If you were a Bright Young Thing...

Lifelong-Toffee · June 1, 2015

If you were an 18/19 yr old up and coming player who was tipped for the top and wanted by many top clubs but you personally were neutral and had no team allegiance, who would you want to join?
Let's say the salary is all equal, but which team's set-up, stadium, manager etc would you want to play in and learn from?

RaleighBlue · June 1, 2015

Prem Club? Or anywhere?

Prem would probably be Southampton. They're current media darlings, I'd get play time, and would eventually be bought for mega bucks.

Outside prem would probably be somewhere like Wolfsburg or Atletico, for the same reasons, but would be more likely to end up at Real...and make the mostest mega bucks.

At 18/19 the goal is to make the most possible money with your next few contracts. So aiming too high is a bad move, you end up rotting on the bench. But you also don't want to end up in a relegation fight.

Everton would have been on the list (probs ahead of Southampton) before the current trainwreck and the questions surrounding the squad/manager.

Definitely not Tottenham, as who knows who the manager would be next week. Not Liverpool, because I don't want bullets in the post when I leave...

Swansea might not be bad either, but I don't think they get enough media coverage to end up getting sold to a top top team...would be more likely to end up sold to the tier below.

peteblue · June 1, 2015

It would defo be the RS. Without playing I would be regarded as the best whatever in Europe and the papers would be reporting what I had for breakfast and where I bought my socks. I could then demand £150K a week which they would immediately pay...........

Deleted member 28206 · June 1, 2015

SHOW ME THE MONEY

Azzurri · June 1, 2015

United probably. Or Arsenal.

Garrick · June 1, 2015

Dortmund. Or a club of similar caliber like Arsenal or Atletico. The RS would fit into this category, but their fans are too delusional.

No super high expectations to win everything always and forever, but they're still going to be able to pay you some nice wages and you're still going to be able to win some things too.

Pat's Van · June 1, 2015

brentford

muddy mudguard · June 1, 2015

I think most pros would want to play for Mourinho. I wouldn't be any different from that perspective.

But in terms of a first proper club where I could cut my teeth and play regularly, I'd probably agree with the first reply - Southampton. Small enough club that you'd be playing every week. Got a reputation for bringing through kids - Shearer, Bale, Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlin, etc... I'd quite fancy playing under Koeman as well - not a proven Premier League Manager, but certainly caught the eye in his first season.
Their stadium isn't bad either to be fair.

Once I'd established myself there though, I'd expect to be moved on around 23yrs old and definitely want to play for Mourinho.

Lifelong-Toffee · June 1, 2015

RaleighBlue said:
Prem Club? Or anywhere?

Prem would probably be Southampton. They're current media darlings, I'd get play time, and would eventually be bought for mega bucks.

Outside prem would probably be somewhere like Wolfsburg or Atletico, for the same reasons, but would be more likely to end up at Real...and make the mostest mega bucks.

At 18/19 the goal is to make the most possible money with your next few contracts. So aiming too high is a bad move, you end up rotting on the bench. But you also don't want to end up in a relegation fight.

Everton would have been on the list (probs ahead of Southampton) before the current trainwreck and the questions surrounding the squad/manager.

Definitely not Tottenham, as who knows who the manager would be next week. Not Liverpool, because I don't want bullets in the post when I leave...

Swansea might not be bad either, but I don't think they get enough media coverage to end up getting sold to a top top team...would be more likely to end up sold to the tier below.

Deffo agree on the bullets in the post from the RS lunatic fringe!

I'd probably go with Arsenal - seem to have a good core of young English players at the club, and seem to be able to challenge in the next few years as they've got bags of cash

Southampton, West Ham and Everton seem to have been the only clubs over the last 15 years who've actually had a decent youth set-up who consistently bring players through. Class of 92 was superb but so was the West Ham side of Carrick, Lampard, J Cole, Ferdinand, Defoe etc that were all bought / poached by richer clubs. We have brought through and give chances to loads, and obviously Southampton have too

roydo · June 1, 2015

United under Fergie, not so sure now though. So in the PL, Arsenal probably.

But if I was not good enough for that level, then Derby now they have that RM coach in as manager.

ilikecheese · June 1, 2015

Any of the top top clubs...hopefully loaned out to a CL team.

Jacob · June 1, 2015

peteblue said:
It would defo be the RS. Without playing I would be regarded as the best whatever in Europe and the papers would be reporting what I had for breakfast and where I bought my socks. I could then demand £150K a week which they would immediately pay...........

And with Brodgers at the helm....I would be forever "young". A Cocoon Kopite.

Eggs · June 1, 2015

Lifelong-Toffee said:
If you were an 18/19 yr old up and coming player who was tipped for the top and wanted by many top clubs but you personally were neutral and had no team allegiance, who would you want to join?
Let's say the salary is all equal, but which team's set-up, stadium, manager etc would you want to play in and learn from?

.....by the time you are that age you will be on a professional contract. If you are that good to be in demand by top clubs (such as Rooney) then I suggest allegiance doesn't come into it. You will make a choice based on which club attracts you the most from a playing perspective. Money is a major consideration as is the Manager,location, quality of life etc.