Maddison & Armstrong in the England Senior Team Together... (1 Viewer)

Grendel said:

No

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Otis said:

Not being funny, but these were down as being amongst the top 20 future England stars back in 2008.

Here's what they said back then.

Jose Baxter Age 16
Striker
Everton


Said to be better than Wayne Rooney at 14. Bootle-born, he left school last summer and joined the Everton first-team squad that toured Switzerland and the US. Made his competitive senior debut with a substitute appearance at home to Blackburn in August, becoming Everton’s youngest first-team player.

Better than Rooney at 14? Now playing for Sheff Utd.

Mark Beevers Age 18
Defender .
Sheff. Wed

Last season’s supporters’ player of the year at Hillsborough, the centre-half has signed a contract to keep him at Wednesday until 2012. He stands 6ft 4in tall, is deceptively quick across the turf and strong in the air, and has already attracted interest from Premier League clubs.

Now playing for Millwall.


John Bostock Age 16
Midfielder
Tottenham

Crystal Palace’s youngest player when he made his debut at 15 years 287 days last season before his controversial summer move to Spurs for an initial £700,000. Tall, elegant and visionary, the attacking midfielder became Tottenham’s youngest player, at 16 years 295 days, against Dinamo Zagreb.

Now plying his trade in Belgium.

Nathan Delfouneso Age 17
Striker
Aston Villa

The 6ft 1in Birmingham-born striker made his first-team debut earlier this season in the Uefa Cup against Hafnarfjorour and scored a hat-trick on his first appearance for the England Under-17s in October 2007. A regular in reserve and academy sides, for whom he has been a prolific scorer.

Now playing for Blackburn

Gavin Hoyte Age 18
Defender
Arsenal

Younger brother of the former Arsenal full-back, Justin, the defender joined the club at nine and has proved quick, athletic and astute both at right-back and centre-half. A regular with the England Under-19s and in Arsène Wenger’s Carling Cup side that enjoyed wins over Sheffield United and Wigan.

Now playing for Barnet.


Henri Lansbury Age 18
Midfielder .
Arsenal

Strongly built and powerful yet creative on the ball and a goal threat, the England Under-17 midfielder has been at Arsenal since he was nine and has recovered from the glandular fever that frustrated his progress in the second half of last season to feature in the Carling Cup this term.


Now playing at Notts Forest


Josh McEachran Age 15
Midfielder
Chelsea


A skilful left-footed midfielder whom Chelsea have retained despite persistent interest from Manchester United. He can play on the left or right and has already impressed Luiz Felipe Scolari at Stamford Bridge as he furthers his development in the youth sides. Has been captain of the England Under-16s.

Now playing for Brentford

Jacob Mellis Age 17
Midfielder
Chelsea


The England Under-19 international signed from Sheffield United in the summer of 2007 and has since been employed everywhere from attacking midfield – scoring twice against Liverpool reserves recently – to full-back and centre-half within the Chelsea academy set-up.


Now playing for Bury.


Nile Ranger Age 17
Striker .
Newcastle

The word among Newcastle United’s youth and reserve ranks is “Ranger is the danger”. The prolific striker, spirited north from Southampton’s youth set-up, has sat on the first team bench a few times already this season and is tipped for Shearer-esque scoring feats.

Now at Blackpool.


Freddie Sears Age 18
Forward
West Ham

A run of 25 goals in 24 matches for the youths and reserves forced him into the first-team set-up last season, and it took the striker just five minutes and 16 seconds to score his first senior goal, the winner against Blackburn in March. He has featured regularly this term under Gianfranco Zola.


Now with Ipswich.


Aidan White Age 17
Defender
Leeds Utd


The full-back, who boasts a fine left foot and decent pace, made his debut earlier this season in the Carling Cup defeat of Crystal Palace and was given a standing ovation upon being substituted. He is now making regular appearances in the League One club’s first-team set-up.


Now playing at Rotherham.


Michael Woods Age 18
Midfielder.
Chelsea

Plucked from Leeds United’s academy, much to the Yorkshire club’s frustration, the England Under-18 international made his first-team debut at Chelsea in January 2007 at 16 years 275 days. Scolari called the defensive midfielder up for last night’s Carling Cup tie against Burnley at Stamford Bridge.


Now playing at Hartlepool

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Astute said:

Is that as definate as saying selling Wilson for 3m was a good move for CCFC?

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Grendel said:

Without doubt that was a good move for several reasons.

You cannot even use the hindsight argument as it doesn't apply. Wilson chose Bournmouth over one other club. To retain the value he would have had to have performed at the same level the following season. Given the fact he wanted to leave (as all would for a huge salary increase) there would have been demotivation on his part if he didn't. Furthermore no players improved under Pressley that following season.

It's a dumb argument.

Should Jimmy Hill have sold the prime assets of Wallace and Ferguson?

Should Poynton have sold Kevin Gallagher?

Should we have allowed Dublin to leave it shackle him to his contract?

In the end the club is a selling club in the same way Barnsley sell a player to Everton for £3 million who two years later is likely to sell for £30 million. Oh and guess what astute it's the Everton fans who are bleating not those from Barnsley.

It's the game. It's always been the same.

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skybluegod said:

You have listed a load of players that Impressed at youth level and nothing else, and were bigged up by one or two journalists. Some kids get lost along the way and don't work hard enough and train purposefully to ever become the best they can.
madders and Armstrong are proving themselves in men's football, and nobody is bigging them up as the next Wayne rooney(bar the odd person) they are just saying they have a chance.
I see no reason why both can't play at the top level, but it's too early to judge. It depends on their career decisions and how hard they work.

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