Nice to see a kid have the confidence to pull off a few nice touches.
mightymoyes
Player Valuation: £70m
...at that age it’s important they are free to express themselves. From a defensive perspective, he looks a powerful lad with decent size.
catcherintherye
Player Valuation: £80m
In relation to the Small discussion, this was the lad mentioned a couple of months back.
I wonder if he's only playing LB to fill a slot and will likely be a winger in an older group.
messymascot
Player Valuation: £35m
I agree quite often players that are left footed get stuck in the left back position as it's the one position that does usually require a specialist left footer. If he is going to play further forward it won't do him any harm learning to defend.
In the bits I’ve seen of him I haven’t detected the out and out pace of a winger , but certainly the defensive and attacking skills of a midfielder. If he does turn out to be an attacking LB getting defenjsive skills/experience early is key, Kyle John for instance is for me still playing catch up in his defensive skills having been converted quite late.
Zatara
Player Valuation: £90m
catcherintherye
Player Valuation: £80m
Under 16. A couple of posts up I mentioned a left back who had potential in the 16's who was this lad. Powerful, good skill, very impressive. Him Kouyate and a midfielder (Butterfield) well spoke of. Unfortunately Cho Left (who was also well thought of).
Zatara
Player Valuation: £90m
Hes a well built chap and has the tricks to match...
Will be interesting to see how he makes the step up to u18s.
If he was turning it on consistently like in that video with the u18s youd expect him to be in the u23s before long.
Some of those opposition players looked tiny though...
...usually it’s the other way around, in that wingers convert to full-back.
catcherintherye
Player Valuation: £80m
I watched Kyle John in the Wooves game the other day. I was very impressed with him. Quickly, good engine, good dribbler etc. Looks the modern fullback
...he’s 19 now and entering the final 12 months of his contract. Harsh as it sounds, I think he needs to be making that step to the first team during next pre-season, especially with the RB position looking relatively weak.
Pabbers
Player Valuation: £60m
Thats what my son looked like compared to other lads when he was in academy systems.....and the reason why he always fell short, forgive the pun.
He has filled out now and is one aggressive nasty lad on the pitch, i think all the rejection has put that into his game. He is same ags group as the lad in the video too.
catcherintherye
Player Valuation: £80m
I think thats true. We seem to be getting tougher with younger players (which is a good thing) and yes I think he has to make an impression this pre-season. I suppose of all the players I saw in that game he looked like the only one who is probably at a point where he might. I tuned in to watch Onyango, who was neat and tidy, and impressive for a 16 year old and Simms got a couple of goals and did well, but it was John who really caught my eye.
One thing that worried me though, is that was something of a stand our performance, and he hasn't been that consistent week in week out.
Either way, it might be a good summer for a Kyle John to step up a bit. I'm not sure we will sign Sidibe, Kenny will be late back due to Germany so you would be looking at next season and thinking there was an opportunity to put yourself in the managers mind.
