Curtis Jones - The Player England Have Been Waiting For All These Years

[The Guardian]

Liverpool's Jones is quite a versatile player, can play either flank, or a deeper midfield role. But he may eventually settle into the no.10 position, as he has all the attributes required: great vision, delicate weight and accuracy of penetrating passes, great skill, is a very clever dribbler in tight situations, physicality when needed, high speed running power and stamina to get forward and back and is a prolific scorer of great goals. In short a match winner. I tipped him before he left school, to become an England star.

The odd thing is Liverpool fans, who follow the academy don't seem to have realised even now. With preseason upon us, the cat will soon be out the bag.

For many years now whenever England go out of a tournament the pundits bemoan our lack of truly creative attacking midfield players. In an attempt to rectify this problem there has been a focus on producing creative number 10 types for some years now and it is showing results, With the u17 world cup win and much hype, a lot of people are looking to Phil Foden. Even people who haven't seen him play.

Also, Mason Mount has been a talent for years and amassed great experiences and success at youth level before going out on loan. He seems to be a bright lad, with a very good attitude and drive, who has improved steadily and will probably continue to do so - scores goals as well, in good numbers. And there are others with claims. Cue the inevitable cascade of posts all proclaiming they'll never get a chance to show their ability. They will. If they are good enough and have the will and drive to succeed.

One thing is for sure. Things are changing, and for the better.

 

[The Guardian]

The opening post was of course concerning the no.10 position. But as well as Jones, I predicted before they left school that Jadon Sancho and Callum Hudson-Odoi would be future senior England stars as well. This was before the Euro u17 Finals. They also have more quality than is the norm for wing players. Although Sancho seems more "restrained" in his play these days - less willing to go on runs.

 

[The Guardian]

Just a quick note about last season's u17s, they have been overlooked by the media. Apart from Jones, there are a number of other genuine talented players, in particular in the group Mason Greenwood the Man U forward, he's skilful, a prolific goal scorer and a very deft header of the ball (heading ability is rare in youth football these days), and the two Arsenal flank players Xavier Amaechi and Bukayo Saka. Saka can play left back as well and could turn out to be really something in that position with his skill level. Both are very quick.

 

[The Guardian]

Three pre-season games in for Liverpool and Jones has looked their most talented player. Most of the big names aren't back yet but it's an excellent start to his first team career.

 

[Redpelt]

Liverpool's Jones is quite a versatile player, can play either flank, or a deeper midfield role. But he may eventually settle into the no.10 position, as he has all the attributes required: great vision, delicate weight and accuracy of penetrating passes, great skill, is a very clever dribbler in tight situations, physicality when needed, high speed running power and stamina to get forward and back and is a prolific scorer of great goals. In short a match winner. I tipped him before he left school, to become an England star.

The odd thing is Liverpool fans, who follow the academy don't seem to have realised even now. With preseason upon us, the cat will soon be out the bag.

For many years now whenever England go out of a tournament the pundits bemoan our lack of truly creative attacking midfield players. In an attempt to rectify this problem there has been a focus on producing creative number 10 types for some years now and it is showing results, With the u17 world cup win and much hype, a lot of people are looking to Phil Foden. Even people who haven't seen him play.

Also, Mason Mount has been a talent for years and amassed great experiences and success at youth level before going out on loan. He seems to be a bright lad, with a very good attitude and drive, who has improved steadily and will probably continue to do so - scores goals as well, in good numbers. And there are others with claims. Cue the inevitable cascade of posts all proclaiming they'll never get a chance to show their ability. They will. If they are good enough and have the will and drive to succeed.

One thing is for sure. Things are changing, and for the better.

I've seen a fair few academy games and Jones has that rare ability to find space for the pass even in the tightest of situations, he's also particularly adroit at bringing others into play.

I've also noticed the lads game intelligence leads him to invariably reading the drop of the ball significantly faster than those around him ,its also more than discernible that Jones has a similar gait to McManaman when running with the ball at his feet.

 

[The Guardian]

Mason Mount is spending a season on loan at Derby with Frank Lampard and Jody Morris. It should be interesting to see how he gets on.

 

[Abertawe]

Are you EG having a fresh start?

 

[The Guardian]

Just a quick note about last season's u17s, they have been overlooked by the media. Apart from Jones, there are a number of other genuine talented players, in particular in the group Mason Greenwood the Man U forward, he's skilful, a prolific goal scorer and a very deft header of the ball (heading ability is rare in youth football these days), and the two Arsenal flank players Xavier Amaechi and Bukayo Saka. Saka can play left back as well and could turn out to be really something in that position with his skill level. Both are very quick.

Another Arsenal player I've been meaning to mention is Emile Smith-Rowe he's is a year above the other two unheralded flank players (mentioned above). He went under the radar somewhat with England's much heralded u17 "stars" of last season. He was used mainly as an impact player coming on as sub to make things happen with his "raw" direct running qualities. But he does actually possess finesse and vision in his game.

A young Arsenal player under the radar worth looking out for - as he's not played for their u18s yet, but I expect he will do as this season progresses - is Yunus Musah, something of a holding midfield player, but with an athleticism and ability to see the forward pass and execute it. The sort of player England are woefully short of. But I would have to see how he does at u18 club level first, before deciding how good he is.