Player Focus: Six of the Best Championship Youngsters

by Martin Laurence at Thursday, Feb 20 2014 13:49

Such is the competitiveness of the Championship that the number of teams still hoping to
secure promotion remains in double figures. They say that it is the hardest league to get out of
as far as relegated teams are concerned and the step up to the Premier League always,
somehow, seems far greater than the step down to the Championship.
The same can be said for the players that ply their trade in England's second tier, with many
promising prospects failing to successfully make the transition. The likes of Norwich and
Aston Villa have stood out for dipping their toes in the lower league markets regularly over
the last two seasons, with varying degrees of success.
Signing players from the level below is always seen as a gamble but there have been a
number of eye-catching performances from youngsters in the Championship this season.
WhoScored.com have chosen six players aged 23 or under, ranging across different positions,
that could well make the progression sooner rather than later, starting with the eldest.
Kieran Trippier (Burnley) - Right-Back
Full-back Kieran Trippier's performances for Burnley this season have been key to the
Lancashire club's success to date. At 23 the defender is of the age that most feel is ideal to
progress to the top level and he's certainly shown his capabilities in the current campaign.
The stand out statistic is undoubtedly Trippier's league high of 12 assists - an exceptional
tally when considering that he doesn't take set pieces.
Indeed, the right-back has delivered at least 17 more accurate crosses when excluding corners
than any other player in the league (57). Meanwhile only Andy Reid and Ross McCormack

have created more chances from open play (46). It's little surprise then that WhoScored's
player characteristics show that Trippier is 'very strong' at both key passes and crossing, and
he hasn't disappointed in a defensive sense, averaging 2.4 tackles and 2.1 interceptions per
game for a side with the second best defensive record in the league (25 conceded).
Tom Cairney (Blackburn) - Midfielder
The fact that Hull were willing to let Tom Cairney's loan move to Blackburn be made
permanent last month came as a shock to those that had watched him on a regular basis this
season. The midfield playmaker has suffered because of his diminutive stature throughout his
career, first being released by Leeds for that reason as a youngster and then not being given
his chance at the top level by the Tigers.
His ability is abundantly clear though, and his class on the ball is of a standard perhaps higher
than the one he finds himself right now, meaning no disrespect to Blackburn. Cairney's
WhoScored characteristics do all the talking and his pass accuracy of 86.9% is exceptional at
Championship level - the best of any player with over 12 starts. He's delivered the most
accurate crosses in the division (65) and created the second most chances for teammates (75).
With an ability to play across the midfield, Cairney's stay at Ewood Park may yet be brief.
Anthony Knockaert (Leicester) - Right-Wing
Having produced some outstanding goals in his fledgling career at Leicester, the phrase 'it's a
Knockaert' has become a familiar one with the local press. The 22-year old is capable of the
sublime, although hes only netted 4 goals in the league this season, and his 5 assists have
come from 63 key passes to date; ranking 5th in the division despite making 5 of his 28
appearances from the bench.
He's a key component in an increasingly impressive and dominant Leicester side and has
become a fan favourite at the club since a move from Ligue 2 Guingamp in 2012. Knockaert
is particularly impressive over a set piece and is a very confident player, willing to cut in off
the right flank to fire off a considerable 2.5 shots per game - only behind top scorer Nugent
for the league leaders. With 1.5 tackles per game he's also eager and willing from a defensive
view and if the Foxes are promoted, as expected, Knockaert is certainly one that should be
able to make the transition.

Danny Ings (Burnley) - Forward

After just 6 goals in 47 league appearances for Burnley upon joining the Clarets in 2011, few
would have predicted the strides that Danny Ings has made this season. Still only 21, the
forward, who has perhaps been at his best when playing as the support striker off of Sam
Vokes, has netted 19 goals in 30 starts this season, leading to apparent and equally
unsurprising Premier League interest.
Ings isn't tall but he's developed physically and has shown an impressive variety to his
finishing, scoring 5 goals with his weaker left foot, twice with his head and twice from
outside the box thus far. With 1.4 key passes per game he's linked up well when dropping
deeper and picked up 3 assists in turn, while his goal tally has come from 104 shots to date second only to David McGoldrick - leaving the youngster with an impressive 18.3%
conversion rate.
Jamaal Lascelles (Nottingham Forest) - Centre-Back
There have been a few young centre-backs to really impress this season but we've chosen 20year old Jamaal Lascelles as one for the future. The Forest academy graduate only broke into

the side in late October but has gone on to start 16 league games and Billy Davies' side are
unbeaten in the last 11 matches that the young centre-back has featured in, having built a
strong partnership with Jack Hobbs.
Lascelles has all of the necessary physical attributes to develop into a Premier League
defender and he's improved his timing and discipline with regular playing time. The centreback was booked in 4 of his first 6 appearances but hasn't been cautioned in the 10 matches
since, committing just 0.8 fouls per game. He's excellent in the air, winning 4.9 aerial duels
per game with a 75.2% success rate, and is willing to throw his body on the line, with 1.3
shot blocks per game ranking third in the league.
Will Hughes (Derby) - Centre-Midfield
Perhaps the most talked about player in the Championship going into this season, not much
has changed as far as Will Hughes is concerned. The fluorescent-headed teenager continues
to be linked with some of the top clubs in the country; such is his abundant ability at the age
of just 18. He's an elegant player in possession, much like Cairney, with the Blackburn player
just edging it in terms of pass accuracy (86.5%).
Only four players have created more chances from open play in the division (40), with
Hughes registering 5 assists to supplement his modest 3-goal tally thus far. Nevertheless, the
Derby man also has more about him in a defensive sense in midfield than many would give
him credit for, averaging an impressive 2.9 tackles per game. Once he bulks up a little and
adds a physical presence to his game, winning just 6 of 36 aerial duels thus far, Hughes seems
destined for the Premier League, be that with promotion-chasing Derby or not.

Player Focus: Comparing Southampton's

Right-Backs
by Ben McAleer at Tuesday, Feb 18 2014 09:30

Southampton, it can be argued, boast the best young left-back in the Premier League in Luke
Shaw. The teenager has emerged as one of the finest in his position following Saints return to

England's top tier, making the starting spot in the XI his own after the south coast side failed
to secure the signature of Alexander Bttner last summer.
However, manager Mauricio Pochettino is also spoilt for choice at right-back, with the
Argentine able to field either Nathaniel Clyne or Calum Chambers. The young English
pairing have each started 13 of the 26 league games this season, with the latter benefitting
from the former's hamstring injury in December to stake a claim for a regular place in the
team.
Since Clynes return to fitness, he's made just 1 league start with Chambers displays
seemingly convincing Pochettino that he is more deserving of a starting spot. The youth team
graduate has performed admirably in the back four during his time on the pitch this term,
echoed in his average WhoScored rating of 7.01, though in just starts that figure rises to 7.12.
In comparison, Clynes rating sits at 6.95 (7.08 from starts), hinting that Chambers has been
slightly more impressive. However, in the high pressing system that Pochettino prefers in his
favoured 4-2-3-1, both are more than suitable to earn a regular starting berth.

The formation requires full-backs to overlap and support the attack and the pairing have both
exhibited their offensive qualities when needed, though its perhaps Clyne that has been the
better of the two in this respect. The 22-year-old has registered 4 assists in Englands top tier
this term, a notable return for a player that has executed 16 key passes in 17 appearances.

While its the responsibility of Rickie Lambert, Jay Rodriguez and Adam Lallana to put away
these chances, the former Crystal Palace ace has been creating the kind of goalscoring
opportunities that will benefit the more attack-minded Saints stars. In contrast, Chambers is
yet to provide an assist for his team, while the 19-year-old has played just the 6 key passes in
15 appearances, suggesting that his inventiveness isnt of the same standard.
This undoubtedly adds weight to the idea that Clyne should be a regular starter when fit. The
modern day full-back is expected to provide an outlet for his team in the final third and the
England hopeful does this to a higher level than Chambers, with Clynes 4 assists bettered
only by Lambert (7) and Lallana (5) in the Saints squad.
However, while its imperative that full-backs provide an attacking option, they must also be
defensively solid and Chambers seemingly performs this duty better than Clyne. The
teenager, despite his lack of Premier League experience, is currently averaging an impressive
2 interceptions per game, seeing him develop a WhoScored strength of ball interception.
This reading of the game disrupts the oppositions flow and in turn allows for Saints to
instigate attacks of their own, be it through Chambers or his teammates.

Comparatively, Clyne is averaging just 1.1 interceptions per league match, a return not to be
scoffed at, but a figure considerably lower than that of Chambers. As the difference in tackles
per game between the two is particularly negligible, 2.1 to 2.4 in favour of the latter,
Chambers' ability to pre-emptively deny the opposition could see the Saints boss start the
teenage defender over Clyne, for the time being at least.
Needless to say, Pochettino has two full-backs at his disposal that are more than capable of
filling in on the right to a high standard. What may sway his decision as to who starts could
be the opposition in question. Against teams that will set up to defend against Saints, Clyne
may well be the stronger option, with his attacking input weighing in his favour.

However, when its the south coast outfit that need to set up shop and limit the offensive
options of the opposition, Chambers reading of the game possibly puts him in higher stead.
That isnt to say one right-back is better than the other, far from it in fact, but that each boast
individual qualities that will play a more prominent role depending on the team Southampton
are up against.
This is a similar selection conundrum that Manuel Pellegrini faces when it comes to starting
either Gal Clichy or Aleksandar Kolarov at left-back, with both offering different threats
offensively and defensively. Nevertheless, Pochettino must be thrilled that he is able to call
upon two high quality right-backs, especially as he is able to set his backline up in a way that
will either increase the attacking strength of his XI or improve their chances of shutting out
the opposition.
Either way, the duo will likely play key roles for Saints between now and the end of the
season and the luxury of being able to select either Clyne or Chambers at right-back is one
that Pochettino undoubtedly welcomes.