Thread for identifying good players with ability or potential who are not often highlighted in the English (and consequently Irish) media.
Stefan Kiessling
German striker who plays for Bayer Leverkusen. Big lad - 6 foot 3 or so maybe, with a good touch and decent finishing. He’s 23 and has one German cap. Like most hold-up players I think he’ll improve as he gets older and stronger.
Tranquillo Barnetta
22 year old Swiss midfielder with Bayer Leverkusen. This lad is already a cracking player for both club and country. He’s a lovely passer of the ball and gets plenty of goals.
I’d like to see either of those two at Celtic.
Prince Baubin
Very impressed with this guy at the weekend. A product of Ajax and at 19 years old he was very influential in the middle of the park. Good skill level but he put in some shift as well.
[quote=“therock67”]Thread for identifying good players with ability or potential who are not often highlighted in the English (and consequently Irish) media.
Stefan Kiessling
German striker who plays for Bayer Leverkusen. Big lad - 6 foot 3 or so maybe, with a good touch and decent finishing. He’s 23 and has one German cap. Like most hold-up players I think he’ll improve as he gets older and stronger.
Tranquillo Barnetta
22 year old Swiss midfielder with Bayer Leverkusen. This lad is already a cracking player for both club and country. He’s a lovely passer of the ball and gets plenty of goals.
I’d like to see either of those two at Celtic.
Prince Baubin
Very impressed with this guy at the weekend. A product of Ajax and at 19 years old he was very influential in the middle of the park. Good skill level but he put in some shift as well.
One to watch for the future.[/quote]
I see Kiessling is linked with a move to Spurs in Kicker today. Smashing striker IMO and part of a quickly improving Leverkusen side.
Re the other two prospects: Barnetta’s not having a brilliant season - ok though. Baubin was a silly call based on one match.
would Aguero of Atletico Madrid count for this thread. Great player, young too, and wouldnt be too well known amongst the typical Irish soccer watcher. Scored a great second half goal against Barca last night.
Pato of AC Milan is another young player who wouldnt be highlighted here, but should still e well known.
[quote=“Gman”]would Aguero of Atletico Madrid count for this thread. Great player, young too, and wouldnt be too well known amongst the typical Irish soccer watcher. Scored a great second half goal against Barca last night.
Pato of AC Milan is another young player who wouldnt be highlighted here, but should still e well known.[/quote]
Two very young players alright but they’ve already done enough to get big moves from South America to La Liga and Serie A. That was a lovely goal by Aguero last night and he looks a really good talent. He’s also been sent off a ridiculous amount of times for a striker, a 19-year-old one at that, and I think he’s got the red card about 4 times already this season.
A player I like when watching La Liga is Markel Susaeta of Athletic Bilbao. He’s 20 and a right sided midfield player and only came into the side this season. I’ve seen him 5 or 6 times and he’s looked really useful. Got a freekick away to Barca and a smashing goal away to Atletico Madrid the other week. I’ll be keeping an eye on him.
Teddy Bjarnasson has a big future ahead of him imo. For whatever reason things didn’t work out for him the midfielder at Celtic and he moved to Lyn Oslo. Has impressed since moving there and the fee of 100,000 pound sterling looks to have been money well spent on the Icelandic Internationalist.
Can’t access any of the links in work but I stumbled across a few YouTube videos of a High School running back in the States called Sam McGuffie. No idea if his opponents are any use but he looks awesome.
not quite a hidden gem but a smashing young player:
from rte.ie
Karim Benzema has set his sights on a move to one of European football’s elite clubs and has revealed he wants discuss his future at the end of the season.
The prodigious Lyon forward is one of the hottest properties on the global stage after netting over 40 goals for club and country over the past two seasons.
The 20-year-old France international has been valued at 100 million euros by Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas, and the player admits he sees his long-term future away from Ligue 1.
Benzema told L’Equipe TV: 'There are a lot of clubs - Barcelona, Real Madrid, but also Manchester United, AC Milan. They are all clubs you dream about.
'I like Spain, but Manchester, Milan, you progress so much there.
‘I want to progress at the highest level to be among the world’s best.’
Aulas’ lofty valuation of Benzema is likely to deter potential suitors in the current financial climate, however, and the player admits the price tag will raise more than a few eyebrows.
Benzema said of the mooted transfer fee: 'That’s up to the president.
'I imagine people are surprised because it’s a big sum.
‘We’ll play this year and then we’ll see what happens.’
[quote=“Bandage”]Two very young players alright but they’ve already done enough to get big moves from South America to La Liga and Serie A. That was a lovely goal by Aguero last night and he looks a really good talent. He’s also been sent off a ridiculous amount of times for a striker, a 19-year-old one at that, and I think he’s got the red card about 4 times already this season.
A player I like when watching La Liga is Markel Susaeta of Athletic Bilbao. He’s 20 and a right sided midfield player and only came into the side this season. I’ve seen him 5 or 6 times and he’s looked really useful. Got a freekick away to Barca and a smashing goal away to Atletico Madrid the other week. I’ll be keeping an eye on him.[/quote]
Susaeta banged in a few last season as well, hopefully he gets a move away and the club get a few bob for him, maybe then they wouldn’t need a shirt sponsor.
Wayne Hennessey looks to be a class goalkeeper in the making…Doing well for Wolves and is still young, 21…A lot better than most premier league keepers…