The Top 10 Starlets who could force out England’s old guard
Kieran Gibbs – Another Arsenal youngster, Gunners fans will be hoping that Gibbs can follow in the footsteps of Ashley Cole (on the pitch at least) and become a world class left back. Already having played for the Arsenal senior team, Gibbs would have featured more were it not for injury, something that hopefully won’t plague him too much in the future. The 20-year-old has plenty of pace and isn’t afraid to get forward, something that has helped him to net three times for the England U21 team to date. Cole himself will be 33 in 2014, and by then Gibbs may just have nipped in ahead of the ex-Arsenal player.
Danny Rose – If his stunning volley against Arsenal at White Hart Lane in the Premier League last season is anything to go by, then Rose will be making plenty of headlines for himself in the future. The 20-year-old may not be the most hyped youngster in the country right now but there may just be a chance that he can use this to his advantage. Further first team opportunities at Tottenham will be hard to come by, but the midfielder has already signalled his intent to impress Harry Redknapp in pre-season. With Spurs battling on many fronts this season, Rose should get another chance to shine and show that he’s the latest Leeds starlet to make it at the top.
Andy Carroll – A bit of an outside bet this, there have been mumblings that the Newcastle striker might not be too far from the England set-up. The 21-year-old certainly has the physical presence needed to be a successful target man but it remains to be seen whether Carroll can score goals at the highest level, having only hit the back of the net in the Championship for the Toon thus far. Another thing that Carroll will have to ensure is that he doesn’t regularly get into trouble off the pitch, as this will only hamper his career. He will be much better served using that aggression on the pitch and turning himself into a combative striker.
Micah Richards – The career of Micah Richards has stalled in recent years but I can’t see any reason why future international honours won’t come his way. The 22-year-old won his first England cap four years ago and still has time on his side. Richards is a real athlete who plenty of speed and strength and has much to offer England, but whether right back is his best position it remains to be seen. You feel that the next few years could go either way for Richards, but I wouldn’t discounting seeing him in an England shirt once more and when 2014 comes around he’ll have the experience needed to perform at the highest level.
Connor Wickham – There’s always a wildcard youngster who makes it to the World Cup and Wickham might just be that man in 2014. At just 17 years of age, it’s far too early to tell which way Wickham’s career will go but there’s a chance that he could just be a star of the future. The Ipswich Town striker has already shown that he’s prolific in front of goal, having netted 9 times in 13 games for England U19 and many people will be following his progress in the Championship this season. Roy Keane is very keen to hang onto the youngster amidst interest from Spurs and Harry Redknapp, and the prospect of a £10m transfer shows just how highly Wickham’s thought of.
These are just ten England starlets who will be hoping to feature for England in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. As is the case with youngsters, some will go onto to big things and some will fall by the wayside, and it will be interesting to see how the players I’ve identified will fare. Who of the above do you think will dismantle the old guard ahead of 2014, and out of those not listed here, who do you reckon we should be keeping an eye on?
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I would add Tom Cleverley from United to that list. Amazing propsect.
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Rodwell, Wilshere, Hart, Richards and Johnson will do in the future. Ashley Young, Milner, Dawson, Lennon and Huddlestone should be in the mix in the much closer future.
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There is certainly the talent out there to take over from the old guard – just remains to be seen whether they will go on to fulfill said promise! [frantically touching wood] A few names from tottenhams squad and academy also spring to mind, and will surely be in and around the england squads of the future: Kyle Naughton and Kyle Walker – both flying wing/full backs; Jake Livermore – CM/CDM; Jon Bostock – CM/CAM: Andros Townsend – Winger.
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…”it remains to be seen whether Carroll can score goals at the highest level, having only hit the back of the net in the Championship for the Toon thus far”
So the three premiership goals he got in the limited games in Newcastles relegation season dont count then?
I think the players listed will turn out to be great players but there seems to be a huge gulf of talent between 23-28, which is a shame because it means those who havent performed for the past 8 years probably get another go at the euros.
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@ Robby Bobson; “there seems to be a huge gulf of talent between 23-28″. apart from Rooney, Milner, A. Young, Agbonlahor, Jagielka, Shawcross, G. Cahill, Huddlestone, O’hara, Downing, Lennon, Defoe, D. Bent, C. Cole, Baines, G. Johnson, Foster, Lescott and probably quite a few others that I’ve not thought of. Yeah, apart from them, there is something of a gulf, good point.
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Nick, half those players you mention are not good enough to be top international footballers and never will be. But, yeah, sure, good point well made. Endless supplies of talent in that list!
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Does Danny Welbeck not count? I’m a gooner but I think he’s the best prospect in this country, dare I say it, at the best club (yh, I am really a gooner!)
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Danny Rose will end up being a decent Championship player – he’ll never play for England though. Andros Townsend is a much brighter prospect from Spurs.
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Well done you named a list of players who wouldnt cut it at international level. There are those who are there at the moment like Lennon Milner and Rooney but can you really see the rest replacing the “golden generation” for the qualifiers and euros.
I doubt it.
Rodwell, Wilshere, Johnson, Hart look almost certain be be better than the players you just mentioned and Gerrard, Lamparrd, Ashley Cole are better than the players you mentioned, so yes i think there is a gulf.
Unless the players in this list and promising youngsters below 23 all flop, then we just have national team of very average players.
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Hart, Dawson and Huddlestone need to be at the centre of all other additions to the squad during the qualifiers for the Euros… they represent the future.
Despite what the people in the media say, we do have the talent – it’s just that half the time the wrong players miss out on the big squads. It shouldn’t keep happening with successive managers.
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