Select the *11th* best soccer prospect! (playing in Europe)

-- HF SOCCER PROSPECTS OVERALL RANKING --
#1) Lionel Messi- striker, Argentina, Barcelona- 24/6/87 (22 votes out of 41 -> 53.66%)
#2) Cesc Fabregas- midfielder, Spain, Arsenal- 4/5/87 (22 votes out of 40 -> 55% )
#3) Cristiano Ronaldo - off.midifleder, Portugal, Manchester Utd- 5/2/85 (19 out of 26 votes -> 73.08%)
#4) Karim Benzema- striker, France, Lyon- 19/12/87 (11 out of 34 -> 32.35%)
#5) Bojan Krkic- striker, Spain, Barcelona- 28/8/90 (8 out of 30 -> 26.67%)
#6) Sergio Ramos- defender, Spain, Real Madrid- 30/3/86 (10 out of 26 -> 38.46%)
#7) Alexandre Pato- striker, Brazil, Milan- 2/9/89 (11 out of 27 -> 40.74%)
#8) Wayne Rooney- striker, England, Manchester Utd- 24/10/85 (11 out of 19 -> 57.9%)
#9) Sergio Aguero- striker, Argentina, Athl.Madrid- 2/6/88 (12 out of 23 -> 52.17%)
#10) Diego Ribas- off.midfielder, Brazil, Werder Bremen- 28/2/85 (8 out of 28 -> 28.57%)
#11) ?

I added Giuseppe Rossi to the poll.

Here comes the alphabetical list of the players inserted in the poll for the 2nd overall position (again, the max number of options available in polls is 15, if the guy you would pick is not available in this poll, just click on the ‘others’ option and specify inside this thread the name of the player you rather choose) :

Abreu Anderson- off.midfielder, Brazil, Manchester Utd- 13/4/88
Ryan Babel- striker, Holland, Liverpool- 19/12/86
Hatem Ben Arfa- off.midfielder, France, Lyon- 7/3/87
Giovani Dos Santos- striker/off.midfielder, Mexico, Barcelona- 11/5/89
Diego Ribas- off.midfielder, Brazil, Werder Bremen- 28/2/85
Ezequiel Garay- central defender, Argentina, Racing Santander- 10/10/86
Toni Kroos- midfielder, Germany, Bayern Munchen- 4/1/90
Hugo Lloris- keeper, France, Nice- 26/12/86
Aiden McGeady- winger, Ireland, Celtic- 4/4/86
Jeremie Menez- striker, France, Monaco- 7/5/87
John Obi Mikel- midfielder, Nigeria, Chelsea- 22/4/87
Samir Nasri- off.midfielder, France, Marseille- 26/6/87
Micah Richards- defender, England, Manchester City- 24/6/88
Giuseppe Rossi- striker, Italy, Villareal- 1/2/87
David Silva- off./lat. midfielder, Spain, Valencia- 8/1/86

- Here is how it is supposed to work -
Only 'prospects' playing in Europe and born on or after 1985 are eligible.
(ANY player born on or after 1985 is considered a 'prospect' here)
I’m going to make a poll to determine who the best prospect is, then another one to vote for #2, etc.. polls will be closed as soon as the winner of that spot has become obvious and the next one will be started immediately. I would say each poll is not supposed to last more than 2 days (feedback will be a factor as well)
Each poll will have a ‘others’ option, so that who feels like his elected guy is not available can choose it and mention his preferred name in the thread.

After voting you’re expected to mention in this thread the player you’d like to be added for the next poll.

Your pick should be intended as the one you would make if you had to draft all these players (just like an NHL GM) assuming you will be able to use them for the next ten years.
You can/should take everything into consideration:
of course age, position (one position can be more important than another in someone's opinion), potential, present skills, head (brain)...
so the list should not be based (only) on who you think are the best now or just for the next year.

If you are undecided, or you have doubts, specific questions about some players or need update on recent performances, go ahead and ask for ‘em in this thread, hopefully the posters following more closely that particular league will provide an answer.


OK, now discuss and/or make your pick!
(explanations of picks are obviously welcomed).

I voted Ben Arfa. Add Hazard (Lille, Belgium) or Lucas (Liverpool, Brazil).


Ben Arfa, I'll copy and paste from the other thread :

A bit inconsistent maybe, but he's been L1's second best player behind Benzema so far this season (he's shined in CL too, ask Stuttgart). He's 20 years old!
He has amazing dribbling skills to go along with explosiveness. Remins me a lot of Ronaldinho/Messi wehn both take the ball to go forward VERY fast no matter what (Ronnie does it less in Barca than he used to do though, he now tends to slow down the game).
Right now, Ben Arfa is the best talent on the list (I'd say he's more talented than guys selected before him, but that were maybe less of a risk). 6 months ago, he was only potential, but now we have seen him dominate games, both in L1 and in CL.
http://www.dailymotion.com/search/ben+arfa/video/x3qwau_compil-hatem-ben-arfa_extreme

My vote goes to Anderson again.
(copy and paste..)
As i mentioned in the past, i was VERY impressed with a couple of games i caught last season while he was playing for Porto, before getting seriously injured.
I find his attitude on the pitch annoying, but has the likes of an awesome player in the making imo.
Mix top forward skills with the capability of covering pure midfielder duties. Possesses a terrific lefty, expect him to learn to use more his shot from the midfield position in the future. I'm not concerned with his lack of contribution on offense so far, i feel it's a matter of confidence and of learning to pick the right moments to join offense. No doubts in mind he has the skills to be among the best midfielders offensively.
I think the point that will make this pick a good or bad one is his athletical development. In the few glimpes i got this year with Manchester he didn't show the speed i remember and i'm confident he will develop more energy/power/endurance along the next couple of years.
Another concern is frailness, as he already suffered some injuries in his career.

Ben Arfa-time.

Add: Podolski

Hehe, Beli voted Lloris. Can't blame him, the way things are going, he might be one of the best to come out of this group.
However, I'd still pick Dos Santos, Ben Arfa and Nasri before him.

It's too hard to make a comparison between a midfielder, defender, forward and goalie... so I chose Lloris, but I have to admit I don't know half of the players in this list :D
Ben Arfa and Nasri... well, a lot of talent, but they are still 20 and I fear some rushing... Marseille over-uses Nasri, and I hope it won't be problematic in his development.

Nasri, add Lucas.

Add Denilson.

Menez add Lucas

I voted Ben Arfa, but think he still has some pretty high bust potential. The guy can be amazing, but we'll see if he can eventually put it all together and make it in a big league or will he be one of those guys who will do well in France, but not really anywhere else.

I voted Ben Arfa.

Add Guy Assulin. Another incredible player in the Barcelona youth. Amazing. The kid is a Messi clone. He's only a '91 born too.

Guy Assulin Video (http://youtube.com/watch?v=db-C0_ruw5A)

Been 24 hours, 27 votes aready.

Let me know if I close it Helice.

Been 24 hours, 27 votes aready.

Let me know if I close it Helice.

Are you affraid that your boy Ben Arfa doesn't win?

Couldn't resist. :lol:

Looks like we reached the plateau at 27.. no more votes coming in hours... so i guess i should start the next one.

I'll add Lucas.