It really is a great problem to have. So many young and talented players that we have to decided what ones to keep and what ones to loan.
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Player Luka Vuskovic
- Thread starter The Fighting Cock
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Luka called up to Croatia's U21 squad 
The new head coach of the Croatia U-21 national team, Ivica Olić, sent 23 calls and 8 pre-calls, and the national team will gather on Monday, September 2 at 12:00 in Zagreb.
"As far as the roster is concerned, in the work of the U-21 national team I would like to include guys who are younger, but are great talents, so we have two 17-year-olds - Luka Vušković, who is already proving himself in senior football, and Noa Mikic, for whom all the national team coaches and the club coaches have nothing but praise. There are also Matković (2006), Zvonarek and Buljan (both born in 2005). I want such talents to feel this level and show that they already belong to the young national team. We have a very good competition and the young national team is an opportunity for all the players to improve further and show that with their knowledge, but more importantly, character, work and mentality, they can be candidates for the A national team one day", Olić concluded.
Niko Kranjčar and Marko Krnjić will be assistant coaches in the U-21 national team's coaching staff
Looks like he's already impressing
View: https://x.com/thfcreportAcad/status/1830696145267704182
The new head coach of the Croatia U-21 national team, Ivica Olić, sent 23 calls and 8 pre-calls, and the national team will gather on Monday, September 2 at 12:00 in Zagreb.
"As far as the roster is concerned, in the work of the U-21 national team I would like to include guys who are younger, but are great talents, so we have two 17-year-olds - Luka Vušković, who is already proving himself in senior football, and Noa Mikic, for whom all the national team coaches and the club coaches have nothing but praise. There are also Matković (2006), Zvonarek and Buljan (both born in 2005). I want such talents to feel this level and show that they already belong to the young national team. We have a very good competition and the young national team is an opportunity for all the players to improve further and show that with their knowledge, but more importantly, character, work and mentality, they can be candidates for the A national team one day", Olić concluded.
Niko Kranjčar and Marko Krnjić will be assistant coaches in the U-21 national team's coaching staff
Looks like he's already impressing
View: https://x.com/thfcreportAcad/status/1830696145267704182
There's a wonderful economy of movement about him. He looks like a star.
It's just Faroe Islands U21s, but he's showcasing good passing.
More the fact he's just 17.
He's a freak. Been playing men's football since he was 15 years old and now playing U21s football at his age.
Scary thing is he could probably walk into the Croatia men's national team squad too.
This guy is so far ahead of the likes of Phillips and Dorrington it's scary. Honestly wouldn't be surprised if he's kept with our first team next season whilst Phillips and Dorrington go out on loan.
Maybe he is, but this is the second / third season in a row where Phillips is playing at a higher level than Vuskovic has ever played at.
I can only base my opinion on watching both.
Phillips will never make it at Spurs (and will be lucky to even make it in the Prem) whereas I think Vuskovic is the best youngster we have signed at the club in terms of ceiling.
It's a shame Dorrington was injured in pre season. As he's alot better than Phillips too and his development has been hindered so much. Shame we couldn't find him a loan really.
I reckon I'd look good against Faroe Islands U21s
I think he looks mustard but I'd not write off Philips too quickly CB is a position that really players mature into. I recall Ledley taking till he was older than Radu Dragusin is now before he put it altogether. There's time for Philips to grow, reading the flight of the ball and your position in a foot race or when a striker is trying to turn develops. When you start to instinctively get that a player can become something great infront of your eyes. But right now I think this lads an EPL player within two years.
I'd pay to watch you try, I really would.
Population of 50,000.
25,000 men.
12,000 of them football age.
6,000 of them interested/capable.
Fancy my chances.
If you've managed to play for a London borough team that's probably a higher level.
Seems a stretch to me, but maybe not. Are you still playing?
I've just never really been impressed by Phillips.
He's a ridiculous athlete (which is probably why he plays at the level he currently does) but he's always looked far too clumsy on the ball for me and too positionally poor.
Now, like you say, still young and could quite easily improve but this is a ruthless sport. I think Vuskovic and Dorrington are both simply better footballers. That's one defender his age, another that's younger on top of Romero, Dragusin and VDV being ahead of him.
As well as people also wanting a left sided centre back to compete with VDV
Id love for Phillips to make it here. I just don't see it. I see the same from Phillips now from what I remember seeing and hearing when he broke through at Blackburn. Maybe that's me being harsh in my assessment of a teenage centre back (how many teenage centre backs are playing top level top flight football?)
A lot less than half of males are of football age. Probably 8000 at most of football age. Less than 4000 at all interested or capable. Then think how many of those are between 16 and 21. Hundreds…
Yeah. Van Dijk was 24 by the time that he made it to the Premier League. 27 when he signed for the dippers and truly arrived on the scene.
Not saying that Philips will reach the same heights as VVD. But CBs do grow into the game at a different pace than other positions. Them and goalkeepers.
I worry that social media has really enshrined the hot take in fans. Rated not rated players written off way too soon. It can take a good few years. Walker and Rose were a hot mess for a good bit of time regarding their consistency. Not sure now players get the time. It's why Angel Gomes committing to doing his learning abroad looks very shrewd.
I think he’ll be starter for Croatia by the time he’s 20. Looks physically dominant amongst the u21s. His touch, feints and passing range are absolutely top level. Barely looks like he’s trying in that video- winning and connecting everything in front of him.
Yeah. There's also a culture (for lack of a better word) of instant gratification in football and other sports nowadays. Players have to be good from the word go or they will never be good. The hot take merchants feed on this.
I think that Phillips will at the least grow into a serviceable PL CB.
If we do that he won't become Club Trained for Europe though, he has to be with us to do so.
If we loaned him out in England then he'd still become HG, but not CT which is our bigger issue when it comes to squad registration right now.
As it stands, if they remain with the club with no loans over the next 3 years (starting next summer for Vuskovic) then Gray, Bergvall and Vuskovic will become HG/CT. Any time registered elsewhere will affect that negatively. Time loaned abroad between 18-21 would prevent Bergvall/Vuskovic becoming HG at all.
*This is based solely on my FM24 experience mind.