Originally posted by Esoteric
14 goals in 40 games for England.
Against; Macedonia, Lichtenstein, Denmark, Iceland, Switzerland, Croatia, Argentina (freindly), Holland (freindly), Estonia and Russia.
Just another 13 goals and he'll be in the all time England Goalscoring Top 10. Not bad for a 22 year old. He has scored 14 goals in 40 games since making his debut as the youngest England International ever at 17 and also youngest goal scorer. So in 5 years, he scored 14 goals. Assuming his international career lasts until he is 32, he should have scored 42 goals (conservatively assuming the same goalscoring rate for his prime years as for his formative years), placing him 4th on the Top England Goalscorers. Assuming that he does better as a 27 year old than as a 17 year old, which, lets be honest, isn't beyond the realms of impossibility, then he can become top English Goalscorer with only 49 goals, 7 more than his current average would give him.
He has 40 caps at the age of 22. He got them in 5 years. Again, assuming his international career ends when he is 32, and assuming current rate of apps, he will have made 120 caps, placing him 2nd in the Top England Appearences, 5 behind Peter Shilton who played until he was about 40.
Now, how is he rated?
His personal awards are...
* Barclays Player of the Month: February 2005, December 2005, March 2006,
* PFA Team of the Year: 2005-06
* Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year: 2005-06
* FIFPro Young Player of the Year: 2005
* FIFPro World Young Player of the Year: 2005
* PFA Young Player of the Year: 2005, 2006
* PFA Fans' Player of the Year (Premiership): 2006
* Match of the Day's Goal of the Season: 2004-05, 2006-07
So what does that say? Most of the awards are "Young" awards, reflecting the strengths of his contributions for 1 so young. How is that overrating?
He has the strength, the skills and the heart to be the best footballer in the world over the coming years. Remember he is part of a very mediocre English side.
D