SFHB2 PDF
SFHB2 PDF
SFHB2 PDF
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
GOLLINI
FULL NAME: PIERLUIGI GOLLINI
CLUB: ATALANTA
NATIONALITY: ITALIAN
POSTION: GOALKEEPER
DATE OF BIRTH:
MARCH 18, 1995
MVOGO
FULL NAME: YVON LANDRY
MVOGO NGANOMA
NATIONALITY: SWISS
POSTION: GOALKEEPER
DATE OF BIRTH:
JUNE 6, 1994
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.
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
NATIONALITY: FRENCH
POSTION: GOALKEEPER
DATE OF BIRTH:
MARCH 27, 1994
RICO
FULL NAME: SERGIO
RICO GONZLEZ
CLUB: SEVILLA
NATIONALITY: SPANISH
POSTION: GOALKEEPER
DATE OF BIRTH:
SEPTEMBER 1, 1993
EDERSON
FULL NAME: EDERSON SANTANA
DE MORAES
CLUB: SL BENFICA
NATIONALITY: BRAZILIAN
POSTION: GOALKEEPER
DATE OF BIRTH:
AUGUST 17, 1993
KARIUS
FULL NAME: LORIS KARIUS
CLUB: LIVERPOOL
NATIONALITY: GERMAN
POSTION: GOALKEEPER
DATE OF BIRTH:
JUNE 22, 1993
HORN
FULL NAME: TIMO HORN
CLUB: FC KLN
NATIONALITY: GERMAN
POSTION: GOALKEEPER
DATE OF BIRTH:
MAY 12, 1993
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.
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
NATIONALITY: FRENCH
POSTION: CENTRE-BACK
DATE OF BIRTH:
JANUARY 23, 1999
CLUB: LIVERPOOL FC
NATIONALITY: ENGLAND
POSTION: RIGHT-BACK
DATE OF BIRTH:
OCTOBER 7, 1998
PASSLACK
FULL NAME: FELIX PASSLACK
NATIONALITY: GERMAN
POSTION: RIGHT-BACK
DATE OF BIRTH:
MAY 29, 1998
LIROLA
FULL NAME: POL MIKEL
LIROLA KOSOK
CLUB: US SASSUOLO
NATIONALITY: SPANISH
POSTION: RIGHT-BACK
DATE OF BIRTH:
AUGUST 13, 1997
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.
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
MER
FULL NAME: JORGE MER PREZ
NATIONALITY: SPANISH
POSTION: CENTRE-BACK
DATE OF BIRTH:
APRIL 17, 1997
RICARDO
FULL NAME: RICARDO DOMINGOS
BARBOSA PEREIRA
NATIONALITY: PORTUGUESE
POSTION: RIGHT-BACK
DATE OF BIRTH:
OCTOBER 6, 1993
VALLEJO
FULL NAME:
JESS VALLEJO LZARO
NATIONALITY: SPANISH
POSTION: CENTRE-BACK
DATE OF BIRTH:
JANUARY 5, 1997
ELVEDI
FULL NAME: NICO ELVEDI
CLUB: BORUSSIA
MNCHENGLADBACH
NATIONALITY: SWISS
POSTION: CENTRE-BACK
DATE OF BIRTH:
SEPTEMBER 30, 1996
RIEDEWALD
FULL NAME:
JARO RIEDEWALD
NATIONALITY: DUTCH
POSTION: CENTRE-BACK/
DEFENSIVE MIDFIELD
DATE OF BIRTH:
SEPTEMBER 9, 1996
SNCHEZ
FULL NAME:
DAVINSON SNCHEZ MINA
NATIONALITY: COLOMBIAN
POSTION: CENTRE-BACK
DATE OF BIRTH:
JUNE 12, 1996
CHRISTENSEN
FULL NAME: ANDREAS
BDTKER CHRISTENSEN
CLUB: BORUSSIA
MNCHENGLADBACH
NATIONALITY: DANISH
POSTION: CENTRE-BACK
DATE OF BIRTH:
APRIL 10, 1996
MAMMANA
FULL NAME: EMANUEL
HERNN MAMMANA
NATIONALITY: ARGENTINIAN
POSTION: CENTRE-BACK
DATE OF BIRTH:
FEBRUARY 10, 1996
HOLDING
FULL NAME:
ROBERT SAMUEL HOLDING
CLUB: ARSENAL FC
NATIONALITY: ENGLISH
POSTION: CENTRE-BACK
DATE OF BIRTH:
SEPTEMBER 20, 1995
GRIMALDO
FULL NAME: ALEJANDRO
GRIMALDO GARCA
CLUB: SL BENFICA
NATIONALITY: SPANISH
POSTION: LEFT-BACK
DATE OF BIRTH:
SEPTEMBER 20, 1995
SLE
FULL NAME: NIKLAS SLE
NATIONALITY: GERMAN
POSTION: CENTRE-BACK
DATE OF BIRTH:
SEPTEMBER 3, 1995
KIMPEMBE
FULL NAME:
PRESNEL KIMPEMBE
NATIONALITY: FRENCH
POSTION: CENTRE-BACK
DATE OF BIRTH:
AUGUST 13, 1995
STARK
FULL NAME: NIKLAS STARK
NATIONALITY: GERMAN
POSTION: CENTRE-BACK
DATE OF BIRTH:
APRIL 14, 1995
NABIULLIN
FULL NAME: ELMIR
RAMILYEVICH NABIULLIN
NATIONALITY: RUSSIAN
POSTION: LEFT-BACK
DATE OF BIRTH:
MARCH 8, 1995
LUKAKU
FULL NAME: JORDAN ZACHARIE
LUKAKU MENAMA MOKELENGE
CLUB: SS LAZIO
NATIONALITY: BELGIAN
POSTION: LEFT-BACK
DATE OF BIRTH:
JULY 25, 1994
LINDELF
FULL NAME: VICTOR JRGEN
NILSSON LINDELF
CLUB: SL BENFICA
NATIONALITY: SWEDISH
POSTION: CENTRE-BACK
DATE OF BIRTH:
JULY 17, 1994
CALDARA
FULL NAME:
MATTIA CALDARA
CLUB: ATALANTA
NATIONALITY: ITALIAN
POSTION: CENTRE-BACK
DATE OF BIRTH:
MAY 5, 1994
BAILLY
FULL NAME:
ERIC BERTRAND BAILLY
NATIONALITY: IVORIAN
POSTION: CENTRE-BACK
DATE OF BIRTH:
APRIL 12, 1994
HYSAJ
FULL NAME: ELSEID GZIM HYSAJ
NATIONALITY: ALBANIAN
POSTION: RIGHT-BACK
DATE OF BIRTH:
FEBRUARY 2, 1994
GUERREIRO
FULL NAME: RAPHAL ADELINO
JOS GUERREIRO
NATIONALITY: PORTUGUESE
POSTION: LEFT-BACK/
CENTRE MIDFIELDER
DATE OF BIRTH:
DECEMBER 22, 1993
CAIO
FULL NAME: RODRIGO CAIO
COQUETTE RUSSO
CLUB: SO PAULO
NATIONALITY: BRAZILIAN
POSTION: CENTRE-BACK/
DEFENSIVE MIDFIELD
DATE OF BIRTH:
AUGUST 17, 1993
LLORENTE
FULL NAME: DIEGO JAVIER
LLORENTE ROS
CLUB: MALAGA CF
NATIONALITY: SPANISH
POSTION: CENTRE-BACK
DATE OF BIRTH:
16 AUGUST, 1993
LOCATELLI
FULL NAME:
MANUEL LOCATELLI
CLUB: AC MILAN
NATIONALITY: ITALIAN
POSTION: CENTRE-MIDFIELD
DATE OF BIRTH:
JANUARY 8, 1998
SANCHES
FULL NAME:
RENATO JNIOR LUZ SANCHES
NATIONALITY: PORTUGUESE
DATE OF BIRTH:
AUGUST 18, 1997
DIAWARA
FULL NAME:
AMADOU DIAWARA
NATIONALITY: GUINEAN
DATE OF BIRTH:
JULY 17, 1997
NOURI
FULL NAME:
ABDELHAK NOURI
NATIONALITY: DUTCH
DATE OF BIRTH:
APRIL 2, 1997
MAIA
FULL NAME:
THIAGO MAIA ALENCAR
CLUB: SANTOS
NATIONALITY: BRAZILIAN
DATE OF BIRTH:
MARCH 23, 1997
LOPEZ
FULL NAME:
MAXIME LOPEZ
CLUB: OLYMPIQUE DE
MARSEILLE
NATIONALITY: FRENCH
DATE OF BIRTH:
DECEMBER 4, 1997
KESSI
FULL NAME:
FRANCK YANNICK KESSI
CLUB: ATALANTA
NATIONALITY: IVORIAN
DATE OF BIRTH:
DECEMBER 19, 1996
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
NATIONALITY: UKRAINIAN
DATE OF BIRTH:
DECEMBER 15, 1996
OUNAS
FULL NAME: ADAM OUNAS
CLUB:
FC GIRONDINS BORDEUAX
NATIONALITY: ALGERIAN
DATE OF BIRTH:
NOVEMBER 11, 1996
HORTA
FULL NAME: ANDR FILIPE
LUZ HORTA
CLUB: SL BENFICA
NATIONALITY: PORTUGUESE
DATE OF BIRTH:
NOVEMBER 7, 1996
AMIRI
FULL NAME: NADIEM AMIRI
NATIONALITY: GERMAN
DATE OF BIRTH:
OCTOBER 27, 1996
CEBALLOS
FULL NAME: DANIEL CEBALLOS
FERNNDEZ
NATIONALITY: SPANISH
DATE OF BIRTH:
AUGUST 7, 1996
GOLOVIN
FULL NAME: ALEKSANDR
SERGEYEVICH GOLOVIN
NATIONALITY: RUSSIAN
POSTION: CENTRE-MIDFIELD
DATE OF BIRTH:
MAY 30, 1996
IWOBI
FULL NAME: ALEX IWOBI
CLUB: ARSENAL FC
NATIONALITY: NIGERIAN
DATE OF BIRTH:
MAY 3, 1996
FERNANDES
FULL NAME: EDIMILSON
FERNANDES RIBEIRO
NATIONALITY: SWISS
DATE OF BIRTH:
APRIL 15, 1996
LO CELSO
FULL NAME: GIOVANI LO CELSO
CLUB: PSG
NATIONALITY: ARGENTINIAN
DATE OF BIRTH:
APRIL 9, 1996
KOVALENKO
FULL NAME: VIKTOR
VIKTOROVYCH KOVALENKO
NATIONALITY: UKRAINIAN
DATE OF BIRTH:
FEBRUARY 14, 1996
LEMAR
FULL NAME: THOMAS LEMAR
CLUB: AS MONACO
NATIONALITY: FRENCH
DATE OF BIRTH:
NOVERMBER 12, 1995
KOZIELLO
FULL NAME: VINCENT KOZIELLO
NATIONALITY: FRENCH
DATE OF BIRTH:
OCTOBER 28, 1995
HJBJERG
FULL NAME:
PIERRE-EMILE KORDT HJBJERG
CLUB: SOUTHAMPTON
NATIONALITY: DANISH
DATE OF BIRTH:
AUGUST 5, 1995
NAGY
FULL NAME: DM NAGY
CLUB: BOLOGNA FC
NATIONALITY: HUNGARIAN
DATE OF BIRTH:
JUNE 17, 1995
PEREIRO
FULL NAME: GASTN RODRIGO
PEREIRO LPEZ
NATIONALITY: URUGUAYAN
DATE OF BIRTH:
JUNE 11, 1995
KETA
FULL NAME: NABY LEYE KETA
CLUB: RB LEIPZIG
NATIONALITY: GUINEAN
DATE OF BIRTH:
FEBRUARY 10, 1995
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.
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
DATE OF BIRTH:
FEBRUARY 9, 1995
SAMPER
FULL NAME: SERGI SAMPER
MONTAA
CLUB: GRANADA CF
NATIONALITY: SPANISH
DATE OF BIRTH:
JANUARY 20, 1995
VILHENA
FULL NAME: TONNY EMILIO
TRINDADE DE VILHENA
CLUB: FEYENOORD
NATIONALITY: DUTCH
DATE OF BIRTH:
JANUARY 3, 1995
DUDA
FULL NAME: ONDREJ DUDA
NATIONALITY: SLOVAKIA
DATE OF BIRTH:
DECEMBER 5, 1994
TORRES
FULL NAME:
LIVER TORRES MUOZ
CLUB: FC PORTO
NATIONALITY: SPANISH
DATE OF BIRTH:
NOVEMBER 10, 1994
WARD-PROWSE
FULL NAME:
JAMES MICHAEL EDWARD
WARD-PROWSE
CLUB: SOUTHAMPTON
NATIONALITY: ENGLISH
DATE OF BIRTH:
NOVEMBER 1, 1994
BAKAYOKO
FULL NAME:
TIEMOU BAKAYOKO
CLUB: AS MONACO
NATIONALITY: FRENCH
DATE OF BIRTH:
AUGUST 17, 1994
PAREDES
FULL NAME:
LEANDRO DANIEL PAREDES
CLUB: AS ROMA
NATIONALITY: ARGENTINIAN
DATE OF BIRTH:
JUNE 29, 1994
CERVI
FULL NAME:
FRANCO EMANUEL CERVI
CLUB: SL BENFICA
NATIONALITY: ARGENTINIAN
DATE OF BIRTH:
MAY 26, 1994
ZIELISKI
FULL NAME:
PIOTR SEBASTIAN ZIELISKI
NATIONALITY: POLISH
DATE OF BIRTH:
MAY 20, 1994
CLUB: FERENCVROS
NATIONALITY:HUNGARIAN
DATE OF BIRTH:
APRIL 8, 1994
SUREZ
FULL NAME:
DENIS SUREZ FERNNDEZ
CLUB: FC BARCELONA
NATIONALITY: SPANISH
DATE OF BIRTH:
JANUARY 6, 1994
LEMINA
FULL NAME: MARIO LEMINA
CLUB: JUVENTUS
NATIONALITY: GABONESE
DATE OF BIRTH:
SEPTEMBER 1, 1993
LLORENTE
FULL NAME:
MARCOS LLORENTE MORENO
NATIONALITY: SPANISH
DATE OF BIRTH:
JANUARY 30, 1995
STANCIU
FULL NAME: NICOLAE
CLAUDIU STANCIU
NATIONALITY: ROMANIAN
DATE OF BIRTH:
MAY 7, 1993
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.
HAZARD
FULL NAME: THORGAN GANAEL
FRANCIS HAZARD
CLUB: BORUSSIA
MNCHENGLADBACH
NATIONALITY: BELGIUM
DATE OF BIRTH:
MARCH 29, 1993
ZIYECH
FULL NAME: HAKIM ZIYECH
NATIONALITY: MOROCCAN
DATE OF BIRTH:
MARCH 19, 1993
DAVIES
FULL NAME:
ALPHONSO DAVIES
NATIONALITY: CANADIAN
POSTION: STRIKER
DATE OF BIRTH:
NOVEMBER 2, 2000
MBAPP
FULL NAME:
KYLIAN MBAPP LOTTIN
CLUB: AS MONACO
NATIONALITY: FRENCH
POSTION: LEFT-WING/
STRIKER
DATE OF BIRTH:
DECEMBER 20, 1998
PULISIC
FULL NAME:
CHRISTIAN MATE PULISIC
NATIONALITY: AMERICAN
POSTION: RIGHT-WING
DATE OF BIRTH:
SEPTEMBER 18, 1998
GARCIA
FULL NAME:
LEVI SAMUEL GARCA
CLUB: AZ ALKMAAR
NATIONALITY: TRINIDADIAN
POSTION: LEFT-WING
DATE OF BIRTH:
NOVEMBER 20, 1997
RASHFORD
FULL NAME:
MARCUS RASHFORD
NATIONALITY: ENGLISH
POSTION: STRIKER
DATE OF BIRTH:
OCTOBER 31, 1997
DOLBERG
FULL NAME: KASPER
DOLBERG RASMUSSEN
NATIONALITY: DANISH
POSTION: STRIKER
DATE OF BIRTH:
OCTOBER 6, 1997
ABRAHAM
FULL NAME: KEVIN OGHENETEGA
TAMARAEBI BAKUMO-ABRAHAM
NATIONALITY: ENGLISH
POSTION: STRIKER
DATE OF BIRTH:
OCTOBER 2, 1997
BAILEY
FULL NAME: LEON BAILEY
NATIONALITY: JAMAICAN
POSTION: LEFT-WING
DATE OF BIRTH:
AUGUST 9, 1997
MOR
FULL NAME: EMRE MOR
NATIONALITY: TURKISH
POSTION: RIGHT-WING
DATE OF BIRTH:
JULY 24, 1997
AUGUSTIN
FULL NAME:
JEAN-KVIN AUGUSTIN
NATIONALITY: FRENCH
POSTION: STRIKER
DATE OF BIRTH:
JUNE 16, 1997
DEMBL
FULL NAME: OUSMANE DEMBL
NATIONALITY: FRENCH
POSTION: RIGHT-WING
DATE OF BIRTH:
MAY 15, 1997
MAYORAL
FULL NAME:
BORJA MAYORAL MOYA
NATIONALITY: SPANISH
POSTION: STRIKER
DATE OF BIRTH:
APRIL 5, 1997
MALCOM
FULL NAME:
MALCOM FILIPE SILVA DE OLIVEIRA
NATIONALITY: BRAZILIAN
POSTION: RIGHT-WING
DATE OF BIRTH:
FEBRUARY 26, 1997
ROBERTS
FULL NAME: PATRICK JOHN
JOSEPH ROBERTS
CLUB: CELTIC
NATIONALITY: ENGLISH
POSTION: RIGHT-WING
DATE OF BIRTH:
FEBRUARY 5, 1997
JOTA
FULL NAME: DIOGO JOS
TEIXEIRA DA SILVA
CLUB: FC PORTO
NATIONALITY: PORTUGUESE
POSTION: STRIKER
DATE OF BIRTH:
DECEMBER 4, 1996
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.
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
NATIONALITY: NIGERIAN
POSTION: STRIKER
DATE OF BIRTH:
OCTOBER 3, 1996
CORNET
FULL NAME:
GNALY MAXWEL CORNET
NATIONALITY: FRENCH
POSTION: LEFT-WING/
STRIKER
DATE OF BIRTH:
SEPTEMBER 27, 1996
DEMBL
FULL NAME: MOUSSA DEMBL
CLUB: CELTIC
NATIONALITY: FRENCH
POSTION: STRIKER
DATE OF BIRTH:
JULY 12, 1996
SANABRIA
FULL NAME: ARNALDO ANTONIO
SANABRIA AYALA
NATIONALITY: PARAGUAYAN
POSTION: STRIKER
DATE OF BIRTH:
MARCH 4, 1996
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.
FLEMMINGS
FULL NAME: JUNIOR FLEMMINGS
NATIONALITY: FRENCH
POSTION: LEFT-WING
DATE OF BIRTH:
JANUARY 15, 1996
MINA
FULL NAME: SANTIAGO
SANTI MINA LORENZO
CLUB: VALENCIA CF
NATIONALITY: SPANISH
POSTION: LEFT-WING
DATE OF BIRTH:
DECEMBER 7, 1995
SILVA
FULL NAME: ANDR MIGUEL
VALENTE DA SILVA
CLUB: FC PORTO
NATIONALITY: PORTUGUESE
POSTION: STRIKER
DATE OF BIRTH:
NOVERMBER 6, 1995
TRAOR
FULL NAME:
BERTRAND ISIDORE TRAOR
NATIONALITY: BURKINAB
POSTION: STRIKER
DATE OF BIRTH:
SEPTEMBER 6, 1995
LOZANO
FULL NAME: HIRVING RODRIGO
LOZANO BAHENA
CLUB: PACHUCA
NATIONALITY: MEXICAN
POSTION: LEFT-WING
DATE OF BIRTH:
JULY 30, 1995
GNABRY
FULL NAME:
SERGE DAVID GNABRY
NATIONALITY: GERMAN
POSTION: LEFT-WING
DATE OF BIRTH:
JULY 14, 1995
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.
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
ORIGI
FULL NAME: DIVOCK OKOTH ORIGI
CLUB: LIVERPOOL FC
NATIONALITY: BELGIAN
POSTION: STRIKER
DATE OF BIRTH:
APRIL 18, 1995
LARIN
FULL NAME: CYLE LARIN
NATIONALITY: CANADIAN
POSTION: STRIKER
DATE OF BIRTH:
APRIL 17, 1995
PREFERRED FOOT:LEFT
AZMOUN
FULL NAME: SARDAR AZMOUN
CLUB: FK ROSTOV
NATIONALITY: IRANIAN
POSTION: STRIKER
DATE OF BIRTH:
JANUARY 1, 1995
NIANG
FULL NAME:
MBAYE BABACAR NIANG
CLUB: WATFORD
NATIONALITY: FRENCH
POSTION: LEFT-WING/STRIKER
DATE OF BIRTH:
DECEMBER 19, 1994
CORREA
FULL NAME: CARLOS
JOAQUN CORREA
CLUB: SEVILLA
NATIONALITY: ARGENTINIAN
POSTION: STRIKER/
ATTACKING MIDFIELDER
DATE OF BIRTH:
AUGUST 13, 1994
POULSEN
FULL NAME: YUSSUF
YURARY POULSEN
CLUB: RB LEIPZIG
NATIONALITY: DANISH
POSTION: STRIKER
DATE OF BIRTH:
JUNE 15, 1994
SABITZER
FULL NAME: MARCEL SABITZER
CLUB: RB LEIPZIG
NATIONALITY: AUSTRIAN
POSTION: RIGHT-WING
DATE OF BIRTH:
MARCH 17, 1994
MILIK
FULL NAME: ARKADIUSZ MILIK
NATIONALITY: POLISH
POSTION: STRIKER
DATE OF BIRTH:
FEBRUARY 28, 1994
BELOTTI
FULL NAME: ANDREA BELOTTI
CLUB: TORINO
NATIONALITY: ITALIAN
POSTION: STRIKER
DATE OF BIRTH:
DECEMBER 20, 1993
VIETTO
FULL NAME: LUCIANO
DARO VIETTO
CLUB: SEVILLA
NATIONALITY: ARGENTINIAN
POSTION: STRIKER
DATE OF BIRTH:
DECEMBER 5, 1993
RAFA
FULL NAME: RAFAEL ALEXANDRE
FERNANDES FERREIRA DA SILVA
CLUB: SL BENFICA
NATIONALITY: PORTUGUESE
POSTION: LEFT-WING
DATE OF BIRTH:
MAY 17, 1993
PLA
FULL NAME: ALASSANE PLA
NATIONALITY: FRENCH
POSTION: STRIKER
DATE OF BIRTH:
MARCH 10, 1993