work to do first, though, and I think his overall performance last season (at reserves and first-team level) didn't come close to justifying any more appearances than he got. If anything, I think he got more first-team action than he deserved - because Fergie was trying to keep him sweet during the contract negotiations.

Of course, none of this has anything to do with whether or not Petrucci and Powell will get many games in the season ahead. If they do, though, they'll need to make more of whatever opportunities they do get than Pogba did with his, that's for sure. Regarding the positions they'll be asked to play that depends on where the vacancies arise. That's the nature of being a kid on the fringes of the first team. You take your chances where you can get them. It won't always be your preferred position but it's a chance to get some valuable experience under your belt regardless.
 
Pogue Mahone said:
Glimpses of that the season before last. very little in 11/12.

For me he looks very comfortable on the ball, has a cracking shot and a good eye for a pass (when he's given time and space) but he never looked close to being the sort of player you're describing. Didn't work hard enough and his movement was mediocre, at best. Had a habit of letting games (and opposition runners) pass him by. And that's against reserves opposition. Even the much-maligned Darron Gibson seemed to have a better idea of what's required from our central midfielders than Pogba did.

In all his first team games (bar that impressive cameo where he had a completely free role against Stoke) the same flaws were exposed. It was embarrassing for the poor lad against Leeds (or maybe Palace?) when he came off the bench, only to play so ineptly that Fergie had to switch him into central defence to try and get a grip of midfield again. For me, he's a very classy young player who will probably go on to have a great career. He's got a lot of hard work to do first, though, and I think his overall performance last season (at reserves and first-team level) didn't come close to justifying any more appearances than he got. If anything, I think he got more first-team action than he deserved - because Fergie was trying to keep him sweet during the contract negotiations.

Of course, none of this has anything to do with whether or not Petrucci and Powell will get many games in the season ahead. If they do, though, they'll need to make more of whatever opportunities they do get than Pogba did with his, that's for sure. Regarding the positions they'll be asked to play that depends on where the vacancies arise. That's the nature of being a kid on the fringes of the first team. You take your chances where you can get them. It won't always be your preferred position but it's a chance to get some valuable experience under your belt regardless.
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Id agree with this. For all his obvious talent Pogba I've never seen Pogba control a game or control the tempo of a game he flits in and out of games and while his ability on the ball is fantastic he just seems too laid back in general play and seems happy to just display highlight moments when he gets the chance I think for him to become the world beater some think he will become he will have to up his work rate and desire a lot. With Petrucci especially since he came back you can see that he just wants to make up for time he lost while injured. Since he came back he seems a lot more complete than before and just looks delighted to be back playing putting himself into tackles and involving himself in physical battles which he wasnt inclined to do before the injury. He also seems to have developed his ability to influence the play from deeper as well as still having that spark to open up defences or produce something out of the ordinary around the box, I've been very impressed with him since coming back from injury and really hope he can fulfil the huge potential hes always had.
 
noodlehair said:
Jack Barmby's the one I'm looking forward to watching. He was by far the most talented player in the youth team last season. He's got that classy ease of doing things that other players find difficult. Even in both of the Youth Cup semis against Chelsea he was the best player on the pitch for either side. He just seems to tire very easily and is extremely lightweight, but hopefully those are the areas where he will progress.

Mats Daelhi is interesting too. He looks like he's escaped from the Arsenal school of pointless attacking midfielders, but if he can add the cutting edge he'll be a really exciting player.


To be honest, there's not really any others for me, going from the reserve and youth cup teams of last season. Petrucci is very talented but at some point he's going to have to do something other than linger around in the reserves, and he wont be thrown into the first team often enough for it to be much help to him.

Will Keane had been finding reserve football far too easy for a long while but I wouldn't think he'd make it as a top level striker. The injury is a huge shame for him but he'll bounce back. Tyler Blackett I like, but it might just be because he's ridiculously huge and takes freekicks hard.

A lot of people place hopes on or talk up Tunnicliffe but I just don't see it. He runs around a lot and tackles people. When he's got the ball at his feet he's nowhere near good enough. Pogba was head and shoulders above every other player at reserve level in terms of talent (with the possible exception of Petrucci), and he couldn't get a game, so I can't see any of the other midfielders or forwards stepping up.

There's a couple on the list I've never really seen play so can't comment on.

Plus I liked the look of Rothwell when I saw him play. He was very good at the Milk Cup last year, but he suddenly disappeared.
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I know the arguments moved on a bit to Pogba and Petucci but I just want to mention that on a similar note Barmby certainly wasn't by far the most talented player in the academy last season. I'd say in terms of talent Daelhi, Januzaj, Pearson and Rothwell are all players who are in and around as talented and in some cases possibly more so. He is a player who has some great games, but when it isn't going his way he can have some very poor and frustrating games as well. Also he certainly wasn't the best player on the pitch for either side in both legs against Chelsea, Lucas Piazon was the stand out player for me in those matches.
 
Tunnicliffe has a lot of potential and the drive needed to suceed, plus he's got engine and stamina to do a real box to box role we desperately need. I'm not sure if his future will be with us though.

Petrucci has a lot of talent too but are at the stage when he needs first team football to progress.

I am certain (as can be) the Keane Twins, Cole et al will be big stars. Cole has the most ability imo.

Edit:- Tom Thorpe has a lot of talent and should have a big future too.
 
Just a quick thing on Blackett: does anyone else think he might end up as a midfielder?
 
noodlehair said:
Pogba stuck out so much in the reserves it was completely embarassing. I agree Petrucci looked good but he's not nearly as comfortable on the ball as Pogba is.
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Couldn't disagree more with either statement. Pretty sure you'd be amongst a tiny minority of regular reserve watchers in thinking that (and I rate Pogba extremely highly).
 
noodle's hard on for Pogba is embarrassing stuff "You wont find a better kid on the planet to slot into central midfield and "give a go" " :wenger:
 
Ravel Morrison was more talented than Pogba, but he had less sense than a pastie supper so it was irrelevant.

Pogba was fairly pedestrian in the reserves last season, he didn't look arsed half the time, I know he has a running style that makes him look that way anyway but he wasn't as impressive as he was at a lower level. Maybe he just needed time to adapt or was already biding his time, who knows but the step up from reserve to first team is so big that it's almost a guess, your reserve performance don't mean an awful lot then.

I'd have never thought Welbeck would do as well as he did for example, so it's always surprising.
 
I really like the mentions for Pearson in here, I think technically he's a fantastic player, really modern central midfielder.

Aside from that I'm really positive about our youth prospects, I think Brady will make it, the Keanes, Cole and Lingard all have great chances as well. I have hopes for Pettruci as well as I love his style of play.
 
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