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This thread is going to be a great treat for the childish FM bashers. But hey, it is festive seasons. Let the idiots enjoy themselves!

 

On a more serious note, what are your opinions on buying young, buying the future, buying the potential?

 

In a football world where the "wonderkids" are snapped up instantly by big clubs, there is realistically little chance for a club like Newcastle to build for the future with young kids. Perhaps Sam's method of going for free senior or the experienced is the only feasible way for this club to move forward?

 

We all know the brilliance of Sergio Aguero, Karim Benzema, Denilson, Giovani dos Santos, Bojan Krkic, Theo Walcott, Adel Taarabt, does anyone here know about the rest? I am also quite surprised that they include Gerard Pique and not Anderson, who has actually played regular good football at Bwin Liga and Premiership at tender 20.

 

The Sun

 

Sergio Aguero, 19, Atletico Madrid, striker

YET another Argentine youngster who has been tagged "the next Maradonna". Aguero joined Atletico aged just 17 in June 2006 from Independiente for a club-record fee of £15.75m. Struggled to cope with the pressure in his debut season but has already scored 12 goals in 22 games this term.

 

 

Ever Banega, 19, Boca Juniors, midfielder

CLASSY holding midfielder who has been linked with moves to some of Europe's biggest clubs. Took over the holding role for Boca when Fernando Gago joined Real Madrid last year and formed a strong partnership with Juan Roman Riquelme as the Argentine giants won the Copa Libertadores — South America's answer to the Champions League.

 

 

Karim Benzema, 20, Lyon, striker

CAME through the ranks at Lyon and has caught the eye of Arsenal, Real Madrid and Juventus after scoring 12 goals in 16 matches this season. Made his international debut for France in March and has netted three times for Les Bleus in eight games. Arsene Wenger described him as "an immense revelation".

 

 

Breno, 18, Bayern Munich, defender

BRAZIL Under-20 skipper who will join the German giants on January 1. Bayern paid Sao Paulo around £8.5million for the skillful central defender. Ex-Brazil and Bayern striker Giovani Elber described Breno as "an absolutely stunning prospect" after he agreed his big-money move.

 

 

Macauley Chrisantus, 17, Hamburg, striker

MANCHESTER UNITED, Tottenham, Arsenal, Manchester City were all interested in signing Chrisantus after his exploits at this year's FIFA Under-17 World Cup. The scintillating striker fired seven goals in seven games and was the top scorer as Nigeria won the competition. Joined Hamburg in November 2007.

 

 

Denilson, 19, Arsenal, midfielder

BRAZILIAN star who is a regular fixture in the Gunners' youthful Carling Cup sides. Bought from Sao Paulo in August 2006 for £3.4m despite just four starts for the club. All-round midfielder who is comfortable going forward but also a tenacious tackler.

 

 

Lorenzo De Silvestri, 19, Lazio, defender

TALENTED full-back who has been tipped as a future Italian international. De Silvestri will be a target for Roma, Juventus and Arsenal in January as he will be available on a Bosman when his contract expires in the summer. Made his Champions League debut in August and has made 12 appearances so far this season.

 

 

Franco Di Santo, 18, Chelsea, striker

ARGENTINE wonderkid who will join the Blues in January for £3.4m from Chilian side Audax Italiano. Like Lucas Leiva at Liverpool, he holds an Italian passport and will be able to play for the Blues immediately. May struggle to break into Avram Grant's star-studded team but should earn a few run outs in cup competitions in 2008.

 

 

Giovani dos Santos, 18, Barcelona, striker

CAME to prominence in 2005 when he was one of stars of the Mexico team that won the FIFA Under-17 World Cup. Has been a regular feature for Barca this season and has managed to keep Ronaldinho out of the starting XI. Already has four caps for Mexico.

 

 

Stevan Jovetic, 18, Partizan Belgrade, striker

A £7m target for Manchester United after becoming the top scorer in the Serbian league with 11 goals. Was named captain of the Montenegro Under-21 side aged just 17 and has already made his full international debut. A creative striker who likes to drop deep and run at defenders. He is also a deadly-accurate finisher.

 

 

Bojan Krkic, 17, Barcelona, striker

HAILED as Spain's answer to Lionel Messi by Barca fans after scoring over 800 goals in the Catalan club's youth teams. Broke the record as the youngest ever player to feature in a Champions League match in September 2007. A month later, he became Barcelona's youngest La Liga goalscorer.

 

 

Toni Kroos, 17, Bayern Munich, midfielder

NAMED player of the tournament at the 2007 FIFA Under-17 World Cup and has already made his Bundesliga and European debuts for Bayern. A creative, goalscoring midfielder, Kroos shone at youth level for both club and country. Bayern general manager Uli Hoeness has already earmarked him for the revered No10 shirt.

 

 

Lucas Leiva, 20, Liverpool, midfielder

SIGNED for the Reds in the summer from Copa Libertadores finalists Gremio after winning the Brazilian Footballer of the Year award. Likened to Steven Gerrard before his move to England, the box-to-box midfielder has already featured heavily in Rafa Benitez's side and should be a key player in 2008.

 

 

Lulinha, 17, Corinthians, midfielder

TRANSFER target for Italian champions Inter Milan after starring for Brazil's Under-17 side. Scored 12 goals in seven matches during the South American U-17 Championships before being one of the stars of the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup. The tricky attacking midfielder has an eye for goal and is already being touted as the long-term successor to Ronaldinho.

 

 

Alexandre Pato, 18, AC Milan, striker

KNOWN as 'the duck', Pato shot to fame when AC Milan shelled out £15m for his services in the summer — despite rules stopping him from playing until January 3. Milan have high hopes for Pato, with president Silvio Berlusconi claiming he expects the youngster to score 30 goals between January and the end of the season. Brazil coach Dunga has dubbed him "the new Ronaldo".

 

 

Gerard Pique, 20, Manchester United, defender

RETURNED to United this season after a successful loan spell with Real Zaragoza. The ex-Barcelona youth product showed huge potential during his year in Spain and is expected to feature regularly for the Red Devils in 2008. Has played nine times this season, including the Champions League matches with Roma and Dynamo Kiev.

 

 

Ivan Rakitic, 19, Schalke, midfielder

NIKO KRANJCAR and Luka Modric may have ended England's Euro 2008 qualifying hopes but new Three Lions boss Fabio Capello will have to watch out Rakitic in 2008. The Swiss-born attacking midfielder is the latest Croatian star to catch the eye and was snapped up by German champions Schalke in the summer.

 

 

Adel Taarabt, 18, Tottenham, midfielder

YOUNG French midfielder who has established himself as a regular member of Spurs' match-day squad. Compared to Zinedine Zidane before his move to North London, the left-footed trickster has already wowed the White Hart Lane faithful with his ambitious runs and long-range strikes.

 

 

Carlos Vela, 18, Arsenal, striker

THE Gunners snapped up Vela after he finished top scorer in the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in 2005 — a feat that Cesc Fabregas achieved two years earlier. The Mexican has been on loan in Spain for the past two seasons and will return to North London in January. An exciting prospect who should make his Arsenal debut this term.

 

 

Theo Walcott, 18, Arsenal, striker

JOINED the Gunners from Southampton for £5m in January 2006 and shot to fame when he was called up to England's 2006 World Cup squad aged 17. Scored the opening goal in last season's Carling Cup final and is a regular at Under-21 level for the Three Lions. Should return to the Fabio Capello's England squad in 2008.

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Buying young and potential is great, but not if thats your sole priority, you need to be building on two fronts.

 

1-For now

 

2-The Future

 

Too many teams go for number 2 without also adding the experience and players that can improve the present squad.

 

Not enough of 1 brings too much pressure too soon on 2, and can potentially ruin the potential. The future talent being brought in also has to be heavily reliant on the fact the club has a set up that will.

 

A) support them

 

and B) Improve them as players/people

 

So the policy has to include decent scouts, coaches and a set up they can thrive in.

 

Im all for it, but we have got it wrong here before with Sir Bobby and so have many clubs, its the happy medium every club should be looking for, but doesnt always link together.

 

Oh and there is surely a mistake in leaving Pattison off the list?

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An ITK for you - Jonny Turner - 2 days old.

 

My grandad was in the Freeman the other week having an X-ray on his hip, and this kid apparantly popped out the womb, kipped for a day, then the day after just jumped up found a football that just happened to be lying about in the maternity ward, took it past 2 nurses before cooly sliding it into the closing doors of the lift.

 

If, at 2 days old, that's not the sign of a wonderkid, then I don't know what is.

 

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Only two or three of them will actually make it.

 

Make it to what?

 

Fulfill the early promise.

 

A lot of that list have already played Champions League football, without looking into if fully some are defiantly full internationals already.

 

Nice to see The Sun has filtered down the World Soccer List of "50 Most Exciting Teenagers On The Planet".

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Only two or three of them will actually make it.

 

Make it to what?

 

Fulfill the early promise.

 

A lot of that list have already played Champions League football, without looking into if fully some are defiantly full internationals already.

 

Nice to see The Sun has filtered down the World Soccer List of "50 Most Exciting Teenagers On The Planet".

 

Means nowt mate. Let's see where they are in 5 years.

 

Aguero looks a little too light to succeed in Europe.

 

 

Bojan looks like he has a good chance.

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Haven't seen most of them, but of those I have seen (the England-based lot and Aguero), I'm pretty sure they'll all make it.

 

What do you think about Theo Walcott? I am a bit worried about his stagnation.

 

Will be a top player, imo.

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An ITK for you - Jonny Turner - 2 days old.

 

My grandad was in the Freeman the other week having an X-ray on his hip, and this kid apparantly popped out the womb, kipped for a day, then the day after just jumped up found a football that just happened to be lying about in the maternity ward, took it past 2 nurses before cooly sliding it into the closing doors of the lift.

 

If, at 2 days old, that's not the sign of a wonderkid, then I don't know what is.

 

against nurses though
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Walcott is getting to the point where he needs to start being given the chance to do things and then actually do it.

 

Compare with Agbonlahor who was proved it over a decent time now.

 

Incidentally, Nathan Delfouneso and Zoltan Steiber. I'm going to resurrect this post in the next 18 months, point at it and say "told you so".

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An ITK for you - Jonny Turner - 2 days old.

 

My grandad was in the Freeman the other week having an X-ray on his hip, and this kid apparantly popped out the womb, kipped for a day, then the day after just jumped up found a football that just happened to be lying about in the maternity ward, took it past 2 nurses before cooly sliding it into the closing doors of the lift.

 

If, at 2 days old, that's not the sign of a wonderkid, then I don't know what is.

 

against nurses though

yeah, nurses that happen to play for Jarra Roofing
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