Which Player is going to have the best career? Prediction Thread.

As title says who will have the best career, if the thread doesn’t get deleted, hopefully someone will bump it one day and we can see how wrong we all were. Feel free to predict who will have best football career for either just us, or in general. Also feel free to make any other predictions.(CCFC related!!)

George Ratcliffe - 21

Joel Bagan - 20
Oliver Denham - 19
Mark Mcguinness - 21

Sam Bowen - 20
Kieron Evans - 20
Eli King - 19
Keenan Patton - 20
Tom Sang - 22

Isaak Davies - 20
Mark Harris - 23
Rubin Colwill - 19
Chanka Zimba - 20
Max Watters - 22

Colwill.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Cardiff-Cal

As title says who will have the best career, if the thread doesn’t get deleted, hopefully someone will bump it one day and we can see how wrong we all were. Feel free to predict who will have best football career for either just us, or in general. Also feel free to make any other predictions.(CCFC related!!)

George Ratcliffe - 21

Joel Bagan - 20
Oliver Denham - 19
Mark Mcguinness - 21

Sam Bowen - 20
Kieron Evans - 20
Eli King - 19
Keenan Patton - 20
Tom Sang - 22

Isaak Davies - 20
Mark Harris - 23
Rubin Colwill - 19
Chanka Zimba - 20
Max Watters - 22

---

Are you banning us from making non-CCFC predictions then? You must know where that might lead. :hehe::tumbleweed:

McGuiness
Davies
Colwill
Bagan

in that order I have the most confidence of making it far in the game.
any of them have a chance (plus Connolly on loan at Bristol Rovers perhaps) which is great.

Davies because he’s got something you cant teach - pace. And defenders are scared of pace. He’s a bit small now but hopefully in time he will grow a bit and get stronger.

Bowen looks the most assured on the ball out of all the midfield youngsters. Bellers reckons better players he plays with the better he will become so maybe he’ll have to move on from City to get the most out of his ability / career.

McGuiness looks a future captain. Could go on to play a higher level if he becomes more comfortable in possession.

Those are my 3 picks.

Mcguinness

It’s said that Cian Ashford could be the best of the lot.

It’s quite impressive that someone like McGuinness is being rested for cup games already and, although it’s not as impressive a claim as it would have been in other seasons, I’d say he’s already our best central defender.

The more I’ve seen of our four senior central midfielders, the more convinced I become that Sam Bowen playing as he did for the under 23s on the second half of last season will improve us in that area.

I could go on, but as Eric says in another thread, we’re already in a position where the younger players provide better options than their senior, “undroppable” team mates in many cases. There is a good opportunity for all of those listed to make a name for themselves if they are given the encouragement- it won’t happen, but none of them are obviously not good enough to make it.

Great thread.

And would go along with most comments

Semenyo also has a great career ahead of him, although I think eventually he will play further up the pitch as winger... But playing wing back at the moment is helping his development.

I like the look of Ashford... Seems to have a bit of everything.... Great finisher, mobile, robust.

There are also some U18s I could mention but that would detract from the thread.

One comment though..... I do think all of these young players would benefit from a more experienced playmaker in the first team.... I find it incredulous that we have no playmaker or creative force in the team. The youngsters, whether a defender looking to pass the ball, a winger looking to receive the ball or a striker looking to get onto a decent ball, would all benefit from a more creative midfield.

I know that sounds obvious but it is a glaring hole in our team and their development will be delayed while we have that hole.

McGuinness is already on his way to having a very good career at cb.

Of the academy lads, I’ll go for Bowen. He was starting to look like one our best options at cm until the injury. Hopefully he comes back soon and kicks on further.

From the ones I've seen, and not in any order

McGuiness
Davies
Colwill

Nice to see so many youngsters on the books :thumbup:

Isaac Davies for me, he looks like he will be our best youth player since Ramsey in my opinion. Will be a future starter for Wales if he continues on this path.

Davies or Zimba. Both still very raw.

I'd go for Zimba, seems to score goals for fun, at u23 level granted but he looks to have most attributes needed.

Be interesting to see how he gets on at Northampton.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by J R Hartley

Davies because he’s got something you cant teach - pace. And defenders are scared of pace. He’s a bit small now but hopefully in time he will grow a bit and get stronger.

Bowen looks the most assured on the ball out of all the midfield youngsters. Bellers reckons better players he plays with the better he will become so maybe he’ll have to move on from City to get the most out of his ability / career.

McGuiness looks a future captain. Could go on to play a higher level if he becomes more comfortable in possession.

Those are my 3 picks.

---

Will Davies get bigger and stronger though? He is twenty I wouldn’t imagine he would grow much more. It was noticeable in our FA youth cup game against Watford that they were much bigger than us almost to a man. Thought we had the better footballers but they just out muscled us. I think one of the reasons Cowill was the first to come through is he is big and can handle the physical rigours of the game. Jack Charlton used to say a good big un is always better than a good little un. Think he was right.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Shrewsbury Blue

Will Davies get bigger and stronger though? He is twenty I wouldn’t imagine he would grow much more. It was noticeable in our FA youth cup game against Watford that they were much bigger than us almost to a man. Thought we had the better footballers but they just out muscled us. I think one of the reasons Cowill was the first to come through is he is big and can handle the physical rigours of the game. Jack Charlton used to say a good big un is always better than a good little un. Think he was right.

---

So, going by the laws of the internet, you're saying that Andy Carroll is better than Messi? You're clueless about football m8

Cian Ashford if what we hear about him is true

Of the ones we've seen I'd say McGuinness will certainly go on to have a career at this level at least. I think Colwill & Davies probably will too

Bowen's probably in a delicate situation where he needs a clear run through to the end of the season to cement a place in our squad otherwise he may just drift further and further away from the team. Same probably goes for Sang.

I think Mark Harris has to be given a lot of credit, his career seemed to be drifting away but he's come out of nowhere to stake a claim as a regular in a Championship squad and even an international. He may not be the most talented of that group but his work ethic is exceptional and he's a fairly decent finisher who clearly cares about the club, I was delighted he scored yesterday and even more so when his prediction of Liverpool away came true!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by delmbox

From the ones I've seen, and not in any order

McGuiness
Davies
Colwill

Nice to see so many youngsters on the books :thumbup:

---

Agree with that.

McGuiness by a fair stretch

Then Davies

Darcy Blake

McGuinness by a distance.

Isaac Vassell. Money for nothing.

I don’t think any of them are going to have a stellar career… if that was true they’d probably already be somewhere else, but the majority are already probably too old. From what I’ve seen Colwill looks most likely to flourish at a club outside the top 10. We certainly don’t have another Aaron Ramsey in our midst

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by StraightOuttaCanton

I don’t think any of them are going to have a stellar career… if that was true they’d probably already be somewhere else, but the majority are already probably too old. From what I’ve seen Colwill looks most likely to flourish at a club outside the top 10. We certainly don’t have another Aaron Ramsey in our midst

---

if we have 2 or 3 from this crop making it at championship level that is a massive improvement on where we have been for a long long time.

it would make our transfer dealings in the summer so much easier if those 2 or 3 positions are nailed on.

Colwill for me. He has the x factor, which will allow him to play at a high level.

Mark Harris will have a successful professional career, but not at the highest level.

I like McGuiness, but I think his distribution needs to improve.

Based on ability I'd say Bowen. He has that knack of always finding space which is the sign of a good player, is adept technically, and remains composed in tight situations. Based on what Bellamy and others have said though, it seems like he needs to be pushed and motivated, so I guess a lot depends on how he's managed and how much he wants to improve and push on.

I would say that at this point, McGuinness is already an established Championship centre half. Not sure if that says more about us than about him.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by StraightOuttaCanton

I don’t think any of them are going to have a stellar career… if that was true they’d probably already be somewhere else, but the majority are already probably too old.

---

Harry Maguire was playing in League One at the age McGuinness is now. I mention him only because I think centre back is a position in which players often seem to get significantly better (and considerably more valuable) with age and experience.

Of course, the same is true for all positions to a degree, but I think if a midfielder or a striker is going to be top class, you can generally see their qualities at an earlier age.

McGuinness makes mistakes, but I think he’s been showing plenty of potential and the fact that he’s already racked up 40 Football League starts by the age of 21 is impressive. I think he’s a really decent prospect.

Although a few of the other young players are certainly showing promise, I haven’t been especially impressed by any of them so far.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Shrewsbury Blue

Will Davies get bigger and stronger though? He is twenty I wouldn’t imagine he would grow much more. It was noticeable in our FA youth cup game against Watford that they were much bigger than us almost to a man. Thought we had the better footballers but they just out muscled us. I think one of the reasons Cowill was the first to come through is he is big and can handle the physical rigours of the game. Jack Charlton used to say a good big un is always better than a good little un. Think he was right.

---

Gareth Bale certainly got a lot bigger and stronger at an older age to them as well.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Cardiff-Cal

As title says who will have the best career, if the thread doesn’t get deleted, hopefully someone will bump it one day and we can see how wrong we all were. Feel free to predict who will have best football career for either just us, or in general. Also feel free to make any other predictions.(CCFC related!!)

George Ratcliffe - 21

Joel Bagan - 20
Oliver Denham - 19
Mark Mcguinness - 21

Sam Bowen - 20
Kieron Evans - 20
Eli King - 19
Keenan Patton - 20
Tom Sang - 22

Isaak Davies - 20
Mark Harris - 23
Rubin Colwill - 19
Chanka Zimba - 20
Max Watters - 22

---

Davies looks to have something, but how many top players do you see his size? Suppose Messi and Owen were ok.

Colwill is doing well but needs to keep progressing.

Be interesting to see how Zimba gets on at the Cobblers

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by EastbourneBlue

Davies looks to have something, but how many top players do you see his size? Suppose Messi and Owen were ok.

Colwill is doing well but needs to keep progressing.

Be interesting to see how Zimba gets on at the Cobblers

---

The greatest player of all time Diego Maradona.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Hilts

The greatest player of all time Diego Maradona.

---

David Silva, Bernardo Silva, Iniesta...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by delmbox

David Silva, Bernardo Silva, Iniesta...

---

Darcy Blake

Kieron Evan's has looked sharp and pacy each time he has played. He may very well have a future in the game.

If you’re old enough to have seen Tony Evans, Carl Dale and Earnie play for City, then I hope you aren’t one of those saying that Isaak Davies isn’t big enough or strong enough at the moment. I’ve been watching Isaak since he was fourteen or fifteen and he has always been up against taller and heavier boys, but has not done too badly on it. The thing is, while you can say that the players marking him now are bigger and stronger than he has been used to, that is to ignore that his body has developed as well in recent years and so the challenge he faces is, in essence, the same as the one he has always faced.

Players the size of the fine City strikers I mentioned earlier and Isaak can be made to look weak sometimes when they are challenged while off balance or when their body is not “set” to receive a challenge, but their low centre of gravity gives them a base with a surprising strength that, in some respects, the taller player does not possess in terms of that base I mention. My favourite City player of all time, Ian Gibson, provides an extreme example of this as he was a squat individual who was certainly no taller than any of the players I’ve mentioned, but, when he received the ball with his back to an opponent, that player would not be able to come through the back and “outstrength” him.

Davies has the advantage that the game is much more sympathetically refereed these days as well for players of his type and so, bigger, taller opponents face a more difficult task dealing with someone who is more quick and agile than them.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by The Lone Gunman

Harry Maguire was playing in League One at the age McGuinness is now. I mention him only because I think centre back is a position in which players often seem to get significantly better (and considerably more valuable) with age and experience.

Of course, the same is true for all positions to a degree, but I think if a midfielder or a striker is going to be top class, you can generally see their qualities at an earlier age.

McGuinness makes mistakes, but I think he’s been showing plenty of potential and the fact that he’s already racked up 40 Football League starts by the age of 21 is impressive. I think he’s a really decent prospect.

Although a few of the other young players are certainly showing promise, I haven’t been especially impressed by any of them so far.

---

I take your point on defenders potentially maturing with age but Maguire was sold to a Premier League team for ca. £2.5m at 21, so I guess the potential had been spotted then (even if he was loaned out) McGuinness was at a Premier League club for ca.10 years and signed for us for nothing though. He may come good but it’ll take longer than Maguire took

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by StraightOuttaCanton

I take your point on defenders potentially maturing with age but Maguire was sold to a Premier League team for ca. £2.5m at 21, so I guess the potential had been spotted then (even if he was loaned out) McGuinness was at a Premier League club for ca.10 years and signed for us for nothing though. He may come good but it’ll take longer than Maguire took

---

When’s Maguire going to come good:shrug:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by splott parker

When’s Maguire going to come good:shrug:

---

I thought that too 🤣

Aguero is about the same height as Isaak.

No reason why Isaak wont get stronger to add to his attributes.

My choice is still McGuinness , however I think Tom Sang could well be a dark horse

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Hilts

Aguero is about the same height as Isaak.

No reason why Isaak wont get stronger to add to his attributes.

---

Aguero? And someone mentioned Maradona. Why are we comparing him to two of the best players we've ever seen at their positions? I think he looks quite strong on the ball. And he's got guts. I think he's already holding his own at this level.

Mcguinness and Colwill are my clear 2, if we can get 15+ all comp games into the majority of those boys by the end of the season and don't get relegated I'll be very pleased with the season.

Be interested to see when the current contracts those are on expire? Hopefully we've tied them down to a decent length contract already

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by StraightOuttaCanton

I take your point on defenders potentially maturing with age but Maguire was sold to a Premier League team for ca. £2.5m at 21, so I guess the potential had been spotted then (even if he was loaned out) McGuinness was at a Premier League club for ca.10 years and signed for us for nothing though. He may come good but it’ll take longer than Maguire took

---

Being seen as potentially good enough for Hull and not good enough for Arsenal are two very different things