WELCOME BACK!

The Scouted Football Handbook has returned for its second edition and firstly, we would like
to thank you! The last 12 months has been crazy for me and my team and we have grown a
lot because of the incredible support we have received on Twitter in the form of follows, RTs,
replies and DMs. You guys keep everything ticking like Julian Weigl pinging passes on a cool
Wednesday evening in November.

I also need to pay a huge thank you to my incredible team. Last year, the SFHB was a last min-
ute light-bulb moment, and we were able to scrap the book together in just two monthsit
was an amazing effort. This year, they have helped me keep the book somewhat organised,
somewhat on time and most importantly, on point. They are amazing.

We hope you enjoy reading the book as much as me and my team have enjoyed writing it. In-
cluded are over 120 profiles on over 120 of the best players aged 23 and under in the world.
If we have not included your favourite playersorry. There is always SFHB 3!

Before letting you continue onto the book, I would also like to send a massive shout-out
to Global Soccer Network (@info_gsn), who have provided us with all the player overview
graphics and the player radars, which are absolutely superb.

Thanks everyone!

Your editor-in-chief,
Stephen Ganavas (@Marottanomics)

CONTRIBUTORS

Stephen Ganavas - Editor - @Marottanomics Matt Santangelo - @Matt_Santangelo

Tom Curren - @tomocurr Jake Entwistle - @JakeEntwistle
Will Savage Phil Costa - @_PhilCosta
Jack Grimse - @JackGrimse David Kraakman - @UruguayanHeroes
Joe Donnohue - Joe_Donnohue27 Conor Garratt - @ConorGarratt
Justin Sousa - @Sousa7474 Nathan Carr - @carribeanftbl
Miran Sari - @therealbozz Lewis Ambrose - @LGAmbrose
Llew Davies - @FfwtboLlew Alex Saidy-Smith - @AlexSaidySmith
Simon Weiss - @SimonWe1ss James Bufton - @jbuf1
Kamil Rogolski - @K_Rogolski Tomasz Mortimer - @TMortimerFtbl
David Sansun - @RFN_David Tiago Estevao - @TiagoEstv
James Rushton - @JamoRushton
 GK

GOLLINI
FULL NAME: PIERLUIGI GOLLINI

CLUB: ATALANTA

NATIONALITY: ITALIAN

POSTION: GOALKEEPER

DATE OF BIRTH:
MARCH 18, 1995

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: JAMES RUSHTON

(@JAMORUSHTON)
2016 IN REVIEW
In 2016, Aston Villa FC were released from Premier League purgatory when they finally succumbed to relega-
tion. Meanwhile, in Italy, Hellas Verona endured the same fate as they succumbed to relegation after winning
a paltry five matches all season.
In 2016, the Villans were peppered with paper planes from the stands, bearing the words Proud History;
What Future?. The Gialloblu enjoyed being pummelled by eggs from their long-suffering fans.
It is almost as if Pierluigi Gollini was hand-crafted to fill the goalkeeping cavity left in Birmingham following
the departure of Brad Friedel. He arrived at the club with the experience of relegation, losing, and misery
that is becoming all too familiar for Aston Villa fans. After doing his best to ensure Hellas Verona were not
totally embarrassed by the big guns in Serie A, Gollini earned a move to England as an emerging talent.
Unfortunately, he got off to the worst start imaginable. Following a solid first-half against Villas opening day
opposition - Sheffield Wednesday, Gollini found himself caught up in the high-tempo of Aston Villa manager
at the time, Roberto Di Matteos passing game. He rushed forward and sliced a pass into the air, where it
fell to the waiting Fernando Forestieri who was then able to capitalise and ruin Villas start to the season.
This blunder was followed up a week later, with a communication mishap between Gollini and Villa captain
Tommy Elphick. Gollini charged forward and blasted the ball against an oncoming attacker with the ball then
reverberating into the open net Gollini had left behind.
A mixed year for Gollini was capped off by his departure to Atalanta on a long-term loan. His requirements
for a stay at Aston Villa were not met after his Italian manager and coach were sacked and it looks like his stay
at Villa may be over. It is a shame because Aston Villa are a club who could develop the Italian well and he is
still yet to make an appearance for Atalanta. At the age of 21, Gollini has a lot to learn.
There is plenty of time to iron out the mistakes made in 2016. Importantly, he looks like he is learning. For
Villa fans, seeing Gollini make mistakes as he improves as a player is less worrying than seeing his predeces-
sor Brad Guzan repeatedly make the same mistakes and current first-choice keeper Sam Johnstone doing
the same.
STYLE OF PLAY
Gollini is gangly, spindly and long-limbed. He has the prototypical makeup of a goalkeeper and is likely the
build one would choose to describe their perfect keeper.
That is just about where the synecdoche ends. Gollini is rather comfortable with a ball at his feet and he is
relatively fast of off his line given his big frame. He is an outlier, the deviation in that sense. He will not stay
still and wait to be beaten and will look to challenge oncoming strikers. As a former Manchester United train-
ee, Gollini has confessed that he enjoys pressure and loves to have his goal pelted with shots so he can make
the diving saves he enjoys so much.
Stopping shots is one thing, but reducing danger around the goal-face is another. Whilst Gollini enjoys fling-
ing his body left and right to make saves, he is increasingly demonstrating a bad habit of parrying the ball
back towards the penalty spot. This is a worrying habit to develop in the Football League Championship
where goal-poaching is the order of the day. If he continues to do this, it will be picked up and punished, es-
pecially by formations that afford two strikers with one at all times situated in and around the six-yard box
in the attacking phase. However, Gollini is capable of blocking shots that would beat lesser shot-stopper and
clearly his consistent ability to parry difficult shots is better than letting them in, even if a striker does reach
the deflected ball. At least it gives his defenders a chance to clear their lines. However, the 21-year-olds stock
will rise significantly if he works on catching shots - or at worst starts to turn them around the post. Ideally,
he will build these skills if he is to return to Aston Villa, if not - his career may be restricted to the foot of the
Serie A table.
In a sense, mistakes will be a part of a young goalkeepers game as a huge part of the position comes down
to situational experience and playing against the best players in the world. Gollinis reliance on his mobility
can lead to these mistakes as he is too easily found totally enthralled by high-tempo games which can lead
to him getting caught out or wildly misplacing a pass. Communication is also an issue, but this can be easily
flagged up to Gollinis age. Ideally, he will iron out these issues and become a goalkeeper who is truly a jack
of all trades.

FORECAST FOR 2017

The current crop of Italian goalkeepers is widespread and encouraging, but unfortunately (for Gollini) it is led
by 17-year-old wonder-kid Gianluigi Donnarumma. The way in which the AC Milan youngster has solidified
himself as the Italian number two goalkeeper will be worrying for Gollini, who still finds himself some way
down the pecking order. His potential path to the national team will be long and difficult
Donnarumma and Gollini have an equal confidence with the ball in their hands, but the latter is perhaps the
more mobile of the pair and the one with better distribution skills. However, the former is wise beyond his
years and already looks like he is Serie A veteran with the goalkeeping theatrics and reliability to boot.
Also, while Donnarumma plays against the best strikers in the world, Gollini will finish 2017 by likely returning
to the second tier of the English Football pyramid, the delightfully scrappy English Football League Cham-
pionship. There is plenty of room for growth in the lower leagues and the aim for 2017 for Gollini will be to
round off his game, improve his weaknesses and learn from his mistakes. A better bond with his defenders
will serve him well as promotion back to the Premier League remains a priority for Aston Villa under Steve
Bruce. Gollinis status as first-choice goalkeeper is shaky, but he has age and ability on his side as he will look
to cement his place as Aston Vilas first-choice goalkeeper on his return to Birmingham.
But the bar has been set by Donnarumma. Gollini must improve his technical goalkeeping skills to reach the
mark his compatriot has set in the last twelve months and help Villa move up the table point by point to re-
turn to the holy grail of the Premier League.
 GK

MVOGO
FULL NAME: YVON LANDRY
MVOGO NGANOMA

CLUB: BSC YOUNG BOYS

NATIONALITY: SWISS

POSTION: GOALKEEPER

DATE OF BIRTH:
JUNE 6, 1994

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: ALEX SAIDY-SMITH

(@ALEXSAIDYSMITH)
2016 IN REVIEW

Certainly not a year of stepping backwards, but also not a year of taking huge steps forward, 2016 can only
be described as a year of steady growth for Yvon Mvogo. Maintaining his place as Young Boys number one
goalkeeper, Mvogo continued to prove why he is one of the best goalkeepers in the Swiss Super League as
Young Boys finished the 15/16 season in second place behind the perennial champions FC Basel.

Regarding his international career in 2016, Mvogo was called up to Switzerland preliminary squad for EURO
2016. Unfortunately for the young shot-stopper, manager Vladimir Petkovi decided not to include him in the
final squad. As for the U-21 team, Mvogo captained the team to a disappointing third place in their European
U-21 qualification group after poor results against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Norway meaning they will
miss out the finals in the summer of 2017.

Overall, concerning team success, 2016 was not the best year for Mvogo. However, as a player, the goalkeep-
er continued to fulfil his potential slowly and gained valuable experience in an extremely competitive and
challenging position that is heavily criticised and scrutinised by both pundits and fans alike.
STYLE OF PLAY

Already establishing himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the Swiss Super League, Mvogo is known for
his cat-like reflexes and great shot-stopping ability. He is an incredibly acrobatic and athletic goalie that can
fling his body from post to post making incredible saves from long-range shots that seem destined to end up
in the top corner. Mvogo also uses his long limbs and agility to get down low to save any close-range shots
that come to either side of his feet or when he is in a one-on-one situation with the opposition attacker.

Over the past, Mvogo has vastly improved his positioning and in particularly when it comes to claiming cross-
es in the air. When he first started to break into the first team, he was inclined to stay on his line rather than
being confident and bold when it came to claiming crosses. Although the young goalkeeper has worked on
this aspect of his game and is starting to make his aerial presence more prominent, when Mvogo does come
off the line, he preferably opts to punch the ball clear rather than being strong and catching the ball down
towards his chest. This has led to him putting his teammates under pressure in scenarios that should have
been dealt with more confidently.

It is hardly surprising when you look at the last paragraph, but Mvogos ability to command his area has also
been very questionable at times. There have been occasions when poor communication between himself
and his fellow defenders have left them both to panic and lose composure in situations where a more affir-
mative and experienced goalkeeper would have dealt with efficiently.

Just like a lot of the new generation of goalkeepers, Mvogo is equally good with his feet as he is with his
hands. The Swiss goalkeeper hardly panics when the ball is played back to his feet and he is more than capa-
ble of providing accurate passes towards his teammates. The Swiss goalkeeper also shows sharp footwork
when the ball is not at his feet, the Young Boys goalkeeper uses his quick footwork to position himself to
close the angle for opposition players to score, while maintaining an upright stance for as long as possible.
Mvogo is also relatively quick when it comes down to roaming about inside his area and picking up any loose
or stranded passes, even when they are outside his area.

FORECAST FOR 2017

There are not many goalkeepers around that can say they have held down a first team spot by the age of 22.
Making his first appearance in 2013, Mvogo has now established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in
the Swiss Super League. Despite him being consistently linked with a move to Germany, is there any actual
reason for Mvogo to leave Young Boys so soon? Some will question his ambition, but the man himself has
commented on how he feels at home at Young Boys and how he can see himself staying there for the long-
term. At such a young age for a goalkeeper, the best thing Mvogo can do for himself is gain experience and
iron out some of his weaknesses.

In terms of the national team, the natural thing for Mvogo is to work on progressing from the U-21 squad
to the first team. Unfortunately for Mvogo, the Swiss national team is packed with top goalkeepers such as
Borussia Mnchengladbachs Yann Sommer and Borussia Dortmunds Roman Brki.

Mvogo has a lot to work on to reach the same level as his fellow countrymen that play in the same position,
but at just 22-years-old, Mvogo has all the tools and the right personality to become a very good, if not great
goalkeeper. Just like many other top Swiss players, a move to the Bundesliga does seem inevitable for Mvogo
even if it does not materialise this year. In the meantime, this should be the year that he starts to challenge
for a spot in the Swiss national first team squad and gain more attention from some of Europes top leagues.
 GK
CARDINALE
FULL NAME: YOAN CARDINALE

CLUB: OGC NICE

NATIONALITY: FRENCH

POSTION: GOALKEEPER

DATE OF BIRTH:
MARCH 27, 1994

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: JOE DONNOHUE

(@JOE_DONNOHUE27)
2016 IN REVIEW
Yoan Cardinales rise from backup goalkeeper to stalwart between the sticks has been an impressive one. The
22-year-old only made his debut for OGC Nice in October 2015 and since his first-team bow, he has made the
goalkeeping spot in the starting XI his own. Now, after nine weeks of the 2016-17 Ligue 1 season, Cardinales
Nice are top of Ligue 1 and have conceded just five goals; the best in the division.
The Frenchman ousted Mouez Hassen from the starting goalkeeper spot midway through the 2015/16 sea-
son and has not looked back, notching 14 clean sheets in just 37 Ligue 1 appearances, five of which he has
earned since the beginning of this campaign. It is not just the smaller French clubs with less attacking potency
that Cardinale is impressing against, as his performances against the likes of AS Monaco in September and
Olympique Lyonnais in October gained plaudits from fans and pundits alike. He helped Nice to respective 4-0
and 2-0 victories, arguably his best two performances in aLes Aiglonsshirt.
Cardinales excellent form and rise to prominence over the course of 2016 has undoubtedly contributed to
the state Nice find themselves in. They are at the top end of the Ligue 1 table staring down the likes of PSG
and AS Monaco and are threatening to topple French footballs hierarchy.
STYLE OF PLAY
Cardinale has been lauded as a goalkeeper known for his eccentricity and athleticism in goal, pulling off
several top saves rather acrobatically from talented strikers such as Zlatan Ibrahimovi and Michy Batshuayi.
While his over-enthusiasm can often be his downfall, the 22-year-olds performances to date in the 2016/17
season have been largely impressive and are paying dividends in the form of clean sheets.
The Frenchmans stock has risen exponentially over the past year, and has cemented himself as one of Ligue
1s most reliable stoppers, despite being one of the shortest goalkeepers in the league at 1.81 metres tall.
With a penchant for the improbable or a spectacular stop, Cardinale has gained attention for his brave style
of play, with his reflexes being one of his top assets.
Similarly, Cardinale is a menace for forwards in one-on-one situations. He spreads his frame to cover the goal
by dashing off his line when required to do so. Obviously, not every encounter with an attacker ends in a re-
markable save, but his 83.6% save percentage is impressive. That statistic is also a testament to the quality of
the defence in front of him who have allowed few high-quality chances on the Frenchmans goal this season.
Like any young professional however, Cardinale is prone to the occasional error or the occasional poor perfor-
mance. This was highlighted this season in Nices 5-2 drubbing by FC Krasnodar in the Europa League. On that
night, he was the orchestrator of his own downfall, as his on-rushing antics proved costly as he attempted to
slide tackle the Krasnodar forward, but instead missed entirely, sliding waywardly out of his box leaving an
open goal for the attacker to slot into.
Lapses in concentration can be costly in any position on the pitch, but in the goalkeeping profession they are
amplified ten-fold. While Cardinale does suffer from this from time to time, it is important to remember that
the 22-year old, has only just reached 50 first-team appearances for Nice and should be judged accordingly.
Based on that, the 22-year-olds largely consistent displays have been particularly impressive.
Despite making so few appearances at senior level, Cardinale is extremely mature as demonstrated by his
willingness to play the ball short. He is not consumed by the traditional safety approach that some goalkeep-
ers still willingly adopt. In an era when goalkeepers are asked to be not only shot-stoppers but an eleventh
outfield player, the importance of possessing this skill should not be undermined.
An attribute of the young Frenchmans that cannot be ignored is his bravery. Sometimes that may be con-
strued as naivety but Cardinale has, up until now, used it to his advantage very well. In the modern age of
goalkeepers being criticised for failing to dominate the 18-yard box, Cardinale is certainly not guilty of that.
He is vocal on the pitch; aware of the dangers posed by the opposition not just to himself, but to his defend-
ers. Despite preferring to play short, when a clearance is the sole option the Frenchman likes to punch the
ball or kick long and is also willing to dive low into a melee of legs and boots in order to clear his lines.
While that can be admired, it comes with the dangerous possibility of failing to connect with the punch
properly and simply palming the ball into an oncoming attackers path. Something which Cardinale needs to
work on is his ability to claim crosses, which could be difficult given his lack of height. This possibly explains
his reluctance to claim the ball; instead often opting to punch the ball to safety.

FORECAST FOR 2017

While 2016 was truly his breakthrough year, 2017 could be even more exciting for the Frenchman. With no
French youth caps to his name and the politics behind Deschamps national team selections being notorious-
ly stubborn, one possible avenue for Cardinale to feature at for the national team is in the France U-21 setup.
Depending on the fortunes of OGC Nice in Ligue 1 and the Europa League, Cardinales own progress could ei-
ther continue or be halted. A strong league finish would propel him into the Champions League next season,
with all the scrutiny and publicity that comes with it.
Cardinales talents are rare commodity. He is a young goalkeeper with a unique style and determination to
succeed. Nowadays, with the advancement of modern physiotherapy and sports science, it is not uncommon
to see goalkeepers hitting their peak between the ages of 29-31, an age at which Cardinale could potentially
be a starter for a top European side. With his already excellent experience at a top team in a top league, the
future looks bright if he can remain consistent, injury-free and in Nice manager Lucien Favres favour.
 GK

RICO
FULL NAME: SERGIO
RICO GONZLEZ

CLUB: SEVILLA

NATIONALITY: SPANISH

POSTION: GOALKEEPER

DATE OF BIRTH:
SEPTEMBER 1, 1993

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: JUSTIN SOUSA

(@SOUSA7474)
2016 IN REVIEW
After a decade of servitude and loyalty to his hometown club, 2016 was the year Sergio Rico finally es-
tablished himself as Sevilla FCs first choice goalkeeper. Following the departures of Beto and Unai Emery,
questions were asked regarding Ricos future at Sevilla under Jorge Sampaolis management and with the
acquisition of fellow goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu. The 23-year old was linked to Liverpool and Manchester
United over the summer transfer window but resolved to stay in Seville for at least another season. His faith
in the club boded well as Rico missed just one of Sevillas 37 league fixtures in 2016 and currently leads the
Champions League in clean sheets with five from six games.
However, 2016 was a year of missed opportunities and inconsistencies for both Rico and Sevilla. Of the four
finals Sevilla contested in 2016, Rico played in three of them, losing the UEFA Super Cup to Real Madrid and
the Copa Del Rey and Supercopa to Barcelona. Rico missed out on Sevillas Europa League triumph due to the
clubs decision to rest him for domestic league matches. Rico also experienced extreme spurts of inconsisten-
cy, conceding 15 goals in Unai Emerys last eight league games with Sevilla. In Sampaolis first 10 Liga matches
in charge, Rico started eight of them and relinquished nine goals to the opposition.
Nevertheless, Ricos rough patches throughout 2016 did not stop him from making his debut for the Spanish
national team. The Sevilla goalkeeper came on as a substitute for Iker Casillas to see out the last 16 minutes
of Spains 6-1 win over South Korea prior to the European Championship. Rico was selected in Julen Lopete-
guis roster for the European Championship finals, but fell behind Iker Casillas and David De Gea in the peck-
ing order as the national team were eventually knocked out in the Round of 16. Since the tournament, Rico
was called to the October national camp but is yet to make another appearance for Spain since his debut.
STYLE OF PLAY
Rico is blessed with a 65 frame that fills the goal when he stretches his long arms and legs to make a save.
Against Juventus, Sergio Rico made a brilliant diving save to prevent Alex Sandros header from giving the
Bianconeri a late winner in the Champions League group stage.
Dani Alves would try to break the deadlock of that game with an overhead kick from outside the box, Rico
was quick to catch the ball with his arms completely stretched once again. Moreover, the goalkeepers height
has made him a force on set pieces, conceding just three goals from corner kicks and free kicks this season.
Capable of punching out an in-swinging ball, Rico often forces the opposition to play short passes from
set-pieces because of his dominance in the air.
The Spaniard is well renowned for his incredible reflex saves and agility to get down to a low driven shot.
Sergio Rico produced a superb save against Celta Vigo as he denied an Iago Aspas header from the six-yard
box. Rico made five more saves during that match and, if not for Vicente Iborras hat-trick, would have won
the man of the match award for his heroics. His cat-like reflexes have made him one of the best one-on-one
keepers in the world, as exhibited against Valencia when Rico saved Dani Parejos effort on goal with a quick
extension of his right leg.
On the other hand, Rico suffers from a lack of reliable performances and an unusually timid nature for a
goalkeeper. Aside from his iconic scream after a good save, Rico is not the most vocal figure on the field for
Sevilla. The past year has seen him develop his communication skills, but he is still reluctant to command
his teammates to keep their shape in their defensive duties. Rico is also known to endure a period of subpar
performances preceding one of game winning proportions. Following two man of the match awards against
Juventus and Villarreal, Rico conceded three unanswered goals between two underwhelming performances
against Deportivo Alaves and Leganes. More recently, Rico made five saves in Sevillas 4-0 win over Real So-
ciedad but conceded seven goals in the following three games.
On top of the poor consistency, Ricos distribution is another fault in his game. Averaging a 65% distribution
success, the young goalkeeper has struggled to adapt to his more involved role in Sevillas build up play
under Sampaoli. Perhaps a consequence to his lack of self-belief, Rico prefers to boot a long ball to Sevillas
forward players rather than adhere to a patient build up play. Yet, even his sprayed out passes are often in-
accurate and lead to cheap losses of possession that the opposition turn into counter attacks. According to
WhoScored, Sergio Rico averages 11.5 inaccurate long passes and only six accurate long balls per 90 minutes.

FORECAST FOR 2017

2017 will be an important year for Sergio Ricos overall career as he continues to mature and develop his
abilities as a player. By the end of this season, Rico will no longer be considered an inexperienced player
and will be looked to by Sampaoli as someone he can rely on to perform at a top level week in and week
out. Sevilla are currently outside contenders for the La Liga title and contesting with Leicester City for a spot
in UEFA Champions League quarter-finals. In terms of the domestic league, Rico is always a presence in big
game situations and will need to be as Sevilla are still to face Atltico Madrid, Barcelona and Real Madrid
away from home.
As far as development, Ricos aspirations for the remainder of the season should be to enhance his technical
abilities and fill himself with confidence. Rico is an especially humble player, but his mind is its worst critic
seeing how minor mistakes in game or an overall unconvincing performance can offset his confidence in
games to follow. Sampaoli, being one of the worlds best player managers, has probably already identified
this as a problem in Ricos game and will undoubtedly mend it before the end of the season. The goalkeeper
should also make it a priority to strengthen his accuracy from goal kicks and the influence of his passes. If Rico
can sharpen his awareness and vision for a pass, Sevilla will become a more efficient team when it comes to
holding possession and creating chances.
At the international level, Rico must fight Casillas and De Gea for play time throughout the year. The latter
of the two seems to have solidified his place as Spains first choice keeper but should De Gea get injured or
lose form over the course of this season, Rico needs to be ready to put in standout shifts for the national side.
With the 2018 World Cup just around the corner, Rico needs to make his intentions clear to Lopetegui that he
wants to fight for a spot in the national team set-up.
 GK

EDERSON
FULL NAME: EDERSON SANTANA
DE MORAES

CLUB: SL BENFICA

NATIONALITY: BRAZILIAN

POSTION: GOALKEEPER

DATE OF BIRTH:
AUGUST 17, 1993

PREFERRED FOOT: LEFT

WRITTEN BY: WILL SAVAGE

2016 IN REVIEW
Having impressed in the second division of Portuguese football for a few years; Ederson Santana returned to
Benfica in the summer of 2015, a club he had first joined aged sixteen. His return to Lisbon required patience
at first as Jlio Csar was still the first-choice stopper at Benfica, but his chance came when he was thrust
into the starting line-up for the derby match away to Sporting in March. One clean sheet later and he was in,
getting a run in the team that would last the rest of the season culminating in impressive performances in the
Champions League quarter finals against Bayern Munich. League and cup winners medals were a just reward
for the rapid progress he made on his return to Benfica. But he was not finished there.
His progress saw him named in Brazils provisional squad for the 2016 Copa Amrica Centenario but an injury
meant he failed to make the final cut and curtailed his start to the 2016/17 domestic season too, having to
content himself with a place on the bench after returning to the squad for the second matchday. It was not
too long however before he found himself back in the first-team, usurping Julio Cesar once again to regain
his spot. In the seven league matches he has played since his return he has conceded only twice, so it seems
like Ederson means to carry on as he has started.
STYLE OF PLAY
For a goalkeeper in his early twenties, Ederson is surprisingly well-rounded. If one were forced to pick out a
strong point of his game, it would probably be his reflexes and his agility. As one would probably expect from
a highly rated young goalkeeper, Edersons quick reactions are impressive and he has been able to dig his
side out of trouble more than once by reacting to situations quicker than anyone else. His positioning too,
is impressive for such a young goalkeeper. That is not to say it is flawless - at times his positioning can be a
little ambitious, or even cavalier, often leaving his near post slightly vulnerable or taking a proactive starting
position to situations rather than staying on his line, but his impressive physical attributes mean he is rarely
caught out. Certainly, positioning is not a weak point in his game like it is for many other young goalkeepers,
no doubt the benefit of having played regularly at a lower level rather than sat on the bench at Benfica.
His shot stopping is solid if not remarkable, although he has been beaten on occasions by shots that should
not have troubled him. Like many goalkeepers, he could do better on dipping shots which bounce in right in
front of him, at times struggling to hold them first time. Certainly, he could also work on pushing rebounds
into less dangerous areas too, or getting more distance on them. This would probably be the biggest flaw in
his game. At 1.88m he is quite tall and therefore he is unlikely to be bullied in attempting to contest crosses
either. When he is in possession, his range of passing can be impressive. He is not likely to go on a mazy drib-
ble like Manuel Neuer, but his long passing can be a real asset to his team when they look to beat a press or
start a counter-attack.
One of the highlights of watching Ederson is the way his proactive positioning combines well with his speed
off his line and his agility to see him taking the ball off the feet of attackers who have managed to get in be-
hind the Benfica backline. One of the prime examples of this was in the home match against Bayern Munich
where Douglas Costa was played into the right side of Benficas penalty area and Ederson managed to dive at
his feet and push the ball away, preventing the Bayern man with what would have been a tantalising oppor-
tunity to threaten the goal. Not content with pushing away the immediate danger Ederson sprung to his feet
again and dove at the loose ball on the edge of his area before it reached the feet of an onrushing Bayern
attacker. This front foot approach to goalkeeping, combined with his calming approach to commanding his
defence has been one of the main reasons Ederson has managed to slot into the Benfica backline so well.

FORECAST FOR 2017

Edersons future remains a confusing one. The number one spot at Benfica looks sure to be his barring any
unfortunate brushes with injury or calamitous dips in form. His contract runs till 2020 giving Benfica some se-
curity and with a release clause rumoured to be around 45m, the ball is in the clubs court for now. Rumours
in the summer suggested that Manchester City and Inter Milan had come calling but they might have found
such a price tag a little too steep even for their wallets.
If the performances continue as they have done so far though, that price may quickly look a bargain for a man
who could potentially be a top-level goalkeeper for a decade or more. He seems a wonderful fit for a Pep
Guardiola side, with his excellent technique on the ball combined with shot-stopping City fans will be eager
to see after a calamitous year between the sticks for new signing Claudio Bravo.
A contract till 2020 gives Ederson some security too. He knows that if he keeps performing, he will get reg-
ular football and Benfica seems the perfect place for him to keep learning his trade and smoothing out the
rougher parts of his game for now. If there is still any doubt that a big move is somewhere in his future, one
final Ederson fact to keep in mind: his agent is Jorge Mendes.
 GK

KARIUS
FULL NAME: LORIS KARIUS

CLUB: LIVERPOOL

NATIONALITY: GERMAN

POSTION: GOALKEEPER

DATE OF BIRTH:
JUNE 22, 1993

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: CONOR GARRATT

(@CONORGARRATT)
2016 IN REVIEW
Promising young German shot-stopper Loris Karius both endured and enjoyed parts of 2016. It was a year in
which he consolidated his name as one of the best young goalkeepers in Germany, played a leading role in
Mainz 05s ascent to the Europa League and secured a big money move to the Premier League. However, he
also suffered from a lengthy injury lay-off with a broken finger just as the 2016/17 began and was confined
to the bench for an equally lengthy period as Liverpools second string goalkeeper behind the man he was
signed to replace, Simon Mignolet.
This was in no small part due to media pressure from, among others, Liverpool club legend Jamie Carragher
and the Neville brothers, Phil and Gary. Carragher questioned Karius credentials for the club after a pair of
dreadful defensive performances which saw the Reds throw away a commanding lead against Bournemouth
and labour to a draw against West Ham in the space of two games. Karius responded furiously to the criticism
which did border on being unconstructive, arguably going beyond it entirely, and was quickly told to shut up
and do your job by Carragher.
Incidentally, the idea that Karius himself has cost Liverpool points ignores the fact that, in his ten Premier
League games during 2016, the club won six, drew three (in which two draws involved clean sheets), and lost
just one. It is not a criticism based on reality and is entirely an agenda both created and furthered by pundits
such as Carragher and Neville.
Despite publicly defending Karius, his manager Jrgen Klopp dropped the German in favour of Mignolet, who
at the time of writing remains the first choice. However, with many statistical evaluations of Premier League
goalkeepers actually showing that Karius has performed better than his Belgian competitor in the Premier
League this season, it is certainly possible that Karius supposed bad end to 2016 is nothing more than a
case of perception. At the very least, the former Manchester City trainee has faced more shots from what
are categorised as more difficult positions than Mignolet, suggesting that the highly-touted goalkeeper who
arrived from Mainz in the summer will return strongly when given the chance.
STYLE OF PLAY
German goalkeeping is en vogue, with Manuel Neuer rated as one of the best goalkeepers in the world and
European top clubs such as Barcelona and PSG employing the services of Marc-Andr ter Stegen and Kevin
Trapp. Most goalkeepers in this school tend to be so-called sweeper keepers and while Karius is indeed com-
fortable coming off his line, as has been evident in several games for both Liverpool and Mainz during his first
team career so far, this is not perhaps such a key attribute in his game as it is to his compatriots.
Indeed, if there were one huge criticism to make of Karius, it is that his distribution could be significantly
improved; long balls often go nowhere, while short passes can give even the calmest fan palpitations. Inter-
estingly, this was not flagged up as an issue during his time at Mainz than at Liverpool in a league where
he had less time on the ball due to the aggressive systematic pressing employed by the majority of German
teams and yet his rates of distribution have improved significantly, from 60% at Mainz in 2015/16 to 68% in
2016/17 at Liverpool. The perception that Karius doesnt like the ball there is, then, not founded in anything
approaching reality, and there has been a clear improvement in that area of his game in the past year.
As such, this does not take anything away from the fact that, at his best, Karius is one of the brightest young
German goalkeepers in a field of talent which encompasses the aforementioned ter Stegen, as well as Bernd
Leno and Timo Horn.
His athleticism is his key attribute and it is this which has allowed him to make several stunning acrobatic
saves in instances where attacking players looked set to score. As well as being able to reach some of the
most difficult shots, Karius anticipation is also excellent, making him difficult to beat from even some of the
most gilt-edged opportunities attacking teams can create. Standing at 63, Karius is not exactly huge for a
goalkeeper, but this is counterbalanced by excellent positioning, which saw him claim an incredible 96% of
crosses in the Bundesliga last season.
Additionally, the fact the 23-year-old has reached over a hundred starts in professional football, while hav-
ing made all those appearances in the top flights of both German and English football, means he has a huge
wealth of experience to draw upon. This seems to be helping him during tough moments, especially during
his time at Mainz. There, he produced brilliant performances in wins against three of the Bundesligas four
Champions League contenders of that season between January and March of 2016 which helped Mainz to a
Europa League berth. It should become evident again as the German makes his way back into the Liverpool
team.

FORECAST FOR 2017

Given that Karius has, by most statistical analyses of his performances, outperformed Mignolet by many met-
rics, it seems quite likely that at some point in 2017 there will be some questions raised about the Belgians
ability. Karius has already shown himself to be mentally strong at Liverpool throughout the Neville affair that
he should take advantage of any chance handed to him. Indeed, during his brief cup outings in 2017 so far
Karius has made a strong account of himself. Liverpools double of cup exits towards the end of January both
came despite the young Germans positive performances.
However, despite negative results for Liverpool at the beginning of the year it appears that, for the time
being, the 23-year-old must continue to be patient and bide his time; a move in the summer may appear a
little premature, especially given the clear high regard that Klopp holds Karius in after a vociferous defence of
the goalkeeper against his critics. Heroics at a top club and a cap for the German national team may have to
wait for the time being, but the beginning of his time on Merseyside will have provided Karius with a harsh
learning curve, one which he should indeed learn a lot more from than his wildly successful seasons in Rhe-
inhessen.
 GK

HORN
FULL NAME: TIMO HORN

CLUB: FC KLN

NATIONALITY: GERMAN

POSTION: GOALKEEPER

DATE OF BIRTH:
MAY 12, 1993

PREFERRED FOOT: LEFT

WRITTEN BY: SIMON WEISS

(@SIMONWE1SS)
2016 IN REVIEW
Timo Horn used 2016 to further establish himself as Germanys leading goalkeeping prospect in the un-
der-23 age bracket. Consistent performances for Kln and a stellar Olympic football tournament for Germany
showed that besides his talent and potential, he is prepared to offer top level performances on a regular
basis for both club and country. Unlike other Scouted graduates, Horn is not a rookie anymore. After helping
Kln to promotion in 2014, he swiftly adapted to top flight football, keeping 13 clean sheets in the 2014/15
season. Year after year, Horn has continued to grow in stature and has further learned on the job to make the
transition from mere talent to standout professional.
Sadly, after a bright start to the campaign with Kln, he suffered a meniscus injury, keeping him out for the
remainder of the calendar year. Nevertheless, 2016 will be a year Horn can look back at with fond memories.
Partially due to his performances and the security and calm he provides at the back, Kln have established
themselves in the top half of the table. For Germany, he returned home with the silver medal from the Olym-
pic games. A fantastic achievement regardless, but even more so considering the squad Germany brought
to Brazil. As one of the most experienced players in the squad, he assumed responsibility and led the team
from the back.
STYLE OF PLAY

Regarding his style, Horn can be considered a modern goalkeeper - as it must be expected nowadays. He is
strong and agile, a very good shot stopper and good with both of his feet. He once said that he feels his task
is not only to stop shots, but rather to organise and help the back four and to anticipate dangerous situations
in advance. Despite his age, he has already taken to this commanding role. As mentioned, Horn is confident
to use both his left and his right foot for passing. This helps him when it comes to clearing the ball, but also
when passing from one centre-back to another. He also shows great accuracy when throwing the ball, allow-
ing him to speed up play when he wishes to. Concerning his shot stopping, he can keep out difficult shots
without parrying them into dangerous areas. Moreover, Horn is not a keeper that has to be kept busy. He
shows high levels of concentration in all cases - be it shot after shot or after going longer periods without
having to act.

Furthermore, his desire to constantly improve must be considered a strength as well. He is known for work-
ing with different types of coaches outside of the normal training, from goalkeeping to mental coaches. With
the former, he analyses every single game of his to improve features such as positioning at corners. For a
young player, he shows great awareness of his own weaknesses and is not afraid to highlight them publically.
He recently stated that he needed to become even bigger and that he wanted to further improve his right
foot. Horn also feels he needs to give clearer and louder instructions to help his team mates.

Curiously, his self-assessment links nicely to the parts of the game he can still improve upon. Namely how he
marshals the box at corners and set-pieces. Quite deliberately, the word weakness has not been used as it
would be a harsh description of his actions in these situations since they rarely lead to goals. However, it is
often visible that he struggles with timing and strength or that he finds himself stranded, because he ran into
traffic or was blocked off. It must be noted though that this is not always entirely down to the goalkeeper.

Communication with his defenders and set-up (seeing how it mainly concerns set-pieces) can contribute
to his indecision, too. Especially at the Olympic tournament, Horn showed many signs of this. Hence this
strengthens the argument that he is only as good as the unit in front of him. Which brings us full circle and
back to his assessment of not being vocal enough. Maybe a stronger vocal presence would help his decision
making, whether to come from crosses or whether to leave it for his defences. However, as already men-
tioned, this is not a weakness as such. Primarily, as Horn has already gotten noticeably better and is still keen
on ironing out the last details.

FORECAST FOR 2017

2017 hopefully starts off with a healthy Timo Horn. The injury sustained in late 2016 must have been dis-
appointing for the German, who had essentially played every game since his breakthrough in 2012. Seeing
how he is already an established player, the new year probably will not hold too many surprises regarding his
performances. You can however expect him to continue to grow as a player and a leader, as he has done since
his debut. In the summer, Horn might have to decide whether Kln is still the right fit for him, or whether he
wants to take it to the next level.

Interest from Dortmund and Leipzig has already been reported and a host of foreign clubs would certainly be
keen to sign him too. Regardless of whether he leaves Kln in the summer or sticks around for another year,
you can count on him to eventually leave for a bigger club. With the national team in mind, Horn has to have
the ambition of earning a place for Jogi Lws side. In terms of talent and performances, he does not have to
hide behind Bernd Leno or Marc-Andre ter Stegen, with the lack of international football his only weakness
in his CV.
 DF

SARR
FULL NAME: MALANG SARR

CLUB: OGC NICE

NATIONALITY: FRENCH

POSTION: CENTRE-BACK

DATE OF BIRTH:
JANUARY 23, 1999

PREFERRED FOOT: LEFT

WRITTEN BY: WILL SAVAGE

2016 IN REVIEW
With Lucien Favres Nice defying expectations in Ligue 1 as they look to try and keep pace with AS Monaco
and PSG, much of the attention from casual observers will be on familiar names such as Mario Balotelli or
Younes Belhanda. As one would expect from a Favre team though, their success is based on a focus on keep-
ing clean sheets. Key to this has been the nascent emergence of Malang Sarr into the first-team.
Coming off a summer where Sarr featured in Frances dismal showing in the U-17, it was a surprise to most
observers to see him immediately become a fixture in Favres starting eleven. Any worries soon paid off
though, as the youngster headed home from a set-piece in his debut at home to Stade Rennais, scoring the
only goal of the game. While goal-scoring is rarely the most important aspect of a defenders arsenal, it was a
promising sign of things to come. Sarr has been a virtual ever-present for Nice since his debut, as the under-
dogs from the French Riviera have sustained a title challenge against much larger opponents.
STYLE OF PLAY
We have seen teenage defenders feature regularly for teams before. Usually accompanied by errors put
down to a lack of experience, there has been none of that with Sarr as his physicality, confidence and con-
centration have been a regular feature at centre-back for Nice this season. Indeed, at the time of writing, Sarr
has only picked up (?) yellow cards in the league thus far this season. That would be impressive for a cen-
tre-back of any age, never mind a young man who has only just celebrated his eighteenth (18th?) birthday.
While any team managed by Lucien Favre will look to protect the defence first and foremost, Sarrs maturity
and understanding of the game has helped him massively.
His versatility is a major weapon in his arsenal too, capable of playing at full-back and just as comfortable in
a back three as he is in a back four. Alongside Dante, Sarr has excelled. His anticipation and positioning are
impressive, and seem to improve massively week on week. He has excelled in intercepting the ball to stop
opposition moves which allows him to counter any potential threats before they develop. Sarr is no slouch
on the ball either, often looking to offer an immediate riposte for his team with searching long balls. As he
demonstrated on his debut, he is a threat from set pieces too having already notched a couple of assists from
knockdowns.
Physically imposing, Sarr is as obdurate an opponent in the air as he is when the ball is on the ground and
Nice fans have been impressed with how promising the Frenchman looks already. Having said that, Sarrs
professional career is just months old. Seasoned football watchers have seen flash in the pan talents before
and, while this is less common with defenders, caution should still be advised when evaluating the young
defenders progress.
Furthermore, a defender at Favres Nice will always get a lot of protection from the players ahead of him,
only two teams have conceded less than Nices 20 goals (PSG 18, ASSE 19) at the time of writing. How Sarr
would adapt in a less protected system would be intriguing to watch, while it is unlikely he would struggle
given his obvious ability, he would likely find himself in more difficult situations faced with more overload
situations. While Sarrs intelligence is impressive given his age, his tactical understanding could still do with
improvement. While there has been clear progress on this front, it is understandably the weakest aspect of
his game as he continues to adapt to Favres rigid system.

FORECAST FOR 2017

Having already been the subject of a couple of approaches from London, it is unlikely the links will die down
if Nice continue their impressive form. A boyhood Nice fan, Sarr has said repeatedly that playing for Nice is all
he wants for now. Indeed, his partnership with Dante looks a match made in heaven and there is no reason
nor need for him to leave any time soon. Regular football is fuelling his impressive development and there is
no need to risk that.
Although Sarr certainly has the potential to play at the top of the game, he should not be looking that far
ahead just yet. Right now, all Sarr needs to do is ensure he continues to play regularly and ensure he can
perform consistently to this standard over a longer period, with the kinks in his game likely to be ironed out
with more game time.
 DF
ALEXANDER-
ARNOLD
FULL NAME:
TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD

CLUB: LIVERPOOL FC

NATIONALITY: ENGLAND

POSTION: RIGHT-BACK

DATE OF BIRTH:
OCTOBER 7, 1998

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: TOM CURREN

(@TOMOCURR)
2016 IN REVIEW
2016 was Trent Alexander-Arnolds breakout year. Liverpool fans have been mildly aware of him for a while
but, like Alex Iwobi at Arsenal, his performances for the youth setup did not generate the kind of clamour
that the likes of Raheem Sterling or Jordan Ibe enjoyed, or that young forward Ben Woodburn is beginning
to experience. Alexander-Arnolds progression from academy hopeful to capable first-team option has been
a quiet one, but it has happened very quickly; he is still just 18. Before the summer of 2016, he had never
made a competitive appearance for Liverpools first-team, his only experience being in pre-season friendlies
under Brendan Rodgers. Fast-forward six months and he is now in direct competition to be Liverpools sec-
ond-choice right-back.
As with many of the Liverpool players, his emergence can in part be attributed to the philosophy of boss
Jrgen Klopp. To say previous manager Brendan Rodgers did not cultivate youth might be unfair Raheem
Sterling exploded under his tutelage but his handling of other young players was at times odd. Klopp, in
contrast, seems to delight in blooding young talent. His history suggests as much, of course, with his old
Dortmund side built around the likes of a young Mario Gtze and Robert Lewandowski, who joined the club
at 21. So, it was always likely that the best would be plucked from Liverpools academy and thrust into the
limelight, but Alexander-Arnold was lucky on another level; his style perfectly complements the way Klopp
likes his teams to play.
His 2016 comprised of several EFL Cup starts, as Klopp tentatively provided him with a gentle smattering of
first-team experience. The first came against Tottenham, in which he excelled. He was rewarded with a sec-
ond start, this time earning a man-of-the-match award as Liverpool comfortably knocked out Leeds United
with a 2-0 victory. He set up Divock Origis goal in that game with a glorious whipped cross from deep; Klopp,
it was safe to say, was impressed. Two weeks later Alexander-Arnold came off the bench against Middles-
brough for his Premier League debut. Things accelerated from there and, as 2017 entered its third week, the
news broke that Nathaniel Clyne would be unavailable for Liverpools game against Manchester United. In-
stead of trusting the entirely untrustworthy Alberto Moreno and shifting James Milner across to cover Clyne,
Klopp put faith in his young, home grown prodigy; Alexander-Arnold delivered, keeping 36 million winger
Anthony Martial quiet.
STYLE OF PLAY
As mentioned earlier, Alexander-Arnold is a player seemingly moulded in the Klopp style as a full-back. Tall,
well-built and very fast, physically Alexander-Arnolds build is exemplary for one so young, displaying a phys-
ical maturity that has allowed him to repeatedly play above his age group. However, as with all players at
this level, physicality is utterly useless unless the footballing brain is programmed simultaneously. Luckily for
the young defender, he possesses a footballing mind that is sharp and tactically astute, allowing him to both
defend and attack with an impressive maturity.
First amongst his skills is his anticipation. Alexander-Arnold spent a stint during his academy days playing as a
defensive midfielder and many were unsure which position he would best suit when it came time for him to
emerge into the first-team. He settled on becoming a right-back, but it is easy to see the good that playing as
a midfielder has done him. When defending, he seems to see passes before they are made, using his speed
and tenacity to cut through-balls out, stretching his long legs to make last-minute interceptions on the edge
of the box. Clearly, his time spent screening the centre-halves has led to a development in his anticipation,
and he is deploying this skill equally usefully when playing as a full-back.
Though his defensive traits add balance to his game, Klopp loves him for his ability to attack. This is becom-
ing such a clich in the modern game that it almost goes without saying, but Alexander-Arnold is unques-
tionably the kind of defender who loves to get forward; the kind of defender that Klopp has utilised in all
his previous teams. Part of this ability is down to his speed and physicality, that should not be questioned.
But Alexander-Arnold is also a supremely confident dribbler, both in his own half and when attacking the
oppositions box. Against Tottenham in 2016 the young defender caused his opposite number Ben Davies all
sorts of problems when they met at the halfway line, with the Welsh international often being outclassed
by Alexander-Arnolds close control and awareness of space. The Enlgishman loves to drive into the heart of
midfield with the ball at his feet, or scream down the line with the opposing full-back on his heels. This opens
space ahead of him for attacking players to run into, or for more creative players to receive the ball with their
eyes to goal. Of course, this aggressive dribbling style serves Alexander-Arnold well when closing in on the
oppositions box too. He is very confident when faced with a defender one-on-one, being entirely capable of
dribbling into the box to get a shot away or cross for a teammate. In fact, getting shots away is a surprising
skill of Alexander-Arnolds; he scored an excellent brace for England U-19s in 2016, including an absurd vol-
ley that twisted away from Croatias keeper delightfully. Full-backs that carry a goal threat are becoming ever
more popular, and Alexander-Arnold is certainly capable of scoring.
It would be amiss not to mention his passing ability. Most interested in Alexander-Arnold will have witnessed
his assist for Origi in the EFL Cup: a glorious, deep-field cross that landed precisely where the Belgian forward
placed his boot. This was not an anomalous pass from the teenager. He often enjoys passing long, switching
the play to the full-back on the opposite side of the pitch, or pinging a ball from deep for a striker to latch
onto. In this, he fulfils one of the obligations of a modern full-back; to also serve as a deep-lying winger, sup-
porting the creative players in midfield.

FORECAST FOR 2016

The future seems very, very bright for Alexander-Arnold. With a Premier League debut in one of Liverpools
biggest games under his belt, Klopp evidently trusts the youngster profoundly. With Joe Gomez continuing
to struggle with niggling injuries, Alexander-Arnold can now solidify his position as Klopps second-choice
right-back. At 18-years-old, this is a huge achievement and speaks volumes about the youngsters future. If
he stays patient and continues to take his chances when they are presented to him, he could secure himself
as Klopps long-term defensive solution. In a back four that has too often this season contained Dejan Lovren,
James Milner and Ragnar Klavan hardly the spriteliest of triumvirates his youth and speed provide a wel-
come dynamism.
The most important trait that Alexander-Arnold must develop, though, is patience. With Liverpool competing
exclusively in the Premier League for the remainder of this season, he is unlikely to appear ahead of England
international Nathaniel Clyne unless injury strikes again. However, with the dawn of the new season will
come new opportunities and, at barely 18 years of age, Alexander-Arnold has plenty of time to seize them.
 DF

PASSLACK
FULL NAME: FELIX PASSLACK

CLUB: BORUSSIA DORTMUND

NATIONALITY: GERMAN

POSTION: RIGHT-BACK

DATE OF BIRTH:
MAY 29, 1998

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: LEWIS AMBROSE

(@LGAMBROSE)
2016 IN REVIEW
2016 was good, great, then ultimately a little disappointing for Felix Passlack. To be fair, that is only because
he has set the bar so high with a string of exciting performances for Borussia Dortmund at just 18 years of
age.
Furthermore, Passlack captained a dominant Dortmund side at U-19 level, adding the national title to U-17
glory a year earlier. At youth level in 2016, Passlack completed the season with 19 goals in 25 domestic ap-
pearances, earning himself a chance in the Bundesliga. He has also been a regular fixture in Dortmunds UEFA
Youth League team enjoying a successful run in the tournament this season despite losing to Barcelona in
the round of 16.
He added to three Bundesliga appearances from 2015/16 with a starting place in Dortmunds team for the
new campaign. Since, though, the return of more senior squad members has seen Passlack disappointingly
fall down the pecking order, though he remains very much a prospect for the present as much as for future.
ghts how comfortable he already is in the confines of senior football and also underlines his leadership cre-
dentials in a team relatively bereft of them after the summer departure of Mats Hummels.
STYLE OF PLAY
One looks at Passlack and they do not instantly see a professional footballer. One certainly does not picture
an adventurous full-back. Built more like an American Football player but packed into just 57 of teenager,
his sheer robustness is immediately striking. Short in stature but strong as an ox, the versatile German knows
how to make the most of his outstanding physical attributes. Indeed, his incredible strength and ability to
accelerate with ease are what helped him comfortably set himself apart at youth level.
The step up to senior football immediately becomes a worry with players who rely on such physical advan-
tages over their contemporaries at youth level, but Passlack has already shown he has enough ability for it
not to matter. With Passlacks technical ability, it is hardly surprising that he is much safer in possession than
experienced team-mates at senior level like Lukasz Pisczcek or Marcel Schmelzer, contributing to Dortmunds
possession with more passes per game and a higher pass completion than either of the title winners. It
makes his progression into the team incredibly exciting, as it is evident that his style suits that of manager
Thomas Tuchel and the general ethos of the club.
Able to accelerate quickly and run past (or through!) opponents powerfully, he is a perfect candidate for one
of the full-back positions at Dortmund. His record at youth level shows a keen eye for goal and it should be
no surprise that the German is calm when opportunities present themselves in the final third, becoming a
dangerous player from wide areas. Unfortunately, though, an eagerness to influence attacking play can leave
Dortmunds other defenders exposed on the break. Furthermore, when playing on the right and sharing the
flank with Ousmane Dembl, Passlack must exercise even more caution with the reluctance of his 19-year-
old team-mate to track back with too much regularity. The German must continue to work with Tuchel to
understand where he must be positioned in both phases of play in order to maximise his attacking output
without compromising defensive shape.
The full-back is also asked to cover on the left side of the defence at times but is incredibly reluctant to use
his weaker foot which can inhibit his ability to hug the touch-line as he does to such great effect on the op-
posing flank.
The other notable weakness is in the air. What he might have over his rivals on the ground, he loses when he
tries to leap with his small and stocky frame, making crosses to his side of the defence a chink in Dortmunds
armour.
A strong personality, Passlack has already assumed the role of encouraging or consoling his team-mates, as
he did with Emre Mor after the midfielder had seen a red card against Hertha BSC in October. It highlights
how comfortable he already is in the confines of senior football and also underlines his leadership credentials
in a team relatively bereft of them after the summer departure of Mats Hummels.

FORECAST FOR 2017

With Piszczek still ahead of him when fit, Erik Durm back from injury and Matthias Ginter capable of playing
at right-back, Passlack faces a lot of competition for regular playing time. Fortunately, he has shown himself
willing to fight for his place in the first-team.
Piszczek is some way into a decline after years of being a standout player for BVB, possibly leaving the right-
back position up for grabs within the next year or so. Passlack is likely to be given the chance to make the
place his own with his style aligning with Tuchels view of what a right-back should do more seamlessly than
Ginters.
With Germany currently using central midfielder in Joshua Kimmich at right-back, Passlack has to force his
way into the Dortmund side for the sake of club and country. Joachim Lw will take an experimental squad to
the 2017 Confederations Cup but the tournament is likely to come too soon for a potential breakthrough for
the 18-year-old. However, should he continue to consistently apply himself at club level, Lw would likely be
tempted to welcome Passlack into the national team set-up to free Kimmich into midfield.
With fewer than 18 months remaining before kick-off in Russia for the 2018 World Cup though, Passlack fac-
es a race against the clock to prove himself a stable enough option for Lw to consider blooding him on the
biggest stage in world football.
 DF

LIROLA
FULL NAME: POL MIKEL
LIROLA KOSOK

CLUB: US SASSUOLO

NATIONALITY: SPANISH

POSTION: RIGHT-BACK

DATE OF BIRTH:
AUGUST 13, 1997

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: STEPHEN GANAVAS

(@MAROTTANOMICS)
2016 IN REVIEW

One of the most under-the-radar breakout seasons in Europe so far has been that of Sassuolos on-loan full-back
Pol Lirola. Signed from Juventus on loan for two seasons to cover for the loss of ime Vrsaljko to Atltico Madrid,
Sassuolo opted to slowly blend Lirola into the team. However, the Spaniard has since become an integral part
of the Neroverdis starting side, adding much needed pace and a vital overlapping attacking outlet to team up
with Domencio Berardi on the right flank.

Sending Lirola to Sassuolo was a clever move by Juventus. Drilled in playing some entertaining football under
the wonderful Eusebio Di Francesco, Sassuolo also have a strong relationship with the Juventus management.
This means they will likely see no problem in playing and developing Lirola despite the fact they will receive
no reward for it at the end of the deal, due to arrangements with other transfers between the two clubs it is
complicated.

Entrusted with the starting right-back role, Lirola most notably took the Europa League by storm. This included
a scintillating performance against Athletic Bilbao in the group stages that was capped off with a magnificent
goal after a fine solo run from the right wing in a 3-1 Sassuolo win. After a string of successive excellent games,
Lirola was voted into UEFAs Europa League Team of the Group Stage. Along with 19-year-old Leon Bailey, the
Spaniard was the only under-23 player voted into the team.
STYLE OF PLAY

Lirola is a forward-thinking full-back. While he developed throughout his time in Juventus Primavera side look-
ing up to and occasionally training with Stephan Lichsteiner, there is little doubt that the Spaniard shares more
qualities with new Juve right-back Dani Alves. He loves to bomb forward and looks like he could be a fit for the
Bianconeri playing on the right both in a four-man defence or in a 3-5-2 formation because of this attacking
inclination
.
But Sassuolo coach Eusebio Di Francesco has been the first to minimise the hype over the 19-year-old. He has
been quick to emphasise that Lirolas defensive qualities are not yet up to scratch. Blessed with pace that al-
lows him to make interceptions and to limit the damage of balls played in-behind the defence, it is Lirolas one-
on-one defensive game that needs the most improvement. With his light build he struggles against some of
Serie As stockier wingers that are happy to play physical football like Papu Gmez. He is though, a clean tackler
of the ball and a solid enough defender if he can keep the attacker at arms length.

It is with the ball on the ground that Lirola is at his best. The Spaniard possesses jaw-dropping dribbling skills
for a right-back. They allow him to hit the by-line, but in Sassuolos 4-3-3 he has enjoyed taking players on and
moving into a central position, making himself a triple-threat. From these positions, he can play wide to a wing-
er to cross, centrally to play a man through, or he can go for goal himself as he did with his wonder-goal against
Athletic Bilbao in the Europa League.

Lirolas crossing ability is equally stunning. Able to apply a proper whip to his crosses, the Spaniard reduces
the margin for error for strikers attempting to latch onto his delivery. He hits the ball extremely flat too, which
limits the amount of time for defenders to get into position to contest the ball drop. In addition, the 19-year-old
enjoys getting into spaces on the by-line inside the box where he can square for onrushing attackers it was
the source of many of his assists in the Italian Primavera competition last season.

The Spaniard needs to improve on his passing game though. Sometimes opting to play the difficult pass when a
simpler more effective option is open means that Lirola can put himself and the rest of his defence under pres-
sure especially playing against teams that like to press high up the pitch. At Juventus, as teams sit back and
allow the defence to play out comfortably, the 19-year-old may find more success with this aspect of his game.

FORECAST FOR 2017

The Spaniard certainly has a lot of ability to work with. He could do worse though than to seek out some advice
from Juventus team-mate Stephan Lichtsteiner one of the best one-on-one full-backs in world football over
the past five years. While Lirola is viewed by many as a natural successor to Dani Alves, many of his weakest at-
tributes are Lichtsteiners strongest and one must assume that trying to emulate the Swiss full-back will result
in the 19-year-old becoming a far more well-rounded player defensively. Spending some time in the gym work-
ing on his upper body strength would also help him be more competitive in one-on-one defensive situations.

Simultaneously, if he wants to play in a similar role to Dani Alves famed for moving in off the flank into a
central midfield role in the attacking phase when he returns to Juventus, he must improve his short passing
technique.
Moreover, Lirola needs to continue playing regularly in 2017. With the quality of his displays in 2016, it is easy
to forget that he only has half a season of senior football under his belt. This is because with less than 20 league
matches played, the right-back oozes confidence that has underpinned his strong performances.

Due to return from injury in March, Lirola must ensure he works his way back into the starting XI as first choice.
From there, he needs regular matches to continue to accustom himself to senior football and the rigours of
Serie A both tactically and physically. It remains to be seen what Lirola could achieve into 2018 as Lichsteiners
contract expires and he and Dani Alves turn 34 and 35 respectively. Despite flying under the radar, Lirola is
highly rated by management at Juventus and may see himself play a pivotal role at the Turin giants after the
duration of his two-year loan spell at Sassuolo.
 DF

TIERNEY
FULL NAME: KIERAN TIERNEY

CLUB: CELTIC

NATIONALITY: SCOTTISH

POSTION: LEFT-BACK

DATE OF BIRTH:
JUNE 5, 1997

PREFERRED FOOT: LEFT

WRITTEN BY: JAKE ENTWISTLE

(@JAKEENTWISTLE)
2016 IN REVIEW
At Celtic since the age of 7, there is no transfer story to speak of when it comes to Kieran Tierney. The left-
back has spent his in entire career at his boyhood club and it was during 2015/16 season that he finally made
his breakthrough.
23 appearances in the league last season all of them starts and the now 19-year-old Kieran Tierney had
established himself as Celtics first choice left-back. His infectious approach to the game and passion for Celtic
made him an instant fan favourite and he has only improved his reputation since then.
Celtic, unsurprisingly, won the league at a canter and their new full-back revelation played a major part in
it. Tierney was named PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year and SFWA Young Player of the Year after an ex-
cellent season and it is this double, rather than the league title, that is the greatest testament to his ability.
Winning two caps for the senior national side, Tierney proved last year that he is one of the most exciting
prospects to come out of Scottish football in a long while. An ankle ligament injury at the end of the October
threatened to undo the full-backs impressive work, but despite spending the rest of the year on the side-
lines, he has slotted straight back into the team in 2017, and in 10 fewer games has already equalled his
assists tally from last season (six). His position in Brendan Rodgers side is almost untouchable.
STYLE OF PLAY
Black boots, low socks: Kieran Tierney is one of the most unassuming footballers one will ever lay their eyes
on. Tough in the tackle, the young Scotsman at times appears to be a throwback to simpler times. But no
matter how quickly he may have mastered the menial basics of left-full back, Tierney is a relentless attacking
outlet whose first thought is always forward.
It seems a full-back will not make it far in the modern game without possessing extreme physical attributes.
The holy trinity of pace, power and stamina is arguably one of the most important qualities for most sides,
with technique and defensive capabilities often overlooked - at least initially - in favour of athletes. Whilst
Tierney may not have the power synonymous with most full-backs, he certainly has the stamina and the
speed to compete with the best.
Lightening quick off the mark, Tierneys acceleration is key to his game. Receiving the ball as close to the
touchline as possible, in a Celtic side that has become increasingly technical under Brendan Rodgers, the full-
backs operate high up the pitch and act as the main attacking outlet out wide. Tierney proved even before
Rodgers tenure as Celtic boss that he is more than capable of performing such a role.
Able to breeze past most defenders in a one-on-one situation, Tierney is an exceptional straight-line runner.
From touchline to by-line, Tierney enjoys driving towards the final extreme of the pitch before sending in
a cross. Accurate and intelligent with his delivery, with consistency to deliver the ball in key areas or even
better at the feet of his onrushing teammates, the 19-year-old is especially adept at driving past his opposite
number before providing incisive cut backs for strikers clever enough to hold their run.
The only potential weakness in Tierneys approach is the fairy predictable nature of it. It is one thing to know
what someone is doing and another challenge entirely to stop them from doing it though; Arjen Robben is
living proof of that. But with regards to Tierney, his effectiveness can be instantly nullified should he face an
equally athletic foe. He has shown glimpses of a willingness to develop more offensive threats, but defend-
ers can be almost certain that Tierney will attack the outside of the full-back and drive towards the by-line.
When facing more experienced and more talented defenders, Tierney is a far less threatening force. He has
the technique and more importantly the time to ensure he does not become entirely one-dimensional.
But focusing on his key defensive strength, again a product of his insane acceleration, Tierneys intercepting
of the ball is already becoming a trademark. Able to punish any lax pass, the left-back is quickest to most
loose balls thanks to his ability to reach top speed in an instant. Opposition players must firmly hit their pass-
es or run the risk of Celtics flying Scotsman picking it off and claiming possession for himself. He will often
steam towards his opponents and if he cannot get the ball before it reaches the desired target, his timing of
the tackle - and ferocity of it - is his next best defensive weapon. Excellent in the slide tackle, Tierneys appe-
tite for the game is evident in his fearless approach to defending.
Not the most imposing footballer at first glance, his relentless running and feral defending paint a completely
different picture - an opponent most wingers will not relish the prospect of facing.
FORECAST FOR 2017
As mentioned at the beginning of the profile, Tierney is undeniably Brendan Rodgers first-choice left-back. A
permanent fixture in Celtics side, he has impressed at every opportunity and to be so important to a team at
such a young age is testament to his ability and work ethic. Not many sides in European football will be able
to provide Tierney with the sheer quantity of minutes as well as the prospect of Champions League football.
He is talented, yes, but at 19-years-old, there are obviously still some issues to iron out and the Premier
League his logical next step may not be the most accommodating environment for his development
just yet.
Tierney will likely become Scotlands first choice left-back in 2017, and although a summer move away from
his boyhood club may be too soon, there is no doubt he will garner more interest in his talent and improve
his already impressive reputation even further. Domestic trophies are guaranteed this season, even another
clean sweep of Scotlands Young Player of the Year awards looks a certainty. Should Tierney continue his rapid
development, however, he may even be awarded more prestigious recognition of his talent. And it would be
thoroughly deserved.
He is lightyears ahead of any other full-back in the Scottish Premiership and shining so brightly in every single
match he plays is fantastic for his confidence. The only concern is that his affiliation with Celtic may prevent
him from seeking new challenges beyond this year, especially as he is already too good for the division.
 DF

MER
FULL NAME: JORGE MER PREZ

CLUB: SPORTING DE GIJN

NATIONALITY: SPANISH

POSTION: CENTRE-BACK

DATE OF BIRTH:
APRIL 17, 1997

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: JOE DONNOHUE

(@JOE_DONNOHUE27)
2016 IN REVIEW
A year in which Mer established his position in Sporting Gijns first team was a particularly turbulent one
as the club survived relegation to theSegunda Divisinon the final day of the 2015/16 season. Following his
success as a pivotal cog in the Spanish machine that were crowned European U-19 Champions in 2015, 2016
must have been a stark contrast as Mer made the considerable step up to becoming a Gijn regular in an
unforgiving top division.His resolve was impressive as he held his own inLa Ligaand retained his place in the
side despite fierce competition from teammates in the centre-back position.
Along with his domestic achievements, Mer was selected for the Spanish U-21 side on a number of occa-
sions and moved closer to being in contention for a senior call-up, although that was not forthcoming in the
last 12 months.
For a player who prior to 2016, had only made a handful of appearances in the Segunda Divisin, to adapt
so seamlessly to La Liga and not appear out of his depth was nothing short of brilliant. Many players find
adapting to different divisions and different teams a difficult task, never mind a bright-eyed 18-year-old with
little professional experience. Yet that was the case, as an 18-year-old Mer broke into the Gijn team during
2016 and retained his place into and throughout the 2016/17 campaign to date.
The teenager, now 19, has featured in over 1,500 minutes of Gijns current season including starts in block-
buster fixtures such as the hard fought 1-1 draw against Sevilla, and a narrow 2-1 defeat at the Santiago
Bernabu against Real Madrid.
STYLE OF PLAY
Mer was hyped as an instrumental player for Gijn in the build-up to the 2016-17 season following his end
of season form in the previous campaign. His former head coach Abelardo remained faithful in his young cen-
tre-back mainly due to his physicality and no-nonsense approach to defending. At times this is not the most
aesthetic style of play, especially in La Liga. However, this has been effective for Mer and Gijn in the sense
that it removes danger, which is something they are familiar with.
Footballing purists would argue that Mers contributions which consist of numerous clearances and forceful
interceptions, are detrimental to Gijns overall play. On one hand this is valid because Mers clearances
and long passes do not tend to be accurate and pressure on the defending Gijn side is reignited in no time
at all. Alternatively, though, Mers approach is effective and often prevents opposition players from taking
up positions in dangerous areas.
Mers tackling is undoubtedly the main attribute that attracted Abelardos attention and now that of new
boss Rubi which has seen him retain his place in the team. The young Spaniard is extremely tenacious and
does not fear committing to a challenge if he feels he can win possession from it. To date it has paid dividends
as Mer has only picked up three cautions so far this season, a fairly decent record for an imposing, abrasive
defender. His timing of challenges is generally superb as he reads the game well, however at times he can
be reckless. This was painfully manifested in the 1-1 draw against Celta Vigo in which a straight red card late
on in the match, cost Gijn a valuable three points. Hacking down Theo Bongonda as he had a clear run on
goal was a sign of poor readiness and poor judgement, as only a minute later, Iago Aspas equalised for Celta.
Many younger centre-backs at strong clubs in top European divisions are notoriously comfortable in posses-
sion and could quite easily fit into a defensive midfield role. Mer would not fit this description and would
struggle in a role where he was not a custodian. He thrives on being the last line of defence before the goal-
keeper; interceptions and excellent anticipation being the hallmarks of his game, beside his tackling aptitude.
In possession, Mer is less comfortable than his teammates. This was unfortunately highlighted recently
in a fixture against Atltico Madrid. Mer passed the ball across the face of his defence, leading to it being
intercepted, allowing Kevin Gameiro to pounce and fire in. Gijn lost that game in particular 4-1, an unfair
scoreline which did not reflect the general flow of the game. A late Gameiro hatrick punished Gijns defence
as they switched off and succumbed to defeat.
Due to his youth, a great deal of his talent comes directly from his lower league footballing education, which
explains his traditional approach to defending. This could often be mistaken for naivety and at times he is
rather brash, but largely Mers decision-making is measured and composed, even if his ball-playing skills are
not.
For any defender, aerial dominance is something they will aim to master. Standing at 1.82m tall, Mer is of av-
erage height for a defender and competes well in the air. Despite still being a teenager, the Spaniard tends to
dominate more senior forwards in aerial duels, using his stature and physical strength to best his opponent.
While his concentration and anticipation are relatively decent, they are not always perfect and at times he
can be found in no mans land after a marauding and aimless run up-field with the ball. These are not com-
mon occurrences but as Mer ventures further into the middle third with the ball, it becomes abundantly
clear he is no longer comfortable in possession and seeks a swift resolution to get rid of the ball. As his distri-
bution is not his best skill, misplaced passes can leave him out of possession and out of position. This allows
the opposition to bypass him with one ball through the defensive line and into the space that should have
been marshalled by the Spaniard.
Mer is a blunt and practical defender. Very rarely will any sort of trickery be observed from the 19-year-old
and this is a testament to his footballing education. Unlike many professionals in La Liga nowadays, Mers
youth football experience was gained at Real Oviedo and Sporting Gijn; hardly the illustrious La Masia acad-
emy or the Castilla setup. This underpins his style of play but it has not hindered him to date, proven by his
numerous starts in Spains top league and U-21 caps.
FORECAST FOR 2017
Mer will see out the remainder of the current season as Gijns most reliable and youthful centre-back. At
just 19, and with vast experience of La Liga at the wrong end of the table, there is strong likelihood that many
Spanish clubs higher up in the rankings will have noted his performances and potential. Nonetheless, a 25
million release clause may deter any clubs with considerable interest.
Mers future hinges mostly on the status of Gijn next season. If they manage to avoid relegation, it is most
likely that he will play for them into next season. Relegation could spell the end of Mers Gijn career but it
is not guaranteed he would play as frequently at another La Liga club.
Interest from abroad will likely remain minimal for now. Playing in a team that regularly concedes upwards of
two or three goals means his name is not frequently mentioned amongst the current top centre-back talents
in world football.
 DF

RICARDO
FULL NAME: RICARDO DOMINGOS
BARBOSA PEREIRA

CLUB: OGC NICE

NATIONALITY: PORTUGUESE

POSTION: RIGHT-BACK

DATE OF BIRTH:
OCTOBER 6, 1993

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: TIAGO ESTVO

(@TIAGOESTV)
2016 IN REVIEW
After starting for Portugal in the U-21 Euro final in the summer of 2015, Porto decided that it was time for
youngster Ricardo Pereira to get some experience away from home. A two-year loan deal was arranged and
the youngster moved to Nice in the French Riviera. The 23-year-old had a fantastic season under then-man-
ager Claude Puel and, playing predominantly as a left-back, was regarded in many circles as the best perform-
ing left-back in Ligue 1.
A very offensive player, the Portuguese international did not score but he provided four assists the second
most for any full-back in Ligue 1 that season. The team finished in fourth and, as impressive as that is, one
must also consider the fact that they were only two points away from second by the end of the season. Nice
will obviously be delighted that they have him him on loan for a second season.
With Nice almost assured of Champions League football next season while maintaining the second best de-
fensive record in Ligue 1, they have a lot to thank their dynamic loanee for.
STYLE OF PLAY
This second season was make or break for the youngster: Puel left and he add to adapt to a new coach (Luc-
ien Favre) plus deal with the expectations after a fantastic debut year in France. But he seems to have adapt-
ed pretty well since he is perhaps doing even better in this campaign. Before diving into the characteristics
of his play, one should probably go over what is probably Ricardos most obvious trait: versatility. Starting
his career as a winger (as, oddly, most Portuguese players seem to do), he did very well on the right side of
Vitorias attack even scoring in the final of the Portuguese Cup against Benfica to win what is still the only
trophy of his senior career.
In FC Porto colours the options in more advanced positions were very diverse but since there was the need
for a back-up right back, Ricardo adapted to and played from the right side of the back-line whenever Danilo
was unavailable. As mentioned previously, he was moved to the other side for his first season in France
often acting as an inverted full-back, something increasingly popular nowadays. His capacity to finish inside
the box and to create danger on his shots from outside of the box also helped him here as he often pushed
forward. Interestingly, he has also been used as a striker at national youth level as recently as the U-21 Euro-
pean Championship final under manager Rui Jorge.
A very dedicated player, he has been absorbing knowledge from some of the most interesting coaches in to-
days game: Puel, Rui Jorge and Favre. Because of this, Pereira seems to have an astute tactical understanding
of the game which underpins his ability to play multiple positions on the field at a similarly high standard.
Taking into account his recent performances though, the right side of the backline seems like his best po-
sition. Quick and always supporting the attack, Pereira has a quality cross and can drift inside with ease to
combine with the forwards and midfielders or have an attempt on goal himself. The numbers show this as
well: the 23-year-old has provided his team with three assists already this season and has opened his scoring
account for Nice as well.
Favres 3-5-2 was another benefitial addition for this season, with the Swiss managers system very much de-
pendent on offensive minded wing-backs, a role which Ricardo suits perfectly. Defensively he has improved
tremendously over the last few seasons. Comparing last season to this one, his rate of clearences per match
and interceptions per match went up while his tackles per match were reduced, this demonstrates how he
now often avoids one-on-one situations in defence as he plays in a more advanced role that provides him
with more defensive cover he is often provided defensive help down the right-hand side meaning he is
forced into tackles less frequently. No matter how good a player is at tackling Pereira had the third most per
match in Ligue 1 last year avoiding them altogether as a full-back suggests Nices newfound ability to solve
defensive problems tactically rather than relying on individual quality in defence.

FORECAST FOR 2017

In 2017, Ricardo will to play a vital role in Nices impressive title charge. Still just three points behind league
leaders Monaco and level on points with PSG, Ricardo must ensure his levels of defensive concentration re-
main sharp heading into the last month of the season in which Nice will play PSG, Marseille and Lyon in three
of their final four fixtures.
Disappointingly though, Ricardo will likely play no part in Nices European campaign next season, which is
likely to be in the Champions League. Instead, he will face the uncertainty of a return to Porto where he faces
competition at full-back, or a move abroad to another club. It will be an important decision for the Ricardos
future not just at club level, but also at international level as he continues to battle with Southamptons
Cdric, Benficas Nlson Semedo and Valencias Joo Cancelo. The 23-year-old will need to continue impress-
ing at club level should he destablise the positions of those players enough to win his first international cap.
 DF

VALLEJO
FULL NAME:
JESS VALLEJO LZARO

CLUB: EINTRACHT FRANKFURT

NATIONALITY: SPANISH

POSTION: CENTRE-BACK

DATE OF BIRTH:
JANUARY 5, 1997

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: MIRAN ARI

(@THEREALBOZZ)
2016 IN REVIEW
After starting for Portugal in the U-21 Euro final in the summer of 2015, Porto decided that it was time for
youngster Ricardo Pereira to get some experience away from home. A two-year loan deal was arranged and
the youngster moved to Nice in the French Riviera. The 23-year-old had a fantastic season under then-man-
ager Claude Puel and, playing predominantly as a left-back, was regarded in many circles as the best perform-
ing left-back in Ligue 1.
A very offensive player, the Portuguese international did not score but he provided four assists the second
most for any full-back in Ligue 1 that season. The team finished in fourth and, as impressive as that is, one
must also consider the fact that they were only two points away from second by the end of the season. Nice
will obviously be delighted that they have him him on loan for a second season.
With Nice almost assured of Champions League football next season while maintaining the second best de-
fensive record in Ligue 1, they have a lot to thank their dynamic loanee for.
STYLE OF PLAY
This second season was make or break for the youngster: Puel left and he add to adapt to a new coach (Luc-
ien Favre) plus deal with the expectations after a fantastic debut year in France. But he seems to have adapt-
ed pretty well since he is perhaps doing even better in this campaign. Before diving into the characteristics
of his play, one should probably go over what is probably Ricardos most obvious trait: versatility. Starting
his career as a winger (as, oddly, most Portuguese players seem to do), he did very well on the right side of
Vitorias attack even scoring in the final of the Portuguese Cup against Benfica to win what is still the only
trophy of his senior career.
In FC Porto colours the options in more advanced positions were very diverse but since there was the need
for a back-up right back, Ricardo adapted to and played from the right side of the back-line whenever Danilo
was unavailable. As mentioned previously, he was moved to the other side for his first season in France
often acting as an inverted full-back, something increasingly popular nowadays. His capacity to finish inside
the box and to create danger on his shots from outside of the box also helped him here as he often pushed
forward. Interestingly, he has also been used as a striker at national youth level as recently as the U-21 Euro-
pean Championship final under manager Rui Jorge.
A very dedicated player, he has been absorbing knowledge from some of the most interesting coaches in to-
days game: Puel, Rui Jorge and Favre. Because of this, Pereira seems to have an astute tactical understanding
of the game which underpins his ability to play multiple positions on the field at a similarly high standard.
Taking into account his recent performances though, the right side of the backline seems like his best po-
sition. Quick and always supporting the attack, Pereira has a quality cross and can drift inside with ease to
combine with the forwards and midfielders or have an attempt on goal himself. The numbers show this as
well: the 23-year-old has provided his team with three assists already this season and has opened his scoring
account for Nice as well.
Favres 3-5-2 was another benefitial addition for this season, with the Swiss managers system very much de-
pendent on offensive minded wing-backs, a role which Ricardo suits perfectly. Defensively he has improved
tremendously over the last few seasons. Comparing last season to this one, his rate of clearences per match
and interceptions per match went up while his tackles per match were reduced, this demonstrates how he
now often avoids one-on-one situations in defence as he plays in a more advanced role that provides him
with more defensive cover he is often provided defensive help down the right-hand side meaning he is
forced into tackles less frequently. No matter how good a player is at tackling Pereira had the third most per
match in Ligue 1 last year avoiding them altogether as a full-back suggests Nices newfound ability to solve
defensive problems tactically rather than relying on individual quality in defence.

FORECAST FOR 2017

In 2017, Ricardo will to play a vital role in Nices impressive title charge. Still just three points behind league
leaders Monaco and level on points with PSG, Ricardo must ensure his levels of defensive concentration re-
main sharp heading into the last month of the season in which Nice will play PSG, Marseille and Lyon in three
of their final four fixtures.
Disappointingly though, Ricardo will likely play no part in Nices European campaign next season, which is
likely to be in the Champions League. Instead, he will face the uncertainty of a return to Porto where he faces
competition at full-back, or a move abroad to another club. It will be an important decision for the Ricardos
future not just at club level, but also at international level as he continues to battle with Southamptons
Cdric, Benficas Nlson Semedo and Valencias Joo Cancelo. The 23-year-old will need to continue impress-
ing at club level should he destablise the positions of those players enough to win his first international cap.
 DF

ELVEDI
FULL NAME: NICO ELVEDI

CLUB: BORUSSIA
MNCHENGLADBACH

NATIONALITY: SWISS

POSTION: CENTRE-BACK

DATE OF BIRTH:
SEPTEMBER 30, 1996

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: CONOR GARRATT

(@CONORGARRATT)
2016 IN REVIEW
Swiss centre-back Nico Elvedi clearly had a lot going for him when, after 26 pro appearances for hometown
club Zrich, he signed for Borussia Mnchengladbach in the summer of 2015. Marked as one for the future
by then-coach and compatriot Lucien Favre, injuries to Martin Stranzl, lvaro Dominguez and Tony Jantschke
fast-tracked the youngster into the first-team squad towards the December 2015, and his role in the team has
never been called into question since.
A previous skipper of Swiss youth teams at U-17 and U-19, Elvedi missed just four first-team games for Borus-
sia Mnchengladbach in 2016. Part of the reason for this was the youngsters startling versatility. Nominally
a centre back, Elvedi has performed particularly well at both left and right back, as well as even as a wide
midfielder on occasion.
Generally, the clich goes that this has prevented the player from finding his true position and has hindered
aspects of his game. In Elvedis case, this is not necessarily true. Former coach Andr Schubert did indeed
move the Swiss youngster around the team frequently during his spell at Borussia, but Elvedis confidence
at centre-back always appears higher than in his other positions. In those positions, he does perform well,
yes, but it is no surprise that Schubert kept placing his young prodigy back in central defence when possible.
Despite a hugely successful 2016, Elvedi has yet to really feature as a goal-scorer or assist-maker for Borussia
the latter at least somewhat surprising considering his relatively frequent role as a full-back. Indeed, his
only assist of the year came in a draw at Augsburg. However, it remains only a minor concern. More impor-
tantly, having already made a few senior appearances for Switzerland in 2016, Elvedi is clearly well on his way
to becoming a top-class utility player.
STYLE OF PLAY
Elvedis playing style relies a lot on his excellent physicality; of Borussias defenders, he has the best percent-
age of successful duels so far this season, with 59%. These include strengths at beating a man probably one
of the main reasons why he has seen so much action on the wings for the Foals since joining the club and in
the air, with 65% and 66% success in each respectively. Standing at 62, he is rarely at a height disadvantage
in the air and pairs this with excellent athleticism to generally stave off defensive danger in aerial challenges.
Additionally, though, Elvedi does possess excellent technical ability which has played a key part in allowing
him to play in many different positions across the Borussia defence. His colleagues can feel safe when giv-
ing him the ball, even when under pressure; with an eye for a pass, but also the pace to work himself out
of trouble himself, Elvedi makes very few mistakes at all. Given he is still at the tender age of 20, his spatial
awareness and savviness on the ball should only improve from their already excellent levels with experience.
Marked out as a potential future captain for Switzerland, a nation with a growing stature in the internation-
al game, Elvedis leadership is also a vital strength. For a 20-year-old, the youngster is very vocal and this
strength in communication can only be seen as a positive for coaches, fans, and potential suitors alike.
As a full back, however, Elvedi does fall short when it comes to playing in the final third and this must be
an area that the Swiss youngster works on if he is to continue playing on the flanks for club or country.
Challenged for playing time in the Borussia squad by the slightly more attacking Oscar Wendt on the left
and Julian Korb on the right - and of course competing for playing time with his Scouted Football Handbook
colleague Andreas Christensen and Jannik Vestergaard at centre back, there is a danger that Elvedi could
find himself slightly further down the pecking order under a coach who maybe sees less in him than former
Borussia coach, Schubert.

FORECAST FOR 2017

It seems unlikely that Elvedi will actually go backwards in 2017 though, given that new Foals manager Dieter
Hecking has historically placed a premium on defensive security during spells with Hannover 96, 1. FC Nrn-
berg and VfL Wolfsburg. Borussias defensive structure under Schubert had found itself in a state of disarray
by the end of 2016, with players constantly rotating between positions and both back threes and back fours.
Heckings career has shown a tendency to approach games with a more consistent approach thus far and this
should work well for the whole defence, let alone younger, less experienced players such as Elvedi.
It seems likely, then, that the 20-year-olds stock should rise while playing in a slightly meaner defence and
this would only be beneficial for the Swiss internationals career. This year could potentially be the year Elvedi
properly emerges as a must-start for the Swiss international side, which would not be bad timing as the side
builds towards a probable place in the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
A move elsewhere, however, would likely be a misstep for Elvedi. Obviously not shy of a calculated risk, hav-
ing left Zrich, where he received first-team minutes, for what seemed to be a youth team berth to begin
with at Borussia aged 18, Elvedi and his agent could gear towards a move. Though, a club of Mnchengla-
dbachs stature seems the perfect place for the youngster to make the next step in his career, towards es-
tablished positions in both club and international teams, as well as perhaps becoming a household name in
years to come.
This, indeed, should not be seen so much as a potential long-term goal, but an aim - achievable within the
next few years. Most people who have worked with the youngster seem to have emerged from their time
with him with an incredibly positive view of the player and his future in the game. With all this potential, all
this good will, and a year of excellent top-level experience in trying circumstances, Elvedi is certainly on the
right path.
 DF

RIEDEWALD
FULL NAME:
JARO RIEDEWALD

CLUB: AFC AJAX

NATIONALITY: DUTCH

POSTION: CENTRE-BACK/
DEFENSIVE MIDFIELD

DATE OF BIRTH:
SEPTEMBER 9, 1996

PREFERRED FOOT: LEFT

WRITTEN BY: JOE DONNOHUE

(@JOE_DONNOHUE27)
2016 IN REVIEW
He reminds me of Frank Rijkaard, was one remarked made by Frank de Boer; Jaro Riedewalds former Ajax
boss. The young Dutchman has a bright future after his dream league debut for Ajax in which he scored two late
goals to secure a win in 2013. A mere 17-year-old at the time, Riedewald was tipped for big things.
2016 was a year in which the 20-year-olds development somewhat stalled. Riedewald was often first choice
centre-back during the close of the 2015/16 season, and began the 2016/17 campaign in a similar starting berth.
However, by October Riedewald had been ousted in favour of a Nick Viergever and Davinson Snchez alliance in
the heart of the defence.
Riedewalds performances in 2016 were not disparaging by any stretch, yet his progression in the eyes of Ajax
manager Peter Bosz, obviously has not been sufficient. Considering Ajax have trailed Feyenoord in the Eredivisie
for much of the current season, Bosz has looked for areas in which he can change Ajaxs game, and Riedewald
has been a casualty of that.
Although, a number of excellent performances for the Jong Ajax side have seen him return to contention in the
latter months of the year and he has retained a regular place among Ajaxs substitutes.
Riedewald has also featured in most Ajaxs Europa League fixtures this season, which has seen them progress
to the knockout rounds of the competition. This includes a stellar display in the dispatching of Panathinaikos in
the group stages.
STYLE OF PLAY
Riedewald is one of the Eredivisies more mobile defenders. Blessed with a wonderful passing range, the Dutch-
man can also be deployed at left-back, or even in defensive midfield depending on the formation. Primarily
though, Riedewald is a ball-playing central defender.
Agile and strong without being too stocky and having an overenthusiastic willingness slide tackle, the Dutchman
does not sacrifice too much on the defensive side of his game in exchange for his ability to drift forward of cen-
tre-back. He is not brilliant in the air however, which can put his side at a disadvantage at times.
Riedewalds composure on the ball is probably his finest attribute, distributing play from the centre of defence
into midfield akin to the likes of former Ajax stalwart Daley Blind. Riedewalds ability to complete penetrating
passes is vastly impressive for a central defender. While all attempts are not always successful, he often helps
kick-start attacking moves for Ajax and gives freedom to the Dutch sides midfield; no longer burdened with the
responsibility of dropping deep to propel attacks themselves.
His style mirrors the ideological chic of the modern defender, but his discipline and decision-making do remain
questionable at times, hence his temporary demotion to the Jong Ajax side during the 2016/17 season. Rie-
dewald escaped suffering the ignominy of being part of a defence that conceded four goals in thirty minutes
recently, as he was substituted with Jong Ajax leading before they let a 2-1 lead slip to the Eerste Divisies strug-
glers Fortuna Sittard. This perhaps highlights the calmness and maturity that he brought to that Jong Ajax side.
For Riedewald to have been sent back to the Jong Ajax setup in order to gain valuable minutes is something
which will provide him with an impetus to perform better. His recent form has not been terrific but his class will
surely shine through once again. It must not be forgotten that as a teenager, Riedewald was selected as Ajaxs
regista against Barcelona in the Champions League.
His comfortability on the ball and quickness allows him to be a vital cog in Ajaxs transition from defence to at-
tack. Rarely does he dwell in possession and stall flowing attacking moves. While that may not be the style that
Bosz desires at present, Riedewald will not lose that ability as it is an innate feature of his game.
As mentioned earlier it is most probably his decision-making that has seen him demoted to the Ajax substitutes
bench. In particular, he is rather indecisive when it comes to challenging an oncoming attacker. His positional
discipline is negligent at times, allowing opposition midfielders to thread through balls into positions that should
be covered by Riedewald in the left centre-back position.
Once again it must not be forgotten that Riedewald turns 21 in September. Despite being in the dawn of his ca-
reer, he is already vastly experienced at a top level and will most likely continue his development in this fashion.
The probability of Riedewald working on and improving upon his current flaws is very high considering he will
want to challenge the current defensive axis for their starting berths.

FORECAST FOR 2017

Remaining in the fold at Ajax will be a high priority. Leaving Ajax at such a young age and not making the step up
to one of the more competitive European leagues would represent a possible regression in his career. Riedewald
will have some serious work to do if he is to regain and retain his preferred position in the defence, but it is not
unfathomable. He is at present, third-choice centre-back at Ajax, a situation most footballers would not wish to
find themselves in especially after being first choice at one point earlier this season.
As a young player, Riedewald has plenty of time to continue to learn, and to develop physically and mentally as
a player. Watching the progression of Davinson Snchez at centre-back will only spur on the young Dutchman
to compete even harder.
What may not be out of the question is a move in the summer, because at just 20 years of age, Riedewald has
already made 60 league appearances for Ajax, and has been publicly admired by a number of prestigious clubs.
Should he stay as Boszs third choice, Riedewald could look to move on from the Amsterdam Arena for the sake
of his international future. No doubt there will be no shortage of potential suitors for a player of his calibre.
 DF

SNCHEZ
FULL NAME:
DAVINSON SNCHEZ MINA

CLUB: AFC AJAX

NATIONALITY: COLOMBIAN

POSTION: CENTRE-BACK

DATE OF BIRTH:
JUNE 12, 1996

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: JOE DONNOHUE

(@JOE_DONNOHUE27)
2016 IN REVIEW
The past twelve months have undoubtedly benefitted Davinson Snchezs development as a footballer
remarkably. It was only in March of 2016 that the youngster netted his first senior goal for Atltico Nacional,
but it was during this campaign that he truly established himself as an emerging talent.
Snchez starred on thirty occasions for El Verde, including 14appearances in the lucrative Copa Libertadores.
South Americas version of the Champions League will be one of Snchezs most prized winners medals as the
Colombian side triumphed in the 2016 final, but it likely will not be Snchezs only major honour in his career.
For a 19-year-old to play such a key role in such an illustrious continental competition was nothing short of im-
pressive. Subsequently, scouts from across Europe came to watch the Colombians defensive displays for Atltico
Nacional.
A formal offer for his services was made by Catalan giants, FC Barcelona, however Snchez rejected their offer
in favour of joining AFC Ajax. Snchez cited his desire to play in the first team at his new club as the reason why
he rejected Baras advances.
In the Netherlands, Snchez has hit the ground running and cemented his position at the heart of manager Peter
Boszs defence. He is not in that position through experimentation either, as he is selected every week based on
merit due to his excellent and mature performances.
Snchez also earned himself a call-up to the Colombian national team and earned his first senior cap during
2016; no doubt the first of many.
STYLE OF PLAY
Standing at 62, Snchez has been described as a modern-day centre-back thanks to his imposing stature but his
innate ability to surprise opposition attacks with his pace, agility and technical ability. These attributes, along-
side his undisputed strength, make him an excellent youth prospect. It is no wonder Barcelona remain interested
in the player following his assured displays for Ajax.
Snchez does not seem intimidated or overawed playing regularly in one of Europes top divisions and with
every first team appearance he looks to be developing and learning his trade. Ajaxs renowned youth setup is
often coined as the home of Total Football, but Snchezs undeniable talent has allowed him to be fast-tracked
into the starting XI.
There are a variety of reasons why he has remained there, yet the key factor is certainly his consistency. The Co-
lombian has established himself as one of the leagues in-form defenders, as well as being described as one of Eu-
ropes hottest properties. His strength is something that has been noted by Bosz, opposition managers and scouts,
as his one of his best attributes. However, it is this coupled with his other prominent technical strengths that make
him a complete defender in the making. Football is faster than ever, with the ball able to be recycled at one end of
the pitch and converted into a goal-scoring opportunity at the other end in rapidly. The modern defender requires
pace, agility and mental focus in abundance in order to play a role in this. Essentially, centre-halves must be com-
fortable all-round players almost midfielders in their ability to hold the ball up, recycle possession and instigate
attacks from deep. Fortunately, Snchez is already proving himself capable playing in this manner at Ajax, playing
a pivotal role in a team that have utterly dominated many of their league matches this season.
The traits mentioned above are all within the realm of Snchezs game, with the youngster either displaying them
at present, or is showing signs of developing them in future. His pace and agility as aforementioned, allow him to
compete with the ball on the ground and make him difficult to take on in one-on-one situations. Whether it be
outright out-muscling of the opponent off the ball, or catching the attacker utilising his pace, Snchez is extreme-
ly difficult to beat. Snchezs tendency to lunge in and make a tackle is admirable; a player unafraid of a coming
together, ready to put the needs of the team before his own. Yet at times it can be largely unnecessary and leave
him at a disadvantage if his tackle is not entirely successful. overall though, Snchez is consistent with his tackling,
much like the rest of his play. His penchant for the occasional sliding challenge comes about because he reads the
game so well. He is quick off the mark to get to a loose ball and remains alert to any danger. At times, he is found
to be stretching to make a challenge and has come under criticism for that fact, leaving space in behind while he
remains on the ground.
Nevertheless, Snchez only has two bookings in the league so far this term, and does not look like adding too many
more to that tally. Due to his alertness, he typically times his tackles well and clears the danger. On the other hand
though, Snchez has picked up three cautions in the Europa League. This potentially highlights his defensive capa-
bilities are less impressive when coming up against better opposition than Ajax face most weeks in the Eredivisie.
On the ball, based on his size and speed, most would assume that Snchez is not the best dribbler. This is not the
case, as the Colombian is calm and collected in possession, able to spread the play, but he generally likes to play
simple. Recently in a match against Heracles, Snchez ventured into the opposition half quite clearly looking for a
forward pass, highlighting his comfort in possession. Due to the lack of pressure on him in this instance, Snchez
opted to progress further and further before unleashing a direct, David Luiz-esque low drive into the bottom cor-
ner of the net giving Ajax a two-goal cushion. Not only does this show that the Colombian is exceedingly confident
of his abilities, but that his talents are not limited to the defensive side of his game.
Some players are excellent at distributing the ball forty yards with a single cross-field pass. Snchez is not one of
those. While this allows his passing accuracy to remain at a high 88%, it can thwart potential counter attacks as
he opts to play it short rather than setting an attacker free up-field after regaining possession. Against the packed
Eredivisie defences that Ajax play against however, a more incisive edge may allow them to be more dangerous
offensively and commit more players to their attacks.
FORECAST FOR 2017
Snchez has the potential progress greatly in 2017. Having burst onto the scene in 2016, he has been relentless in
maintaining his high standard performances. Now playing at an even higher level at Ajax and excelling there too,
there is no doubt he has attracted the interest of a whole host of top clubs.
Barcelonas interest will not go away in a hurry. They seem set on acquiring a player of Snchezs quality as, at just
20-years-old, he looks a viable long-term partner to Samuel Umtiti at the heart of defence.
As evidenced by his rejection of Barcelona in the summer though, Snchezs main priority is playing regular foot-
ball at the highest level he can. At Ajax, he will be afforded that luxury for some time to come, therefore it is highly
likely that he will remain at the club for at least another season, especially given the fact that his current deal runs
until 2021.
Should he remain consistent in his displays throughout 2017, it is scary to think how strong the Colombian can
become. At just 20 years of age he already displays qualities of seasoned centre-backs. At Ajax, he has an excellent
environment to develop, and injuries permitting, will continue in a starring role there for as long as his own ambi-
tions allow him.
In terms of international appearances, it would not be a surprise to see Snchez oust some of Colombias defensive
stalwarts through 2017. Jos Pkerman can quite clearly see the talent at his disposal and exposing him to the likes
of Argentina and Brazil in the remaining World Cup qualifiers will be an experience that will only assist Snchez
in his remarkable development in the hope of contributing to a Colombian success at the 2018 World Cup or at
tournaments into the future.
 DF

CHRISTENSEN
FULL NAME: ANDREAS
BDTKER CHRISTENSEN

CLUB: BORUSSIA
MNCHENGLADBACH

NATIONALITY: DANISH

POSTION: CENTRE-BACK

DATE OF BIRTH:
APRIL 10, 1996

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: CONOR GARRATT

(@CONORGARRATT)
2016 IN REVIEW
Andreas Christensens two-year spell at Borussia Mnchengladbach has been a startling success so far. Eighteen
months in, the young Dane has become a fulcrum of the sides defensive ranks and is virtually the first name on
the team sheet each week. After the club lost Martin Stranzl, Roel Brouwers and lvaro Dominguez from their
defensive ranks for various reasons in 2016, this has been absolutely crucial.
Christensen has played virtually every game of 2016 for the Foals bar a spell on the side-lines with a thigh in-
jury in autumn with highlights coming in match-winning performances against Bremen in February and Mainz
in December, in which the loanee proved a difference-maker at both ends of the pitch.
This must be tempered with the fact that Christensen has played in testing circumstances for much of his time
with Borussia. Recently departed head coach Andr Schuberts bombastic football did secure a fourth-placed
berth at the end of 2015/16, but his spell at the club was marred by structural issues in the defence that led to
inconsistency throughout the year. Christensen had to battle against this as much as the rest of his teammates,
but arguably to greater effect; at the halfway point this season, he had won 53% of his duels and completed an
average of seven defensive actions per game. This clearly paints a picture of a hugely talented player performing
well in a flawed and underperforming team.
But the fact is this: with Christensen, none of this is a surprise. His brilliant form at the end of 2015 hinted at the
development we saw throughout 2016 and the thought of Christensen under a defensively astute coach, such as
Antonio Conte at his parent club Chelsea, is absolutely tantalising. Potentially a leading figure for the Danish na-
tional side too for years to come, it appears that Christensens career is headed in a distinctly positive direction.
STYLE OF PLAY
Christensen is comfortable at both centre-back and defensive midfield and as one might expect, is therefore
very confident both on the ball and when working off it. While given somewhat of a baptism of fire during his
Borussia debut back in 2015 against Dortmunds pressing machine, the loanee has quickly blossomed into a
player adept at playing with composure against aggressive pressing teams, which is crucial for a modern defend-
er at the top level.
No slouch either, Christensen is armed with enough pace to comfortably make up ground on attackers bearing
down on goal and this has both prevented opposition teams benefitting from mistakes made by his teammates
and indeed on occasion by himself. At 62 and with broad shoulders, there is nothing at all to question about
Christensens physical game, which should stand him in good stead upon his probable return to the Premier
League in the summer.
With an astonishingly good 90% pass accuracy this season, Christensen is adept at moving play forward and
finding his teammates in good positions, as well as playing his way out of pressured situations at the back.
Interestingly, of Borussias stalwarts only full back Tony Jantschke, centre-back partner Jannik Vestergaard and
defensive midfielder Tobias Strobl play longer passes in general, which hints at an urgency and verticality to
Christensens game.
Christensen has not been shy at the other end of the pitch either, with important goals in games against Bremen
in February and Mainz in December managing to stem the tide of some negative results for parts of the cam-
paign.
Crucially as well, Christensen has seen just one yellow in 50 league games in Germany so far. In pressure situ-
ations, he has the mental strength not to lose his temper and to stay in control of his behaviour, but above all
measure the severity of his challenges carefully.
Despite this, if he were to return to parent club Chelsea, Conte may not approve of this statistic. It suggests a lack
of aggressiveness from the Dane. Conte is a manager who wants his players to pick up yellow cards if it means
breaking up a dangerous attack. It would not be the first time an Italian manager has made an adjustment like
that, after Max Allegri publicly criticised young centre-back Daniele Rugani for his lack of aggressive intent when
he arrived at Juventus. This was after Rugani had played every minute of the 14/15 Serie A season with Empoli
without receiving a single yellow card.

FORECAST FOR 2017

New head coach Dieter Hecking took over at Borussia this winter and it seems that the rest of this season should
see Christensen benefit from a coach whose understanding of defensive structures is a step-up from his previous
manager. Playing in a defence with a better structure and shape would obviously do Christensens record no
harm, even though the Danes underlying performances were nevertheless excellent throughout 2016.
But most interestingly, Christensens career sits at an exciting crossroads in the summer. His two-year loan at
Mnchengladbach ends at the completion of the current season and while overtures will certainly be made by
the club to keep him on for at least a further year, it appears to be fairly wishful thinking with the club unlikely
to gate-crash the European places again.
With some aging legs among Chelseas defensive ranks, it seems sensible for Christensens parent club to plan
their defences immediate future at least with him, if not around him. But having made the bold move to an-
other European league for regular football before, it does not appear out of the question that this bright young
defender may push for a loan move, or even a permanent one, if regular football at Stamford Bridge is not on the
cards. As John Terrys career draws to a close however and with the regular questions asked about Gary Cahill
despite his decent form this season, positions may however open up for Christensen at Stamford Bridge.
Where the Dane eventually ends up will undoubtedly shape his fate in the final months of 2017 indelibly, but
when he takes to a football pitch, Christensen invariably delivers and should do so no matter where is playing.
 DF

MAMMANA
FULL NAME: EMANUEL
HERNN MAMMANA

CLUB: OLYMPIQUE LYONNAIS

NATIONALITY: ARGENTINIAN

POSTION: CENTRE-BACK

DATE OF BIRTH:
FEBRUARY 10, 1996

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: WILL SAVAGE

2016 IN REVIEW
Trivia time; in 2014 Emanuel Mammana became the second player to make his senior Argentina debut be-
fore his first-team debut at club level when he came on for Javier Mascherano in a friendly. The first player
to do this? Javier Mascherano, the man he replaced. At the time, it seemed like Mammanas career was ad-
vancing at a mile a minute and his name spread quickly in social medias football circles. A highly-regarded
defender having come through the River Plate academy, Mammana first impressed as one of the standout
performers in the 2013 U-17 World Cup, marshalling the backline well during Argentinas run to the semi-fi-
nal. At club level things were also going well as River won the U-17 Club World Cup, a campaign in which he
featured regularly.
Alejandro Sabella took notice, calling Mammana up to train with the national team and giving him his first
(and thus far only) cap against Slovenia when injuries struck Argentinas backline. By late 2014 Mammana
was featuring for Rivers first team in the league and in cup competitions. Despite his age and inexperience,
he was trusted with starting at right-back in the second leg of the Copa Sudamericana final which River went
on to win. With Argentinas U-20 side winning the 2015 Sudamericano Mammanas stock continued to rise
and although still not a regular for River he was seeing more and more action, often filling in at full-back
when required. It was not long before European clubs came calling and in 2016 Mammana moved to Olym-
pique Lyonnais. Since the move Mammana has not featured as often as he would have liked, with only six
games so far in the league for the French side.
STYLE OF PLAY
During his time at Rivers academy, Mammana was fielded as a midfielder before his move back into the
centre of defence - it shows. As more and more young defenders are these days, the Argentine is composed
on the ball, happy to take his time and move the ball around calmly. His happiness to bring the ball out from
the back to instigate play is one of the standout features of his game. This calmness and composure regularly
transfers to his defending too, as he is rarely seen lunging into tackles. Rather, Mammana is more comfort-
able relying on his intelligence to defend, looking to snuff out attacks with his positioning and anticipation.
Saying that, when the 21-year-old is required to make a tackle, his technique is usually clean and crisp. De-
spite the position he plays, he rarely finds himself in the referees notebook.
As mentioned above, Mammana has often found minutes at full-back. Looking at the general features of his
game, this is not surprising. Technically good, intelligent, capable of bringing the ball forward and support-
ing attacks, the versatility these attributes have imbued in his game have certainly increased the number of
opportunities he has received. At just 21, Mammanas maturity and resolute nature are commendable and
no doubt have played a big part in getting him this far in his career, with it regularly being commented on by
teammates and coaches. Whether on the ball or trying to win it back calmness and leadership seem to run
through everything the young centre-back does.
Mammana is not yet flawless though. As is perhaps to be expected from a young ball-playing defender, he
can get caught out overcomplicating things at times when advancing play from the back. At times, his de-
cision making on whether to advance with the ball or take a more industrial approach could be improved.
Mammanas reliance on his intelligence has perhaps seen him neglect the physical side of the game. Standing
at six feet one would be loathe call him small, his frame is more on the side of wiry than it is well-built. This
can cause a problem, when he is required to get tight to an opponent to compete aerially he can be caught
out. In saying that, neither of these are fatal flaws in his game and both can be improved with application,
experience and some long hours in the gym.

FORECAST FOR 2017

With chances at Lyon being scarce so far, Mammana may wonder whether he was better off staying in South
America and playing regularly for a while longer. Although over 40 first-team appearances is not bad for a
young defender, there is an inescapable feeling that his career could be stalling at the moment. Having said
that, Lyon is historically a club that knows how and when to blood its youngsters, so perhaps faith should be
kept in the OL coaches. After all, the ability and attitude are both there in Mammanas game for chances to
come his way. If the 21-year-old is able to remain patient for his chance, there is little doubt he will still be
able to prove to Bruno Gnsio that he is worthy of a regular place in the starting XI at Lyon. Unsurprisingly,
on the international scene, Mammanas first cap, granted as it was by injuries, is also his only cap. His lack
of first-team football probably will not help in the short term but there is little doubt that his future involves
regularly pulling on the shirt of La Albiceleste.
 DF

HOLDING
FULL NAME:
ROBERT SAMUEL HOLDING

CLUB: ARSENAL FC

NATIONALITY: ENGLISH

POSTION: CENTRE-BACK

DATE OF BIRTH:
SEPTEMBER 20, 1995

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: PHIL COSTA

(@_PHILCOSTA)
2016 IN REVIEW
2016 really was a tale of two extremes for Rob Holding. Bolton Wanderers were in disarray both on and off
the pitch with a want away owner and transfer embargo, before falling into Englands third tier and loitering
on the edge of liquidation they were within inches of no longer existing. But in amongst the turmoil, there
was a shining light in the form of a 20-year-old centre-back. Not just any 20-year-old centre back; one that
Cruyff turns away from opposition attackers in his own six-yard box surely then, he could only land himself
at one team.
The Premier League came calling for Boltons Player of the Year, and it was, of course, Arsenal who emerged
with his signature amidst competition from Bournemouth and Everton. Despite arriving in north London as
an unknown quantity, the Gunners faithful have welcomed their new signing with open arms after some
confident early season displays.
After his effortless transition into the clubs pre-season tour of America, Holdings encouraging performances
were rewarded with early first team football in the absence of Per Mertesacker and Gabriel, before Shkodran
Mustafi was signed in late August. Looking like he had partnered the rock-solid Laurent Koscielny for years,
the young defender seems to fit the mould of an archetypal Arsenal player and has already found himself on
the end of deserved praise from Arsene Wenger.
STYLE OF PLAY
In what has been a welcome shift of late, Holding is another emerging talent deviating away from the out-
dated expectations of what an English centre-back should be. Comfortable when receiving the ball from his
goalkeeper or defensive partners, he will always attempt to play the ball forward and, even better, through
the lines of a high press or solid defensive structure. Equally as adept at bringing the ball forward as he is
passing, he often dribbles into the opposition half to push his team further up the field before looking for a
midfielder or full back who can continue to progress play.
More importantly, alongside his impressive technical ability, Holding is still very much a defender at heart.
For such a young player with less than 40 first team appearances to his name, the way he operates is very
natural. The now 21-year-old is a fine reader of in-game situations, anticipating passes and high balls very
well, making sure that he is positioned correctly and timing his tackles well to avoid giving away unnecessary
free kicks or being booked. He is what one would describe as a clean defender, using his grace and intelli-
gence to win the ball, instead of relying on sheer force and aggression which can have consequences should
you get your timings wrong.
Despite his largely elegant approach to defending, Holding is not afraid to get stuck in when needed. The
Championship is notorious for its physicality and competitiveness and coming into a struggling side that is
leaking goals brings a new meaning to being thrown in at the deep end. But he took to the challenge like a
duck to water, steaming into (well-timed) tackles and ushering players into touch with his sizable frame ex-
celling in a three at the back formation. Standing at 62, he possesses a natural physique which lends itself
well to the demands of English football. It is also complemented by an excellent turn of pace, thus adding to
his credentials as a truly modern-day defender.
One weakness that is apparent in Holdings game is his tendency to lose runners coming in from the left-
hand side. Usually so aware of his surroundings and making sure he is in line with the rest of his back four,
small lapses of concentration have sometimes proven costly. For example, whilst playing for the England
U21s against France in November, Celtic striker Moussa Dembl outfoxed Holding with a clever diagonal
run before going on smash home the equaliser. The piece of movement itself was excellent, but the Arsenal
man was guilty of making it too easy for Dembl and once he had noticed his error - it was too late. Shane
Long also gave him trouble when repeating a similar kind of run during Arsenals EFL Cup quarter-final defeat
to Southampton.

FORECAST FOR 2017

In terms of what the next twelve months may bring for Holding, it is difficult to say. For all his talent and
promise, the harsh reality is that he currently stands as the fourth or fifth-choice centre-back at the club.
What is certain however, is that with Arsenal still challenging for the FA Cup, there will still be opportunities
for him to stake a claim. Wenger has already shown that he is willing to rotate his squad to keep players both
fit and happy, which has seen the 21-year-old start (and impress) on nine occasions this season.
But in truth, an in and out campaign could be the best thing for him right now. This is a young guy who had
never been out of Bolton before his summer move, who is slightly reserved in character and slowly making
the step up to a higher standard in his career. Learning from the likes of Koscielny, Mertesacker and Mustafi
every day will leave him in good stead for the future as his reputation grows both domestically and interna-
tionally. Holding has the attributes and temperament to be a success in the modern game and it is easy to
see why the Gunners boss was willing to spend 2 million for him in the summer. He will understandably be
aiming for more first team minutes, but should he continue improving, his time to shine at Arsenal may come
sooner than expected.
 DF

GRIMALDO
FULL NAME: ALEJANDRO
GRIMALDO GARCA

CLUB: SL BENFICA

NATIONALITY: SPANISH

POSTION: LEFT-BACK

DATE OF BIRTH:
SEPTEMBER 20, 1995

PREFERRED FOOT: LEFT

WRITTEN BY: WILL SAVAGE

2016 IN REVIEW
It can be easy to think lex Grimaldo is older than 21 given that he has spent years being touted as one of the
biggest future talents bubbling away at Barcelona B. Despite suffering from injuries in the past, Grimaldo
had amassed over 90 appearances for Barcelonas second side by the end of 2015 but was yet to receive a
chance for the senior side. In an interview with RAC 1 shortly before leaving Grimaldo spoke of his unhap-
piness with his situation and the lack of communication from Barcelonas management team. With that in
mind, it was no surprise when he moved on in January. Saying that, a move to Benfica rather than one of
Europes larger clubs was perhaps surprising, while a bargain fee of 1.5m was also unexpected.
Grimaldo had to be patient for his chance, with Eliseu having the left back position locked down for the
second half of the 15/16 season. With Portugals lengthy run in the summers European Championships,
Grimaldo had his chance at the start of the season to make his mark and took his chance with aplomb. His
impressive performances quickly cemented his place as a regular despite Eliseus return and have turned
heads throughout the continent. This is despite the Spaniard being locked down to a contract until 2021 with
a rumoured release clause upwards of 60m.
STYLE OF PLAY
As a left-back who spent his formative years with Barcelona, Grimaldo is pretty much exactly what you would
expect. His sweet left foot and excellent attacking instincts make him a wonderful asset going forward. Ad-
ditionally, when given time to deliver from wide areas Grimaldos pin-point crosses can cause problems for
any defence. Unlike many modern full-backs, the Spaniard is more than just a good crosser who traverses
the touchline well. Indeed, physically speaking, he is not the most impressive. That is not to say he is a poor
athlete, because that simply would not be true, but his game is not defined simply by pace or stamina like
many of his contemporaries.
His intelligence and tactical understanding of the game more than make up for any weaknesses. Although
knowledge of the game is what you would expect from a graduate of La Masia, it is still impressive for one
so young. The timing of quality of his runs are one of the key aspects of his game and he frequently roams
infield rather than hugging the touchline to offer his team a different option in possession, a throwback to his
days as a midfielder earlier in his career. Although his passing helps facilitate build-up play for his team better
than most defenders, his decision-making when picking a pass can sometimes seem impulsive. The passes he
chooses can be riskier than the situation warrants, although that is not a trait without an upside when it can
at times lead to dangerous attacks for his team.
With his roots at Barcelona, it seems surprising that the Spanish full-back never received an opportunity to
battle Jordi Alba for a starting berth at Camp Nou. He suits the Barcelona style down to the smallest nuanc-
es, such as his tendency to drift in-field and create overloads in the centre of the pitch that help Benfica to
control the ball and dominate possession. It is no surprise then that Grimaldo has been linked to Manchester
City, a team desperate for a youthful full-back to replace the ageing Gal Clichy and Aleksandar Kolorov and
a team being moulded into the Barcelona style by Pep Guardiola.
Defensively, he can sometimes leave gaps due to his attacking instincts, but these are rarely exploited for
a variety of reasons. Although he leaves space in-behind, Grimaldo is both smart and tenacious. He knows
how to track back and how to defend and is a strong tackler in one-on-one duels. Furthermore, Benfica are
one of the few dominant clubs in Portugal. It is rare that Benfica are seriously compromised defensively and
that solidity goes much of the way towards allowing Grimaldo the freedom to play in a more adventurous
manner. Having said that, Grimaldo has the tools and the intelligence to adapt his game to a different system
or league, if a move were to happen. One of the few problems with his game would probably be his physical
profile. He is only 57 and he does not have the biggest frame, which means he can struggle in the air and
in physical battles.

FORECAST FOR 2017

Whether in January or in the summer, a move to a bigger club seems a certainty, with the usual big name
European clubs linked regularly. A move to Manchester City would see Grimaldo link up with former Barce-
lona chief Guardiola, a potential transfer which has been mentioned repeatedly in the press. If he does stay
at Benfica for the foreseeable future, then first-team football is pretty much guaranteed with the place in the
side already his. Perhaps that would more beneficial to him. After all, he moved to Benfica due to his lack of
chances at Barcelona, the last thing he would want is to be in that position again. In saying that, the defensive
paucity at Manchester City and age of the squad means top-level football would be his if he took his chance
there. Wherever he ends 2017, he certainly has the tools at his disposal to make the most of any opportunity.
If his career continues in the manner it seems to be progressing, then his international future should be just
as promising. Aside from intermittent call-ups for Spains youth teams, Grimaldos international experience is
non-existent. His international future, however, is anything but.
 DF

SLE
FULL NAME: NIKLAS SLE

CLUB: TSG 1899 HOFFENHEIM

NATIONALITY: GERMAN

POSTION: CENTRE-BACK

DATE OF BIRTH:
SEPTEMBER 3, 1995

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: CONOR GARRATT

(@CONORGARRATT)
2016 IN REVIEW
For a man of relative youth, Niklas Sle sure seems to have been around for a while. The 21-year-old has been a
Hoffenheim regular for three years now, having made his way up from the youth system at the tender age of 17.
Since then October 2013, he has virtually played every game as a starter availability depending. He has long
been known as a bright talent by those who watch the club week in, week out. However, the clubs well-docu-
mented defensive fragility in recent seasons, which has generally seen them competing at the wrong end of the
table, has perhaps kept the hype surrounding the youngster reasonably low. That was until 2016, at least.
Since Julian Nagelsmann, the 29-year old coaching phenomenon, was appointed, the side have been significant-
ly more successful than usual staying unbeaten during the entire Hinrunde of 2016/17 and avoiding relegation
the season before thanks to a brand of stylish and exciting football since his appointment in February 2016. Sle,
as a virtual ever-present under Nagelsmann he has missed just two games of the coachs tenure has there-
fore seen his stock rise quite significantly over the course of the past year.
Of course, while much of the hype is circumstantial, it is not without reason. Sles 2016 was perhaps the most
impressive of Germanys current crop of youngsters, certainly the most impressive of their young defenders.
The towering German has been showing week-in, week-out since 2013 that he is the countrys most consistent
up-and-coming central defender and this development was to be expected.
So, while 2016 might not have been a breakout year in the sense that the young German has proved his quality
for a while now, it was certainly a year in which his performances perhaps more consistent than before saw
him reach greater acclaim. As well as that, he was rewarded with his first Germany cap by Joachim Lw; that is
no mean feat whatsoever, given the strength of his competitors at centre back. And, to cap off a virtually impec-
cable year, purported interest from a plethora of elite European clubs ended in a transfer to FC Bayern Mnchen
being slated for the summer of 2017. That, it must be said, is an impressive year by any standards.
STYLE OF PLAY
Standing at 64, or 1.94m, Sle has the look of a classic centre-half, but to think of him as such would be mis-
guided. True; he is excellent at both tackling (65% success rate so far in 16/17) and heading (69% in the same
time frame), is rarely caught out of position, and uses his physicality to his advantage in many of his duels with
opposing attackers. But to emphasise these areas of the youngsters game is to completely underplay many of
the strengths of a player who, in many ways, has become a cosmopolitan defender.
Playing under a coach as innovative as Nagelsmann has certainly helped the youngster showcase his strengths;
the side generally are set out with a back three, from which Sle is encouraged to step into midfield during
possession and assist the team in dictating the play. Defensive midfield is, incidentally, a position that Sle can
play due to his undeniable strengths in defence he has not actually played in the role particularly often for
Hoffenheim. However, this hints at the excellent mobility he possesses. Useful when stepping out of defence
into midfield, or just playing in midfield from the off, are Sles skills on the ball; with a passing success rate of an
incredible 88% so far this season, the young Germans teammates can be fairly certain of receiving the ball from
him, even when put under pressure by his opponents.
In many ways, this makes Sle an excellent all-rounder for coaches. for someone like Nagelsmann, who likes to
switch fluidly between several different systems both between different fixtures and within single games too,
he has a zeal for understanding the differing tactics which facilitates the many changes on the pitch. for other
coaches, like Lw or his future Bayern coach Carlo Ancelotti, this also means he can realistically operate in many
different roles as a centre-half. This season, it has been Benjamin Hbner who has perhaps been the most effec-
tive at dealing with attacks, while Sle has functioned as a creative force at the back. But, with a change of role,
there is certainly scope for him to develop the defensive side of the game even further.

FORECAST FOR 2017

Sles upcoming (and, at this point, already agreed) transfer to Bayern in the summer both clears up many ques-
tions about his future and poses new ones. Of course, all questions about the direction of his career have been
removed by the early announcement of the move, but it remains to be seen what sort of a role the youngster
will play at a club of Bayerns stature. Which is, obviously, a massive step up from Hoffenheim irrespective of the
clubs wonderful season so far.
It would perhaps be optimistic to say that Sle will immediately compete with the consolidated trio of Jerme
Boateng, Mats Hummels and Javi Martinez for a starting berth at Bayern, though. Despite his relative experience
for a 21-year old; all three are quite simply a class above the youngster at this stage of his career, with consistent
top-level games in Europe and for their countries over the years.
But first he has a full Rckrunde at Hoffenheim to play and securing the club a historic first finish in Europe would
be the perfect ending to an association with the club he joined in his teens back in 2010. That is not just a distinct
possibility, but also something that Sle must be instrumental in if it is to be achieved, having been one of the
clubs key players throughout the Hinrunde. That would certainly give him a better chance at immediately estab-
lishing himself at Bayern and could also provide him with more chances to impress Joachim Lw at international
level as Germany gear up for the World Cup in Russia next year.
 DF

KIMPEMBE
FULL NAME:
PRESNEL KIMPEMBE

CLUB: PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN

NATIONALITY: FRENCH

POSTION: CENTRE-BACK

DATE OF BIRTH:
AUGUST 13, 1995

PREFERRED FOOT: LEFT

WRITTEN BY: JAKE ENTWISTLE

(@JAKEENTWISTLE)
2016 IN REVIEW
For Presnel Kimpembe, 2016 was a rapid ascent to prominence. The only defender nominated for the pres-
tigious Trophe Tlfoot for Best Young French Player last year, marked a meteoric rise in which the 21-year-
old centre-back completed his journey from PSGs French fourth-tier B team to first team ever-present.
As you would expect of any young player at a club of PSGs magnitude and financial backing, regular first
team starts were few and far between in general. However, in the absence of David Luiz and Marquinhos,
Kimpembe took his place alongside club captain Thiago Silva and stood out in PSGs 2016/17 pre-season tour;
which itself was far from a series of fixtures organised for purely promotional purposes.
The 21-year-old lined up against some of the best players in European football. Fit or not, the same applied
to PSGs young centre half. He went toe-to-toe with the talented attackers of Real Madrid and Inter Milan
and barely put a foot wrong. Kimpembe looked extremely comfortable, assured and impressive at the back,
making a bold statement for the season ahead.
Fast forward to the competitive matches and minutes have been relatively scarce. David Luizs permanent
departure meant that there was one less player ahead of him in the pecking order; but breaking up PSGs
current Brazilian pair has proven difficult. Despite this, when given the playing time Kimpembe has built on
his impressive pre-season form
Given the gulf in quality between PSG and most other sides you could argue Kimpembe has not been tested
often enough at club level. He had started league 12 games at the time of writing; winning nine of them,
drawing two and losing the other 3-1 to Monaco, PSGs biggest title rival this season - conceding just six goals
in total during that time. No matter how poor the opposition may or may not be, the young centre-half has
slotted seamlessly into one of Europes most competitive and massively expensive squads.
A call up to the French senior squad in October may have only come about because of an injury to Elaquim
Mangala, and although Kimpembe never made his debut, Deschamps readiness to call upon him is a testa-
ment to his remarkable development in the last year, but, most importantly, his exciting future.
STYLE OF PLAY
As horrible and clichd as it may sound, Kimpembe is a quintessential modern-day centre back. With almost a
greater emphasis placed on a centre-backs ability on the ball than their actual defensive capabilities, especially
for sides who are expected to dominate possession, Kimpembe fits these new-age specifications seamlessly. An
athletic player, his pace and power off the ball is matched by his composure and confidence on it. The France U-21
captain enjoys coming out with the ball, always looking for an opportunity to breeze past onrushing forwards,
shrugging them off before playing an incisive pass with his trusty left-foot, or simply dragging his side up the pitch.
However, no matter how graceful and comfortable Kimpembe on the ball, his physicality means he still hits like a
truck in the tackle.
PSGs young defender thrives in one-on-one situations and his first thought is always winning possession back as
quickly as possible: by far his greatest strength is intercepting the ball. Rarely beaten in one-on-one situations, just
as a pacey winger may lick his lips when isolating an opposition defender, Kimpembe thrives in his personal duels
with attackers. Almost always first to the ball, his reading of the game paired with his physicality allows him to win
back possession almost before an intended pass has even arrived at a strikers feet. His preference to intercept
and challenge immediately can sometimes cause trouble, especially if the attacker is clever enough to flick the ball
around him. However, it is often Kimpembe who triumphs.
Another player-defining trait is his ability to carry the ball after winning it. He oozes confidence and it cannot be
stressed enough how comfortable he is with ball at his feet. The fact he enjoys being on the ball so much is prob-
ably the reason why he is always so hungry to win it back. When he does retrieve possession, he is rarely wasteful
in the use of it.
Despite being immensely composed, Kimpembe is at times far too over eager to attempt interceptions. As alluded
to earlier, his tendency to try and win possession back as quickly as possible can lead him to making rash decisions
to the detriment of his team, either drawing him out of position when trying to read the game, or making tackles
that have a very low chance of success, with one occasion standing out as a prime example.
Whilst playing for France U-21s against a competitive and pacey England side, Kimpembe was at fault for one goal
after misjudging the flight and speed of the ball, resulting in a mistimed interception drawing him completely out
of position. The English attackers raced away and exploited the space vacated by Kimpembe to score. It was just
one mistake, yes, but the warning signs are there. A symptom of enjoying his defensive work, although his instincts
are very good for such a young defender, he must reign back his eagerness to regain possession if he wants to
avoid being labelled as a rash and volatile centre-back.
In short, Presnel Kimpembe is a muscular, ball-playing monster of a centre-back and any weaknesses he may have
will occur less frequently with more regular game time and experience. He is custom-built for modern football
and has all the traits necessary to become a huge success.
FORECAST FOR 2017
On the cusp of a place in PSGs starting XI, 2017 may be too soon for this academy graduate to become a regular
fixture in the side. However, if his Champions League debut in February against Barcelona is anything to go by,
Kimpembe will have no trouble slotting into the PSG side when called upon. The French sides team performance
itself was astonishing but it speaks volume about Kimpembes attitude and ambition that he was completely un-
fazed by the occasion. Strong in the tackle and elegant on the ball even at 21-years-old he looked at home just
ask Lionel Messi.
In his current situation, he can only ever be as good as the chances he is given and the teams put in front of him.
And so far, bar a few expected hiccups relating to the occasional rashness addressed earlier, Kimpembe has done
everything that has been asked of him without looking fazed. Any recklessness stems from a genuine eagerness
to impress rather than a lack of intelligence or any other more damning flaw in his game. His performance against
Barcelona proved it.
Unfortunately, the Brazilian duo ahead of him will more than likely keep their places for the foreseeable future,
and the French-Congolese centre-half must bide his time for consistent starts. But he should stay at PSG.
Kimpembe is far too good to be loaned out to another team, and the Paris-based club will have no intention of
selling him. His existing situation is the perfect platform for future success: playing sufficiently frequently and at a
high enough level to have already caught the eye of Didier Deschamps, whilst captaining the France U-21 side, his
international future looks bright. Whilst at club level, in Thiago Silva, he has an excellent defensive mentor, and in
Marquinhos, he has a potential centre-back partner for 10-plus years. The former, at 32, will not be around forever
and in Kimpembe, Emerys side have a ready-made replacement to eventually fill their current captains enormous
boots. And they will not have to spend a thing.
 DF

STARK
FULL NAME: NIKLAS STARK

CLUB: HERTHA BSC

NATIONALITY: GERMAN

POSTION: CENTRE-BACK

DATE OF BIRTH:
APRIL 14, 1995

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: JACK GRIMSE

(@JACKGRIMSE)
2016 IN REVIEW
While Hertha Berlin sputtered last spring after a fantastic start to the 2015/16 Bundesliga campaign, Niklas
Stark was one of the bright spots. Last season was his first at the club in the capital after transferring from 1.
FC Nrnberg in the summer of 2015 and Stark showed plenty of promise that he has been building on so far
in this campaign.
Like last year, Hertha BSC started wonderfully in the Bundesliga, having found themselves in the Champions
League qualification places at the time of the winter break. They managed the same last year, but this sea-
son there has been more substance and style in the capital despite some slightly less consistent form since
the Bundesliga resumed. Once again, Stark has been at the heart of a well-organised defensive unit. He has
chipped in with the odd goal at the other end as well, heading home the winner against 1. FC Kln in October.
After starting the previous campaign playing mostly at centre-back, 2016 has seen Stark move into defensive
midfield on a more regular basis. This is due to his club team-mate Fabian Lustenberger being more consis-
tently utilised as a centre-back. An injury to John Anthony Brooks meant Stark played in defence at times too
though, not that it is a problem for the 21-year-old German.
From a health standpoint, the 2016 calendar year was far more positive than the year before it for Stark. He
missed nine Bundesliga games towards the end of 2015 and was unable to crack the starting XI for a further
five games after returning. However, after returning to the first team in February, he started all of Herthas
final 12 league matches.
STYLE OF PLAY
Starks versatility is something any manager would be lucky to have from a defensive player. Alternating be-
tween defensive midfield and central defence, Stark is equally suited to both. While he is certainly a better
tackler than passer, Stark is confident with the ball at his feet and does not give possession away cheaply.
With a pass accuracy of 84.7% so far this Bundesliga season, it is easy to see why Hertha boss Pl Drdai trusts
the German either in the backline or just ahead of it.
Certainly, much of the impressive passing completion percentage is derived from the fact that Stark likes to
play short passes along the turf. There is work to be done with regards to his long passing game though, and
he is probably never going to hit 50-yard passes in the style of Jrme Boateng it simply is not his style.
Stark is effective in midfield because he does not turn the ball over regularly. His composure and strength
when in possession makes it difficult to dispossess him and he has good recovery pace which allows him
make difficult tackles when his team does give the ball away.
Something else Stark brings to the table is an aerial threat from attacking set pieces. The three Hertha goals
that Stark has scored in his career have all have been headers and all were scored in the 2016 calendar year.
His 62 frame means he usually does not have to jump very high to win aerial duals. However, if he could
leap higher he would probably win more air balls, as he has only won 33 (55.9%) aerial duals he has been
involved in this season.
Only 21, Starks stamina is still developing. He may not be able to go in central midfield every game or play
every minute of every match in that position. However, more exposure to that position as he continues to
mature as well as a few more pre-seasons should see the German become more accustomed to running
out matches strongly.

FORECAST FOR 2017

Even though he is only 21, this is Starks fourth year in the Bundesliga. Continuing to be an important defen-
sive asset for Hertha is something that can, and should be expected of him in 2017.
If the Berliners are to continue building upon their early-season success, Stark will be crucial to it as a central
figure in a very organised defence. The German has proved his maturity regularly at Hertha, helping the team
to keep their shape and prevent shooting opportunities - something that is reflected in quantitative data,
such as goal difference on the league table. Seeing the progression made by Stark in the Bundesliga has been
impressive and continuing to perform well in big opportunities will only lead to more exposure.
His national team career progression is right where it should be. Stark has played with the German national
team from U-17 level all the way up to the U-21 side, who he is currently routinely playing with.
Soon to be ineligible to play for the U-21 team, he may seek a move to a bigger club should the opportuni-
ty arise to make a stronger case for selection at senior level. A move of that magnitude is not in the works
currently though. Instead, Stark should concentrate on trying to help qualify Hertha for European football
for next season with a Champions League berth still a remote possibility. If Hertha can do the impossible
and qualify for the Champions League, it would be a good opportunity for Stark to show Germany manager
Joachim Lw that he can cut it at the top level.
 DF

NABIULLIN
FULL NAME: ELMIR
RAMILYEVICH NABIULLIN

CLUB: RUBIN KAZAN

NATIONALITY: RUSSIAN

POSTION: LEFT-BACK

DATE OF BIRTH:
MARCH 8, 1995

PREFERRED FOOT: LEFT

WRITTEN BY: DAVID SANSUN

(@RFN_DAVID)
2016 IN REVIEW
Elmir Nabiullin has had a year marred by niggling injuries which have seen him only make 18 league appear-
ances in 2016. Despite his regular absences, Nabiullin remains one of the top talents in Russian football at
the tender age of 21. He has continually impressed when he has played in his traditional left-back position,
rather than further forward. This contradicts one of his former managers, who said he could perhaps follow
the same career path as Gareth Bale, who started his career as a left back and now is one of the worlds best
attacking players.
Nabiullin was unfortunate to miss out on the Russian squad for Euro 2016, as coach Leonid Slutskiy favoured
the experienced defender Georgiy Schennikov as first choice. The Russian manager then baffled most fans
with the inclusion of veteran Dmitriy Torbinskiy, who had played seven times at left back for his club side at
the tail end of the 15/16 season but is a natural attacking midfielder.
However, he has not let this hold him back and under the tutelage former Malaga coach Javi Garcia, he has
kicked on well this season as he looks to secure a spot in the national team ahead of his country and city
hosting the World Cup in 2018.
STYLE OF PLAY
Nabiullin is not a stereotypical footballer. At 59 he is a diminutive figure, and coupled with his shy and re-
served personality, he has often been accused of not being imposing or vocal enough on the pitch. In fact,
just days after the new Rubin Kazan coach Garcia took over, he was overheard in training telling Nabiullin to
talk more to his team-mates: Elmir, come on!Get forward, I cant even hear the sound of your voice!. The
21-year-old has also spent numerous one-on-one sessions with the coach learning how to improve his game.
Naturally, the young Russian is a left-back. That is where he has played most his league appearances and
where he claims to be most comfortable on the pitch. He has, however, played a handful of games in a more
advanced position over the past couple of seasons. Thanks to his speed and skill, he has done quite well, scor-
ing twice in his seven appearances as a winger, including a goal away at Zenit the last time Rubin managed to
get a point from the imposing St Petersburg side.
As mentioned previously, Nabiullin has speed. He is without doubt one of the fastest players in the Russian
Premier League, and almost certainly the fastest full-back. Last season, he was clocked at a top speed of 33.5
km/h by statistical provider InStat, which is the fifth quickest speed recorded in the whole RPL 15/16 season,
just behind renowned speedsters such as Ahmed Musa and Quincy Promes.
With this small frame, he can often be caught out in aerial clashes and back post crosses are a repeated
threat. In defensive situations, though, he is a calm presence. In one-on-one situations Nabiullin is more than
capable of dispossessing his man. However, it is on the counter and in the attacking phase of play where he
is most valuable. He loves to get forward, loves to attack, and is very comfortable with the ball at his feet
as evidenced by his average of 2.9 dribbles per 90 minutes in the league last season. Due to his speed and
work rate, he can get forward freely without having to worry too much about being caught up the pitch.
And thanks to his immense attacking presence and Rubins penchant for using a target-man striker, he has
chipped in with several assists from his largely excellent crossing and ability to beat a man. In Rubins first
win at the Kazan Arena in 2014, Nabiullin bamboozled Mario Fernandes with fleet feet and a few step-overs,
before digging out a perfect cross for Rubins forward to head home.
This season, some have questioned his current level of fitness. After returning from a spate of injuries there
have been some moments where his positioning has been sub-par and in two games he has cramped up with
over 15 minutes remaining. Despite this, he has kept up a good level of form.
It is also clear that he is willing to adapt and learn. After being criticised by his manager for not being vocal
enough in preseason, he has been heard a lot being very outspoken in some of this seasons games with
phrases such as Denis! Give me the ball! quoted in the local media. If Nabiullin can keep up this level of
semi-arrogance and self-confidence - traits which are key in a footballer he will likely establish himself as
Russias first-choice left-back.

FORECAST FOR 2017

Nabiullin needs to maintain his fitness and start playing consecutive games for Rubin. Thanks to their 2016
summer spending, he will have the chance to play with well-established players from around Europe, such as
Alex Song, Carlos Zambrano and Yann MVila. Surrounding himself with such talented players and under the
tutelage of one of Europes top young coaches in Javi Garcia will be important for the Russian international.
If he can indeed maintain fitness, his first goal will be to make the Russian squad for the 2017 Confederations
Cup, which Russia will be hosting as a precursor to the World Cup in 2018. With Kazan playing host to one of
Russias matches, being part of his national team and able to put himself on the world stage in his home city
is a goal that should motivate Nabiullin to produce his best football this season.
After that, Nabiullin should try to break the mould of many Russians who stay in the RPL and make the move
into western Europe. His agent has confirmed that Bundesliga and Premier League sides have been scouting
him over the past two years, with Southampton named as one of them. After a year or two more, he should
be looking to play regular football at a higher level and a move out of Russia is the only way.
 DF

LUKAKU
FULL NAME: JORDAN ZACHARIE
LUKAKU MENAMA MOKELENGE

CLUB: SS LAZIO

NATIONALITY: BELGIAN

POSTION: LEFT-BACK

DATE OF BIRTH:
JULY 25, 1994

PREFERRED FOOT: LEFT

WRITTEN BY: TOM CURREN

(@TOMOCURR)
2016 IN REVIEW
Every successful player, when glancing back at their career, can say that was the year - that was the year I took
the leap. Though it might be premature to judge the trajectory of his career at 22, it is unlikely that Jordan
Lukaku will make as much significant progress in a calendar year again as he did in 2016.
His year began at K.V Oostende, the Belgian club he had been slowly developing at for the previous three
seasons. Oostende in many ways represents the intelligence with which both Jordan and his brother Romelu
have handled their burgeoning careers. Both Lukakus have shown a willingness to join smaller clubs to im-
prove their levels of playing time, and Romelu, who broke through in the English Midlands with West Brom-
wich Albion and now plies his trade at Everton, has proven this point two-fold. Unable to find the playing time
he felt he deserved at Belgium heavyweights Anderlecht, Jordan joined his fathers old club Oostende, which
proved to be the perfect place for him to blood himself. Despite the clubs modest status on a wider European
level, Jordan never rushed to leave, instead using his regular starting berth to carve himself an opportunity
to feature for the ludicrously talented Belgium national side. That culminated in an appearance at the Euro-
pean Championships in the summer, with Jordan filling in for the injured Jan Vertonghen as Belgium lost to a
buoyant Wales. Though unable to prevent a somewhat premature exit from the competition, Jordan finally
found his star rising to join his elder brothers; an ascension that inevitably lead to him leaving Oostende.
Despite rumoured interest from several London clubs, the destination was Lazio. In choosing the Italian side,
Jordan demonstrated again how profoundly he has learnt from both his own struggles at Anderlecht and
his brothers tribulations at Chelsea. Though Tottenham Hotspur were strongly linked, Jordan chose not to
languish behind Danny Rose and Ben Davies, but to join a club where he could both play regularly and serve
an apprenticeship under the seasoned vice-captain tefan Radu. He landed in Rome and has had little reason
to regret another impressively mature career move since. Lazio have largely enjoyed their season since his
arrival, with boss Simone Inzaghi intent on a European finish come the summer. For Lukaku and the other
youngsters at the club - Sergej Milinkovi-Savi, Felipe Anderson, Keita Bald et al - Europe would be yet an-
other affirmation of Lazios growing reputation as a desirable place to develop as a young player.
STYLE OF PLAY
For those familiar with the elder Lukaku brother - that is to say, everyone - watching Jordan play at full-back
might seem a bit odd. He possesses the same awkward grace as his brother, the same loping stride, the same
unshakeable strength. Athleticism is a Lukaku family trait, something the boys inherited from their father
Roger, who was himself a powerful striker. Though Romelu has decided to apply his own talents to attacking
also, Jordan has dedicated himself to becoming a typically modern full-back. Of course, the phrase modern
full-back carries certain connotations, all of which apply to Jordans playing style.
The most sought after full-backs in todays game share more physical similarities with strikers than they do
with classic defenders and Lukaku is no exception. Here his attackers genes lend him attributes the next
generation of full-backs simply cannot survive without. Hctor Bellern, Nlson Semedo, Joo Cancelo; all are
very quick, very skillful and very incisive, and none would look out of place in an attacking trident, playing as
a traditional winger. This is the group Lukaku should aspire to join and it could be argued that he is not far off.
At 6ft he is a little taller than most wide defenders are, but that does not detract from his ludicrous speed. If
anything, it grants him the same physical advantage his brother enjoys in the Premier League, allowing him
to swallow up the ground deceptively quickly. In an attacking sense, this makes him deadly. His speed grants
him the ability to cross his winger on the overlap, opening regular opportunities for him to flex his decent
crossing muscle; a move that was used to great effect when he teed up his brother for a headed goal for
Belgium early last year. In terms of covering ground, there are few defenders on the planet who can match
Lukakus sheer athleticism.
Unfortunately, this athleticism is necessary to mask his greatest weakness which is, unsurprisingly, his defen-
sive positioning. This weakness is difficult to judge, however. With full-backs in the modern era asked to do
so much attacking and such relatively little defending, it is difficult to decide whether Lukakus flimsiness in
this area is his own fault or an unavoidable product of the times. In any case, he is often caught too far up the
pitch or with attackers in behind him.
Luckily, he is most certainly equipped with the tools to recover from these situations, though removing these
mistakes entirely will undoubtedly be on Simone Inzaghis to-do-list. And who better to learn from than
Radu? Lazios vice-captain has built a career upon his defensive ability and is very much stylistically a member
of the previous generation of full-backs. In the experienced Romanian, Lukaku has an ideal figure from which
to receive tutoring and, though Radus presence is limiting Lukakus current playtime, his expertise will surely
improve the youngsters game in the long term.

FORECAST FOR THE FUTURE

In choosing Lazio, Lukaku made a career choice both mature and grounded. Though his minutes thus far in
Italys capital have been somewhat limited, in Inzaghi Jordan has a mentor who knows how to blood a young
player. For Lukaku to expect to displace vice-captain Radu immediately would have been foolish, and he
clearly joined the club with knowledge that he would be second-choice for a while. It is important he uses
this time to absorb as much information from the Romanian as possible, before ruthlessly displacing him as
Lazios primary full-back ready for next season. His dynamism adds much to the side and his explosive speed
would perfectly compliment an attack already stacked with the talents of Anderson, Ciro Immobile, Keita
Bald and others.
Lukaku must continue to take his chances when they come, to ensure his continued presence in the Belgian
national camp. Not only is the chance to develop his attacking traits under Thierry Henry far too good to miss,
a few defending lessons from Vertonghen or Toby Alderweireld would not go amiss either.
 DF

LINDELF
FULL NAME: VICTOR JRGEN
NILSSON LINDELF

CLUB: SL BENFICA

NATIONALITY: SWEDISH

POSTION: CENTRE-BACK

DATE OF BIRTH:
JULY 17, 1994

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: WILL SAVAGE

2016 IN REVIEW
Towards the end of 2015, Victor Lindelf was not a name known to many non-Benfica fans. Signed as a
teenager after a couple of impressive seasons in Swedens lower tiers, Lindelf arrived at Benfica B in 2012
with over 40 appearances to his name already. Highly-rated but not considered ready for first-team action,
the occasional cup match aside, Lindelf has thus far spent most of his time in Portugal playing regularly for
Benficas second side, picking up caps for Swedens youth sides throughout this time.
2015 saw him impress in UEFAs U-21 European Championships, becoming an integral part of the side. In-
deed, Lindelf converted the winning penalty in the shoot-out to clinch the championship and was named in
the team of the tournament - all this despite only being brought into the squad as an injury replacement. As
2016 approached, injuries to Benficas more experienced defenders saw Lindelfs importance grow; linked
with a move to Middlesbrough in January, Benfica were in no position to lose another defender. He found
himself on the bench in a backup role and, when Lisandro Lopez had to come off in a league match against
Moreirense, Lindelf got his chance.
With a chance to feature regularly in the team, Lindelf made the most of the run of starts he was handed
and played well enough to become a first-team regular, being an ever-present in the league since that day.
It was not long before he got his first call up for the senior Swedish side and plaudits have continued to rain
down upon him. The end of 2016 and the beginning of 2017 have seen incessant speculation linking him with
a move to Manchester United, with figures of up to 50m being mentioned.
STYLE OF PLAY
Known to his teammates as The Iceman, Lindelfs calm style of play belie his tender years. The Swedish
defender is an intelligent and assured; this is obvious when watching him play. Preferring to stay on his feet
rather than diving into tackles, Lindelf relies on his positioning and anticipation to stop his opponent, regu-
larly intercepting passes or blocking shots. As such, the 22-year-old is a clean defender; the rarity with which
he gives away fouls is surpassed only by the rarity with which attackers get past him.
Physically imposing at 62, Lindelf has a well-rounded physique given his build. He does not lack pace and
this gives him a versatility which allows him to fill in at full-back or midfield when required. Although by no
means poor in the air, Lindelf could do with greater success in aerial duels, particularly if a move to England
is indeed on the cards he could be undone by a Tony Pulis and Salomon Rondon masterclass.
Lindelfs composed nature translates to his on the ball ability too. At Benfica, he usually has time on the ball
to seek out a teammate rather than being forced into long balls and this is likely to be the case if a move to
Manchester arises. With pass success rates regularly exceeding 90%, Lindelf is comfortable getting on the
ball and helping to build play, although given his ability he could arguably do more with it. Given his physique
and the well-rounded nature of his game, he can bring the ball forward from defence and affect play in more
advanced areas than he currently does.
Aside from his actual ability as a footballer, Lindelfs personality brings a lot to a team. Joining Benfica, a
club known for developing youngsters, was a wise decision at such a young age. Despite spending three
years in Benficas B team, Lindelf never complained, but focused on developing and waited patiently for
his chance; and finally, when his chance came he was unfazed by the pressure. Not once has Lindelf looked
panicked or overawed by his ascent into the first team and his calming presence in a young Benfica backline
has surely been helpful.

FORECAST FOR 2017

Most people who have read this far are probably wondering, how would he fit in at Manchester United?
Will the move happen? Its been talked up in many corners, with United front-man Zlatan Ibrahimovi at one
point talking about how his compatriot would suit the Red Devils. Assuming there is no smoke without fire,
Lindelf would undoubtedly be a welcome addition to Manchester. His quality as a defender leaves little to
be questioned while his personality means he would be unlikely to face too many problems in acclimatising
to life in Manchester, or indeed to any club he were to move to.
However, whether his future holds a move to Manchester or elsewhere, there is one uncertainty. An ongoing
dispute (at least at the time of writing) between Benfica and his former club, Vsters. Vsters insist that
Benfica owe them a payment of 250,000 after Lindelf made ten senior appearances for the side, some-
thing Benfica deny. Given the nominal nature of the sum, it is unclear why Benfica believe they do not have
to pay, but the problem is not limited to this clause. Vsters are reportedly entitled to 20% of any transfer
fee Benfica receive from selling Lindelf, again denied by the Portuguese club. A club as small as Vsters, it
is clear to see why they will not relent on these claims for money which they believe is rightfully theirs.
However, rumours suggest that negotiations of a move to Manchester have been blighted by Benfica requir-
ing United pay Vsters out of their own pocket, rather than giving them a cut of the transfer fee. More re-
cently, there have been suggestions that a deal has been agreed between the Portuguese and Swedish clubs
and any transfer will be able to go ahead in the summer. For the sake of all concerned parties, one hopes so.
 DF

CALDARA
FULL NAME:
MATTIA CALDARA

CLUB: ATALANTA

NATIONALITY: ITALIAN

POSTION: CENTRE-BACK

DATE OF BIRTH:
MAY 5, 1994

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: STEPHEN GANAVAS

(@MAROTTANOMICS)
2016 IN REVIEW
Emerging at the heart of an Italian defence at the age of 22 is never easy. Famed for their guile, the Italian
centre-back generally matures and peaks after the age of 30. However, the best ones peak earlier. In saying
that, Atalantas Mattia Caldara seems to be destined to reach his peak very soon. Blessed with being guided
by the wise Gian Piero Gasperini, the Italian is developing at an astonishing rate. So quickly in fact, that Juven-
tus could not risk allowing him to continue growing without signing him before their competitors.
Now a Juve player, but remaining at Atalanta on loan until 2018, Caldara will be looking to impress the Bian-
coneri hierarchy every week. He did so in a recent performance against Juventus rival Napoli. Defending a
1-0 lead that Caldara had earned Atalanta admirably with 10 men on the pitch, the Italian was not only im-
penetrable defensively with a number of important stops, but combined with Juve loanee Leonardo Spinaz-
zola to slalom downfield before slotting home an audacious volley to double his sides lead. It was all very
Leonardo Bonucci.
Now growing more and more comfortable every week alongside Atalantas other Italian and internation-
al starlets with 18 appearances and 10 clean cheets in the league this season, Caldara seems destined to
emerge internationally as a defensive partner to Daniele Rugani and Alessio Romagnoli for years to come at
the heart of Italys defence. The 22-year-old must bide his time though.
STYLE OF PLAY
Caldara has claimed that he wants to mould his game from the best aspects of Juves famed centre-back trio
of Bonucci, Andrea Barzagli and Giorgio Chiellini. The youngster stated that he wants to be able to create
play like Bonucci, mark attackers like Barzagli and possess the grinta of Chiellini. His admiration of the trio is
astonishing, even admitting he has a poster of Chiellini on his wall. His willingness to study them will also be
crucial in helping him adapt to life in Turin when he eventually makes the switch. He presents as a relaxed
character, but his insatiable desire to succeed at Juve has already made itself apparent in interviews since it
was announced that the Old Lady had signed him.
His focus currently remains on Atalanta though, where with his six-foot frame that is perfectly moulded for a
central defender, Caldara commands his back-line. Strong in the air with a great leap at the ball, the 22-year-
old is incredibly athletic. Despite this being impeded by various muscle injuries throughout the course of his
career so far, he plays with a confidence in his body that he can beat any player for any ball; whether it be
aerial, on the ground, or in a foot race. More combative than Barzagli, but not quite as gung-ho as Chiellini,
Caldara looks as though he would be an excellent foil to future Juve team-mate Daniele Rugani; a more com-
posed and relaxed figure. Juxtaposed with Rugani, Caldara commits a number of fouls despite his disciplinary
record improving this season and is more willing to make a calculated challenge rather than waiting for the
best moment to intercept gracefully.
Solid enough on the ball too, Caldaras 82% passing accuracy rate would surely improve playing in the com-
fortable surrounds of Juventus, as teams sit back and allow defenders to recycle the ball routinely. His distri-
bution is not quite at Bonucci levels of quality, but with Rugani more adept at playing those types of penetra-
tive passes, in the future Caldara may not be required to be too adventurous on the ball.
As alluded to before, not only is the 22-year-old effective at stopping goals being scored, but he has a pen-
chant for scoring them himself. With five goals in Serie A this season three from set-pieces and two from
open play the Italian is a clear goal threat that can contribute with some incredibly important strikes. Juven-
tus fans will note some of the important goals Bonucci has scored during his time at the club in understand-
ing how vital set-piece goal threats are at the elite level.

FORECAST FOR 2017

Determined to continue Atalantas push for an unlikely Champions League berth, Caldara must ensure that
the consistency he has displayed this season does not wane in the closing months of the campaign. Sitting
just three points behind the coveted third-place spot occupied by Napoli, La Dea may be aiming highly, but
a run of incredible results should give them reason to be optimistic. A run of five wins in their last six Serie
A games, including that 2-0 win over Napoli, highlights that they are peaking at the right time of the season.
And with just two goals conceded in that timeframe, Caldara has been crucial to Atalantas run of good for-
tune.
With at least Europa League football a possibility though for next season, Caldara will hopefully be able to
test himself on the continental stage for Atalanta before he is thrust under the Champions League spotlight
at Juventus.
The Italy U-21 international just needs to continue doing the same basic things that have inflated his repu-
tation in the last 12 months. Subsequently, as the matches get bigger and the stakes rise, Caldara should be
equipped to handle them like he has throughout his stay with Atalanta.
 DF

BAILLY
FULL NAME:
ERIC BERTRAND BAILLY

CLUB: MANCHESTER UNITED

NATIONALITY: IVORIAN

POSTION: CENTRE-BACK

DATE OF BIRTH:
APRIL 12, 1994

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: TOM CURREN

(@TOMOCURR)
2016 IN REVIEW
2016 saw Eric Bailly make an enormous leap in his young career. It would not be surprising, come his retire-
ment, if we were to look back at this year and consider it his most important. On the surface, the reason
might be obvious: he made his customary big-money move this year past, joining English juggernauts Man-
chester United in June. However, there is more to his year than just a hefty transfer fee. 2016 saw Bailly ma-
ture considerably on the pitch, a development which would, in the summer, catch the eye of Jose Mourinho.
Manchester Uniteds hefty transfer fee was paid to Villarreal in La Liga, a side who are quickly becoming re-
nowned for selling centre-halves to English giants. During his year-and-a-half stint at the Yellow Submarine,
Bailly established himself as one of the most talented young centre-halves on the continent, building on a
reputation he had nurtured in Spain whilst at Espanyol. 2017 was the year in which his fame grew beyond the
countrys borders, however. Though the fee United paid to Villareal raised a few eyebrows - 30million, con-
sidering Baillys modest reputation, seemed moderately extortionate the truth was that behind the scenes
the red side of Manchester was fighting a battle to win his signature. It was a transfer saga that went under
the radar, but once Bailly had signed on the dotted line the scope of it emerged; Manchester City, Bayern
Munich, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain had all hoped to secure the 22-year-olds services, with interest
going back as far as spring. In the end, though, the lure of Old Trafford proved too great.
On paper, it was a decision that made sense. Baillys style as will be discussed later seems to fit with Jos
Mourinhos footballing ideals and his time at Marcelinos Villarreal will have served as excellent preparation
for playing in a watertight, counter-attacking side. His time at United began fittingly well and it seemed as if
Mourinho considered him a first-choice option; until a knee injury ruled him out for the entirety of Novem-
ber. Now, upon returning from a disappointing African Cup of Nations campaign with Ivory Coast, the defend-
er must re-cement his starting berth.
STYLE OF PLAY
Bailly is an all-action centre-half. Fans who still consider the Premier League to be the most physical in Eu-
rope will have enjoyed Baillys decision to move to England; it seems a satisfyingly natural fit. The Ivorian is
a young man possessing astonishing natural strength, agility and speed. Athletically, he lacks very few traits
desirable in the modern defender. To focus on his physicality alone would be a travesty akin to rating Juan
Sebastin Vern on the quality of his earring-facial hair combo.
Instead we should focus on the programming that allows Bailly to use his body so effectively. Some physical
footballers are purely that and though effective at a certain level, these kinds of players tend to falter in the
best leagues. Thankfully, Bailly transcends this group by possessing a wonderful footballing brain. To demon-
strate this, it is helpful to look back at his time playing in Marcelinos Villarreal side. Marcelino famously fa-
voured a 4-4-2 formation during his tenure in Castelln, which led to, perhaps unfairly, his side being labelled
Atletico-lite in reference to Diego Simeones all-conquering Madrid side, who employed a similar shape. The
significance of this is two-fold: on one hand, Bailly was required to step into midfield often whilst playing for
Villarreal, to prevent Bruno and Trigueros from being overrun by potential trios of opposing midfielders. He
did this also to cut out through balls, win headers and add his brute power to a battle that otherwise might
be one-sided. In the long-term, this has undoubtedly improved Baillys anticipation. It has also meant he has
developed his tactical understanding of the game to a level impressive for someone who is only 22.
Perhaps most importantly, however, he is now used to playing an intelligent and dynamic role behind two
central midfielders. With Paul Pogba and Ander Herrera beginning to cement themselves as Mourinhos fa-
voured pairing neither of whom are necessarily defensive players Baillys experience in stepping into that
area to win challenges without compromising his sides defensive shape could be crucial as United continue
to chase down a Champions League finish.
He is not a perfect centre-half, of course and it would be amiss to brush over his weaknesses. Oddly enough,
having just waxed lyrical about his intelligence, he is prone to lapses in his concentration that result in mo-
ments of lunacy, idiocy and good old-fashioned folly. It is almost as if his brain is working to encompass such
a wide, tactical scope that it has the tendency to skip out the details perhaps like a goalkeeper, watching the
ebb and flow of a game but failing in the crucial moment. These moments are, in fairness, on the wane. As
he grows and matures, his disciplinary record rubbish in Spain but slightly more respectable in England is
also likely to improve. Though he did play in the same league as Sergio Ramos, so perhaps not.

FORECAST FOR 2017

Baillys future as a first-choice centre-half at Manchester United seems relatively secure. Very few of the
players featured in this Handbook will be able to claim a starting role at such a huge club, especially not one
that appears to be under such little threat. Bailly must unsure that this does not make him complacent, be-
cause United have coped well in his recent absences and a series of errors might convince Mourinho that the
youngster remains too hot-headed for such a crucial role.
Another aspect of his future which must be considered is his role with Ivory Coast. BBC Sport named him
as his sides most important player going into this years AFCON, a competition he very promptly crashed
out of. With Yaya Tour gone and the team seemingly on the wane, Les lphants might look to Bailly who
already has amassed 21 caps as their next stalwart.
 DF

HYSAJ
FULL NAME: ELSEID GZIM HYSAJ

CLUB: SSC NAPOLI

NATIONALITY: ALBANIAN

POSTION: RIGHT-BACK

DATE OF BIRTH:
FEBRUARY 2, 1994

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: STEPHEN GANAVAS

(@MAROTTANOMICS)
2016 IN REVIEW
Elseid Hysaj emerged as one of the best right-backs in Serie A during 2016. After joining up once again with
Napoli manager Maurizio Sarri after working under the Italian at Empoli, the Albanian international rein-
forced and then improved on his form in Tuscany that saw him earn his move to Napoli. Hysaj missed just
one league match in 2016 (through suspension) as Napoli pushed Juventus to the limit in the closest Serie A
title race since the 2011/12 season. He earned the trust of Sarri through his repeatedly consistent displays
and will be assured of his place as Napolis right-back for many years to come should he wish to remain at
the club.
At international level, the 23-year-old enjoyed his first taste of a major tournament at international level
at Euro 2016. Captaining the team at times in 2016 and becoming its youngest ever skipper in the process,
Hysaj led from the front as the teams chief playmaker from deep as well as its most talented defender. He
was the best performer in an organised team many would argue was unfortunate to be knocked out of the
tournament at the first hurdle.
Now, Hysaj seems the standout candidate to lead the team as captain into the future. At 23, but with 28 se-
nior international caps already to his name, his leadership qualities are not displayed in his ability to be overly
vocal, but in his extremely professional attitude and his willingness to lead by example through his actions
and performances.
STYLE OF PLAY
The Albanians style mixes the best of the traditional role of the right-back, with the best of the new. Firstly,
he usually prefers to play deeper than the truly modern full-backs of todays game like Dani Alves, Alex San-
dro, Hctor Bellern and Dani Carvajal.
While not one to truly bomb forward regularly, Hysaj still manages to make an impact offensively through his
underestimated playmaking ability. This talent, underpinned by his wonderful long-range passing technique
allows him to make an impact on games without undermining his defensive positioning. This is especially
important at international level. Albania play in a very organised and structured system and are often forced
to drop deep against stronger teams. Here, Hysaj can make use of the space vacated by the opposition de-
fenders pushing up to press to make incisive passes over the top; he did this to great effect at Euro 2016.
With Napoli, Hysaj does get forward more but his qualities are not as compatible with the final third as they
are with a deeper role. His crossing is no better than any average right-back, while he is tidy on the ball
without being expressive in any way. He prefers to play a game based on precision and efficiency rather than
power and flair.
With these attributes in mind, one wonders why the 23-year-old is not asked to play centre-back more often.
Defensively, he is magnificent. Rarely caught out of position, Hysaj is often quick enough to recover he is
not overly quick, but on the odd occasion he is caught out it is usually not by much.
Furthermore, the Albanian is a thinker. He will do everything to prevent being forced into committing to a
challenge and he rarely fouls opponents. With over 80 Serie A appearances to his name, Hysaj has picked
up just eleven yellow cards. He can be likened in his defensive style to Juventus youngster Daniele Rugani.
Though maybe sometimes slightly too stand-offish, it appears Hysaj has all the attributes to be a top-class
ball-playing centre-back in the mould of a Leonardo Bonucci without the lion-hearted and spirited bravado
of the Juventus defender.
He has played there at times. Forced into a central role after the first-half sending-off of Lorik Cana in Alba-
nias Euro 2016 group stage defeat against Switzerland, Albania did not concede with Hysaj at centre-back.
In fact, they looked more dangerous offensively and were unlucky not to snatch a point from the match after
some late missed chances.
Though unlikely, seeing him play under Antonio Conte in a utility role in a 3-5-2 formation, similar to the po-
sition Csar Azpilicueta is currently playing, would certainly be interesting and potentially the way to get the
most out of the Albanians unique skillset.

FORECAST FOR 2017

Being central to Sarris plans at Napoli, it seems unlikely that much will change for Hysaj in 2017. Instead, he
will likely look to consolidate on an outstanding 18 months since his arrival in Naples, which has seen him
become a stand-out performer for both club and country. With Champions League knock-out football to look
forward to, Hysaj will also have an opportunity to showcase the best of his defensive qualities in Napolis
showcase round of sixteen tie with Real Madrid.
It remains to be seen whether the 23-year-old will be able to continue to improve and turn himself into one
of footballs elite level full-backs. With his current skillset, one would argue it is not possible. Without the
bombarding runs and attacking influence of many of the games best full-backs these are things that simply
do not come natural to him Hysaj needs to find the right environment for him to shine. He has found that at
Napoli under Sarri; a trusting coach whose tactical plans fit the style of Hysaj excellently. But the Italian club
are not Real Madrid for example, whose full-backs need to be able to almost play as left and right-wingers at
times.
Hysaj oozes class though. He is an incredible professional and whether his future lies at Napoli or elsewhere,
his attitude, consistency and accountability will see him perform at a high level at least defensively. How-
ever, maybe a left-field move to the centre of defence could be career-defining. It has not been talked about,
but he has the perfect attributes to potentially take over from Raul Albiol and form a partnership with Kalidou
Koulibaly in defence.
 DF

GUERREIRO
FULL NAME: RAPHAL ADELINO
JOS GUERREIRO

CLUB: BORUSSIA DORTMUND

NATIONALITY: PORTUGUESE

POSTION: LEFT-BACK/
CENTRE MIDFIELDER

DATE OF BIRTH:
DECEMBER 22, 1993

PREFERRED FOOT: LEFT

WRITTEN BY: LEWIS AMBROSE
(@LGAMBROSE)
2016 IN REVIEW
From a steady left-back for a mid-table Ligue 1 club to a standout performer for the winners of the Europe-
an Championships, then a star summer signing as a central midfielder at Borussia Dortmund - it has been
a wild year for Raphal Guerreiro. Lorient were almost relegated by the end of the season but Guerreiros
performances earned interest from Liverpool and Arsenal as well as Dortmund, where he signed before Euro
2016 began for just 12 million. It was a transfer that went under the radar in a busy summer period, but as
Portugal lifted the Henri Delaunay cup after beating France in the Euro 2016 final Dortmunds clever business
looked vindicated before Guerreiro had even arrived at the club.
His performances at Euro 2016 earned him a place in UEFAs Team of the Tournament to go with his winners
medal. At Dortmund, he has been used as a midfielder for the first time in his career, with the teams perfor-
mances and results so far dipping significantly when the Portuguese international has been injured.
STYLE OF PLAY
Guerreiro at left-back has shown all the features of Guerreiro in midfield but, naturally, they still feel like very
different players. One must separate aspects of his game to see how they make him so good in either role.
In both roles, Guerreiros technical ability is crucial. Portugal were relatively defensive in the summer, heavily
relying on their left-backs ability to dribble away from pressure and pass accurately and intelligently to start
their rare attacks. At Dortmund, his passing has not been utilised as much but his dribbling has been superb,
injecting pace into attacking moves and helping the side against teams who press or sit back in a compact
block of midfielders and defenders. Guerreiro has superb balance in addition to accelerating quickly off the
mark, making him ideal against high pressure sides willing to counter Dortmund with a similar style.
That acceleration is also put to good use when Guerreiro is not in possession, with the Portuguese making
brilliant runs into space whenever gaps appear. From left-back he interestingly underlaps as often as he over-
laps, making him a nightmare to defend as he probes any gaps which open. It is also a habit that foreshad-
owed his move into midfield at Dortmund as it highlighted how comfortable he was in confined spaces in the
middle of the park as well as showcasing his range of passing.
Another key feature of those runs is the timing of them, which either leaves the player on the ball with little
option but to play Guerreiro in or helps the Portuguese create bigger spaces for team-mates to use the ball
in. Those runs are even more dangerous from midfield, where Guerreiro has proven a huge goal threat.
When those runs pay off, Guerreiro is very composed in front of goal, scoring four times so far in his Dort-
mund career. It is hardly surprising that a set-piece specialist can beat the goalkeeper with such regularity
and the Portuguese international is no exception. His finishes are generally precise efforts into the corners as
he opts to shoot from late runs into the box instead of with speculative attempts from long range.
Defensively, Guerreiro the left-back is dependable without sacrificing himself as an attacking threat while
understanding when to press and when to hold his position. He stands off excellently too, and coupled with
his speed and his decision making it means that he is very difficult to dribble past. From midfield, he has a lot
to work on. Currently he plays on the front foot a bit too much, occasionally leaving Julian Weigl isolated and
vulnerable in midfield with and without the ball.
As far as Guerreiros passing is concerned, it is technically excellent but could be more strategic. Choosing to
pass quicker and more vertically rather than dribble or play a simpler ball backwards would serve Dortmund
excellently, fitting in with their tactical plan under Thomas Tuchel which focusses on rapid, vertical attacks
that unlock defences without too many passes which slow play down.

FORECAST FOR 2017

If Guerreiro continues to develop in midfield, Portugal will be rueing their lack of depth at left-back, with
only Eliseu a worthy deputy to the Dortmund star. Their concentration of depth in midfield will instead likely
keep Guerreiro in defence. This could act as a positive for Dortmund however, who will be able to count on
the 23-year-old to slot into the defence should injuries strike and expect a high level of performance. But he
remains an exciting prospect for the centre of midfield, and in Tuchel he has the perfect guide to learn how
to play with more thought and a little less instinct, which is needed to get the best from his talent in a deeper
midfield role.
Assuming he stays fit after a couple of early season niggles, Guerreiro will start almost every week for Dort-
mund and can develop his understanding with Weigl to create a formidable midfield. Maybe the club will
consider using him as more of a number 10 than a number 8, a replacement for goal threats Shinji Kagawa
or Gonzalo Castro rather than Ilkay Gndogan, who has a much more considered approach. Signed as a left-
back, it is unlikely he will play there regularly until Marcel Schmelzer ages and Dortmund sign at least one
other player to control the midfield alongside Weigl.
 DF

CAIO
FULL NAME: RODRIGO CAIO
COQUETTE RUSSO

CLUB: SO PAULO

NATIONALITY: BRAZILIAN

POSTION: CENTRE-BACK/
DEFENSIVE MIDFIELD

DATE OF BIRTH:
AUGUST 17, 1993

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: PHIL COSTA

(@_PHILCOSTA)
2016 IN REVIEW
2016 was an interesting year for Rodrigo Caio. It all began with his boyhood club So Paulo, who he helped
finish fourth and qualify for the Copa Libertadores first stage in a truly chaotic Serie A season. He was then
called up by Rogrio Micale to represent Brazil at the Rio Olympics, which they won in style after beating
Germany on penalties in the final. The 23-year-old was then subject to interest from Inter, who opted not to
sign him after he failed a medical with Valencia twelve months prior.
During the Olympics, Caio started every single match for the Seleo and became a crucial figure in their tri-
umph. He started alongside PSG defender Marquinhos, who as a pair, conceded just one goal throughout the
whole tournament. Providing a solid foundation at the back, he then allowed Brazils more exciting frontline
of Neymar, Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Barbosa and Luan to run the show in Rio. His combative style was often a
source of inspiration for the crowd, who began to turn on the team after a slow start. However, later Micale
called Caio as the player to rely on as they took the gold.
Domestically, Caio was lauded Estdio do Morumbi for his defensive contribution and leadership qualities
above anything else. His personal tally of 93 tackles won was the sixth-most by a defender and he also racked
up an impressive 88 interceptions. Making a total of 34 league appearances, the Brazilian continued to estab-
lish himself as one of the best centre backs in the country, and fans all over were urging Tite, their national
team manager, to give the impressive Paulista an opportunity.
STYLE OF PLAY
Continuing the trend, Caio is another emerging talent from the Brasileiro who prefers the ball being played
into feet. Comfortable receiving possession from his goalkeeper or defensive partners, he will always aim to
pass the ball vertically, or even better, through the lines of an intense pressing system. Equally as adept at
bringing the ball forward as he is passing, the 23-year-old often dribbles into opposition territory to push his
team further up the field, before looking for a midfielder or full back who can then progress play. So Paulo
have lacked a calm, composed leader like him for years.
More importantly, alongside his assured technical attributes, Caio is very much a defender at heart. Having
spent most of his formative years in midfield, the way he operates at the back is very natural. The Brazilian is
a fine reader of in-game situations, anticipating passes well and making sure that he is positioned correctly
to time his tackles to perfection. Back in 2012, he was asked to play at right back with the responsibility of
marking Neymar during his days at Santos. After the game, Caio was praised by the press for his defensive
discipline and commitment which helped keep the winger at bay. The 23-year-old has always preferred to
jockey and use his intelligence to win the ball, instead of relying on sheer force and aggression which can
have consequences should you make a mistake.
Despite his largely elegant approach to defending, Caio is never afraid to get stuck in when needed. The
Brasileiro is filled with talent, but it is also notorious for its physicality and competitiveness, so as youngster
coming into a senior side you need to match that standard or risk losing out altogether. But like every other
difficult situation he has faced, the Brazilian took to the challenge like a duck to water and showed that you
do not need to be a muscular powerhouse to battle. Standing at 511 (1.82m), the Brazilian falls into the
smaller category of centre halves, but his spring is unrivalled winning a phenomenal 74% of his aerial
duels this season. Compared to some of Europes best in the same position, Jerome Boateng stands at 66%,
Sergio Ramos at 72% and Toby Alderweireld at 54%.
One weakness that stands out in the Brazilians game however is his tendency to be beaten by pace. Caio is
no slouch himself, but against forwards who are lightning quick he has struggled to keep up, especially out
on the wings when covering for his full back. His desire to prevent any danger at the source sees him over-
commit uncharacteristically, when staying central to clear the incoming cross would be far more advisable.
It is often said in football that raw speed is the hardest thing to defend against, so this is not an issue unique
to him, but taking an extra second to judge the situation would go a long way. Also, he looks to have put his
injury issues past him, but there will always be concern over his knees after suffering an ACL injury in 2014
that has subsequently seen him fail two medicals.

FORECAST FOR 2017

The future is always exciting for Caio, if a little uncertain. With the Brasileiro not starting up again until May,
So Paulo will be eager to make an impression in the Campeonato Paulista under their new boss Rogerio
Ceni. Already one of the Brazilian top flights best defenders, the 23-year-old will be angling for another
European move after his dream switch to La Liga was snatched away cruelly two summers ago. In terms of
his international career, Caio has the chance to become a consistent figure for the Seleo, alongside those
mentioned earlier on in Neymar, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Barbosa. Partnering him with Marquinhos, who
complemented each other so well at the Olympics, would be an ideal place to start.
 DF

LLORENTE
FULL NAME: DIEGO JAVIER
LLORENTE ROS

CLUB: MALAGA CF

NATIONALITY: SPANISH

POSTION: CENTRE-BACK

DATE OF BIRTH:
16 AUGUST, 1993

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: MIRAN ARI

(@THEREALBOZZ)
2016 IN REVIEW
2016 was an interesting year for Diego Llorente. While he served as a defensive fore on loan at Rayo Valleca-
no, he was part of the unit that was relegated and saw manager Paco Jemez sacked. However, Jmezs system
provided no relief for his defenders as his gung-ho style often left his team exposed at the back, with Llorente
often having two-way duties in having to corral his less-talented defensive teammates, while also having to
provide offensive transition for a team always looking to push the pace and attack aggressively. It wasun-
doubtedly trial by fire and Llorente did well enough, both as a centre-back and as a defensive midfielder, to
earn himself a loan to a better club in Mlaga with the expectations from his parent club rising to the point
where a good year at Malaga could see him return as a squad player at the capital.
Though his stint at Malaga started decently enough with Llorente establishing himself as a starter, the turn of
the year and early months of 2017 saw him relegated to the bench and struggling to even make the squad on
a few occasions. Silly rash fouls, defensive lapses and lack of consistency are the marks of young defenders
but how they learn and grow from that provide an indication of their future. Unfortunately for Llorente the
signs are beginning to become a concern, both in the short-term as well as for his long-term future. He is only
23 years old and his talent is evident, but a string of consistent appearances for a club in need of them will go
a long way in shaping what level he will be playing at in the coming season.
STYLE OF PLAY
Strong and physical, Llorente is unafraid to be physical up with aggressive attackers looking to use their bod-
ies against him. An above average aerial defender for his age, he often wins the lions share of duels due to his
physical profile. Unlike some of his more refined peers, Llorente is more dependent on his physical attributes
to win the ball as he is not hesitant in making a tackle, preferring it rather than allowing play to develop in
waiting for a moment to intercept. This is not necessarily a negative but it does force the manager to pair him
with someone who reads the game slightly better and relies on his positioning rather than physical abilities.
Llorente is a slightly above-average passer for centre-backs his age. Having been given the responsibility
while at Rayo Vallecano to take on a more ball-playing role, he has developed a solid ability to find the long
ball to break opposition lines. This has not been as evident while at Malaga, partly due to having superior
teammates than at Rayo thus reducing his importance in the offensive game-plan, but he is more than adept
at playing in a higher possession system.
His time at Rayo saw him face relentless pressure and tested him on a consistent basis. While this can be an
encouraging sign given how well he performed in such a frenetic system, it has not taught him how to play in
a more patient style of defence and when called upon to rely on his composure Llorente has shown enough
holes in his play this season to seriously question whether or not he is ready to compete for a team at the
pinnacle of the game such as Real Madrid.
Furthermore, much like Sergio Ramos at his parent club, discipline has been an obstacle for Llorente to
overcome as he picked up 11 yellow cards while on loan at Rayo Vallecano. While not all of these cards are
perhaps an indictment on him given how Jemezs system often left his defenders exposed, Llorentes temper
does tend to rear its head at times and he must keep it in check when paired with his physically aggressive
style of play.

FORECAST FOR 2017

It really is difficult to say what the rest of 2017 will shape up for Llorente. On talent alone, he could certainly
make a case for being the fifth centre-back at Real Madrid and an emergency fullback or defensive midfielder
starter. Real Madrid play so many matches per season due to competing in, and performing well in so any
competitions and going so far that it is conceivable that, if he returns to his parent club, Llorente will see a
decent share of minutes once his more esteemed teammates tire and pick up injuries. However, his recent
run of form, as well as the ascent of Jess Vallejo at Eintracht Frankfurt paints a grim picture for Llorente at
his parent club.
Ideally, Real Madrid should pencil him in as a depth player, as someone they can count on as an emergency
starter but should perhaps first allow him to remain on loan for one more season. Nacho, a fan-favourite util-
ity man, is valued at Real Madrid but given his talent ceiling and clubs across Europe allegedly showing their
interest in him, he is not necessarily a guarantee to remain at the club for much longer. This is where Llorente
could find his minutes, perhaps not as a regular starter but a niche player able to adeptly fill in at multiple
roles should the club call on him.
He has certainly got the talent, drive and physical ability to play for a title contender, but his mental lapses
and inconsistency may see him forever remain at a good level, but never quite able to take the next step into
the elite bracket. There is no shame in that as not everyone can play for one of the worlds biggest clubs, and
perhaps one more loan to straighten him out might be for the best.
 MF

LOCATELLI
FULL NAME:
MANUEL LOCATELLI

CLUB: AC MILAN

NATIONALITY: ITALIAN

POSTION: CENTRE-MIDFIELD

DATE OF BIRTH:
JANUARY 8, 1998

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: STEPHEN GANAVAS

(@MAROTTANOMICS)
2016 IN REVIEW
While AC Milan continue struggle to live up to the massive expectations of a seven-time Champions League
winning club, their promotion of youth in the last two years has been commendable. Starting with the pur-
chase of Alessio Romagnoli from Roma and then the promotion of goalkeeping sensation Gianluigi Don-
narumma, 19-year-old Manuel Locatelli is the latest Italian sensation making a profound impact in Milans
starting XI.
A breath of fresh air in a midfield that has been the Achilles heel of Milan in recent years, Locatellis emer-
gence as a big-game player and intelligent distributor and controller of possession has seen him earn a regular
place in the starting line-up. While a match-winning performance against Juventus in the league underlined
his importance to the team and endeared him to fans, it has been his consistency across 18 matches this sea-
son that has been most impressive. He has been surprisingly unrelenting. Highlighting Locatellis importance
to the team, is the fact that they have lost four of the seven games he has not played in Serie A this season.
Not burdened by the expectation of now almost carrying Milans midfield at times, the Italian looks fit to act
as a pillar of Milans strong, young Italian core for years to come alongside Romagnoli and Donnarumma.
STYLE OF PLAY
Sitting at the base of Milans midfield is not easy. Locatelli is under a lot of pressure to shield a back four
which at best can be called untrustworthy, while also not sacrificing himself offensively as the team rely on
his ability to instigate attacks with his incisive and penetrative passing.
Allowing him to excel in both areas are his excellent positioning skills. The 19-year-old is confident in address-
ing whether to drop into zones where he can intercept passes or simply occupy dangerous attacking space,
his understanding of when to step up and apply pressure on the ball carrier is excellent. Furthermore, he is
aided by his long legs that help him cover ground at a deceptively fast rate in comparison to the way he some-
times lumbers around the pitch. In the challenge, the Italian can be reckless at times. He is extremely physical
and his style is extremely niggling. Highlighting a clumsy aspect of his game was an incredibly reckless red
card against Juventus in a 2-1 loss in the Coppa Italia earlier this season. Already on a yellow card, Locatelli
went do ground in the 53rd minute making a challenge on Paulo Dybala in a non-threatening position on the
field, collecting the Argentine attacker from behind. This nave challenge halted the momentum of his team
who had just moments earlier reduced the deficit from 2-0 to 2-1.
Many midfielders can defend though. However, Locatellis ability to combine this defensive positional aware-
ness with a polished passing game is what makes him so impressive. And he cannot solely play short. While
capable of recycling possession backwards and laterally as effectively and efficiently as any player in world
football, the most striking aspect of his game is his ability to play penetrative and defence splitting long pass-
es. As highlighted by Lee from @FMAnalysis in a piece on sfhandbook.com, when picking the ball up on the
left-hand side of the pitch, Locatelli has increasingly shown a tendency to look across the field to Suso on the
right wing and enjoys playing the ball behind the defence there for Spaniard to latch onto. Contrarily, he finds
the opposing cross-field pass more difficult to complete as the natural curve of his passes as a right-footed
player take the ball out play, rather than swinging along a position parallel with the sideline.
In the attacking phase, while rarely venturing too far forward as the 19-year-old tries to solidify Milans mid-
field and prevent counter-attacks, Locatelli can nonetheless strike a football. Hard. He has already scored two
of Serie As best goals this season. One, a left-footed half-volley from outside the box that helped Milan claw
back a deficit to win 4-3 against Sassuolo reduced Locatelli to tears in a post-match interview. The other, a
venomous shot across the Gianluigi Buffons goal into the top corner hit with such astonishing ferocity that
the legendary Italian goalkeeper was not even close to saving it. Expect to see Locatelli score more incredible
goals as Milan improve and he becomes more of an attacking influence.

FORECAST FOR 2017

As a player who lives for AC Milan, it will be intriguing to see Locatelli continue to develop with the Rossoneri.
A club blessed with having been represented by some of the most iconic players in the history of the sport
such as Paolo Maldini, the Italian midfielder has the potential himself become an icon of the club and assume
bandiera status in Italy as a one-club player representing the values of Milan as an embodiment of every-
thing the fans love about the team.
Without getting carried away though, Locatelli seems an incredibly loyal, hard-working and focussed charac-
ter, driven to succeed with both club and country. Yet to feature for Italy at senior international level though,
the 19-year-old is quietly being afforded the chance to continue developing at club level as Marco Verratti,
Claudio Marchisio and Marco Parolo continue to anchor the Azzurri midfield. As Marchisio ages though, it is
likely Locatelli be tasked with being the Juventus midfielders long-term successor for the Azzurri.
He still has so much time to develop though. With an engine that will need continual improvement as Milan
continue to challenge for European competition next season, Locatelli will himself be challenged with poten-
tially having to play over fifty games next season. With his importance to the team, it will be important that
he rises to the challenge and continues to display the consistency he has played with up to this point in his
bright but fledgling career.
 MF

SANCHES
FULL NAME:
RENATO JNIOR LUZ SANCHES

CLUB: BAYERN MUNICH

NATIONALITY: PORTUGUESE

POSTION: CENTRE MIDFIELD

DATE OF BIRTH:
AUGUST 18, 1997

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: JACK GRIMSE

(@JACKGRIMSE)
2016 IN REVIEW
Capped off by defeating hosts France in the Euro 2016 Final this summer with Portugal, 2016 was a banner
year for Renato Sanches. While it was confirmed that he would be leaving Benfica, the club he had been
with since the age of nine, for Bayern Munich at the beginning of May, his star did not really begin to soar (in
terms of international recognition) until after the summer tournament. Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge
admitted the club could not have afforded the fee for Sanches had they waited until after the Euros wrapped
up. Lucky for the Bavarians they always get their business done early, or they may have been left longing for
Sanches like a certain Jos Mourinho.
It really was a meteoric rise for Sanches, as he did not even start the previous season with Benficas first
team. He was brought up to the senior squad at the end of October, and started his first match on 30 Novem-
ber 2015. By the time Benfica wrapped up a domestic double in May, Sanches had played 35 times, scoring
three goals and assisting another.
Since swapping Lisbon for Munich, Sanches has started just five Bundesliga games (none since October 1st),
making 18 appearances overall for the German giants. Recently, the experience of Xabi Alonso has been pre-
ferred to the energy of Sanches, but that will change with time. As the season wears on, he should see more
minutes. Furthermore, Alonso is due to retire at the end of the current season.
STYLE OF PLAY
The dynamic midfielder combines silky skills with raw power to both glide past and bulldoze through would-
be defenders. Sanches pairs strength with intelligence to win back the ball.
Part of the reason for his massive 30 million price tag is the versatility that Sanches offers. Carlo Ancelotti
flip-flopping between his trusted 4-3-3 and a 4-4-2/4-2-3-1 that better suits his current personnel at Bayern,
this could be problematic for some players. Not Sanches. He can serve as a deep-lying playmaker and/or pro-
tector of the back four as a number six, or going box-to-box as an eight. He could even function as a number
10 playing behind the lone striker and creating from the top of midfield.
A complete midfielder at the age of 19, Sanches is such a fun player to watch. Despite playing in a Portugal
team that had limited creative freedom at the European Championships this summer, Sanches was electrify-
ing. He came off the bench for Portugal in the three Group F games, all of which ended in draws, but started
all four matches during the knockout stages. Portugal won all of these en route to being crowned European
champions, with Sanches playing in a variety of positions across the midfield.
He really shined when playing centrally behind a striker pairing, as Sanches can show off every aspect of
his game when deployed in such a role. While it was a specific role, Sanches was still able to cover a lot of
ground and contribute in both the attacking and defensive phase of the game. Sanches earned man of the
match honours after Portugal progressed past Poland on penalties in the quarter-finals, announcing himself
to those who were unfamiliar with him. His 32nd minute equaliser cancelled out an early Robert Lewandows-
ki strike and he was able to perform stoutly defensively to see the game out until his side could keep their
composure in the shootout.
The match ended up typifying Portugals performances in the Euros, showing their willingness to get to extra
time and grind games out. Culminating in the ultimate success, the European Championships were an incred-
ible experience for Sanches, who will take it with him to Champions League knockout stages in the future
with Bayern Munich.

FORECAST FOR 2017

It is going to be pretty difficult to top winning the Euros. Maybe so, but Sanches can still rise above his bril-
liant 2016 in the coming year. For this to happen, Renato is going to have to play football more regularly with
Bayern. That is easier said than done, of course, as the Bavarians are currently topping the Bundesliga table
midway through the campaign. Still, just like Sanches, his club has room to improve despite their success.
The Bundesligas Winterpause (winter break) offers a mini warm-weather training camp, allowing managers
to re-tool both their tactics and have focused sessions with individual players. For the youngsters like Sanch-
es, this offering is far better than what he would get somewhere like the English Premier League. Had he gone
to Manchester United, Sanches would have been thrust into the team during the busy Christmas period, no
doubt, but would it really have been best for his development?
That is not to say Sanches would not be unable to cut it in the Premier League he would be fine. But at a
top club, under the tutelage of someone like Ancelotti, learning things to help the tactical side of his game
will pay off more in the long run than a few extra games.
During almost every season in recent memory, Bayern have had midfield players go down with knee inju-
ries at crucial times near the end of the campaign. That factors into why Pep Guardiola was unable to reach
the Champions League Final despite making three consecutive semifinal appearances. When the injury bug
inevitably bites one of his teammates this season, expect Sanches to step in and contribute in a major way.
 MF

DIAWARA
FULL NAME:
AMADOU DIAWARA

CLUB: SSC NAPOLI

NATIONALITY: GUINEAN

POSTION: CENTRE MIDFIELD

DATE OF BIRTH:
JULY 17, 1997

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: STEPHEN GANAVAS

(@MAROTTANOMICS)
2016 IN REVIEW
Playing at night to a Juventus team dominating Serie A with 15 consecutive wins, it was a dogged Bologna
team who would deny the Bianconeri a step towards Inters Serie A record of 17 consecutive wins. More
influential than any on the night was the unassuming Amadou Diawara. Anchoring a midfield under con-
stant fire, the Guinean-born midfielder, alongside team-mate Godfred Donsah, fought superbly against their
Juventus counterparts the esteemed Claudio Marchisio and Paul Pogba. While Juventus would go on to
win their next 10 matches and claim the Serie A title, it was Bologna who would have their day in the sun by
snaring a point from the clutches of the Old Lady.
It was a defining game in Diawaras career. The murmurs of a move to a big club turned into screams after it
and eventually the 19-year-old landed himself at Napoli, a fitting move after his display against Juventus. He
has hit the ground running in Naples too, continuing to assert himself as a semi-regular starter as manager
Maurizio Sarri continues to place more and more trust in him. Appearing in half of Napolis Serie A matches
thus far, contributing with nine starts. However, he missed the first eight games, making this figure a more
impressive 13 appearances from 18 matches since.
Wearing the number 42 at Napoli in honour of his idol Yaya Tour, Diawara will be hoping to make a similar
impact on European football as the Ivorian in the same humble but effective manner. Like Tour, he contin-
ues to dispel the reductive ideology that exists in some quarters, that African midfielders cannot be techni-
cally accomplished players.
STYLE OF PLAY
One of the most tactically astute midfielders in Serie A, Diawara is a defensive midfield anchor that serves
as the conductor of Napolis attack, while also being crucial to the defensive shape of the team. Sometimes
drawn up into the congestion of the midfield, it is in these moments that the 19-year-old can leave his team
exposed and vulnerable through balls played in-behind the defence by a player afforded too much space in
midfield. The Champions League game against Real Madrid was an anomaly in which this occurred more
often than usual. Beaten on the night by the mercurial Luka Modri, he is not the first and will likely not be
the last player to fall victim to a masterclass from the Croatian. The match reinforced that Diawara needs to
become more effective in the tackle, as he fouls too often and is beaten in duels too regularly because of his
small frame.
Normally though, Diawara is reluctant to be drawn out of position unless he is almost certain of regaining
possession. It is a key to launching many of Napolis attacks. If he is able to win the ball high up the field, Na-
poli will generally have at least five players further forward to instantly punish the opposition in attack. The
higher up Diawara can win the ball, the more dangerous Napoli can be.
This is underpinned by his wonderful passing range. Encouraged by Sarri to take risks, Diawaras attacking
game has a verticality to it that does not weigh on his pass completion statistic of 89.2%, eclipsing the 84.2%
he operated at last season in Serie A. Most importantly, two thirds of his passes have been played forwards.
Reluctant to join the attack in any other aspect though, it is perhaps an area of his game that Diawara will
seek to improve in Sarris ultra-offensive team. Developing a long-shot of the calibre of his idol Yaya Tour
could help stretch defences, as he would need to be marked, allowing attacking team-mates more space to
operate in in dangerous areas.
Diawara is yet to score and has provided just one assist in 70 professional appearances. However, expect this
to change as he becomes more assured of his defensive responsibilities and his confidence and willingness
to take up more offensive primary positions grows. However, his efficiency continues to be showcased in his
reliability, calmness and composure in an otherwise often unreliable and crazy Napoli team. His ability to
operate as a quarter-back, intercepting offensive plays and transforming them into attacks.

FORECAST FOR 2017

Arguably Sarris first-choice holding midfielder now, Diawara will look to slowly build on his bright start to
life in Naples. His first forays into the Champions League have been challenging, but as he continues to ac-
climatise to Napolis hectic style of play, he will become more equipped to deal with teams like Real Madrid
who are willing to counter this offensive system with their own offence. Currently in third position in Serie A,
Diawara should get another shot at Champions League football next season as Napoli look as though they will
succumb to Real Madrid in their round of 16 tie, bringing a 3-1 deficit home to the San Paolo.
Diawara also faces an interesting choice in regards to his international career. Currently in the process of
receiving an Italian citizenship, there have been murmurs that Italy boss Giampiero Ventura wants to hand
the Guinean-born midfielder a call-up as soon as he becomes eligible to represent the Azzurri. It seems as
though Diawaras intentions too are to play for his adopted nation, in what would be a coup for the Italian
national team.
With that, he could set his sights on Russia 2018 if he receives his citizenship quick enough, or at least the
2020 European Championship. Now immersed in the Italian way of playing football, Diawara seems a natural
fit for the Azzurri to compete or play alongside the youthful midfield ranks developing in Italy; most notably
Manuel Locatelli and Marco Verratti.
 MF

NOURI
FULL NAME:
ABDELHAK NOURI

CLUB: AFC AJAX

NATIONALITY: DUTCH

POSTION: CENTRE MIDFIELD

DATE OF BIRTH:
APRIL 2, 1997

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: JOE DONNOHUE

(@ JOE_DONNOHUE27)
2016 IN REVIEW
19-year-old Nouri enjoyed a productive 2016 whereby he journeyed from being a bit-part player for the
Jong Ajax side to being on the verge of the first team, where he made a handful of appearances in the latter
months of the year.
Nouri had been billed as an enticingly hot prospect, compared to a whole host of Ajax and Dutch legends
following his appearances for the clubs youth sides. At that level, he regularly lit up the pitch with his trickery
and audacity. 2016 posed the question as to whether he had the mettle to break through into Ajaxs B Team;
Jong Ajax who play in the Eerste Divisie.
The close of the 2015-16 season saw Nouri net his first Jong Ajax goal, but it was during pre-season where he
spent the occasional training session with Peter Boszs senior Ajax side, that he first came to the fore. Nouri
asserted himself as a player in serious contention, and deserving of, a full Ajax debut. In the Jong Ajax side,
however, Nouri regularly began to be deployed in a left-wing role, as well as occasionally being used as an
attacking midfielder.
Due to his diminutive figure, Nouri prefers to play on the wing where he can utilise his pace and excellent
footwork rather than competing in the physical battle in the centre of the park.
For Jong Ajax, Nouri has been in prolific form during the 2016-17 campaign, scoring seven times and assist-
ing on three occasions. He has started sixteen of the Eerste Divisie sides league games which undoubtedly
earned him the praise of Bosz whose decision it was to temporarily promote the youngster to the first team.
A handful of Eredivisie substitute appearances and Europa League starts later, and Nouri is slowly on his way
to forcing his way into the Ajax first team, on either wing of their attacking trident.
STYLE OF PLAY
Abdelhak Nouri only stands at 57. Combined with the fact that Nouri weighs considerably less than most
modern-day players, he is most certainly not going to triumph in the clear majority of on-field battles. But his
strengths lie elsewhere.
Nouri is an electric winger, skipping past defenders in a style not too dissimilar to that of Eden Hazard or
Arjen Robben in their prime. As a youth team player, Nouri tended to be used in central midfield role rather
sporadically but as he has become more advanced as a player, he is beginning to be shifted out the wing in
order to exploit his technical ability. This move has also been facilitated to make way for more imposing and
commanding, natural central midfielders to slot into that position in place of Nouri, whilst retaining his qual-
ities in the starting XI.
Nevertheless, size is not the be all and end all, as proven by Barcelonas midfield metronomes of the 21st cen-
tury, namely Xavi and Andrs Iniesta. Nouri can still operate in that central role, however, Bosz feels Nouri is
best in a wide position. This was reflected in one of his last appearances for Ajax, coming on as a substitute
against Roda JC. In this match, Nouri exploited the fatiguing Roda defenders before playing a neat one-two
and striking the post with the resulting shot. On this occasion, he was inches away from opening his Ajax
account, and with displays like that a first does not seem too far away.
Many young players nowadays face the age-old problem of combining blistering pace with the ability to
maintain close control while dribbling. What sets Nouri apart is that he seems to have mastered this art at
such a young age. Part of the reason he has excelled in the second division is that he has the natural ability
to glide across the turf with the ball at his feet, past industrious, traditional defenders.
Nouri has described the ball as his greatest friend, and that is no coincidence when he cites Barcelona legend
Iniesta as one of his idols and heroes. His play oozes class, just like the World Cup and Champions League
winner, albeit at a much lower level at this stage of his career. His ability to make the ball do the work is en-
couraging, especially in competitions such as the Jupiler League where his level of technical refinement on
the ball is a relative novelty. Nouri looks for the space to play teammates into, ranking as one of the highest
in the Eerste Divisie for through-balls. Nouri knows his strengths and tries to execute his play in a way that
magnifies them, such as quick give-and-go manoeuvres, leaving defenders flat-footed as he spins off into
space ready to receive the ball back from his teammate.
His route to the first team is a testament to his character and work-rate. We have seen the likes of Anwar
El-Ghazi rise through the ranks of Dutch football and fast-tracked into the Ajax first team setup, only for his
effort and motivation to be questioned. Both players have undeniable skill but Nouris steadfast ethic and
footballing passion shines through compared to many players of similar age and talent. Ex-boss Frank De
Boer was a fan of Nouris and supported his steady progression through the Jong Ajax team and into the first
team eventually. Bosz has afforded him this opportunity and looks set to test him with even more appearanc-
es, just like he is doing with Justin Kluivert.
Of course, coming up against the biggest and best in Dutch football will be difficult for Nouri to adapt to and
his stature will be put under considerable strain when facing some of the Eredivisies toughest defences.
Nevertheless, his footballing brain should assist him in those situations. Nouri is excellent in tight spaces at
retaining possessions or using trickery to find a way out of danger. This will be a little more challenging in the
senior team but if the youngster maintains his steady progress, he will benefit greatly from the experience
which will certainly hone his ability as a footballer.
FORECAST FOR 2017
The Dutch youth international has been watched on several occasions by scouts from across Eu-
rope, including the likes of Arsenal chief scout Steve Rowley. While a move at this point in his
career would likely be the wrong option to take, it is not out of the question in the future.
What one could see happening is Nouri being farmed out on loan to another Eredivisie club as the ranks in
Ajaxs first team are brimming with young talent, particularly in Nouris newfound wing position. He will do
well to break into the first team more often between now and the end of the season and the summer of 2017
will be make or break time for the Dutchman, with a possible opening for him on the wing when Bertrand
Traor returns to Chelsea.
Nouri will likely experience more opportunities with the first-team soon though, and, dependent on his per-
formances in those matches, it will determine whether he is dubbed capable of stepping up to that level
consistently in the near future.
However, his future is very bright based on his career so far. Ajaxs progress into the latter stages of the Eu-
ropa League will no doubt see Nouri gain more valuable minutes in a red-and-white shirt. Furthermore, if he
hits double figures in the goalscoring charts of the Eerste Divisie, it will be very difficult for Bosz and other
managers to turn a blind eye to his achievements.
 MF

MAIA
FULL NAME:
THIAGO MAIA ALENCAR

CLUB: SANTOS

NATIONALITY: BRAZILIAN

POSTION: CENTRE MIDFIELD

DATE OF BIRTH:
MARCH 23, 1997

PREFERRED FOOT: LEFT

WRITTEN BY: JAKE ENTWISTLE

(@JAKEENTWISTLE)
2016 IN REVIEW
Last year was a breakthrough for the 19-year-old. The first personfrom the state of Roraima to represent
Brazil at any sport in the Olympics, Thiago Maia sat at the base of his national sides midfield as they won
their first ever Olympic football gold medal. He also picked up the So Paulo state championship Campe-
onato Paulista with Santos whilst his performances in the competition earned him a place in the Team of
the Tournament.
During Brazils Olympic triumph, Maia started Brazils first two games of the competition, both goalless draws
against South Africa and Iraq. He sat as the deepest of a midfield three, a screen for the defence first and
foremost leaving the attacking responsibility to Brazils more famous forward quartet: Neymar, Gabriel Jesus,
Gabriel Barbosa and Luan. Maia provides excellent protection for the back four and is quick in the transition,
and it was this combative influence which ensured Brazil were difficult to break down, not conceding a single
goal when Maia was on the pitch. But, despite his occasional tendency to burst into open space after winning
the ball, he was replaced later in the tournament as a pressure to qualify called for a greater emphasis on
scoring goals, rather than not conceding any.
Domestically Maia was lauded for his defensive contribution more than anything else: his personal tally of 97
tackles won was the fifth-most by a midfielder and he also racked up an impressive 61 interceptions. Making
31 league appearances Maia cemented his name in the starting XI and despite Santos finishing the season in
second place, nine points behind champions Palmeiras. He was rewarded mid-way through the season with
an U23 call-up, the youngest player in Brazils Olympic gold medal-winning side.
STYLE OF PLAY
Growing up Maia was often called gato or velho, meaning old man in this sense. He did not care for the
typical Brazilian teenage life and this is evident in his style of play. He is a mature player and has already
tamed the erratic nature often associated with more defensive-minded Brazilian midfielders, instead remain-
ing calm and composed with an impressive range of passing that this temperament suggests.
This is not to say the characteristic Brazilian fire does not burn bright underneath such a cool exterior, Maias
almost incomprehensible stamina and tenacity makes him a frightening talent and is just as combative off the
ball as he is composed with it at his feet. The comparisons Maias and his footballing idol Javier Mascherano
may sound premature, but definitely hold weight.
Whilst not the most physically striking, the 19-year-olds limitless engine allows him to compete with the
opposition for the entire game, whilst his intelligence, positional sense and marking ability make him an ex-
tremely tough player to compete against. He enjoys pressing the opposition and aims to win the ball back as
quickly as possible.
Despite being a combative ball-winning midfielder at heart, Maia is slowly evolving into a more dynamic
presence in the middle of the park. His excellent reading of the game and incredible engine usually sees Maia
operating at the base of the midfield as he did during the Olympics intercepting and recycling possession
for his team. When he does win the ball though, he is very capable of surging forward and contributing to the
attacking phase of play a trait more evident for club side Santos.
Playing alongside another deep-lying midfielder at club level, 37-year-old Renato, his box-to-box runs are
key to opening up sides adopting a heavily defensive approach and he is given much more freedom to burst
forward. Although not a fantastic dribbler in tighter areas, he excels at surging forward into open space af-
ter winning the ball. His straight-line running is effective and penetrative. After winning the ball or making
a timely interception, Maia is technically gifted enough to launch Santos attacks without relying on other
players to exploit the space his retrieving of possession has exposed.
It is this ability to drive forward that separates him from his idol Mascherano: whilst the two share many simi-
larities in their approach and success in defending, Maia is slowly developing into a more effective box-to-box
midfielder in comparison to his idols more physical rugged approach to defending. The 19-year-old is already
developing other parts of his game rather than pigeon-holing himself as a defensive midfielder. His ability to
turn defensive into attack almost singlehandedly is the biggest testament to it.
Being able to win the ball, through either tackles or interceptions, is a desirable trait; however, what limits
most holding midfielders is their ability to gain an advantage from doing so and punishing their opposition.
The fact Maia is not only able to win the ball but is then able to effectively bring it forward and exploit the
space exposed by a team still in an attacking transition is an invaluable asset for any midfielder, let alone a
player whose main responsibilities lie in the retrieving of possession, not necessarily the effective use of it.
FORECAST FOR 2017
Maias ambitions clearly match his talent and his friendship with PSGs Marquinhos is well documented, as
well as his preference to play for his compatriots current side PSG. However, with the European transfer win-
dow shut until the summer barely mid-way through the 2017 Brazilian Serie A season if Maia is to make
his move to Europe it may have to wait until January 2018.
Besides PSG, Chelsea have also been heavily linked with Maia in the past and with Contes successful and
impressive implementation of 3-4-3, as alluded to earlier the Santos midfielder could prove to be a perfect
fit. He has all the defensive capabilities to succeed in such a demanding box-to-box role yet will find it difficult
to challenge Nemanja Mati and NGolo Kant for a starting birth. Santos latest star has the potential to be-
come an excellent player in such a role in the future and Chelsea under Conte could prove a perfect platform
for him to do so.
2017 may not be the year that Santos number 29 makes the move across the Atlantic. But all the signs are
pointing to a move in the future, his friendship with Marquinhos is just one of them. However, the maturity
and level headedness mentioned earlier in the piece means that Maia will not rush. He is self-aware enough
to know thathis ability and current rate of development will almost certainly secure him a big move the fu-
ture, which saw him reject a massive offer from Russian side Zenit. But Maia has made it clear that he wishes
to win everything he can at Santos - most notably the prestigious Copa Libertadores.
 MF

LOPEZ
FULL NAME:
MAXIME LOPEZ

CLUB: OLYMPIQUE DE
MARSEILLE

NATIONALITY: FRENCH

POSTION: ATTACKING MIDFIELD

DATE OF BIRTH:
DECEMBER 4, 1997

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: WILL SAVAGE

2016 IN REVIEW
In the 2015/16 season, Maxime Lopez was included in the matchday squad for only one league match. In the
2016/17 season, Lopez has been an ever-present starter since the end of October. He won his first France
U-20 cap in mid-November. He was named Ligue 1 player of the month for December, with barely two months
of top flight football under his belt. So, what changed? The arrival of Rudi Garcia. Garcia arrived on October
20th. Lopez was on the bench for his first match, understandable given it was a trip to PSG. Since then, Lopez
has been a constant in the side.
Marseilles academy has not always been as fruitful as their rivals in Lyon, with Samir Nasri one of the last
graduates who could really be considered a success. Fitting then, that Lopez and Nasri have been likened.
Lopez is an intelligent, technical midfielder who thrives when given a creative burden to shoulder, so it is not
wonder he has flourished since the arrival of Rudi Garcia. The new boss oversaw a move to a new posses-
sion-based style which requires footballers who are comfortable retaining the ball and feeding players ahead
of them. With five assists already to his name, Maxime Lopez is quickly finding himself integral to the vision
Rudi Garcia has for Marseille.
STYLE OF PLAY
Maxime Lopez wants to be the centre of everything. His game almost demands it, he was born to be a cre-
ative fulcrum in the midfield. When he is not on the ball, he is preparing to receive it. It really cannot be over-
stated how central he is to every progression of possession from Marseille. His distribution is assured and
his passes rarely err from their intended recipient. His movement off the ball helps him in this role, happy to
move across the pitch to find small pockets of space in which he can pick up the ball and build play.
One common comparison often made by those observing Maxime Lopez is how similar he is stylistically
to Andrs Iniesta. High praise indeed and, while Lopez has a great deal to do before he can realistically be
compared to one of the greatest midfielders of his generation, the point made is still apt. When describing
Lopezs build, the word slight comes to mind. He is certainly not going to power his way through a packed
midfield but, much like the Spanish World Cup winner, he has his intelligence and his technical ability for that.
Happy to pick the ball up wherever he can, his slight build allows him to evade challenges others might not
and his mobility lets him get in unexpected positions to start attacks. Defensively, Lopez shows good antic-
ipation to seize on any opportunities that come his way. Misplaced passes or errors in control will rarely go
unpunished with the young Frenchman around to counter them. He has shown a good chemistry with his
teammates quickly, despite only recently get a run of games alongside them. Almost immediately it became
clear he was on the same wavelength as Marseilles attackers, as their link up play often seems almost intu-
itive.
Finding flaws in Lopezs game is not an easy thing to do. Not because he is flawless, but because he has so
recently entered the team that he is still in that honeymoon period where observers are taking in what he
offers. His slight build may hold him back at some point, particularly if talk of a move to England comes to
fruition. Lopez will either need to bulk up or ensure his speed of thinking remains quicker than that of his
opponents. Lopez already has one goal to his name, but two months is not enough time to truly judge how
much of a goal threat he poses either. A player of his technical ability will be expected to chip in semi-regu-
larly though. Consistency is the biggest question facing Lopez now; all he must focus on for now is keeping up
this form for months rather than weeks.

FORECAST FOR 2017

Maxime Lopez has spoken before of his love for Les Olympiens, and it would seem like a move away is off the
cards for now. The young Marseille man is in dreamland, understandably. If his potential is as high as it seems
though, at some point a move away looks likely. Liverpool and Arsenal have both been linked with moves
for the midfield metronome in the past and more recently links with Barcelona have surfaced while he was
reportedly the subject of heavy scouting from Chelsea. The types of club linked with him are testament to the
belief many have in his potential. Despite this, though, Lopez recently signed a new contract with Marseille
that will likely see him remain at the club at least in the foreseeable future.
With his maiden France call-up for the U-20s some have wondered how long it will be before Lopez pulls on
the shirt for Frances senior side, but there is no need for things to get so ahead of themselves just yet. A
possible U-20 World Cup appearance in South Korea in May with Frances dominant U-19 Euro winning side
would be a fantastic experience to expose himself to the national team setup.
For now, the most important thing for Lopez is ensuring his place in the side is cemented and that he can
carry this form through the new year. If the Argentine is as talented as our first glimpses suggest, then 2017
should be an exciting year for the young Marseille man.
 MF

KESSI
FULL NAME:
FRANCK YANNICK KESSI

CLUB: ATALANTA

NATIONALITY: IVORIAN

POSTION: CENTRE MIDFIELD

DATE OF BIRTH:
DECEMBER 19, 1996

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: MATT SANTANGELO

(@MATT_SANTANGELO)
2016 IN REVIEW
2016 was a special year in Bergamo as Atalantas youth movement took shape. While boasting several fledg-
ling young stars, perhaps the most intriguing name from the Bergamasca talent pool is none other than 20-
year old Franck Yannick Kessi.
A central defender by trade, the gifted Ivorian was transformed into a box-to-box, complete midfielder during
the 2015-16 season on loan at Cesena. Manager Massimo Drago recognized Kessies tactical and technical
abilities were far more suited to play in front of the defense rather than lead it. Over 37 appearances for the
Seahorses, his vast array of qualities came to the forefront in Italys second division, scoring four goals and
two assists.
Pleased with his exploits on loan, Italian boss Gian Piero Gasperini identified Kessi during last summers
pre-season as the clubs anchor in the midfield for the current campaign. 2015 was a transitional year more
than anything else for the Ivorian.
Last year however, he enjoyed the luxury and freedom in displaying his entire arsenal; physicality, raw
strength, confidence and a distinct attacking prowess, all in the form of a dynamic midfielder. Prior to the
change in calendar year, Kessi already had established quite the reputation in Italy, tallying six goals and
delivering two assists over 16 Serie A matches. While he has yet to reach the climax of his game, European
giants were quickly convinced of his talents early on, making him one of the hottest commodities on the
peninsula during last months January transfer window. Heavy advances and astronomical sums from Europe
were met with firm denial, but little doubt exists in 2017 being the year Kessi becomes a household name -
on the continent and beyond.
STYLE OF PLAY
For those unfamiliar with the latest Ivory Coast prodigy, Kessi and fellow countryman Yaya Tour, share very
identical traits, so it is only natural the former aspires to emulate the current Manchester City star.
Kessi bears all the makings of a modern midfielder. When speaking purely on tactical and technical stand-
points, he is well-equipped to thrive in an advanced role up the pitch, but it is important begin in the de-
partment where he first burst onto the scene. Defensively, his 63 athletic build makes him as a nuisance
when possessing the ball. Gasperinis 3-5-2 calls on two defensive midfielders to mitigate any sort of danger
entering the final third. In the double-pivot early this season alongside current Inter and Azzurri midfielder
Roberto Gagliardini, Kessi savored the luxury of coverage. Quite easily he would drift into more attacking
areas, knowing that Gagliardinis occupancy in front of the defense favored the overall scheme. Even though
the Italian moved on to new pastures at Inter Milan, Kessi has maintained the same levels of tenacity.
As the armour of the defensive bank, the Ivorian seldom surrenders possession and because of this, can
initiate attacks swiftly from the back. His defensive background is so clearly demonstrated when he dispos-
sesses opponents and competes in aerial duels, where his strength and brutish build allow him to outmuscle
competitors.
Kessis profile aligns with that of a prototypical central defender. But in that role, his greatest assets seem
confined; it is in the attacking phase where he truly shines. Seldom do you find a 20-year old fearless enough
to push forward from the back when playing in a relatively defence role, but he has the tactical awareness to
understand when the right moments to push forward are. Late, marauding runs into the penalty area enable
Kessi to immerse himself into the attack, either splitting the defensive bank with a lovely threaded ball or
simply testing the goalkeeper with a shot at goal.
A unique blend of pace and ball control also grants him the utmost freedom to be expressive and illustrate
his explosiveness in the final third. Evident in his six goals and two assists to date, Gasperini has not even the
slightest concern in handing Kessi penalty taking duties. Confidently, he embraces the pressures of a spot-
kick, which is a true testament to his maturing personality.

FORECAST FOR 2017

In 2017, Kessi possesses all the characteristics necessary to become one of world footballs brightest young
stars, although improvements can still be made to his craft. All Tour and Michael Essien comparisons aside,
Kessi harbors the God-given talent to author his own future success story. Since making his senior debut
for Les lphants on 6 September 2014 as a 17-year-old, Kessi has already amassed 15 caps to his name. By
featuring in last months Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon, the Ivorian took another step forward in his devel-
opment as a professional.

As for his club future, Kessi will be difficult to retain for president Antonio Percassi, perhaps even impossi-
ble. Last year, the 20-year-old explained toSky Italiathat while he remains focused on learning Italian style
and tactics, it is his dream to suit up for Manchester United one day in the Premier League as they have al-
ways been his favorite club.

However, given the market in modern day football for a teenage sensation with an array of mouth-watering
characteristics, Kessi will surely have his pick of the litter, with Chelsea, Juventus and Liverpool all report-
edly keen on his signature. A summer move is merely a formality at this point, however, for the time being,
supporters of Italian football Atalanta specifically should savor Kessis final months and patiently await
his next football endeavor.
 MF

ZINCHENKO
FULL NAME: OLEKSANDR
VOLODYMYROVYCH ZINCHENKO

CLUB: PSV EINDHOVEN

NATIONALITY: UKRAINIAN

POSTION: ATTACKING MIDFIELD

DATE OF BIRTH:
DECEMBER 15, 1996

PREFERRED FOOT: LEFT

WRITTEN BY: DAVID SANSUN

(@RFN_DAVID)
2016 IN REVIEW
The year 2016 probably did not quite start the way Oleksandr Zinchenko would have expected playing in an
unfamiliar left wing back position for his club FC Ufa in the Russian Premier League due to an injury crisis. It
did not really work for him, they lost both the games he played there without scoring a goal. However, it was
not to last and he was soon back in his familiar attacking midfield role. This has been a great period for the
young Ukrainian, having only made his senior breakthrough twelve months previously and, in that time, he
had become fully established and a key player in the Ufa team. He became their prime creator and solitary
bright spark as they strived to fight off relegation. An international call up was always on the cards and in May
he made his first appearance for Ukraine. In the same game, he became Ukraines youngest ever goal-scorer
breaking the record set by legendary striker Andriy Shevchenko.
His club form continued to excite and suitors soon lined up, with Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City
heavily linked. First though, he was to participate in Ukraines Euro 2016 campaign; appearing in all three of
his countrys games as they were the first team eliminated. In the first two matches, he was a substitute for
Shakhtars Viktor Kovalenko as Ukraine failed to gain a point or score a goal, before he started the final game
and shone as they again struggled to defeat against Poland.
Almost as soon as Euro 2016 was over, transfer talks arose once again and it did not take long for him to seal
a transfer to Manchester City for a rumoured 4m. After training in Manchester for a while, it soon became
apparent that he would not be used in the first team and he was loaned to PSV Eindhoven. The Dutch cham-
pions have not given him a proper starting berth just yet, but he has still featured in the Eredivisie and also
made his Champions League debut against Bayern Munich.
STYLE OF PLAY
Zinchenkos best role is up for debate; some say on the right wing, some say behind the striker, some even
mooted that Manchester City and Dortmund were eyeing him as a long-term wing-back option. However, the
common opinion among his coaches and fans is that he is at his best on the right of an attacking trio, cutting
in on his wonderful left foot. He is more than capable of playing anywhere in the midfield trio while also able
to play on the left side of defence though not as convincingly as his other positions.
His best attribute is his delivery of the ball. From set plays and wide areas alike, Zinchenkos left foot often
produces highly accurate crosses for his teammates which can make set-piece situations a repeated threat.
In open play, Zinchenko is most comparable to David Silva: his one-footedness, ball control and dribbling style
are all like that of the Spaniard. His tendency to only use his left foot - often preferring to use the outside of
his left foot to control the ball instead of his right - can be a weakness. Despite this, as seen with players such
as Mesut zil and Silva, these kinds of players can still succeed at the highest level. To consider it a hindrance
at this stage in his career may be naive.
A match at the end of 2015 saw Ufa play away at Zenit St Petersburg. Zinchenko put in one of the best per-
formances of his career as Ufa pulled off a shock 1-1 draw. The 19-year-old scored the opening goal before
helping his side defend and counter. One run during in the second half caught the worlds attention as he
snatched the ball back inside his own half before taking on four Zenit players on a 60-yard run down the right
wing which ended with him holding off Axel Witsel with some skills and step-overs.
A downside to his game is his lack of stamina. He tires quickly and last season for Ufa, he completed 90 min-
utes in less than 50% of his appearances, often being subbed off or used as an impact sub. If used in a free
role on the wing with the freedom to not over-exert himself defensively he is able complete 90 minutes more
often though. However, as an impact sub his tenacity and willingness to get involved at both ends can be a
boost. Therefore, this is how he has predominantly been used since joining PSV.
Zinchenko is a small, nimble player, and while not specifically known for being fast, he can have an explosive
burst of pace when needed. Physically, he is very weak, but his low centre of gravity and balance allow him
to retain possession in tight attacking areas if he can avoid too much physical contact. It speaks volumes of
his underlying his talent that despite only two goals and four assists in the 15/16 season, he was still able to
break into the national side and earn a transfer to one of the worlds largest clubs.

FORECAST FOR 2017

Zinchenkos main aim in 2017 will be to make himself a regular in the PSV Eindhoven team. He has started
just six competitive fixtures since his loan move and his career has been very complicated since his move,
briefly settling in England after his move from Ufa and then being shipped off to Holland almost instantly can-
not be something he envisaged. After all, he had been learning English from former team-mate Emmanuel
Frimpong back in Russia
He has cemented his place in the Ukraine squad though, starting four of their five fixtures after Euro 2016 in a
midfield along stars such as Yehven Konoplyanka, Andriy Yarmolenko and Viktor Kovalenko. All he can do now
is train as strongly as possible for PSV and hope that he can make a breakthrough for them in the second half
of the season, although a couple of starts in late November - including a Champions League tie with Atletico
Madrid - are good indications that he is showing the PSV coaching hierarchy what he is capable of. Following
that, if he can gain a work permit, he will no doubt be aiming to find a place in the Manchester City first team
squad if Pep Guardiola deems him worthy. Otherwise, another loan spell beckons perhaps even a move
back to Russia or Ukraine.
 MF

OUNAS
FULL NAME: ADAM OUNAS

CLUB:
FC GIRONDINS BORDEUAX

NATIONALITY: ALGERIAN

POSTION: ATTACKING MIDFIELD

DATE OF BIRTH:
NOVEMBER 11, 1996

PREFERRED FOOT: LEFT

WRITTEN BY: JOE DONNOHUE

(@JOE_DONNOHUE27)
2016 IN REVIEW
Adam Ounas is a quick, fleet-footed attacking midfielder and winger whose main attribute is his flair. The
20-year-old enjoyed an impressive 2016, after breaking into the FC Girondins Bordeaux first team at the be-
ginning of the season. Ounas cemented his place in the starting line-up as predominantly a winger, but also
often being deployed in a number 10 role behind the main striker.
Ounas best period of 2016 came between February and April as he scored three times in seven matches,
including in victories over Guingamp and high-flying AS Monaco. The start of the 2016-17 season posed a
challenge to Ounas as several sides had begun to figure out his style and how to prevent him from causing de-
fences problems. His first fifteen appearances of the season yielded no goals in Ligue 1, but his performances
remained at a decent standard as he retained his position in the starting XI and assisted Bordeaux in climbing
the table to within reach of the Europa League qualification places.
On the international front, Ounas declared for the Algerian national team during 2016, qualifying through his
Algerian parents despite having appeared for the France U-20s.
STYLE OF PLAY
Adam Ounas flair is most definitely the Algerians primary asset. He creates excitement and an atmosphere
at Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux with his dribbling and individual skill. Whether it be cutting inside from either
flank or playing a neat one-two with a teammate, Ounas refuses to adhere to conformity and would rather
attempt the spectacular than play the simple pass. Often this can be at a detriment to the team as Ounas
pass completion is perilously low, however this is a result of his spontaneity. He is often dispossessed but on
the occasion that Ounas is successful with a take-on, it is an exhilarating sight and a sign of his huge potential.
The Algerian likes to dribble and as a winger that is a key attribute. He is not afraid of attempting the extraor-
dinary and while he is not always successful, it is a refreshing reminder that football in Europes elite leagues
is still brimming with individual class and raw talent. In an organised Bordeaux side that averages less than a
goal conceded per game, Ounas flair can sometimes be stifled but needs to be encouraged. This is something
which he will be afforded in the Algerian national team when he makes his bow on the international stage.
His style of play has been compared to that of a young Hatem Ben Arfa by a select few and it is not difficult
to see why. Ounas tends to take on opposition defenders with a youthful optimism, which is often construed
as naivety upon losing possession. Ounas skill and technique is fantastic, maintaining a low centre of gravity
and excellent balance when fending off challenges. His close control and ability to lift the ball over an onrush-
ing goalkeeper or slide-tackling defender is likewise very impressive.
However, on the other hand, his finishing could be improved, especially for a player who likes to try specu-
lative efforts from outside the box. At only 20-years-old, Ounas has plenty of time to perfect his shooting
accuracy and make better decisions in the final third, as poor decision-making is something he is suspect of
on occasion. An example of this was Ounas first senior red card for FCGB in a Ligue 1 fixture with AS Monaco.
His poor judgement failed him in this instance, as a reckless challenge from behind, followed by a senseless
kick-out saw him deservedly given his marching orders. Ounas must show more on-field maturity, as his ob-
vious skill is of very little use when he is sent for an early bath. Ounas endeavour to use his skill to get out of
tight spaces can result in dispossession, but at so early in his career, his often questionable decision-making
is something he will certainly look to work on and improve as he matures.
Ounas turn of pace and tendency for a trick or two is what sets him apart from the majority of Ligue 1s
wingers. While consistency may be an issue, Ounas is only 20 and will undoubtedly combine his courageous
skill with better stamina and a stronger physical stature in future and with that should come the desired
consistency.
As a creative influence, Bordeaux rely on Ounas quick-thinking and especially the aforementioned turn of
pace. He has not accumulated a great deal of assists to date in his career, however that may well be because
he has not been playing alongside a prolific striker that he has been able to build a rapport and common
understanding with. He will certainly have these opportunities later on in his career and whether it pays div-
idends remains to be seen, but the early signs are encouraging.
One thing that is vitally important is that Ounas continues to attempt and execute skill in high pressure
matches, as that is certainly what will allow him to stand out. In the modern age where tactics often dictate
and micromanage the game, an outrageous piece of trickery goes a long way in retaining the entertainment
factor. Ounas must combine this with a better comprehension of when to pass and when to opt for his pre-
ferred method of playing his way out of trouble.

FORECAST FOR 2017

Ounas will also be aiming to remain injury free and impress in the second half of the Ligue 1 season, propel-
ling club side Bordeaux to the heady heights of Europa League qualification. If Ounas can prove himself to be
a key member of the squad and start 2017 strongly, there is no reason why he cannot become a mainstay in
the Algeria national team and possibly make a move to either a larger French club, or another side in an elite
European league.
What is most likely though, is that Ounas will consolidate his place in Bordeauxs team and make his
much-awaited Algeria debut after the African Cup of Nations, a tournament for which he was overlooked for
selection. A summer move is a long way off at the moment because Ounas has a contract until 2021, meaning
a hefty sum would be required to prize him away from the Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux.
 MF

HORTA
FULL NAME: ANDR FILIPE
LUZ HORTA

CLUB: SL BENFICA

NATIONALITY: PORTUGUESE

POSTION: CENTRE MIDFIELD

DATE OF BIRTH:
NOVEMBER 7, 1996

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: WILL SAVAGE

FORECAST FOR 2016
There is only one place to start with Andr Horta. The boy is diehard Benfica, the blood of the eagle flows
through his veins. It is no surprise then to know that Horta developed at Benficas academy for the best part
of a decade as a youngster. However, Hortas dream faced a hurdle as he was let go as a teenager. Reportedly
heartbroken, it is said that Horta debated giving up football altogether at the time. Thankfully, he decided
otherwise and soon found himself at local club Vitria de Setbal where he looked to get his career back on
track. He did so gladly, making eight appearances in the 2014/15 season before bursting fully onto the scene
in the 2015/16 season where he made 34 appearances, 24 of which were starts, in an eye-catching season.
It was not long before the Portuguese big boys came calling, and when they did there was only one desti-
nation for Horta. He signed a five-year deal with Benfica who were looking to build a squad of experienced
professionals supplemented with talented youngsters. The stage was set for Horta to shine and he did not
disappoint, filling with gusto the Renato Sanches-shaped hole in the Benfica engine room. Surprisingly, Horta
enough impressed in pre-season to nail start in the 2016 Supertaa alongside Ljubomir Fejsa in central mid-
field. Having played the full 90 minutes, this set the duo up to become the first-choice pairing for the season.
However, the end of Hortas 2016 was stop-start due to muscular injuries.
STYLE OF PLAY
Simply put, Andr Horta is an energetic box-to-box midfielder. Having been played in multiple positions
around the midfield before, the technical side of Hortas game is well-rounded. However, the young man
himself says he feels most at home in a box-to-box role, as he grew accustomed to that in Vitrias 4-4-2. It
is somewhat inevitable that Horta has been compared to Renato Sanches, given that Horta has partly man-
aged to fill Sanches role in the squad. However, these comparisons only go so far. For one thing, Horta does
not possess Sanches sheer power. This is not a criticism of the 20-year-old, who is extremely energetic and
regularly shows great determination in all phases of play. Rather, it is simply that he is slight, standing at only
56. This does not stop the young midfielder from imposing himself on games, but if he wants to carry on to
the very top level of the game he must ensure he has the physical tools to match his technical ability.
Of course, it is easier to do this when you see challenges coming, and this is something Horta does superbly.
Like all the best midfielders, Hortas head is always up to scan the field of play and analyse his surroundings.
This simple but effective action means that he is secure in possession, even under pressure, because he sees
the challenge coming. When he does beat the line of pressure, his technically ability starts to show. His excel-
lent ball-carrying skills allow to him to exploit space ahead of him but it is his decision-making which impress-
es for a player who has only just left his teens. His ability to pick out options when on the ball is exceptional
and marries well the extraordinary levels of creativity in his game. His passing is superb both in terms of the
accuracy of them and the range he can find; his long passing offers him another weapon in his arsenal.
This variety in his technical weaponry gives him a varied game. No doubt thanks to having played many min-
utes across different midfield positions already, Horta can co-ordinate the attack from deep, slice his way
through opponents with his passing or break through the lines of defence on the ball to create space for
others. For all his technical ability, though, more product will be expected of Horta over time. While nobody
will be expecting 20 goal seasons from him, the modern number eight is required to carry a goal threat from
deep midfield and this is arguably the weakest part of Hortas game. His movement is good but he seems to
lack composure in front of goal.
Defensively speaking, Horta is a typical modern number eight, perhaps too much so. He covers ground well
and the intensity of his game means he is always ready to hassle and harry opponents when given the
chance, but this eagerness can be his undoing. His positioning can be sloppy because of it, weakening the
team when he is caught out of position and chasing the ball relentlessly can leave him looking bereft of ener-
gy in the closing stages of games. Like most things, these seem like flaws Horta can overcome, especially with
his determined nature and intelligent understanding of the game.

FORECAST FOR 2017

So, what does the future hold for Horta? The Benfica midfielder has all the necessary skills required to be-
come one of the leading midfielders of world football. Having said that, this could be said about most prom-
ising youngsters at some point in their careers. The question is whether they can go on to fulfil that potential.
At Benfica, Horta is on as good a stage as any to impress. It is no secret that Europes biggest clubs regularly
have scouts at matches of the big three clubs in Portugal (Benfica, Sporting and FC Porto), given their his-
tory of growing and finding the latest and most talented starlets. If he can overcome the injuries that have
plagued him in the last couple of months and nail down his place in the starting XI, there is no reason why he
cannot strengthen the weaknesses in his game and turn himself into a top player.
No longer a teenager, it should not be long before Horta is given a full cap for Portugal. Having featured at
multiple youth levels and having impressed in the Toulon tournament, Hortas impressive performances for
Benfica would merit such a reward. If he can continue to go from strength to strength as he has done since
he arrived at the club, then there is no doubt that Horta will attract the attention of the worlds biggest clubs,
many of whom no doubt have their eyes on him already. The real question should be, how hard will it be to
prise away the lifelong guias fan from the Estdio da Luz?
 MF

AMIRI
FULL NAME: NADIEM AMIRI

CLUB: TSG 1899 HOFFENHEIM

NATIONALITY: GERMAN

POSTION: ATTACKING MIDFIELD

DATE OF BIRTH:
OCTOBER 27, 1996

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: SIMON WEISS

(@SIMONWE1SS)
2016 IN REVIEW
Even though Nadiem Amiri made his Bundesliga debut back in 2015, he only really established himself as a
senior player in 2016. A development that is closely linked to his talent and potential, yet the appointment of
Julian Nagelsmann as Hoffenheims head coach in February of 2016 would not have hurt his case either. Both
had worked together at youth level and it ensured that Amiri had a coach that not only knew him, but that
was also prepared to throw him into the deep end on a regular basis.
Under Nagelsmann, Amiris minutes on the pitch grew, as did the influence he was having on games. Showing
promise in his early Bundesliga games, he then managed to maintain his performances for longer periods
during the game as well as, doing so in consecutive appearances regularly. He also found the back of the net
more often. When merely analysing stats, Amiri revealed himself to be a hidden gem, producing exceptional
numbers regarding key passes (per 90) as well as two goals and four assists so far this season.
STYLE OF PLAY
One can see glimpses of Mesut zil in Nadiem Amiri. The young zil or the older one? A good share of both.
While this should not be seen as an attempt to put Amiri on zils level nor to predict a similar future for him,
it is reasonable to make these comparisons. Amiri, like the young zil, came into the league with one aim:
to freely play his football. With great skill, ball control and pace, he brought Straenfuball onto the football
pitch. His youthful inexperience allowed him to inject Hoffenheim with a much-needed freshness during
difficult times last season. More experienced veterans probably would have let concerns about relegation
affect their performances, yet the young German just played his game. Of course, not everything came off,
but a great skill, a precise through ball or a well taken goal was often enough to raise the spirit of the team.
The older zil is apparent in Amiris decision making and the care he shows for possession. While his general
passing accuracy stats already high for a young midfielder, Amiri becomes even more valuable with his final
third passing. Both in terms of simply retaining possession, but also with regard to providing incisive passing
- either to accelerate play or to seek the final ball himself. Hoffenheims offensive strategy regularly looks
more cohesive and purposeful with him on the pitch. While there is still an inconsistency in his positioning,
you can see the intelligence and thought behind his regular movement. Mixing it up between showing for
the ball and positioning himself between the lines. Having received the ball, the end product is often still
inconsistent. Even though possession may not be lost, he could often choose the better or quicker pass. Yet
given his experience, his vision and execution of his passes as well as his shot and eye for goal make him a
real asset to Hoffenheims attack.
Amiri has also fully embraced Nagelsmanns system. Without the ball, he is fully integrated. Capable of ful-
filling his role both physically and tactically - he shows intelligence in adapting his position depending on the
movement of the opposition as well as his team mates. Aided by the system, Amiri find himself in good po-
sitions to cut out passes, to force turnovers and to recover loose balls. With the ball, the current system also
suits him. When building play slowly, Amiri can use his passing and movement to advance Hoffenheim up the
pitch. Yet his pace and directness provides a useful outlet in quick transition periods. As mentioned earlier,
the fact that coach and player know so much about each other, certainly gives Amiri a greater platform and
greater confidence to carry out Nagelsmanns instructions.
The biggest weakness of Amiri is his consistency - which is good news for him as consistency comes with
games and experience. Over time, he will learn to take even greater care of the ball and will attempt to be
a stronger presence throughout the 90 minutes. At times, you can see him drift in and out of games. If one
wants to be critical, they could point to some sloppy first touches. As with his passing, these touches rarely
lead to dangerous turnovers, but they rather cost him and the team the chance to advance the attack more
effectively.

FORECAST FOR 2017

What should Nadiem Amiri be aiming for in 2017? Possibly, consistency. Both in terms of performance as well
as game time. With Nagelsmann at the helm, he will always have a supporter who is keen on involving him
regularly in important matches.
However, since the start of the 2016/17 season and with Hoffenheim changing to a 3-5-2 formation, Amiri
has found himself in a variety of positions. The new positions require a new style from the player, too. When
looking at key stats, it shows that he plays more passes, boasts a higher pass completion rate, yet has fewer
key passes and shots. Suggesting that he does not get into the danger zone as often as in the season before.
2017 will hence be a time for adjustment, still. It will also be interesting to see how long Hoffenheim can fend
off rival suitors.
In the summer of 2016, RB Leipzig, reportedly, offered 13 million for the young German; an offer that Hof-
fenheim will certainly receive again in the future, be it from Leipzig or other clubs. One would also think that,
with his contract expiring in June 2018, there will be a clamour for his signature in the summer before he
becomes available for a free transfer next January.
 MF

CEBALLOS
FULL NAME: DANIEL CEBALLOS
FERNNDEZ

CLUB: REAL BETIS

NATIONALITY: SPANISH

POSTION: ATTACKING MIDFIELD

DATE OF BIRTH:
AUGUST 7, 1996

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: JOE DONNOHUE

(@JOE_DONNOHUE27)
2016 IN REVIEW
Ceballos endured a tough and testing 2016 with club side Real Betis as the Seville-based club finished mid-ta-
ble. The club aimed for stability following their promotion from the Segunda Divisin and that was reflected
in the play of Ceballos and his teammates. The club were one of only two teams in La Liga to average less
than a goal a game in the 2015/16 campaign, as they lacked creativity. This is something which Ceballos in
particular has worked on considerably, increasing his chance creation stats in order to provide ample service
to the likes of Rubn Castro.
After an impressive showing at the UEFA U-19 European Championships in 2015, Ceballos continued his
promising form for the Spain U-21 side, making a number of appearances during 2016 which saw him briefly
in contention for a call-up to the senior squad.
Ceballos impressively cemented down a place in the Betis first team, making the central midfield role his own
at just 19 years of age. This lead to him attracting initial interest from a whole host of prestigious clubs but no
move ever materialised as the player was very content making regular appearances for Betis.
The club quite clearly recognised his talent and potential as he began to thrive following the signing of a new
contract which saw his current deal extended to 2020; a sign of intent by the Andalusian side.
STYLE OF PLAY
First and foremost, Ceballos is a tenacious central midfielder, capable of adapting into a defensive midfield
role as well as an attacking playmaker. In Betis current setup, Ceballos tends to be utilised most frequently
as a deep-lying playmaker so that he is able to distribute play from within the Betis half.
Betis head coach Victor Snchez quite clearly sees the ability Ceballos has at playing through balls and thread-
ing passes in behind opposition defences, which is why he is deployed in such a way.
Ceballos has a tendency to drop deep into a position sitting in front of the centre-back pairing and pick out a
teammate in a wide area. His ability to see a pass as soon as he picks up the ball is impressive and very ben-
eficial for Betis as it allows transition from defence to attack to be achieved in a swift manner.
Arguably his best attribute is his footballing brain. Ceballos always seems to be one step ahead of his opponent,
and occasionally also ahead of his teammates. His flicks and touches indicate a vast knowledge of the game and an
innate ability to predict the path of the ball. When receiving possession, Ceballos already has his next pass selected
before he has even received the ball himself, something perfected by the likes of Andrs Iniesta and Andrea Pirlo.
His flair allows him to be a menace in an attacking role as well, and with his youthful engine and natural stamina,
he is able to assist attacks by galloping up field. His influence in the final third has not been as fruitful as Betis fans
would have liked, but his ideas and the passes he attempts are indicative of a player who can feature for a club at
a much higher level.
Along with his flair, the technical ability he possesses is wonderful and typical of a Spanish footballing upbringing.
Close control and great balance characterise his game in the attacking third. Of course, a player with such good
control will often be dispossessed because of their over-zealous approach to dribbling and retaining the ball at
their feet, and this is a flaw of Ceballos. Nevertheless, it does make him exciting to watch and in a team like Betis,
he certainly is a novelty. Similarly, this style of play tends to draw a lot of fouls which can be extremely useful if his
side are holding a lead and trying to kill the game.
Unlike Neymar, Ceballos holds his own relatively well in physical battles against opponents. For a player under
six-foot tall, his strength in holding off challenges is quite striking. This was first demonstrated to the world at the
U-19 European Championships where he was the star man for Spain. His balance and stability allowed him to ride
numerous challenges and be a considerable attacking threat. At a lower level, such as youth international fixtures
Ceballos stars as an attacking influence but in a more pressing and competitive atmosphere such as a La Liga, Ce-
ballos tends to be more effective as a playmaker from deep. This allows him to play one-twos with teammates and
recycle possession much quicker than mundane sideways passing which generates no build up and is predictable
to defend against.
Ceballos tenacity can only be admired and while he is nave at times with his tackling, he is a nuisance in the cen-
tre of the park. This perhaps explains why visiting teams tend to have more joy at the Benito Villamarn when they
opt to cross into the box, bypassing the terrier-like Ceballos. Due to his style, Ceballos tends to pick up a number of
yellow cards, with ten accumulated last campaign. Having already reached the halfway mark in last years cautions,
he is on course to beat that this season if he continues to start for Betis.
He is a peculiar player who perhaps has not found his niche as of yet. Extremely versatile in the middle of the pitch,
many players struggle to balance their flair with strong defensive work. Nowadays central midfielders tend to be
either one or the other, rather than a little bit of both. Based on last seasons stats and his numbers from this cam-
paign, Ceballos seems to be trying to move towards developing his attacking side, bettering his chance creation
and shooting accuracy in a bid to aid his team.
Having said that, Ceballos also seems to be winning more duels than in previous years, indicating that not only is
he developing as a player intellectually, but that he is also becoming more of a physical presence on the pitch.
At only 20 years of age, and yet to make a senior appearance for the Spanish national team, Ceballos has plenty of
time to find his preferred role and excel in it because at present, his versatility is possibly what is holding him back.
His usefulness in a defensive central midfield role has led to him being played in this position when potentially he
could be of more use to another team in an attacking role, where he is equally adept.
FORECAST FOR 2017
Ceballos is likely to add to his 11 U-21 caps for Spain and will most probably continue in his current role at Real
Betis. Betis are on course for another mid-table finish whereby Ceballos talents will not be able to shine like they
did temporarily in their 1-1 draw with Barcelona. His youth is on his side, as is his vast top flight experience for a
player who will only turn 21 in August. Potentially, Ceballos could emerge as a transfer target for a number of clubs,
especially considering the financial position that many Spanish clubs such as Real Betis find themselves in.
Furthermore, the system that Betis currently play does not showcase the best of Ceballos, whereas a system simi-
lar to the one used by Spain at the U-19 European Championships may highlight his undeniable quality a little more
than at present.
For his career to progress, Ceballos must either become the undisputed main man at Benito Villamarn, or move
on. With a contract running until 2020 however, the former may be the most sensible option but he will have to
work mighty hard to achieve it. Yet, with time on his side, there is nothing Ceballos cannot achieve in 2017 and
the years that follow if he maintains consistent performances for his club side, improves his game and remains
injury-free.
 MF

GOLOVIN
FULL NAME: ALEKSANDR
SERGEYEVICH GOLOVIN

CLUB: CSKA MOSCOW

NATIONALITY: RUSSIAN

POSTION: CENTRE-MIDFIELD

DATE OF BIRTH:
MAY 30, 1996

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: DAVID SANSUN

(@RFN_DAVID)
2016 IN REVIEW
At the start of 2016, Aleksandr Golovin had just two senior starts for CSKA Moscow to his name both in
the Russian Cup. Strange then, it may seem, is the fact that Golovin had made his debut for the Russian na-
tional side in July 2015, scoring as a substitute in a 4-2 victory against Belarus. It was clear, partly down to
his well-executed volleyed finish, that there was some talent to work with. It was enough to catch the eye of
ex-Russia coach Fabio Capello at least. His club boss Leonid Slutskiy just needed to decide how best to utilise
the talent at his disposal.
As the winter break ended and the Russian Premier League restarted in March 2016, it seemed as if Slutskiy
indeed had decided. Golovin broke into the first team with a couple more appearances off the bench, before
breaking into the starting XI; typically taking up a role on the left or right wing. Though, as is with most teams,
he would tend to drift around and swap with his attacking midfield team-mates Zoran Toi and Roman Ere-
menko.
However, it was a cup semi-final against FC Krasnodar in April which really grabbed the attention of scouts
and pundits alike, as Golovin scored a stunning brace to put them into the final. His first, a perfectly hit
half-volley from 20 yards to the top corner and his second, a placed shot from the edge of the box. This per-
formance boosted his reputation immeasurably and, with club boss Slutskiy now also the temporary man-
ager of Russia, it seemed increasingly likely that he would be on the plane to France for Euro 2016. As the
season ended, CSKA fought off a valiant Rostov to claim the league title. Golovin scored three goals in 23 first
team appearances in his debut season and as many predicted, Slutskiy selected him for Euro 2016.
In an injury crisis, Russia lost their two starting central midfielders to injury just before the tournament. To
combat this crisis, Slutskiy opted to test Golovin in a holding midfield position. He started there in Russias
pre-tournament friendlies and maintained that position throughout the tournament. In this unfamiliar po-
sition, Golovin had a poor tournament, but there was little fault of his own. Ultimately it was the managers
choice to play him deep. Evidently, it did not allow him to showcase his true ability.
This season, despite Roman Emerenkos drug ban forcing Golovin to occasionally take up a holding midfield
role, Slutskiy has generally played the 20-year-old further up the pitch. He also had his first taste of Champi-
ons League football thanks to CSKAs league title and he has played 90 minutes in all the group games to date.
To cap off his excellent year, Golovin was named Russian Young Player of the Year.
STYLE OF PLAY
Golovin has been often compared to one of his team-mates, fellow CSKA academy graduate Alan Dzagoev.
In many ways these comparisons are looking increasingly accurate. When Dzgaoev broke onto the scene as a
teenager, he was a bright attacking midfielder and drew the worlds attention at Euro 2012, but he has since
drifted back and now plays a pivotal role as a deep central midfielder. With the way that current boss Slutskiy
is coaching him, it looks as though Golovin will head the same way.
As an attacking midfielder, Golovin is not a flashy player, but he is a smart, classic attacking midfielder, who
finds space well and waits for the chance to play the perfect pass. If forced into wider positions, he is not
afraid to take on his man. However, as a player who is not the quickest, he must use pure skill to beat his man
by turning and changing direction often; helped in part by his two-footedness. At youth level for club and
country, Golovin often took responsibility for penalties and free-kicks - even scoring in the 2013 U-17 World
Cup from a direct free-kick, while notching numerous penalties for CSKAs reserve side. Furthermore, many
of his assists at this level were from set-pieces, a testament to how accurate his delivery from these positions
can be.
As a free-kick taker, it would not surprise fans to learn that Golovin possesses a wicked shot. His first and
only two goals for the Russian national team were both excellent half-volleys from around the edge of the
box, and his most famous goal to date for CSKA in the cup semi-final was, as previously eluded to, brilliant.
However, these are few and far between. He has only scored six times in his senior career to date.
That can be partly explained by Golovins reputation as an unselfish player. Perhaps on occasion, he is some-
times too unselfish; not shooting when he may have the better angle than his team-mate. The 20-year-old
loves to move with the ball on counter-attacks, he thrives when bursting past a challenge and then playing
the ball on, but it is rare you will see him then try a shot on goal himself.
His future as a more defensive midfielder that Slutskiy seems to want him to become is interesting though.
Although he is adapting to the role with every passing week, it is perhaps simply not a role which suits his
skillset. He does not seem to be strong in a challenge and he does often lack the defensive work-rate to oper-
ate in a position where players are strictly accountable defensively. His fondness for playing the perfect pass
and a possession based game can also cause trouble and he has been caught out in the past, losing the ball
inside his own half which has led to chances for the opposing side.
Golovin possesses the ability to operate there, but he needs the experience that will only come with time. His
age counts for him in this respect also, defensive midfielders tend to peak later in their career.

FORECAST FOR 2016

With Golovin already playing at one of Russias top clubs, there is no chance that he will transfer inside of
Russia. Also, as a first-team regular, there is no need for him to seek a loan away from the club.
As previously mentioned, comparisons to former wonder-kid Alan Dzagoev have been regular and almost
every window since Euro 2012, Dzagoev has been linked with a transfer to western Europe a move which
has never materialised. While it would probably be best for Golovins development for him to move to one of
the top leagues, the foreigner limit in the Russian Premier League means that he can go on to be one of the
best paid players in the country. With wages at CSKA far higher than what European clubs would be willing
to offer it seems likely that unless the foreigner rule is abolished, he will stay at CSKA for many years to come
- just like Dzagoev has done.
Golovin will also be hoping to help CSKA retain the league title, a task made more difficult after the clubs
sale of Ahmed Musa over the summer. Heading into the winter break, CSKA trail city rivals Spartak Moscow
by eight points.
Furthermore, the 20-year-old will likely feature in the 2017 Confederations Cup hosted in Russia. Barring
injury, it will be highly unlikely for him to not make the squad, which will be a great springboard for him to
potentially become the poster-boy of the Russian squad for the 2018 World Cup - another chance for him to
showcase his talent to a wider footballing audience.
 MF

IWOBI
FULL NAME: ALEX IWOBI

CLUB: ARSENAL FC

NATIONALITY: NIGERIAN

POSTION: ATTACKING MIDFIELD/

LEFT WING

DATE OF BIRTH:
MAY 3, 1996

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: PHIL COSTA

(@_PHILCOSTA)
2016 IN REVIEW
Alex Iwobi was not always destined to shine in an Arsenal shirt. In fact, the Gunners thought very seriously
about releasing him twice as a teenager with his development not progressing as planned. But as offers from
Celtic, Crystal Palace and Southampton came in, the Lagos-born midfielder was determined to stay and prove
he was good enough. Over four years and 50 first team appearances later, there is not a happier man than
Arsne Wenger when looking back on that brave decision.
After initially impressing against Sunderland and Burnley in the FA Cup, it was not until March where the
20-year-old really made a name for himself. Thrown into the Nou Camp for what might have been a hiding to
nothing, many young players would have frozen on such an unforgiving stage. But in typical Iwobi fashion, he
embraced the pressure and enjoyed it for what it was a game of football. Looking completely comfortable
alongside Europes elite, he was rewarded with his first Premier League start just three days later, scoring his
first goal for the club in a 2-0 victory away at Everton.
Having signed a new contract just six months prior, Iwobi was offered another deal in April that reportedly
trebled his wages. Make no mistake, this was not a case of modern football rearing its short term, mon-
ey-driven head. This was a football club realising what a talented, determined player they had on their hands
and tying him down for the future. That determination also saw him follow his heart to represent Nigeria,
despite England officials trying to persuade him for months to switch allegiance. Named as African Youth
Player of the Year for 2016, his choice was undoubtedly justified.
STYLE OF PLAY
Something that instantly stands out whilst watching Iwobi play is his high level of technical quality. To be
anywhere near the Arsenal first team you need to be a gifted footballer, but for somebody so young, the
assuredness he oozes when in possession or receiving the ball is exemplary. Whether it is gathering a pass
that has been fizzed into him in an instant, or bringing a clearance back down to earth from the heavens, the
20-year-old has an impressive ability to always seem in control. Even when pressed aggressively or trapped
in a congested penalty area, he will somehow find a way to wriggle out into space and recycle play, which is
crucial for a side who usually look to play on the front foot.
What is so striking about his rise, is how he seems to have arrived into the senior squad almost fully-formed.
Arsenal are a better team this season than they were last season and Iwobi is crucial to that. He offers a great
balance alongside the more unpredictable pair of Alexis Sanchez and Theo Walcott, whilst managing to com-
bine on a telepathic basis with Mesut zil. Crucially, the likes of Sanchez and zil are never afraid to pass to
Iwobi or give him the ball in tight areas because they trust him. The ease in which he seems to complement
and combine with others in attack cannot be understated.
Another attribute that often goes unnoticed is his strength. The usual story is that players gifted with such
talent tend to be more lightweight, making it easy to bully them out of a game. But with Iwobi, this could
not be further from the truth. Favouring those pockets of space between back four and midfield, he is able
to turn and drive at goal whilst fending off tackles with ease. An example that comes to mind is from New
Years Day, where the Nigerian sent Wilfried Zaha crashing to ground as they battled shoulder to shoulder for
a loose ball. This highlights an ability to impact games on a physical level as well as a technical one
However, there are aspects to Iwobis game that need improving. While there is an undoubted swagger
about his first touch and link-up play, the timidity he shows in front of goal provides a polar opposite. The
Hale End academy graduate enjoyed a prolific spell whilst playing as a central striker for the clubs U-18 and
U-21 sides, but when clear goal scoring opportunities have fallen his way for the senior team, his end prod-
uct has lacked conviction. Missed chances away to PSG and in the North London derby spring to mind, but
Wenger is certain that goals will come.
Another bad habit he must curb is switching off defensively. As a wide man, Iwobis role in the side is to at-
tack and make telling contributions in the final third. However, with the modern game becoming quicker and
more expansive, it is crucial that you are mindful of tracking runners to avoid leaving your full-back exposed.
The Nigerian has shown a willingness to press from the front, but is sometimes guilty of getting caught too
far upfield which allows the opposition to create overloads in dangerous areas. His awareness will improve
over time, but there is little room for error at this level.

FORECAST FOR 2017

First and foremost, Iwobi should no longer be considered a prospect. The 20-year-old is now a fully-fledged
member of the Arsenal first-team and handled a difficult transition with maturity. Rarely fazed by the big
occasion, physically robust and capable of playing well in a number of different positions, there will always
be room for him in the managers plans. For now, it is likely he must continue his apprenticeship on the flank,
but after a string of assured performances in the absence of zil, his future could lie in the centre. The Gun-
ners current playmaker cost them a fortune - their next one may have just developed right underneath their
noses.
Also, for somebody with such a short career, Iwobi has overcome challenging moments that simply would
have broken the spirit of others. But his humble, hardworking nature has now given him a platform to show-
case his talents and it is hardly a surprise that he is thriving. In December, he spoke at length about how he
was not as big, fast or strong as anyone else during his time in the academy, but his progression has been
steady, rather than explosive. Wenger explained last month that you need to look a bit deeper to under-
stand Iwobis talents, and even though he may not have been dazzled by the Nigerian at first glance, he is
vital to him now.
 MF

FERNANDES
FULL NAME: EDIMILSON
FERNANDES RIBEIRO

CLUB: WEST HAM UNITED

NATIONALITY: SWISS

POSTION: ATTACKING MIDFIELD

DATE OF BIRTH:
APRIL 15, 1996

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: ALEX SAIDY-SMITH

(@ALEXSAIDYSMITH)
2016 IN REVIEW
From Stade Tourbillon to the London Stadium, 2016 was a very exciting year for Edimilson Fernandes. Starting
the year in the Swiss Super League with FC Sion, Fernandes found himself to be a regular starter for the Swiss
outfit as they finished the season in fifth place and narrowly missed out on playing in the Europa League. On the
25th of August 2016, West Ham United confirmed the signing of Fernandes from FC Sion for an undisclosed fee,
reported to be around 5 million. During a summer of many signings for the Hammers, the deal for the Swiss
midfielder went to some extent under the radar.
Fernandes made his debut for West Ham on the 25th of September as he came on as a late substitute in a 3-0
defeat to Southampton. A month later, Fernandes scored his first goal for the Hammers as they beat London
rivals Chelsea 2-1 in the League Cup. 2016 was also a big year for Fernandes international career. First, he made
his debut for the Switzerland U-21 team on the 26th of March and then eight months later in November 2016,
Fernandes made his senior debut in a World Cup qualification match against the Faroe Islands to end a year of
much excitement and progress for the young Swiss.
STYLE OF PLAY
Fernandes is a versatile player that has already played in numerous positions so far in his short career. Most
notably playing as an attacking midfielder for FC Sion, Fernandes has found himself predominately playing in an
unfamiliar right wing-back position or a somewhat more familiar central midfield role for West Ham. Under this
position change for the Hammers, Fernandes has vastly improved his defensive side of the game and seems to
be working a lot harder on the field compared to when he was at FC Sion. One of the biggest impacts that have
occurred since playing at wing-back for West Ham is that Fernandes seems more eager and committed when it
comes to tackling. His timing and judgment of tackles have also improved significantly, but his defending is still
far away from being the finished product.
The Swiss midfielder is a direct dribbler of the ball, and he is always looking to go forward once he has received
the ball. During his time in Switzerland, Fernandes was found often picking up the ball on the left-wing so that
he can cut in on his preferred right foot. While being interviewed by Swiss newspaper 20 minutes, Fernandes
admitted that playing in the middle of the pitch is more natural for him, however, he is enjoying playing on the
wing for West Ham, although he would prefer to play on the left-wing.
Not one to be afraid of having a shot from distance, Fernandes can always be found lurking on the edge of the
oppositions box in a similar way to one of his idols, Paul Pogba. Despite his inclination to shoot from a distance,
Fernandes does not have the best goal ratio for a midfielder and his efforts can sometimes seem naive and
wasteful.
Since making his move to the London Stadium and taking up a more defensive position, Fernandes passing has
been a lot safer and less risky as he is now more likely to favour the short pass, and so far this season he has an
impressive passing accuracy of 90.5% in the Premier League. When Fernandes is given a chance to play in a more
advanced position, he is often looking to get the ball forward to the striker by providing them with defence-split-
ting through balls or spreading the ball out wide for one of the wingers to run onto.
Just like a lot of other young players, Fernandes tends to go missing when the game is not going in favour of his
team. Also, his decision-making across the pitch has also been questionable at times with the young Swiss opting
to attempt a Hollywood pass or an audacious effort at goal when a much a simpler pass is open.

FORECAST FOR 2017

Fernandes is a great prospect, and although it came as a bit of a surprise that he moved to the Premier League
at such a young age, he has so far been very impressive for West Ham and was arguably their best signing last
summer. To reach the next level, Fernandes must work on his decision-making skills and if he is going to continue
to play in his new wing-back or deeper central midfield role for the Hammers, then he will also need to work on
his defensive side of the game.
If Fernandes is serious about playing in a more attacking position in the future, he will need to improve his out-
put in the final third. The fact that Fernandes is capable and trusted to play in a wide variety of positions shows
just how highly rated he is by his colleagues. After all West Ham manager, Slaven Bili did state that Fernandes
has everything and that he is very comfortable on the ball in different positions. However, as we have seen
with many other footballers in the past that have failed to cement their spot in the first team due to them being
a jack of all trades, but a master of none. Being versatile can make you an excellent squad player rather than a
first team starter.
 MF

LO CELSO
FULL NAME: GIOVANI LO CELSO

CLUB: PSG

NATIONALITY: ARGENTINIAN

POSTION: ATTACKING MIDFIELD

DATE OF BIRTH:
APRIL 9, 1996

PREFERRED FOOT: LEFT

WRITTEN BY: WILL SAVAGE

2016 IN REVIEW
When in demand attacking midfielder Giovani Lo Celso had to choose a destination for his move from South
America, PSGs South American connection must have played a part in his decision-making process. Regularly
compared to Angel Di Maria, the families of each player know each other well which must have been a big
draw towards the French capital. PSG were able to offer more chances than other clubs too, according to Lo
Celsos father, so when the offers came in last summer Lo Celso chose Paris as his destination, arriving in Jan-
uary.
There was no surprise that the offers came in either, due to Lo Celsos sparkling performances for Rosario Cen-
tral in both domestic and continental competitions. The youngster had scored two goals and made 10 assists
in his time in Argentina and drew many admirers for his exciting attacking play. Since his introduction into the
Central set-up, Lo Celso seemed almost integral to the side, quickly establishing himself as a mainstay of the
attack due to his chemistry and understanding with Centrals other attacking players. He drew admirers in the
Argentine international set-up too and was an important part of Argentinas squad at the Olympics.
STYLE OF PLAY
Lo Celso has been likened to a left-footed Juan Romn Riquelme, high praise indeed for a young Argentine
midfielder, but also not inaccurate. Lo Celso is an old-school number ten, playing behind the centre-forward
and looking to act as a fulcrum for the attack. His excellent technical skills and reading of the game undoubt-
edly help him here. Very much a creative influence, his ability to glide past defenders with the ball to slip in a
teammate or create space for others is frequently on show, and his range of passing gives him the options he
needs on the ball to spread the play where it is required.
Although he has been compared to new teammate Angel Di Maria, it is easier to understand the comparisons
to Riquelme due to the elegance with which Lo Celso carries the ball forward. He takes languid, effortless
strides as if he has all the time in the world, before finding the chance to unlock the defence with that magic
left foot, which seems just as capable of making passes through the tightest of gaps as taking the ball away
from a challenging defender with a deft flick. That strength of Lo Celsos is also a weakness though, his reliance
on his left foot belies the weakness of his right foot. Like many players, Lo Celso makes up for the weakness of
his inferior foot with outside of the foot passes, but when forced onto his right side Lo Celso is far more likely
to end up giving away possession by trying something with his right foot.
Given how well he holds onto the ball usually, this can be a major problem and is undoubtedly the part of his
game that most needs work. The other component of his game he will most want to work on will be his goal
tally. Two goals so far in his career is not abysmal, but for an attacking player of his ability it is something he
will be expected to improve on. If he can marry an effective goal threat to the creative side of his game, he
could become a wonderfully multi-faceted attacker.
A traditional number 10, Lo Celso may have also chosen a move to PSG due to Unai Emerys preference for the
4-2-3-1 formation. With many coaches nowadays using a flatter midfield 4-3-3 Lo Celso will no doubt be wary
of the danger of being in a position where a manager forced him into a wider role. Although Lo Celso would
still be a danger to any defence cutting in from the right, his skillset undoubtedly suits an integral role in the
attack rather than a peripheral one.

FORECAST FOR 2017

With that in mind, it will be interesting to see how Emery decides to use Lo Celso. Firstly, the Argentine is un-
likely to be thrust into the first-team upon his arrival. Although talented he is still raw and an acclimatisation
period is almost certain to be required before he starts regularly for the Parisian club. Tactically, his future
is uncertain too. Although Emery prefers the 4-2-3-1, this season has seen him more readily use a posses-
sion-based 4-3-3 which would almost certainly see Lo Celso playing on the right when he gets chances. It is
likely that Javier Pastores recurring injury problems have played a big part in Emerys thinking, with Hatem
Ben Arfa the only other player who could really challenge for the role behind the striker in a 4-2-3-1.
Although it seems unlikely that PSGs tactical setup will change straight away to accommodate Lo Celsos
preference, in time he could give Emery the licence to change back to his preferred formation. There is no
doubting though that it could be some time before Lo Celso is able to have such an effect on the club. For now,
he will most likely have to hope for chances to affect games as a substitute, but theres no doubting given the
right conditions PSG have a true star on their hands.
 MF

KOVALENKO
FULL NAME: VIKTOR
VIKTOROVYCH KOVALENKO

CLUB: SHAKHTAR DONETSK

NATIONALITY: UKRAINIAN

POSTION: ATTACKING MIDFIELD

DATE OF BIRTH:
FEBRUARY 14, 1996

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: ALEX SAIDY-SMITH

(@ALEXSAIDYSMITH)
2016 IN REVIEW
Despite not having much luck with the national team at the European Championship, 2016 was an unforgettable
year for Viktor Kovalenko as the young midfielder started to make his mark at both club and international level.
Only making his debut for the Ukrainian national team in March 2016 in an international friendly against Cyprus,
Kovalenko was deservedly called up as part of the final squad to compete at Euro 2016. The tournament turned
out to be a nightmare to forget for Ukraine as the crashed out at the group stage with zero points and manag-
ing not even to score a single goal. Kovalenko appeared in all three games for Ukraine, starting in their first two
games and coming on as a late substitute in their last game against Poland.
Concerning his club career, 2016 was a rather good year for Kovalenko as his club Shakhtar Donetsk won the
Ukrainian Cup. Arguably the most important aspect of his year was the fact that he became a regular starter in
the first team. Even though Kovalenko made his debut in early 2015, Shakhtar had been slowly integrating him
into the first team squad since the summer of 2015.
STYLE OF PLAY
Kovalenko is a right-footed midfielder that naturally excels in the attacking midfield spot, but is equally adaptable
to play in a deeper central midfield role. The Shakhtar midfielder has been compared to a young Cesc Fabregas
when he was at Arsenal due to his tendency to score goals from midfield at youth level as well as his silky touch
and vision. Kovalenko was awarded the Golden Boot award during the U-20 World Cup in New Zealand in 2015
as he finished the competition with five goals and two assists in just four games with Ukraine. Just like many
other young players, the dynamic midfielder has since found it somewhat difficult to keep up his impressive
goal-scoring record since he has been promoted to the Shakhtar first team, although he did grab an impressive
three-minute brace against Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk back in November 2016.
The Shakhtar midfielder is not just a young attacking midfielder you expect to score a goal every so often, he is
also a creative outlet that has excellent vision and distribution, hence why people are quick to draw comparisons
with Fabregas. Kovalenko excels in his role behind the striker as he is always ready to make space for himself in
the final third and allowing himself to become available to receive a pass. Once he has been given the ball, Kova-
lenko always has his head up looking for the forward pass, through ball or the one-two.
Kovalenko possesses some excellent close control and dribbling ability. The midfielder also tends to come out
wide to receive the ball in order to run down either channel, but most preferably the left-hand side as he is then
able to cut back onto his favoured right foot so he can pick out a pass or test the oppositions goalkeeper. Stand-
ing around 1.82m, Kovalenkos physical presence and upper body strength is quite impressive for somebody who
is so young and usually plays in the number 10 role.
Currently, Kovalenkos primary weakness is his defending and his understanding of defending. To become a
complete midfielder, the Ukrainian must improve on his timing of tackles and his ability to read the game from
not only when his team are in an attacking position but also when they are in a defensive position. Considering
Kovalenko turned 21 this year, there is plenty of time for him to learn the defensive side of football. After all, one
of the main reasons as to why Kovalenko is rated so highly in his native country is because of the work rate and
determination he shows on and off the field.

FORECAST FOR 2017

A move to Western Europe to ply his trade in one of Europes top five leagues almost seems inevitable for Kova-
lenko. The likes of Italian giants Juventus and Internazionale have been reportedly interested in bringing him to
Italy, but the Ukranian midfielder may want to consider remaining exactly where he is for the short term. Kova-
lenko is nowhere near to being the finished article, and a move away to a bigger club where he is more likely
going to spend his time on the bench or in the reserves will only slow down his development.
Lastly, Kovalenko is a technically assured playmaker that has the skillset to take him to the top, but what he
needs to focus on in the meantime is to keep himself level-headed. There will be a lot of pressure on him to be at
the forefront of the new generation of Ukrainian players that will be looking to reach the World Cup in 2018 and
with quotes from current Shakhtar manager Paul Fonseca stating that Viktor Kovalenko will one day become the
best Ukrainian player. Kovalenko needs to remain humble and make sure that he gets enough protection before
the pressure becomes overbearing as the Ukrainian public will certainly want results soon rather than later.
 MF

LEMAR
FULL NAME: THOMAS LEMAR

CLUB: AS MONACO

NATIONALITY: FRENCH

POSTION: ATTACKING MIDFIELD/

LEFT-WING

DATE OF BIRTH:
NOVERMBER 12, 1995

PREFERRED FOOT: LEFT

WRITTEN BY: LLEW DAVIES

(@FFWTBOLLEW)
2016 IN REVIEW
A richly talented group of young players currently embody AS Monaco, much in the same way the wealthy
inhabitants embody the principality. They are synonymous with the respective entities Monaco, a paradise
where billionaires enjoy their spoils; AS Monaco, a club which nurtures and parades young prospects.
Thomas Lemars year is AS Monacos year. A year of patient progression, a year of continuous betterment has
seen both develop from peripheral hunters to Ligue 1 big dogs. 2016 was a year in which Lemar has over-
come injury and positional inconsistency to establish himself as an integral component of Leonardo Jardims
free-scoring, table-topping side. With around a third of this season remaining, the 21-year-old has surpassed
his minutes played tally of last. Lemar has also contributed to 17 goals in 2016, a number which rapidly in-
creased as Christmas neared and the more ruthless the Mongasques became.
It is a gradual progression which has caught the eye domestically and internationally. AS Monaco are a team
revered for their delightfully destructive yet seemingly unsustainable goal tallies across four competi-
tions. Lemar is now a full French international too, making a twelve-minute cameo in Novembers amicable
encounter with Cte dIvoire. In doing so, he became a member of an exclusive group becoming one of
Guadeloupes few French internationals and their very first international who plies his trade as an attacking
player.
Lemar is making impressions in two autonomous regions of France, even if they are separated by five hours
and 7,000 kilometres of ocean.
STYLE OF PLAY
Now is probably a good time to establish Lemars basic attributes. At 57 and noticeably slight of frame, Lemar
is by no means an exceptional athlete. He is small, that is unarguable. What is also unarguable is what that
physique offers him good balance, an acceleration which unsettles opposition and a sharpness that can have
a profound impact on situations and subsequently games. He has an excellent left-foot, as exhibited by his nine
league and European goals this season to date four more than he managed to score in the 2015/16 season.
He utilises the aforementioned attributes primarily from the left-hand side of midfield, often a basic four in
Jardims preferred system. Early in the season, Andrea Raggi played behind him and Moutinho inside, but as
the campaign has progressed, the excellent Djibril Sidib and powerful Benjamin Mendy have impressed at left-
back, with Tiemou Bakoyoko working tirelessly to his right in central midfield. Lemar is complemented on the
opposite side by the playmaking exploits of the gloriously gifted, Bernardo Silva.
Predominantly left-footed players playing from the left-hand side is increasingly rare in modern football, with
coaches preferring inverted wide players, with the main reasoning being the space it creates for advancing
wing-backs. Yet Lemar, under Jardim, still facilitates the advancement of Monacos left-back, whether it be
Raggi, Sidib or Mendy and it is all because of the positions the Frenchman consciously picks up throughout
matches. The 21-year-olds positioning in the left half-space is a prominent feature of his game and it bears very
tangible benefits.
Firstly, when the team transitions from defence to attack, Lemars role is important and a crucial reason as to
why Monaco are so good at it. He acts very much as an outlet in this phase, particularly from defensive set-piec-
es. He often takes up positions in the half space; situating himself between the ball and the oppositions wide(r)
options, he covers angles and defends space, rather than the man the perfect position to press or break.
When Monaco regain possession, it enables Lemar to counter-attack either receiving the ball in a good posi-
tion to carry the ball upfield, relieving pressure or to dart forward, piercing through lines with swift acceleration
to support ensuing attacks from deep.
His positioning in the half-space does create space for the likes of Sidib or Mendy to exploit, another inte-
gral facet to Jardims system. Moreover, it gives central midfielders and defenders whether it be Moutinho,
Bakayoko or Jemerson greater options, as he takes up crafty positions behind the oppositions midfield in
Monacos uncluttered and defined passing channels. It is in these situations where we observe the outstanding
qualities of his game: intelligence, close control, poise, and a sizeable punch of powerful acceleration. He can
turn quickly when he receives the ball, even with his back to goal, which unsettles the opposition. He can run
directly at defenders too, keeping the ball close to him, advancing it up to the opposition penalty area and com-
mitting defenders into making decisions; and crucially, the wrong one.
It is a pattern you can observe in most Monaco games which feature Lemar, but the most impressive quality is
what invariably follows: he regularly picks the correct, or at least good, pass, even if the execution is wayward
at times. He punches the ball into a forward captain Falcao, Valre Germain or Kylian Mbapp who peel off
defenders into wider channels. If the pass does not present itself, then he is more than capable of biding time,
protecting the ball with delicate touches before relaying possession to a well-situated teammate out wide or
supporting from behind. It is this pattern of play which sets Lemar apart within French football circles and fur-
ther afield. He is a player that plays to better the collective and he does it very well.
His goals pretty much all nine of them accentuate Lemars presence in the left-half space and his intelligence.
Take his goal in Decembers dismantling of SC Bastia for example. He occupies the left-half space; disciplined,
covering a passing option. Once the ball is regained in the final third, he initiates his movements. Assessing the
situation, he holds his run, peeling away from Bastias far-post. Falcaos ball is looped in and Lemar, after a series
of crucial, delicate stutter steps, times his side-foot volley to nigh perfection. It is the details that are often so
decisive.
Lemars outstanding trait is his intelligence, which is a testament to not only himself, but also to Leonardo Jar-
dim who has drilled the 21-year-old wonderfully during his time at Monaco. He is a good player, assisted by a
good coach, utilised in a good system. It works.
FORECAST FOR FUTURE
The next step is to help a vibrant and youthful AS Monaco win their first Ligue 1 title in 17 years. They have the
mentality, coach and quality to achieve considerable things this season. The rest will undoubtedly follow for the
21-year-old.
Last summer, Atltico Madrids sizeable offer was rebuffed by the principality club, a decision which has reaped
rewards aplenty to date. There is no doubt that Lemar, in the current market, is worth at least double Atltis
reported 20 million bid. A French title in his honours list may well expedite a mega-money transfer to one of
Europes grandest clubs.
 MF

KOZIELLO
FULL NAME: VINCENT KOZIELLO

CLUB: OGC NICE

NATIONALITY: FRENCH

POSTION: CENTRE MIDFIELD

DATE OF BIRTH:
OCTOBER 28, 1995

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: JAMES BUFTON

(@JBUF1)
2016 IN REVIEW
Nice demonstrated the fortitude of their greater infrastructure in 2016, finishing in fourth and suffering from
the attention that such an ascent inevitably demanded in the summer. Many of the key figures within their sev-
en-place improvement departed for pastures new, including now Southampton manager Claude Puel who was
replaced by Lucien Favre. Despite the rather drastic turnover in personnel, Favre arrived at a club with a vision
sustainable through turmoil and inherited a squad with an abundance of exciting young talent. Vincent Koziello
can be considered a testament to both pillars of the clubs title challenge this campaign; a mainstay kept by Les
Aiglons to ensure a brighter future and one of the more promising individuals currently playing in the French
Riviera.
While his role has diminished slightly under a new coach - he started 32 of 38 Ligue 1 fixtures last term whereas
he now features predominantly from the bench domestically, in some part owed to the breakthrough of Wylan
Cyprien and the needs of Favres system - Koziello remains a tantalising prospect and an asset to his team. The
experience of fighting for minutes can represent a valuable aspect of any young players learning curve, particu-
larly in this instance because of the humility that losing his place under a new manager will have inspired within
the France U-21 international. The values of hard work and, more so, patience instilled through his current pre-
dicament should serve Koziello well throughout his career.
STYLE OF PLAY
While Koziello forms a diminutive figure standing at 56, he compensates for his height, or lack thereof, with
a great deal of intensity in midfield. His role at Nice has been nuanced, and this could explain much about
his change in fortune once Puel left his post at the Allianz Riviera for the Premier League, as he is effectively
a ball-winner charged with circulating possession and influencing the games tempo. Koziello possesses traits
characteristic of a prototypical defensive, controlling and box-to-box midfielder, and yet his overall game cannot
accurately be labelled under one title. He is a unique hybrid, making the task of forecasting what Koziello will be
in five years time a genuine challenge.
The main benefit of this is that it has created so many potential paths for his long-term development, the draw-
back being that it contributes to Koziellos current struggle to crack the starting line-up of a side contending for
the title where results are the priority and his personal growth is secondary. Puel managed to engineer a specific
utility for the AS Cannes product, and his commitment to accommodating Koziello ultimately paid dividends last
season as he flourished alongside Hatem Ben Arfa and Nampalys Mendy. It is not necessarily Favres fault that he
has not achieved the same feat as his circumstances at the top of the table are very much unique to what Puels
situation was climbing from mid-table to European football.
It requires a significant amount of talent to justify the need to be facilitated so meticulously, and Koziello is wor-
thy of the effort. His intelligence on the ball and understanding of the complex of each game he participates in
are outlines for a role embedded with greater responsibilities in build-up play. Cypriens skillset makes a lot of
Koziellos potential in this area, redundant, but this has organically improved his combination play further up
the field. One advantage t playing under Favre is the amount of possession Nice tend to enjoy through his style
of play, in theory affording Koziello more reps to expand the range of his involvement than would otherwise be
the case.
Koziello has proven his value most consistently through his press resistance and decision-making in transition
from defence to attack. Both qualities speak to the level at which he reads the game, often the most telling at-
tribute in whether a young player is suitable for the highest standard of football. Much of his success breaking
lines is owed to his dribbling ability as he is comfortable taking on players when the opportunity presents itself,
and this coupled with his efficient distribution of the ball makes him a dynamic threat. Koziello is tenacious de-
fensively and equally as competent in the next phase of play, making the right choice when he regains possession
for Nice. This makes him especially effective in late game situations because his sensible approach minimises
risk; more valuable context to his newfound function as a substitute.

FORECAST FOR 2017

As tempting as the reported interest from around Europe will undoubtedly be, earning something that resem-
bles a regular position in the starting XI has to be the priority for Koziello. It is not going to be, and has not
been, easy to disrupt the winning formula in midfield at present, however adversity is as frequently a catalyst
for improvement as it is for destruction within the most gifted; it so often unlocks a competitive streak that lies
dormant when a young players equilibrium is disrupted.
At the same time, the onus is more with Favre than the 21-year-old himself as he will have more of an influence
on the kind of midfielder Koziello will develop into as a finished product. If that remains as vague as it appears
right now going into the summer, providing Nice do not suffer a repeat of the purge for their figureheads once
again, the club would be wise to revise their stance on moving him on at risk of further stunting his growth and
harming their potential profit. Nevertheless, there is a very good player in Koziello that only needs the right
environment to manifest itself.
 MF

HJBJERG
FULL NAME:
PIERRE-EMILE KORDT HJBJERG

CLUB: SOUTHAMPTON

NATIONALITY: DANISH

POSTION: CENTRE MIDFIELD

DATE OF BIRTH:
AUGUST 5, 1995

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: CONOR GARRATT

(@CONORGARRATT)
2016 IN REVIEW
2016 was very much a year of transition for Danish international midfielder Pierre-Emile Hjbjerg. Beginning
the year as a fairly bit part player at Schalke, the club he was loaned to for his final season at Bayern, it ap-
peared by the summer that his career had reached a crossroad. Having only really become part of the Schalke
starting line-up towards the end of his stay in Gelsenkirchen - largely prompted by injury to his competitors in
midfield rather than having made a sizeable impact from the bench - it seemed unlikely that the Dane would
achieve the breakthrough he had been working towards at parent club Bayern.
Thankfully for the youngster, English club Southampton had seen enough from the loan spell at Schalke and
a leading role at Augsburg in the season before, to swoop in the summer window and sign the midfielder for
12 million. Seen as a generous offer compared to what most German clubs could have offered Bayern, but
still a reasonably good deal by the standards of the English transfer market, all sides seemed happy with the
transfer.
And, since gracing English shores, Hjbjerg has gone on to be one of the best players in a Southampton shirt
this season. A standout performance on his debut against Manchester United, despite ending on the losing
team, set the tone for the beginning of the season, and vintage displays against the likes of Sparta Prague and
Inter Milan in the Europa League secured the Dane a place in the heart of the clubs fans, if not necessarily a
place in the Round of 32.
To speak of a players career being revitalised at 21 seems slightly odd, but considering how long Hjbjerg has
been around, having made his Bayern debut in 2013, his transfer to the south coast of England has allowed
the midfielder to begin living up to the hype for the first time since that Augsburg loan spellB. Because of this,
2016 should be remembered fondly by the Dane and his fans.
STYLE OF PLAY
Hjbjerg is primarily an energetic midfielder; covering a lot of the pitch, he is routinely a nuisance to oppos-
ing players and, in this sense, is almost reminiscent of a younger Bastian Schweinsteiger.
However, the comparison to the man he once played alongside at Bayern is not exactly perfect. There is a lot
about Hjbjergs game which make him stand out as the unique player that he is. Firstly, the Danes passing
is exceptional; despite not playing in a deep role in the midfield, and therefore generally being one of the
players tasked with the more probing, risky passing, his accuracy rate has remained stable at 88% in each of
his last two seasons at separate clubs. Of regular starters in the Premier League, few can boast better figures.
Hjbjergs pace, positioning, poise and skill have helped him in his duels, one of the most important areas
of the game for such an energetic midfielder. With 60% of take-ons completed successfully, he is a player
who attempts to play the game on the front foot and frequently succeeds. This has translated into a handful
of chances created; while he is without a goal or assist in the league this season, it seems more a matter of
when, rather than if, his fellow players will take advantage of his creativity.
Tackling is perhaps a weakness Hjbjerg came out on top in just 36% of his attempted tackles so far this sea-
son but part of this is potentially deceptive. This is in the sense that his movement, and attempts to tackle
frequently restrict space and allow the rest of the Saints midfield to work as a unit and clear up any danger.
It is, however, an area for improvement over the course of the next few years if he is to fulfil the potential
he had during his early days at Bayern. Additionally, the youngster may want to work on his composure in
the final third; with a shot accuracy of just 22% and no goals thus far this season, the Dane clearly lacks the
attacking firepower that is vitally important to the worlds best box-to-box midfielders, such as Arturo Vidal.

FORECAST FOR 2017

Having signed a five-year deal with Southampton in the summer of 2016, it seems unlikely that Hjbjerg will
be on the move any time soon. As transfers in the past few years have proven, an extended period of time
on the south coast with the Saints can do wonders for a players career and proving his clear innate talent
consistently at the top level will only push forward a potential move back to a bigger club.
Currently most of Southamptons midfield is locked down to long-term deals, with fellow players Oriol Romeu
and James Ward-Prowse looking set to spend their foreseeable future at St Marys too. Given that Hjbjerg
seemingly has already developed a fairly good on-pitch understanding with both, this should be seen as a
positive. It must be added as well that the player is still quite clearly adapting to the Premier League where
the style is somewhat different to the Bundesligas, the league in which he had spent his entire professional
career before his move to England. This should hint at exciting times to come for Saints fans in 2017, as the
young Dane looks set to hit his stride for the club.
Essentially, 2017 will be the first time in Hjbjergs still fledgling career in which he should achieve some con-
tinuity; staying somewhere permanently and finding himself as an important player in the starting eleven. At
Southampton, he is also alongside teammates who are determined to improve their own skills at a consistent
Premier League mainstay with a great culture and talented manager. It must be stressed though that 2017
will likely be an even more important year than the last for Hjbjerg. Once described as a prodigy, he still has
a lot to prove, not just at club level, but internationally for Denmark as well.
 MF

NAGY
FULL NAME: DM NAGY

CLUB: BOLOGNA FC

NATIONALITY: HUNGARIAN

POSITION: CENTRE MIDFIELD

DATE OF BIRTH:
JUNE 17, 1995

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: TOMASZ MORTIMER

(@TMORTIMERFTBL)
FORECAST FOR 2016
It would be fascinating to know if, back in August 2015 when Adam Nagy made his first start for Ferencvaros in
the Hungarian top flight, whether anybody on this planet would have predicted such a rise to prominence in the
next 18 months from the short, skinny, unassuming 20-year-old from Budapest. Nagys growth has been quite
simply phenomenal.
Starting initially on the right of a midfield diamond vs Vasas on the 1st of August2015, Nagy immediately caught
the eye with his impressively calm demeanour, his incredibly fast feet and his striking reluctance to give the ball
away three attributes that would go on to define his 18 months as a senior footballer. A week after making his
debut on the right, and providing an assist, Nagy was moved to the base of the midfield following teammate
Somalias move to Toulouse and from there he never looked back. Extraordinary display upon extraordinary
display followed in an unbeatable Ferencvaros side and it was not long before new national team coach Bernd
Storck for whom Nagy performed superbly under in the U-20 World Cup two months previous called him up
to the senior side after just seven games of senior football.
Nagys first start for Hungary came on the 7th of September 2015 in a 1-1 draw with Northern Ireland where he
immediately looked at home with his confident passing and his tireless hustling of the opposition. 90 minutes
in the next qualifier against Faroe Islands in a 2-1 win followed before cameo appearances against Greece and
Norway. But it was the return leg against Norway, in the Euro 2016 playoff where Nagys true ability came to the
fore. Replacing the suspended Zoltan Gera, Nagy put in a man of the match performance in Hungarys biggest
game in 30 years, dictating the tempo of the game and screening the inexperienced Hungarian defence with
such assurance it looked like he had been doing it for years. Nagys display that day was so good that a Bur-
saspor scout claimed, I have spent 50 years in world football, but I have never seen such a great talent.
At club level Nagy continued to shine throughout the 2015/16 season for a Ferencvaros side who romped to the
title, and a side who now look a shadow of themselves without him in the team. At international level and the
Euros, Nagy performed just as many expected on the field; his possession of the ball immaculate, his use of it
impeccable, his defensive work flawless. And all this from a player with just one season of senior football under
his belt.
Despite interest from Leicester, Marseille, Benfica, among others, Nagy opted to join Bologna to work under the
astute stewardship of former Italy manager Roberto Donadonni where he would be guaranteed to play football.
His start in Italy has been solid, if not remarkable. Bologna average 1.11 goals scored and 1.21 conceded per
game with him in the side. Without him, they have averaged 0.43 goals per game and conceded 2.29 goals per
game. In the seven games he has not started in Serie A, Bologna have earned just a solitary point. His mark is
already being felt in Italys top tier.
STYLE OF PLAY
As alluded to above, Adam Nagy is best at the base of midfield. For Hungary, he plays as part of a two in a 4-2-
3-1 alongside a more progressive midfielder and will rarely venture further forward than the centre circle. His
discipline is one of his many strengths and it is almost unprecedented that he would get caught out of position.
For Bologna, he plays usually at the bottom of a three-man midfield in a 4-3-3 but does alternate in game to
the right or left depending on the way the match is going. The one criticism that you can throw at him and
many Hungarians do is that he is sometimes very conservative with his passing. When playing slightly higher
in midfield, it can be frustrating especially when he is in a position to play a forward pass and he turns around to
play it backwards, but that is something that will come with confidence and experience as he adapts to a new
environment and a higher level of football.
His passing accuracy this season is averaging at 89.3% in Serie A and 39.9 passes a game for a Bologna side who
average 49% possession. In the Euros, for a Hungary side who were underdogs in all three games Nagy featured
in (he was suspended for the match vs Portugal) he averaged 91% passing accuracy with an average of 53 passes
a game. Quite simply, Nagy is the tempo setter.
His first touch to give himself a yard or two of space is perfect, his passing ability with both feet is outstanding
and his movement to get free is so clever and beautiful to watch. It is so obvious to see he comes from a futsal
background.
Defensively Nagy shuts down passing lanes so well, partly due to his pace across the ground and also to his tac-
tical nous which is quite phenomenal for a player so young. Though he lacks the physicality currently coming
from a more clement environment in Hungary he is very combative and does not shirk the challenge.

FORECAST FOR 2017

2017 is a big year for Nagys progression. There is no better league for a player of his type than Italy, where he
will be able to learn so much tactically and test himself against stellar opposition.
Donadoni has been a blessing too. One almost gets the feeling that the security of his job may be vital towards
the Hungarians trajectory, and the confidence and patience hes shown in him has been exceptional.
Nagy has all the talent to play for a top European side, but with any Hungarian, one must err on the side of cau-
tion slightly. So many Hungarians have come through the system in recent times and looked like potential world
beaters at a young age, from Vladimir Koman to Krisztian Nemeth from Balazs Dzsudzsak to Adam Vass, but after
that first year or two of playing consistent first team football have failed to kick on to the next level.
With Nagy, one gets the feeling he is grounded enough to not get complacent and not follow his compatriots
down this route. However, there are parts of his game which he needs to improve on such as his range of pass-
ing, his physicality and his verticality with the ball. If you were to look at a world class player of his type like
Marco Verratti, then you would see that Nagy is a long way off the top ball users in modern football.
If Nagy can improve on these areas of his game, and there is zero reason to believe he cannot, then there are
certain to be some big clubs sniffing around come 2018. This is the year in the 21-year-olds life where he can
become a star or where he settles for mediocrity. It is going to be fascinating to see which path he takes.
 MF

PEREIRO
FULL NAME: GASTN RODRIGO
PEREIRO LPEZ

CLUB: PSV EINDHOVEN

NATIONALITY: URUGUAYAN

POSTION: ATTACKING MIDFIELD/

RIGHT WING

DATE OF BIRTH:
JUNE 11, 1995

PREFERRED FOOT: LEFT

WRITTEN BY: DAVID MONACO

(@URUGUAYANHEROES)
2016 IN REVIEW
After arriving in Holland in the summer of 2015, Gastn Pereiro was slowly integrated into the Dutch culture
but already showed what he is capable of by grabbing a match-winning brace away vs. Ajax Amsterdam. In
2016, Pereiro became more of a regular for his club PSV Eindhoven and showed his potential and his raw
talent. The fans were excited by what they had seen from the Uruguayan and good performances in import-
ant games quickly made him a popular player within the fan base. Pereiro ended the season with 14 goals,
helping PSV win their 23rd league title.
Elsewhere, clubs were taking notice of PSVs rising star with two of those clubs being giants from England and
Portugal; Arsenal and FC Porto. The youngster opted against a move away and made it clear why: In order for
me to develop the best I can, it is more sensible to stay in Eindhoven for at least another year. A commend-
able decision made for the better of his career and not for the better of his finances.
At the start of his second full season in the Netherlands, Pereiro demonstrated his quality by scoring a beauti-
ful free-kick to win PSV an important early-season game against Utrecht. It looked like this could be Pereiros
big breakthrough year. However, the 21-year-old failed to continue his good form and found it difficult to
step up in a stumbling PSV side. The Uruguayan picked up goals here and there but failed to make the impact
many expected him to make.
STYLE OF PLAY
The media love making lazy comparisons. When talented forwards bursts onto the scene from France he is
the Next Henry, or from Sweden the Next Ibrahimovi. When you look at Pereiro and his style of play only
one compatriot springs to mind, lvaro Recoba; the left-footed Uruguay and Inter Milan legend.
Recoba is Pereiros idol and it was a big honour for the youngster when the pair played together for Nacio-
nal in the 2014/15 season. That year, they won the title and one of the highlights of the season came in the
Uruguayan Clsico. In the 5th minute of stoppage time, Recoba won Nacional the game with a 30-yard free-
kick goal. His teammate Pereiro, overcome with emotion, subsequently promised to get a tattoo of Recoba.
The veteran at first laughed it away, but Pereiro eventually delivered on his promise and tattooed the face of
Recoba on his arm.
Recoba foresees a great future for Pereiro and has been praising him ever since his professional debut. Reco-
ba even compared Pereiro with Dutch forward Robin van Persie. And, indeed, there are certain similarities
between the two players. Both possess a lovely left foot as well as a bit of a lanky appearance. Both like to
wander from left to right, from top to bottom to utilize their creativity. On the other hand, van Persie is more
of a finisher, while Pereiro is more of a creator. The South American normally operates as a number 10, yet,
PSV manager Philip Cocu uses him as a winger. Although this may suit Cocu better, it is also the case that
being forced out wide has put limitations on Pereiros game.
Pereiros style of play is wonderful to see in full flow but is lacking any kind of drive which his fellow country-
man Luis Surez possesses in abundance. Pereiro almost solely plays with what God gave him; his technique
and vision.
It is not something negative but that, plus his lack of drive, facilitates another weak point to his game. Be-
cause next to the pieces of brilliance that you will see Pereiro perform, the forward has the tendency to
become completely oblivious in games. It is a flaw to his game which he would do well to work on. Indeed
this is something which could be applied to his game in general. His strengths are definite strengths, the goal
threat he presents is a constant danger to opposition sides, but he often shows little drive to help his team
when not in possession.

FORECAST FOR 2017

After impressing for Uruguay in the U-20 team and for Nacional as a teenager, Pereiro is seen as one of the
countrys biggest prospects in recent years. Therefore, the big goal for the attacking midfielder in 2017 is
winning his first cap for the Uruguayan national team and securing a place in the squad that will compete at
the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Many Uruguayans think Pereiro has been overlooked and already deserved an
opportunity in the sky blue of Uruguay. However, at 21 years of age, time is on Pereiros side. The dream is
still ready to be realized.
On a club level, Pereiro must strive to be less passive and try to dictate the game so he can be more influential
for his team. He has a decent goal scoring record in the Dutch league but he can progress on his overall game;
as one of the more gifted players in the Eredivisie, he has the quality to do it. In 2017, Pereiro should take
more responsibility and aim to be more decisive. If he can up his game a notch or two, Pereiro will implement
himself as a leading figure in the PSV dressing room and interest from bigger clubs will then, undoubtedly,
come back to the surface.
Is a move away likely? Like Pereiro has stated himself, another year at PSV will be good for his development.
But if we look what would be a good next step for the number seven, a club that has already been mentioned
seems perfect; Porto. It is a club that plays in an extremely physical league and consistently plays Champions
League football. Pereiro could become a star in Portugal and a regular for Uruguay.
 MF

KETA
FULL NAME: NABY LEYE KETA

CLUB: RB LEIPZIG

NATIONALITY: GUINEAN

POSTION: CENTRE MIDFIELD

DATE OF BIRTH:
FEBRUARY 10, 1995

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: SIMON WEISS

(@SIMONWE1SS)
2016 IN REVIEW

2016 will go down as the year Naby Keta arrived on the scene as one of Europes most imposing midfielders.
Granted, in the first half of the year, he was racking up top performances and outstanding stats en masse,
but who apart from our friends in the analytics corner, really pays attention to the Austrian Bundesliga. It
is understandable though: a league thoroughly dominated by RB Salzburg, a team unable to qualify for the
Champions League. What does this say about the quality of their players or does it say anything at all? At
least with regard to their top performers, we should be taking note.

Sadio Man is now bamboozling defenders in the Premier League, while Kevin Kampl after a weaker stint
at Dortmund is performing solidly for Leverkusen. Thus, it comes as no surprise that Keta mastered the
switch to a better league with ease, too. After helping Salzburg to yet another double, contributing 14 goals
to the cause, he answered the call of the German Red Bull franchise. By netting the Austrian side 15 million,
heads were turned about who this young player from Guinea actually was. After missing the first game of
the season due to injury, he announced himself to the Bundesliga faithful by finding a late winner against
Borussia Dortmund. It was also quite visible, how Leipzig coach Hasenhttl took his time to fully integrate
Keta into the new system. At first, after being handed short cameos, or being left on the bench entirely, Keta
eventually and unsurprisingly played himself into the team becoming a fixture in Leipzigs midfield.
STYLE OF PLAY

Describing Ketas features is similar to arriving at a buffet: where do you start? In very few words, despite
playing one position he is several positions rolled into one. He possesses the industry and lungs of a box
to box player, the eye for a pass and the appreciation of space of a number 10 and the dribbling ability of a
winger. Especially the last trait might set him apart from others in his position and could elevate him onto
a different level. Being able to dribble yourself out of tight midfield positions, using touch and turn of pace
along the way, can not only help to relieve pressure, but quickly start attacks as well. In short, perfect for the
way Leipzig are playing football.

In general, despite primarily being a box-to-box player, one would want to employ Keta mostly in the op-
ponents half and as far advanced as possible. In these areas, his strengths can be utilised in the best way
possible, while removing him from situations in which his weaknesses might be exploited. Having already
discussed his dribbling, his ability to find team-mates in promising positions might be just as valuable. Similar
to other great creative players, it is not even the eye for or the execution of the final ball, but the way he
positions himself to even initiate these promising attacks. With Emil Forsberg, the other main creative outlet
of Leipzig, mostly coming in from the left, there is plenty of central space for Keta to attack and to use to
great effect. Interestingly though, because of Leipzigs direct style of play, they often do not even enter this
particular phase of the game.

Again in the opponents half, however this time without the ball, Keta can be very efficient too. Using his an-
ticipation and aggression, he helps Leipzig to win many balls high up the field. It has to be noted though that
this is largely down to the team effort, rather than individual performance, but it contributes to the cause, to
have someone of Ketas profile joining the chase.

In terms of frame and one-on-one physicality, he is still often second best and only rarely wins tackles in his
own half. Admittedly, this could again be down to Leipzigs playing style, which tries to refuse opponents to
arrive in these areas in the first place. Nevertheless, it is a part of the game where he requires the help of his
midfield partner. One other weakness of Keta also occurs in his own half namely when he gets the ball with
the back to opponent. Unfortunately for him, this was highlighted and brutally punished by Bayern Munichs
press, which took full advantage of Keta taking a second, unnecessary touch when already under pressure,
to win possession and to even score. However, repeating once again, Leipzigs style of play takes care of that
weakness to an extent. Similarly, Ketas problems on the ball, regarding setting the tempo and direction of
play through his passing, are often masked by Leipzigs direct passing that often bypasses the midfield two
entirely.

Leipzig are the ideal team for Keta. Their style enhances his positive characteristics, while limiting the impact
his weaknesses may have. In the long run, and as it became obvious against Bayern, or top class opposition
in general, the team will not be able to compensate for these shortcomings. If he wants to turn himself into
a top player, he may just have to work on these areas.

Lastly, a quick look at the tactical profile of the player. Even though at Leipzig, his position is rather fixed, he
was already able to demonstrate his range at Salzburg both in a mere positional, but also tactical sense. The
speed with which he adapted to the new system at Leipzig, also provides insight into his tactical education
and footballing intelligence.

FORECAST FOR 2017

Keta will be part of a Champions League team in no time. Either, very likely, with Leipzig first, or if he contin-
ues to grow, with a different top team. Despite his weaknesses, he is already playing at a very high level and
is able to influence games in a positive manner. It could be key for his role and development, if Leipzig were
to decide to hand him a new partner in midfield. While Diego Demme does the job the system asks of him,
you can only wonder how a player of greater quality could free Keta the attacker even further. Either way,
the Guinean is going to be responsible for many memorable moments in 2017.
 MF

OTVIO
FULL NAME: OTVIO EDMILSON
DA SILVA MONTEIRO

CLUB: FC PORTO

NATIONALITY: BRAZILIAN

POSTION: ATTACKING MIDFIELD

DATE OF BIRTH:
FEBRUARY 9, 1995

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: TIAGO ESTVO

(@TIAGOESTV)
2016 IN REVIEW
Many Brazilians have arrived at FC Porto in recent times to varying degrees of success. Despite early promise,
Kelvin ultimately disappointed and has returned to Brazil multiple times in the last three seasons on loan.
Contrarily, full-backs Alex Sandro and Danilo exploded at Porto and secured big money moves to two of Eu-
ropes biggest clubs in Juventus and Real Madrid.
For Otvio, the early signs are positive. 2016 was the year where he started proving himself to the Portu-
guese public as another potential profit-maker for Porto. After edging his way into the main Internacional
team in Brazil at only 17, he earned himself an under the radar move to Porto a couple of years later.
With Vitoria SC on loan from Porto, the youngster was a shining star in what ended up being a pretty dull
season for the Conquerors. Accumulating close to 30 starts with Vitoria, Otvio was given the opportunity to
return to his parent club this year. Not only did manage to quickly grab his spot in the starting XI, he has also
turned into one of the most influential players in the teams offence early in the season.
STYLE OF PLAY
While last year Otvio played in his preferred attacking midfield role, this season the Brazilian has started
more matches from the left side, acting as an inverted winger. He is very versatile though, being able to play
in almost every position forward of central midfield. The right-footed playmaker creates plays with his con-
stant diagonal movements towards the centre area of the pitch (with or without the ball at his feet). While
it is with his through balls and dribbles that he tends to create danger more often, he is not afraid to try his
luck from outside the box, averaging two shots per match under Champions League lights and having scored
once in the league. With the ball glued to his feet and a couple of defenders to take on, he enjoys showing all
the Brazilian flair his game possesses.
His decision-making needs to be worked on though - a talented, tricky winger needs to know when is the
best moment to take on a defender and at times he is still too naive or perhaps overconfident in that aspect.
In the Champions League, only one midfielder has been dispossessed more often than Otvio Tottenhams
Dele Alli with the Brazilian losing the ball more than three times per match. Despite this, he draws many
fouls in dangerous areas for his time with his incisive central runs. The Brazilian must learn to read attacking
situations better, but he would also lose the ball less through having more confidence in his own distribution
skills and footballing IQ.
Do not let Otvios technicality distract from his high work-rate and willingness to defend though. Often a
victim of white line fever, the Porto youngster is aggressive in duels and is feisty in general. The Brazilian aver-
ages around two fouls and three tackles per match, highlighting his ability to apply pressure to his opponents
as soon as he loses the ball in high areas of the pitch and not shying away from physical duels despite being
just over 1.7 metres tall though this obviously hinders him when challenging for the ball aerially. His ability
to press and harry would be an encouraging prospect for many of the worlds pressing-oriented managers
such as Jorge Sampaoli and Marcelo Bielsa. He is often desperate to win the ball back, but can look nave
sometimes in the way he chases for the ball in positions where he is clearly wasting his energy. In 29 matches,
the youngster was yellow carded 10 times while playing for Vitoria.

FORECAST FOR 2017

Off the pitch through injury for the majority of December, Otvio watched his replacement Yacine Brahimi
take over and perform excellently for the duration of his time off the field. The Brazilian will need to earn
his place back, but knowing that he is not indispensable at Porto should encourage him to continue working
diligently in training and putting in his best efforts whenever he takes to field.
While early in the season the left wing position was a vacant spot for Otvio to fill, he now needs to work to
prove himself as a valuable asset to the club, which will prove his eagerness and help him grow.
According to several reports, Brazil manager Tite has been looking at the youngster since early in the season
and will be looking to bring him into the national team when the right conditions are met in regards to per-
formance and playing time. This may not happen this year or even next due to the array of attacking options
available to Brazil, but knowing he is on Tites radar should be fuelling Otvio every time he steps out onto
the pitch for Porto.
 MF

SAMPER
FULL NAME: SERGI SAMPER
MONTAA

CLUB: GRANADA CF

NATIONALITY: SPANISH

POSTION: CENTRE MIDFIELD

DATE OF BIRTH:
JANUARY 20, 1995

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: JACK GRIMSE

(@JACKGRIMSE)
2016 IN REVIEW
Barcelona-born Sergi Samper finished off the year 2016 by finally playing consistent La Liga football. It may
not be his dream to be playing home matches in front of less-than-capacity crowds at Granada CFs Estadio
Nuevo Los Crmenes, but it is a step in the right direction to playing under the bright lights of the Camp Nou.
Samper spent the first half of the calendar year playing with Barcelona B in Spains third tier, as the side had
been relegated from the Segunda Divisin the previous year. He missed the last five matches of that cam-
paign with Barca B due to a bone chip injury. The club finished tenth in the third-tier Segunda B, and Samper
recorded six assists in 29 league games, playing 2490 minutes.
Over the summer, Samper took part in Barcelona training camp and their International Champions Cup
friendly matches. Unfortunately, he was not able to make a strong enough impression on manager Luis En-
rique to merit a promise of meaningful minutes in the coming season. However, he did secure a loan move
to Granada CF, so it was still a step up for Samper to get a chance in La Liga.
With El Gran, Samper played in 11 La Liga games in 2016 and in the new year he has made four more starts.
The club have struggled mightily, managing just three wins La Liga victories to date. Samper has only chipped
in with one assist, but he is not really the player who should be relied upon to make contributions that show
up on a traditional match recap or can be measured by only the most basic of statistics.
Samper has played for various youth international levels for Spain throughout his career, but in 2016 he was
only included in the squad against San Marino in September, playing 29 minutes as a substitute. Now he is
22, so he is still eligible for the U-23 team, which is right in line with his development overall.
STYLE OF PLAY
Sergi Samper is a classic possession-focused midfielder, a vintage number six that has all the tools to dictate
the game from the middle of the park. A local boy born in Barcelona, he has been with the Blaugrana since
the age of six.
A childhood friend of Arsenal right back Hctor Bellerin, both are part of the La Masia Generacion del 95
that also includes Keita Balde (Lazio), lex Grimaldo (Benfica) and Sampers current club teammate Jon-
Miquel Toral. Toral who was on loan at Granada, but is now at Rangers joined the Gunners in 2011, the
same time that Bellerin made the switch. Arsne Wenger also wanted Samper, but, as a cul through and
through, the Spanish midfielder opted to remain at his boyhood club. He was reluctant to make the loan
switch to Granada this summer, as Barca are the only club he has ever known.
Being molded into a player that fits the Barcelona style was natural to Samper. Dubbed The New Xavi a few
years back, Samper has the vision to pick the perfect pass and the technique to zip it across the pitch. He is
by no means a flashy dribbler, but has excellent ball control. Part of this is out of necessity, as Samper is not
the quickest midfielder operating in La Liga, but the way he plays does not require him to exert himself in this
way needing to sprint would suggest he is not doing his job as well as he could be doing it. Instead, Samper
lets the ball do the hard work. He does not just pass the ball to his teammates, he wants it back as well. He
is a metronomic presence in the middle of midfield; possession is Sampers religion.
In addition to the traits that make him such a desirable player for a possession style, Samper is a hard man
to bypass in the centre of the pitch. Tactical awareness is a big part of this (he has 1.2 interceptions per La
Liga match this year), but equally important is his tackling ability. He is more physical than many La Masia
products and his size and strength significantly help Samper in this part of his game something one would
argue will benefit him more at Granada than it might at Barcelona. (Samper averages 1.2 tackles per match
and wins about half of his aerials).

FORECAST FOR 2017

With half the season remaining, Granada are mired in a relegation scrap, currently joint-bottom in La Liga,
eight points adrift of safety. They may already be doomed, but every remaining match is a must-win. While
this experience will not exactly be comparable to what his parent club would like him to have, it will be im-
portant going forward as Barcelona set out to take three points in every contest.
Upon returning to the Catalan capital this summer, it will be interesting to see if Luis Enrique has Samper in
his plans for the near future. A role in the 2017-18 Barcelona first team is not out of the question, but the
same could be said for another loan move. Additionally, it is yet to be determined if Enrique will be replaced
by the Bara board, as the Blaugrana continues to lose ground on Real Madrid in the La Liga title chase. Cur-
rent Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakiti is rumoured to want to leave the club should manager Enrique stick
around. A clear-out of older players could usher Samper into the starting lineup. Or, a new coach might want
to bring in expensive talent from outside rather than promote the next generation of homegrown La Masia
players to starting roles.
Should Samper not get a chance next season at Barcelona, it will likely lead to another loan move within
Spains top flight. His experience should at least get him to a club that will not be battling relegation the
whole season. If Samper feels he will never get the chance at his childhood club, expect him to move over-
seas, as Bara products are always in demand in the Premier League, and the Catalans could command a
decent fee for the midfielder.
With regards to the Spanish national team, it is going to take more time to break through. Long term, it would
be best for his national team career if Samper ends up playing major minutes for Barcelona, but if he is un-
able to get in the team it will be best to move elsewhere.
 MF

VILHENA
FULL NAME: TONNY EMILIO
TRINDADE DE VILHENA

CLUB: FEYENOORD

NATIONALITY: DUTCH

POSTION: CENTRE MIDFIELD

DATE OF BIRTH:
JANUARY 3, 1995

PREFERRED FOOT: LEFT

WRITTEN BY: TOM CURREN

(@TOMOCURR)
2016 IN REVIEW
It is hard to believe that Tonny Vilhena is still just 22. The enigmatic, somewhat troubled Dutch midfielder has
seemingly been around forever an idea that becomes easier to process once you realise he has, in fact, been
around Feyenoords senior side since he was 17. He has also been playing in the youth ranks of the Netherlands
national side since U-15 level; though so far that has only translated into a single cap for the senior side. Here lies
the paradox in Vilhenas career: he is both absurdly experienced and puzzlingly overlooked.
2016 was a strange, difficult year for Vilhena both on and off the pitch, and as such his career has taken several
unlikely twists. In January, a story emerged which detailed Vilhenas training-ground altercation with teammate
Miquel Nelom. Pictures appeared to show Vilhena karate-kicking the defender in the midriff, with manager
Giovanni van Bronkhorst furiously trying to pull the two apart. It was obvious to all that Vilhena had reached a
boiling point, that a frustration that had been brewing since the summer had become too much for the young-
ster to handle. The reason, it would appear, was his peculiar lack of playing time. Prior to the Nelom incident,
Vilhena had only started three of Feyenoords Eredivisie games, despite being fully fit. The rest of his limited
minutes came from the bench. For a player so integral to previous manager Ronald Koemans midfield, Vilhenas
apparent absence from Van Bronkhorsts plans was odd. To the young Dutchmans immense credit, though, he
turned things around over the second half of that season via a series of impressive performances. His altercation
with Nelom seemed to relieve some of the pent-up pressure in Vilhena, and he would go on to end the season
strongly, starting almost all of Feyenoords remaining fixtures.
The approaching summer presented another hurdle, however. Vilhenas contract was set to expire in June, and
as early as May it looked for all the world like the youngsters stay at Feyenoord which had stretched his en-
tire professional life would be coming to an end. Rejecting the Dutch clubs initial contract offers, Vilhena was
strongly linked with Tony Pulis West Brom before allegedly agreeing a five-year contract with Inter Milan. Then,
in June things changed. With his mother falling ill, Vilhena opted to sign a two-year contract extension with Fey-
enoord. Vilhena would end 2016 the way he started it, playing regularly for a Feyenoord side who are currently
on course to win the league.
That is not to say the back half of 2016 did not present its own problems, however. In October, a fortnight before
Vilhena would make his long-awaited Oranje debut, his mother passed away. On his return to Feyenoord after
an understandable two-week hiatus, the clubs fans presented him with an incredible tribute, filling De Kuip with
the light from thousands of sparklers. Though tragic, the event appeared to spur him on, and he played 90 min-
utes in every single one of Feyenoords remaining games to conclude the year.
STYLE OF PLAY
Vilhena is a breath of fresh air for those used to watching the usual metronomic simplicity of the modern
midfielder. Initially a winger, the Dutchman possesses an impressive turn of pace that he uses to explode
from deep positions, driving at the opposition defence before releasing a killer final ball. In many ways, it is
his experience as a wide player in a phenomenon we are seeing more and more often in young midfield-
ers which define his greatest strengths when playing in the centre. His speed is just one facet of this. He is
also refreshingly confident when running at players, happy to use his low centre of gravity to try and beat his
man. His final ball, too, is exceptional. In the final third he can be lethal, splitting defences apart with clever
inside passes, finding attacking runs when wingers and fullbacks overlap or pumping a pinpoint cross from
deep into the box. Furthermore, his set-pieces have become an important part of Feyenoords attacking play.
Not only are his whipped crosses lethal, but his direct free-kicks too are (albeit sporadically) wonderful. His
left-footed strikes are delightfully powerful, capable of the obscene kind of goals that countryman Memphis
Depay became famous for before his stint at Manchester United.
It is this wand-like left foot that is perhaps his greatest asset. Despite all the talk of his speed and his attacking
prowess, Vilhena remains an absurdly talented passer. He creates chances, he switches play, he instigates
attacks from deep, he plays through the lines, he lofts balls over the top of defences; but, perhaps most im-
portantly, he is largely positive. That is not to say that Vilhena is devoid of interest in circulating possession
according to Squawka, 39.1% of his passes this season have gone backwards but when he chooses to
go forward he is very forward, often making decisive passes that carve out chances for his team-mates. Per
WhoScored, he makes a decent 1.7 key passes per game, whilst 82.8% of all his passes reach their intended
target.
So, he is dangerous when coming forward, accurate and cultured when passing the ball, and decisive when
he wants to be. For a winger-turned-midfielder, these traits might not raise many eyebrows. What is surpris-
ing, however, is how dogged he is defensively. Vilhena loves to tackle. More than that, his defensive position-
ing is generally excellent. In fact, WhoScored state that he makes an impressive 2.1 interceptions per game.
For context, Chelseas NGolo Kante a man renowned for shutting down the passing lanes of the opposition
makes a comparable 2.4 interceptions per Premier League game. This, coupled with his high tackling rate
and his explosive box-to-box nature, make him an aggressive, industrious player just as useful when his team
do not have the ball as when they do. For a young midfielder, this tenacity displays not only an impressive
maturity but might suggest the ability to play in leagues generally thought of as tougher than the Eredivisie.
It is not hard to see why Tony Pulis was keen on acquiring his services over the summer for his dogged West
Brom team.

FORECAST FOR 2017

What happens in Vilhenas immediate future could depend largely on how Feyenoord finish the season. At
the time of writing Van Bronkhorsts side maintain a five-point gap over Ajax, with current form suggesting
they have every chance of finishing the season as champions. Should this become a reality, Vilhena will have
a choice to make: stay and honour the final year of his contract with the club which has given him everything,
or move onto one of the plethora of clubs which are likely to be clamouring for his signature. 2016 was a year
in which Vilhena displayed impressive maturity in the face of (admittedly partly self-made) adversity, and his
meteoric rise back to the summit of Dutch football has been richly deserved. If the likes of Inter Milan have
been interested in the past, it will be intriguing to see which clubs move for him in the summer, should he
make himself available. Though a Real Madrid, Bayern Munich or PSG level of club remains beyond his talents
for now, he could comfortably fit into any upper-mid table Premier League or Bundesliga side. With all eyes
on Feyenoords title push, however, it is a decision he is unlikely to think about for a while.
Beyond his club career, 2016 saw him finally make his debut for the Dutch national side. Without wanting to
put too much pressure on the young mans shoulders, the Oranje could do with him continuing to impress as
their campaign to qualify for the World Cup intensifies. They will be hoping not to miss out on Russia 2018
after a pitiful Euro 2016 qualifying campaign which saw them miss the tournament altogether.
 MF

DUDA
FULL NAME: ONDREJ DUDA

CLUB: HERTHA BERLIN

NATIONALITY: SLOVAKIA

POSTION: ATTACKING MIDFIELD

DATE OF BIRTH:
DECEMBER 5, 1994

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: JACK GRIMSE

(@JACKGRIMSE)
2016 IN REVIEW
Ondrej Duda has been a name familiar to those who follow the lesser-known European leagues for some
time. Plucked from the Slovakian second tier two years ago by Polands Legia Warsaw, Duda has been a de-
pendable midfielder capable of contributing consistently for nearly three years, turning in impressive perfor-
mances both domestically and in the Europa League. 2016 was supposed to be when he made his mark on a
brighter stage at Hertha Berlin, but the second half of his year was lost due to injury.
Duda impressed at the European Championships this summer in France for Slovakia. After coming on as a
substitute against Wales, Duda scored the equaliser just one minute later (Slovakia would go on to lose 2-1).
He got plenty of valuable experience, playing 154 minutes in the tournament overall, including two starts.
Just one tournaments worth of good performances were not the sole reason that Hertha Berlin purchased
Duda for 4.2 million, the most expensive fee paid under Pl Drdai. Last year in Polands Ekstraklasa, Duda
bagged a pair of goals and assisted eight more en route to helping Legia win their 11th Polish top flight title.
Sadly, since swapping Warsaw for Berlin this summer, he has not featured for the Bundesliga club. The Patella
problems have kept him on the training table and off the pitch for Drdais team, as Duda missed the entire
first half of the season with those knee issues. Originally expected back at the end of January, Duda is still
recovering and is due back in March.
STYLE OF PLAY
A dynamic midfielder who bosses the centre of the park with tidy passes, Ondrej Duda should grow into just
what Hertha Berlin manager Pl Drdai could use in his team. Dudas ability to pick the ball that can open up
a defence is so valuable, and when he pops up with the odd goal it is an extra bonus for his club.
Against Wales this summer at the European Championships, Duda perfectly demonstrated everything that
makes him an ideal attacking midfielder with his goal. After Rbert Mak scampered down the right wing and
beat two players, he squared the ball to Duda. The now-Hertha man had four Dragons in red shirts in front of
him, yet Duda was able to drift left towards the centre of the goal, allowing the ball to do the work. Just when
Duda looked likely to continue in the direction of his momentum and curl the ball to the far post on the left,
he smashed it back across goal with his left foot, technically the weaker of the two, though you are not able
to tell from the finish. Danny Ward was totally wrong-footed and had no chance to stop the shot.
Even when deployed on the wing or further back in the midfield, Duda has something to offer. While he is far
from a destroyer, his intelligence and passing ability makes him a player that can pull the strings from some-
where other than the number 10 role. Comfortable on either flank, Duda does not have remarkable pace but
makes up for it with his ball skills and accurate crossing ability.
That said, he is best behind a centre forward or striker pairing. Precise passing paired with composed shoot-
ing makes Duda so dangerous. At Legia Warsaw he totaled 16 goals and 19 assists in 101 games, making a
direct impact on the scoresheet more than once every three matches.

FORECAST FOR 2017

Like a lot of the world, Duda will want to quickly forget about the end of 2016. Fortunately, it is not because
of things he has done, but because of the things he was unable to do. Missing nearly six months due to a knee
injury is not something that is easy to recover from, but at 22, Duda is young enough that he should be able
to overcome it without too much difficulty.
Therefore, Dudas 2017 should top his 2016, even though the attacking midfielder will always have the Euro-
pean Championships in France to be proud of. He has missed every Slovakia match since the summer due to
injury, but should slot back into the team right away upon returning to full fitness.
Hertha Berlin remains an ideal place for Duda to continue his development. For the second straight season,
Die Alte Dame (The Old Lady) went into the Bundesligas winter break sitting pretty in third place. Duda did
not recover as soon as predicted, but will return to the team in March following the completion of his injury
rehabilitation, which may actually come at a perfect time.
Last year, Hertha won zero of their seven matches that took place in April and May, taking just two points
with a couple of draws and slipping to seventh in the final table. As injuries and bans tend to pile up at the
business end of the season, the 22-year-old Slovakian midfielder may get the chance to pick up right where
he left off in the Euros last summer. His club could use the help if they hope to participate in continental
competitions next season.
If Duda is not presented with regular minutes at the end of this Bundesliga campaign, it will only be a matter
of time. With a strict transfer policy, the Berlin club did not spend a sizeable (by their standards) sum on the
midfielder without envisioning him slotting into the team-sheet for years to come under Drdai.
 MF

TORRES
FULL NAME:
LIVER TORRES MUOZ

CLUB: FC PORTO

NATIONALITY: SPANISH

POSTION: ATTACKING MIDFIELD

DATE OF BIRTH:
NOVEMBER 10, 1994

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: TIAGO ESTVO

(@TIAGOESTV)
2017 IN REVIEW
Regarded as a promise for a long time and somehow still only 22, liver Torres returned to Atltico Madrid
last season the club where he forged his career as a footballer and the team he represented from U-13
level. After two loan spells with Villareal and Porto, with the latter especially productive the Spaniard end-
ed the season with 40 matches played Diego Simeone felt like he could be a part of his tenacious squad at
Atltico Madrid.
Truth is, despite being playing in over 30 matches, things never really seemed to tick for the tricky playmaker.
He played the full 90 minutes only thrice in both cup rounds against second tier Reus and in a Champions
League affair against PSV. Not only did it appear as though he did not have the endurance to handle Sime-
ones preferred footballing system, but his characteristics did not seem to adapt to the formation played at
the Caldern.
His talent was undeniable though, the Spaniard simply needed a move to an environment that suited his skill-
set more comfortably. A return to Porto, where he had played the best football of his career to date seemed
an obvious choice to make given the Portuguese giants interest in bringing him back to the club.
STYLE OF PLAY
liver was incapable performing to the maximum of his capacities in Simeones intense and physically de-
manding structured style. While not physically powerful, the Spaniard has a lot of qualities that can be key to
teams with a different system. With FC Porto, he has taken on a central midfield role in the heart of a 4-1-3-2,
with Danilo covering behind him and two players either side of him he is the fulcrum the team operates
around. Having possession for a great portion of their matches in a team that plays an offensive brand of
football, liver is the maestro that makes everything connect going forward.
Even if he has not been registering assists yet to have one this season he is always involved in the teams
offensive play and due to often playing against weak opposition (at least in the league). For someone who
regularly plays in very advanced zones on the pitch because of the weakness of some of Portugals other
competitors in the league, a pass succession rate of 83.9% is good, if unspectacular, as is the one key pass he
completes per match.
As we have seen with many other Spanish midfielders, livers passing range accompanied by his vision
tend to be his best and most obvious qualities. As a player who does not fancy being dragged out wide, the
Spaniard however did start from the wing often throughout his first Porto stint. In a large portion of those
matches, he would let the highly regarded full-back Alex Sandro (now with Juventus) take over the wing,
while moving centrally with diagonal runs towards the penalty area in order to open up more space for the
Brazilian full-back and to drift into central positions in which he can utilise his qualities most effectively. Now
his movement depends a lot on who is playing with him in the trio behind the strikers when natural wingers
like Brahimi or Corona are playing he stays central, but when midfielders are adapted to play out wide he
fluctuates between playing centrally and on the wings more often.
Strong on the ball, the agile youngster does not have an issue taking on defenders but tends to get in behind
the opposition more often after starting an intricate passing move and not as much through pure one-on-
one skill. 13 goals in 153 career matches shows he is obviously not a goal-scoring playmaker being someone
who rarely tries his luck from long-range but who does have a good conversion rate from inside the box. In
Champions League matches, in which Porto does not tend to overwhelm opponents has much, the amount
of shots he takes per game tend to increase as Porto fashion less clear-cut chances and are instead forced to
shoot from deep.
Defensively, his reactions have been improving massively: the short amount of time he takes to recover the
ball from his opponents in advanced areas is key to Portos defensive style and is one of the reasons why the
Dragons have such a formidable defensive record.

FORECAST FOR 2017

Despite his youth, liver has always appeared humble and proved to be very mentally strong in past seasons.
Rarely starting with Atletico last year, the youngster kept working and did not push for a risky or desperate
move in January 2016. Instead he waited for a chance to come back to Portugal where he starred in the past
and where he was happy with the quality of football he was producing on a regular basis.
Now he is thriving again and is an integral part of this Porto team, while being arguably the key player in Por-
tos solid run of form with their newfound 4-1-3-2 formation. It will be interesting to watch what happens by
the end of the season, though: if Simeone moves from Atltico, a new coach may well want him back but on
the other hand FC Porto has a 20 million clause that can be triggered at any time before the season ends. It
is a lot of money for a club still struggling financially, but with their increasing dependence on the Spaniard it
might be an investment worth making as they look to end Benficas streak of domestic dominance.
 MF

WARD-PROWSE
FULL NAME:
JAMES MICHAEL EDWARD
WARD-PROWSE

CLUB: SOUTHAMPTON

NATIONALITY: ENGLISH

POSTION: CENTRE MIDFIELD

DATE OF BIRTH:
NOVEMBER 1, 1994

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: CONOR GARRATT

(@CONORGARRATT)
STYLE OF PLAY
Having made his professional debut at Southampton at the tender age of 16, James Ward-Prowse has been
around the Saints first team squad for the past six years and, as such, has long been an established player
at St Marys. However, what the youngster has lacked in that time is a break-out season. Pundits rave about
his potential, but the Portsmouth-born midfielder has produced little in the way of a consistent run of form
to bring him real public acclaim.
This was characterised by Ward-Prowses initial problems with asserting himself as a key player under Claude
Puel after the Frenchman arrived on the south coast. The youngsters first full 90 minutes in the league under
Puel came as late as November, despite staying injury-free throughout the entire season to that point. Since,
Puel appears to have been impressed with what he has seen, as Ward-Prowse has played virtually every
minute since. Yet, having been shifted between his main position of central midfield as well as both flanks
and even at full back, it could still be argued that he has not received the chance to properly assert himself
as an undisputedly key player.
And, interestingly enough, it is with this status that Ward-Prowse has shone brightest in his career so far. An
intelligent, intuitive midfielder, he has captained England youth sides throughout each age group, even being
earmarked as a potential candidate for the role for the senior squad later in his career. 2016 was perhaps the
highlight of his international youth career to date, as he led England U-21s to their first Toulon Tournament
win in 22 years in emphatic style.
Ward-Prowses former coach at that level, Gareth Southgate, clearly rates him highly, and it appears it is
not just the current England manager who favours the youngster. Ronald Koeman, who was responsible for
somewhat of a stifling of Southamptons youth talent during his two years on the Solent, gave the youngster
a lot of playing time during his tenure.
STYLE OF PLAY
Growing up, Ward-Prowse idolised the likes of Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, and it is safe to say that
there is more than a hint of that pairs dynamism in his game. This is more obvious when he plays for England
U-21s, given that he has more of a remit to get forward and control the game, but the midfielder is still a
creative force for the Saints. Only the more attacking duo of Duan Tadi and Nathan Redmond have created
more chances than Ward-Prowses 29 for the club in the Premier League this season.
While he has toughened up in recent years, Ward-Prowses record in duels remains relatively poor; suc-
ceeding in just 30% of his tackles and 27% of headed duels. This, though, is offset by an intuitive sense of
positioning which allows him to intercept the ball and create immediately, rather than battling for the ball in
midfield. Furthermore, Ward-Prowse is very sure on the ball; completing an astonishing 100% of his take-ons
in the Premier League this season and rarely conceding possession either. Compared to the slightly more
blood-and-thunder approach of midfield partner Oriol Romeu, Ward Prowses is a much more aesthetically
pleasing approach. And this is not to say that Ward-Prowse is ineffective; more that he combines effective-
ness with style.
Technical ability is arguably Ward-Prowses main strength; there are few players in the Premier League op-
posing fans fear more when he stands over a dead ball, for example. It was on the youth international stage
that Ward-Prowse truly announced this ability to the wider world, with a memorable free kick at the Toulon
Tournament back in 2014, but this is becoming increasingly obvious at club level too.
His technicality also helps during open play too. Ward-Prowse is arguably one of the clubs best passers;
an 83% completion rate is, considering the general verticality of his play, somewhat impressive. Concerns
remain about whether he has what it takes to consistently dictate games at senior level, but it is also abun-
dantly clear that the youngster, still just 22 despite his relative experience, has a game with all the hallmarks
of a future stand-out Premier League midfielder.

FORECAST FOR 2017

2017 is an important year for Ward-Prowse. At 22, and having made 160 professional appearances for the
Saints in all competitions, it really appears that the youngster must emerge as a vital player at senior level to
justify all of the hype heaped upon him at youth level over the years. Continuing at a club such as Southamp-
ton could not be more ideal for the youngster; without the relative pressures of fighting for top four football,
or the struggles of attempting to stave off relegation, the youngster will only continue to receive several
chances to make his mark on the clubs senior team.
However, there is a danger that, if those chances are not taken over the next couple of years, he could be-
come another Premier League could-have-been, destined not to become an international stalwart like his
boyhood heroes Gerrard and Lampard. That would be a huge shame, because the potential for Ward-Prowse
to follow in their footsteps is clear for all to see.
There are early signs that his potential is coming to fruition, though. Ward-Prowse played an important role
in taking the Saints to Wembley through the EFL Cup, especially in the away leg of the semi-final at Anfield,
and looked comfortable on the European stage even as his side bowed out after the group stage.
Next on his radar should probably be a call-up to the England team. Performances must step up a level at
Southampton to achieve this, but with the teams manager Gareth Southgate already familiar with Ward-
Prowse, any achievements at club level should find him in contention. The World Cup in Russia next year may
come a little too soon for Ward-Prowse, but equally he would not be the first young player to force himself
into late contention with some strong late-season form.
 MF

BAKAYOKO
FULL NAME:
TIEMOU BAKAYOKO

CLUB: AS MONACO

NATIONALITY: FRENCH

POSTION: CENTRE MIDFIELD

DATE OF BIRTH:
AUGUST 17, 1994

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: STEPHEN GANAVAS

(@MAROTTANOMICS) AND
WILL SAVAGE
2016 IN REVIEW
Tiemoue Bakayoko was considered a talented youngster but after rejection by Clairefontaine and overcoming
a leg break at a young age, Rennes were one of the few clubs willing to take a risk on him. Off the field prob-
lems hindered his development, but the arrival of Phillipe Montanier appeared to improve his attitude. He
caught the eye in 2013/14 season when he broke into the Stade Rennais first-team and ended up making 40
appearances. He then packed up and moved to Monaco in the summer of 2014 for 8million. Bakayoko was
only a squad option in his first season after a disastrous debut against Lorient and a poor relationship with
Leandro Jardim, coupled with reports of a poor attitude.
The arrivals of Claude Makll and Yannick Menu, a youth coach he worked with at Rennes, in the Monaco
backroom were credited with turning around Bakayokos career as he got his head down and worked hard,
adopting a more professional lifestyle. The changes have paid off too, as Bakayoko has caught the eye star-
ring in the midfield of a free-scoring Monaco side. He has had an impact on the international stage too, as
Bakayoko has found himself increasingly integrated into the French U-21 setup.
STYLE OF PLAY
Bakayoko has grown from a lean teenager to an imposing young man. Built like a tank, it is easy to see why
Bakayoko has been compared to previous Monaco man Yaya Tour. More than just physically imposing,
Bakayoko is an energetic midfield machine. Strong on the ball and in the tackle, his reading of the game sees
him regularly intercepting passes and snuffing out attacks, helped by the speed with which he covers ground.
The consistency with which he is able to protect the Monegasque defence has played a large part in Mona-
cos performances this season.
He is not just a ball-winner either, his strength combined with his solid technique means he carries the ball
forward well and his passing means he can hurt the opposition in multiple ways when he recovers the ball.
Bakayokos solid passing means he rarely misplaces a pass, happy to find the balance between recycling pos-
session and affecting the game further forward with more incisive passing. He and Fabinho complement each
other well and their ability to quickly win the ball and launch a riposte have been a key part in why Monaco
have been so dangerous going forward.
There are not many flaws in Bakayokos game, but when his team plays against opponents which look to sit
deep, he would be able to help his team even more if he was able to add a goal threat. Whether with runs
from deep or shooting from range, a player with technique as solid as his will be expected to contribute more
goals going forward. Bakayokos attacking play in general can be blunt.
This is not too much of a worry currently, as Monaco arent a team lacking players who can affect the game
in the final third, but for Bakayoko to become a properly well rounded midfielder, he will need to be able to
affect the game in all areas of the pitch.
Aside from that, the main worry one may have would regard the mental aspect of his game. Bakayokos con-
centration can slip from time to time, and this ties into larger concerns around his maturity. He has needed
guiding figures to settle him before really impressing in his career and this could be the case again, while on
the pitch teams may be cautious about entrusting him with much responsibility as a leader. Previous worries
about inconsistency have disappeared due to his good form this season, but if that form were to dip those
concerns would reappear rapidly.

FORECAST FOR 2017

There is little argument that Bakayoko is not a good player, that just is not true. The only worry for prospec-
tive clubs is whether he would be a settled, mature character. With the attitude that surrounds clubs at the
very top level of football, there is an expectation that a hyped up signing gels into the team straight away,
providing consistently impressive performances. Prospective buyers may well have to decide whether they
have the man-management structure in place to ensure they get the best from an undoubtedly talented
player.
This has not put off prospective buyers though, as the young midfielder has been linked with pretty much
every big club in Europe over the past year. While Bakayokos impressive performances attract attention from
other clubs, it will also attract attention from Frances coaching staff. Having already represented France at
multiple youth levels, one would think its only a matter of time before a senior call up comes his way.
 MF

PAREDES
FULL NAME:
LEANDRO DANIEL PAREDES

CLUB: AS ROMA

NATIONALITY: ARGENTINIAN

POSTION: CENTRE MIDFIELD

DATE OF BIRTH:
JUNE 29, 1994

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: STEPHEN GANAVAS

(@MAROTTANOMICS)
2016 IN REVIEW
Leandro Paredes sprung to prominence in 2016 after a string of impressive performances in the centre of
midfield for Empoli, on loan from Roma. Many clubs around Europe took interest in the Argentine as he
emerged as a midfield general, capable of controlling games with his excellent range of passing and physi-
cality.
The 22-year-old played 33 matches in Serie A last season, forming a fruitful partnership alongside Piotr Zie-
linski (now at Napoli). He relished the responsibility of the deep-lying midfield role which allowed freedom
to other players around him - such as Zielinski who was able to score five times and lay on six assists himself
last season.
Doubts remained however, over whether Paredes game at Empoli could translate to a bigger club like Roma.
There, he would no longer be the centre of attention and there would be no guarantees that he would be
able to play a familiar role in midfield. Fears have been allayed thus far though. While opportunities have
been more limited than they were in Tuscany, Roma have been vindicated in their decision to hold onto their
starlet as his market value continues to rise.
Often outshining the ageing Daniele De Rossi, Paredes has done everything in his power to work his way
into the starting XI. However, questions remain over his consistency and the club have shown a willingness
to sell the 22-year-old in the last two transfer windows with clubs such as Juventus and Liverpool interested.
It raises interesting questions over how Paredes is rated internally compared to how other clubs rate his tal-
ents. It could simply mean the club are willing to let go of a player they currently see as an understudy to the
ever-reliable Radja Nainggolan.
STYLE OF PLAY
Paredes finest attribute is undoubtedly his passing. Whether he is passing long, short, forward or backwards,
his passing is always crisp and clean. He rarely misses a target and his 89% pass success rate puts him in the
top ten in Serie A. It is the main skill that enables him to be effective in a deep-lying midfield role.
Like an NFL quarter-back, Paredes sees the entire game in front of him and translates what he can see into
some delightful cross-field long-balls or passes in-between the midfield and defensive lines. These are key
to building quick attacks from seemingly stagnant offensive positions. He often knows when to play safe too
and recycles the ball backwards as easily as one would expect from a passer of his calibre. The Argentine is
also an underrated set-piece taker, capable of some superb curling deliveries into the box. However, he is less
comfortable shooting direct on goal than he is crossing from dead ball situations.
The era of deep-lying midfielders being able to shirk defensive responsibilities because of their offensive
strengths are over though. The 22-year-old has bought into that theory this season by attempting five tackles
per 90 minutes in Serie A this season placing him in the top 20 in Serie A. However, he will be looking to
increase his success rate in the tackle as he is dribbled past on 44% of his tackle attempts which can at times
leave Romas occasionally porous defence exposed.
Yet Roma have won ten, drawn three and are undefeated when Paredes starts, conceding just ten goals in
those thirteen matches. On the other hand, they have conceded nineteen goals in fourteen matches in which
he has not started. It gives a strong indication of his ability to balance the team and provide coverage when
given the opportunity to play from the first whistle.
On the ball, Paredes keeps his feet while holding off defenders and is capable of emerging from some unlikely
situations with the ball when opposition defender(s) close him down. This creates numerous positive attacks
as he effectively breaks the opposition press and helps his side gain a numbers advantage further up the
pitch. He is not a flashy dribbler though, preferring to pick the moment where a slight shift of the ball rather
than a pre-meditated dribble is required to shrug off defenders.
The 22-year-olds attacking game is rounded off by his ferocious shot. While usually playing too deep to be a
regular goal-scoring threat, when within range Paredes can produce some wicked palm-stinging shots. They
are generally quite accurate too, bringing attacking players into the game as they try to latch onto a rebound-
ed save.

FORECAST FOR 2017

There will be little surprise if Paredes finds himself playing outside of Italys capital at the start of next season.
Desperate to hold onto defender Kostas Manolas, but needing to sell to satisfy Financial Fair Play regulations,
Romas hands may be tied this summer if a big-money offer arrives for their young midfielder. Despite being
widely tipped to join Liverpool, CalcioMercato reported at the end of January that Juventus were close to
signing the Argentine. However, Juventus were unable to offload midfielder Mario Lemina to Crystal Palace
which meant they were unable to free squad space, ultimately derailing their move for Paredes.
It would be an interesting move for Paredes since he has struggled to regularly feature in the first-team at
Roma, but Juventus have been desperate for a specialist deep-lying midfielder to help ease the burden on
Claudio Marchisio. They have struggled to control games in midfield since the start of the Italian internation-
als horrible injury run that began with an anterior cruciate ligament rupture last season. Paredes could help
revitalise an ageing midfield consisting of the injury-prone Marchisio (31) and Sami Khedira (29).
Paredes needs to continue honing his game at Roma though. He must block out the impending possibility of
a transfer and channel his energy into the competition he is likely to feature in prominently until the end of
the season the Europa League. It will also be the best way to place himself in the shop window for potential
suitors. Roma have been drawn a marquee Round of 32 tie against Villareal for the 22-year-old to showcase
his talents in. And who knows, Argentina manager Edgardo Bauza might even be watching.
 MF

CERVI
FULL NAME:
FRANCO EMANUEL CERVI

CLUB: SL BENFICA

NATIONALITY: ARGENTINIAN

POSTION: ATTACKING MIDFIELD/

LEFT WING

DATE OF BIRTH:
MAY 26, 1994

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: WILL SAVAGE

2016 IN REVIEW
Franco Cervi may well have been feeling oddly content coming into 2016, the kind of contentedness that
comes with knowing what your future holds. Cervi knew that a move to one of Portugals most storied clubs
beckoned in the summer, after all it had been agreed in 2016. A move of just under 5 million with a release
clause of 60 million in his contract, which reportedly runs till 2022. Part of this contract however, stated that
Cervi would stay with Rosario Central for a year to pick up experience. So the young attacker spent another
season learning the ropes in Argentine football, featuring both in the league and in the Copa Libertadores.
Cervis move to Benfica started with a bang too, scoring the opener in the Portuguese Super Cup. It was
probably expected that he would not get that much football at first, given minutes off the bench as he made
the transition from South American football to representing one of Portugals leading clubs. This could not be
further from the truth, Cervi has found himself a regular for Benfica in both domestic and continental com-
petitions. The speed with which Cervi nailed down Benficas left-wing spot is almost startling, but it is also a
testament to the attacking verve and directness the 22-year-old brings to the attack.
STYLE OF PLAY
In an interview, upon signing for Benfica, Cervi was quick to agree with assertions that his game is similar to
that of Angel Di Maria and Eduardo Salvio. As a young Argentine winger, this probably is not that surprising
and his impressive displays during his breakout year in 2015 saw him likened to a range of Argentine attack-
ers. At 55, with a low centre of gravity, it is not that hard to tell what kind of player Cervi is. His low centre
of gravity gives him the agility to skip past defenders like they are not there and evade challenges as if they
were never made, while his phenomenal acceleration gives him the ability to exploit space to its fullest once
he breaks defensive lines with his dribbling, or to stretch a defence to its breaking point.
Although usually a left-winger, Cervi poses a threat from the right side too and has played in more central
roles from time to time, although his skillset is maximised in wider positions of the pitch. His sensationally
quick feet once he gets into the area make him a threat to any defence. If a tackle is not timed perfectly when
Cervi is on the ball, the Argentine is skilful in his ability to draw fouls and penalties.
With decent end product too, Cervi is not just a show pony, with a good eye for a pass and a willingness to
threaten the goal. Despite his size, he is stronger than one would first think. While not quite ready to be
man-marking players on corners, Cervi can hold his own when he is on the ball and it takes a real effort to
force him off it, no doubt a throwback to growing up with the rough and tumble of South American football.
Off the pitch, Cervi often comes across as retiring and a down-to-earth kid, upon his arrival at Benfica he
seemed star-struck at meeting the playing staff and being shown around the club. On the pitch, he is a whole
different animal. On the ball, he is fearless and direct, happy to shoulder as much of the attacking burden as
is required and confident enough in his ability to try flicks and tricks whenever he is in a tight situation. Off
the ball, he does not let up either, with an impressive work-rate he is happy to hassle and harry defenders
whenever it is called for.
As is to be expected when attackers join a tougher league, whether they can maintain consistency and end
product is the real question. While Cervis time is still to come, at Benfica he has the chance to work on his
game and, if he can really start making the difference with regularity, then there is no doubt he will flourish.

FORECAST FOR 2017

So, what next for Cervi? That part seems simple. Keep playing and keep playing well. Already getting regular
football at Benfica is a major boon and if he keeps performing at the high level he has reached so far during
his time in Portugal, there is no reason for that to change. He is at a club with a rich history in improving
players to sell them on so all the tools are there for him to work on his game. It will be expected that some of
Europes biggest clubs will be casting a glance in his direction. The only other worry for Cervi will be moving
at the right time. Stay too long and clubs may find new talents, but move too soon and risk ending up on the
bench somewhere. For now, Cervi just needs to focus on improving his game and the rest should just fall into
place.
 MF

ZIELISKI
FULL NAME:
PIOTR SEBASTIAN ZIELISKI

CLUB: SSC NAPOLI

NATIONALITY: POLISH

POSTION: CENTRE MIDFIELD

DATE OF BIRTH:
MAY 20, 1994

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: KAMIL ROGLSKI

(@K_ROGOLSKI)
2016 IN REVIEW
The setting: The football stadium on Kusociskiego street in Zbkowice lskie, a small city in Western Poland. In
the balmy summer of 2007, 13-year-old Piotr Zieliski is playing against other sides from the region. The stadium
is abuzz with rumours that a scout is present from one of Polands biggest and most storied clubs, Zagbie Lubin.
Lucky enough to be present, I will never forget the conversation I witnessed between Zieliskis mother and the
scout. Knowing one of the players was her son, the scout asked her to point him out. Mrs. Zieliski simply said
Wait a minute. In a moment, you will show him to me.
She knew how big a talent her son was, and it came as no surprise to anybody who had watched him that, after
this game, Piotr Zieliski joined Zagbie Lubin. This move did not come about without competition though, Bay-
er Leverkusen had been on the case of the young Pole after he had impressed against them in a youth competi-
tion. Although offers had come in from across Europe, they were knocked back by Zieliskis parents who did not
want their son moving too far away. Even in Lubin, 100km from home, young Zieliski was reportedly homesick.
In Zbkowice lskie, Zieliski was known as a shy, humble kid who liked to keep to himself. With the ball at his
feet however, it was a different story. Everyone was used to Zieliski playing against kids years older than him-
self and running past them as if they were not there, antagonising them with his agility and close control. It was
not long before Zieliski was taken even further from home though. As he matured it became clear that a move
abroad was going to be inevitable, and it was Udinese who managed to secure Zieliskis services.
Although he started out playing for Udineses Primavera side, it was not long before his talent was recognised
and he was featuring in first team squads. 2013 saw the young midfielder given his first Poland cap too, as they
looked for a replacement for Ludovic Obraniak. Zieliski moved on loan to Empoli for two years and became a
regular fixture in the side. His impressive performances saw him rewarded with a move to Naples, as Napoli
came calling.
Although in theory, Zieliski should form a good partnership with Krychowiak at international level, it has never
quite come to fruition and the Napoli midfielder has often been criticised for his inability to reproduce his spar-
kling club form at international level.
STYLE OF PLAY
Zieliski is a typical midfield playmaker, looking to get on the ball and dictate the game with a great range
of passing. When he is on the ball it often seems as if just one pass is all it will take for him to set a team-
mate through on goal. He rarely tries to force the final ball however, and one of his strengths is his ability
to know when to try a more incisive pass and when to keep things simple, a trait of his game which helps
Napoli keep the ball high up the pitch. Although his game is still developing, Zieliski is already well round-
ed. Standing at 1.80m tall, he is decent in the air and defensively competent.
Zieliskis skillset best suits a number 8 role, given the freedom to contribute at both ends of the pitch. He
has the tools to help drive his team forward and to shoulder much of the creative burden for his team. Hav-
ing said that, Zieliski is right now a talent rather than a finished product. His end product has improved
this season, but he has it in his game to become an assist machine.
He can improve his goal threat too, although that is an area where he has improved this season. He has
shown a greater willingness to go for goal for his club than he has his country, which leads to perhaps the
most interesting concern about him.
Zieliski has taken criticism for his international performances and was dropped during Euro 2016 in
France. He reportedly cried in the dressing room at half-time and, while this is not particularly surprising
for a young man who is suffering at his first major tournament, it did little to silence questions around
Zieliskis mentality and whether his personality suits top level competition. Mentality aside, Zieliski has
a well-rounded game and under Sarris stewardship could well become the midfield fulcrum of this Napoli
side.

FORECAST FOR 2017

Zieliski is playing for one of Italys best sides and playing on the continents biggest stage in the Champi-
ons League. For now, everything is set for him to ensure he plays regularly for Napoli as his game continues
to develop. His focus may well be on his performances with Poland. A lot of pressure is on him to produce
that standout international performance and really announce himself for his country, something which has
not yet happened.
Zieliski is like a symbol of the new generation for Poland. A young Polish playmaker moving to Naples and
being described as a revelation, a decade ago this would not have been possible. His role model always
been Zinedine Zidane and Real Madrid is supposedly the club of his dreams. While regular run outs at the
Bernabeu are probably still a way off apart from his match against Real Madrid in the Champions League
this season for Napoli - if he demonstrates reliability and consistency in his game, it would be unwise to
bet against him.
In Zbkowice lskie people cannot believe that the boy from their little city has already made his dreams
come true.
 MF
KLEINHEISLER
FULL NAME:
LSZL KLEINHEISLER

CLUB: FERENCVROS

NATIONALITY:HUNGARIAN

POSTION: ATTACKING MIDFIELD

DATE OF BIRTH:
APRIL 8, 1994

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: TOMASZ MORTIMER

(@TMORTIMERFTBL)
FORECAST FOR 2016
Lszl Kleinheisler has had a rollercoaster 18 months. Since November 2015; Kleinheisler has been con-
tracted at four different clubs, made his debut for the senior national team, scored his first goal for Hunga-
ry, earned a move to the Bundesliga, played at a major international tournament and moved back to the
Hungarian top tier whilst only playing 30 games at club and international level.
The Hungarian midfielder had been tipped as a potential star since a young teenager, but after his form
dipped considerably following a move to Videoton from Puskas Akademia in 2013, that talent looked for
all the world like it was going to be wasted. That was until a very bizarre and surreal moment in November
2015 when Hungary were gearing up for a crucial European Championship qualifier against Norway.
At the time Kleinheisler was rotting in the Videoton reserves following a contract dispute with the Vidi hier-
archy in the summer of 2015, a disciplinary issue not unique to the then 21-year-old. Kleinheisler had not
played a single minute of club football by November for the Videoton first team nor the B team, though
he had featured for Hungary U21s in three games in September and October, three games new Hungary
coach Bernd Storck happened to be watching. Based on those three games alone, Storck called up Kleinhe-
isler to his first Hungary squad for the countrys biggest games of the century.
The voices of discontent were loud. It was a bizarre move from the new coach to call up someone who had
never played at international level and had not even been being playing club football. The voices of content
became bellows when, to everyones bamboozlement, Kleinheisler started away in Norway though they
were silenced somewhat when the Hungarian Scholes smashed Hungary ahead within half an hour, the
only goal of the game in a 1-0 win.
Hungary would go on to win the tie 3-1 and Kleinheisler would be outstanding in both legs. Immediately,
the 23-year-old was on the radar of huge clubs across Europe with the likes of Arsenal, Genoa and Udinese
all linked at some point.
After a short trial at Werder Bremen, he was snapped up by the Bundesliga club for about 250,000 in
January and debuted against Hertha Berlin with a 30-minute cameo at the end of the month, putting on a
good enough to show to get a starting berth the next week in a 5-1 humbling away at Monchengladbach.
After that Kleinheisler barely featured for the rest of the season, coming off the bench in just four of Werd-
ers remaining 12 games.
The Euros would be a better showcase of Kleinheislers talents, though that would only be brief too. Ever
since the game in Oslo, he had cemented the number 10 spot and was brilliant in Hungarys 2-0 win over
Austria in the opener, superbly assisting Adam Szalai for the games first goal with some lovely intricate
footwork. He also performed well again in Hungarys 1-1 draw with Iceland in the second game of the group
but that was to be his last game. Rested for the final group match, Kleinheisler missed out on the Round
of 16 tie with Belgium through a cruel injury picked up in the warm up and Hungary slumped to a 4-0 loss
looking laborious without their little terrier.
Following Euro 2016, a loan move to Darmstadt came about despite talk of Kleinheisler replacing ZlatkoJu-
nuzovi as Werders number 10. The move to Darmstadt was not a bad one, he started 10 of the 16 games
in the Hinrunde, scored one goal and produced one assist. But it was not a spectacular spell, and following
Torsten Frings appointment in January, the former German international deemed Kleineheisler surplus to
his plans and following murmurs of homesickness, Kleinheisler moved back home to Ferencvaros at end of
January.
STYLE OF PLAY
Kleinheisler is a diminutive footballer. Short but stocky and with a low sense of gravity. He can weave in and
out of defenders with great ease and is therefore fantastic in tight spaces (as perfectly displayed by Hunga-
rys first goal against Austria in the Euros) and his stockiness makes him combative in physical challenges,
even though his balance is lacking and therefore he is sometimes shrugged off the ball too easily.
He is relatively ambidextrous and though he is naturally right footed, it is hard to tell from initial inspection
as he can dribble, cross, pass and shoot on either side. Unfortunately, all these components of his game are
raw. You may see him one day look like a world class talent; he would smash an effort in on the volley with
his right foot, before later beating two players and putting a delightful ball into the box with his left. How-
ever, his inconsistency means he is totally unpredictable and at times, frustrating. In the same game, he can
go from looking like a world class talent to looking entirely out of his depth.
Kleinheisler believes his best position is the number 10 role and that is where he plays for Hungary and
played for Darmstadt. Though at Werder he impressed slightly deeper in midfield and has also played on
both wings while in the Hungary squad. This constant flittering of positions and his lack of real game time in
his youth is probably the reason why at nearly 23, he looks so raw and so tactically and positionally un-
aware compared to his counterparts. His ability is undoubted but down to perhaps his attitude to train on
or maybe even circumstances out of his control, his talent, which everyone in Hungary has been aware of
for years, has not been fulfilled to the level many expected, or at least hoped.
FORECAST FOR 2017
The goal of 2017 is quite simple for Laszlo Kleinheisler. Perform at Ferencvaros or hopes of a glittering
career in one of the big European leagues is over. Kleinheisler has the talent to be a magnificent footballer,
but it really feels like he is not prepared to go that extra mile to become anything better than average. If
these next few months at Ferencvaros do not go according to plan Werder will sell him back to Hungary and
he will likely remain there for the rest of his life.
Who knows, maybe that is the case already? Kleinheisler spoke about integration problems in Germany,
and if he finds it tough in Germany it will not be any easier elsewhere. Going back home to comfort is un-
likely to help the issue at hand and playing in a very weak league is unlikely to aid his development.
On the bright side, Kleinheisler will be the focal point of the side. He will be the first name on the team
sheet, and it is likely he will be a big factor in whether Ferencvaros win the league this season or not.It is
a massive few months for the 23-year-old. Come July we will know whether the light on this fire is bright,
flickering or out.
 MF

SUREZ
FULL NAME:
DENIS SUREZ FERNNDEZ

CLUB: FC BARCELONA

NATIONALITY: SPANISH

POSTION: CENTRE MIDFIELD

DATE OF BIRTH:
JANUARY 6, 1994

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: JUSTIN SOUSA

(@SOUSA7474)
2016 IN REVIEW
Denis Surezs 2016 began at Villarreal as an integral part of the Yellow Submarines voyage to a Europa
League semi-final and fourth place league finish. The Spaniards rapid development in ability and maturity
under Marcelino saw a 3.5 million return to Barcelona later that summer; a return he addressed as a step to
fulfilling [his] dream of representing the Catalan giants. His breakthrough season with Villarreal also caught
the attention of then Spanish national team head coach, Vicente Del Bosque. Making his international debut
in late May, Surez came on as a substitute for David Silva in a friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Spaniard became a regular name on the Villarreal team sheet, creating 43 goal-scoring chances and av-
eraging a 73% pass completion rate in La Liga. In the Europa League, he led the competition in assists with six
in 13 appearances. He clocked out his time with Villarreal with five goals and 13 assists in 48 matches across
all competitions. With a new-found confidence in his physical and tactical capabilities, Surez left the Estadio
de la Cermica for his boyhood club FC Barcelona.
Upon his return to the Nou Camp, Surez was immediately labelled the heir to Andrs Iniestas throne in
Barcelonas midfield. However, the transition from Villarreal to Barcelona has been turbulent, bouncing back
and forth between the bench and the starting XI. Surez has spent much of his time adapting to his role as a
number eight, showing patches of inconsistency and making novice mistakes in the process. Due to the rough
transition, he has only started seven games for Barcelona in domestic and European competitions.
STYLE OF PLAY
One of Surezs most applaudable traits is his positional versatility. His vision and precise passing allow him to
play behind the striker as a number ten where he can slip passes into the final third for teammates. At Villar-
real, the 23-year-old also showed potential to play as an interchangeable winger. He has played some of his
best football on the left side, frequently cutting into open space to set up for a shot on goal with his favoured
right foot. He is also surprisingly quick, often dashing past defenders and delivering a cross into the box. Yet,
his versatility poses an important question: where will he play most regularly for Barcelona?
Throughout his career, Surez has fallen victim to his own positional versatility. Despite the host of positions
with which he is acquainted to, Luis Enrique opts to place him in the number eight role. The idea came as a
surprise given Surezs defensive work rate is phenomenal. Although he played a similar position for Barcelo-
na B, he has struggled to find his feet in this position at senior level. At 23-years old, Surez needs to solidify
a sole position where he can impact Barcelonas overall play. Although he has shown improvement since the
start of the season, there are still evident growing pains in his game.
The 23-year-olds positional difficulties, however, have not stunted the development of his passing quality.
His time at Manchester City was an important part of his maturation as a playmaker, studying and idolizing
the playing style of fellow compatriot David Silva. If not for a falling out with Roberto Mancini, Surez might
have been the heartbeat of Citys midfield rather than Kevin De Bruyne. The Spaniard put out David Silva-es-
que performances for the youth academy, but, as is the problem with most big Premier League teams, the
midfield prospect could not find first team action for the English side.
With Villarreal, he was not instituted to the beautiful passing system that has come to be expected of Spanish
sides. One of Surezs more memorable performances this past year was ironically against Barcelona. De-
ployed on the right wing, the young Spaniard wasted no time in showcasing his crossing technique, finding
the head of Cdric Bakambu with nearly every cross. It would not be until Surez returned to Barcelona that
he would revert to a more technical and meticulous passing game. In Barcelonas Champions League fixture
with Borussia Mnchengladbach, he showed composure on the ball and orchestrated the games tempo with
simple but effective passing. It was the type of passing that defines the Barcelona style of play.
However, the composure he showed on the day is not always up to that same level of excellence. The play-
maker often gets caught in two minds, wasting opportunities to continue his sides offensive pushes. The
sight of a diagonal ball falling behind a teammate or an over-hit pass ending a dangerous incursion are too
familiar ones for the 23-year-old at this stage of his career. Part of the problem stems from his use, or lack
thereof, of his left foot. The time he wastes setting his body to take his first touch with his right foot kills sec-
onds needed to avoid tackles or turn defenders and continue his forward momentum.
At the same time, Surez has quickly become one of the most technically gifted players in Spain. Substantially
weaker than his opposition, he relies heavily on his technical ability to avoid physical confrontations on the
field. Combined with a low centre of gravity, the Spaniard can be a difficult man to mark in midfield.

FORECAST FOR 2017

To remain at Barcelona, Surez must sort out his positional dilemma. With the likes of Messi, Neymar, and
Turan ahead of him in the pecking order for a starting position out wide, his focus should be on the centre of
midfield. Working on Enriques requirements for him to succeed as a number eight will ease the pressure of
replacing Iniesta in Barcelonas midfield. Additionally, as he proves his quality, the freedom to play as a ten
may be licensed to him.
At international level, Surez is already at one of the best teams to turn Julen Lopeteguis head in his direc-
tion. However, his problems at Barcelona will be huge factors in determining whether the midfielder is given
an opportunity to represent his nation at the upcoming World Cup. If Surez intends to make Spains team in
Russia, he must continue to progress at club level and prove his value on the international stage in the lead
up to this years Confederations Cup. Before even thinking about turning out for Spain in Russia this summer
though, he needs to enjoy an error-free run-in to the end of the season with Barcelona. With the title seem-
ingly going to go down to the wire, their young midfielder should enjoy plenty of chances to impress between
now and the end of the season in a highly charged, competitive atmosphere.
 MF

LEMINA
FULL NAME: MARIO LEMINA

CLUB: JUVENTUS

NATIONALITY: GABONESE

POSTION: CENTRE MIDFIELD

DATE OF BIRTH:
SEPTEMBER 1, 1993

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: STEPHEN GANAVAS

(@MAROTTANOMICS)
2016 IN REVIEW
Mario Lemina arrived at Juventus to little fanfare 18 months ago, but by the winter break of the 2015/16
Serie A season the Gabonese midfielder had emerged as a useful role player as Juventus pushed for titles
on three fronts. The former Marseille midfielder had only been chased by the Bianconeri after a combative
pre-season friendly game in which he played for Marseille against Juventus, but was viewed as a low-cost
and high potential midfield replacement as the Italian champions moved to fill the gaps left by the departing
Arturo Vidal and Andrea Pirlo. Lemina eventually found his way into the team as a Paul Pogba understudy,
playing a total of 13 matches in his first season for Juventus.
This season, due to an injury to Claudio Marchisio and the departure of Pogba, Lemina has been thrust into
the first-team. A huge burden has been placed on his shoulders to be the midfields controlling force as he
has played a deeper central role deputising for Marchisio. It has not always been successful, but Lemina is
quickly learning at a club becoming increasingly highly regarded for their development of young players.
Leminas year did not end well though. Publicly sidelined by the flu, rumours began to emerge that Juventus
public stance may have just been a cover story, as unconfirmed reports suggested that the Gabonese inter-
national was involved in a car accident and was being disciplined by the club. He did not play a single minute
in the month of November, despite Juventus clear midfield issues.
STYLE OF PLAY
Rough around the edges with the hair to match, the 23-year-old is a surprisingly underwhelming name in a
Juventus side that boasts the likes of Paulo Dybala, Gonzalo Higuain and Miralem Pjani. However, this is also
paradoxical. Lemina is withdrawn, calm and barring the occasional wayward long-shot a good decision
maker. Apart from believing he sometimes has a Pogba-esque ability to score from outside the penalty area
- he does not - Lemina is a safe midfield option. Unspectacular, yes. But safe.
He is not a sensational passer. He is not great on the ball. His shooting ability is OK. Considering these short-
falls, it is quite impressive that the Gabonese international has achieved what he has in his first season and a
half at Juventus. The lingering question though, will be whether Lemina will have the quality to be an endur-
ing option for Juventus manager Max Allegri. There are certainly doubts.
The main fear for Juventus fans will be Leminas lack of creativity. He routinely maintains a passing success
rate around the 90% mark, but again he plays safe and struggles to influence the transition from a true
central midfield position into an attacking one. This is slightly uninspiring from someone playing in a team as
dominant as Juventus, but it must also be quantified with the fact that he is playing in a more reserved role so
far this season. However, when playing the deep-lying role he needs to be more willing to play the killer pass
that he is talented enough to produce. Instead, he prefers playing the safe pass back to Leonardo Bonucci,
who - despite being a wonderful passer of the football - must play a longer distance pass with a much higher
degree of difficulty to achieve the same result.
He also has his clear positives though. The Gabonese international is industrious, reliable and very tidy de-
fensively. As a screen for the back three or back four at Juventus, Lemina routinely plays his part in ensuring
Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini and Andrea Barzagli are not forced into many awkward positions. Meanwhile, he
can seamlessly slot into the spaces left by the attacking full-back pair of Dani Alves and Alex Sandro. As far as
physical defensive actions are concerned, Lemina is willing to be aggressive and physical his core strength
is impressive and he is also willing to bend the rules he has learnt quickly from the impressive colleagues
he dons the Juventus shirt with.

FORECAST FOR 2017

With the return to fitness of Claudio Marchisio after the Italian suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)
injury last season, Lemina will likely find minutes harder to come by at the turn of the year. Additionally,
Allegri has also signed midfield reinforcements and switched formation to a 4-2-3-1, meaning there are just
two midfield spots available to share between Lemina, Claudio Marchisio, Miralem Pjani, Stefano Sturaro
and Toms Rincn.
Nevertheless, Lemina needs to improve or risk being frozen out of the squad by these reinforcements. Im-
proving his penetrative passing ability and being more willing to take risks in playing more vertically will be
a core focus of the Gabonese midfielder and Allegri over the coming months. Furthermore, he needs to be
more aware of his explosive power a rare and incredibly useful talent that he does not take advantage of,
for example, like Pogba did during his time at Juventus.
Bursting midfield runs have been few and far between in Juventus sometimes stale midfield this season.
Used in a freer role like the one in which Pogba was deployed in, Lemina could add a different dynamic to Ju-
ventus midfield with his physicality that cannot be replicated by Marchisio, Sami Khedira or Miralem Pjani.
At 23, Lemina is at an age where he needs to push on and improve key aspects of his game. Otherwise, his
time at Juventus may be the only opportunity he receives to shine at one of world footballs elite clubs.
 MF

LLORENTE
FULL NAME:
MARCOS LLORENTE MORENO

CLUB: DEPORTIVO ALAVS

NATIONALITY: SPANISH

POSTION: CENTRE MIDFIELD

DATE OF BIRTH:
JANUARY 30, 1995

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: MIRAN ARI

(@THEREALBOZZ)
2016 IN REVIEW
The grandson of Real Madrid great and six-time European champion Francisco Gento, Marcos Llorente was
seemingly always destined for stardom. Following a strong year with Real Madrid Castilla which saw the
youth team nearly promoted to Spains second division on the back of Llorentes calm and composed play,
the youngster was deemed too good for Spains lower divisions. What better way to be rewarded than to be
loaned to a newly promoted side, in this case Deportivo Alavs, to serve as a shield to their back line while
deputizing as the midfield linchpin.
To Llorentes credit, he took the job and ran with it. Aside from hiccups here and there and the growing pain
inconsistencies which often affect almost all young players, Llorente has remained grounded while not shying
away from any of the massive responsibilities placed at his feet. After three quarters of the season, Llorente
has already established himself as one of the very few players with a case for the leagues best young star, not
to mention injecting himself into the top half of the leagues best defensive midfielders. Thanks to his play,
Alaves is not only on track to stay up in their first season back in the top flight, but they have been able to pull
off an improbable Copa del Rey final appearance versus FC Barcelona, much of it due to Llorentes calming
influence and defensive abilities.
His play has not gone unnoticed and though the Madrid fan base was firmly behind him at the time of his
loan, many are already pencilling him in as the starter on opening day next season. This is due to his pedigree
and the simply stunning composure he has shown at the top level, specifically against elite opposition such
as Barcelona and Atltico Madrid, both clubs that Llorente and Alavs have taken points off of this season.
STYLE OF PLAY
Regarded as too slight, physically, as a youth player, Llorente has certainly overcome that as he has matured and
developed an intelligent approach to the game to make up for any physical battles he may lose. That is not to
say that he is afraid to use his body to fight for the ball and shield it when won, but he is more in the mould of
Sergio Busquets than Casemiro. Like many top Spanish defensive midfielders of the past decade. He will likely
have a bigger role in controlling the match and making the passes into channels which will, in turn, free up his
offensive-minded teammates rather than making highlight reels for his bone-crunching tackles.
Much of the criticism of Llorente has come from the Madrid fanbase, not Alaves. The primary one being that
he plays too safe when in possession, that he is too reliant on lateral and backwards passes and does not help
progress the flow of play forward. While this is true to an extent and something that is a growing pain for many
young deep playmakers, it should not be held against Llorente too harshly as the level of his team-mates limits
how many risks he can take. He will undoubtedly be able to express himself more when paired with the world
class offering Madrid has to present, not to mention being able to move forward and join the attack. Given
that his dribbling skills and strong shot are quite outstanding, he could very well be paired with a more defen-
sive-minded partner and allowed to play further forward as a creative outlet. However, his primary duties will
undoubtedly be to shield the back four.
As previously mentioned, Llorente has a decent physical frame but he will not be a dominant force in the air and
in foot races. Because of this, he will likely leave his team-mates exposed from time to time as keeping play in
front of him and on the ground is something he and his team will look to do. He has got a strong lower core but
tackling is not necessarily something he is particularly comfortable with yet. Often it is a toss-up as to whether
or not he made the right decision in going in for a tackle and whether or not he put his teammates in the best
position because of it.

FORECAST FOR 2017

Llorente is undoubtedly on the fast-track to return to Real Madrid in the summer and compete for the starting
defensive midfielder job with Casemiro. His calmness on and off the ball provides a contrast to the more bullish
Brazilian and will be a welcome sight to many Madrid fans pining for a royal bloodline in the starting XI. Given
that Real Madrid is not necessarily a club that prioritizes defensive midfielders, nor is it a club that often spends
much money to reinforce the position, having a ready-made option which will allow the club hierarchy to divert
their funds to other positions will likely be a deciding factor in bringing him back home. That being said, Real Ma-
drid is not a club where off-days are tolerated very often and several talented youngsters, despite their limitless
ceilings, have found it hard to get regular minutes. Llorente is lucky in the sense that the depth at Real Madrid is
not particularly deep in his position, but he will need to hit the ground running from day one.
Though there is a possibility that Real Madrid will let him hone his skills on loan one more season and potentially
at a club competing in Europe, the staggering development he has shown this season will likely overrule such
thought and will allow him to finally serve as the depth at the position which has evaded Los Merengues the
past two seasons. He should be able to seamlessly integrate with his new team-mates which will not only allow
him to grow as a player but will protect him from growing pains thanks to the sheer quality he will be sharing
the pitch with.
 MF

STANCIU
FULL NAME: NICOLAE
CLAUDIU STANCIU

CLUB: RSC ANDERLECHT

NATIONALITY: ROMANIAN

POSTION: ATTACKING MIDFIELD

DATE OF BIRTH:
MAY 7, 1993

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: JAMES BUFTON

(@JBUF1)
2016 IN REVIEW
Anderlecht have earned for a reputation for the fashion with which they develop young talent, often
through their own prestigious youth academy, before eventually selling the fruit of their labour for a sub-
stantial figure years down the line. In this respect, Nicolae Stanciu is something of a luxury for Les Mauves
et Blancs, having arrived in the summer from Steaua Bucharest for the largest fee ever invested by a Bel-
gian club. The business is still very much consistent with the clubs model, though, as the intention is the
same as with every other young talent that walks through the door at Constant Vanden Stock Stadium.

That investment should reveal much of what is worth knowing about Stanciu as a prospect as well the trajectory
his employers envisage his career following, however. 2016 was certainly eventful for the 23-year-old as he starred
for Romania at the European Championships, earned his move onto a bigger stage and finished as runner-up in the
Romanian Footballer of the Year voting. All of which has produced a lot of hype for Stanciu, the comparisons with
compatriot and national football icon Gheorghe Hagi - despite earning his first cap with the Tricolorii as recently as
last March - perhaps representing the highest praise he has received to this point.
STYLE OF PLAY
Stanciu is usually deployed centrally as an advanced playmaker, while also getting minutes in the front three
of Ren Weilers alternative 3-4-3 system, and is especially useful to both club and country for his immense
quality with the ball at his feet. The task of dispossessing Anderlechts #73 is one of remarkable difficulty; the
sudden changes in pace and direction - with the ball seemingly attached to his boots with super glue - that are
a feature of his game are spectacular to watch but are more importantly of great tactical value too. Stanciu
seamlessly eliminates lines of pressure while disrupting the oppositions shape and can instantly adapt the
tempo of an attacking move depending on the circumstances, exhausting defenders as much as he excites
supporters.
Although he possesses as much, if not more, dribbling ability than any other youngster profiled in this hand-
book, Stancius pace is limited to bursts of acceleration rather than forty yards of breathless sprinting. This is,
therefore, where much of his creative duties can be identified. In transition from defence to attack, with the
opposition back-pedalling in a state of frenzied panic, the diminutive Romanian has a penchant for playing
long passes into the vacated space for his team-mates further up the field to take advantage of. His innate gift
for controlling the ball also comes into effect in these situations as he is able to pause the counter and allow
others the time to move ahead of him, often improving the channel his colleagues have to run into through
the pressure this delay elicits.
The extent of Stancius scope shooting from distance is just as impressive as his extensive passing range. He is
more than happy to fire an attempt on goal the moment he escapes the typically desperate collective effort
to tackle him, seemingly no matter how far out he finds himself. This presents defenders with a tough dilem-
ma: close him down and you present him the opportunity to dribble through into the abandoned real estate
in-behind, stand off and you offer him an invitation to shoot. In a one-on-one situation, where Anderlecht par-
ticularly reap the rewards from Stancius qualitative superiority, there is often no right answer to the conun-
drum. The space Stanciu assumes off the ball complements the rest of his attacking repertoire in this respect,
frequently receiving the ball through the lines in mixed positions (where the defenders can only close down
diagonally). This conveys terrific awareness and is a forecast of sorts for his suitability at the highest level too.
The perpetual threat to score and create that Stanciu poses is not merely anecdotal. He has stepped up on the
biggest stage available to him by producing three goals and three assists in seven appearances in the Europa
League this term, adding to his four goals in league play. Stanciu hit the back of the net on fourteen occasions
and made a further eleven assists in his final season with Steaua, and once he fully acclimates to his environ-
ment in Belgium he should post similar numbers once again. His capacity to cause chaos through so many
different avenues is arguably what distinguishes Stanciu from most attackers, and will continue to do so as he
grows as a player. But the tangible reflection of his influence that can be found in his production could propel
him to the top of the game.

FORECAST FOR 2017

The hope in Brussels is that Stanciu and fellow prodigy Youri Tielemans can lead Anderlecht to their first
league title since 2014. There is also promise for a deep run in the Europa League knockout stage, providing
Stanciu the same chance to raise his profile that he seized in the group stage and at Euro 2016 with Romania.
If he does indeed lead his club to success on all fronts and continues to show consistent, incremental improve-
ment, there will no doubt be interest in his services this summer. The idea of developing further at Anderlecht
and potentially participating in the Champions League in the autumn does appear optimal for his long-term
growth, however, and it would likely take an excessive bid for his current suitor to justify cashing in on their
investment with the likelihood of making a larger profit in coming years anyway. Stanciu is out to make a name
for himself regardless, and he deserves attention while doing so.
 MF

HAZARD
FULL NAME: THORGAN GANAEL
FRANCIS HAZARD

CLUB: BORUSSIA
MNCHENGLADBACH

NATIONALITY: BELGIUM

POSTION: ATTACKING MIDFIELD

DATE OF BIRTH:
MARCH 29, 1993

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: TOM CURREN

(@TOMOCURR)
2016 IN REVIEW
2016 has, in many respects, been the defining year of Thorgan Hazards career so far. Though he has had
previous seasons in which he has played more football, scored more goals and accumulated more individual
awards, 2016 has seen Hazard exercise a grit and determination previously lacking from his career. He has
needed to develop these traits, too: the sacking of Lucian Favre at the end of 2015 left Thorgans career in
limbo. The Swiss manager had built the platform at Mnchengladbach from which Hazard wished to launch
his career, and his replacement Andr Schubert failed to build upon his predecessors impressive foundations.
Favre had bought Hazard in on loan from Chelsea, and then deemed him good enough to spend 8million on
securing his services permanently. Hazard then went on to be a key part of Mnchengladbachs remarkable
2014-2015 season, in which they finished 3rd in the Bundesliga. He would have been anticipating continuing
his development under Favre; so the sacking must have been especially hard for him, coming just months
after he had signed a long-term contract with the club.
Hazard entered 2016 without the guaranteed security of a starting role at the club. Guinean Ibrahima Traor
was initially preferred on the right flank and Hazard was left to compete with Gladbachs plethora of attack-
ing talent for a starring role: Lars Stindl, Raffael, Patrick Herrmann, Jonas Hofmann and Andr Hahn have all
played for Schubert in different forward roles. This competition, however, seems to have lit a fire under the
younger Hazard brother. The Belgian has moved inland, departing from the right flank to play more frequently
in the centre of the pitch, where he can dictate counter-attacks and appear where he is needed most. This was
never more apparent than in his performance against Barcelona at Borussia Park, in which he scored in a 2-1
defeat. It was that performance that would define Hazards 2016. He has become a hardworking, industrious
forward both on and off the pitch and it is no coincidence that his stock has risen in a year in which his broth-
ers has somewhat fallen. Whereas Eden Hazards 2016 (at least the first half of it) was defined by a languid
unwillingness to work under imperfect conditions, Thorgans work ethic has visibly risen. He has forced his
way into contention on the international stage, too, and will only flourish as a central player given the oppor-
tunity to train under Thierry Henry.
Though 2015s doubts remain over his future at Borussia, now they are a product of interest from elsewhere;
very different from last years insecurity. With Schubert gone and Dieter Hecking installed - the man who
oversaw Kevin De Bruynes rise to stardom after his similar rejection by Chelsea - Hazard has an excellent op-
portunity to make 2017 his best year yet.
STYLE OF PLAY
Though it might be unfair to compare Thorgan Hazard to his ludicrously mercurial elder brother, there are
similarities in their styles of play. Both are dynamic, forward-thinking attackers at their best when instigating
counters and beating defenders one-on-one. Both possess low centres of gravity, impossibly quick feet, and
rapid speed of thought, capable of making snap decisions that bamboozle defenders and create opportunities
for teammates. Though Thorgan can be decisive, and has a very respectable one-in-four goal-scoring record
across his career to date, he does not yet possess the game-changing explosiveness of his brother. Instead he
must rely on his other traits to set him apart.
Thankfully, he is beginning to interest other clubs simply because some of those other traits are so strong.
Chief amongst them is his willingness to contribute to the defensive aspect of the game. Hazard is relentless
in this respect. Hes incredibly willing to track runners from deep - a skill particularly useful in the Bundesliga,
a league renowned for the speed and intensity of its counter attacks. In a contrast with his brother so stark it
is almost startling, the 23-year-old has established himself as one of the hardest working attackers in Germa-
ny. It is almost as if he studied his brothers greatest weakness - that being his languid, nonchalant style - and
decided to make it his greatest strength. In many respects, it has worked. His undeniable hustle does set him
apart from Eden, and it is interesting to note that Chelsea are now reportedly interested in reuniting the pair
at Stamford Bridge. Considering Antonio Contes love for a hard-working wing-back, it is not difficult to see
Thorgan flourishing in a role that would exploit both his attacking flair and his enviable work ethic.
However, as fairytale as this Hazard duopoly might sound, it remains unlikely. Andr Schubert denied the exis-
tence of a buy-back clause in Thorgans contract, and though the player has admitted he would enjoy a return
to London one day, he has three years remaining on his Borussia deal. If he were purchased as a wing-back,
it would be a move to subvert his recent development into a central player and there would be little hope of
him slotting into that role at Chelsea; with Eden, Willian, Pedro, Diego Costa and Michy Batshuayi all currently
competing for three attacking roles.
Early signs from new boss Dieter Hecking suggest he considers Schuberts reinvention of Hazard as a cen-
tre-forward a mistake. Thorgan has played almost exclusively in a wide position under his new boss, but his
stint as a striker will do him the world of good as his career develops. Regardless of where he plays, his speed
of thought is instrumental in releasing the forward runs of the attackers around him and, just like his brother
overseas, he is a menace with the ball at his feet. His greatest weakness lies in his consistency. His first touch
can be erratic. His eagerness to beat players often ends in him being dispossessed. For a player so keen to
establish himself as a central creative force, his average passing accuracy of 72.3% in league matches is disap-
pointing, as is his making an average of 1 key pass per game.

FORECAST FOR THE FUTURE

As mentioned above, Thorgan has been beginning to attract interest from clubs abroad, most notably Chelsea.
Though this is in part due to his lack of consistent starts for Borussia, it is undeniable that he is developing
into one of the most hardworking, industrious forwards in Europe. His ability - and, more importantly, his in-
exhaustible willingness - to work for the team should stand him in excellent stead if he decides to move away.
For now, though, it might be a mistake to move on from Borussia Park. Though his position in the team wob-
bled under Andr Schubert, he proved his willingness to work for it during his ex-managers ill-fated stint.
Early signs from the young reign of Hecking seem positive, though Hazards brief venture as a central striker
appears to be over he seems all the better for it. Whether the young Belgian leaves Borussia Park in the sum-
mer depends on how his relationship with Hecking blooms, but his most recent performances from the wing
suggest that a prolonged stay in Germany might be beneficial as he continues to develop.
 MF

ZIYECH
FULL NAME: HAKIM ZIYECH

CLUB: AFC AJAX

NATIONALITY: MOROCCAN

POSTION: ATTACKING MIDFIELD

DATE OF BIRTH:
MARCH 19, 1993

PREFERRED FOOT: LEFT

WRITTEN BY: JOE DONNOHUE

(@JOE_DONNOHUE27)
2016 IN REVIEW
2016 was a blockbuster year for Ajaxs Moroccan maestro, Hakim Ziyech. One of the Eredivisies stand out
players in the second half of the 2015-16 campaign for FC Twente, Ziyech went on to seal a move to Ajax in
the summer transfer window, for a fee in the region of 9.35m. To put into perspective the talent that Zi-
yech possesses, one needs to only to look at the fact that a club renowned for producing their own players,
deemed him worthy of such a hefty sum.
Since joining the Amsterdam club, Ziyech has continued where he left off at Twente, averaging a goal once
every three games in all competitions. This is a fantastic record for a player who primarily plays as an attack-
ing midfielder or wide-man. Ziyechs creativity for Ajax in the Eredivisie has been one of the key reasons for
their free-scoring form and the emergence of fellow youngster Kasper Dolberg.
Internationally, Ziyech added to his cap count, now totaling nine for Morocco. More impressively however,
is the fact he scored five goals in just three matches in 2016, yet again a remarkable return for a midfielder.
STYLE OF PLAY
Ziyech is without a doubt one of the Eredivisies most exciting flair players. His brand of attacking, for-
ward-thinking approach play is a joy to watch, even if it is not always entirely successful. For attempted pass-
es in the final third, Ziyech ranks amongst the highest in the Eredivisie and Europa League. This indicates he
has a penchant for trying to change the complexion of a game with a defence-splitting pass. Of course, this
means his pass completion figures will be down too, but in terms of entertainment value and overall quality
of play, Ziyech trumps them in that aspect. His range of passing is excellent too, as his ability to find a team-
mate in space or willingness to attempt the improbable and succeed is impressive. Yet, his tendency to mis-
place a cross-field pass is too common and while that may not be a bad thing if he prefers to play on the floor,
it is an element of his game that could certainly be improved in order to market himself as a total footballer.
A key element of his style is his pace and audacity to take on a player with skill or simply with sheer acceler-
ation. Ziyech loves to dribble and given the opportunity to meander into space, can cause havoc and punish
teams because of his nature as a flighty, evasive player. His pace and dribbling ability is something which
makes Ziyech a potent counter-attacking threat, making driving runs from deep inside his own half and blitz-
ing past opposition defenders. The Moroccans turn of pace is a factor in many of Ajaxs threatening danger-
ous attacks, often due to a drop of the shoulder or a clever dummy.
Ziyechs creative influence is undeniably one of the driving forces of Ajax this season. On a turbulent day in
the Eredivisie in late February, Ziyech was instrumental in securing a 4-1 victory over Heracles Almelo. Two
assists and a level-headed performance from the Moroccan helped Ajax keep pace with table-topping Feye-
noord.
Set-pieces are certainly one of Ziyechs key strengths. They are a Hollywood attribute that helps to separate
him from many other players with a similar style of play. From a dead-ball situation, Ziyechs ability is argu-
ably one of the best in Europe. Several of his assists this campaign have come from whipped corner balls
into the box, or from free-kicks. However, it is not just his creativity for others from set pieces that make him
Ajaxs talisman in this field. Ziyech is also a fantastic goalscorer from free-kicks, highlighted most recently by
a well driven effort for Morocco, and multiple astounding efforts for FC Twente earlier in 2016.
Free-kick specialty often goes together with a fondness for long shots, something which Ziyech is not afraid
to take on due to his excellent technique. His strike for Ajax against Excelsior in October 2016 was one of the
goals of the month in the Eredivisie as the ball flew into the back of the net from quite a distance. Ziyech will-
ingness to test keepers from long range can be frustrating at times when they break down and stifle attacks,
but he does have a relatively strong track record from outside the box.
Like any top professional, there will be areas for improvement and Ziyech is no different. As mentioned
above, his pass completion ratio is not the most impressive, due to his audacious attempts to always find the
killer ball. This should not be discouraged, but instead Ziyech must look at potentially slowing the tempo and
looking for the sideways pass. If the option of passing to a team-mate in an advanced position is too difficult,
then perhaps he should look to restart the attack, passing backwards allowing more players to be brought
into the attack. This allows his team to retain the ball and means he does not turn over possession as often,
which is underrated but invaluable.
Ziyechs team retaining the ball is paramount to his own personal success as well as the teams. This is primar-
ily down to the 23-year-olds main attributes not being the defensive aspects of his game. Chasing onrushing
full-backs and marauding opposition playmakers is not Ziyechs strong suit, therefore his side in effect, lose
a man when defending. The Moroccan international is not adept at making last-ditch tackles and his foot-
balling education was evidently not defensively-orientated. His build and stature does not encourage this
style of play, and rightly so; if he was any stockier, it is unlikely he would be as effective on the counter-attack
as he is. Nonetheless, improving on the defensive side of his game would help his teammates and himself as
he would see more time on the ball.
FORECAST FOR 2017
Despite snubbing the African Cup of Nations tournament to remain at Ajax, 2017 could be Ziyechs biggest
year yet. Sustained starting appearances with Ajax in the Eredivisie, KNVB Beker Cup and the Europa League,
promise to showcase his growing talents.
Ajax will do very well to keep hold of Ziyech for one more season host of European scouts are undoubtedly
keeping an eye on his progress with every passing game. He is on course to be in double figures for both
goals and assists in the Eredivisie by the end of the season, and with Ajax topping their Europa League group
with a brand of youthful, attacking football, Ziyech and plenty of admiring neutrals will be hoping to see the
Amsterdam side progress further in the competition.
Should he manage to remain injury-free and stay in the Boszs good books, there is no limit to what can be
achieved in terms of personal accolades. By the time the summer of 2017 rolls around, Ziyech will have just
turned 24 and will be starting to enter his peak as a professional footballer. Having dominated the Eredivisie
in 2015/16, followed up by an equally impressive 2016/17 campaign to date, it is quite possible that Ziyech
and his agent believe he will have outgrown the Eredivisie. Looking for pastures new is not always a guaran-
teed success, therefore if a move does materialise, Ziyech must aim to find a club who will accommodate his
brand of football and style of play, or risk taking a backwards step in his development.
Regardless of the permutations of Ziyechs future, one thing is clear; if he can maintain the same level of per-
formances he has delivered over the past couple of seasons, there will be no shortage of suitors and he will
become a star man in European football. The Champions League stage beckons.
 FW

DAVIES
FULL NAME:
ALPHONSO DAVIES

CLUB: VANCOUVER WHITECAPS

NATIONALITY: CANADIAN

POSTION: STRIKER

DATE OF BIRTH:
NOVEMBER 2, 2000

PREFERRED FOOT: LEFT

WRITTEN BY: JAMES BUFTON

(@JBUF1)
2016 IN REVIEW
Alphonso Daviess rapid progression through the ranks in Vancouver last year - at the remarkable age of
15 - could certainly be described as meteoric. Beginning the year in training camp as an unknown stranger
from the clubs residency program, the Liberian-born prodigy has generated the kind of excitement in British
Columbia typically reserved for ice hockey players.
The fact that infamous wonderkid Freddy Adu is the only player to ever make their MLS debut aged younger
than Davies should serve as a parallel of sorts to introduce those unfamiliar with his breathtaking emergence.
Alphonsos late strike to secure the top seed in the CONCACAF Champions League against Sporting Kansas
City in September represented both the culmination of his breakthrough and the beginning of his legacy in
Vancouver - something that may or may not be very extensive given the interest he has already elicited from
some of the elite clubs in the Premier League.
Irrespective of where the electrifying winger plies his trade in the future, Davies has announced himself as
one of the few truly elite prospects to emerge within MLS over the last few years. The leagues improvement
since Adus leap into the limelight serves to heighten the impressive feat of Alphonsos ascent to prominence,
while also affording him an environment to fulfil his spectacular potential that is suitable for his spectacular
talent.
STYLE OF PLAY
Age is typically used as a caveat to excuse immaturity with most players that graduate to the professional
level as young as Davies, however the reverse is true when discussing the effervescent 16-year-old. Alphon-
sos youth is an afterthought rather than a qualifier when studying his sophisticated and multifaceted game.
510 and growing with speed in abundance, the Canadian youth international can be an extremely useful
outlet to relieve pressure and stretch opposing back-lines. Daviess true value to the Whitecaps extends far
beyond his pace and physique, however, as he has showcased a level of intelligence in his positioning and
movement that usually takes years to master. He finds space inside the area between full-back and cen-
tre-back in which to receive the ball with exciting regularity, presenting himself a wide range of options in
possession that would otherwise be unavailable to him.
Davies conveys his spatial awareness in his distancing from both his right-back and other ball-carriers in the team,
as happy to selflessly draw defenders away and open room to exploit for others as he is to show off his sublime
dexterity with the ball at his feet. Alphonsos gratitude to Whitecaps head coach Carl Robinson for letting him
shine so early into his career is clear in his willingness to obey whatever orders are asked of him in this sense. Of
decent significance with respect to the direction of his development, Davies has been provided with more creative
responsibilities in the preseason fixtures building up to the beginning of the 2017 campaign.
Alphonso can drift into central pockets and look to find others from an auxiliary number 10 role of sorts; a product
of the positional fluidity that exists between the Whitecaps front four. The confusion caused by this interchange-
ability frequently unsettles the oppositions defensive structure, with defenders unsure of who to pick up and
precisely what approach they ought to take. This is one instance where his diverse style of play is particularly
advantageous as it gives him the flexibility to either run at goal or combine with his supporting cast depending on
what suits the respective circumstances of each scenario.
Without a defensive midfielder that excels in collecting from the back-line and starting attacking movements from
deep, the onus is on Davies and the rest of the attacking complement to make smart runs behind the midfield line
of pressure. This may be the most overwhelming case for a permanent place in the starting line-up that Davies
can put forward as the Whitecaps possess few individuals with the capacity to produce this calibre of off the ball
movement. When this function becomes essential to the sides whole offensive game plan, as it will do against the
most organised and prepared outfits in the league, Davies will become an essential component within the teams
build-up play - obtaining such critical tactical value is arguably one of his most impressive accomplishments to
date.
Daviess talent alone sets a high floor for the player he will eventually become, but ultimately the quality of his end
product will set the ceiling on his potential. This is not something that should evoke concern, though, as Davies
has already shown a lot of promise when faced with complex decisions. He is going to create a lot of chances for
himself in front of goal through the timing of his runs, and there is good reason to assume that he will reap the
full benefits of that attribute with finishing of a similarly high standard after his two-goal performance against a
Bristol City XI in early February. It was evident in that encounter and in the other matches played during the clubs
training camp in the UK, that the Whitecaps coaching staff have invested time over the offseason to figure out
how best to make use of everything Davies offers. Having the 16-year-old make more runs in behind is seemingly
a result of that internal evaluation of the talent at their disposal.
Davies resembles a somewhat lanky figure at present, yet his frame will soon fill out once his growth slows down
and he spends more time with the clubs strength and conditioning staff. There is a unique intrigue caused by his
age as it is difficult to accurately project his physique in five years time, although this should assist his develop-
ment rather than hinder it if nurtured correctly. It is an even more difficult task attempting to forecast how Davies
will cope with the fame, attention and interest from suitors abroad that will surely follow him as he continues to
make a name for himself in British Columbia. That said, the early signs are certainly positive. He has appeared
unfazed by both the hype surrounding him and the magnitude of the first team opportunities he has received to
this point, expressing himself with a great deal of confidence and not a whole lot of nervous energy. The upward
nature of his trajectory from academy prospect to the USL to the Whitecaps first team is testament to how he has
managed to keep his feet on the ground and focus entirely on the task at hand: becoming the best football player
he can be.
FORECAST FOR 2017
Observers sceptical of whether Davies will become an integral part at BC Place in the immediate future - on ac-
count of his age - are perhaps overlooking the most fundamental aspect of the discussion: his talent compared to
that of those he will compete with for minutes as well as those he will compete against in MLS. In giving Davies so
much playing time as a 15-year-old, Carl Robinson has practiced what he has preached about a players involve-
ment in his plans depending on how good they are, not how old they are.
The same principle should extend to the extent of that involvement; if Davies can prove that he deserves greater
influence within the opportunities given to him to impress, he will more than likely achieve his deserved reward.
This system of meritocracy and philosophy towards youth makes Vancouver the optimal location for Davies to
grow at the moment, but how long that will hold true remains to be seen. The sample size last year was not quite
extensive enough to result in investment from overseas during the offseason, however concrete offers can be
considered a foregone conclusion should Davies extrapolate what he has already showcased with consistency in
2017.
 FW

MBAPP
FULL NAME:
KYLIAN MBAPP LOTTIN

CLUB: AS MONACO

NATIONALITY: FRENCH

POSTION: LEFT-WING/
STRIKER

DATE OF BIRTH:
DECEMBER 20, 1998

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: JAKE ENTWISTLE

(@JAKEENTWISTLE)
2016 IN REVIEW
2016 was a year of mixed emotions for Kylian Mbapp. On one hand, frustration. Aged 16 years and 347 days old
he became Monacos youngest ever first-team player in December 2015, breaking Thierry Henrys record that had
stood for 21 years. However, come the turn of the year, first team starts were hard to come by. Monacos abundance
of talent all seemingly started playing some wonderful football at the same time at the start of the 16/17 season,
meaning Mbapp made just 6 starts and played just 570 minutes in total in the league after recovering from a head
injury. His name appeared more frequently in the starting XI towards the end of the year, but chances were limited.
But for all the frustration at club level, his year with the national team could not have been better. The standout
player in the French U-19s successful European Championship campaign, the 18-year-old prodigy outshone practi-
cally every single player at the tournament. This feat was made even more impressive when considering the talent
within the France squad itself, let alone the entire competition. Team-mate Jean-Kevin Augustin ended up claiming
the tournaments Golden Boot, finishing with six goals in six games compared to Mbapps five, yet it was the Mo-
naco man that caught everyones attention. Single-handedly winning the semi-final for France against Portugal
providing an assist for the first goal and finishing them off with two for himself Mbapp proved he was ready to
take the step-up to senior level. It was an experimental year for the young Monaco forward; but no matter the role
he fulfilled, nor the number of minutes he played, Mbapp made it abundantly clear that this is just the start of an
extremely exciting career.
STYLE OF PLAY
The Frenchmans role at club and international level was ever-changing last year. Finding himself at the crossroads
between the left-wing and striker, Mbapps most effective role is arguably still yet to be decided. Yet, despite this
positional limbo that seems to afflict many of Frances young attacking talents, there is no doubt Mbapp has the
potential to flourish in either. Often compared to Thierry Henry, the former Arsenal striker also experienced a simi-
lar identity crisis. Deployed as a left-winger during his early years at Monaco, Henry eventually transitioned into a
fantastic modern forward, marrying his incredible physical attributes with a ruthlessness in front of goal. Mbapp
could still play either. He proved at the U-19 European Championships that he can score goals, and as the domestic
season progressed he was utilised alongside Radamel Falcao upfront to devastating effect. Nevertheless, he remains
a menace to any full-back when deployed in a wider position.
At 58, Mbapp is not the tallest striker, yet his long legs allow him to cover ground exceptionally quickly without the
ball as a sprinter would. Not quite as powerful as the aforementioned Henry (yet), the similarities between the two
definitely hold weight. Being of Cameroonian descent, it also makes sense to draw comparisons with Samuel Etoo, a
lightening quick striker who used his leggy frame to torment the opposition. When stationed out wide, whether tacti-
cally or because he has drifted towards the touchline, Mbapp is just as adept at receiving the ball deep and beating
defenders with the ball at his feet. With or without the ball, the 18-year-old is often too quick for the opposition.
Always drifting into the space between the right full-back and centre-half, Mbapps natural habitat is very much in
this left-side channel. It allows him to pick up and ball and attack defenders from deep or spring the offside trap and
race onto through balls from his team-mates. In extreme scenarios he can even find himself stationed on the touch-
line. Knowing when to drift this far is important and his desire to get on the ball and make things happen means that
at times he will drop too deep and wide to receive the ball in his favourite area of the pitch. This may become an issue
should he ever be used as a lone striker. Knowing exactly when to roam and when to stay in position will again come
with playing time. But for now, the Monaco man will continue to learn by trial and error, while also benefitting from
playing in a range of positions alongside the experienced figure that is Radamel Falcao. When tasked with leading the
line for his side, there are clear examples of Mbapps instinctive understanding of which positions he must adopt and
when to move into them. Perhaps slightly selfish with the ball at his feet, especially when playing against less talented
opposition, his movement off the ball is excellent. For someone so young, it is usually what they do off the ball that
inhibits them or even proves to be the stumbling block that prevents them from reaching their potential.
Unlike many strikers, even those supposedly in their prime, Mbapp has proven so far this season that he is extremely
effective in front of goal. Additionally, whilst a certain level of profligacy could easily be forgiven due to his age, his
efficiency in front of goal in fact extends beyond his finishing ability. He has created X chances in X games for Monaco
this season, X of which have been assists for his teammates. Converting such a high number of shots and key passes
into tangible goals is definitely a hallmark of an excellent awareness of the game as well as his quick, ruthless decision
making in and around the opposition box. Whilst he may dawdle or prolong his retention of the ball in the middle
third of the pitch, once Mbapp enters the most dangerous part of the field his footballing instincts often override his
tendency to showboat in possession.
A more equal balance between efficiency and expression is something that will develop overtime and from the expo-
sure to first team football. Once again, this was more evident towards the end of the year as Mbapp became more
disciplined in his movement, staying high up the pitch as to allow space for Monacos midfielders Thomas Lemar
and Bernardo Silva in particular to act as the sides main ball carriers, waiting to pounce on any through balls they
may provide for him.
FORECAST FOR 2017
Playing with a confidence and technical ability beyond his years, as mentioned earlier it is perhaps Mbapps age that
is preventing him from becoming a regular starter for the Ligue 1 side. Even for a squad which has such a youthful look
to it, it is a lot to ask of an 18-year-old to play a key role week in week out and is perhaps sensible to trickle him into
the first team set up.
However, By the start of the 2016/17 winter break Mbapp had been directly involved in a goal every 56 minutes
across all competitions, with six goals and five assists in just 615 minutes of action. Only two players in the whole of
Ligue 1 had more assists than Mbapp by the end of 2016, whilst when comparing him to all U-21 players in Europes
top five leagues, his league tally of five was only bettered by Ousmane Dembl (seven) and Julian Brandt (six), both
of whom had played twice as many minutes as the Monaco forward. His numbers are spectacular. He had also scored
three league goals up to that point, but has since more than doubled that statistic with a crucial goal in a 2-1 win
against Montpellier and his first league hat-trick in a 5-0 drubbing of Metz. Not to mention an incredible Champions
League display against Man City, in which he netted his first ever goal in the competition.
The young Frenchman has all the hallmarks of a future world beater and will have plenty of time to fulfil such vast
potential. The only doubt that surrounds the future of this particular Clairefontaine graduate is which club will be fos-
tering his growth: Monaco? Or one of Europes elite?
Ligue 1 has become a playground for some of Europes best young talents, another year at Monaco may well be the
best choice for optimal development. However, should the French-Cameroonian still find himself as a bit-part player
rather than guaranteed starter, he may wish to test himself at an even more prestigious club, or at the very least force
a move in search of consistent first team action. Whether he finds a new club or not, little by little we will all catch a
greater glimpse of this talented 18-year-old and if 2017 does indeed prove to be yet another year of development and
fine-tuning, we should not be disappointed but instead remain patient.
 FW

PULISIC
FULL NAME:
CHRISTIAN MATE PULISIC

CLUB: BORUSSIA DORTMUND

NATIONALITY: AMERICAN

POSTION: RIGHT-WING

DATE OF BIRTH:
SEPTEMBER 18, 1998

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: LEWIS AMBROSE

(@LGAMBROSE)
2016 IN REVIEW
To call 2016 Christian Pulisics breakthrough year would be something of an understatement. Having started
the year in Borussia Dortmunds U-19 team, he was thrust into the spotlight with a full Bundesliga debut as
soon as February against none other than Bayer Leverkusen. From there the American went from strength
to strength, racking up 12 appearances before the end of the season and scoring his first senior goals for
club and then country. Appearing in bursts for Dortmund throughout the 2016/17 season, the American has
proven to be a worthy impact player often off the substitute bench. He has chimed in with some key goals
and assists especially a 45-minute cameo in a Bundesliga game against Ingolstadt in which the 18-year-old
helped Dortmund claw back a two-goal deficit to draw 3-3 with an assist and last-minute equaliser.
By the time the Copa Amrica came around, Pulisic was still just 17 but a key part of Jrgen Klinsmanns side.
The youngest American to play, start, and score in a World Cup qualifier and the youngest player to score for
the United States in the modern era, he arrived as a talent not just primed for the present but destined to be
the poster-boy of US football for years to come.
STYLE OF PLAY
An exciting attacking midfielder, Pulisic is all about the impact he manages to have with the ball at his feet.
Whether it be dribbling with close control or making the most of his vision to perfectly weight a through ball,
the young American is already a thorn in the sides of the most stubborn Bundesliga defences.
The most striking feature of Pulisics play is, remarkably, that he does not stand out. Unlike almost any other
player his age, when watching one must remind themselves that he is just 18. Incredibly, his decision-making
and general maturity on the ball comes across as that of a much more experienced player. It juxtaposes quite
strikingly with the raw style of team-mate Ousmane Dembl, as the Americans game often looks far more
polished than the Frenchmans.
Modest on and off the pitch, Pulisics down to earth personality helps him manage expectations with relative
ease; he has not been fazed by starts at: an international tournament; a notoriously fierce derby at home
agaisnt Schalke 04; or a must-not-lose Champions League fixture at the Bernabu. Critically, his manager
Thomas Tuchel has been willing to throw the 18-year-old into the deep end, which bodes well for the Amer-
ican as he acclimatises to all different types of match situations whether they be playing patiently against
packed defences, or looking to break against more expansive sides.
Turning attention to his technical gifts, Pulisic often appears to glide in possession, taking plenty of touches
so he can change direction or make a decision at any particular moment. He keeps the ball incredibly close
to himself in the process which makes it difficult for defenders to dispossess him as he produces less loose
touches than most. In possession, he is very secure, using his intelligence to shield the ball from more physi-
cal opponents before pushing against them and using his agility to turn quickly. That intelligence also comes
in handy when defending, where he shows discipline to track back or press forward in whatever situation he
may be playing in. This is essential in helping Dortmund keep their shape in a defensive system that, when
implemented effectively, is simultaneously one of the best attacking mechanisms in world football.
For now, he is at his most dangerous in the channels; an ability to dribble with ease and with comfort on
either foot leaves defenders often unable to anticipate his next move, whether it is to take the ball central
or out wide. It is natural for attacking midfielders to drift in and out of games and, still a teenager, it should
not come as a surprise that Pulisic still occasionally appears to be feeling his way through matches. In time,
though, expect his ability to shine through on a much more consistent basis as he slowly becomes an attack-
ing fulcrum for both club and country.

FORECAST FOR 2017

First and foremost, Pulisic faces a big challenge to maintain his place as a regular first-team contributor at
Dortmund. Andr Schrrle and Marco Reus both spent considerable spells on the side-lines early in the
2016/17 season, helping the American earn regular first-team minutes in both the Champions League and
Bundesliga. Now healthy once again, both are staking separate claims for Pulisics minutes - he has a fight on
his hands. It does not help that he has been so successful as a substitute this season, as this will likely mean
Tuchel will opt to utilise the 18-year-old as a safe option off the bench while handing his older team-mates
more starting XI opportunities.
Beyond that, playing a part in more game-changing moments are the next step. For the time being, Pulisic
shows superb sparks of creativity but, despite becoming important to Dortmunds game, is rarely the man
playing the final ball or getting into really threatening positions. As soon as he adds more regular goals to his
game, he will become integral at Dortmund and attract attention from teams all over Europe. Becoming a
more imposing goal-scoring threat will also be critical to the USAs chances of success at the 2017 Gold Cup
and throughout their ongoing World Cup qualifying campaign.
 FW

GARCIA
FULL NAME:
LEVI SAMUEL GARCA

CLUB: AZ ALKMAAR

NATIONALITY: TRINIDADIAN

POSTION: LEFT-WING

DATE OF BIRTH:
NOVEMBER 20, 1997

PREFERRED FOOT: LEFT

WRITTEN BY: NATHAN CARR

(@CARRIBEANFTBL)
2016 IN REVIEW
2016 was a record-breaking year for Levi Garcia for both club and country. In late January, he made his pro-
fessional debut off the bench for AZ Alkmaar who he agreed a deal with in February 2015. He officially
joined on a three-year contract from Central FC when he turned 18 in November later that year. He took
over Dwight Yorkes previously held record as the youngest Trinbagonian player to make an appearance for a
European side aged just 18 years and 65 days. A mere week later, he notched his first professional goal and
it did not take him long. There was less than 60 seconds between Garcia entering the field of play and him
finding the net against NEC Nijmegen. In doing so, he became the second youngest scorer in the clubs 50-
year history.
The teenager had hit the ground running at his new club in the Netherlands and this had not gone unnoticed
by then-manager of Trinidad and Tobago, Stephen Hart. He was given his first senior international call-up for
T&Ts World Cup qualifying double-header versus Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in March.
The Soca Warriors were trailing 2-1 with around half an hour remaining in Kingstown and needed a breath of
fresh air, something different to get back into the game. On came Garcia and he did not disappoint. He scored
two memorable goals on his senior debut to turn the match on its head and give his country three big points
in their 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign. For the first, he fooled his marker Akeem Williams with a quick
step-over and used his weaker right foot to drill the ball into the top left corner. For the second, he raced onto
a through ball played over the top by team-mate Neveal Hackshaw and struck a first-time shot past Lemus
Christopher in the Vincy Heat goal. This was some introduction to international football for an 18-year-old kid
who had made his two goals look easy. It was a wonderful feeling for me, beamed Garcia after full-time. It
is a moment I will never forget. Not many teenagers get his opportunity, so I was grateful for it. Garcia had
broken yet another record, this time becoming his countrys youngest scorer in a World Cup qualifier aged 18
years and 127 days. He was rewarded with a starting berth in the home tie a week later, playing the full 90
minutes as Trinidad & Tobago secured a comprehensive 6-0 win in Port of Spain.
The national team now have a new manager in the form of Dennis Lawrence and Garcia will be hoping to
impress him as well as his assistant, Sol Campbell, as T&T continue to battle for World Cup qualification
This 2016-17 season he has been unable to hold down a regular starting spot in the AZ first team, managing
90 minutes twice so far, both coming in the Europa League the second of which in Februarys 7-1 thrashing
by Lyon. In the Eredivisie, he has been used mainly as an impact substitute, brought on midway through the
second half when defences are tiring and his speed can be capitalised on. He did start, before being taken
off on 69 minutes, in a 4-2 loss to Champions League-chasing PSV; he also completed 90 minutes versus PEC
Zwolle.
STYLE OF PLAY
The great Marco van Basten described Garcia as an exceptional talent with a lot of ability when he was
coaching during AZs pre-season training ahead of the 2015-16 campaign. The former Ajax and AC Milan star
had been the clubs head coach earlier in the year before stepping away for health reasons, but he returned
for pre-season training and was impressed by what he saw from the winger. Praise from a person of that
calibre and stature within the game should not be taken lightly.
Garcia is naturally left-footed and capable of playing on either wing AZ have mainly used him on the left -
as well as in-behind the striker. His main attributes are his speed, dribbling and trickery when in one-on-one
situations. He can pack a punch with his left foot from long range, too. He is a player with a direct approach:
he likes picking the ball up out wide and driving at his marker. The fact Garcia is playing in an attack-minded
team suits his style of play. AZ average 14.1 shots per game in the Eredivisie, fourth highest in the division
behind Ajax, PSV and Feyenoord.
As mentioned previously, Garcia has often - in his AZ career, at least - been sent on in the second half of
games as opposed to starting. This is partly because his standout qualities pace, dribbling and trickery on
the ball - might lead to a manager believing he best fits the description of somebody who can make a differ-
ence late I matches when those qualities can really come to the fore against a tiring opposition. The question
is: can he consistently deliver for the entirety of the match? That is something he needs to work on. But it is
worth noting that the clubs ex-Director of Football, Earnie Stewart, explained upon Garcias arrival that we
see in him mainly a promise for the future.
The Trinbagonian newspaper website, Wired 868, used the following simile to describe him as like an em-
ployee who spends most of the day on Facebook and then solves all the offices problems at 3.45pm.
His game is not without blemish though. Sometimes his link up play and short passing can be lacking. Some-
times, too, he can hold onto the ball for too long when making the pass is the easier option. But that deci-
sion-making intelligence will likely come with more playing time and experience. Although, his reliance on his
pace and athleticism could trouble him later in his career.
FORECAST FOR 2017
On the domestic front, it is important that Garcia continues to develop. At 19 he really needs to be playing
first team football on a frequent basis. Ideally this would be at AZ. However, if he must go out on loan to an-
other club to maximise playing time then so be it.
On the national team front, Garcia is still very much in the infancy of his international career but has shown
that he is a valuable member of the senior squad. T&T will be trying everything between March and October
in their attempt to qualify for next years World Cup and Garcia is expected to be a part of that collective
effort after the team lost their opening two matches in qualifying.
As documented, the last 24 months have been very eventful for him: transferring from his native Trinidad &
Tobago to a new country and culture in the Netherlands. He has seemingly settled in well.
A few weeks prior to signing his first professional contract, Garcia was asked on whether he had any words
of inspiration for aspiring footballers. Always stay humble, dont get swell-headed as soon as things come
your way, he said, offering a reminder that humility will get you far. Just continue being the same person you
always are and have respect for your parents and friends.
That kind of humble outlook on life will surely stand this exciting young talent in good stead as he looks to
do his country proud.
 FW

RASHFORD
FULL NAME:
MARCUS RASHFORD

CLUB: MANCHESTER UNITED

NATIONALITY: ENGLISH

POSTION: STRIKER

DATE OF BIRTH:
OCTOBER 31, 1997

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: TOM CURREN

(@TOMOCURR)
2016 IN REVIEW
Marcus Rashfords professional career did not exist before 2016 at least not beyond a solitary appearance
on Manchester Uniteds bench. In a turbulent calendar year for both United and England, his emergence has
provided an explosion of colour, a story so exciting that even the tabloids struggled to hyperbolise it. During
the first half of 2016, Rashford penned the kind of romance that English commentators constantly insist can-
not be written. Called into the first team by Louis van Gaal because of a last-minute injury to Anthony Martial,
Rashford then just 18 promptly broke George Bests record to become Manchester Uniteds youngest
ever goal-scorer in European competition. Three days later, before his name had left the headlines, he scored
another brace, this time against Arsenal. It was a shout of defiance in the face of the old clich: you most
certainly could write it, and Rashford did. Then, just in case the message had not been received, he scored
135 seconds into his England debut, too.
Once the dust had settled and Rashford ran out of debuts to score in, 2016 assumed a narrative more typ-
ical of a teenage prodigy playing at the very highest level. The arrival of Zlatan Ibrahimovi at Old Trafford
meant Rashford lost his position as Uniteds preferred striker and the appointment of Jos Mourinho meant
the young striker could no longer be championed by Van Gaal. He was, in many ways, the poster boy for Van
Gaals success at United; no, the Dutchman hadnt returned them to the summit of the Premier League, but
he had at least blooded a handful of exciting youngsters. Without the backing of van Gaal, Rashford had to
start again under Mourinho, who shifted him out to the wing to accommodate both Wayne Rooney and the
mercurial Ibrahimovi. The confidence of youth seemed to dissipate, the goals dried up and Rashford found
himself relegated to the bench.
Though this might sound like his career has stalled, Rashford is still, remarkably, only 19. He went to the
European Championships in the summer, an experience that very few teenagers can claim. He is still an im-
portant part of a slowly improving Manchester United side and being second-fiddle to two of the previous
generations best players perhaps two of historys best players is hardly a damning criticism of his talent.
Rashford is still the most exciting teenage prospect in England and, if the Golden Boy rankings are anything
to go by, he is second only to Renato Sanches in the entirety of Europe. Though he must bide his time under
Jose Mourinho, 2016 will live long in every United fans memory as the year Marcus Rashford emerged for-
get the FA Cup win.
STYLE OF PLAY
Part of what makes Rashfords emergence so refreshing is, ironically, how comfortably familiar he is. In a
world where Manchester United are dropping record-breaking money on mercurial Argentine wingers just
for them to leave a year later, Rashfords simple playing style is a breath of fresh air. Without sounding like
Sam Allardyce on loop, there is something happily British about watching Rashford score goals. He is a little
reminiscent of Ian Wright, Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer. He is fast, ruthless, and dependable in front of goal.
He is capable of both the brilliant and the beautifully mundane. He is an unapologetically English striker, and
there is a guilty pleasure in watching him peel away from his marker to tap in from five yards.
Though Rashford does possess old-school qualities, he is far from outdated. His stint as a winger is largely due
to his terrific speed and his willingness to take on defenders; watch the way he drifted through Manchester
Citys defence to score on his derby debut. Though he does possess qualities that make him effective as a
wide player, he belongs down the middle; but that is not to say his time as a winger is wasted. Arsne Wenger
infamously played Aaron Ramsey as a winger for two seasons straight at Arsenal, much to the dismay of fans
but the result was a more mature midfield player with a far greater appreciation of space. The modern
Ramsey arguably one of Europes better midfield engines when allowed to play through the middle is a
product of his time as a winger. It is easy to see potential parallels between his early career and Rashfords.
If the young Englishman must spend time in a less-favoured position, then he would do well to take what
lessons he can from the experience. Like Ramsey, he may become a better player for it.
That said, Rashfords appreciation of space is already superb. His famous opening brace for United against FC
Midtjylland demonstrated his old-school poachers instinct, again invoking memories of Ian Wright. Like all
great strikers, Rashford understands when and where to position himself in the box to clean up half-chanc-
es, latch onto loose balls and make himself available for his teammates to assist him. In a team boasting the
creative talents of Juan Mata, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Paul Pogba, it is not hard to envisage Rashford slotting
away scores of goals for United in the future.
That is not to say that he is incapable of creating goals himself, however. He scored an impressive hat-trick for
England U-21s against Norway last year, two goals of which were products of his electric pace and individual
ingenuity. He possesses almost every trait desirable for a modern striker.

FORECAST FOR 2017

While Zlatan Ibrahimovic remains at Manchester United, Marcus Rashford is highly unlikely to ever replace
the Swede as first-choice striker. However, this should not deter the young Englishman. Though the ever-
green Zlatan shows no signs of slowing down, eventually his fitness will begin to fail and Rashfords exuber-
ance and athleticism will likely turn Mourinhos eye. Rashford must be patient.
Manchester Uniteds fans have seen young stars rise and fall in the space of a year Federico Macheda is
currently playing in Serie B so it would be wise for them to let Mourinho manage Rashford as he sees fit.
Given the correct tutoring and guidance, Marcus Rashford can slowly become Manchester Uniteds go-to
striker for years to come.
 FW

DOLBERG
FULL NAME: KASPER
DOLBERG RASMUSSEN

CLUB: AFC AJAX

NATIONALITY: DANISH

POSTION: STRIKER

DATE OF BIRTH:
OCTOBER 6, 1997

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: JACKGRIMSE

(@JACKGRIMSE)
2016 IN REVIEW
Although the 2015/16 Eredivisie season ended with Ajax finishing as runners-up to PSV Eindhoven for the
second consecutive campaign, there have been changes going on behind the scenes in Amsterdam. The next
generation of young stars is starting to emerge, and Danish forward Kasper Dolberg is one of the brightest
talents from that group. While it would be unfair to compare these players to the famed Class of 95 that
Ajax are so well-known for, Dolberg will be playing a lot of football alongside Justin Kluivert, son of Patrick,
who scored the lone goal in the 1995 UEFA Champions League final as Ajax beat Milan.
Having joined Ajax from his hometown team of Silkeborg IF in 2015, Dolberg played with Jong Ajax for a year
before the club decided he was ready for the first team. With Peter Bosz replacing Frank de Boer at the start
of the current season, it presented a chance for Dolberg to make an instant impression on the new boss.
Dolberg made the most of that opportunity, scoring on his competitive debut for Ajaxs senior side with a
long-range strike in the third round of Champions League qualification against PAOK Saloniki to level the
match at 1-1 and rescue a draw. He came off the bench for just 13 minutes in the first Eredivisie match of the
year, but started Ajaxs second league fixture and bagged a brace as Ajax drew 2-2.
In total, Dolberg has made 27 starts for Ajax this season, and a further eight appearances off the bench. It is
clear that the Ajax hierarchy has faith in the 19-year-old, as Dolberg has played more than 1600 league min-
utes, scoring 10 and assisting five goals in the Dutch top flight.
The highlight of Dolbergs year was probably the 5-0 win over NEC Nijmegen on the 20th of November. The
Dane opened the scoring on 19 minutes, scored again just five minutes later and made it three in the 37th
minute. Late in the day he provided an assist to cap off a man of the match performance, in which he dis-
played almost every attribute that makes him such a promising young striker.
STYLE OF PLAY
Primarily, Dolberg is a clinical finisher. Standing at 1.87m, his height is an asset, even though the young Dane
is more skilled with his feet. So far in the 2016-17 season, Dolberg has scored 11 times with his right foot
compared to just two headers.
Revisiting that hat-trick against NEC Nijmegen; Dolbergs first goal started with him dropping deep and turn-
ing his back to goal to collect a pass from midfield, playing it short to Lasse Schne. The two Danes combined
brilliantly, as Schne lofted it over two defenders to pick out Dolberg who had burst forward towards the
penalty area. Dolberg chests it down, drifts to the right and blasts it into the top right corner before the goal-
keeper could react.
Dolberg had significantly less work to do in order to make it 2-0 just five minutes later, drifting back to the top
of the box to lose his marker before finishing a ground cross to the far post with a first-time finish.
Ajax executed a set piece routine perfectly for Dolberg to get his third goal. The free kick was about 40 yards
out from goal, but it was played on the ground towards the left-wing and Daley Sinkgraven. Dolberg cut
ahead of his marker in the middle of the penalty area to head the left-backs cross to the bottom left corner.
Just 37 minutes into the match, the 19-year-old had three goals from three shots on target.
Dolberg returned the favour to his countryman Schne just ahead of the hour mark as Ajax scored their fifth
of the match. It was a wonder-goal where the assist was definitely overshadowed by the finish, but Dolberg
did well to control the ball just outside the area and kept his composure to pick out an unmarked Schne.
Averaging 72% pass completion for an Ajax player is not something that draws the eye of clubs across the
continent, but it is a respectable figure that will get better with time. Many of Dolbergs inaccurate passes are
headed flicks or long balls, and his strength on the ball helps his team retain possession. Still, the big thing
about Dolberg is that he is a goal-scorer. He constantly gets into good positions through his dribbling ability,
and has excellent movement off the ball to find space. The only thing that lacks about his game is his defen-
sive contribution, but he does not get stuck in and therefore avoids silly yellow cards. Dolbergs been booked
just once in 85 matches across club first-team, youth, and youth international play.

FORECAST FOR 2017

Since the turn of the new year, Ajax are unbeaten with Dolberg scoring twice and assisting three more goals
in six league games. De Godenzonen have also advanced to the round of 16 in the Europa League after a nar-
row 1-0 aggregate win over Legia Warszawa and will face FC Kbenhavn next.
Having lost the Eredivisie title after drawing on the final matchday last season, Ajax will be hoping for better
this time around. This time around, Feyenoord look to be the most formidable opposition for the crown, and
Ajax are trailing in the table by five points with eleven matches left to play. If Ajax cannot reclaim the title,
they will be faced with qualifying through the playoff to reach next seasons Champions League. Familiar foes
PSV are six behind Ajax and slipping to third would mean automatic qualification for Europa, a white elephant
prize of sorts.
While it would mean that Dolberg would not be able to continue his development on the biggest stage, it
could also provide a platform at a slightly lower level. Not yet 20 years old, there is no immediate need for
Dolberg to test himself against that degree of competition; Ajax are not in a position to compete for the
Champions League title and playing weaker teams in the Europa League means Dolberg and his teammates
should be able to score more goals and win more matches.
Linked with Liverpool as recently as last week, Dolberg can now add Jrgen Klopp to his ever-growing list of
admirers. Despite the interest attracted by foreign clubs, the Danish striker will most likely remain at Ajax
until at least 2018. Amsterdam remains one of the best places for young footballers to develop, and there is
no reason to leave at this time. Should Dolberg finish the year with 20 goals, and continue that pace at the
start of next season, top clubs could realistically go after him next January.
 FW

ABRAHAM
FULL NAME: KEVIN OGHENETEGA
TAMARAEBI BAKUMO-ABRAHAM

CLUB: BRISTOL CITY

NATIONALITY: ENGLISH

POSTION: STRIKER

DATE OF BIRTH:
OCTOBER 2, 1997

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: PHIL COSTA

(@_PHILCOSTA)
2016 IN REVIEW
Kevin Oghenetega Tamaraebi Bakumo-Abraham, or Tammy Abraham for short, is Chelsea through and
through. Born in Camberwell, South London, the striker joined the club as a seven-year-old and has stayed
there ever since. He was pivotal in their FA Youth Cup and UEFA Youth League winning teams in 2014/15 and
2015/16, so after scoring 74 goals in 98 appearances, it was clear that the Blues had an exciting talent on
their hands. Just figuring out what to do with him was the issue.
After initially impressing on Chelseas pre-season tour of America, it was not until his loan move to Bristol City
where the 20-year-old really made a name for himself. This was a side that had finished 18th in the Champi-
onship, escaping relegation by the skin of their teeth, struggling for goals at one end and conceding far too
many at the other. Many young players would have struggled under that kind of pressure, particularly on
their first full loan away from academy football. However, Abraham just continued doing in the Champion-
ship what he had been doing for years at Cobham putting the ball in the back of the net.
Afforded just 23 minutes away to Reading on matchday one, the Englishman was rewarded with a start in
The Robins next game against Burton, scoring twice in a 2-1 victory. Buoyed by his match winning double,
Abraham found the net seven times in his next nine appearances, picking up three man of the match awards
along the way. His form dipped slightly around October and November, before normal service was resumed
with five goals in six games over a chaotic Christmas period. In just four months of football, only Newcastles
Dwight Gayle was more prolific than the teenager.
STYLE OF PLAY
Undoubtedly, Abrahams most exciting attribute is his ability to score with such regularity. He is a throwback
to generations prior where the likes of Gary Lineker, Filippo Inzaghi and Ral built their careers around pen-
alty box poaching and making sure they were positioned correctly to capitalise on any fortunate rebounds.
Capable on both feet, strong in the air and with a vigour for acrobatics, Abraham can find the net in a number
of different ways which is a credit to his goalscoring instinct. The 19-year-old has had a hand in nearly half of
Bristol Citys 44 league goals this term, scoring 18 goals and setting up a further two in 31 appearances an
incredible tally for his first season on loan.
Standing at 63 (1.91m), Abraham is an incredibly imposing presence which makes it difficult for the oppo-
sition to contain him. Physically similar to Arsenal striker Yaya Sanogo who was once described as the chaos
factor by Alan Pardew, the 19-year-old is quick, strong, unpredictable and awkward traits that when com-
bined, have proven to be effective in every tier of English football. Surprisingly quick across the ground as
well, his willingness to press and harry opposition defenders will leave him in good stead with managers at
the top level asking their strikers to be the first line of defence.
Arguably the biggest weakness in Abrahams game is his lack of technical quality. For somebody who spent
his formative years in one of the countrys best academies, his first touch is loose and he is not particularly
adept at playing in tight spaces. When travelling at speed, the Englishman can hit the ball too hard, get the
ball stuck under his feet or run himself into a cul-de-sac which then results in losing possession. His quickness
of thought could also improve, after looking notably disconnected from his team-mates this season where
quick, one-touch build up or intricate link-up play is concerned.
Also, despite his knack for being in the right place at the right time, Abraham still has a lot to learn when
he has time to think about his movement. For somebody with such pace and power, the 19-year-old has a
frustrating habit of being caught offside far too often. His eagerness to be involved and score goals at every
opportunity is admirable, but small things such as bending his runs, or even bursting through from deep
could really take his game up a level. Also, he seems reluctant to run the channels which could create space
for onrushing midfielders such as Lee Tomlin and David Cotterill.

FORECAST FOR 2017

Between now and the end of the season, Abrahams sole focus will revolve around keeping Bristol City in the
Championship. The Robins are currently in 17th place, sitting dangerously above the drop zone with 13 games
to play and a string of difficult fixtures ahead. Unfortunately, the 19-year-old is set for a spell on the sidelines
after suffering a thigh injury and has returned to Chelsea while he undergoes treatment. The news is more
encouraging than first feared however, with the striker expected to miss three weeks as opposed to six.
In terms of what the future may hold, it is difficult to say. The youngster has definitely impressed at Ashton
Gate and even entered the football record books by becoming the highest-scoring teenager in the Champi-
onship for over 20 years. But with Diego Costa back to his best and even Michy Batshuayi struggling for any-
thing more than a few minutes each week, it is unlikely that he will be able to make an impact at Stamford
Bridge next season. This may not be a bad thing though, as he could go out on loan again (ideally to a Premier
League club) and test himself against Englands top defenders. Then we will know if he is capable of leading
the line for Antonio Conte or not.
 FW

BAILEY
FULL NAME: LEON BAILEY

CLUB: BAYER LEVERKUSEN

NATIONALITY: JAMAICAN

POSTION: LEFT-WING

DATE OF BIRTH:
AUGUST 9, 1997

PREFERRED FOOT: LEFT

WRITTEN BY: JAKE ENTWISTLE

(@JAKENTWISTLE)
2016 IN REVIEW
Electric: a term that is so often thrown about when talking about quick players. However, with Leon Bailey there
couldnt be a more apt word to describe him. The Jamaican burst onto the scene last year with club side Genk and
attracted reported interest from Europes most prestigious clubs, with Manchester United sending scouts to watch the
winger in action.
Winner of the Belgian Leagues Young Player of the Year award and UEFA European Golden Boy nominee, the Kings-
ton-born winger has gained widespread recognition for his talent. He scored a goal on his Europa League debut an
outstanding effort that epitomised everything great about his game: direct running, incredible close control and the
capacity to produce the outrageous.
Bailey ended the group stages with four goals, more than any other U-23 player in the competition. He had more shots
(28) and attempted more take-ons (38) than any other player, with Ajaxs Amin Younes (24) the only player to complete
more than Baileys impressive 23. Despite his age, and the fact it was his debut in the competition, it is no surprise
to find Bailey leading these metrics. His game his heavily built around his ability to beat players and driving into the
opposition box.
STYLE OF PLAY
Ronald de Boer, who coached Bailey during his trial at Ajax in 2013, had this to say about the Jamaican
speedster: Hes so quick, its not normal. What are his weaknesses? I cant tell you. De Boers quote says
everything that needs to be said about Leon Bailey: lightning fast and incredibly talented in some many dif-
ferent ways. He will beat a defender once, only for him to turn back and do it again. He lacks neither pace nor
confidence and his affinity for the audacious is always more evident when playing on the right.
Able to open out and beat defenders with pure pace in open space, Bailey also has the trickery and the guile
to function in tighter areas and beat defenders with his superior skill and agility. This means that he oper-
ates tremendously from both flanks: on the right, he has the ability to slow the pace down before pulling
something out from his bag of tricks to get back on his favoured left foot. On the left, he can adopt a more
traditional approach of knocking the ball beyond a defender before passing them in a flash and collecting it
further down the line. So often young players, especially wingers, can only perform successfully on one side
and limit themselves to one style of play. Leon Bailey is such an exciting talent as he has already demonstrat-
ed his ability on both sides of the pitch, as well as an understanding of how to adapt his approach depending
which flank he finds himself on.
Referring to de Boers comments one final time, whilst the Ajax coach claimed he could not tell you the
weaknesses in Baileys game, he does possess some. In fact, a footballer can always improve, a mantra Bailey
himself lives by. His feet at times move too quick for the rest of his body and can often leave the ball behind
or lose control of it in vital areas; mainly the final third. However, the rawness of his style of play is something
to be lauded and not criticised. It is harder to alter someones natural intentions when on the ball than it is
to improve their first touch and crossing ability. Bailey possesses the core strengths to become a successful
modern day winger, able to fly down both flanks, beating opposition players at will.
But, if he is going to become a complete superstar, then it his defensive work that will need polishing. Often
lethargic when in a defensive position, Bailey is prone to sticking out a leg in hope rather than defending
intelligently. Modern football dictates that all players are just as competent off the ball as they are on it and
whilst there is no doubting Baileys talent with the ball at his feet, to become the complete player he aspires
to be, he must work on understanding his defensive role within the team at the very least, if not the actual
carrying out of defensive actions.
Another slight issue is Baileys reliance on his dribbling ability to get him out of trouble. Armed with one of
the most dangerous counter attacking weapons - speed and ball carrying ability - whilst Bailey can launch
attacks in an instant, his preference to carry the ball up field rather than offload has the potential slow at-
tacks. It is a minor issue, but an issue nonetheless. With age and experience will come a great understanding
of knowing exactly when to take-on players in his own defensive third, and by all means he should not stop
doing it entirely - after all, his high speed dribbling is one of his greatest attributes, it would be nonsensical
to deny him the opportunity to use it.
Whether defending, lunging into tackles or trying to single-handily beat an entire opposition team; or attack-
ing, beating his man for the sake of beating him rather than shooting or passing at a more opportune mo-
ment it is clear that Baileys decision making is perhaps his biggest weakness. Yet, for a player that moves so
fast and operates at such a high intensity, he should be forgiven for making the wrong decision on occasion.
After all, his explosive play-style means he must only give himself a fraction of a second to make one, if that.
FORECAST FOR 2017
Baileys January move speaks volumes about what his future hold. Whilst it is not the high profile move that
was originally speculated, Bayer Leverkusen is in fact the natural progression for someone of Baileys age and
ability. In a team that relies heavily on fast breaks to score the vast majority of their goals, Bailey has not only
found a club that can match his Champions League ambitions, but also an outfit that complements his best
attributes perfectly.
Despite rumours suggesting new teammate Julian Brandts future at the club may be in doubt, the addition
of Bailey means that for six months at the very least Leverkusen have got their hands on exciting talent
on each flank and this duo should wreak havoc in the Bundesliga. They might cause a few problems in the
Champions League too.
There is, however, the matter of one important decision still looming from the past year: which national team
Bailey will look represent? In an interview with UEFA in 2016 he said, It makes me very proud standing up
here in Europe representing my country. Even though I dont represent them as a nationality, I still represent
Jamaica and it makes me proud inside.
Whether Leon Bailey will play for Jamiaca in the future is doubtful, especially given his extremely ambitious
nature. Turning out for Belgium will provide him with the stage and competition to match his ability. Repre-
senting Jamaica could in fact stunt his growth as a footballer, even prevent him from gaining the global recog-
nition and appreciation such an exciting talent deserves. In fact, rather ironically, the Belgian national team is
probably the best means for Bailey to put Jamaica on the footballing map. He wants to play against the best
players. He wants to play in the biggest tournaments. Belgium can provide him with the opportunities to do
so. Jamaica, unfortunately, cannot. Should the pride of Kingston decide on his international future soon, one
expects him to fly the Jamaican flag proudly behind him, whatever his choice may be.
Germany will be Baileys home for the next year. But, it will not come as a surprise if Leverkusen end up be-
coming another stepping stone towards an even more prestigious European club. His technical ability is rare
for someone so fast and that is testament to his career choices thus far. By playing regular football and slowly
ramping up the difficulty and competitiveness of his surroundings, the 19-year-old is steadily becoming a
household name.
 FW

MOR
FULL NAME: EMRE MOR

CLUB: BORUSSIA DORTMUND

NATIONALITY: TURKISH

POSTION: RIGHT-WING

DATE OF BIRTH:
JULY 24, 1997

PREFERRED FOOT: LEFT

WRITTEN BY: LEWIS AMBROSE

(@LGAMBROSE)
2016 IN REVIEW
Emre Mor broke into the Nordsjlland starting lineup at the start of 2016, instantly becoming a crucial player
at the Danish Superligaen side. A short 18-year-old, playing in a weaker European league afforded Mor the
chance to play up front, a luxury a player of his size and experience would not be afforded in the continents
major divisions.
After leading the attack and notching two goals and two assists, Mors opening few games in senior football
earned him a surprise place in Turkeys Euro 2016 squad and a transfer to Borussia Dortmund. After a pair of
impressive cameos, Mor started and delivered instantly with a match-winning assist in the final group game
against the Czech Republic. The start to his Dortmund career has been trickier with the club well-stocked
out wide but Mor has already shown glimpses of what is to come, with a goal and two assists in just eight
Bundesliga appearances.
STYLE OF PLAY
Mors size is instantly striking. Even shorter than Lionel Messi, he stands out when he takes his place on the
pitch amongst the giants of German football. Thankfully, he can use his size to his advantage. An incredibly
low centre of gravity and short strides make Mor a superb dribbler, capable of controlling the ball at speed
and making sharp turns.
Unfortunately, he is also predictable. Almost exclusively playing from the right-wing, the Turk is incredibly
one-footed, looking to cut inside at every opportunity. This can have its advantages making diagonal runs
inside from the flank is incredibly advantageous strategically but makes Mor easy to predict.
As well as dribbling well, Mor can find intelligent passes when he comes inside or when he gets to the by-line,
regularly creating opportunities for his team-mates, especially when he comes off the bench against tired
defences. Again, though, his use of the ball comes with a caveat; Mor tends to shoot from ambitious distanc-
es or angles a little too often. This is something he has already worked on at Dortmund, now surrounded by
better players than during his time in Denmark, but he habitually wasted good attacking situations at Nords-
jaelland by unleashing a shot unlikely to test the goalkeeper when he had other options.
Mors first touch, which is often loose, is also a relative weakness to his game. It is something of a conundrum
that such a good dribbler has a weak first touch but it is something he could focus on, rather than thinking
too far ahead before he has control of the ball.
One thing to note of the Turk is the temper which he found difficult to tame in Octobers 1-1 draw with Her-
tha BSC. It was a game in which he won five fouls, but it should have been more than that, shut was Herthas
robustness in dealing with the midfielder. A rough foul pushed him to the edge; Mor pushed back and was
sent to the stands.
It was a harsh dismissal and underlined Mors immaturity but also his desire. The teenager was so frustrated
he acted out and left his side a man down but he only did so because he has such a strong drive to reach the
top.
With enormous ability and growing experience, the only way is up for Mor and the ability to dribble and offer
decisive moves at the highest level at the age of 19 continues to delight.

FORECAST FOR 2017

With Christian Pulisic and Ousmane Dembl ahead of Mor as the youthful options on Dortmunds wings,
playing time is going to be hard to come across. Dortmund are incredibly well stocked in the attacking mid-
field positions and the Turkey international must be outstanding in his limited chances to prove he can hold
his own.
Under Thomas Tuchel, Mor should receive the guidance he needs to hone his talents. With more tactical
understanding and a slightly less rushed approach on the ball his development could be enormous.
With so much competition for places at Westfalenstadion, Mor may have to push for a loan move later in
2017 to force his way to the front of the queue in Dortmund and regain his place in the Turkey squad.
 FW

AUGUSTIN
FULL NAME:
JEAN-KVIN AUGUSTIN

CLUB: PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN

NATIONALITY: FRENCH

POSTION: STRIKER

DATE OF BIRTH:
JUNE 16, 1997

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: JAKE ENTWISTLE

(@JAKEENTWISTLE)
2016 IN REVIEW
Jean-Kevin Augustin is yet another member of Frances incredible current batch of young forwards. A finisher
first and foremost, the PSG academy graduate is able to lead the line on his own or in conjunction with an-
other striker, but has found it increasingly difficult to gain any significant amount of game time at club level
hardly surprising when Edinson Cavani has scored 35 goals already. In fact, he has only made seven senior
starts since his debut in April 2015.
That being said, no matter how limited Augustins chances may have been domestically, for France he has
proven his quality time and time again. Top scorer in France U-19s European Championship success in the
summer of last year, he was also named the tournaments Golden Player. His goals in Germany were numer-
ous, diverse and great adverts for his talent, especially his finishing ability; his tally of six goals equalled a
tournament record previously held by a certain Alvaro Morata.
The Frenchman sustained this prolific form throughout the rest of 2016, making the seamless transition into
Frances U-21 alongside Celtics Moussa Dembl. The two have formed a deadly partnership since then,
tearing Englands defence to shreds in an entertaining match between the two sides in October.
With four goals in six games for the France U-21 side, adding to his 12 in 13 appearances at U-19 level, Au-
gustin all but secured his place at the U-20 World Cup in 2017 before 2016 had even ended. Although a loan
move may have seen him acquire more game time, PSG kept him in their first team squad, using him spar-
ingly in 2016. He managed one goal and two assists in just 190 minutes of Ligue 1 action; a decent return not
to be besmirched.
STYLE OF PLAY
Explosive is the one word that best describes Augustin. The 19-year-old is far from the most imposing striker
but can hold his own in most physical battles. Should he be given space to run in behind or even a fraction of
a second to turn, he will do so with devastating effect.
His finishing is clinical, and as mentioned in the review section, he is capable of finding the net from any part
of the pitch, with any part of his body. A powerful and clean striker of the ball, he is just as likely to rifle the
it into the roof of the net as he is to nestle it into the bottom corner. Augustins understanding of which type
of finish is best for each individual situation is one of his greatest strengths and speaks volumes about his
excellent game intelligence.
The 19-year-old would not be an archetypal French forward if he was not partial to a game on the wing. And
in a PSG side that has Edinson Cavani spearheading an already frightening attack, it is on the right-hand side
where PSGs young forward sees most of his minutes. When playing out wide he is even more direct and en-
joys beating his man in a raw display of speed rather than tangling up his opponent with an array of different
tricks.
Rather than beat his defender, and then do it again, Augustin prefers to blitz past any waiting opponents in
one fell swoop, showing them a fresh pair of heels and leaving them scrambling to catch up. He may not be
the tallest, but he is powerful and there are not many players who can keep up with him when he decides to
drive towards the by-line.
His occasional foray as a right winger is evident when he plays up front. Unlike most French forwards who
enjoy drifting out to the left only to cut in and shoot with their right, Augustin is relatively unique in his ability
to manipulate the right-hand channel - hence why his partnership with Kylian Mbapp and/or Moussa Dem-
bl at youth level has been so devastating. When one drifts towards their favourite channel, the other stays
central awaiting a delivery from their strike partner, lying in wait to pounce on any loose balls as a result of
their strike partners exploits out wide.
Admittedly he is not the most graceful of footballers to watch, nor the most eye-catching on the ball. No
doubt he has technique and skill, but when running with it he relies purely on pace and power to burst into
vacant spaces rather than trickery and guile to create them himself. There are no secrets. But with his pace
and running power, there need not be any.
When playing upfront, his best position in my opinion, Moussa Dembls parallel rise to prominence sees
Augustin play alongside another striker generally. However, when tasked with leading the line on his own he
is surprisingly well equipped. The 19-year-old is remarkably comfortable with his back to goal, taking the ball
in and bringing others into play.
His capabilities as lone front-man were on show during the U19 European Championships, as although the
likes of Mbapp were in the side, the Monaco forward was stationed much wider on the left in a fluid for-
mation closely resembling a 4-3-3. At times Augustin could be seen patrolling the touchline, but he was the
most common option through the middle. Able to absorb pressure and protect the ball, Augustin not only
provided an outlet in the channels thanks to his speed, but also displayed a maturity and understanding of
when he should drop deeper and simply act as a wall for his team-mates in midfield to bounce the ball off of.
In short, Jean-Kevin Augustin is a good winger, but has the potential to be an even better striker. He already
has the tools to plague most full-backs, but he is not far from becoming the scourge of many a central de-
fender, too.
FORECAST FOR 2017
This year will no doubt be another frustrating year in terms of first team minutes. Part of one of the most
expensively assembled attacking squads, Augustin now has Julian Draxler and Gonalo Guedes to contend
with - and that is just for a place out wide.
A loan move is looking like the increasingly more sensible option as time passes and players are brought in,
but Augustin should not give up total hope of making it in the French capital. Staying at PSG, however, will
most likely mean more minutes as a winger: the fact he is able to play in any position across a front three
is perhaps the biggest obstacle blocking any real progress in forging a career as a striker. Augustins future
should be in a central role and his versatility is potentially a curse.
Whether he is used exclusively as a winger or a utility player who can both play out wide or through the
middle, the PSG academy graduate can certainly add something to the squad. 2017 is still too early to make
such an impact given the huge competition for places, even out wide. But his ability to play two positions -
intelligently and effectively - means he would be an asset for any team looking to acquire his services either
on a temporary and more permanent basis.
 FW

DEMBL
FULL NAME: OUSMANE DEMBL

CLUB: BORUSSIA DORTMUND

NATIONALITY: FRENCH

POSTION: RIGHT-WING

DATE OF BIRTH:
MAY 15, 1997

PREFERRED FOOT: LEFT

WRITTEN BY: LEWIS AMBROSE

(@LGAMBROSE)
2016 IN REVIEW
One day, we might just look back on 2016 as the year football first saw glimpses of what Ousmane Dembl
could become. After rejecting the advances of many of Europes top clubs, Dembl became the star player
at Stade Rennais during his first full season of professional football. The Frenchman scored his first twelve
league goals in professional team in fewer games than it took the likes of Lionel Messi, Zlatan Ibrahimovi, or
Neymar. A summer transfer was inevitable.
Dortmund were the club to secure his signature and after a couple of months riddled with frustration but
sprinkled with moments of brilliance, he has started to deliver consistently and has asserted himself as a
regular starter in both the Champions League and the Bundesliga.
With more minutes than any other teenager at a top European club apart from Gianluigi Donnarumma at
AC Milan this season, Dembl has provided a tangible impact too with six goals and 14 assists in just over
2,000 minutes of first-team action since his arrival in Germany. These are incredible numbers for a teenager
to register in only his second season of regular first-team football and his first season after a move to a for-
eign country.
STYLE OF PLAY
Sometimes Dembl looks erratically unpredictable, other times he looks a genius with an innate gift to terri-
fy defenders. At his exciting best he is a healthy mixture of all of the above. He is statistically among the best
dribblers in Europe and it is hardly surprising when you see him running with the ball. Incredibly quick and
ambidextrous, his long legs underpin his ability to manipulate the ball precisely and change direction rapidly.
Despite this, the 19-year-old can have games where he is extremely wasteful on the dribble and can at times
look as though he is trying to force the game when patience must be exercised in order to recycle and reboot
attacks. It is a sign of how raw he is despite the obvious power he possesses.
His dribbling ability means nothing, of course, without end product. As he has shown with Rennes and now
Dortmund, he has plenty of that too. Only one player in Europe has more than his incredible tally of 14 as-
sists (all competitions) by mid-February, and his name is Toni Kroos. Dembls furiously fast style makes his
considered passing in the final third all the more impressive.
Having said that, there is a lot to work on. That passing ability does not rear its head often enough and, with
all that talent, he remains one of the more frustrating players in all of football. Unlike Pulisic, watching Dem-
bl play for Dortmund comes with constant reminders that he remains just 19 and expectations should be
tempered for the time being. Dribbling when there is no space, passing when there is nobody available, and
lapses in defensive concentration mark the points that stand between the 19-year-old and a place amongst
the very best in the world.
Great progression has been made tactically, though, and we have already seen Thomas Tuchel get some
success by moving Dembl into a more central role. He can struggle to impose himself but when he drifts a
little closer to the wings and finds spaces, the 19-year-old injects an impetus into Dortmunds game that can
make them impossible to defend.
When Dortmund are struggling to get a grip of a game, a winger constantly losing possession is the obvious
candidate for a substitution but that is where the enigma lies with Dembl: he is likely to defy 80 poor min-
utes and conjure a chance from nothing. It is why he is brilliant, it is why he is frustrating, and it is why people
love watching him. However, if he can slowly begin to impact games for longer periods of time, the 19-year-
old has the potential to be one of the worlds elite attackers in terms of volume of goals and assists playing in
a system that promotes his style.

FORECAST FOR 2017

In the short term, Dembl will look to remain a mainstay in the Dortmund team and establish himself at
international level, where he has already won three caps and was awarded a full debut in November. With
more consistency, he will try and have an impact on the Champions League knockout rounds - in which Dort-
mund will attempt to overcome a rigid Benfica team - and become one of the Bundesligas leading players.
Looking further forward, the attacking midfielder has already underlined an interest in playing for Barcelona
in the future. He is already being tipped by many to be crowned the best player in the world at some stage
in his career, so, like his team-mate Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, maybe he too will look towards Spain if
he is unable to regularly contest for the Bundesliga and Champions League titles in his next few seasons at
Dortmund.
 FW

MAYORAL
FULL NAME:
BORJA MAYORAL MOYA

CLUB: VFL WOLFSBURG

NATIONALITY: SPANISH

POSTION: STRIKER

DATE OF BIRTH:
APRIL 5, 1997

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: MIRAN ARI

(@THEREALBOZZ)
2016 IN REVIEW
With over 150 goals scored in all competitions in the past four years, Borja Mayoral is a name that had many
Real Madrid fans licking their lips and envisioning the second coming of club legend Ral. A supreme poach-
er who almost always gets into the right place at the right time, Mayoral netted 15 goals in 33 matches for
Real Madrid Castilla helping the side reach the promotion play-offs and narrowly missing out on promotion
to Spains second division. Given that the division is a brutal one for young players, especially attackers from
glitzy clubs such as Real Madrid playing alongside jaded veterans looking to kick, rather than outplay, Mayoral
held his own more than well enough.
Like many recent Real Madrid youth products, Mayoral needed regular minutes but at a more advanced com-
petition so the club bosses decided that a loan spell at Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga would serve him best. A
competitive league with a wide range of tactical challenges brings out the best in many young talents, but
Mayoral has found it hard to gain stable footing while on loan. His move was met with a decent bit of fanfare
but starts have been few and far in between while appearances off the bench have been limited in minutes.
The second half of the season has seen him start to make inroads and he has looked more threatening on
goal, but rumours of poor training effort levels have dogged him and likely explain the lack of minutes he has
played this season.
STYLE OF PLAY
A brilliant goal-scorer that seems to score whenever he is gifted even a half-chance, Mayoral is a two-footed
poacher extraordinaire. Though strikers in the modern game see more and more demands placed on them,
not just as strikers but also all-around versatile playmakers, Mayoral is a sort of throwback to the days of
Filippo Inzaghi and Ral sitting on the shoulders of defenders and looking to break offside traps to cherry-pick
goals with the most minimal of touches. Mayoral is by no means a physical phenomenon, he is rather lanky
and not particularly blessed with height and pace, but his understanding of when to use his burst of accel-
eration and how to get lost in between defenders only to pop up in front of the net is clearly above average
for many strikers his age.
To compensate for a lack of blistering pace, Mayoral has learned to make devastating runs into channels. He
tends to disappear, not in the negative sense in that he is not involved but rather that he emerges unexpect-
edly and is more than adept at losing his man marker. He has made a name for himself with his trailing runs,
while a teammate will be the one to provide the primary pressure on the defence and goalkeeper, while
Mayoral provides the finishing touch on a rebound or loose ball in the box.
However, he is not without his faults. As previously mentioned, his game is rather one-dimensional. His hold-
up play is adequate and he does try and bring his teammates into the game, but he is by no means a play-
maker in the ilk of Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema, nor is he a prodigiously quick and talented dribbler
capable of breaking down man-markers and defenses on his own like Gareth Bale. He has also been some-
what awkward in an attacking pair as he thrives as the primary focal point at the front of the attack. Adding
a reserved attacker willing to take some creative pressure off Mayoral is something managers might want
to consider until Mayoral develops these skills on his own. If he does not, he might find his career options
limited.
Though his work-rate while progressing through the ranks of Real Madrids academy was exemplary and
should have served as a template for other young strikers in the program, it has dropped off a fair amount
while on loan. This may be linked to his demoralisation as he continues to be starved of minutes on loan in
Germany.
While rising through Real Madrids youth system he was undoubtedly the man who was consistently fed the
ball and whose spatial awareness allowed him to dominate versus less talented defenders who simply could
not keep up with his movement. Now that hes being challenged it will speak volumes about his commitment
and ability to progress in his development.

FORECAST FOR 2017

Young attackers under contract at Real Madrid might have the single largest barrier to entry in all of football.
Unless the talent is so prodigious that it simply cannot be ignored, these youngsters will need time on loan
in order to impress the Real Madrid hierarchy. Mayoral has an inherent advantage thanks to his outrageous
goal tallies over the years while impressing both at the club level as well as with the Spanish youth teams.
However, his time on loan brings up more questions than answers so far as he has not found much of a foot-
ing at a league known for developing young talent.
Mayoral will likely see himself on loan again in the coming season, perhaps in Spain where he is more familiar
with his surroundings. After all, Mayoral is only 19 years of age and has much developing to do. It would be
unfair to him and the club he plays for to already compare him to the likes of Ral and Inzaghi, he shares their
supreme awareness of defenders and their clinical touch but his work rate will certainly need to improve to
match the qualities of those two legends. He will likely need to add additional elements to his game if he is
to emerge as a first-team player at Real Madrid one day.
He has got the love for his Merengues and the crowd has regularly returned the love, both to the crowd in
Madrid as well as those invested in Spains youth national teams who cannot help but see flashes of young
Ral in him. But whether or not they will give him a fair chance and whether or not he will reach the high
expectations placed on his shoulders seems ultimately up to him. The coming year will likely provide a clear
indication of whether he will follow in Rauls footsteps or if he will end up as one of the many good, not great,
Real Madrid striker products.
 FW

MALCOM
FULL NAME:
MALCOM FILIPE SILVA DE OLIVEIRA

CLUB: FC GIRONDINS BORDEAUX

NATIONALITY: BRAZILIAN

POSTION: RIGHT-WING

DATE OF BIRTH:
FEBRUARY 26, 1997

PREFERRED FOOT: LEFT

WRITTEN BY: WILL SAVAGE

2016 IN REVIEW
When Bordeaux signed Malcom at the start of 2016, experienced Football Manager 2016 players across the
world would have nodded knowingly, aware of the young Brazilians potential. In the real world, too, Malcom
had shown his talents turning out for Corinthians. The 2014 season saw the young attacker getting chances to
impress and the 2016 season saw him cementing himself in the team, with 46 appearances across the whole
season in which he scored 8 goals. He truly caught the eye during a successful season as Corinthians won
the league title and Malcom was unsurprisingly linked with a vast swathe of Europes bigger clubs. A strong
showing in a talented Brazil team at the U-20 World Cup followed and at the end of the 2015 calendar year,
he was ready for a move.
It was perhaps unexpected then that Malcom ended up at Bordeaux at the start of 2016, but it allowed him a
chance to play regularly in a European league without too much hype or pressure and in hindsight it is fair to
say the decision was a good one. The acclimatisation period before featuring regularly was short too, by the
end of February Malcom was regularly coming off the bench. The 2016/17 season has seen him take another
stride forward, as a starting fixture in Bordeauxs attack. Malcom has some international experience too, al-
though it is ended in heartbreak. He was a member of the Brazilian side which made the final of 2015s U-20
World Cup and lost in extra-time to Serbia.
STYLE OF PLAY
When one thinks of Brazilian attackers, there is a certain stereotype. Pace, power, skill, directness. It is the
mould, and for Malcom it is no exception, as exemplified by his regular comparisons with Robinho. The young
Brazilian uses his electrifying ability well, able to play in wider positions as he typically has for Bordeaux, or
behind the striker. But Malcom is not just a one trick pony. His ability to fashion chances for himself is married
with creative instincts which make him just as capable of creating chances for teammates.
When one thinks of Brazilians who can do anything with a ball at their feet, one thinks of the likes of Ronald-
inho with obscene tricks and flicks. Malcoms feet are far subtler though, using slight flicks and agile changes
of direction to make space for himself and they allow him carry the ball effortlessly. Perhaps surprisingly for
a young attacker, it is the subtleties of his game that are most impressive. Part of his power on the ball no
doubt come from his build, despite not being the tallest at 1.71m tall, his stocky physique allows him to hold
off the unwanted attentions of defenders when they manage to get near him. Combined with his quick turn
of pace the Brazilian can seem almost unstoppable when he gets up a head of steam.
Malcom is not afraid to go for goal himself either, happy to take a shot from range if he cannot find a better
option, or straight from a free-kick. Although he has the technique to threaten the goal, it should be hoped
no doubt that his numbers in terms of both goals and assists will increase in time to match his ability. Having
only been in France for a year there is no great burden on him yet but he will be expected to contribute more
as his development continues. For all the positive aspects of his game there are other areas which could do
with improvement too.
His contributions defensively have been criticised previously, with accusations that he does not cover enough
ground for the team or is unlikely to go into a tackle with the same commitment others might. It is possible
the stereotype of being a young Brazilian attacker has influenced these views to an extent but either way,
Malcom will want to distance himself from such labels in the future, as footballers at the top level are usually
required to contribute in all aspects of play. This is especially true of many of todays top teams which employ
high-intensity pressing systems. His lack of height means he is not the strongest in the air either, although it
is up for debate how important this is for an attacking midfielder.

FORECAST FOR 2017

Things seem simple for Malcom right now. He is getting as much first-team football as he can handle at Bor-
deaux and that can only be good for his development. The more minutes he continues to receive, the more
he can work raise his game and iron out those weaknesses, while also affording him the opportunity to build
up a fitter engine so that he can become a stronger two-way runner. It is imperative that he bears that in
mind in the future too, having already shown a down to earth attitude and good decision making in choosing
Bordeaux as his first European destination.
While there is no doubt he will view a bigger club as his next step as he continues to improve, there should
be no hurry for him to leave the situation he is in at the moment, but that will not stop Europes bigger clubs
trying to turn his head as they did before he moved to Marseille.
 FW

ROBERTS
FULL NAME: PATRICK JOHN
JOSEPH ROBERTS

CLUB: CELTIC

NATIONALITY: ENGLISH

POSTION: RIGHT-WING

DATE OF BIRTH:
FEBRUARY 5, 1997

PREFERRED FOOT: LEFT

WRITTEN BY: JAKE ENTWISTLE

(@JAKEENTWISTLE)
2016 IN REVIEW
Patrick Roberts started the year by signing an 18-month loan deal with Celtic after making just one first team
appearance for Manchester City since his reported 12 million move from Fulham. The rather surprising na-
ture of the transfer and subsequent lack of game time suggest there may have been more at play than the
Premier League club simply acquiring an exciting young player, but agenda aside, acquire an exciting young
player they did.
Since moving to the Scottish Premiership side, Roberts has enjoyed his best football to date. 11 goals and 11
assists in 45 games across all competitions since the start of his loan move is a very respectable return. His
first ever senior goals came in the form of a brace in April in a match against Hearts and he was later awarded
Player of the Month after adding another goal to his April tally.
The highlight of his year, however, is undoubtedly the impressive Champions League display he produced
against his parent club in December. An excellent solo goal in the fourth minute of the match set the tone for
a man of the match performance which acted as a timely reminder to those watching, especially everyone
involved with Manchester City, of exactly what he is capable of.
STYLE OF PLAY
Agility is the backbone of Roberts play style. The myth that excellent dribblers are instantly perceived as
quick is often misguided, and whilst Roberts may look rapid, it is really because his short stride and low
centre of gravity enable him to change direction and accelerate much faster than any other player. He leaves
players in his wake through the sharpness of turn and ability to start and stop in an instant. In a flat-out foot
race, the 20-year-old will not turn many heads, which is by no means a flaw, it is just important to distinguish
between quick players and agile players; Roberts is the latter - and, in fact, one of the best examples of it.
Although recruited to be a member of Team Messi, Roberts is unlikely to reach the same level as his apparent
footballing sensei. But, for all the clichs there is no denying that the Man City youngsters style of play is
eerily similar to that of Barcelonas mini magician standing at 57, their physical stature is not too different
either. Scurrying forward with the ball glued to his left foot, Roberts plays as a right winger using his short
stride and excellent close ball control to constantly attack the opposition, shifting the ball inside onto his left
often.
His ability to change direction quickly means that defenders find it difficult to stop him from coming inside and
are punished for any over-eager attempts to steal possession. The 20-year-old is capable of manipulating the ball
to accommodate his heavy one-footedness even in the tightest of spaces and relies on twists and turns rather
than outrageous skill to beat his opponents, similarly, to Lionel Messi.
Pitching up on the right-hand touchline, Roberts enjoys receiving the ball as wide as possible. Being left-footed
and playing on the right allows the Man City loanee to receive the ball with his body open to more of the pitch
and by standing so close to the touchline he is able to lure opposition players towards him, creating one-on-one
situations which a player with his dribbling ability thrive off of. It also crafts the opportunity to play incisive re-
verse passes for strikers exploiting the space in between centre-back and full-back.
By drifting inside not only is Roberts able to see these runs materialise and identify them quicker and by pull-
ing defenders across the pitch as they naturally shift over with the ball it creates the perfect angle for a reverse
through ball into the right-hand channel which has been vacated: Roberts most common form of assist. Leaning
so heavily on the angles and spaces created by cutting in, however, also makes the accompanying full-back ex-
tremely important to the 20-year-olds game.
Roberts relies on the overlapping runs of his teammates to either help isolate defenders, freeing himself from a
two-on-one situation should the opposition decide to double up on him or simply create space inside that Rob-
erts can either dribble into himself or begin creating chances for others. Whilst it is perhaps too far to suggest
that Celtics young winger will only ever be as good as the full-back behind him, given his style of play and fairly
unilateral approach to the game at this stage in his career, it is certainly something that will have a huge bearing
on his ability to impact a game.
Although by no means prolific goal-scorer, Roberts has a decent record since joining Celtic on loan, netting 11
times in 45 games across all competitions (he failed to score in his first 22 senior appearances, all for Fulham).
A high proportion of his goals follow the same pattern: dribbling in field from the right-hand touchline before
measuring a pinpoint curled finish into the opposite left-hand corner. It is textbook and predictable, but as many
similar players have proven, highly effective if the player adopting the approach is good enough. Roberts is, un-
fortunately, not that good yet. For every time he makes a defender look foolish, squeezing through a seemingly
impossible gap, there are several other occasions in which his attempts to shift the ball on to his favoured left side
look forced, uninspired and rather underwhelming. The London-born winger no doubt has great technical ability,
but having the intelligence to know when to use it is equally important.
As alluded to earlier, the goal in the Champions League against parent club Man City was the perfect expression
of everything exciting about Patrick Roberts: agility, technique and dribbling ability. The only worry is that a player
with such talents can easily become just as frustrating as they are fantastic. More games will lead to better deci-
sion making and at 20-years-old Roberts has the time to rid himself of some potentially crippling habits.
FORECAST FOR 2017
Patrick Roberts loan move to Celtic has been his best footballing decision to date. He was struggling to live up to
the hype surrounding him at Fulham and although he showed glimpses of his talent, the flurry of goals and cre-
ative spark fans were expecting were not on show as often as they had hoped. Truthfully, though, he is probably
still a fair way from any real prospect of regular first team football at Manchester City, especially given the recent
form of Leroy San and Pep Guardiolas apparent fondness of the German winger just a year older than Roberts.
If Celtic wish to extend the Englishmans loan deal into a third season at the club then the winger should oblige.
Although still not a guaranteed start in Brendan Rodgers side, he is playing frequently and making enough of
an impact to silence some previous doubters. He has settled into the team and flourished in a system which
encourages and accentuates his greatest talents. He is too one-dimensional at this moment of time to be used
frequently in a Man City side which requires so much from its wide players. He may even find that with a bit of
fine-tuning his future at his parent club lies in a more central, creative role, if in Manchester at all. Another season
and a quest to become a first team regular at Celtic Park is his best option.
His international future is even harder to predict. Roberts declined the opportunity to represent his country at
the U-19 European Championships in favour of helping Celtic qualify for the 2016/17 Champions League. He had
scored six goals and provided a further five assists in the previous two U-19 European Championship qualifying
campaigns (10 appearances) and such a record at suggests that he would easily slot back into the side at youth
level should both parties be willing. But, whether any bridges were burnt after his summer snub will have a mas-
sive part to play on his potential involvement in another tournament.
Put bluntly, England travel to South Korea in May 2017 to participate in the U-20 World Cup: they would benefit
from having Roberts in the squad. But, Celtic will not mind keeping him around, either.
 FW

JOTA
FULL NAME: DIOGO JOS
TEIXEIRA DA SILVA

CLUB: FC PORTO

NATIONALITY: PORTUGUESE

POSTION: STRIKER

DATE OF BIRTH:
DECEMBER 4, 1996

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: TIAGO ESTVO

(@TIAGOESTV)
2016 IN REVIEW

With his younger years shared between Gondomar and Paos de Ferreiras youth sides, it was two years ago
that the brilliant Paulo Fonseca decided Diogo Jota was ready to start playing some first division football with
Paos. Going from a regular starter in the 2014/15 seasonto a crucial starter in 2015/16, it was obvious to
anyone who watched that Jotas future lay at a level above Paos. 10 assists and 14 goals in 35 matches from
one so young only served to back up this conclusion. Happy to be fielded out wide where he could cut in from
the left or in a central position as a second striker, Jota yielded comparisons to Antoine Griezmann.

Fitting then that Atltico won the battle for his signature, tying him down till 2021 andfighting off interest
from some of Portugals biggest clubs in the process. Joining the Champions League finalists and impressing
immediately was always going to be a daunting task for the young Portuguese attacker. A loan move to
Porto soon followed, allowing Jota to gain experience at a higher level than he is used to while in a familiar
environment at a club Atltico know they can trust with loanees. The 20-year old did start the season on the
bench but a few substitute appearances quickly turned into an unquestioned starting spot with a hat-trick in
Madeira in a match against Nacional and Espirito Santos new tactical switch to a 4-1-3-2.
STYLE OF PLAY

Jota crafted out a place for himself in the team, proving himself as the perfect partner to Andr Silva with
the latter leading the line giving Jota the freedom to act as a second forward. This role suits Jota perfectly
as he sees enough of the ball to be regularly involved in play while having the positional freedom to roam in
between the lines and drift into wider positions as the play requires.

His excellent link-up play means the young attacker is always connected with his midfield and attacking team-
mates, he leads Portos assist chart with four. While his raw passing numbers are not overly astonishing, his
80% pass accuracy shows quality in that aspect for someone playing in routinely advanced attacking posi-
tions. Jota does not carry the ball forward as often as one might expect from someone in his position, but also
holds possession remarkably well for one operating in such a crowded area of the pitch.

Despite not being the most prolific dribbler, Jota is adept at advancing play through finding gaps of space to
receive the ball and picking out teammates for a quick exchange of passes. It would be easy to think Jotas
role is simply providing chances for Andre Silva, given how prolific his strike partner is, but this is not the case.

Few players in Portugal take more shots per game than Jota who poses a real goal threat. Although not the
biggest, Jota is not phased by physical defenders. He is resilient in the challenge and his pace and agility mean
he can exploit the smallest gap of space. His consistent featuring in the starting XI show he has the stamina
and mental fortitude to go the distance both in a match and over a long season playing in multiple competi-
tions.

FORECAST FOR 2017

Going forward, Jotas attitude should serve him well. Reportedly a humble and grounded character, Jota
constantly seems happy to take on feedback in order to improve his game. While Fonseca was an important
manager in his career since his debut, Jorge Simo has perhaps been just as important when it has come to
improving the defensive side of Jotas game. Now under a natural motivator like Nuno and learning more
about Portos values, he will grow as a man as well.

Now a starter in the talented Portuguese U-21s whose two-striker formation has been implemented at se-
nior level during the Euros, both him and his striking partner Silva - who is already playing alongside Cristiano
Ronaldo - have the potential to reach great heights. With few other options for his spot in the Porto squad,
barring any injury or suspension Jota will remain one of the first names on the team sheet throughout the
rest of the season.

Jotas fascinating mix of physical and technical attributes and his hard-working, humble nature mean he is
likely to have a role to play on his return to Madrid. If Porto are willing to buy him, 22million is the clause
that ties him to the Spanish giants. If the Dragons can afford it, it seems a worthy investment for someone
who has impressed considerably during his time there. Furthermore, he will continue to grow into a role at
international level which should see his value continue to rise.
 FW

IHEANACHO
FULL NAME:
KELECHI PROMISE IHEANACHO

CLUB: MANCHESTER CITY

NATIONALITY: NIGERIAN

POSTION: STRIKER

DATE OF BIRTH:
OCTOBER 3, 1996

PREFERRED FOOT: LEFT

WRITTEN BY: PHIL COSTA

(@_PHILCOSTA)
2016 IN REVIEW
Kelechi Iheanacho was not always destined to shine for Manchester City. In fact, had it not been for the
advice of his father, he would have been playing in the blue and white stripes of Porto where other African
players had previously enjoyed success. But as additional offers came in from Arsenal and Sporting Clube
de Portugal, the Imo born striker went against his gut instinct to join the sky-blue revolution. Two years, 43
appearances and 22 goals later, it just goes to show that parents really do know best.
After initially impressing against Crystal Palace and Swansea in the league, it was not until April where the
20-year-old really made a name for himself. Thrown into the starting XI by Manuel Pellegrini who was strug-
gling to motivate his team after it was announced he would be replaced at the end of the season by Pep Guar-
diola, many young players would have frozen under that kind of responsibility. However, Iheanacho thrived
under the pressure and enjoyed testing himself against some of Englands sternest defences. With his good
form earning him a consistent run in the side, he scored four goals and assisted two in his next four games to
secure City a crucial top four finish.
However, following Pep Guardiolas arrival in the summer, rumours began to surface that Iheanacho had
threatened to leave the club unless his excessive salary demands were met. Unsurprisingly, the claims were
incorrect and the Nigerian needed little persuasion to sign a new five-year deal in August. His ability to prove
decisive was evident yet again after scoring three goals and assisting three in his first six games of the season,
before finding the net against Southampton, Celtic and Hull to cap off a fantastic twelve months.
STYLE OF PLAY
Undoubtedly, Iheanachos most impressive attribute is his finishing. Developing a clinical streak to ones
game is something that usually develops with experience, but the Nigerian manages to handle most of his
goalscoring situations with an ice-cold composure found in players 10 years his senior. He possesses a ven-
omous left foot and will always aim to pick a corner, to make it as difficult for the goalkeeper as possible. It
is no surprise that he has the best goals-to-minutes ratio of any player in Premier League history, finding the
net every 96 minutes. In comparison, fellow City striker Sergio Aguero has scored 112 Premier League goals
at a rate of one every 107 minutes and former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry scored his 175 Premier League
goals at a rate of one per 122 minutes.
Another standout feature in the 20-year-olds game is his movement. Much like Aguero, Iheanacho cuts a
peripheral figure during Citys intricate build up, but as soon as the ball finds itself around the penalty area
- he comes to life. Five of his six goals this season have been scored from inside the six-yard box and when
you watch closely it is easy to understand why. Iheanacho is always on his toes, making sharp bursts towards
the near post or slamming the brakes on altogether to try and lose his marker. Also, the strikers instinct will
always take him away from the ball, which creates space and offers the man in possession a clear passing op-
tion. With a knack for readjusting his body quickly, he is always ready to apply the finishing touch regardless
of how the ball is crossed or fizzed into him.
First and foremost, Iheanacho is a poacher. But what commonly goes unnoticed is how positive and creative
the Nigerian can be when needed. Of the top centre forwards in English football, only Alexis Sanchez aver-
ages more forward passes (26) and creates more chances (2.65) per 90 minutes than he does (14/2.63). His
willingness to receive the ball in tight areas, matched with a keen eye for a pass, mean that Sergio Aguero
(10/0.88), Harry Kane (12/1.42) and Diego Costa (13/1.28) are statistically inferior in a productive sense.
Granted, his first touch can be loose at times, but he first impressed Europes top scouts in 2013 playing as an
attacking midfielder for his country at the U-17 World Cup.
One weakness that stands out in Iheanachos game is his tendency to be selfish. He will often find himself
in dangerous positions, but frequently make the wrong decision to shoot instead of passing to team-mates
who are far better placed. This can make him very frustrating to watch and play with, however he usually
scores when deciding to go alone which offers a slight reprieve. All good strikers need a ruthless streak and
being confident in your own abilities is crucial, but when that turns into becoming wasteful then it becomes
a problem. Guardiola will undoubtedly aim to coach this out of him, but if the Nigerian is to unlock his full
potential, it is a component to his game that he will have to curb.

FORECAST FOR 2017

The next four months will see Iheanacho featuring sporadically for a Manchester City side looking to make a
statement in Europe and in the FA Cup, with Chelsea showing no signs of slipping up in their Premier League
title pursuit. Already one of the top flights most prolific strikers, the 20-year-old will be hoping to work his
way into the managers thinking again, with doubts lingering over Aguero and Gabriel Jesus ruled out for the
foreseeable future. In terms of his international career, Iheanacho has the chance to spearhead an incredibly
exciting generation of Nigerian talent, alongside Alex Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi, Isaac Success and Moses Simon
ahead of the next World Cup in Russia.
Throughout his life, Iheanacho has had to battle through tough environments, tragedy and poverty for even
the slightest chance of making it at the top. But his sheer desire to succeed has now given him a platform
to showcase his ability and it is hardly a surprise that some of Europes top clubs were after his signature.
Speaking in January, the striker told The Players Tribune: Where I grew up in southern Nigeria, it was kind of
like a ghetto. It was a tough place to be a kid. We would make balls out of socks, or sometimes we even used
a balloon which gives you a real insight into his upbringing and how hard he has worked to get where he is.
 FW

CORNET
FULL NAME:
GNALY MAXWEL CORNET

CLUB: OLYMPIQUE LYONNAIS

NATIONALITY: FRENCH

POSTION: LEFT-WING/
STRIKER

DATE OF BIRTH:
SEPTEMBER 27, 1996

PREFERRED FOOT: LEFT

WRITTEN BY: WILL SAVAGE

2016 IN REVIEW
Maxwel Cornet looked like a real talent as he started to feature repeatedly in Metzs first team, regularly
coming on as a substitute towards the end of the 13/14 Ligue 2 season. The outlook looked less good when
he and the club fell out due to the players disinclination to extend his contract. As such, Cornet found himself
frozen out of the Metz squad for the first half of the 14/15 season before Lyon swooped in for the talented
attacker with Metz losing the young starlet for a nominal fee. It was not long before Cornet was involved for
Lyon either, in an ironic twist of fate he came on in a 2-0 win at home to Metz.
At first Cornet was unsurprisingly used as a squad player, finding a place on the bench on the occasions when
he earned a place in the squad. His ability to play across the front-line helped him pick up valuable minutes
and by the start of 2016 Cornet was featuring regularly for Lyon. His playing time since has been a mix of
starting appearances and minutes off the bench, as he was able to take advantage of injuries to the likes of
Alexandre Lacazette and Nabil Fekir. As well as this, his upturn in playing time has in no small part been linked
to the introduction of Bruno Gnsio as manager towards the end of 2015.
STYLE OF PLAY
Maxwel Cornet may not be the most recognisable name to casual Ligue 1 watchers, with Ousmane Dembl
taking much of the Ligue 1 limelight before his move to Germany. Even at Lyon, Cornet is rarely mentioned
before his fellow attackers, with Lacazette and Fekir regularly linked with moves away and Rachid Ghezzal
joining them in the transfer gossip columns in recent months. Those who are exposed to the French wing-
er certainly remember him though, the versatile attackers directness and the tempo he sets are veritably
eye-catching.
Deployed often in wide positions, Cornet is most dangerous carrying the ball forward and cutting inside to
drive towards goal. With the strength in his build to be a powerful runner when he gets up a head of steam
Cornet can seem unstoppable on his day, as evidenced by a super solo goal against Valencia in a Champions
League dead rubber early in his Lyon career. His flair and rapid acceleration help him avoid defenders trying
to get tight and exploit spaces that others perhaps cannot too.
When he gets into advanced positions he can look to either feed a teammate or go for goal himself. For a
young player, Cornets 12 goals in the 15/16 season is a decent number. In the area, Cornets finishing is very
instinctive, although his goal-scoring is something he has pointed out as an area he wants to improve. In
Cornets defence, he has regularly been asked to play in different positions and different roles for Lyon. Often
used as an out-ball or a threat on the counter, Lyon have changed system regularly during the absences of
important attackers such as Lacazette, Fekir and Mathieu Valbuena.
As such, Lyon have struggled to find any real chemistry going forward, but when they have looked on song
there is no doubting that Cornet has looked impressive. There are other areas of his game which need work
regardless, however. When teams look to nullify Cornets proclivity for cutting inside, they take away a lot of
the threat he poses. His crossing ability is the least dangerous part of his game and there is no doubting that if
he wants to become a truly multi-faceted attacker then he will need to work on providing an attacking threat
even when he is not allowed to drive into his favoured central positions.
Cornets defensive work-rate leaves something to be desired too. Although not that unusual for a dynamic
young attacker to save energy for dangerous forays forward rather than tracking back and positioning himself
diligently in the defensive phase, it is a part of the game that is required more and more often from modern
forwards. Saying that, given Cornets age there is no reason to think he cannot improve these aspects of his
game.
Cornet has been touted previously as the long-term replacement for Lacazette, perennially linked with a
move to English football. Although this could be where he ends up, right now he is far more suited to playing
out wide. Although a powerful runner his frame seems better suited to running with the ball than holding
it up and his ability to link play with others would have to improve for him to become a well-rounded cen-
tre-forward.

FORECAST FOR 2017

Still only twenty years old, there is no reason to think Cornet cannot iron out these kinks in his game if he
applies himself. He is already receiving regular minutes and with at least one of his three attacking colleagues
likely to leave Lyon at some point in the next year he will hopefully get a chance to nail down a starting spot.
Just as important for Cornets development will be Lyon fixing on a regular system and way of playing and
giving the attackers the ability to work out their chemistry and adapt to each others automatisms.
Internationally, Cornet has represented France at every youth level but is yet to be involved with the senior
set-up. It is likely to be a while too, given the quality usually found in France squads. If he can impress consis-
tently for Lyon and work the rawness out of his game, there is no doubting that Cornet will be able to garner
attention from Europes bigger teams; the potential is there for Cornet to become a consistent, multi-faceted
forward capable of playing for clubs at the top level of the sport.
 FW

DEMBL
FULL NAME: MOUSSA DEMBL

CLUB: CELTIC

NATIONALITY: FRENCH

POSTION: STRIKER

DATE OF BIRTH:
JULY 12, 1996

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: JAKE ENTWISTLE

(@JAKEENTWISTLE)
2016 IN REVIEW
Moussa Dembl dominated - and is still dominating - the SPFL. Before his move to Celtic the Frenchman
shone brightest in a very underwhelming Fulham side and was rightly pursued by more prestigious outfits.
The promise of first-team football saw him join Brendan Rodgers project in Scotland rather than opting for a
more competitive environment at the likes of Tottenham and other interested Premier League sides.
Since moving to Celtic Park, very few centre backs, if any, have managed to cope with his talent. Whether
through pace and power or trickery and guile, Moussa Dembl has bested all that has been set before him
and at the time of writing he had netted 29 times in 42 games for Celtic including three hat-tricks and 4 goals
in the Champions League group stages.
His perfect treble and assist to boot in the first old firm Derby of the 2016/17 season encapsulated everything
fantastic about this young striker. An excellent solo goal accompanied by two emphatic finishes put Celtics
perennial rivals to the sword and proved that even at a young age he is very much among the Scottish Pre-
mier Leagues elite.
On an international level, he has formed one of the more formidable U21 partnerships with fellow French-
man Jean-Kevin Augustin, both of whom will qualify for the U20 World Cup in South Korea this summer. In
fact, it is at a national level of sorts which brought arguably Dembls best moment of 2016.
On the 17th of December, he was awarded the Trophe Tlfoot otherwise known as the France U-21 Player
of the Year. To win such an award is impressive in itself, but when considering he was up against the likes of
namesake Ousmane, Anthony Martial, Adrien Rabiot and Thomas Lemar to name just four, his victory be-
comes even more extraordinary.
With a Scottish League Cup trophy, soon to be followed by an SPFL title, Brendan Rodgers record-breaking
young Celtic side turned a fair few heads in 2016: Dembl was the main reason for it.
STYLE OF PLAY
Moussa Dembl has all the raw ingredients to become a complete modern-day striker: pace to run in behind,
power to shrug off defenders, and the technique to finish from any position he may find himself in. Although ca-
pable of carrying the ball forward himself or making intelligent runs to receive the ball in advanced positions from
his teammates, Dembls best trait is his shooting. The young Frenchman is at his most deadly when given little
time to pull the trigger. His spatial awareness in the box is impressive and means he often only needs one touch
to dispatch any crosses or loose balls coming his way.
Though increasingly clinical from less than 18 yards, the French forward is by no means only dangerous inside
the box. His physicality and pace means he is difficult to catch when making runs in to the channels and is just
as deadly with three touches as he is with one. He enjoys peeling away into the space between centre-back and
full-back which usually allows him to take two touches one to control the ball, the next to drive into the space
- before applying the finishing touch. Dembls off-the-ball movement is intelligent and well timed and with his
finishing reaching a more consistent level he is proving to be quite the force when bearing down on goal after
latching on to a through ball from midfield.
However, perhaps Dembls biggest flaw at this moment in time is his clumsy and unreliable hold up play. Oozing
confidence when faced with the oppositions goal, he looks a far less capable player with his back to it. Lax lay-offs
and sloppy passes are too common for a player of his ability and although he has the strength and pace to match,
if not best most defenders, when put in a situation in which he needs to protect possession and offer an outlet
for his midfielders to bounce the ball against, he struggles. He will often attempt to turn his marker rather than
provide any semblance of hold up play a tactic that is working for him right now but may become a greater issue
against more formidable opponents.
Another potential problem is his reliance on his right foot. By no means untalented with his left, given the time
and space afforded to Dembl in the Scottish league he has showed a heavy preference to shift the ball on to his
stronger side whenever possible. He also dribbles heavily with his favoured foot meaning that he is limited both
in the direction he can travel and the area of the pitch he is most effective. Dembl certainly has the flair to shift
the ball on to his foot in tight spaces and his ball control is good enough that he can alter the path of the ball in an
instant. The forward has even made a habit of squaring up defenders on the edge of the box before shifting the
ball to the right and bending past the goalkeepers left. However, for every time he finds the top corner there is
another in he left running sideways in to a cul-de-sac in search of an opening and subsequently moving in to his
teammates space.
His superior ability relative to the defenders he is facing in Scotland means his weaknesses are less apparent,
though. He can almost always get away with accommodating his preferences and at times being wasteful with
the ball. But, with more competitive leagues comes more talented defenders and less time to create the perfect
opportunity as well as a greater responsibility to contribute to more phases of the play and retain and protect
possession of the ball.
His best traits may serve him well at most levels, but to fully reach his massive potential he will need to improve
on the above areas: thankfully, he already has the physical and technical capabilities to do so. After all, a striker
who can go both ways in or outside the box is a much scarier proposition and Dembl will score even more goals
if he can develop a greater degree of unpredictability. Add on top of this a forward who is as comfortable with his
back to goal as he is tearing towards it and Moussa Dembl will soon become a threat from any situation.
FORECAST FOR 2017
There is no doubt Dembl would smash records if he stayed at Celtic. Still just 20, even a three-year spell would
allow him to develop his already incredible reputation given the fact first-team football and truck-loads of goals
are a guarantee at his current club. But, although just one season under Brendan Rodgers may seem fickle, Dem-
bl has already proven his quality during his short stay in Scotland and it would perhaps be in his best interest to
surround himself with top-class players as soon as possible. Rather than relying on his superior ability he will be
forced to improve the areas of his game that need most work whilst being able to put his new skills into practice
more frequently. The worst thing for Dembl at this stage in his career would be to get too comfortable.
Finishing as Celtics top scorer and winning more domestic trophies will be Dembls immediate priority. But
come the summer, his focus must shift on making an impact in South Korea by helping France win the U-20 World
Cup. Didier Deschamps has shown he is partial to giving some of Frances most exciting talents a chance in the first
team, calling up the likes of Ousmane Dembl and Presnel Kimpembe to the senior squad. A move away from
Celtic may even increase the likelihood of such a call up. After all, Ousmane and Kimpembe are playing in elite
European sides; Celtic, unfortunately, are not quite at the same level.
 FW

SANABRIA
FULL NAME: ARNALDO ANTONIO
SANABRIA AYALA

CLUB: REAL BETIS

NATIONALITY: PARAGUAYAN

POSTION: STRIKER

DATE OF BIRTH:
MARCH 4, 1996

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: JOE DONNOHUE

(@JOE_DONNOHUE27)
2016 IN REVIEW
Paraguayan international Antonio Tonny Sanabria, enjoyed an excellent breakthrough season on loan at Sport-
ing Gijn from former parent club AS Roma, scoring 11 league goals and registering one assist during his stay in
the Asturias region of Spain. Billed as a wonder-kid as a youngster at Barcelonas famous La Masia youth setup,
Sanabria failed to make the grade and was subsequently shipped to Sassuolo and then AS Roma, but it was on loan
over the course of the past year that Sanabria has truly hit form and began to cement himself as a star of the future.

The Paraguayan featured at last summers Copa Amrica Centenario tournament, but failed to score his first interna-
tional goal and played just 86 minutes as Paraguay crashed out in the group stages. However, the matches against
Colombia and the USA which he featured in were valuable growth opportunities for a player of just 20 years of age.

His time spent at Sporting Gijn was enough to earn him a permanent move to La Liga, as Real Betis parted
with a reported fee of around 6m for his services. The first few months at Betis have hardly been as prom-
ising for Sanabria as he has looked to overcome an injury sustained in just his second appearance for the
struggling club and is yet to find prolific goal-scoring form.
Arguably the highlight of Sanabrias 2016 was the hat-trick scored in January against Real Sociedad amidst a
5-1 demolition of the San Sebastin club, which showcased his raw, unadulterated talent and eye for goal,
with a trio of impressive finishes.
STYLE OF PLAY
Sanabria fits the bill of a poacher to a tee. The Paraguayan loves to play on the shoulder of the last man, or
cut back onto his favoured right foot to slot home, however what Sanabria is most adept at is his one-touch,
six-yard-box goal-scoring. The vast majority of the 20-year-olds contributions to Gijns valiant efforts to
stave off relegation last campaign were done in the penalty area, primarily in and around the goalmouth.
Whether it be reacting quickest to a goalkeeper spillage or arriving late to pounce and power a header into
the back of the net, Sanabria is most certainly skilled at being in the right place at the right time, which is a
trait that will serve him well in his career as a centre-forward. Sanabrias ability to peel away from the last
man and cause a nuisance in the attacking third is a promising aspect of his game; his pace also a valuable
asset and another string to his bow. Sanabria featured in every one of Gijns last 12 games of last season and
helped steer them clear of relegation on the final day with a 2-0 win over Champions League qualification
hopefuls Villarreal, a game in which Sanabria claimed a vital assist. Yet during that run, he only scored once,
highlighting a weakness of his game, consistency.
His consistency does remain an issue, highlighted by his start at Real Betis. It has not been the smoothest
of transitions, hindered obviously by a lengthy injury, but Sanabria does remain a frustrating entity for fans
and managers. Somewhat spectacular and unplayable at times, but far too often he goes missing and fails to
contribute in matches where he could potentially have a major impact. Of course, this kind of desired consis-
tency will come in time, because after all Sanabria is still a bambino of the game and has much to learn, but
currently his ability to influence games with his obvious talent is unreliable at times.
Sanabria is very capable at dribbling for long stretches, carrying the ball into dangerous areas and shrugging
off the challenge of defenders many years his senior. The Paraguayan is strong for his height and build with
the ball on the ground and is well suited to La Liga with his well-rounded style of play despite his lack of
strength and power in the air. He also has a knack of scoring from set-pieces and if worked on, could be a
prized trait for himself and the clubs he plays for. His current technique is excellent, but needs practice and
honing if he is to become more consistent from dead-ball situations.
Much like his consistency, Sanabria is very hit-and-miss with his heading, because as shown during his stint
at Gijn, he did chip in with the occasional headed effort from inside the box, yet when it comes to build up
play, Sanabria struggles with aerial challenges and often succumbs to the might of the opposition in this field.
Standing at near six-feet tall, one would think the Paraguayan should do better in the air, but it is not neces-
sarily a negative that he cannot contribute in this area because it allows him to be flightier and speedy, since
most strikers with considerable aerial presence are stockier and tend to turn slower. Sanabrias ability to shift
his centre of gravity and send an oncoming defender the wrong way is something which must be deemed as
a positive feature of his play, and would be less effective if he was of a taller, heavier disposition.
The Paraguayan does not possess a stand-out strength, but he just manages to do whatever it takes to get the
ball over the goal-line. He is not incredibly strong in the air, but despite this he scores the occasional headed
effort as he is always willing to do anything to be in the right position to score. Sanabria is a great poacher
while still possessing the skills to be effective away from the goalmouth such as his pace and low centre of
gravity, which allow him to evade traffic in the attacking midfield zone.

FORECAST FOR 2017

High on the agenda for Tony Sanabria in 2017 is to follow up his 2016 performances with an equally im-
pressive goals tally. To do this, he needs to work on the aspects of his game that may not necessarily be his
strengths at present. With just a sole La Liga goal for Betis to date, he has underperformed, subsequently
meaning starting opportunities have become few and far between.
Bedding in at Real Betis must be a top priority as without peace of mind at his new club and in his new home,
his goal-scoring form may suffer. Remaining injury-free is a must as well, if he is aiming to continue to be se-
lected for the national team. It is unlikely that he will set the football world alight in 2017 as Betis continue
to perform in a mediocre fashion in La Liga, however something that is not beyond his reach is to remain in
contention for a starting berth at Betis.
Sanabria has the skillset to prove that his wonderful season at Gijn was not a one-off event. However, even
in testing circumstances at Betis, he must prove he is capable of being a consistent goal-scorer in La Liga and
for Paraguay, with whom he is yet to register his first international goal.
 FW

FLEMMINGS
FULL NAME: JUNIOR FLEMMINGS

CLUB: NEW YORK RED BULLS

NATIONALITY: FRENCH

POSTION: LEFT-WING

DATE OF BIRTH:
JANUARY 15, 1996

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: NATHAN CARR

(@CARIBBEANFTBL)
2016 IN REVIEW
2016 was a bittersweet year for Junior Flemmings. Having signed his first professional contract with USL side
New York Red Bulls II in March, the Kingston-born forward picked up a nasty injury in September which ruled
him out of the remainder of the season.
A move overseas had been in the pipeline for some time. Flemmings really made his name as a teenage
sensation in Jamaican schoolboy football, captaining Jamaica College to three major titles throughout 2014,
claiming the Golden Boot Award for the Manning Cup in the process. During this time, he was scouted
by Manchester City, who had followed his development closely and were considering inviting him to their
academy. He made his first team debut for his local club Tivoli Gardens, located in a tough Kingston neigh-
bourhood notorious for poverty and gun crime, at the tender age of 17. In 2015/16, he was awarded the Red
Stripe Premier League Young Player of the Season. Interestingly, though, he represented Tivoli strictly on a
voluntary basis with the aim of securing a scholarship abroad. He had already foregone an NCAA scholarship
in order to stay at Tivoli.
He told the Jamaica Gleaner newspaper: My coach at Jamaica College told me that first and foremost, I
shouldnt have any agreement or sign any contract and I am not supposed to be paid because if the scouts or
any interested college hears that I am being paid, they would say that I am already a professional. I am just
playing like a volunteer. I just choose to play for enjoyment, so I am not getting paid, and I havent signed any
contract or anything like that.
How would Flemmings cope playing at a higher level against more experienced opponents, though? Without
too much fuss. Just over a week after signing, he registered a goal and assist on his debut against Louisville
City and was rewarded with a spot in the USL Team of the Week. A month later he followed that up with a
game-winning goal against FC Montreal. Flemmings performances in the USL attracted the interest of Red
Bulls senior head coach, Jesse Marsch, who handed him his first team debut, coming off the bench, in a
friendly win over Club American in July. As mentioned, his campaign ended prematurely because of injury.
In 23 USL outings, he scored seven goals and made four assists in 1,756 minutes of action. Those goals and
assists contributed to Red Bulls IIs Eastern Conference title, but more importantly, their USL Cup triumph in
October. The team comprehensively beat Swope Park Rangers 5-1 to take the trophy. Although Flemmings
didnt feature, he was very much involved in the full-time celebrations. In November, following the end of
the USL season, Red Bulls II decided to keep Flemmings on by exercising the option in his contract. Not every
member of the squad was retained so that reinforced how highly hes regarded by the coaching staff.
On the international front, Flemmings was included in Jamaicas 40-man provisional squad for the Copa
America Centenario alongside Red Bulls senior player Kemar Lawrence. He unfortunately did not make the
final cut as the Reggae Boyz lost to Venezuela, Mexico and Uruguay at the group stages. An increasing num-
ber of fans have been banging the drum for Flemmings inclusion in the national team. Indeed, he has been
a solid performer through the age groups from captaining the U-17s/20s to playing for the U-23s in Olympic
qualifying. With the Caribbean Cup and Gold Cup beckoning this summer and manager Theodore Whitmore
showing a tendency to select USA-based players, we could well see a deserved call-up for Flemmings within
the near future.
STYLE OF PLAY
He is a dynamic, wide attacking player, at times an inside forward, who is particularly effective lining up on
the right of a 4-3-3. A big part of Flemmings package is his pace. He is extremely quick off the mark which
gives him that extra yard on the defender and makes him a threat in behind. There were times last season
where a through ball was played over the top and Flemmings could use his pace to connect - his goal in a
4-0 victory over Wilmington Hammerheads being a classic example. When I get the ball, I dont hesitate,
explains Flemmings. I go at people and make things happen.
But to say his game revolves solely around covering ground quickly would be doing him a disservice. He
possesses skill on the ball, a good first touch and a great work ethic. Hes not afraid to track back and aid
his full-back defensively. His free-kicks can be dangerous, too, as evidenced at the CONCACAF U-20 Champi-
onship two years ago, when he curled one in against rivals Trinidad & Tobago. Some players are steady yet
unspectacular. Others have that ability to be a difference-maker on the pitch, that ability to turn a match on
its head with a piece of magic or moment of inspiration. Flemmings definitely falls into that latter category.
FORECAST FOR 2017
Firstly, Flemmings needs to focus on making a breakthrough into the Red Bulls first team with the CONCACAF
Champions League knockouts and new MLS season on the horizon. The change from Jamaican schoolboy
football to USL football hasnt been a problem for the player. Obviously, MLS constitutes a higher standard of
play, but I and a significant amount of Red Bulls supporters believe Flemmings has all the right tools to be a
real hit in the top-flight. At 21, this is the season for him to really step up and make his mark. He has acknowl-
edged this himself, confidently predicting 2017 as the breakout year.
Secondly, as touched on already, he should be pushing for a spot in the Reggae Boyz side. The only experi-
ences hes had with the seniors are being included in the 18-man squad for the World Cup qualifier against
Panama in November 2015 and being invited to the provisional Copa America Centenario squad. This sum-
mer represents a perfect opportunity for Jamaica to hand him his debut, especially at the Caribbean Cup as
French Guiana await in the semi-finals. Recently the likes of Damion Lowe, Oniel Fisher, Omar Holness, Andre
Lewis and Romario Williams have all been given opportunities. There is absolutely no reason why Flemmings
shouldnt either.
 FW

MINA
FULL NAME: SANTIAGO
SANTI MINA LORENZO

CLUB: VALENCIA CF

NATIONALITY: SPANISH

POSTION: LEFT-WING

DATE OF BIRTH:
DECEMBER 7, 1995

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: JUSTIN SOUSA

(@SOUSA7474)
2016 IN REVIEW
In 2016 alone, Santi Mina has already had to adjust to the playing styles of four different managers at Valen-
cia; not an easy task for a young player at a new club. The managerial instability has stunted the growth of
Mina, depriving the Spaniard of a guide for his career and the comfort of a trustworthy advisor. Unlike his
time at Celta Vigo, where there was a strong relationship built with Luis Enrique, Santi Mina must continu-
ously prove himself to a new manager for the sake of play time.
Under Gary Nevilles management, Santi Mina continued his integration into the first team and grabbed
headlines on two separate occasions. The first of which came against Barcelona when Mina scored a late
equalizer (the first goal of Valencias Neville era) to steal a point from the Catalan club. The second was argu-
ably Santi Minas best match to date, scoring two goals and assisting three on his Europa League debut in a
six-goal romping of Rapid Vienna. After Neville was sacked, Pako Ayestaran oversaw Valencia and kept Santi
Mina in starting XI during his six months as the head of Los Che. Ayestaran, however, faced the same fate as
his English predecessor just six months after replacing Neville.
Mina had his worst individual period with Valencia when Cesare Prandelli took charge, starting just two of
the Italians ten games as head coach. In an interview with beIN Sports, Mina commented that Valencia are
going to shit after a dreadful performance in a3-2 loss to Real Sociedad. Prandelli was fired by the club soon
after the match. Mina has since found more minutes with Salvador Gonzlez at the reigns of Valencia, scoring
three goals in Gonzalezs first two months as manager.
STYLE OF PLAY
Since his Celta Vigo days, Minas work ethic and aspirations to reach new heights have been commended by
coaches and teammates. This positive attitude reflects itself into the way he makes many half chances, in
the air or with the ball at his feet, into goal scoring opportunities. Santi Mina is not the usual false nine-style
forward that Spains academies have been known to produce, but rather a dangerous poacher searching for
a loose ball to tap in. There are similarities to be drawn between the Spaniard and a young Luis Suarez with
both forwards bursting onto the scenes because of their inherent goal-scoring threat and predator instincts
in the box.
Yet, Santi Minas heroics at the centre of Valencias offensive trident have not convinced his coaches to play
him as Valencias centre-forward. Mina is exiled to the left or right wing for Los Che, straining to deliver good
crosses for his teammates and take on opposition full backs to provide-width. Mina is capable of making a
straight-line dribble, but he lacks the flair of a natural winger needed to surpass the physically dominant
fullbacks of La Liga.
Against Las Palmas, Santi Mina had an especially lacklustre performance while on the left wing. Despite
scoring two goals on the night, Mina was incapable of getting the better of his defensive counterpart, Mi-
chel Machado, during the match. The young Spaniard showed hesitance when the opportunity to dribble
at Machado arose, preferring to let Jos Gay handle the job while he made a run into the box. Minas tac-
tical ignorance lead him to unnecessarily flood the middle of Valencias offense and left Valencias defence
more susceptible to counter-attacks. Under scrutiny, Minas reluctance to track back into Valencias defensive
shape contributed to two avoidable goals from crosses into the box.
In recent weeks, however, the 21-year-olds cries for a chance to play as a centre-forward have been answered
by interim manager Salvador Gonzalez. Mina repaid Gonzalezs faith in him with three goals in three games,
all as beautifully scrappy as a poachers goal can be. Minas intuitive runs in-behind pressured the opposition
backlines to drop deeper, opening space for Valencias wide players to work a ball into the penalty area. The
Spaniard showed his tactical IQ as the target man when he pressured Las Palmas into falling back, presenting
Gay with the time and space needed to reward Mina by setting him up for the matchs opening goal.
Along with his incisive runs and clinical finishing, Mina is a key instrument to the link-up play between his
teams midfield and offense. The understanding of his broad upper body strength enables him to hold the
ball and hassle his defenders in an aerial duel.
FORECAST FOR 2017
The 21-year-olds growth is a clear indicator that he is willing to improve his craft, therefore, staying healthy
and in the first team will be the other two factors of his progression as a player. As impressive as Minas in-
stinct in the box may be, the little forward must add more subtle qualities to his game if he is to reach his
potential. Elite strikers do not reach their level of prestige as one-trick ponies, but instead continue to refine
mastered skills and improve their weaknesses. With Valencias managerial troubles, Mina must look towards
his seasoned teammates for inspiration and guidance to continue his push for a permanent role in Valencias
first team. He will, however, be sidelined for the next month after being diagnosed with a knee injury sus-
tained during a league match against Real Betis.
The Galician forward could also take the alternative route of leaving Valencia in search of more stability. He
has expressed his happiness at Valencia, but he has also shown frustration in the clubs poor run of form and
his own inadequate yielding from the wings. Perhaps if Valencia succeed in their rebuild reasonably soon,
Mina will be persuaded into staying with the club instead of looking elsewhere for elite competition. Still, the
possibility of a reunion with Luis Enrique at Barcelona at some stage cannot be written off. Luis Enrique once
stated that Santi Mina is a rough diamond that is hungry for the game and has a great craving to play.
The Catalan giants are without a quality replacement for Luis Suarez, but purchasing Santi Mina this summer
would be a risky investment for the club and a premature move for Mina.
Regardless of whether he leaves Valencia this summer, 2017 will be a year of progression for Mina. He has
the maturity of a veteran player and his devotion to making the most of his career as a player will point him
in the right direction.
 MF

SILVA
FULL NAME: ANDR MIGUEL
VALENTE DA SILVA

CLUB: FC PORTO

NATIONALITY: PORTUGUESE

POSTION: STRIKER

DATE OF BIRTH:
NOVERMBER 6, 1995

PREFERRED FOOT: LEFT

WRITTEN BY: WILL SAVAGE

2016 IN REVIEW
The answer to Portugals perennial struggle for a goal-scoring centre-forward is over, or so it would seem.
That is a lot of pressure to put on the shoulders of young Andr Silva, who only turned 21 in late 2016, but
the young attacker seems to thrive under it. Having joined Porto in his mid-teens Silva had to bide his time
before his chance came, finding himself behind the likes of Vincent Aboubakar and Dani Osvaldo. This was no
problem for Silva though who impressed for Porto B and chances started to duly come his way, helped by the
introduction of Jos Peseiro as manager. He scored his first league goal for the club in the last match of the
season before starting in the Taa de Portugal final. If the young forward felt any pressure, he did not show it
as he scored a brace to reverse a two-goal deficit and draw the game. It is shame he was not on penalty duty
as Porto lost the ensuing shootout.
The 2016/17 season has carried on in the same manner for him, with goals coming regularly and in great
quantity. His form was rewarded with a new contract and a release clause reported to be in the region of
60m. Having scored goals for Portugal at every youth level it is unsurprising that Silvas impressive domestic
form saw him heralded as the answer to Portugals never-ending search for a centre-forward who can consis-
tently score goals and provide a foil for Cristiano Ronaldo. He is already on four goals for his country, although
it is worth pointing out these consist of a goal against Andorra and a hat-trick against the Faroe Islands.
STYLE OF PLAY
The general nature of Silvas game comes across simply enough, he scores goals. His supreme poachers in-
stinct has marked him as special throughout his career thus far, but there is more the Silva than just a poach-
er. His physique gives him the flexibility to play how he wants, well-built without being a towering target man,
he has the tools to be powerful in the air or to hold off defenders with the ball on the ground. Combined
with his intelligent movement this makes him a handful in the box, marrying his ability to take up the most
dangerous positions with the capability to make the most of them.
Just as capable as holding up the ball for runners, his eye for a pass makes him a multi-faceted fulcrum for
the attack, capable of creating chances as well as finishing them. His crossing too can cause problems for a
defence and it is not uncommon to see him making runs out wide, no doubt due to his history at youth level
of playing as a midfielder and a wide attacker before his ability in the centre of the attack was noticed. As
is demanded by most coaches in modern football, his work-rate has impressed too. Whether he is better
off playing as a complete centre-forward or would be of more use to his club and his country sticking to a
goal-scoring role is certainly up for debate.
With that said, it is easy to think Silvas game is flawless. Although that would be an exaggeration, it is hard
to find glaring weaknesses. The weakest part of his game would be his pace. Although he is not the slowest,
nor is he rapid and is unlikely to be found regularly exploiting space in behind a defence with the same level
of threat as a quicker forward might. This is not much of a problem for a team like Porto, most of their time
is spent in possession of the ball where Silva can rely on his clever movement rather than his pace. If he were
to find himself at a club where hes regularly asked to spearhead counter-attacks he could struggle.
The bigger question about Silvas game really, is how it will develop. Where he ends up after Porto will no
doubt play a big part in this, as will his international career. The centre-forward situation at Portugal is un-
like most others and there will be a demand that however he is developed he does not lose his goal-scoring
touch.

FORECAST FOR 2017

He will likely be sold. As a talented youngster at one of Portugals top clubs, one knows what happens he
moves abroad. With Porto reportedly having a financial downturn last season, there is no doubt any team
meeting a price anywhere near the 60m clause in his contract would be gladly accepted by the Portuguese
giants. Europes top clubs are reportedly queuing up for the chance to sign Silva too, with a host of the Pre-
mier Leagues biggest teams reportedly watching closely, while the likes of Atltico and Juventus have also
been linked. The general idea here is clear enough, Silva is a wanted man.
For now, he will be hoping to simply maintain the goal-scoring form he has been showing at Porto, if he does
that the rest should come easily enough. Although his international career is still burgeoning, there will be
an expectation on him to score goals against bigger teams to be sure, but there is little doubt that he will
manage that with the service that will be provided by the likes of Ronaldo, Bernardo Silva and others. While
one might worry that the hype will grow too great around Silva, he has done well coping with pressure thus
far in his career. If the goals keep flowing, there is little doubt Silva will be seen at the top level at the game
within the next couple of years.
 MF

TRAOR
FULL NAME:
BERTRAND ISIDORE TRAOR

CLUB: AFC AJAX

NATIONALITY: BURKINAB

POSTION: STRIKER

DATE OF BIRTH:
SEPTEMBER 6, 1995

PREFERRED FOOT: LEFT

WRITTEN BY: JOE DONNOHUE

(@JOE_DONNOHUE27)
2016 IN REVIEW
Burkinabe forward Bertrand Traor enjoyed a prosperous 2016 in which he finally earned a chance to repre-
sent Chelsea as they laboured to mid-table Premier League finish. While appearances for the Blues remained
sporadic, Traor took his chance, impressing interim boss Guus Hiddink. The Dutchman was quoted as saying,
He is open to learn and you can teach him. You can say work on this and he is very clever to do so.
The 21-year-old has two Premier League goals to his name, including a sumptuous strike against Stoke City
early in the year. Two more goals in cup competitions for Chelsea exemplified his role as a promising young-
ster and fringe player, which was only reinforced as new head coach Antonio Conte set about listing the at-
tacker for loan. Conte did see the potential in Traor though, ensuring he signed a new three-year deal before
being shipped to the Netherlands.
It was at this point that Dutch giants AFC Ajax came calling. The Amsterdam club are world renowned for
their youth academy and developing players into world-beaters, so for the 21-year-old, a move to this historic
club was a no-brainer. At Ajax, Traor has been deployed most frequently in his preferred role of right-for-
ward, often on the flank of a three-pronged attack.
A handful of goals in the red and white of Ajax has seen him identified as one of Europes burgeoning talents.
But earlier in the season, Traor came under scrutiny from manager Peter Bosz for being unfit and not in a
condition to be playing regularly. Subsequently, injury and a stint of national team duty at the African Cup of
Nations has limited his playing time at Ajax, he has since begun working his way back into the team since his
return.
STYLE OF PLAY
Traor is undoubtedly a flourishing raw talent, but at this lack of polish can become frustrating. His technique
is not that of a well-honed, aged professional, often letting him down at times. On the other hand, his tech-
nique can make spectators marvel, as his quick feet have dazzled defenders and won penalties for Ajax this
term.
Naturally enthusiastic, Traor is not afraid to take on his man. Many clips of Traors goals this campaign
have come from his ingenuity to spin off the marker with his back to goal and use his superior acceleration to
power his way into the box before curling an effort past the goalkeeper. Many of his goals are carbon copies
of each other, something which by October and November of 2016, many Eredivisie defences had figured
out. Forcing Traor down the right wing considerably nullifies his attacking potency and creativity as he has
a distinct reluctance to use his right foot. Traors trademark perhaps, is his tendency to cut back onto his
favoured left foot while in the opposition penalty area.
As mentioned above, Traors acceleration and pace is something which he uses to his advantage. His ability
to utilise this alongside his low centre of gravity allows him to be very quick on his feet and possess a delicate
touch. The 21-year-old can shift direction in an instant, which is useful for opening up space and giving him-
self a spare second to pick a pass or set himself for a finessed effort angled into the top corner. At a tall height
for a wide forward at 1.81m, Traor is incredibly quick, seemingly gliding across the turf when he gets to full
speed. Likewise, his quickness at switching the direction of his movement is similarly impressive considering
his size.
A weakness of Traors is his ability to translate his height into a proper physical advantage on the pitch. At
only 21 years of age, he has plenty of time to continue to physically develop but he is extremely slender and
weak on the ball. In the modern game, where central defenders and full-backs are stronger and more mobile
than ever, Traor fails to compete against adaptable defenders with considerably greater strength, as he is far
too easily outmuscled and loses possession.
The 21-year-olds admittedly nave approach to his play is epitomised by his youthful enthusiasm in dribbling
excessively. While attempting to get a run on the last man, Traor regularly finds himself falling foul of the
offside trap, something which has become a particular pet hate of Ajax fans. Yet when he times his runs to
perfection, playing on the shoulder of the full-back, it pays dividends as Traors speed allows him to wreak
havoc in-behind the defence. With acres of space in front of him, he is particularly adept at dribbling at speed
without getting the ball caught up in his feet. This proves to be a key asset for Ajax and on the international
stage where he has impressed for his native Burkina Faso in this years African Cup of Nations tournament.
A breakaway goal in their quarter-final tie against Tunisia was assisted by Traors quick-thinking, initiating
the counter-attack that has propelled his country to the semi-final for only the third time in their history.
Traor was also impressive in their defeat of Guinea-Bissau, scoring a well-taken effort swept into the net,
following a trademark run down the right flank before cutting inside onto his left and nestling it in the oppo-
site corner.

FORECAST FOR 2017

Following an impressive AFCON Tournament, Traor will be hoping to win back his place in the Ajax first team
as he continues to compete with the continually improving Justin Kluivert.
At international level, he will undoubtedly look to add to his impressive current cap haul of 36. With only five
international goals, supplementing that must be a priority for his personal ambition in 2017. After making his
debut as a 15-year-old in 2011, Traor is well and truly the golden boy of Burkinabe football. Therefore, in-
stilling his talent and influence in the national team during World Cup qualification could lead to him gaining
legendary status if he drives his country to their first Finals.
At club level, Traor will look to continue his development at Ajax but his primary concern will be to begin the
2017/18 season with Chelsea, in their first team setup. He has spoken out previously about the difficulties for
young players at the club to progress to becoming first team regulars, meaning his ambitions are quite clearly
set on becoming a regular at Stamford Bridge. If his finishing, technique and mentality is honed in the coming
months, there is nothing to say that this is not an unachievable goal.
 MF

LOZANO
FULL NAME: HIRVING RODRIGO
LOZANO BAHENA

CLUB: PACHUCA

NATIONALITY: MEXICAN

POSTION: LEFT-WING

DATE OF BIRTH:
JULY 30, 1995

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: JAMES BUFTON

(@JBUF1)
2016 IN REVIEW
Hirving Lozano was subjected to an abundance of valuable experiences in 2016, representing both club and country.
The 21-year-old broke the deadlock in the first leg of Pachucas semi-final meeting with Len in the Clausara before
netting the winner in stoppage time in the second meeting to send Los Tuzos to the final, where they would ultimate-
ly defeat Monterrey to claim the title. Lozano soon found himself attracting interest from Europe - with Manchester
United one of the sides most heavily linked with a bid for his services - and was further rewarded for his efforts in
Liga MX with a place in the Olympic squad for Mexico. Just when everything was going so well, the diminutive Pa-
chuca youth product encountered unfamiliar adversity in Rio as the reigning champions crashed out of the football
tournament in the group stage.
Lozano was replaced at the interval in El Tris second group fixture and subsequently dropped for the decisive outing
against South Korea; a shadow of his usual electrifying self when he eventually entered the game. His lacklustre dis-
play and unprofessional demeanour in protest of the treatment he had received were compounded in the dying em-
bers of the match as he was sent off for needlessly shoving a player he had perceived as faking injury. The platform to
elevate his name on an international stage was well and truly squandered, and with red flags attached to his profile
that had not previously existed there was a lot of work to be done to retain the hype that previously surrounded his
game. Although Pachuca were knocked out of the Apertura knockout stage by Necaxa, the Mexico City native picked
up where had left off domestically, garnering rave reviews for both his performances and his development as a player.
STYLE OF PLAY
Lozano is right-footed and predominantly stationed by Pachuca manager Diego Alonso on the left flank, typically cut-
ting inside to affect the game in central areas as an inverted winger rather than remaining tethered to the touchline.
He is perhaps at his element in confined spaces where his dribbling ability and low centre of gravity combine to both
attract and eliminate defensive attention, while also vacating space for those around him to exploit. His combination
play in these congested areas is also of a high standard, navigating through bodies often much larger than his while
maintaining the presence of mind to connect with his team-mates.
Receiving the ball out wide before moving inwards and beating defenders at will is by no means all that Lozano is
adept at. He has also mastered the timing of his runs in behind, with particular excellence in the nature of such
movement; often on the defenders blindside or as the third man in a passing sequence. This is a skill that will appeal
to bigger clubs across the Atlantic as it conveys a level of technical quality that only certain wingers possess at such a
young age, without an elite academy education. While this certainly speaks to how Pachuca have nurtured his prodi-
gious talent, it also highlights the intelligence that manifests itself in his game on a regular basis.
Another, and to some the most, exciting facet of Lozanos body of work is his impressive end product. In 2014,
breaking onto the scene at the age of 18, he produced seven goals and eight assists in 38 appearances. A year later,
over the course of the 2015 Clausura and Apertura, the insatiable Mexican international notched seven goals and
seven assists in 33 appearances, while also sharing the Golden Boot award at the U20 CONCACAF Championship as
he led Mexico to eventual victory. Lozanos numbers took a leap forward last year, quite notably, as he scored 20 and
created a further 10 across all competitions with his club of eight years. The signs for 2017 are promising as he buried
a hat-trick in the first game of the Clausura against Len.
Lozano also has a penchant for the spectacular within his goal-scoring exploits, totally unafraid to attempt the auda-
cious and undeterred if he fails to hit the back of the net. This is quite indicative of his entire mentality offensively
and explains a lot of his strengths as well as his shortcomings. Self-confidence almost has to be characteristic of a
young player in Lozanos circumstances in order to thrive, having starred for one of the biggest clubs in Mexico since
he was a teenager. If he lacked the belief in himself to beat defenders years older than himself with every possession
it would be difficult to imagine him cementing his reputation as one of the most threatening attackers in Liga MX.
This assertive mindset has less desirable side effects, though. Hirvings aforementioned petulance representing his
country at the Olympic Games could definitely be attached to the same psyche as his usual brilliance. Arrogance is an
understandable product of the lifestyle and profile that Chucky has assumed in recent years, yet modesty is some-
thing that he should look to embrace if he wants to reach his very high ceiling later in his career. Moreover, Lozano is
at times guilty of shooting from distances and angles that can be difficult to justify despite his capabilities. He still has
room for improvement in his decision-making in this respect, however the more frequently he makes the right choice
between running at goal, distributing the ball and shooting himself, the more difficult it will be for Pachuca to hold
onto their prized asset.

FORECAST FOR 2017

Pachuca have publicly announced that they rejected offers for Lozano in the winter, ostensibly dissatisfied with the
structure of the bids they have received as much as they are stubborn in their commitment to keep the crown jewel
of their academy system. As negotiations continue in the boardroom and as Lozano further advertises himself on the
pitch, the long-awaited move to Europe appears inevitable in the summer. Marco Garces, sporting director at the
Estadio Hidalgo, has admitted as much, citing the summer as a more optimal time for the transfer as it would hypo-
thetically allow the player to settle in during preseason and the club to find an adequate replacement.
Lozanos performances in the Clausura will largely determine the destiny and ransom Los Xolos can command when
the transfer window opens. The harder he works in Liga MX to prove himself and show continued development in
his play, the greater the rewards he will be able to reap. The next few months reflect an insightful test of his capacity
to ignore distraction and remain hungry for the brightest career path possible; the results of which also forming an
important indication of whether his antics in Rio last year were merely an anomaly or indeed part of who he is and
who he will become. That said, he is owed the benefit of the doubt as his future is unquestionably in own his hands.
Lozano may well gain from this scepticism as part of his learning curve and become a more complete player with the
benefit of maturity.
 MF

GNABRY
FULL NAME:
SERGE DAVID GNABRY

CLUB: WERDER BREMEN

NATIONALITY: GERMAN

POSTION: LEFT-WING

DATE OF BIRTH:
JULY 14, 1995

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: SIMON WEISS

(@SIMONWE1SS)
2016 IN REVIEW
A year of two halves. While this phrase is often used in an overstated and sometimes even in a jovial way, it
hits a home run wheing describe the year Serge Gnabry has had in 2016. From a failed loan at West Bromwich
Albion that even left a sour aftertaste regarding his fitness and attitude, over him closing out the 2015/16
season playing for Arsenals under-23 team in the Premier League, to a silver medal at the Olympic football
tournament, winning the golden boot at said event and ending in a permanent transfer to Werder Bremen,
which led to many noteworthy performances in the Bundesliga.
While the move was mostly a disappointment for the Arsenal faithful, it came as no surprise. Certainly, Ar-
senal boss Arsne Wenger would have loved to renew with the player he brought to the club in 2011, yet
for the players development the move made a lot of sense. With established players like Walcott or young
and promising players like Alex Iwobi seemingly ahead of him, Gnabry chose to seek playing time in the
Bundesliga. At Bremen, Gnabry not only managed to receive a substantial increase in minutes on the pitch,
but quickly established himself as one of Bremens key offensive players, scoring 10 times in 21 games. 2016
proved the year Gnabry turned himself into a regular professional player. Unfortunately for him, it came a
couple of years later than he likely would have hoped for. Back in 2013, the door was wide open for him at
Arsenal. Wenger gave him the opportunity and Gnabry was about to take it, until a serious injury threw him
back. At a club like Arsenal though, young players cannot expect return to the first team without once again
proving themselves, which resulted in years of loans, more injuries and frustration for the young German.
Now, however, he has found his place in the Bundesliga.
STYLE OF PLAY

Serge Gnabry is a difference maker. Be it to add the finishing touch to an attack by slotting the ball easily into
the back of the net, or by using his skill and pace to create an opening from the wings. As a winger, a player
can be strong, fast or skilful; or a useful combination of the three. Possessing just one trait, defenders are
often able to predict the movements of a winger and can premeditate defensive actions to counteract their
opponents strengths. With two or three however, the attacker can act as a different weapon entirely. Gnabry
offers all three. He can beat his marker for sheer pace, with a skill move or by shrugging them off.

Even though he can influence play in many different positive ways, his standout feature remains his finishing.
From an angle, from distance, off a dribble, off a volley, left foot, right foot - you name it. In fact, he is prob-
ably a clear goal scorer first and a provider second. In terms of positions he can fill, there is almost no limit.
Either on the flank, behind a striker or up front, Gnabry has the tools to perform in any of these. At the mo-
ment, the left-wing position is probably still the most suited to his game: one-on-one with a single defender
and with option to either go down the line or to cut inside. With a starting position on the wing, Gnabry has
also learnt to time his runs in behind to perfection, setting himself up for great angles to take a shot. Having
scored 10 times in 21 matches for a team with weak offensive output, it is reasonable to suggest that Gnabry
should aim to become a regular fifteen goal a season player. It was also refreshing to see how quickly he hit
the ground running in Bremen. After a couple of years of bad spells and injuries, a rougher start would have
surprised nobody. The Olympic games certainly played a part in restoring his confidence and making sure he
would be given a greater role at Bremen from the start.

There are, however, still two big flaws to Gnabrys game and both can be linked to his lack of playing time
during his period at Arsenal. The first one would be that he tends to drift in an out of games. It has often had
an extremely damaging impact on Bremens offense, as they do rely quite heavily on the influence of the Ger-
man. At the most negative end of the scale however, there are halves of football where Gnabry plays no role
at all. As a player with his talent and as a player that his team desperately needs in attack, he must engage
himself in the play more consistently. Admittedly, when players drift out of games, it is often very much linked
to the style and the performance of the team. During a couple of games this season, Bremen simply were
not able to get their attacking players involved as they struggled to build up play in a constructive manner.

The second flaw would be his first touch. There are moments when it seems that he is too fast for his own
good. As if he was already in the next phase of his actions, being aggressive at going at the defender, building
up pace. This at times leads to heavy touches, which when they occur, frequently turn over possession. Lost
possession usually is not dramatic in wing positions, but it is the mark of a great player not to be careless in
possession.

FORECAST FOR 2017

The next year will likely see the young German move onto bigger and better things. Both in terms of his per-
formances as well as the level he will be playing at. Werden Bremen will soon become too small for him and
there are already suggestions a move to Bayern Mnchen is likely in the off-season. When Bremen signed
him, speculation surrounded the move that Bayern had lent Bremen a helping hand at signing him. While
unconfirmed, it would make sense for all parties. On the pitch, Gnabry will be looking to keep the great form
he has had of late while ironing out some details of his skillset.

Another aspect of his development in 2017 will be finding his best position on the pitch. Primarily being used
as a left winger at Bremen, a move into a more central position could be on the cards as well. His style of play
certainly supports this idea. Looking at his Arsenal career and concerns raised by former coaches, Gnabry will
be playing to prove he can play consistently for an entire season without succumbing to any injuries.

Lastly, he will certainly be keen to nail down his place in the national team set-up. While his first call-up came
rather due to injuries to other players as well as the opposition faced, Gnabry made the most of it with a hat-
trick on debut in an 8-0 drubbing of San Marino.
 FW

PJACA
FULL NAME: MARKO PJACA

CLUB: JUVENTUS

NATIONALITY: CROATIAN

POSTION: LEFT-WING

DATE OF BIRTH:
MAY 6, 1995

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: STEPHEN GANAVAS

(@MAROTTANOMICS)
2016 IN REVIEW
The improvement undertaken by Marko Pjaca in 2016 was epitomised by his big money move from Dinamo
Zagreb to Italian giants Juventus over the summer. It was a reward for some extremely high level performanc-
es over a consistent period at both Dinamo Zagreb and, prior to that, their feeder team NK Lokomotiva for
whom he made his debut in 2012 aged 16.
Not short on experience before his arrival at Juve, the Croatian attacker had already played over 100 matches
in Croatias top division. Furthermore, Pjaca had accustomed himself to playing in Europe with 10 appearanc-
es across the Champions League and Europa League not including qualifiers. He would have played six more
Champions League matches with Dinamo this season, but instead found himself playing against his former
club after Juventus drew the Croatian champions in the group stages.
Pjacas reputation ballooned over the summer and specifically at Euro 2016 after a spirited performance in
Croatias last-gasp 2-1 victory over Spain. In that match, the 21-year-old completed seven dribbles terroris-
ing Spain with his pace and power on the break. With the ensuing scramble for his signature after the tour-
nament, Pjaca took the gutsy move in signing for Juventus despite the firm interest of AC Milan, for whom he
would certainly have started almost every week.
Young players are often criticised for making the big move too early and not allowing themselves to develop
and ready themselves for a top club, but the intent with which the Croatian has spoken in the media suggests
he understood the consequences of moving to Juventus. He has been prepared to play second fiddle in Turin
and an injury sustained on international break has limited his influence and minutes on the pitch. However,
through appearances off the bench, Pjaca has demonstrated why the Juventus management were so happy
to sign him over the summer.
STYLE OF PLAY
Quick and incredibly direct, the 21-year-old offers an entirely different attacking dimension to the Bianconeri.
A team who generally build-up slowly and rely on breaking teams down patiently rather than through mo-
ments of individual brilliance, Juventus have struggled at times this season without a second dimension to
their attack that was often offered by Paul Pogba in seasons prior. Pogba was often able to break the game
open via a flick, dribble or long-shot or simply by being able to draw multiple defenders. Pjacas speed, power
and strength on the dribble make him a similarly difficult player to mark and his ability to keep his head up
while doing so makes him capable of some stunning slalom runs in the final third.
Late in games after being subbed on, teams have been caught out by the Croatians quick changes of pace
and ability to cut inside surge into the box. Having started only one game for Juventus though, it will be inter-
esting to see if Pjaca can have this same impact against fresher defenders from the first minute of a match.
However, the Croatians game is not limited to simply overpowering and outpacing defenders. He has very
natural attacking instincts that see him get into strong central positions despite typically taking up a role on
either wing. He also has a deceptively powerful and generally accurate shot and is a player that loves to cut
in from the wing and shoot from outside the box.
Juventus manager Max Allegri is also trying to force Pjaca to familiarise himself with a central role, often
substituting the 21-year-old on for Paulo Dybala and playing him off the striker. Sometimes let down by his
insistence on trying to force the game in his brief sub appearances, the second half of the season should see
Pjaca earn a handful of starts for Juventus as the club continue to battle on three fronts.
Defensively, Pjaca does not look to involve himself too much. Despite this, his pace makes him a weapon
whenever Juventus decide to press the opposition and with the help of compatriot Mario Manduki he
can conserve energy and focus on the attacking phase. However, he is strong in the air and will challenge for
every ball tenaciously.
The 21-year-old is most notably let down by his poor decision making skills. Blessed with so many wonderful
attributes, at times it appears Pjaca is unsure when to use which. It is underpinned by his lacklustre passing
range that at times limits his options when deciding what play to make in the final third. Often, the decision
is to dribble a move which is becoming slightly predictable for the standard Serie A defender.

FORECAST FOR 2017

2017 will likely require more patience for the Croatian international. The continued importance of Dybala in
Juventus starting XI will likely limit the influence of Pjaca. However, a newfound fondness of the 4-2-3-1 at
Juventus may open some potential minutes for him interchanging with either Manduki or Juan Cuadrado
out wide. In Juventus Champions League knock-out clash away at Porto, the Croatian entered the field for
Cuadrado as a second-half substitute with devastating effect, scoring the opening goal with a thunderous low
drive as the Bianconeri triumphed 2-0.
Pjaca seems to have the temperament to withstand the disappointment of not starting regularly. After all, as
noted earlier, he chose Juventus and acknowledged that he would not be playing every week when he could
have at other clubs. Despite this, he still has a lot to learn from the attacking group he will train with at Juve.
From the ruthlessness of Gonzalo Higuan to the tenacity and hard work of Manduki and to the passing,
fluidity and great decision-making of Paulo Dybala, Pjaca has three of the best attacking players in the world
to learn from - and all with vastly different skillsets.
When he does get his chance to start, expect Pjaca to become increasingly aware of his duty as a Juventus
player. This means buying into the Juventus ethos that does not exactly align perfectly with his style of play.
Manduki summed up what it means to be a Juventus player in January 2017 when he tweeted Dont aspire
to be the best ON the team. Aspire to be the best FOR the team.
These are important words for Pjaca to understand. While trying to make an impression in Turin, he must
understand that the teams goals for the season are all that matter.
 FW

ORIGI
FULL NAME: DIVOCK OKOTH ORIGI

CLUB: LIVERPOOL FC

NATIONALITY: BELGIAN

POSTION: STRIKER

DATE OF BIRTH:
APRIL 18, 1995

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: TOM CURREN

(@TOMOCURR)
2016 IN REVIEW
There was much doubt surrounding the 2014 arrival of Divock Origi at Anfield. A teenager who had scored
barely a handful of senior goals, the Belgian striker was immediately loaned back out to previous club Lille,
where he was watched with interest by the Liverpool faithful. They were largely disappointed by what they
saw; the gangly striker seemed clumsy and uncoordinated, a far cry from the lethal precision of the Luis
Surez Daniel Sturridge Raheem Sterling combo of the previous season. Origi did not reach double figures
in Ligue 1 that season, a league many saw as one in which talented strikers should be finding the net often.
When he returned to the club in 2015, it was safe to say expectations where low.
Few saw the young strikers emergence coming, then. With the arrival of Jrgen Klopp a man who had
reportedly been after Origis signature during his time at Borussia Dortmund the Belgian was given a clean
slate, an opportunity to impress regardless of his average goal-scoring record. Happily, he seized it with both
hands. Though the arrival of Roberto Firmino from Hoffenheim seemed to relegate Origi to third-choice strik-
er, the Belgian would not be perturbed, playing his way into the first team with several electric performances.
By the end of the 2015/16 season, despite several injuries he had played his way into starting XI contention,
and would begin the 2016/17 season in direct competition with Firmino for Klopps favoured single striker
role.
During the back end of 2016, Origi continued to play well when called upon, particularly during an impressive
purple patch which saw him score four goals in four Premier League games. Disappointingly, it was a turn
of form which the Belgian could not maintain and the final few weeks of the year saw him go on a barren
run. Relegated to second choice again behind Firmino but just as likely as Daniel Sturridge to be involved,
Origi now finds himself on the fringes of a Liverpool side who have been knocked out of every competition
they started the year in. With only a dozen or so Premier Leagues games left to play, the Belgian might find
future appearances limited; but he has proven he is entirely willing to knuckle down and fight for minutes,
so it would not be at all surprising to see him back in Klopps plans between now and the end of the season.
STYLE OF PLAY
Tall, lanky and occasionally clumsy, it is easy to sympathise with the Liverpool fans who had their doubts
following Origis arrival. He continues to dispel their fears though. The six-foot striker has, when he is on his
game, a kind of streamlined elegance to him, a refinement to his movements, a sophistication to his touches.
If this sounds like the ballet, do not be fooled; Origi makes all his touches at lightning speed, making it easy
to see why Klopp thinks so highly of him. He fits perfectly into the uber-attacking style that the German man-
ager has been lauded for instilling at Liverpool, being supremely fast across the ground.
It would be lazy to describe a tall striker as simply fast, however. It is his application of this speed which
makes Origi such a useful asset to Klopps side. Whereas Sturridge and Firmino often enjoy coming deep to
collect the ball and involve themselves in build-up play, Origi deploys his speed in aggressive, darting runs
in-behind defenders. This is especially useful with ball-carrying midfielders like Phillippe Coutinho and Adam
Lallana in the side, who can drive at the opposition before releasing Origi through on goal. This was exactly
how he scored both of his goals against Borussia Dortmund last season, making diagonal runs to receive
passes, dragging defenders out of position and going through on goal. When he is at his absolute best the
Belgian is a real handful for centre-halves. He is so explosive with his initial movements that man-markers are
often left in a cloud of his dust.
This turn of pace means that Origi has also made multiple appearances on both wings for Liverpool. Though
clearly not his favoured position, he appears relatively comfortable there and it remains a viable option for
Klopp. His final ball is inconsistent - he would much rather be on the end of crosses than providing them. His
true strength when playing out wide remains his ability to run in-behind teams, to stretch them and create
space for Liverpools central creative players to exploit. He is also adept at beating his man, using one of the
many tricks he has at his disposal to turn defenders inside-out, carving space for a shot or an opportunity
to play inside to a team-mate. These shots can be lethal, but the consistency with his finishing does let him
down. Despite the occasional explosions of good form, as a rule Origi does not score enough goals even for
a man whose majority of appearances come from the bench.
Finally, Origi is unsurprisingly good in the air. This, however, is not simply due to his height. Whereas in tran-
sitional play Origi uses his appreciation of space to make penetrative darting runs behind defences, during
set-pieces he uses it to sniff out half a yard and win the definitive header. He is excellent at peeling away
towards the back post, using an impressive sense of anticipation to foresee the balls most likely path. He has
scored several tap-ins for Liverpool in this manner and a handful of decisive headers, rising high into space to
nod the ball beyond the keeper.

FORECAST FOR 2017

It is hard to predict the next few years for Origi. On one hand, he has proven himself to be an incredibly ca-
pable striker more than good enough for the Premier League. On the other, his consistency remains an issue,
and competition for a starting birth at Liverpool will continue to hamper his first-team opportunities as the
season progresses. It also would not be a huge surprise to see Klopp dip into the transfer market this summer
to strengthen his attacking options, with the side becoming increasingly reliant on the mercurial Sadio Man
for goals.
That said, there is a place for Origi at Liverpool. He is an excellent squad player for the club, capable oc-
casionally very decisive when called upon and able to play several different roles. It remains his decision,
however, whether this is the height of his ambition. The 21-year-old has already secured 24 professional
appearances for the Belgian national side, a feat especially impressive when considering the huge extent of
that teams attacking talent. With Romelu Lukaku looking decidedly world-class across Merseyside, Origi will
need to decide soon if he wants to stay relevant to boss Roberto Martinezs plans.
If he stays a bit-part player at Liverpool, that will translate to his international career; but if he decides to
leave to pursue a starting berth elsewhere, a season of good performances could see him challenging for
international relevancy. With the World Cup looming large though, he seems content for the moment to stay
and fight for Klopps approval.
 FW

LARIN
FULL NAME: CYLE LARIN

CLUB: ORLANDO CITY

NATIONALITY: CANADIAN

POSTION: STRIKER

DATE OF BIRTH:
APRIL 17, 1995

PREFERRED FOOT:LEFT

WRITTEN BY: JUSTIN SOUSA

(@SOUSA7474)
2016 IN REVIEW
Starting the 2016 MLS season, Cyle Larin needed to prove he was not just a one-season-wonder. Setting the
record for most goals by a rookie (17) and winning the Rookie of the Year Award in 2015 raised the expec-
tations of Orlando Citys coaching staff and critics across the USA. Luckily for Larin and MLS fans, his second
season was far from a disappointment. The 21-year-old bagged 14 goals in 31 appearances for Orlando,
earning him a spot in the 2016 MLS All-Stars team. Again, the Canadian international proved to be an efficient
goal-scorer and a lively attacking outlet in Orlandos system.
Larins front line leadership, however, was not enough for Orlando City to qualify for the playoffs in their
second full season as they finished in a disappointing eighth place. Along with failing to qualify for the MLS
Playoffs, Larin also failed in helping the Canadian National Team advance to the fifth round of the 2018 World
Cup Qualifiers. Despite a goal and assist in Canadas first two qualification matches in 2015, the Orlando strik-
er only managed one goal in the four games they contested during 2016. After a year of disappointment on
the international stage, the Canadian will try and change his teams fortunes at the 2017 Gold Cup.
STYLE OF PLAY
Despite his 62 stature, Larin has established himself as one of the most dangerous dribblers in the MLS. Larin
strikes fear into defenders when he shifts gears and races towards them, rushing past and seeking any angle from
which he can score from. The alpha lion of this Orlando City pride shoulders and muscles off defenders that chal-
lenge him for possession with relative ease. On the ground or in the air, Larin is not someone a defender would
want to go toe-to-toe with in any aspect of a physical battle. The Canadian is entirely aware of this physical advan-
tage that he has over opponents and is continually learning how to maximise the use of it.
However, Larins technical attributes have not yet developed as well as his physical ones. He is reliant on his pace,
as his dribbling ability is let down by an especially weak first touch. Because of this, defenders that can sit back
and control the physical aspects of Larins game often have no problems handling him when he is on the ball. Such
technical handicaps expose his inexperience and make it easy for veteran professionals to prevent dangerous
forays forward.
Though his opportunities are minimal, the 21-year-olds finishing ability is something special for a player his age.
He seems to be one of the few strikers who can slot a shot into the top or bottom corner, left or right side of the
net. The power Larin generates through his hip rotation allows him to power a ball into the back of the net with
little to no movement forward. In one of his most memorable goals this season, Larin lashed a fierce shot from 21
yards past Steve Clark in a 4-1 loss against Columbus Crew. Along with his clean finishing, the Canadian interna-
tional is a bully in the air, notching five of his 14 goals from headers. Larin manages to catch defenders by surprise
and, before they can stop him, he has already leaped into the air and is in position to put the ball into the back of
the net. According to WhoScored, Larin won 37% of his aerial duels in his 32 appearances for Orlando this season,
topping that of the leagues two top goal scorers Bradley Wright Phillips (34%) and David Villa (24%).
Yet, Larin still lacks the ability to contribute to both defensive and offensive phases of play. He finishes chances
easily, but instigating attacking plays or winning back the ball for a potential counter attack is a skill requiring
improvement. His lack of a quality first touch comes to haunt him again as it contributes to his faulty passes and
failure to hold up play long enough for his teammates to help him in attack. It would be harsh to dub Larin lazy, but
his contribution to winning back the ball after being dispossessed is minimal. The 21-year-old prefers to leave that
work to his fellow midfielders and defenders, but he would create more chances for the team and himself if he
got his hands dirty by pressing the opposition - especially deep-lying midfield creators like NYCFCs Andrea Pirlo.
Off the ball, however, is where Larins knowledge of the game starts to show. The Canadian is like a fox, sneaking
behind and between defenders to get on the end of a tap-in or through ball. Larin scored a carbon copy of his
chested goal against Portland last season in a match against the Philadelphia Union this season, showing his per-
severance in stretching to get any part of his body onto a close-range opportunity. Constantly trying to get open
or find space, Larin is any playmakers dream target when they are looking for the killer pass.
FORECAST FOR 2017
Links to both Lazio and Benfica came up during the summer transfer window, but Larin is still too rough around
the edges for that level of competition. Moving to either club would require his work rate to be increased if he is
to compete for a starting position for the structured Serie A side or the high-tempo play style of the Portuguese
champions. Though work rate can be adjusted through experience in Europe, Larins technical ability must be im-
proved at a lower level before he will be able to cross the pond and ply his trade in Europe. A solid first touch and
decent passing ability are a must have if the 21-year-old is to survive in Europe, especially in a Champions League
side like Benfica. With the likes of Kak and Nocerino at Orlando City, Larin has a good pool of talent to learn from
this year.
This should be a season of reward for the Canadian; challenging for the golden boot and possibly the MVP Award
if he can guide Orlando to their first playoff qualification. One more strong season in MLS should give him the
confidence he needs to take the next step in his career.
In terms of the national team, Larin needs to forget what he could not do for Canadas World Cup ambitions and
focus on having a good run with the national side during next years Gold Cup. The tournament will take place
about half way through the MLS regular season, so Larin should be fit and ready to go when his nation calls upon
him to score the goals. Canada failed to score a single goal in the 2015 edition of the tournament, but an in-form
Larin could have the X-factor they need to make a worthwhile account of themselves at the tournament.
 FW

AZMOUN
FULL NAME: SARDAR AZMOUN

CLUB: FK ROSTOV

NATIONALITY: IRANIAN

POSTION: STRIKER

DATE OF BIRTH:
JANUARY 1, 1995

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: DAVID SANSUN

(@RFN_DAVID)
2016 IN REVIEW
Sardar Azmoun has had a year to remember. Having joined FC Rostov on loan for the second time at the start
of the 2015/16 season, the underdogs of the Russian Premier League ran big guns CSKA Moscow down to
the final day of the season, eventually finishing in second place exactly one year after finishing 14th. On that
day, they played in a relegation play-off to ensure Premier League status. Azmoun was one of the stars of the
side which qualified for the Champions League for the first time in their history, scoring nine times through-
out the season, including six in the last six games. He bagged crucial goals and notched key assists as Rostov
dispatched of all of Russia big guns, including Zenit, CSKA and Lokomotiv Moscow.
After his loan finished, parent club Rubin Kazan wanted Azmoun back. New management and a new vision at
the club meant that they had been spending big and they wanted Azmoun as part of the project. However,
Rostov claimed to have triggered a release clause in his loan and Azmoun went missing from Rubins training,
eventually returning to Rostov. After long legal battles, he was given permission to play for Rostov, however
Rubin are still challenging the decision and if any wrongdoing is proved, he could face a lengthy ban.
Nevertheless, Azmoun started the season with Rostov in late July, as they were drawn against Belgian giants
Anderlecht in the Champions League qualifiers. After a 2-2 draw in Russia, Azmoun scored an expertly taken
finish in the return leg in Belgium as they dispatched their opponents 4-2 on aggregate a shock to western
Europe, but not a massive surprise to those who had watched Rostov last season. However, another hurdle
had to be crossed before Champions League qualification was secured. That hurdle was Dutch giants and
four-time European Cup winners, Ajax. After a well fought draw in Amsterdam, Azmoun played a starring role
as Rostov destroyed the Dutch side 4-1 back in Rostov, with the Iranian scoring a wonderful header, as well
as running the Ajax defence ragged for the entire game.
But Azmoun was still to peak. Rostovs group drew them with Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich. He scored
an equalising goal away in Madrid as Rostov fell victim to a last-minute goal, before announcing himself to
the world as he scored an excellent goal in a historic 3-2 victory over Bayern, sending Jrme Boateng sprawl-
ing before finishing expertly.
However Azmouns league form has been impacted, as he has often been rested domestically with Champi-
ons League football high on Rostovs agenda. He has appeared 14 times, scoring just twice, while only com-
pleting the full 90 minutes on three of those occasions.
At international level, Azmoun has been in electric form, scoring eight goals in eight games, including his first
hat-trick for his nation as they beat Macedonia 3-1 in a friendly in June. To date, Azmoun has 16 goals in 22
caps; a simply astonishing record for an Iranian international who only turned 22 in January.
STYLE OF PLAY
A jack of all trades, Azmoun possesses almost all the aspects a striker needs to have to assert himself at the
highest level. Firstly, he has great speed, not electric like Hctor Bellern or Ahmed Musa, but still enough
to cause defenders problems. Secondly, he is very comfortable with the ball at his feet. As a teenager, for
youth sides, he played several games in the role behind the striker and because of this he can link up well
with midfielders or if he is partnered with another striker up front. This is something which in Rostovs 5-3-2
formation, he has had to do well to ensure he does not become isolated.
However, perhaps most notably, he is amazing in the air. At 61, it may not be a surprise to anyone that Az-
moun would be good in the air. The Iranian though, who trained as a volleyball player as a child and whose fa-
ther was an international volleyball player for Iran, has one of the best leaps in world football, easily beating
some of the best and tallest centre halves in Russia to the ball regularly. Furthermore, once Azmoun is in the
air, he has a powerful, accurate header, which can turn even the weakest of lobbed crosses into goal-scoring
opportunities.
It should be noted that unlike the wording of many lazy reports which emerged when he was linked to Liver-
pool, Azmoun is solely a striker, and would struggle in wider positions. As previously mentioned, he has some
experience in the role behind the forward, but out wide, he would likely struggle. To waste him anywhere
but up front would be irresponsible, considering he has played nearly every single senior game as a striker.
An aspect of Azmouns game which many young strikers have not had a chance of playing, is to operate in a
very defensive 5-3-2 formation which Rostov used. Sitting very deep, Rostov play long balls forward for Az-
moun and his striker partner to chase and they are tasked with keeping constant pressure on the opposition
defence. He must remain disciplined to operate in such a formation, and his work rate in this is top class
much like the forwards of Leicester City throughout the 2015/16 season.
But this heavy workload does take its toll and, unfortunately, Azmouns stamina is quite poor. He has only
seen out games three times in his 23 appearances this season to date, often being subbed with 15-20 min-
utes left to play. He runs himself into the ground for Rostov just rarely for the full 90.
However, the most controversial aspect of his game is his attitude. He has been sent off and received book-
ings for reckless off the ball incidents, and his off the pitch attitude, social media behaviour and interaction
with the press have all received heavy criticism from fans of club and country. They believe that Azmoun
needs to focus on his game in order to reach his potential, and put it down to age and poor management
from his coaches and agent.
FORECAST FOR 2017
After the last 18 months, there will be no doubting that the Iranian will have been scouted by several of Eu-
ropes top sides, and because of his age, he will be valued as a top commodity around Europe.
As previously mentioned, Liverpool have been the most commonly linked suitor, but this is not the first time
some of Europes elite have reportedly taken interest in Azmoun. As a 19-year-old, he was scouted by Arsenal
during a training camp with Rubin and Everton have been linked since they were taken over by their new
Iranian owner Farhad Moshiri. Rostov will be hoping to keep hold of him at least until the end of the season,
as they look to challenge for a Europa League spot for the 2017/18 season.
Following Rostovs exit from the Champions League which subsequently placed them in the Europa League,
Azmoun still has some games at the top European level left to play with Rostov. They have qualified for the
round of 16 following an obliteration of Sparta Prague, including a 4-0 home win. The ongoing success at the
Russian club and the ongoing crucial role Azmoun continues to play in their fairy-tale run suggests that he will
likely remain at the club at least until the end of next season. However, he is maturing rapidly.
Following that, it is impossible to speculate on what may happen. What is clear is that Azmoun craves regular
football he would not have joined Rostov on loan initially if that was not the case and so if he is to move,
he would likely need to be assured of a regular, guaranteed first-team berth. While Azmoun has talent, he
is untested with consistent top level football, and so a move to one of Europes intermediary leagues, or a
middle range club in a top league may be the best stepping stone for his career.
 FW

NIANG
FULL NAME:
MBAYE BABACAR NIANG

CLUB: WATFORD

NATIONALITY: FRENCH

POSTION: LEFT-WING/STRIKER

DATE OF BIRTH:
DECEMBER 19, 1994

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: STEPHEN GANAVAS

(@MAROTTANOMICS)
2016 IN REVIEW
While technically not part of 2016, it would be impossible to give insight into the current state of MBaye
Niangs career without delving into his January move from AC Milan to Watford.
The Frenchman had a tumultuous career at AC Milan. Despite offering regular glimpses of his talent on
loan at other clubs, he struggled to perform consistently at Milan. Forced to play out wide for the Rossoneri
over the last two seasons after the arrival of Carlos Bacca, Niang has been oft-criticised by Milan fans for his
wastefulness in the final third. Some fans even urged the club to sell him after rumours about a potential
replacement (Marseilles Lucas Ocampos) emerged and then celebrated his departure.
Eager to prove his doubters wrong though, Niang has hit the ground running at his new club. Since his arrival
at Watford, the Hornets are yet to drop a point, claiming wins against Arsenal and Burnley. His performance
against Burnley was a decisive one too, as his precise headed goal and assist earned Watford a 2-1 win.
Niang has a bad boy image to shake in England as well. Already dubbed by The Sun as the new Mario Balo-
telli, his brushes with the law over a string of driving offences are a lot worse than any of Balotellis minor
indiscretions. However, unlike many of the 22-year-olds previous managers, Walter Mazzarri has spoken
candidly in the public about his desire to play a father figure role throughout Niangs career at Watford. He
even pledged to treat him as if he were my son.
After his impressive start in the Premier League, it seems likely that Niang will have his release clause activat-
ed by Watford. Additionally, with the Hornets decent form this season which has carried them to mid-table,
Mazzarri should remain until at least next season to mentor and nurture the talent of the French attacker.
STYLE OF PLAY
Much of Niangs career he has been shifted around the front-line by different managers. Often asked to play
on the left wing, it has become evident over the course of the last 18 months that the 22-year-old is not suit-
ed to playing out wide. Often wasteful when given the opportunity to dwell on the ball, Niang has had more
success playing as a striker as he is forced to be more resourceful and instinctive in attacking positions closer
to goal. Furthermore, playing up front suits other impressive physical characteristics of his game, especially
his ability to bully defenders off the ball while simultaneously possessing the ability to drive past them with
pure speed.
These skills came to the fore in Niangs first week as a Watford player and specifically in his second game
against Burnley. Playing alongside Troy Deeney up front, the Frenchman evidently enjoyed working off his
team-mate and playing slightly in-behind him. In that space, the 22-year-old can still move into the channels
and work effectively out wide, as evidenced by his wonderful cross to assist Deeneys opener. Contrarily
though, he highlighted why he is most useful playing in a primarily central role, routinely testing the goal-
keeper from central long-range positions and stretching the defence with his pace and trickery on the ball.
He then doubled Watfords lead peeling off the front post and sliding a delicate glancing header across the
goalkeeper and inside the far post.
This standout performance highlighted that his game is quite polished, contrary to what some of his matches
for AC Milan suggested. Playing at Watford, he will not be playing a dominant team, but his smooth move-
ment in transition will be an important outlet for the Hornets that they have lacked since Roberto Pereyra
suffered a serious knee injury in December while sitting in seventh place. Picking up just three points from
six matches between the game Pereyra went down and the match Niang debuted, Watford have picked up
six points in three matches since as their offence begins to reconnect. Importantly, he seems to work in tan-
dem with Deeney more effectively than Odion Ighalo ever did. While Ighalo and Deeney often competed for
the position sitting on the last man, Niangs willingness to play slightly deeper has thus far made Watfords
attacking play more fluid.
Furthermore, his ability to distribute effectively is an underrated element of his game; particularly his cross-
ing ability. Possibly a product of his regular playing time out wide, Niang is adept at hitting some excellent
whipped crosses cutting in from the left onto his favoured right foot.
On the defensive end, while he will be a passenger, Watfords tendency to play a low-block means they can
afford to carry someone like Niang defensively. At times, he will be a frustrating figure for fans and he would
likely not suit a team defending higher up the pitch looking to press the opposition into their own half. It likely
would not suit the Frenchman offensively either as he uses those pockets of space behind the opposition
defence to do his best attacking work.

FORECAST FOR 2017

Niang must focus on ensuring the petulance that made his time at Milan a turbulent one does not haunt his
first months at Watford. Determined now to make his stay in the Premier League a permanent one ahead of
next season, the 22-year-old needs to continue to build his relationship with the clever Mazzarri a manag-
er who has helped develop the careers of a number of top attacking players in the past, notably at Napoli,
where he made the Edinson Cavani, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Marek Hamk triumvirate the most imposing at-
tacking triumvirate in Serie A.
The 22-year-old must keep working on his game in a quiet setting outside of the toxic environment he was
exposed to in Milan. Continuing to develop his distribution skills will see Niang become a better all-round
player and more effective playing in a two-man strike partnership.
Now placed in a more stable environment, the Frenchman has the potential to showcase his game to a mas-
sive audience and elevate himself to a new level.
 FW

CORREA
FULL NAME: CARLOS
JOAQUN CORREA

CLUB: SEVILLA

NATIONALITY: ARGENTINIAN

POSTION: STRIKER/
ATTACKING MIDFIELDER

DATE OF BIRTH:
AUGUST 13, 1994

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: STEPHEN GANAVAS

(@MAROTTANOMICS)
2016 IN REVIEW
A player that was largely underrated in Serie A circles last season, Joaquin Correas quality performances
were enough to warrant Sevilla paying 14m for his services in the summer. This was despite a startling lack
of product, with just three goals and an assist in 1,308 minutes of league football.
This reflects the potential of the 23-year-old who has already shown glimpses of his prospects of being a
high-volume goal-scorer in his time at Sevilla. That game was a three-goal and two assist effort against a
fourth-tier side, SD Formentera, but it was important in highlighting the variety and versatility of his play
style. In a 5-1 win, away from home, Correa won two penalties with excellent dribbling sequences down
the left wing, before scoring twice with precise shots from outside the box and then finishing a tap-in after
making a late run into the box from deep. The Argentine also performed superbly in Sevillas knock-out round
Champions League tie with Leicester, despite missing a penalty, scoring the opening goal as Sevilla claimed
a 2-1 win.
Correas time at Sevilla though, has largely been disappointing. An inability to earn regular first-team min-
utes has stalled his growth and his momentum after his excellent season in Serie A. So far, the Argentine has
played just 348 minutes in the league of which only four were starting appearances. The lack of opportunity
is understandable though in a team that has added Stevan Jovetic, Samir Nasri, Luciano Vietto, Wisam Ben
Yedder, Ganso, Pablo Sarabia and Franco Vazquez to their squad in the last twelve months all of whom do
(or can) play in the position(s) Correa plays in.
STYLE OF PLAY
Correas style of play is incredibly aesthetic. His movement is smooth and his dribbling is fluid; backed by an
acute visual-spatial awareness that sees him glide into dangerous spaces in the final third unmarked. Simulta-
neously though, the Argentine enjoys dropping deep to draw defenders away from his attacking team-mates
while possessing the skill to then bypass them, or pass around them. He suits the prototypical Sampaoli style
of attacker minus the extremely high work-rate.
This does not mean that Correa is lazy, but rather that he can fade in and out of matches. He remains much
more of an impact player than one that will consistently menace and that is likely partly responsible for his
lack of minutes at Sevilla so far this season. This is also underpinned by the Argentines weak engine. He lacks
the stamina to run out games he rarely completes the full 90 minutes - and tries to combat this by avoiding
running two-ways as often as possible. This stops him from influencing games more consistently throughout
the 90 minutes.
However, there remains a significant amount of upside to Correas game that reflects the value of Sevillas
summer outlay. Comfortable through the middle and out wide on either side, the 23-year-olds versatility
makes him suitable for a variety of roles under a manager comfortable with interchangeable formations and
systems. Likewise, he is able to swap wings, play tighter to the touchline or drift closer in-field whenever he
is required to.
Furthermore, he has an innate ability to find space between the lines of the opposition defence and midfield
a space where he can become the focal point of his teams attack. This was evident during his time at Samp-
doria when he became the driving creative outlet, fuelled by his clever movement and his skill in bringing
other attacking players into the game. When isolated he was also able to create positive attacking situations
for Sampdoria by drawing fouls regularly and in dangerous areas. However, at times he can get caught out
trying to play for contact to draw a foul and can stifle his teams attack or lose possession altogether in the
process.
Correas eight goals in over 2,000 minutes of competitive football since his arrival in Europe suggests that the
Argentine is comfortable playing deeper, being the in-between player that links midfield and attack without
contributing regularly on the scoresheet. Yet, whenever he is around the penalty area he seems alert. He is
savvy around the penalty area and despite not spending a lot of time in the box with Sampdoria, his poach-
ers instincts have always seemed switched on. Maybe Sampaoli has noticed too, as in recent times he has
thrown Correa onto the pitch as an impact sub upfront a potential answer to his lack of stamina, but also a
move that could see the 23-year-old hold the play up and bring other attackers into the game with his intri-
cate final-third passing.

FORECAST FOR 2017

In a Sevilla side still clinging onto hope in the league while also challenging in Europe, Correa should be con-
fident of finding some regular minutes at least off the bench between now and the end of the season.
Burdened with a plethora of options though, Sampaoli will be waiting on the Argentine to prove himself ca-
pable maintaining the standards expected of a player playing in his system before giving him the opportunity
to start matches more frequently. Perhaps another preseason under Sampaoli will allow Correa to familiarise
himself with the physical demands his manager expects, while being able to work on them without the de-
mands of match day preparation.
This also implies that there is no reason for Correa to contemplate leaving Sevilla. With one of the best man-
agers in world football and playing in an extremely competitive squad both in terms of depth and ability to
compete against the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid it would surely be nave to suggest he would fare
better elsewhere. Yes, regular minutes may help him improve in the areas of his game that require develop-
ing. However, it would on one hand be an admission that he does not have the determination to fight for an
opportunity at a big club, and on the other hand deprive himself of the opportunity to continue honing his
game in a wonderfully coached side focussed on playing technical, attractive football.
 FW

POULSEN
FULL NAME: YUSSUF
YURARY POULSEN

CLUB: RB LEIPZIG

NATIONALITY: DANISH

POSTION: STRIKER

DATE OF BIRTH:
JUNE 15, 1994

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: CONOR GARRATT

(@CONORGARRATT)
2016 IN REVIEW
Danish forward Yussuf Poulsen has long been a highly-rated youngster tipped to achieve great things, but
it is indisputably in the last year that he has broken out as a star in his own right. While Poulsen has been a
semi-regular Danish international since 2014, as well as a regular in the Danish youth teams at every level,
his club career had taken a somewhat different course to many of his peers.
The Dane plays for energy drink conglomerate Red Bulls German football department RasenBallsport Leipzig.
As one of the early additions to the project, joining while the club were 3. Liga new boys in 2013, much of
his career to date indeed, until the midway point of 2016 has essentially involved paying his dues in the
German lower leagues. Thus, it is only since the beginning of the new Bundesliga season in August that the
youngster has really been able to impress a wider audience.
But do that he has. An ever-present so far for Germanys most controversial club, the fact he has been around
the club as a virtually assured starter when fit has made him the experienced pillar of a young attack, which,
on a sporting level, have been one of the Bundesligas brightest sparks this season. True, Poulsen only man-
aged to score five goals in the calendar year of 2016, with four of them during Leipzigs spell in the second
tier. However, both Ralf Rangnick, the clubs coach last season and current sporting director who helped sign
the Dane in 2013, as well as Ralph Hasenhttl, his current coach, clearly see him as an incredibly important
player to both the present and future of the club.
As such, it is no surprise that clubs traditionally considered larger than Leipzig in that they have had history
stretching back prior to 2009 have coveted Poulsens signature, with the likes of Borussia Mnchenglad-
bach showing interest throughout the entirety of the last season. That provides a strong affirmation of the
Danes abilities, and his potential to improve.
STYLE OF PLAY
Standing at 64 or 1.93m, Poulsen is an imposing physical presence. He is strong and relatively good in the
air, winning 51.5% of his headers in the Bundesliga so far this season, and as such one might expect the Dane
to be your classic target man.
It is a role he is equipped for, certainly, but one would be wrong to limit his role to that. Leipzigs high-inten-
sity pressing game relies on a mobile striker ready to work hard throughout games and this, indeed, is the
primary function of Poulsen in the Saxony outfits team. Armed with a rapid burst of pace, the sight of the
22-year-old bearing down on goal can be an intimidating one for opposition players.
Indeed, these attributes make Poulsen an attacking all-rounder, able to play on both flanks as well as in his
more comfortable position of centre-forward.
Yet, Poulsens industry has not really been rewarded with goals. This season so far he has directly contribut-
ed to just two a goal and an assist apiece while in the second tier the season before he only managed a
mere twelve involvements. However, during his season in the second tier he tended to act as a foil for the
higher-scoring Emil Forsberg and Marcel Sabitzer. This season, both Naby Keta and Timo Werner have added
goals to the mix. As such, the Dane has been able to focus on his all-round game rather than worry too much
about peaks and troughs of form in front of goal and the results for his team are undisputable.
While it does appear that Poulsen has underperformed a lot in front of goal, it is clear to see that the all-
round attacking quality he has displayed is one of the fulcrums of Leipzigs attacking, aggressive pressing
game and the Dane typifies their electric approach to football.

FORECAST FOR 2017

During the January window, Leipzig were not linked too seriously with many potential replacements for
Poulsen and, as such, his position in the team, despite lack of goals, can probably be considered safe. In fact,
with more playing time in the top tier the Dane appears to be growing in influence on the side and one might
reasonably expect the goals and assists to flow slightly more freely for Poulsen in the Rckrunde, as well as
next season.
In fact, it could even be that a larger clubs interest in Poulsen turns into something more serious. The move
would be a money-spinner for Leipzig, who may have to balance the books slightly when it comes to dealing
with Financial Fair Play regulations in what will probably be their maiden European campaign in 2017/18.
While it would obviously not be advantageous to the Saxony-based club to lose a leading light in their attack,
it could certainly be the case that the right offer at the right time could prise away a player who has been so
fundamental to the growth of what was, at the time, ostensibly an energy drinks marketing tool in the Ger-
man third tier, to an energy drinks marketing tool in a very strong Bundesliga team.
The next step for Poulsen is to become a key player for the Danish national team. Since the beginning of the
most recent World Cup qualification campaign, Poulsen has been an ever-present for his country, but often
this has been from the bench and to little effect. Adding top-level experience, whether with Leipzig in the
Bundesliga and in Europe, or elsewhere in another top-flight team, should arm the Dane with the experience
and consistency to showcase the best of his abilities on the national stage at a high level.
Qualification for the World Cup in Russia remains a possibility, albeit a distant one, as Denmark sits behind
Poland and Montengro in their group. Perhaps the pressure of having to perform for what is, at present, an
underperforming nation will help Poulsen blossom into a player more comfortable with playing major roles
both at club and national level.
 FW

SABITZER
FULL NAME: MARCEL SABITZER

CLUB: RB LEIPZIG

NATIONALITY: AUSTRIAN

POSTION: RIGHT-WING

DATE OF BIRTH:
MARCH 17, 1994

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: JACK GRIMSE

(@JACKGRIMSE)
2016 IN REVIEW
Not to be clich, but it has been a high-energy year for the entirety of RB Leipzig. Marcel Sabitzer has been
one of the catalysts for the ever-increasing output of the Bundesliga upstarts.
After helping Die Roten Bullen (The Red Bulls) clinch promotion to the Bundesliga with eight goals and five
assists in the most recent 2. Bundesliga campaign, Sabitzer has kicked on in the new season. The 22-year-old
Austrian attacker has scored five and provided a five assists halfway through his debut campaign in Germa-
nys top flight.
Like his Leipzig team-mates, the jump up to the top league has not fazed Sabitzer. He has shown he belongs
at this level. The Leipzig squad is bursting with young talent and it is not an easy starting XI to crack, especially
considering Sabitzer plays quite often on the right wing, and right midfielder Dominik Kaiser is the captain.
Having been involved at every level of the Austrian youth national team in the past, Sabitzer has been playing
with the first team since 2012. This summer at the European Championships in France, Sabitzer played 194
minutes as Austria crashed out of Group F. While it was a Euros to forget for Die Burschen (literally, the lads),
it certainly will be a special memory for Sabitzer as it was his first action on the big stage at international level.
Like Leipzig at club level, Austria is a youthful side made up of budding stars.
Since then, Sabitzer has been holding down a spot in Austrias starting XI. He found the back of the net in a
World Cup Qualifier, a 3-2 loss to Serbia in October. Currently Austria are fourth in Group D with six matches
to play, and the pool lacks any powerhouses. Should Sabitzer and company develop some chemistry and start
getting results, there is no reason to think they cannot at least reach the playoff rounds of qualifying for the
World Cup.
STYLE OF PLAY
It is hard to pinpoint where on the pitch the Austrian is most effective. Comfortable in any of the attacking
midfield positions of a conventional 4-2-3-1 formation, he is right-footed but adept with his left as well. The
ease of slotting him into any of these roles has probably prevented manager Ralph Hasenhttl from consis-
tently using him in one position. Under Hasenhttl, Leipzig play a 4-4-2 that greatly involves the forwards in
link-up play, so anyone playing up top must have decent ball control skills as well as finishing abilities.
A very pacey customer, Sabitzer is tall enough (177cm) and has decent jumping ability to get on the end of
crosses, though he scores fewer headers than Arjen Robben. Still, if he improves in this area he could become
a more complete forward -- if that is the role the manager wants to use him in. Most likely, he will continue
splitting time between both wings and that secondary striker role, as it would be criminal not to capitalise on
his quickness and affinity for latching onto through balls played behind defenders.
He may not be one of the best crossers of the ball currently playing in the Bundesliga, many of his assists are
created through his dribbling in the middle of the park just ahead of the opposition penalty area. That does
not mean he is incapable of providing service from crossing situations, though. If he was unable to whip balls
in from wide areas, Sabitzer probably would not see much time out on the wing. Rather, that part of his game
is something that, if improved, could see Sabitzer become one of the most dangerous complete attackers
playing in Germany.
The 22-year-old has a high work rate both in attack and while defending. Like many of his teammates, he will
tirelessly chase after seemingly lost balls, in addition to closing down in defence to prevent shooting oppor-
tunities. He also has decent strength, allowing him to be a useful presence defending set pieces in addition
to the positives it brings on the attacking phase.

FORECAST FOR 2017

So far this season, Leipzig manager Hasenhttl has mostly used the Austrian in the starting line-up, alluding
to his impressive stamina. However, against Darmstadt, Sabitzer came on with 40 minutes to go and the
match still scoreless and provided both Leipzig goals, highlighting the impact he can have as an impact sub
when he does not start. He is clearly a fulcrum of the teams attacking structure and that should not change
this calendar year as Leipzig continue to challenge for Champions League football.
Additionally, 2017 will see more opportunities for Sabitzer to be involved in the national team set-up. Even
for a nation that is not a traditional power like Austria, his four goals in 25 appearances are impressive for a
22-year-old. He has mostly been utilised on the right side of midfield when playing for his country, so more
games on the right at club level could improve his development in that role. However, his ability to comfort-
ably slot into any attacking position offers both of his managers plenty of options. Versatility is an underrated
quality and it is something that Sabitzer evidently possesses.
Back to the Bundesliga, Leipzig are certainly in uncharted territory near the top of the table. For a squad with
an average age of 24, they have shown outstanding maturity so far, but crumbled against Bayern Munich in
the final match of the Hinrunde. In that game, they went into halftime down a man and three goals and they
have lacked the consistency of the first half of the season since then. It ended with the same score-line, 3-0
to the Bavarians, but the game exposed Leipzig. While it is still too early to rule them out of title contention,
the gap between Bayern and the rest of the league showed itself yet again in December. Still, Sabitzer and the
rest of the Leipzig squad would surely be happy to seize second place for themselves and guarantee Champi-
ons League football for next season.
Sabitzer should continue scoring plenty of goals in addition to providing a wealth of opportunities to his
teammates thanks to the dangerous situations his pace and dribbling abilities create. The Austrian is one
to watch in the coming year, for reasons similar to many of his club companions. Sabitzer has all the traits
required to be a top player and with Leipzig he is starting to make the most of them and will have a range of
opportunities to showcase them in an exciting 12 months ahead at club level.
 FW

MILIK
FULL NAME: ARKADIUSZ MILIK

CLUB: SSC NAPOLI

NATIONALITY: POLISH

POSTION: STRIKER

DATE OF BIRTH:
FEBRUARY 28, 1994

PREFERRED FOOT: LEFT

WRITTEN BY: STEPHEN GANAVAS

(@MAROTTANOMICS)
2016 IN REVIEW
Arkadiusz Milik experienced an incredibly exciting, yet ultimately difficult 2016. The difficulty had nothing
to do with actual footballing performance though, but an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury sustained
earlier this season.
Before that, the Polish international had emerged as another talent developing at Ajax and scoring with
incredible regularity. He averaged a goal every 118 minutes in the Eredivisie last season as he asserted his
credentials as a high-volume scorer after some barren seasons at Bayer Leverkusen and Augsburg in the
Bundesliga. Criticised by many as a poor finisher, especially after some awful misses for Poland at Euro 2016
despite performing well overall in the tournament many baulked at the 32 million fee Napoli decided to
spend on Milik in the transfer window.
Replacing the outgoing Gonzalo Higuan, arguably the best striker Serie A has seen since the departure of Zla-
tan Ibrahimovi, questions were raised over Miliks goal-scoring pedigree. Fears have been allayed in Naples,
however. Despite the Poles injury that has sidelined him for most the season so far, he has scored seven goals
in 650 minutes of football this season.
STYLE OF PLAY
Miliks effectiveness in Napoli manager Maurizio Sarris 4-3-3 has been particularly impressive. Able to play
on the last man, the 23-year-old has enough pace to be effective in a counter-attacking system. It will be im-
portant to see if his knee has fully recovered however, as this could start to limit his value from this aspect.
He can hold up play in this situation too and thrives in Napolis system in which he brings both wingers and
Marek Hamk into the game as they interchange and move the ball quickly. He is tall at 1.86m too, but not
the best aerial outlet when under pressure he is not an overly strong, nor aggressive player although he
thrives aerially in the box, suggesting he may sometimes be disinterested in competing for contested balls
near the halfway line. When free in these positions though, his first touch and close control allow him in-
stigate forward thrusts. Furthermore, his ability to distribute effectively once in these situations underpins
Napolis fluidity in attack in much the same way Dries Mertens did during his absence.
For a tall player, Milik is also excellent technically. He can play deeper than a traditional striker role because
of this, assisting as he drops deep and allows Napolis other attackers to fill the space he vacates before
playing them through. He performs superbly in this role with Poland, as he is forced to play second fiddle to
mercurial team-mate Robert Lewandowski. Good on the ball too, he generally opts not to try dribbling past
players, but his clever touches when he drifts into the channels again help create space for others as well as
drawing defenders out of possession or simply allowing more attacking players specifically full-backs to
surge forward.
Miliks consistency in front of goal has perhaps been the most pressing question mark looming over the
23-year-olds game. However, these views seem misguided as the Pole has recorded elite conversion rates
over his last three seasons of 19.8% in 2014/15, 28.2% in 2015/16 and 25% this season. Not only does he
finish chances at a remarkable rate though, Miliks also records a high volume of shots attempted per game,
averaging 3.1 per 90 minutes in Serie A this season. Placing him at 0.8 shots per 90 minutes behind Higuan
and 2.2 shots per 90 minutes behind goal-poacher extraordinaire Edin Deko, the 23-year-olds all-round
game clearly does not hamper his ability to effectively produce in his primary goal-scoring role.
A relaxed player defensively, Milik still plays a role in maintaining Napolis high-intensity standards when not
in possession. Not one to over-exert himself though, he will not burst a lung like Mario Mario Manduki
would in attempting to chase down a contested ball. However, he is not immobile like a Deko and can cover
ground to enforce a semblance of pressure. But at Napoli, Milik is not required to venture too far into his own
defensive half, with Sarri openly admitting that his side cannot defend deep. Instead, the Italian manager
wants his team to counteract this by being aggressive in the attacking half something the Polish interna-
tional is more capable of.

FORECAST FOR 2017

Ensuring he returns to full fitness and recovers properly from his anterior cruciate ligament rupture will be
the priority of the 23-year-old, as he continues to make his slow return to competitive action that resumed
with seven minutes in Napolis 3-1 Champions League defeat to Real Madrid. Already this season Serie A fans
have seen Alessandro Florenzi and Mattia Perin struck down by consecutive ACL injuries that have not only
ended their respective seasons, but threaten to limit their potential to compete at their highest level into the
future.
With silverware still on the line this season though, there may be a temptation to rush the Polish interna-
tional back. However, the impressive form of Dries Mertens should afford Sarri some more time to ease Milik
back into full match conditioning. Still young, caution must be adopted to protect a valuable asset that will
provide goals for seasons to follow - in which Napoli will hopefully not be stranded 12 points behind leaders
Juventus.
Injuries aside though, Milik has had an impressive start to life in Serie A. Heading into the peak years of his
career, he certainly has the team and the attributes to become a massive goal-scorer in the same way Higuan
was during his time in Naples.
While this may not ever translate to flurry of international goals as Milik continues to be act as Lewandows-
kis foil, the pressure of playing in front of the demanding Napoli faithful - and the clubs demanding presi-
dent Aurelio De Laurentiis - should prepare him for success with Poland.
 FW

BELOTTI
FULL NAME: ANDREA BELOTTI

CLUB: TORINO

NATIONALITY: ITALIAN

POSTION: STRIKER

DATE OF BIRTH:
DECEMBER 20, 1993

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: PHIL COSTA

(@_PHILCOSTA)
2016 IN REVIEW
Andrea Belotti has always been highly rated in Italy, but 2016 was the year that he finally began to deliver on
his considerable potential. In a trait he shares with many other strikers, the 23-year-old needs to be in the
right environment to perform at his best. Marginalised in the shadows of Paulo Dybala and Franco Vazquez
during his time with Palermo, he is very much the main man at Torino and they have brought the best out
of each other. Given time to settle and playing in a team that is suited to his strengths, he netted 24 Serie A
goals in twelve months a number bettered only by Gonzalo Higuan.
Despite his prolific end to the 2015/16 season, Belotti did not make Antonio Contes squad for the European
Championship in France, which allowed him to rest and shake off any knocks from months prior. While his
omission would have been disappointing on a personal level, the time off gave him an opportunity to come
back and begin the new campaign sharper than those who may not have been afforded such a luxury.
After scoring six goals in four games at the start of the new campaign, Premier League clubs began to circle,
but it was Torino owner Urbano Cairo who had the last laugh. After weeks of negotiation and speculation,
it was announced in December that Belotti had signed a new five-year-deal with the club which included a
100 million (86m) release clause, to ensure that I Granata would benefit from the Italian either staying or
leaving.
STYLE OF PLAY
Undoubtedly, Belottis main strength is his ability to score goals. Capable on both feet, he can find the net
from almost anywhere, including the most acute of angles which he does for Torino on a regular basis. Young
players are often erratic in front of goal, but the Italian rarely becomes flustered and always keeps a cool
head when in promising situations. He may not be the type of striker to drop deep and involve himself in the
build-up, but his movement is superb and his team-mates can be confident that the chances they create for
their main man will more than likely end up in goals.
At 511 (1.81m), Belotti is tall enough and adds to this by knowing how to use his body effectively. Despite
his slender frame, he is reasonably quick and possesses a large amount of core strength which allows him to
run the channels effectively when spearheading the attack. The 23-year-old is difficult to knock off the ball
and enjoys the physical battle with defenders, but also has a brilliant spring which makes him a threat in the
air. Aspects to Belottis game are reminiscent of an old-fashioned centre forward, and his ability to mix things
up makes him incredibly difficult to defend against.
Under Sinia Mihajlovi, the Torino players are expected to work and harry the opposition for as long as they
are on the field. Luckily for him, the former Palermo striker is a lean, mean pressing machine. Flanked by the
talented (but sometimes leisurely) duo of Adem Ljajic and Iago Falque in a 4-3-3 formation, Belotti sprints
from centre back to centre back trying to force errors and even aims to hunt down defensive midfielders who
receive the ball when facing their own goal. He is always ready to pounce on a mistake as he showed against
Inter at in October, taking advantage of a defensive mix up between Gary Medel and Danilo DAmbrosio to
lash home an equaliser.
Born and bred in the province of Bergamo, an area that thrives on hard work and industry, it is no surprise
that Belotti is a relentless runner. But despite his Bergamasque blood, his competitiveness and desire to win
is what makes him so unique. The Italian will wind up opposition defenders, maximise contact in search of
penalties or free-kicks and embrace the role of the villain when playing away from home in a similar fashion
to Chelseas Diego Costa. He will look for any edge possible to make the difference which can paint him in a
bad light at times, but his antics are undoubtedly effective.
If I was to highlight a weakness in his game, it is that his touch can be very loose. When travelling at speed,
Belotti can hit the ball too hard, get the ball stuck under his feet or run himself into a cul-de-sac which results
in him surrendering possession. His quickness of thought could also improve, as he often looks disconnected
with his team-mates when it comes to intricate link-up play.

FORECAST FOR 2017

The next six months will see Belotti playing week in, week out for a Torino side looking to stake their claim for
European football next season. Already one of the leagues most prolific strikers, the Italian will be targeting
the Capocannoniere (golden boot award) but faces stiff competition from the likes of Mauro Icardi, Edin De-
ko, Dries Mertens and Higuan. He also has the chance to establish himself as the answer to Italys striking
problems their underwhelming options at Euro 2016 clearly hindered them from progressing further in the
competition ahead of the next World Cup in Russia.
Bellotis humble, hardworking nature has now given him a platform to showcase his talents and it is hardly
a surprise that he is flourishing. Speaking in November, the former Palermo striker said I am a person who
always thinks about getting better and I never set myself limits, which gives a real insight into who he is as a
person. Whether his future lies elsewhere remains to be seen, with Europes elite more likely to spend big on
an Antoine Griezmann or a Marco Reus. However, should he continue to find the back of the net with such
regularity, his name will certainly find its way onto some shortlists.
 FW

VIETTO
FULL NAME: LUCIANO
DARO VIETTO

CLUB: SEVILLA

NATIONALITY: ARGENTINIAN

POSTION: STRIKER

DATE OF BIRTH:
DECEMBER 5, 1993

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: JUSTIN SOUSA

(@SOUSA7474)
2016 IN REVIEW
Luciano Viettos 2016 started in underwhelming fashion as the striker continued his depreciation at Atltico
Madrid due to the immense competition he faced from Antoine Griezmann, Jackson Martnez, Fernando
Torres, and ngel Correa for game time. Despite the initial faith Diego Simeone showed in the Argentinians
capabilities, Vietto failed to make an impact when handed the opportunities and did not live up to the 20
million sum Atltico Madrid spent to get him. Vietto scored three goals and provided five assists in his debut
season for Atltico as opposed to the 20 goals and eight assists he produced for Villarreal in the season prior.
Their new signing was also recorded struggling to keep up with Simeones intense training methods. Rumours
of a move away from the Vicente Caldern gained momentum toward the summer as, according to Viettos
agent Jorge Cyterszpiler, more than 15 clubs had shown interest in the striker.
By the end of July, Atltico Madrid reached an agreement with Sevilla to loan Vietto for the 2016/17 season.
The departures of Kevin Gameiro, Ciro Immobile, and Fernando Llorente left Sevilla in need of forward op-
tions and meant minutes were readily available for Vietto. The 23-year old wasted no time in getting on the
scoresheet for his new club, scoring a brace on his league debut as Sevilla defeated Espanyol 6-4. The striker
has rediscovered his mojo in Seville and looked like the player Diego Simeone hoped would thrive under his
management at Atltico Madrid. Recently, however, Vietto has found it difficult to break into the starting XI
since the arrival of Stevan Joveti in the winter transfer window and the recent rise to prominence of Joaqun
Correa. Since the turn of the year, the Argentinian has failed to score or assist a goal in his three substitute
appearances in the league and the 55 minutes he played in Sevillas 3-3 draw with Real Madrid in the Copa
del Rey.
STYLE OF PLAY
Vietto has drawn comparisons to fellow countrymen Sergio Agero and Lionel Messi because of their simi-
lar physique and the technical brilliance the offensive trio share. Similar to his compatriots, Vietto loves to
dribble at defenders and unleash his arsenal of skills to beat his man. He is everything an Argentinian striker
represents in todays game with his low centre of gravity and agility which allow him to change direction on
the ball with ease. While at Atltico Madrid, Vietto showcased these attributes in a match against Celta Vigo.
There, he received a throw in from Filipe Luis and simultaneously turned two Celta Vigo defenders and flew
by a third to continue his sides counter-attack. Fleet of foot, Vietto is extremely difficult for a defender to
stop when he is dribbling without committing a tactical foul.
As captivating as Viettos dribbling and quick feet are, his off the ball movement and work rate are equally as
impressive. The 23-year old can offer the creativity of a number 10 and the instinctive knowledge to work in
between the channels of opposition defenses. Vietto can operate as a secondary striker in a 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1,
dropping behind his offensive partner in an effort to link the front-line with the midfield. Jorge Sampaoli has
favored Wissam Ben Yedder as Viettos partner up top as he provides the pace and finishing ability necessary
for his team-mates creativity to thrive. He is also capable of working alone in a 4-2-3-1 where he can ma-
noeuvre in between defenders and use his pace to latch onto a through pass or loose ball. Viettos persistent
pressure forces defenders to rush their decision making, often causing them concede possession as they
attempt to distribute the ball. Vietto scored a brilliant counter-attacking goal against Sporting Gijn after he
got on the end of a Sergio Rico clearance, leaving the defenders stranded and unable to prevent his shot on
goal. His ability to diversify his attacking approach throughout a match is what makes Vietto such an attrac-
tive option for Jorge Sampaoli and Diego Simeone when utilizing him as a solo forward.
However, the fluttering footwork and break-neck pace of Vietto can be easily neutralized by physically dom-
inant defenders like Gerard Piqu and Diego Godn. His speed and agility are adequate when challenging
full-backs of equal strength, but seasoned centre-backs recognize Viettos inability to stand his ground in the
physical side of his game. Moreover, WhoScored shows that Vietto is dispossessed an average of 1.7 times
per 90 minutes in La Liga and as many as 2.5 times in the Champions League. Apart from his first goal for
Sevilla, the 58 forward has never been a threat for defenders to handle in an aerial duel. In fact, Vietto has
won just 8.33% of his aerial duels in all competitions since the start of the season. Despite having brought the
Argentine striker through the ranks of Racing Club in Argentina, Diego Simeone has yet to figure out how to
implement his prodigy into his intense style of play at Atltico Madrid.
Nevertheless, what Vietto lacks in strength is made up for by clinical finishing ability with either his left or
right foot. His ambipedal shooting provides him with an advantage over the defensive technique of forcing a
player onto their weaker foot and the ability to shoot from any angle confidently. In his 17 league appearanc-
es for Sevilla, Vietto has kept 57% of his shots on target and averages a goal from every five shots.

FORECAST FOR 2017

As far as a return to the Vicente Caldern is concerned, Luciano Vietto should not consider his time with At-
ltico Madrid finished. With speculation of star forward Griezmann and manager Simeone planning to leave
the Madrid club in the summer transfer window gaining substance, Viettos return to Los Colchoneros next
season could be a fresh start.
Without Griezmann, Atletico Madrid will only have a 33-year-old Fernando Torres, 29-year-old Gameiro,
and an inconsistent Correa to fill the void up front. Vietto can also benefit from a change in the managerial
department if Simeones tactics continue to exploit his weaknesses rather than build upon his strengths.
Whether he returns the Atletico Madrid, stays at Sevilla, or moves on to an entirely new club, Vietto must
make a move to a club that will assure him first team minutes regularly and make him the focal point of their
front line.
 FW

RAFA
FULL NAME: RAFAEL ALEXANDRE
FERNANDES FERREIRA DA SILVA

CLUB: SL BENFICA

NATIONALITY: PORTUGUESE

POSTION: LEFT-WING

DATE OF BIRTH:
MAY 17, 1993

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: TIAGO ESTVO

(@TIAGOESTV)
2016 IN REVIEW
Rafa Silva has been one of the most valuable assets in Portuguese football for years now and definitely the
most valuable one outside of the big three of FC Porto, Benfica and Sporting Clube de Portugal. This 23-year-
old winger started his young playing career in the outskirts of Lisbon with Alverca, a once first division team
now sunk into the lower tiers before getting his chance in the professional world with Feirense.
After drawing the attention of both Sportings the Lisbon and the Braga based one he snubbed the Lisbon
to make a move to SC Braga. After lighting up the Primeira Liga with numerous quality displays for Braga, the
interest from international clubs rose massively, all seemingly more likely to match his 20 million valuation
than any of the Portuguese big three who were hunting Rafa once again. Yet, Benfica eventually ended up
parting ways with a sum slightly less than that 20 million valuation to sign the 23-year-old. With Benficas
record with developing young players, can one blame him for exercising the safe option in joining the cham-
pions?
A quality club season did not go unnoticed by Fernando Santos who took him to the European Champion-
ships in case his flair and creative spark was needed. Luckily for Portugal, but unfortunately for Rafa the team
possessed plenty of wingers in its roster. Despite playing little though, he did become a European champion.
STYLE OF PLAY
Benficas 4-4-2 had a space open up on the left when Nico Gaitn finally left the club for Atltico Madrid and,
despite the arrival of Franco Cervi, a big money signing came in to replace the Argentine Rafa.
The Portuguese winger who is versatile enough to play both wings and even more centrally behind the strik-
er, tends to enjoy the left-hand side has his preferred spot to start from. Right-footed, he has an easier time
drifting inside when he starts there. But when one talks about Rafa, they must discuss his most important
attributes, which are clearly his speed, agility and his technical ability. Standing at 1.7m tall, Rafa is an incred-
ibly fast, nimble, player: off the mark, in a sprint, in tight spaces and in-between the lines. With the ball at
his feet he is everything a winger needs to be: a fantastic close control dribbler who is aware enough of his
surroundings to approach play intelligently, whether it be running at a defender or finding team-mates with
a well-timed pass.
Unfortunately for the 23-year-old, his season with the champions got off to a stuttering start with injuries
keeping him out of the first team for most of his debut campaign with Benfica, however he has slowly begun
to prove his worth. In only his second start, he did not feel the pressure of a derby match and not only deliv-
ered a mesmerizing outside of the boot assist against Sporting but was also one of the best on the pitch for
Benfica. From here on out, he began accumulating starts.
A great finisher, he appears in the box instinctively when he drifts inside and those are the moments when
he tends to score as he is not someone to try his luck from outside of the box often.
Rafa still has a lot to work on defensively though. He is far from perfect in this aspect. Furthermore, his end
product definitely needs some added polish too as his final ball is often found to be lacking quality.

FORECAST FOR 2017

Being the fourth most expensive player to ever be bought by a Portuguese club and the result of the biggest
transfer between two Portuguese teams, Rafa is under a lot of pressure to succeed at the Estdio da Luz.
Rui Vitria has a history with developing youngsters though and now fit after the holiday break, Rafa should
be able to integrate himself within the squad more effectively in 2017 as a key first team player. He will also
have the opportunity to express his talents in the Champions League, a stage in which he is untested thus far
in his career.
Although he has earned 10 caps for the Portuguese national team and is a regular call-up when fit, Rafa is
yet to establish himself as a key starting XI player under Fernando Santos. Again, despite being a European
Champion he played very few actual minutes in the competition for Portugal and now has seen his spot come
under threat by a host of young Portuguese wide talent, including the likes of Bernardo Silva, Gelson Martins
and Pizzi.
 FW

PLA
FULL NAME: ALASSANE PLA

CLUB: OGC NICE

NATIONALITY: FRENCH

POSTION: STRIKER

DATE OF BIRTH:
MARCH 10, 1993

PREFERRED FOOT: RIGHT

WRITTEN BY: PHIL COSTA

(@_PHILCOSTA)
2016 IN REVIEW
The summer months rarely disappoint in Nice. However, in 2016 it was not simply the sunshine giving the locals
reason to be cheerful as Les Aiglons underwent a considerable overhaul in the transfer window. When any club
encounters such a change in playing and coaching staff, the hope is always that the constants who remain step up
and fill the voids vacated by their predecessors. Under Claude Puel, the south-coasters were one of the surprises
of last season. A team destined for mid-table obscurity ended up finishing fourth in Ligue 1, scoring 58 goals in the
process (the third highest amount in the top flight) led by an attacking duo of Hatem Ben Arfa and Valere Germain
who combined for 33 goals and 13 assists.
With Ben Arfa leaving on a free and Germain returning to his parent club Monaco, those 33 goals and 13 assists
completely vanished and Mario Balotelli was brought in to try and compensate for that. A gamble in every sense
of the word, but perhaps a change of scenery and ambition could bring the best out of him. But after an encour-
aging start, the honeymoon phase faded quickly and the constant that Nice were so desperate for arrived from
elsewhere. A man on the periphery Alassane Pla.
Given little time to impress, the former Lyon man became lost in the shadows and contributed just three goals and
two assists between January and May. However, Lucien Favres appointment in June offered him a fresh start and
he has not looked back since. Pla made an effort to reinvent himself as a player to suit Favres counter attacking
style, and his ability to play wide and centrally increased his value to the team. He may not be as talented as Ba-
lotelli, but offers far more consistency and drive which are qualities that Nice have thrived upon. His 14 goals this
season have seen him double his disappointing tally of seven from 2015/16.
STYLE OF PLAY
Undoubtedly, Plas biggest strength is his ability to act as a fulcrum for the side. Comfortable with his back
to goal and effective at holding off defenders, his relationship with Vincent Koziello, Wylan Cyprien and Jean
Michael Seri, who like to burst forward from midfield have given Les Aiglons more attacking variety. Even the
likes of Valentin Eysseric and Younes Belhanda, who are usually deployed as inverted wingers, have enjoyed a
new-found license to run beyond Pla with confidence that they will be found by the Frenchman. The ease in
which he seems to complement and combine with others in the final third cannot be understated, after initially
struggling to find a role that suited him.
The 23-year-old is also another example of the Thierry Henry effect taking precedence in France: a winger
during his early years who has slowly migrated centrally. Alexandre Lacazette and Anthony Martial underwent
similar transitions, who both, like Pla, developed at the famous Olympique Lyonnais academy. Having originally
learnt his trade out wide, the Frenchmans instinct is to drift into the channels and attack the penalty area at
speed, ideally running at defenders. More natural centre forwards tend to stay in the middle third and rely on
clever movement to get in behind - a trait he has slowly become accustomed to under Favre and in the absence
of Balotelli.
What is also worth nothing is how much more clinical Pla has become. The forward has always been a handful
for defenders but often lacked that final bit of ruthlessness to take his game up a level. However, with regular
first team football under his belt and an added sense of responsibility within the Nice squad, his finishing has
improved markedly. Pla can now strike the ball cleanly with both feet, creating notable pace and swerve with
minimal back-lift which is an incredibly useful tool to possess. Crucially, he now makes a conscious effort to
compose himself and pick a corner when bearing down on goal, as opposed to rushing and firing straight at the
goalkeeper which he has been guilty of in the past.
Despite his significant improvement, there are still aspects to the 23-year-olds game that need refining. At 511
(1.81m), Pla is not the tallest around, but Edinson Cavani (31%) is the only top bracket striker in Ligue 1 to win
fewer aerial duels than him (32%). Alexandre Lacazette (38%), Bafetimbi Gomis (41%) and Radamel Falcao (42%)
have all displayed a willingness to provide for their team in their air as well as on the ground, which then offers
added diversity when going forward. Pla is also a very hard working frontman, but his eagerness to press and
win the ball back sees him commit frustrating and unnecessary fouls (two per game) which is a habit he should
learn to control.

FORECAST FOR 2017

Having made a brave decision to step down in search of regular football, Plas stock has risen again at a quicker
rate than expected. The Frenchman has all the core attributes to be a successful striker in the modern game,
with his physical strength, pace and technique allowing him to play as both the hold-up man and penalty box
poacher. It is often said in sport that confidence is the hardest thing to gain but the easiest thing to lose, and we
have witnessed that first-hand here. After finding the net just once in six top flight starts, Pla went on to score
seven times in his next eight starts including two against PSG & Monaco. Becoming the meilleur buteur (top
scorer) was certainly a realistic ambition.
Unfortunately, a campaign that could have been one to remember for Pla and Nice has turned into one of re-
gret. Their title hopes were dealt a gut-wrenching blow when it was confirmed that the 23-year-old would miss
the rest of the season after suffering a knee injury against Lorient. Its a blow to lose our best scorer, said Favre,
whose words suggested he understood the severity of the situation. Injuries of this ilk have been known to affect
players longer term which means there will be no time for shortcuts during his rehabilitation.