Home > Football > Spurs' 'new Zidane' can be a real Premier League great
by Jordan Collins on 21 August 2007
Email this Article (102) Comments
Free £10 bet when you register at
Big savings on football products from boots to balls!
Of all the summer signings, the transfer of Adel Taarabt to Tottenham for an undisclosed fee went mainly unnoticed. However, as a Spurs fan, I was delighted that this capture was made.
Taarabt had been dubbed the 'new Zinedine Zidane' and has shown a great deal of promise already. He came on against West Ham and changed the game with his quick feet and exquisite passing ability. He also featured against Chelsea and performed very well against the FA Cup holders. Saturday was the first time Taarabt has featured this year and the Spurs fans cheered his every touch. He managed a sublime nutmeg in his own half and skipped past defenders like they weren't there. Yet this prodigy is only 18.
It will be interesting to see what young guns progress over the next couple of seasons and which slip by the wayside. Arsenal, of course, have the lightning-fast Theo Walcott, who is being compared to former strike colleague Thierry Henry. Chelsea have the highly-rated Michael Mancienne, who is sure to be a Premier League star in future years. He is currently on loan at QPR. Chris Eagles of Manchester United and Kasper Schmeichel of Manchester City are also great prospects for the future. Then there is Matt Derbyshire at Blackburn, who has an incredible eye for goal and Hogan Ephraim of West Ham has been tipped to hit the big time in the next few years.
So the question is, which of these prospects has the best chance of developing into one of the Premier League's superstars? I think that Walcott will be a class act and regular in the England squad in a few years. I also think that Taarabt will go on to be one of the biggest names in Premier League football.
Comments (102)
by Essexian76 (not the gay one) on August 21, 2007
Most players in the EPL have a skill level that is high, the real question is has he the intellegence to make him into a world class act?. Ronaldo was bought by Man Utd and the 'experts' were complaining about the step overs and tricks, almost discounting his youth, until last season and then he became the player of the season. Taraabt has everything a player would ask for, except experience, and that only comes with playing in the first team, we as fans have to understandfrom a managers perspective that it's going to work sometimes, othertimes he'll be a liabilty, as was evident on Sat when he opted to shoot instead of pass to players in a much better position, but thats the gamble
by steve on August 21, 2007
HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA, When will Spertz understand the line between optimism and delusion?
by Jordan on August 21, 2007
The best young player in the world at he moment is definately Micah Richards of Manchester City. He has everything; pace, skill, passing ability, can run with the ball, a great header of the ball, a great tackler. This lad has everything, he is world class at 19 years of age.
by john on August 21, 2007
Never mind Steve-only a couple of weeks and you can go back to school. I know going up to senior school is scary but keep practising your spelling and no one will know you couldn't find your way to your own Woolwich Nomads site.
by Steve on August 21, 2007
I agree re Micah Richards, great player. Manchester City seem to churn them out for fun.
by midoco on August 21, 2007
If he's so good won't he just end being a player that Spurs have to sell? Like all the other players who have ambition have to join clubs with a chance of winning trophies.
by GunnerPete on August 21, 2007
Forget the jibe by that so called Gunner above. I have seen this Spurs lad and he is exceptional.I would have him tommorrow. We at AFC have quite a few coming through who in my opinion will be big stars within 3 seasons ie; Gibbs, Randall, Merida, Barazite, Traore. Make a note !
by steven on August 21, 2007
There are afew top gunners I would watch out for in the years to come Carlos Vela the new Hugo Sanchez. Francisco Merida Perez will be the next Fabregas just be ones to look out for in the future.
by The Danster on August 21, 2007
Zidane was a French Revelation, City have a French revelation there at the moment, the new Zidane is Ousamane Dabo.. Pace to Burn, Mind-boggling Skill and unmatched passing ability, Look no further than Ousamane Dabo if you want the new Wonder Player of our generation.
by Alexander on August 21, 2007
This person "Jordan" is a genius. Micah Richards is the best player in the world and i congratulate him on noticing this.
by Cliff Claven on August 21, 2007
What a pile of junk this article is. Have you actually seen this clown after the 7 or 8 unneccesary step overs, the new David Bellion more like, cant shoot, cant pass, cant cross, but he can step over the ball, bless him, will get him real far in the premier league.
by Rob on August 21, 2007
From what iv seen so far Micah Richards is a fantastic player, but i knew this from when he first signed from oldham, couldnt believe spurs was linked with him last year, thought we was going to pull off a steal, would never get him now that Man City are looking a top team again though!!
by cloutty on August 21, 2007
he is right though, watching Spuds fans is like watching a firworks display, win a couple and its ooohhh lose a few and its aaarrrggghhh sack the manager ...
Ousamane Dabo is the worst player i've ever seen, obviously this danster knows nothing at all about football, what a plonker.
Cliff, don't laugh at them, they get all nasty and personal. Let them delude themselves into believing that they'll be a top 4 team soon and average players like Taarabt will be the "new Zidane". Berbatov will be the New Van Horseface when he sees the light and goes to United.
by mjc on August 21, 2007
Not the one's already mentioned, but Enfield-born Henri Lansbury. Remember that name....
by Lee on August 21, 2007
Taarabt or Mark Noble?? Mark noble every time.
by Geordie Dancer on August 21, 2007
The next big thing in English Football will be Peter Ramage ive seen him at St.James for a couple of seasons now and he is one of the best tacklers of the ball i have ever seen..good in the air and his positioning is second to none. lets just hope we can keep hold of him for years to come
He was England's best player at the U21's World Cup.
by nick the yid on August 21, 2007
wow its unbeleivable how jealous arsenal fans are, as a spurs fan i have noticed that when credit is due we give it, however arsenal fans always come up with crap thats why they are so hated, secondly the board at tottenham dont sell we have more money than arsenal and we will keep our players cos they wanna go forward, you stupid, thick arsenal scum bags, cant you work out that when a club is investing they want to go forward and because of this they keep and develop there players. do you realy think spurs are gonna stay where they are? you idiot spurs are going forward and your not gonna like it
[quote]He was England's best player at the U21's World Cup.[/quote] i'm glad he's being noticed by fans elsewhere, a fine example for english football. his desire and will to win put some prima donna's to shame, pure talent with an attitude to match. England regular by 2010 i reckon
by JOL THE GREAT on August 21, 2007
Jol Has done alot. he could bring spurs to success when all his players are fit again. we are higher than alex and do you hear anything about alex getting the chop. NO. therefore spurs can be successful under jol. DO YOU THINK HE REJECTED TO TAKE CONTROL OF DUTCH FOR NO REASONS ?!
Mark Noble is nothing special, he works hard and gets stuck in but thats about it. He has no class and dosen't score often enough. But McClaren may pick him for England because he plays for a club in London. Pathetic!
by Dyson (Nervous Paul) on August 21, 2007
In my days of being the FYC at Latics, our crew watch out boys, i think that Sean Gregan could easily play back in the prem he could keep up with the strikers and deal with them, also Mark Crossley is great he never gets lobbed like i do, but our midfield is rubbish COME ON MIDFIELD!!!.. Dysssonnnnn.Ooops sorry jordan forgot you knew alot about football knowing micah richards is class
by Danny on August 21, 2007
Mark Noble??.. all he offers is work rate and gets stuck in, i agree with Jordan.. the next english midfielder to come through will be Michael Johnson he got everything at the tender age of 19.. he will be one to watch for the future
Would not selling mean that Carrick didn't go to Man Utd?