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In this new series of Top Fives, I will be looking at the top five prospects from each of the major footballing nations. To be regarded as a ‘prospect’ for inclusion in this list the players must still be developing and not yet regular first team internationals. There is no age restriction as such but the focus will by and large be on players who have established a reputation but still have potential to unlock. I’ll have a look at their strengths and weaknesses and offer a comparison to a star player.
There must be something in the water in Belgium because they are loaded with talent. Can these five be the core of a World Cup winning team?
Kevin De Bruyne (Chelsea, 21)
Background De Bruyne was picked up by Chelsea after decimating his way through the Belgian Jupiler League before spending last season on loan at Werder Bremen.
Position Best as a left sided attacking midfielder or in Gareth Bale’s central role behind the striker.
Strengths Pace and trickery but what really makes De Bruyne stand out is his end product which is unusually lethal for a player who operates at such speed. Last season he scored 10 and made 9 in 33 games. That is a scintillating record, especially considering it was achieved in a Werder Bremen team in which he was almost literally the only threat most of the time. De Bruyne gets himself in to dangerous areas and then makes the correct decision. His footballing intelligence leads to this, leads him to pick out the pass or take the shot himself. One of his most impressive achievements is that he has stood out as Belgium’s best player in qualification considering the talent they are loaded with and that he has only just gotten his way in to the team. He is bordering on world class and should be at that level in the next few years.
Weaknesses It’s pretty hard to find weaknesses in De Bruyne’s game but possibly one thing is going in to his trickery box set too often. He’ll sort that out though.
The next: Gareth Bale If he adds power running to his array of goal scoring and goal making and continues to do so at such pace he is going to get to that kind of level. Chelsea should put him straight in the team with Mata and Hazard.
Radja Nainggolan (Cagliari, 25)
Position Defensive midfield/central midfield
Strengths Physicality and endurance are Nainggolan’s biggest strengths. He is a run all day, press all day type midfielder who is relentless at his best. He’s a tidy passer of the ball but his main strength is his work off it. A true modern enforcer and he thrives when leading the pressing game. Prototypical fitness and work rate, covers more ground than an average midfielder. Starting to force his way in to a competitive area of the Belgian midfield. Tactically and positionally intelligent.
Weaknesses Not the most refined player but if deployed in the correct role he can overcome it. Isn’t the most composed player when on the ball or in and around the penalty area.
The next: Yaya Toure At 25, Nainggolan’s age, Toure had moved to Barcelona as a pure enforcer. He was clearly a clever player and possesed of immense power but little refinement. After a few years of polishing up he has matured in to the best box to box midfielder in the world. Nainggolan has the raw tools to be coached to that level.
Thorgan Hazard (Chelsea, 20)
Position Left wing, but comfortable across the attacking midfield positions.
Strengths The brother of Eden Hazard has shown he didn’t just move to Chelsea to help his brother acclimatise. On loan at Zulte Waregem last year he was the livewire threat in an unlikely title challenge. He’s quick, lithe and creative and gets himself in to very dangerous areas. Capable of explosive moments caused by his sheer pace and penetrative running angles and off the ball movement. A rapid improver last season so has plenty still to be explored and worked on.
Weaknesses Not as powerful as Eden and needs to add a few more goals to his repertoire and is a bit raw in his decision making.
The next: Eden Hazard It sounds a little obvious, but like a young Eden, Thorgan needs to put on some muscle to add power to his game to compliment the fluency and elegance on the move like his big brother.
Dennis Praet (Anderlecht, 19)
Position Central attacking midfield
Strengths Creativity, vision, decision making, passing range and precision. Praet is a little different to some of the other young Belgian starlets in that his game is based less on raw physicality although he is a decent presence so won’t be easily shoved off the ball. His technical quality and pass selection is incredibly good for a 19 year old. It is this that stands out above all else. He can pick the right pass, make the right decision, and this is incredibly hard to teach. It is an innate skill. He glides around the field elegantly passing and has beautiful ball striking and technique.
Weaknesses Needs to get involved in more goals, perhaps by being a little more aggresive in his pass selection.
The next: Andres Iniesta Iniesta has the best technique of any player in the world. He spins out of trouble, floats around in space and always seems to make the right decisions. Praet has what it takes to be just like that.
Laurens De Bock (Club Brugge, 20)
Position Left back or centre back if needed.
Strenghts Having been moved out to left back from centre back, De Bock is necessarily an excellent defender for his position. He has good height and physical presence and this is complimented by impressive tactical intelligence and positioning. Full back is an increasingly hard to position to learn in modern football with the requirement to cover so much of the field but he’s improving strongly all the time. Has accrued a lot of game time in the Jupiler League for such a young man which shows how much he is trusted.
Weaknesses Only a couple of assists in his years in the first team which needs to be improved upon but he can be taught attacking patterns.
The next: Pablo Zabaleta Solid, reliable, intelligent, with great stamina. He’s shown his professionalism and desire to improve having made his first team debut as a teenager and can become the epitomy of consistency.
