Quote:
Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf
Outside of Neymar is there another 22 or 23 year old scoring better than Kane's pace the last 12 months in the top leagues in Europe?
Stones is widely regarded as one of the best young CB's in the world, Pique put him in his best world XI so far this season last month
I'd add Shaw, Barkley, Alli, and Sterling as well
is it likely they all reach that no but that list is just as strong as any other country that could be put forth at this point, and it shows with how the youth set up has been doing the last few years
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I wouldn't say that at all and suggest you might be having a touch of English homerism.
Good players? Yes. World class? No? Likely to be? I say no.
e.g. You say Stones is regarded as one of the best young CBs in the world but the fact of the matter is he hasn't played against the top attackers in the world, In fact all of that list is pretty much unproven at the top level in Europe.
You say the players playing in Italy/Spain/Germany argument is silly? I disagree. It is totally relevant in context of players playing at the very top levels (Champions League).
Look at the make up of the top sides in Germany, in Spain, in Italy as opposed to England regarding home based talent
Spain/Germany/Italy have at least (and often most of the squad) playing for the top teams in the country so have champions league experience against the best year in year out. Add to that, those that weren't in the Munich/Dortmund/Madrids/Barcelona moved to other countries and played for teams that regularly qualified for the champions league. English players don't/can't do that therefore they lose out on regular CL football.
I suppose my point is you can't really judge Stones on anything yet as he is nothing more than an excellent PL CB and an unproven at any other level. Same for a lot of the England squad due to inexperience at the top club level.
Whereas Germany and Spain go to tournaments with a squad full of players that have played regular champions league football against the best England will be lucky if half their squad has any sort of experience. So, yeah I would say the ability to move abroad counts for a lot. Those Germans and Spaniards and Italians are moving around and coming to England and getting CL football at the expense of the English.