Rumour has it this kid is the next BIG thing

[Star]

[Star]

[PloKoon13]

Too lightweight for the Premier League, plus he only ever passes sideways. We have no use for this tika-taka nonsense here, we should flog this kid who'll clearly never make it for £50m and sign Joey Barton on a free, stick him in a 4-4-2 and watch the shins fly.

[chelseabootboy]

star your avatar, that picture was taken at the blackburn away wasn't it? in a pub?

[evissy]

Looks promising. Who does he play for?

[Pride of London]

I dunno who that lad plays for but if AVB doesn't get him I'm calling for a manu-esque boycott, we'll all get pink and purple scarves and act like dickheads about the running of our club...

[Star]

star your avatar, that picture was taken at the blackburn away wasn't it? in a pub?

Yes mate, the pub on the left, the closest to the ground!

Me and my girl were drinking with a few Rangers fans that day and I spotted it!

[dkw]

I said in the Modric thread I wouldnt be bothered at all if we dont get him as this might see Josh being used in a much more advanced position, which I think he would be superb in.

[TheWestwayWonder]

After watching that, and drooling, one observation I have is that we need to get Josh a proper squad number, no more of this 46 stuff. Give him Ballack's old #13

[Andreas]

He will become such a brilliant player, world class - some of those passes are just amazing..

[Zeta]

Josh needs #10.

[Spiller86]

Hope he gets a go at some point against Stoke.

[big blue]

that video makes you wonder why were even after modric, surely a winger is needed more, or even a second striker/trequartista, what we'l get from modric, we can get the same if not better from mceachran and beneyoun.

[munichblue]

Mario Goetze, Germany, 19yo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V86ShxtRXdA&feature=youtube_gdata_player

[Lane]

yes we know gotze is the sh*t. whats your point?

[munichblue]

My point is, that here is growing one of the biggest talents in European football and I am quite sure that our officials haven't heared the name so far. Let's talk about Goetze in 2 years whether he is sh*t or not.

Edited August 12, 2011 by munichblue

[dkw]

My point is, that here is growing one of the biggest talents in European football and I am quit sure that our officials haven't heared the name so far. Let's talk about Goetze in 2 years whether he is sh*te or not.

You think people at our club wont have heard of one of the biggest hyped young players in German football?

[Zola]

My point is, that here is growing one of the biggest talents in European football and I am quite sure that our officials haven't heared the name so far. Let's talk about Goetze in 2 years whether he is sh*t or not.

Lane was saying he is "the sh*t", which means he is good. English language can be strange sometimes

[Spiller86]

Real point is that Dortmund won't sell him for all the tea in China.

But this thread is about Josh, who might be in line for a start at Stoke. What do people think of his chances?

[Zola]

Dont think he will start.

[Star]

Real point is that Dortmund won't sell him for all the tea in China.

But this thread is about Josh, who might be in line for a start at Stoke. What do people think of his chances?

They might sell him for all the tea in the city of Manchester though!

I have a sneaky feeling AVB will pick Josh because of his ability to move the ball quickly under pressure, Stoke

will be right into us, it is a difficult start to the season, it might do us good to get in a battle early doors to test

our resolve!

[Katon]

You think people at our club wont have heard of one of the biggest hyped young players in German football?

Well, it's not like our assistant manager just watched him score against Brazil this week or anything.

[german-blue]

Well, it's not like our assistant manager just watched him score against Brazil this week or anything.

A game in which Neymar scored aswell by the way ...

Anyways Götze is really good, Dortmund wont be able to hold onto him in a few years if he develops steady, would be great to see him at Chelsea at some point

[Davey Baby]

what we'l get from modric, we can get the same if not better from mceachran and beneyoun.

Benayoun's not fit to lace Modric's boots, so let's stop with the comparison, besides they play very different positions, Benayoun is far more attacking.

I'm not dissing Benayoun, as I've said elsewhere, he may prove to be a valuable player, but let's not underestimate Modric.

Modric is a great player.

The night he came out and said he wanted to join us, I visited a Spurs forum, just to see their reaction. They were furious. Not with the player or us, surprisingly, but with Levy, because they do not want to lose their top stars, and Modric is far and away the best they got.

There were fans who'd been going for 40 years who said Modric was the best player they'd ever seen turn out for them. There was universal grief and despair (it was most enjoyable).

If you really want to know the truth about a player, ask the punters who pay their money and see him every week. I visited that forum because I wanted my own suspicions confirmed, for every time I've seen Spurs, Modric has stood out like a sore thumb. Remember Bale won the football writers' award last term. The football writers don't watch Spurs every week. Their fans do. They gave their award to Modric.

As for Josh, there is absolutely no doubt as to his ability, it is plain for all to see. He is a very rare breed particularly amongst English players. However, if he is to stay with us this term, we have to tread carefully, because the Premiership is an unforgiving battlefield, particularly in midfield, where games are won and lost. Josh is ready in terms of ability, in terms of vision, in terms of skill, in terms of composure etc, but he is simply not ready to cope with the physical demands on a weekly basis, not if we want to compete against the very best. He has only just turned eighteen. He is a growing lad, a scrawny lad. While I don't want him to beef up too much, as this may impair his delightfully impish style, we must not underestimate the strength and stamina needed to impose yourself in that position in the Prem, and we do not want to create more harm than good in terms of his development.

I would love him to stay this term, but I certainly don't see him as a regular starter, despite the fact he may well be (potentially) our best player.

Modric has served his apprenticeship in the Prem. He imposes himself, dominates, and sets the tempo in games, where the tackles come thick and fast and opponents take no prisoners, particularly the big games against our direct rivals. They are tough encounters. Very tough. Modric has succeeded because he's learned to cope with the phsyical demands, but that's been a process, and he's a lot older than Josh, if similar in terms of physique, in that he is small and naturally slight rather than built like a brick sh*thouse.

While he's older, he still has his best years ahead of him (unlike Torres I fear).

I'm a firm believer if you're good enough you're old enough, but there's also a duty of care, and Josh is a central midfielder of tender years and tender frame, and we have to ease him in gently. That's my thinking.

As for Modric stunting Josh's progress, well I can't think of a better player from him to learn, and the two of them in tandem would be something to behold, as sometimes you need players around you on the same wavelength. Have you ever seen Xavi and Iniesta?

Lampard's 33. No doubt he will play more often than not this term, hopefully alongside Modric. As Lampard fades out Josh can fade in. One is not a direct replacement for the other, but there's no reason why we should be seeking a carbon copy. Josh is not quite ready to be playing week-in week-out, not for a club with our ambitions.

On another note, Spurs already have a direct replacement for Modric. Their teenage prodigy. Mustafa Plasma.

I'll get my coat.

[mad_mac]

Good post mate. I think we'll see Josh making more and more appearances this season, but I don't think he'll be starting as much as some hope.

I think bleeding him in, as Frank is on the way out, is a nice "passing of the guard."