Young English Stars Shining Early Season
August 24th 2010 10:00
After a summer which left England fans sick to their stomach's with their football team's performance at the World Cup, it was never going to be easy for any English player to shine early in the new Premier League season. Anything Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard or Wayne Rooney do this season, will be met with hostility, and fans asking 'why don't you do that for your country?' But two weeks into the Premier League season, and the younger English players are making all the headlines, and the future could be bright for England after all.
Joe Hart has unquestionably, been the stand out player in the league in the opening two weekends. He appears to now be England's number 1 following the World Cup, (where he didn't play a minute), and Mancini has made him Manchester City's number 1, ahead of Shay Given. His performance against Tottenham on the opening day was sensational. He was the best player in the league on the opening weekend. If that wasn't enough, the 23-year-old stopper put in another brilliant display last night against Liverpool, and kept another clean sheet. He looks to have the character, and the ability to be in goal for England for many years to come.
This weekend also saw two hat-tricks scored in the Premier League, and both were scored by 21-year-old Englishmen. Theo Walcott ripped Blackpool apart, firing three of their six. Andy Carroll did the same for Newcastle, leading the line bagging a treble as the magpies stunned Aston Villa by the same 6-0 scoreline. There isn't anything much better than seeing two young English players score hat-tricks in the same weekend, both of them's first ever in the Premier League. While Walcott seems to be in Capello's thoughts anyway, surely Carroll is knocking on the door now?
The big hope at the moment for England's future, is 18 year old Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere. It is fantastic news then, that he has started their opening two games of the Premier League season. Though he has not been exceptional in either game, at just 18 he is playing in one of the best team's in the world, and looking very much at home. Wenger had the faith in his teenager to start him away at Anfield opening day, and Wilshere impressed with a couple of assists against Blackpool at the weekend. If he keeps getting this game time, England could have their most exciting midfielder since Gazza on their hands.
Then to top it all off, you just had to watch Manchester City vs Liverpool last night, to get yourself excited about England's future. While I've already mentioned Joe Hart in goal, the Eastlands club boasted six English players in their starting 11. Credit to Mancini, as his club have been accused of 'kamikaze' spending, but had a more english starting line-up than Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham or Arsenal this weekend. James Milner, 24, and Adam Johnson, 23, were the two best players on the pitch. While Milner had an impressive World Cup and seems set to stay in the England set up, Johnson's international career is just starting. Based on last weekend, I think with Walcott and Johnson on the wings, England are a huge threat to anyone.
Then there is Micah Richards. He burst onto the scene as a teenager and was touted as Gary Neville's successor at right-back for England, and made his debut at 18. But his career then seemed to stall, and even go backwards. But still only 22-years-old, Mancini has huge faith in him. Richards has looked impressive in City's opening two games, and if at that club huge money isn't being spent on a position, you know the manager sees something special there already.
This group of players, Richards, Hart, Johnson, Milner, Carroll, Walcott and Wilshere, have started the season fantastically well, and are all 24 or younger. This could be the core of England's future. Add to that promising starts for the likes of Tom Huddlestone, Jack Rodwell, Ben Foster and Phil Jones as well, and things are looking good. Based on what we've seen so far in the Premier League this season, maybe England's future isn't looking as bad as everyone though it was!
One hugely frustrating thing is though, for years England fans wished Ryan Giggs was English, as the welshman would have 'completed' the England team had he chose to play for us. Now, it looks as if the cycle is repeating itself. Gareth Bale looks set to be a world-class left winger for many years to come, but once again the Premier League-s premier left winger, is Welsh. Could bode well for Great Britain at the Olympics though!
This weekend also saw two hat-tricks scored in the Premier League, and both were scored by 21-year-old Englishmen. Theo Walcott ripped Blackpool apart, firing three of their six. Andy Carroll did the same for Newcastle, leading the line bagging a treble as the magpies stunned Aston Villa by the same 6-0 scoreline. There isn't anything much better than seeing two young English players score hat-tricks in the same weekend, both of them's first ever in the Premier League. While Walcott seems to be in Capello's thoughts anyway, surely Carroll is knocking on the door now?
The big hope at the moment for England's future, is 18 year old Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere. It is fantastic news then, that he has started their opening two games of the Premier League season. Though he has not been exceptional in either game, at just 18 he is playing in one of the best team's in the world, and looking very much at home. Wenger had the faith in his teenager to start him away at Anfield opening day, and Wilshere impressed with a couple of assists against Blackpool at the weekend. If he keeps getting this game time, England could have their most exciting midfielder since Gazza on their hands.
Then to top it all off, you just had to watch Manchester City vs Liverpool last night, to get yourself excited about England's future. While I've already mentioned Joe Hart in goal, the Eastlands club boasted six English players in their starting 11. Credit to Mancini, as his club have been accused of 'kamikaze' spending, but had a more english starting line-up than Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham or Arsenal this weekend. James Milner, 24, and Adam Johnson, 23, were the two best players on the pitch. While Milner had an impressive World Cup and seems set to stay in the England set up, Johnson's international career is just starting. Based on last weekend, I think with Walcott and Johnson on the wings, England are a huge threat to anyone.
Then there is Micah Richards. He burst onto the scene as a teenager and was touted as Gary Neville's successor at right-back for England, and made his debut at 18. But his career then seemed to stall, and even go backwards. But still only 22-years-old, Mancini has huge faith in him. Richards has looked impressive in City's opening two games, and if at that club huge money isn't being spent on a position, you know the manager sees something special there already.
This group of players, Richards, Hart, Johnson, Milner, Carroll, Walcott and Wilshere, have started the season fantastically well, and are all 24 or younger. This could be the core of England's future. Add to that promising starts for the likes of Tom Huddlestone, Jack Rodwell, Ben Foster and Phil Jones as well, and things are looking good. Based on what we've seen so far in the Premier League this season, maybe England's future isn't looking as bad as everyone though it was!
One hugely frustrating thing is though, for years England fans wished Ryan Giggs was English, as the welshman would have 'completed' the England team had he chose to play for us. Now, it looks as if the cycle is repeating itself. Gareth Bale looks set to be a world-class left winger for many years to come, but once again the Premier League-s premier left winger, is Welsh. Could bode well for Great Britain at the Olympics though!
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