Updated version: Possible Wonderkids of Football Manager 2027
Welcome to the Ones to Watch FM 19 series. Here we aim to introduce the young players who, as well as being able to go straight into our starting eleven, may have the most room to improve in the game, helping our virtual managers reach new heights.
Jadon Sancho, 18 anos (Borussia Dortmund)
With the revival of the England national team at the 2018 World Cup and the youth teams' successive triumphs in international tournaments, the last myth about British football is also coming to an end. I'm talking about English players not venturing abroad, with many preferring to sit wrapped in a blanket, warming the bench of some team on a cold, rainy night in Stoke.
For years, the prospect of a place on the bench was appealing to youngsters, not for lack of quality, but because of the attractive wages paid throughout English football (the same is happening in other countries, Russia being the biggest example). However, the path from academy to first team has become increasingly complex, so young English players have been emigrating, permanently or on loan, like Reece Oxford, Reiss Nelson and Ademola Lookman, but the biggest and most talented example is Jadon Sancho.
Born in London, Sancho did the first part of his youth development at Watford before impressing the scouts of Manchester City and moving to the north of the country. In Manchester he developed his game and won the player of the tournament award at the Under-17 Euros, which ended with England losing the final to Spain. After the tournament, Sancho refused to be part of the citizens squad that went on tour to the United States, something unexpected that made several clubs start circling the young player. Finally, a move to Borussia Dortmund was completed, with the Germans paying 8 million euros.
The player's biggest quality is his combination of pace and good ball control, which helps him beat his man on the dribble and, once past him, Sancho is good at deciding whether to pass or finish himself. He is also a very versatile player, able to play on both wings and sometimes behind the main striker.
According to the player himself, his main weakness is the quality of his weaker foot, which can make his job as a winger harder, making him more predictable than he needs to be. Something else that could be pointed out is a possible lack of professionalism: when he moved, he refused to train with the team to force the sale.
The youngster started the season well, and is even one of the assist kings at European level, and with Dortmund flying high in the league, you can expect Sancho to keep making a positive contribution to Lucien Favre's side.
Francisco Trincão, 18 anos (SC Braga)
Born in Viana do Castelo, Francisco Trincão was always something of an anomaly, "It isn't easy to find players born in the second half of the year at the top level. And Trincão was born on 29 December. (…) To survive in football when you are born in the last months of the year, you need quality well above average.", these are the words of former Braga B coach João Aroso, in an interview with Tribuna Expresso.
Trincão went on to succeed with the ball at his feet, finished his youth development at Braga and is now playing between the first team and the B team. His time in the Portuguese second tier has been very productive: last season he played 30 league games, scoring 5 and assisting another 5, but it was at the 2018 Under-19 European Championship that he became best known. He finished the tournament as top scorer with 5 goals, level with compatriot and fellow prodigy João Filipe, including one of the goals in the final won by Portugal.
Trincão is a fast, very technical player who is good at dribbling. His height is also notable (1.84 metres), something he could make more of with a better aerial game. In the previous Football Manager, Trincão was more of a creative player than a finisher, so to speak, but after his good performance at the Euros I wouldn't be surprised to see a considerable increase in the quality of his attacking game.
The Portuguese player's biggest problem is his inability to use his weaker foot, which makes him very predictable for opponents, particularly for a player whose game depends on beating his man as many times as possible. Another factor that could slow his development is his physique; he isn't the heaviest player (only 69 kilos according to zerozero.pt), something that will be exploited by players at senior level.
Having already been approached by several big European clubs, it will be in the best interest of SC Braga and the player himself to stay in Portugal. Trincão is indeed one of the most promising youngsters playing in our country, but he is a diamond that is still more rough than polished. It remains to be seen whether the youngster from Viana can make the leap and establish himself in Abel Ferreira's team.
Alphonso Davies, 17 (Bayern Munich, on loan at Vancouver Whitecaps)
Anyone who follows the leagues of the Americas with some attention will surely have heard of our next subject. Alphonso Davies is a youngster who plays for the Canadian national team and has the most inspiring story of all those we have analysed here.
Davies was born in a refugee camp in Buduburam, Ghana, where his family lived after fleeing the civil war ravaging Liberia, where his parents are from. He moved to Canada aged five, and it was around then that he joined a local football team. He soon started looking after his younger siblings, "At 10, Alphonso looked after his brother and sister. He had to grow up quickly, carried a lot of responsibility, cooked for his siblings (…) while most kids his age were playing video games, Alphonso was changing nappies.", said Nick Huoseh, one of his first coaches. At 14 he joined the Vancouver Whitecaps academy, at 15 he made his MLS debut, becoming the second-youngest player ever to appear in the competition (I think we all know who the youngest is: he went on to play for Benfica), became the youngest player ever to play for the Canadian national team and finished second in the Gold Cup 2017 scoring chart, losing out only on minutes played.
The Canadian's strongest attributes are his pace and acceleration and, playing mostly on the left, the left-footer uses them like no one else, with no full back able to stop him. He is also quite tall for the position (1.82 metres) and can turn the physical game into a good weapon. His physical qualities are complemented by already polished technique, whether in his first touch, his dribbling or his fine finishing when he cuts inside from the right.
As I mentioned, Davies is very physical in his approach to the American game, but this won't necessarily translate straight away to European football, which could cost him space in the Bayern squad when he returns. His crossing also leaves something to be desired and will definitely have to improve.
There are still plenty of questions about his adaptation to European football, but Davies has already shown enough quality during his time in MLS, quality that led Bayern to pay around 10 million euros to sign him. Only time will tell whether the youngster is the next, and long awaited, successor to Robben or just another Freddy.
At just 17, Davies is already a done deal at Bayern.
Honourable mentions: Ismaïla Sarr (Stade Rennais FC), João Filipe (SL Benfica), Hassane Bandé (AFC Ajax)
