PL Scouting Network : #01 Fabian Delph

[Ebor337]

Though i'd start this thread as i'd like to bump it up in a few years and score some 'PL scouting points' .... !!!

Been to Leeds game today and we looked fantastic and won 5-2, the margin should have been more. Anyway, the star of the show was 17 year old Fabian Delph. He ran the show. Fair enough the oppostion was absolute piss poor but this has been the third performance where he has been class. We generally do ok promoting youth but i think this lad could be a real star. Chelsea poached Taiwo and Woods and was gutted about those but i think he could be even better.

He has also just signed a new 4 year contract, which is apparently, longer than any other player at ER.

[aliando]

good idea GF - will give arsene wenger something to read too

[Ebor337]

http://www.teamtalk.com/football/rep...108873,00.html

[Ebor337]

Originally Posted by aliando

good idea GF - will give arsene wenger something to read too

Yeah, its growing in my head actually, a PL scouting competition!!!

A point for every player 'scouted' at least one year before he then plays in the premiership!

Or something............. maybe!.

[aliando]

A point for every player 'scouted' at least one year before he then plays in the premiership!

what, like keiron dyer you mean?

[AK1979]

I saw 4 of our pre-season games and Man of the Match in 3 of them was 16 year old Jack Wilshere, with the highlight being his nutmeg on Salgado in the Emirates cup I doubt we'll see much of him this season although he should get a game vs Sheff Utd in the Carling Cup in a couple of weeks. A future England star

[Ebor337]

The boy was sublime again yesterday.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/spo...cle4926522.ece

[mowgli77]

He's a Bradford lad and we let him go as far as I know so he went to Leeds. Have heard good things about him from many Leeds fans, lets hope he keeps his head out of the clouds, his feet on the ground and keeps putting in the performances.

[devil tish]

Originally Posted by mowgli77

He's a Bradford lad and we let him go as far as I know so he went to Leeds. Have heard good things about him from many Leeds fans, lets hope he keeps his head out of the clouds, his feet on the ground and keeps putting in the performances.

city in for a nice bonus when he gets flogged in the transfer window to sheffield united or someone like that!

taken from t&a online:

City are keeping an interested eye on Fabian Delph’s progress at Leeds.
Midfielder Delph has been winning rave reviews since Gary McAllister gave him a regular chance in the senior side.
The 18-year-old has impressed so much, he recently signed a new four-year deal tying him down to Elland Road until 2012.
Delph has come a long way since September 2001 when he left home-town club City aged 11 to join the Leeds Academy.
But City’s ties with Delph remain in the shape of a potential six-figure reward in terms of add-ons from the original deal. And should the teenager eventually move on, the Bantams will benefit from a sell-on clause, which is understood to be fairly lucrative.
It’s the same scenario with the likes of Andre Wisdom, who was snapped up as a 14-year-old last season by Liverpool, and goalkeeper Sam Filler, when he joined Middlesbrough.
In each case, City will receive a future windfall should the youngsters go on and make the grade at first-team level.
With midfielder Wisdom, the figure for appearing in Liverpool’s senior side could be a very significant amount.
Some may accuse City of failing to hang on to their young talent, particularly as their record of bringing locally-produced players through has not been great over recent times.
But often the club are powerless to stand in their way when a Premier League side come calling. Remember Leeds were still in the top flight when Delph made the switch in 2001.
Joint-chairman Mark Lawn stressed that City therefore cover their backs by ensuring add-ons and transfer clauses are inserted.
He said: “It’s not us looking to sell these players but the lads themselves. Kids have got the choice and we can’t hold them back if they want to join one of these big clubs.
“We just make sure that the deal is done so that hopefully we can benefit should they go on and progress their careers.”
Delph came on as a late substitute in the JP Trophy derby clash at Elland Road. But he shot to attention with a spectacular 25-yard goal in Leeds’ 5-2 home win against Crewe.
McAllister said: “He has a big armoury and is someone we rate highly. There’s been a lot of high-profile interest which has been kept quiet.”
Delph said: “I owe everything to this club. It’s where I learnt my trade and where I’ve grown up.”

[Ebor337]

Exclusive: Arsene Wenger eyes next Fabian Dalph move

• 
• 

By Brian Mcnally, sundaymirror.co.uk 26/10/2008
Arsene Wenger


Ace talent spotter Arsene Wenger is lining up a £6million swoop for Leeds wonderkid Fabian Delph.
The Arsenal boss, who has already spent around £15m in signing teenagers Aaron Ramsey and Theo Walcott from the lower divisions, has now set his sights on the England Under-19 midfielder.
But the Gunners will face stiff competition for Delph's signature with big four rivals Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea all on the Bradford-born teenager's trail.
Wenger, however, is hoping his great record of nurturing young talent will prove his trump card.
Delph, 19 next month, won't come cheap as he signed a new four-year deal in September a month after starting his first senior game in the Carling Cup win at Chester.
And he scored in the league yesterday as Leeds bashed Walsall 3-0 to go second in the table.
Leeds boss Gary McAllister admitted: "There has been a lot of high-profile interest in Fabian, which has been kept quiet. There have been big clubs asking about his availability."
But McAllister's hopes Delph's new deal would make a statement of intent to the Premier League elite have been dashed by Delph's amazing progress, which has attracted scouts from virtually every topflight club to Elland Road.
With Wenger setting a benchmark for a teenage midfielder with the £5m deal for Cardiff's Ramsey this summer, Leeds chief Ken Bates is bound to drive a hard bargain.