I wrote earlier this week about the importance of academies, and how finding the next game can mean sifting through a lot of players. For Aston Villa, there have been products of their Birmingham-based academy, though many of its graduates appear to have found their level below where Villa currently compete.
However, as part of our ongoing association with EA Sports, we’re fortunate enough to get access to some of the best pundits, and this week we’ve got some of Gary Neville’s thoughts on some of the biggest youth prospects competing in the Premier League.
It comes as no surprise that Adnan Januzaj, a young player featuring at Old Trafford, is one of the picks of Manchester United’s former captain. However, it would be wrong to suggest that it Januzaj’s appearance is purely down to club connections.
Speaking regarding United’s young Belgian prospect – a man wanted for England by current national manager Roy Hodgson – Neville said:
“Adnan Januzaj’s great qualities are firstly his balance, which is absolutely fantastic when he’s moving with the ball and dropping his shoulder one way to go the other, and secondly his effortlessness. He has the ability to drift past people as if they’re not there when he attacks the defender’s back foot.
I’ve played at United and you’re very conscious of adding too much pressure to young players. However, I genuinely think this guy could be one of the best in the world. I think he’s that talented.
With a FUT rating of 61 in RM position, he may only be a bronze player, but with four star weak foot his value has soared especially with his current performances in the league which saw him in Team Of the Week 4 at LM and his In-Form Item has an overall ratings jump up to 64.”
Want to read more? You can see the full piece, in which Gary Neville was speaking in his fortnightly column for EA SPORTS FIFA 14 Ultimate Team. Read the full column at http://bit.ly/1aHaUSX
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