The next big thing.

comment by rosso is facking happy (U17054)
posted 14 minutes ago
comment by Prankster (U6283)
posted 2 minutes ago
In Britain the last superstar to live up to the hype has to be Michael Owen
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Rooney, obvs.
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Forgot about Rooney

Andriy Voronin was touted as the next David Batty. But sadly the prem was too much for him.

Patrick Roberts. Whatever happened to him?

comment by Cornelius Oofterom (U15867)
posted 2 minutes ago
Patrick Roberts. Whatever happened to him?
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Still a city player, did well on loan at Celtic now at Girona

Cherno Samba.

Then those who were incredibly average as kids who went on to become superstars:

Didier Drogba
Ian Wright
Luca Toni
David Beckham
Di Natale
Miroslav Klose
N'Golo Kante

Apparently, even Zidane often looked distinctly average until his last season at Bordeaux. I think he was 24 or 25 when he joined Juve.

Rooney at his best wasn't half as good as his hype.

...........

The record books will tell you a different story.

comment by merrysupersteve - Jose'd he wouldn't be our Special One? (U1132)
posted 45 minutes ago
Tom Huddlestone and Giles Barnes (remember him?) Come to mind too
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I thought Barnes would have been a great addition to our team when he was ripping it up at Derby.

Talent and desire was there but suffered badly with an assortment of injuries.

Mind in the same period I wouldn't have also minded signing Michael Kightly as a squad player when he was at Wolves. Old school winger. Another who had a hard time with injuries.

I also thought we'd saw the reincarnation of Michael Carrick in Josh McEachran of Chelsea the first time I watched him.

Was a champions league game and think he was only 17/18 but was so tidy on the ball and always had space. He is 25 now and at Brentford. Another casualty of the famous Chelsea youth 'progression'. Still has the youth and ability to warrant a place at a Premier League team instead of some average player from the Spanish 2nd division as is the trend.

comment by Prankster (U6283)
posted 2 hours, 18 minutes ago
In Britain the last superstar to live up to the hype has to be Michael Owen
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Twisting your wording a bit to mean young players at British clubs, but surely Fabregas is a more recent example than Owen?

When discussing these people never really acknowledge that a vast proportion of these sorts of players do actually go on to be top players.