Youth team development: Page 193 - The Arsenal discussion forum and community: One More in the Tolly

Youth team development

Clrnc

People never learn. There were so many calls to move Eboue to RW in the past too.

QuincyAbeyie

One thing Saka has that Eboue didn't is actual end product though. I'm not saying Saka is a winger - I actually think his future is at fullback if he'll accept it - but I'm saying it's too early to be definitive. It's not at all the same as moving TAA to winger who's already an established world class attacking fullback and has been playing there since he was at the academy.

yuv

Saka is a case of his own. Doesn't compare with TAA, certainly not with Eboue.

To me he definitely could be a winger - has everything a winger needs - and I agree what he wants is of importance.

But that doesn't mean he shouldn't be playing LB right now - in fact I'd like him to stay there, and improve (I think the defensive part certainly needs to be improved - doesn't yet have the awareness and LBs moves in the defensive sense).

I think the idea he could be one of the [size=small][font=Courier New]top[/font][/size] LBs (and a good, perhaps even very good winger, but not wc) is the right way to see it. Could be a massive asset there for us.

Bosscielny

Can’t even see why this is a discussion.

Still early days obviously, but Great Fullback > Decent Winger.

Do people not see how important fullbacks are in todays game?

Doc

Maybe people think he can be more than a decent winger? Comparing him to Eboue is a bit of a joke, you can see by looking at him play for 5 minutes that he has way more to his game.. Anyway it's good that he learning the fullback role now especially with licence he has to get forward but can definitely see he turning into a top winger if he continues to progress the way he has. His end product is insane.

lorddulaarsenal

Will Azeez be first team squad ready next year?

Looks the best of those yet to taste first team action

Bosscielny

Doc wrote:
Maybe people think he can be more than a decent winger?

If anyone can pick that up after seeing him play for three quarters of a season, most of it exceptionally well at fullback, then they’re wasted in whatever industry they’re in. Because our head of youth development, I’m referring to Marcel Lucassen and not Ricky, who for what it’s worth agrees with him, seems to think otherwise.

QuincyAbeyie

I guess that means Saka is wasted in whatever industry he's in. And anyone else unless they're saying that he literally can't become a great winger is wasted in whatever job they're doing. Makes a lot of sense, that.

Bosscielny

Saka’s played as a winger his whole life. Of course he’s going to say that’s where he wants to play. Footballers are idiots. We’ve seen a couple of players in the last few years alone think they’re above playing as an outside back and it’s looking like they’ll both end up being average midfielders instead.

I was obviously a bit heavy handed with the point i was making, but we’ve got a quote from someone whose job it is to judge youth players on their abilities, and then a group of people definitively saying otherwise.

Klaus

Yeah, I think the quote from the academy guy summarised it well. He can be a good but most likely not elite winger, or he can be an outstanding fullback. Just the fact that Saka is up against Martinelli makes it very unlikely for him to have a career here as a left winger in my opinion.

And I know some people think Gabi is a striker because he banged in a few in the league cup, but he himself doesn't think so, Emery didn't think so, Freddie didn't think so and Arteta doesn't seem to think so either. Watching his movement on the field makes it clear just how much he has modelled himself on C Ronaldo.

Coombs

Saka has all the tools to be a generational fullback that will redefine the position for decades, like Facchetti or Santos. TAA is a good comparison because Saka could be so much better.

The HYPE is real.

Claudius

Coombs wrote:
Saka has all the tools to be a generational fullback that will redefine the position for decades, like Facchetti or Santos. TAA is a good comparison because Saka could be so much better.

The HYPE is real.

Yeah. And two things to note about Saka relative to a guy like TAA. He’s even more restrained than the Liverpool fullback. That guy has complete freedom of the park. And Saka is still working on his stamina. A few of those bursting runs from the back wind him. Having played Thursday night, he looked spent by the 70th minute versus Everton. This is a concern given that Tierney and Kola are both injured. Some conditioning work over the summer will make him even more deadly.

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert

No doubt at all that he could become a world class left back.

I just think he has the composure and intelligent decision making, as well as enough skill and pace to become a top drawer wide forward as well.

"Just a full back" doesn't score the types of goals he has this season.

Plus we have Tierney...

Clrnc

Coombs wrote:
Saka has all the tools to be a generational fullback that will redefine the position for decades, like Facchetti or Santos. TAA is a good comparison because Saka could be so much better.

The HYPE is real.

Now he is overrated.

QuincyAbeyie

Proper houseboat², but a few fans on RedCafe expressed that they wanted Saka and a Nigerian United supporter responded with

we need to forget it. Most of the Nigerian youth based players would rather play for a london club. Ive met his parents and they've expressed this same desire. All the Nigerian kids and their families all know each other and have formed a group, especially the ones at arsenal and tottenham. I dont know what it is about London but they love it. Of course im hoping the kid has a mind of his own.

Meatwad

if he's an attacking focal point like dani alves was at sevilla he will be just fine with playing as a wingback.

frusciante

esr had an assist and won a penalty in todays 2-1 win, here are some of the comments from the huddersfield forum:

We have a 19 year old Rolls Royce that Controls the game for us

He’s been levels and I mean multiple levels about every player on the pitch.

ESR is the best player on the pitch almost every game and will play at the top level.

Chuffed to bits with the result but a bit sad that I'll only see Emile Smith Rowe pull a Town shirt on a maximum of 11 more times. What a player.

MistaT

one match compilation please

HomeSteak

The assist, best I can do right now.

Segway

Read he won the game pretty much singlehandedly for Huddersfield last night.

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