Future Golden Boy Question

[Macksam]

How long do you think it will take before Toronto FC develops a young Canadian star for the senior team. I don't mean just graduating anyone from the junior team to the senior roster, but a truly exceptional player in the vein of Ronaldo, Raul or Bergkamp?

[flatpicker]

Starlet?

Like another Christine Sinclair?
http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/topstory/sports/sinclair_christine1013.jpg

[Roogsy]

Years.

It takes someone successful to develop someone else into that level of star.

[NF-FC]

Maybe never, those players don't come along every day.
But we could still produce some great players when TFC start up a true academy where players live, train, and go to school at a dedicated performance centre.

[Macksam]

Maybe never, those players don't come along every day.
But we could still produce some great players when TFC start up a true academy where players live, train, and go to school at a dedicated performance centre.
Like what the Whitecaps have? How is our academy like now? I heard they added a U-14 team.


Like another Christine Sinclair?
I just realized what I wrote.:facepalm:

[Whoop]

Starlet?

Like another Christine Sinclair?
http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/topstory/sports/sinclair_christine1013.jpg

I'm more of a Kara Lang guy myself.

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/PanAm2007/2007/07/17/lang_kara250.jpg

[Dub Narcotic]

Attakora could be starting for the CMNT in a year or two (as a CB).

[AL-MO]

I'm more of a Kara Lang guy myself.

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/PanAm2007/2007/07/17/lang_kara250.jpg

Too bad she is young enough to be your daughter Whoopee!! :lol:

[Chevy]

How long do you think it will take before Toronto FC develops a young Canadian star for the senior team. I don't mean just graduating anyone from the junior team to the senior roster, but a truly exceptional player in the vein of Ronaldo, Raul or Bergkamp?

15 to 20 years, if ever. A truly exceptional Canadian player would be poached by a medium to large euro club at 14 or 15 (or younger) and never put on a TFC jersey.

Sorry to sound pessimistic, but this is the case in most leagues around the world.

[TFCtoMUFC]

15 to 20 years, if ever. A truly exceptional Canadian player would be poached by a medium to large euro club at 14 or 15 (or younger) and never put on a TFC jersey.

Sorry to sound pessimistic, but this is the case in most leagues around the world.

*Cough* Owen Hargreaves *Cough* Sorry had something stuck in my throat.

[Macksam]

15 to 20 years, if ever. A truly exceptional Canadian player would be poached by a medium to large euro club at 14 or 15 (or younger) and never put on a TFC jersey.

Sorry to sound pessimistic, but this is the case in most leagues around the world.
Well, Bergkamp started out with Ajax. Granted, TFC don't have the history Ajax does.

[SilverSamurai]

JDG would be the closest we have right now...

Only other kid I can think of is that kid from out west that is in RM or Barcelona's training school. He's like 10-12 and has said he wants to lead Canada to the WC. His parents uprooted and moved to Spain to be w/ him.
I'll see if I can find some info about him but that's the kind of players we need.

[joel]

Long Time, they will go to Europe if they are that good.

[trane]

While a golden boy would be ok, what we realy need is hundreds of solid fundamently sound professional players. I think we are on the way to producing these.

[SilverSamurai]

Ya I couldn't find any info so I dunno. lol

Anyways having a 2nd MLS club will definitely help out the CMNT player pool and player development. Once we have 3 MLS squads, you'll slowly start to see a difference.
Perhaps no Golden Boy, but you'll have a lot more solid players from which you can build your base from.

[VPjr]

Nana will never be a SUPERSTAR but he'll be a very solid contributor to the CMNT in the next 2 World Cup Cycles (2014 and 2018) as long as he stays healthy. He's going to continue to get better and better. 3-4 years ago, Nana wasn't even considered the best player on his North Mississauga youth team. His improvement has been very rapid, he has an outstanding attitude and good work ethic. he'll be your typical late bloomer (better at 29-30 than he is at 24-25 years old).

Gabe Gala has gobs of ability. He just needs to grow as a man (maturity/attitude issues). However, whether he is ever going to factor in with the MNT is impossible to predict.

[Whoop]

Too bad she is young enough to be your daughter Whoopee!! :lol:

Hmmm... I didn't have any kids in elementary school.

[SilverSamurai]

Nana will never be a SUPERSTAR but he'll be a very solid contributor to the CMNT in the next 2 World Cup Cycles (2014 and 2018) as long as he stays healthy. He's going to continue to get better and better. 3-4 years ago, Nana wasn't even considered the best player on his North Mississauga youth team. His improvement has been very rapid, he has an outstanding attitude and good work ethic. he'll be your typical late bloomer (better at 29-30 than he is at 24-25 years old).

Gabe Gala has gobs of ability. He just needs to grow as a man (maturity/attitude issues). However, whether he is ever going to factor in with the MNT is impossible to predict.
Nana should've been capped during the GC IMO... oh well...

[SilverSamurai]

I'm more of a Kara Lang guy myself.

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/PanAm2007/2007/07/17/lang_kara250.jpg
http://d.yimg.com/i/ng/sp/empics/20080816/12/3818995182-olympics-beijing-olympic-games-2008-day-four.jpg

Ok I kind of have to agree now. lol

[AL-MO]

Hmmm... I didn't have any kids in elementary school.

Okay....maybe I was exagerating a bit. :p

[flatpicker]

http://d.yimg.com/i/ng/sp/empics/20080816/12/3818995182-olympics-beijing-olympic-games-2008-day-four.jpg

Ok I kind of have to agree now. lol

dude... she's only 15!

;)

[SilverSamurai]

dude... she's only 15!

;)
WTF? Wikipedia said she was born in '86!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kara_Lang


Wonder if she's related to Clubber Lang?
http://www.80stees.com/images/products/Rocky_Clubber_Lang_Magnet.jpg

[flatpicker]

WTF? Wikipedia said she was born in '86!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kara_Lang

dude... hahahaa... you're so slow!

it was a joke... she's number 15!

:D

[SilverSamurai]

dude... hahahaa... you're so slow!

it was a joke... she's number 15!

:D
Ok. That's it. I'm going for my nap.:picard:

[torontocelt]

Well, Bergkamp started out with Ajax. Granted, TFC don't have the history Ajax does.

What? Ajax have one of the best youth sets ups in the entire world, they are renowned for producing quality young players on a consistent basis. Ajax is a fantastic club with a tremendous footballing history and believe me although they are not doing as well as they are they are still a massive club. Here is a list of some of the players they have produced taken from wiki:

The club is also particularly famous for its renowned youth program that has produced many Dutch talents over the years - Johan Cruyff (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johan_Cruyff), Edwin van der Sar (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_van_der_Sar), Dennis Bergkamp (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_Bergkamp), and Marco van Basten (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marco_van_Basten). Dutch national first-team players Ryan Babel (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Babel), Wesley Sneijder (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wesley_Sneijder), Rafael van der Vaart (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rafael_van_der_Vaart), John Heitinga (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Heitinga) and Nigel de Jong (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigel_de_Jong) had also came through the ranks at Ajax and all are now playing for top-flight clubs. Ajax has also expanded its talent searching program to South Africa with Ajax Cape Town (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ajax_Cape_Town_FC). Ajax has also had a satellite club in the United States under the name Ajax America (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ajax_Orlando_Prospects), until it filed for bankruptcy. There are some youth players from Ajax Cape Town that have been drafted into the Eredivisie squad, such as Steven Pienaar (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Pienaar) and Cameroonian Eyong Enoh (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eyong_Enoh). In 1995, the year that they won the Champions League (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Champions_League), the Dutch national team (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netherlands_national_football_team) was almost entirely composed of Ajax players, with goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar; players such as Michael Reiziger (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Reiziger), Frank de Boer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_de_Boer), and Danny Blind (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danny_Blind) in defense; Ronald de Boer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_de_Boer), Edgar Davids (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_Davids), and Clarence Seedorf (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarence_Seedorf) in midfield; and Patrick Kluivert (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Kluivert) and Marc Overmars (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marc_Overmars) in attack.

[Whoop]

I don't think he was comparing TFC with Ajax.

As for Ajax the majority of their first team at the moment is still from their academy. I believe 7 starters in Sunday's game were from their youth system.

Thomas Vermaelen, who joined Arsenal this summer, is an academy product.

[Whoop]

I know Sporting Lisbon and Barcelona also have strong academies.

[torontocelt]

I don't think he was comparing TFC with Ajax.

As for Ajax the majority of their first team at the moment is still from their academy. I believe 7 starters in Sunday's game were from their youth system.

Thomas Vermaelen, who joined Arsenal this summer, is an academy product.

The way I interpreted it was that Bergkamp had some how started off at a small team which is obviously not the case.

A lot of great players started off at Ajax because Ajax is a great team.

[James Oliphant]

Not sure why "starlet" was so inappropriate...it's pretty commonly used in the football press to describe a young, upcoming male star.

Toon Starlet Don Wins England Call (http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10278~1766870,00.html)

Hornets land Gunners starlet (http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11670_5505499,00.html)

...and my favourite of recent days:

Mark McGhee: Starlet Fraser Fyvie has magic touch just like Ron Weasley (http://www.sundaymail.co.uk/sport-news/scottish-football/spl/aberdeen-fc/2009/08/23/mark-mcghee-starlet-fraser-fyvie-has-magic-touch-just-like-ron-weasley-78057-21617990/)

[prizby]

From what I have been told (by a girl that have played with her) Kara Lang is a bit of a bitch

[prizby]

Maybe never, those players don't come along every day.
But we could still produce some great players when TFC start up a true academy where players live, train, and go to school at a dedicated performance centre.

best comment here

[flatpicker]

Not sure why "starlet" was so inappropriate...it's pretty commonly used in the football press to describe a young, upcoming male star.

Toon Starlet Don Wins England Call (http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10278%7E1766870,00.html)

Hornets land Gunners starlet (http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11670_5505499,00.html)

...and my favourite of recent days:

Mark McGhee: Starlet Fraser Fyvie has magic touch just like Ron Weasley (http://www.sundaymail.co.uk/sport-news/scottish-football/spl/aberdeen-fc/2009/08/23/mark-mcghee-starlet-fraser-fyvie-has-magic-touch-just-like-ron-weasley-78057-21617990/)


well.... I have never heard of anyone refer to a male as a starlet... in any profession.

Obviously, from your examples, some people have... but it is rare and silly (and I think most people would agree with me)

A "starlet" by definition (when referring to a person):
- a young (film) actress who is publicized as a future star

A "starlet" (when referring to actual astronomy):
- a small star

[James Oliphant]

well.... I have never heard of anyone refer to a male as a starlet... in any profession.

Obviously, from your examples, some people have... but it is rare and silly (and I think most people would agree with me)

Silly? Maybe..I'd lean toward agreeing with that. Rare? No.

http://www.google.ca/search?&q=football+starlet

[Macksam]

Nana should've been capped during the GC IMO... oh well...
Yeah, Staltieri looked slow.

[Macksam]

What? Ajax have one of the best youth sets ups in the entire world, they are renowned for producing quality young players on a consistent basis. Ajax is a fantastic club with a tremendous footballing history and believe me although they are not doing as well as they are they are still a massive club. Here is a list of some of the players they have produced taken from wiki:

The club is also particularly famous for its renowned youth program that has produced many Dutch talents over the years - Johan Cruyff (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johan_Cruyff), Edwin van der Sar (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_van_der_Sar), Dennis Bergkamp (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_Bergkamp), and Marco van Basten (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marco_van_Basten). Dutch national first-team players Ryan Babel (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Babel), Wesley Sneijder (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wesley_Sneijder), Rafael van der Vaart (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rafael_van_der_Vaart), John Heitinga (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Heitinga) and Nigel de Jong (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigel_de_Jong) had also came through the ranks at Ajax and all are now playing for top-flight clubs. Ajax has also expanded its talent searching program to South Africa with Ajax Cape Town (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ajax_Cape_Town_FC). Ajax has also had a satellite club in the United States under the name Ajax America (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ajax_Orlando_Prospects), until it filed for bankruptcy. There are some youth players from Ajax Cape Town that have been drafted into the Eredivisie squad, such as Steven Pienaar (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Pienaar) and Cameroonian Eyong Enoh (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eyong_Enoh). In 1995, the year that they won the Champions League (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Champions_League), the Dutch national team (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netherlands_national_football_team) was almost entirely composed of Ajax players, with goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar; players such as Michael Reiziger (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Reiziger), Frank de Boer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_de_Boer), and Danny Blind (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danny_Blind) in defense; Ronald de Boer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_de_Boer), Edgar Davids (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_Davids), and Clarence Seedorf (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarence_Seedorf) in midfield; and Patrick Kluivert (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Kluivert) and Marc Overmars (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marc_Overmars) in attack.
Calm down, I know the history of Ajax. The Dutch team of 1998 is one of my favourite teams of all time. I was just saying that he made his debut at Ajax and wasn't gobbled up by a bigger team early in his teens.

[devioustrevor]

JDG would be the closest we have right now...

Only other kid I can think of is that kid from out west that is in RM or Barcelona's training school. He's like 10-12 and has said he wants to lead Canada to the WC. His parents uprooted and moved to Spain to be w/ him.
I'll see if I can find some info about him but that's the kind of players we need.


I believe you are referring to Gianni Patina. If so he is at Barca.

The problem is if he turns out to be an amazing player he'll have Spanish citizenship by then in addition he'd also be eligible for Mexico and Germany.

It would be great if he turned into a Leo Messi and chose Canada, I'm just not holding my breath.

[T_Mizz]

Silly? Maybe..I'd lean toward agreeing with that. Rare? No.

http://www.google.ca/search?&q=football+starlet
Second
I remember Ronaldo being referred to as such on his move to Man U

[flatpicker]

^ ok... Ronaldo I can believe... definitely a starlet!

[T_Mizz]

I believe you are referring to Gianni Patina. If so he is at Barca.

The problem is if he turns out to be an amazing player he'll have Spanish citizenship by then in addition he'd also be eligible for Mexico and Germany.

It would be great if he turned into a Leo Messi and chose Canada, I'm just not holding my breath.
True that he did say he'd like to lead Canada to a World Cup but let's remember he was 8 at the time, he's got another 10-12 years probably before he decides.

[s2cazz]

I was talking about this earlier today with a buddy of mine... I can't wait until TFC has their own Paolo DiCanio... grow up in the stands as a kid and then play for TFC.... that would be amazing!

[I_AM_CANADIAN]

15 to 20 years, if ever. A truly exceptional Canadian player would be poached by a medium to large euro club at 14 or 15 (or younger) and never put on a TFC jersey.

Sorry to sound pessimistic, but this is the case in most leagues around the world.
That's the reality of modern football. Macheda, Messi, Ronaldo, etc. were all picked out at a young age.

[grizzle]

dude... she's only 15!

;)

Haha, I was thinking the same based on her number... reminded me of those jailbait pics :D

[prizby]

she was 15 when she got her first cap and 2 days later first goal

[Fort York Redcoat]

Long Time, they will go to Europe if they are that good.

All it takes is for one great one to stay and be a role model for the largest group of young athletes playing any sport in the Nation.

[gtaguy]

From what I have been told (by a girl that have played with her) Kara Lang is a bit of a bitch


not surprised .. Its coming from a girl that played with her.. Tell me how many women think the worst of other women.. bitch or not she's still a damn good player..

[A Stick]

I was talking about this earlier today with a buddy of mine... I can't wait until TFC has their own Paolo DiCanio... grow up in the stands as a kid and then play for TFC.... that would be amazing!

Paolo DiCanio is a facist. He is scum.:mad:

Enough Said.

[AL-MO]

Paolo DiCanio is a facist. He is scum.:mad:

Enough Said.

What does this have to do with the current thread?

[ArmenJBX]

Do you ever think we'll come to a point where both men and women play for the same teams?

For example, Kaka and Marta would be freaking sweet to see. What do you think?

[s2cazz]

What does this have to do with the current thread?
Absolutely nothing... But he was a fan who grew up in the Stadio Olimpico and ended up playing for Lazio... Does it get better than that if 20years from now someone who grows up in the South end of BMO brought there by their father, is a RPB (as DiCanio was Irriducibili), and then ends up playing for TFC? Hmmmnnn whether you like Di Canio or not that would be amazing...

to me that is the greatest football story ever....

[AL-MO]

Absolutely nothing... But he was a fan who grew up in the Stadio Olimpico and ended up playing for Lazio... Does it get better than that if 20years from now someone who grows up in the South end of BMO brought there by their father, is a RPB (as DiCanio was Irriducibili), and then ends up playing for TFC? Hmmmnnn whether you like Di Canio or not that would be amazing...

to me that is the greatest football story ever....

Your comment made sense s2cazz, A-Stick's was the one that was off topic.