A regular feature on our website is the Talent Radar Young Players Team of the Week with the best young players compiled into an XI from across Europe’s top six leagues. You can read this for details on what is Talent Radar and what we have planned in it for the 2014-15 season.
The sixth Talent Radar Team of the Week sees the Bundesliga & Eredivisie leading the way with three representatives followed by the La Liga which has two, the remaining three leagues have one representative each.
Carrying on from the Bundesliga & Eredivisie’s domination, Germany & Netherlands has two representatives, a number equaled by France.. Sole representatives from England, Switzerland, Mexico, Spain & Argentina make up the XI Four players in this week’s list have previously been named in our Talent Radar Ream of the Week as well. The remaining seven are making their first appearance.
TEAM OF THE WEEK
Loris Karius | Mainz | Germany | 21 | Goalkeeper: The German youngster makes his second appearance in our Talent Radar Team of the Week after helping Mainz get a famous result over Dortmund with a 2-0 win. Although not particularly troubled throughout his cleansheet performance, he had to be at his best when Dortmund were given a penalty; he answered by saving the spot kick from Ciro Immobile, before his side managed to score another one.
Calum Chambers | Arsenal | England | 19 | Right-Back: The teenager made his first Talent Radar Team of the Week appearance in the first piece of it’s type this season after his impressive showing in the Community Shield game. Then he played in central defence, but in Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Villa he displayed his capabilities as a full-back. Though restricted by an early yellow, he showed good professionalism in remaining solid but not risking dismissal. Another assured showing from him. Here’s a Scout Report on Chambers.
Marc-Oliver Kempf | Freiburg | Germany | 19 | Centre-Back: The first Freiburg player to make our Team of the Week this season, Marc-Oliver Kempf put on a decent but not overly impressive performance in Freiburg’s 2-2 draw with Hertha Berlin on Friday night. He opened the scoring after rising highest for a corner, and then went on to restrict the away side to just two shots on target, both those two shots resulting in goals. All of Kempf & his defence’s hard-work was undone when Ronny scored an injury time equalizer.
Samuel Umtiti | Lyon | France | 20 | Centre-Back: Although Lyon have had a less than impressive start to the season, they’re on the road to finding their way back with the latest positive result. PSG went a goal up early on but were kept at bay by the away side; despite dominating possession they were kept in control. Umtiti was kept busy for much of the 90 before making his mark five minutes from time as he went forward and took a shot on goal that deflected into the back of the net. Here’s a Scout Report on Umtiti.
Ricardo Rodriguez | Wolfsburg | Switzerland | 21 | Left-Back: In what was Wolfsburg’s first league win of the season, the 2014 Talent Radar Defender of the Season, Ricardo Rodriguez, was the stand-out performer. He opened the scoring against Leverkusen in a 4-1 win from the spot and helped Wolfsburg double the lead with a neat assist from a cross after a run down the left hand side. But his moment of magic came in the second half as he received a corner directly at the edge of the box and finished it off with the most perfect technique.
Paul Pogba | Juventus | France | 21 | Centra-Midfield: In the big Serie A game of the weekend, Paul Pogba put in a good shift to help his side earn a crucial three points at the San Siro. Required to play an advanced role with Roberto Pereyra, the Frenchman thrived in getting forward with a bit more freedom. He set up Tevez with a deft through ball while also creating two other scoring chances as Juventus emerged 1-0 victors.
Jesus Manuel Corona | Twente | Mexico | 21 | Right-Midfield: The Mexican makes his second successive Team of the Week appearance (we love some consistency from the Talent Radar youngsters!) after impressing in Twente’s 4-1 away demolition of Heracles. His most significant contribution was setting up Luc Castaignos for his second goal with a perfect chip into the box. But throughout the 90, he proved to be a handful to Heracles with his tricks & movement down the right.
Adam Maher | PSV Eindhoven | Netherlands | 21 | Left-Midfield: Although Maher has been criticized for not living up to his glowing reputation since his move to PSV, he put in arguably one his best performances for the Eindhoven club as they beat Cambuur 4-0. Maher set-up two of those goals, one from a long free-kick for Luuk de Jong to finish, and the other from a corner as Jeffrey Bruma rose highest. He then completed the rout with the 4th goal, scoring from his own header after good work from Luciano Narsingh. Here’s a Scout Report on Adam Maher.
Luc Castaignos | Twente | Netherlands | 21 | Striker: The young Dutch striker scored a brace as he helped his side runaway with a 4-1 win over Heracles after going a goal down early on. The first was a bit fortunate as a deflection led it onto his path and just a few yards away from goal. The second was created by the aforementioned Jesus Manuel Corona and finished off by Castaignos with a decent header. Those two goals were also his only two efforts all game, an efficient performance.
Luciano Vietto | Villarreal | Argentina | 20 | Striker: Villarreal were two goals down early on but found themselves level just after Vietto was brought on at the hour mark. He then helped complete the comeback in supreme fashion. As he made a run into the box, Denis Cheryshev played a low cross towards him that was just behind the Argentine, but he superbly finished it off. That same man set-up Vietto for another three minutes from time. This one being more perfect and right onto Vietto pass for a 4-2 victory. Two goals after being on the field for just over 30 minutes.
Paco Alcacer | Valencia | Spain | 21 | Striker: The Spaniard makes his second Talent Radar Team of the Week appearance this season after helping his side to a comfortable 3-0 win over Getafe. He opened the scoring with a goal worth of now being called an “Alcacer” here on Talent Radar. Not giving up on a through ball he slid in and beat the defender to it, turning it past the keeper as well. Minutes later he combined delightfully with Andre Gomes for a second Valencia goal; a quick one two was played, Alcacer being the ‘one’, as his touch was a thing of beauty, putting it on to Gomes’ path for him to finish.
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