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The Mail Bag

Who will make the grade?

I have seen quite a lot of posts recently about how exciting times are ahead given that their appears to be a solid foundation in place for the youth coming through.

I would like to know who people think has the potential of making some sort of impact of the next season or two, getting into the first team. Are there any players who just won't make it after some promise, eg, John Paul Kissock?

Wallace, Akpan, Baxter, and Agard are names that seem to appear a lot — can they step up or are there any others I am missing?
Paul McMullan, Belfast Posted 12/07/2009 at 08:13:39

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Mark Wynne
1 Posted 12/07/2009 at 13:15:53

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I know we all cross our fingers that we’re going to find the next Rooney, but I think to be honest we have to accept something like a 90% attrition rate. Wish them well and all that, but don’t expect too much.

Jack Daou
2 Posted 12/07/2009 at 14:48:18

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Hmmmm.. there is something about Baxter, and we can’t forget about Rodwell. I think the Austrian boy in the academy has potential, George Krenn? Also heard some good things about the Irish trio, Coleman, Karl Shepherd, and Shane Duffy.

Matthew Lovekin
3 Posted 12/07/2009 at 16:41:53

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I really think Baxter has something about him and could make it. Otherwise, you are really looking for another world class star like Rooney, which don’t come along very often. For this type of player, they need to be making a name for themselves at about 17 or 18 and progress from there. Rooney, Ferdinand, Joe Cole, Owen, Gerrard were all talked about a lot by the time they were 18. They then need to progress unlike James Vaughan, due to injuries rather than anything else.

Baxter possibly could have made a name for himself last season but had some injuries. This could be a big breakthough season for him or one that will turn him into ’just another player’. Rodwell has already made this first grade and the future so far looks promising for him.

Vaughan, Anichebe and even Gosling could be at make or break stages in their once promising careers.

Ray Roche
4 Posted 12/07/2009 at 21:27:25

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Matthew Lovekin, I agree with you regarding Vaughan and Anichebe but it’s way too soon to be talking about Gosling. He only broke through this past season whereas the other two have had much more time to make it, and Vaughan has lost so much time through injuries it would be unfair to not allow him more time. Anichebe's problems, to my mind, appear to be with his attitude, not his ability.

John Martin
5 Posted 12/07/2009 at 22:19:30

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Colin Harvey once said, if a club gets one good player per year out of their youth team, that's a decent success rate. What worries me is we get rid very young while the RS seem to get rid a couple of years later and pick up £¼M to £¾M for some average players —probably just because of who they play for. Maybe we are missing out not so much on good players but a chance to help finance the academy.

Chris Dawson
6 Posted 13/07/2009 at 12:36:24

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I was at the Bury game on Friday and we have a couple of good prospects coming through.

Coleman in both full back positions looked very good full of running and overlapping the winger.

Akpan was neat and tidy in posession when he came on, and the new centre back, Mustafi, also looked good, particularly when you consider that he has only been with the lads for a couple of days.

Ismael Bondarenko
7 Posted 13/07/2009 at 18:04:14

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I watched Mustafi in the U17 World Cup (in which Germany won and Mustafi started and finished every game) and he was impressive, especially the semi final against Italy when forced to play Terry Butcher ’bloodied head bandage’ for the last 20 mins.

Chris Clough
8 Posted 14/07/2009 at 14:36:24

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How come this outstanding young Evertonian footballer is now playing for Liverpool FC?

When did this happen? How did it happen?

I know we have Jose Baxter and others (if not Kyle Naughton!) but one can never have too many brilliant young footballers in your squad!

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