Young talents and wonderkids in Football Manager 2008: Central Defenders (DC)

The next my research for football manager young talents and wonderkids is linked with the idea of having youngsters to replace William Gallas in the future. Of course, I have already some candidates in my team. The first one is Phillipe Senderos. He is really good and tough central defender, though not so fast. The second one is Johan Djourou who is on the loan in Birmingham. But anyway I was going to seek for some very young (age <= 21) and may be unknown future stars.

Wonderkid central defenders

Micah Richards - the best one as for me. This guy from Manchester City is still 19 years old. Very tough, fast defender and tight marker who can play as right back and defensive midfielder. My scout considers him to be so good as Kolo Toure. But he costs $14M and Man City bosses don't want to sell him at the moment.

<br />Micah Richards from Manchester City

Ezequiel Garay - Argentinian 21 years old defender from Racing. He costs $13.75M, has the most of attributes the same as Micah Richards. Richards has higher physical skills, from the other hand - Garay has very good abilities to score goals from free kicks and long shots. My scout thinks that Garay can be as good as Gallas.

Ezequiel Garay -  Argentinian 21 years old defender from Racing

Gerard Pique - well-known Spanish wonderkid from Manchester United . He has great Heading and Strength, high Positioning and all mental attributes needed for DC. But likehood of such transfer from Man Utd to Arsenal is very low: So I just consider the fact that the guy is great.

Gerard Pique - well-known Spanish wonderkid from Manchester United

Domenico Criscito - Italian young star from Juventus. Versatile to play on DC and DL positions.
Has great 18 value on many attributes important for defender. Considered highly reliable player who doesn't often let opponents get past him. Scout says that Criscito can be a bit better than Toure! Very interesting and tasty variant for me, actually!

Domenico Criscito - Italian young star from Juventus

Among wonderkids there Sergio Ramos and Vedran Chorluka could be mentioned. But the first is of very high price ($38M), and the second costs $15.5M and has skills not better than aforementioned wonderkids.

Prospective young central defenders

There I'm not going to describe much each of the young prospective defenders, just want to present you the list of players (with short remarks) whom I can buy to my Arsenal in the next two transfer windows:

Cristian Zapata - Udinese, age: 21, Columbian. Great physical, technical attributes! Below average - Passing (10). Real guy!

Mamadou Sakho - PSG, age: 17(!), DLC, French. Good physical and technical attribute values. Can be trained in a real star I belive.

Breno - Sao Paolo, age: 18(!), Brazilian. Very strong and smart youngster. Almost wonderkid!

Dmytro Chygrynskyi - Shakhtar, age: 21, Ukrainian. High strength skills, most of mental and technical skills. Shakhtar captain at age of 21!

Jonathan Evans - Manchester United, age: 19, Nothern Ireland.

Steve Taylor - Newcastle United, age: 21. English U21 captain. Can perform great in any football club in the world!

And finally I would like to right all these youngsters to understand my priorities for future signings on DC position.

1. Micah Richards
2. Domenico Criscito
3. Ezequiel Garay
4. Cristian Zapata
5. Steve Taylor
6. Breno
7. Dmytro Chygrynskyi
8. Mamadou Sakho

Young defenders not included in the rating are decided to be impossible to sign due to rivalry or expensiveness.

85 comment(s):

  1. Chatmandu Says:

    Great list of players. I found this link with a few decent players on also - http://www.niallwalsh.net/2007/11/11/football-manager-2008-future-stars/

  2. Vitaliy Mokosiy Says:

    Thanks for the link!

  3. O Mestre Says:

    Anything cheaper?

  4. Anonymous Says:

    You missed out the best defender of all, Souza, from Brazil, I bought him as a 19 yr old in 2010 so I'm guessing he must be 16/17 at the beginning of the game.. Fantastic player, better than Kolo Toure already, and my assistant manager considers him to be better than Fabregas.

  5. Vitaliy Mokosiy Says:

    Thanks for the info about Souza!

  6. Anonymous Says:

    evans is not english, he's northern irish.

  7. Vitaliy Mokosiy Says:

    Thank you, I will fix this about Evans

  8. Anonymous Says:

    15 year old Danny Cole from Ipswich Under 18s turns out to be one of the best players in the game. His pace and acceleration is fantastic.has potential to be better than henry

  9. Anonymous Says:

    Chris Mckinley is by far the fattest cunt in the game. He plays for scotish team aredencaple and can seemingly fight. NOT

  10. Anonymous Says:

    as a defender, fabiano santacroce is the best player at the age of 21. he is considered the new alessandro nesta. you can find him at brescia and costs somewhwere between 8 and 10 mil...in only one year i got an offer for him from milan, 25 mil euro....he' incredible

  11. Anonymous Says:

    Habib Bellaid, Matthieu Saunier, Eduardo from Botafogo, Sidnei form internacional are all good players.Check them out

  12. Anonymous Says:

    erm is his name denis souza?

  13. Anonymous Says:

    watch you tim krul he is best gk in netherland

  14. Anonymous Says:

    Just found a great looking CB from Sao Paolo:

    Miranda.

    Dont know how he develops, but his stats are amazing at the start of the game

  15. Anonymous Says:

    miguel veloso-dc/dm
    ever benega-dm

  16. Anonymous Says:

    check out these players:
    danilinho-amc/fc he is only 20 years old i play him up front and he has scored 10 in 15 games.

    mihelic-aml/amc only 17 put him as free kick tacker he scores most of them.

  17. Anonymous Says:

    ive found 3 world class people

    joao carlos (gk)

    roberto (dm) (same team as joao carlos)

    humberto osorio (st) ( but the only prblem is that he does not exist in some games)

  18. Anonymous Says:

    Bogdan Stancu (Fc) Brill

  19. Anonymous Says:

    look for alex from vasco 17 amc/fc
    sakho is a good choice too
    jo from cska moscow
    ninis from panathinaikos
    issiar dia
    balotelli from inter
    d.sturidge from m.city
    m.richards also from city
    patricio from sporting gk
    thats all for now

  20. Anonymous Says:

    Hugo Lloris(GK). he will be a world class player after 2 or 3 seasons later..

  21. Anonymous Says:

    one of the best young center defender in my game michele rigione from chievo verona

  22. Anonymous Says:

    he aint a defender but lulinha he is amazing midfilder i gt him 4 £5million and has progress into the heart of my midfield and is now worth a stagering 28.750.000

  23. Anonymous Says:

    pablo piatti is a amazing player
    i was offered 30 million pounds for him

    Costil is a good young keeper

    lulinha,luke moore ,younes kaboul,gerson are all really good

  24. Anonymous Says:

    A great signing for the premier league is sergey ignashevic from CSKA Moscow he is 27 but is a brilliant central defender and has really served well in my tottenham squad that has now won 3 premier league titles and 1 champions leauge and im only in 2011 best of all at the start of the game he is out of contract at CSKA Moscow so you can snap him up for free when i started with him he was worth 4 mil now hes worth 20!. Also someone you can really count on down your right flank is Torje i think he was 17 or 18 when i signed him at the start of the game for about 600k and in his first season he won PFA Young Player of The Year Award and the season after that he won PFA Player of the year award when i signed him as i said he was worth 600k now hes worth a mind boggling 32 Million Great British Pounds Not Pence PEOPLE! Anoother good defender is antony vanden borre when signed= 5 mil-ish now= 15 mil

    Also i know this sounds wierd but sign mauro zarate i signed him for cheap in my second season cause berbatov was snapped up by Man Utd so i signed zarate and he scored 29 goals in his first season and 32 in his second thats only league goals!

  25. Anonymous Says:

    Great Advice About Zarate and Ignasevic But Where You Really Caught Me Out Was With Torje I Signed him And Sent Him On Loan To Aberdeen and That Year They Finished Second In Scottish Premier With Gabriel Torje There Top Scorer With 22 leauge goals from right attacking midfield like a mini cristiano ronaldo! also antony anden borre suprised me when i signed him i stuck him in my reserves cause i didnt think he was that good in friendlys but as soon as it got competitive football seemed more important to him than ever i suppose because he commanded my reserves so i started playing him in leauge cup then FA cup then in Premier league as sub now hes a definate first team regular and already at the age of nineteen he is for one considererd the next Nesta of club football and for two is now worth a staggering 19 mil at the start of my second season my assistant recommended him for captain and i checked his influence had gone up to 19! amazing cheers for the info :P

  26. Anonymous Says:

    you could try these too:

    miralem pjanic
    ever banega
    henry saivet
    alex from vasco
    rafael forster

    they're all still in my reserves squad at arsenal after about two seasons and i've been using them in the league cup and they went all the way to the semis before getting beaten just 2-0 over two legs by chelsea

  27. Anonymous Says:

    once when i started a game with arsenal and i bought steven taylor for 7.5 mil plus clause and at the end of that season i sold him to barcelona for 23 mil

  28. Anonymous Says:

    what about habib bellaid?
    £5.5mil at start on fm 8.0.2

    potential to have
    heading:18
    marking:18
    tackling:18
    composure:17
    concentration:19
    positioning:17
    jumping:18
    strngth:20
    stamina:18

    always buy him with liverpool, however scouts underestimate him at first but after a season or two quality player.

  29. David Penniall Says:

    Esmir Sabic is a quality defender for the Championship, League 1 and League 2, he is good enough for Premiership after a season of first team football.

  30. Anonymous Says:

    Havard Nordtveit is also a good player and potential wonderkid (?).He starts at Arsenal.

  31. ade purna Says:

    guys..i'd found alexander prudnikov,russian,19 years old, one of worldclass foward in the future,believe me..

  32. ade purna Says:

    and also try to have alan kardec, FC, brazilian,19 yrs old,,,

  33. Anonymous Says:

    Sergio Aguero is the best player eva.
    3rd season in Febuary already scored 44 goals imense or what

  34. Anonymous Says:

    Henri Saviet from bordeaux and sakho from from PSG are both brill players. get them on free at start but saviet is very reluctant to leave his club. bojan is class but nearly impossible to get. thiago from sao paulo (fc) good player and breno as well who is from same club. thiago a center mid from barcelona also goodplayer. dor malul becomes a good player but is shit at the start (free) and bozaglo turns out good. piatti is also a quality player. bought him for Preston.

  35. Anonymous Says:

    elias
    here are some wonderkids
    breno
    lulinha
    eduardo[bahia]
    wijnaldum
    sidnei
    vela
    saivet
    aaron[valencia]
    sergio mota
    sunny
    andrejev

    also try leonardo from ajax2 he is fantastic a cheaper cristiano leronaldo

  36. Anonymous Says:

    arshavin

  37. Anonymous Says:

    who on earth does souza play for?

    PLease answer.

  38. Anonymous Says:

    boys try this anselmo ramon from a brazilian team which now i don't remember.The next adriano

  39. Vitaliy Mokosiy Says:

    Unfortunately, I cannot find this Souza in my current game. Perhaps he is regen.

  40. chelskiy18andlife Says:

    offcorse andrea coda to^^

  41. Anonymous Says:

    Try Miranda From Sao Paulo.
    Quite fast and good in the air around 3m mark shoul capture him!!
    Bargain!!

  42. Anonymous Says:

    i started with juve n i found this youngster named giovinco in my reserve team during the 2nd season, turns out to be like c.ronaldo

    frm amar

  43. azlan-kun Says:

    Alessandro Tuia from Italy

  44. dustek Says:

    good ENGLISH left back
    Joe Mattock

    i play portsmouth and he is better than matthew taylor

  45. Anonymous Says:

    myles weston - notts county
    ashley grimes - man city
    victor moses - palace
    luke chambers
    gab torje
    iago - Barcelona
    patrik lomski
    paul wotton
    danny haynes

  46. ducks Says:

    First thing first..if u open the editor u'll see at younger lads some ting like "-8","-9" or "-10"(at true wonderkids)in the potential ability box.This means that the potential ability of these guys is will always be randomized at the start of each game,meaning that an exceptional player in one game could be just a medium or good(but not fantastic)in other games.For young CB i strongly recommend Albiol from Valencia(22 years old).Micah Richards is a no-no in my books;leaving aside that hes v.expensive,he simply has a DREADFUL positioning,wich for a CB is important.With around 6.5 mil u can buy Habib Bellaid(21 years old) from Strasbourg who will always transform into a higly reliable,world class CB.Garay is also a flop in my books(as far as FM shows).He has average marking and tackling and very low mental attributes(wich will not develope!!!)He also has a low bravery for a defender,only 12,and v.v.low determination.I suggest to pass on him ;).On the other hand,Pique is great but cuz hes from Man Utd ull have to spend big for him.The same goes for Breno from Bayern.As i said in the beggining,most of the young players have theirs potential ability randomized at the start of each game,nevertheless here r some young CB u should always check out:Sakho(17 years-free to sign);Arturo Vidal from Leverkusen(20 years-aroung 8 mil to buy);Federico Fazio from Sevilla(20 years-around 3-4 mil to buy)Havard Nordtveit from Arsenal(17 years).Pls bear in mind that adaptability always has an important role when bringing foreigners,especially young guns,so have patience ;)

  47. Anonymous Says:

    Take a look at Tuia from Lazio...
    Plays CB and RB if you train him...
    16 year who gets much better!!!!!!

  48. Anonymous Says:

    Alcala, spanish u-19. you will get him for less then 1 milj euro. but get hem after the first season, he is on loan.

  49. Anonymous Says:

    And alwys always always sign Henri Saivet from Bordeaux. But he will only go if you are an attractive club. Sign him right away, as he is on youth contract.

  50. Anonymous Says:

    pablo piatti (500k buy him for big and small teams)(AMC can train to ST), mika aaritalo (buy him for 250k and you can get him from the championship as well immense)(AML, AMR, ST), gabriel torje from st pauli in germany (500k)(AMR)

  51. Anonymous Says:

    adrian ropotan [dm] romanian
    jukha leethovara [gk] finnish
    andrei ionescu [amc]
    ignacio camacho [dm]

  52. Anonymous Says:

    Patricio Araujo from Chivas is my best signing for PSG. Signed him first season, didnt adapt well, but after that he became a star player for us. Only cost £3.5 million as well. I would recommend him to everyone in the premiership or equivalant, as he will come to most top level teams.

  53. Anonymous Says:

    if u have the money u should buy david villa he scored 48 goals for me last season and has scored ten in 11 games in the season i am in at the moment if u dnt have enougth money then u should sell your best striker coz villa will be ten times better i swear he is the best player on the game.

  54. Anonymous Says:

    Lulinha
    Cahais
    Trejo
    Di Maria
    Begovic
    Lloris
    Zarate
    Adrien

  55. Anonymous Says:

    Just to say that I bought Lulinha at start of game for Liverpool, and by end of season he was worth 32,000,000 and had won world player and players player. Now in 7th season and he is still at same value and still best in world.
    (Saivet is just behind him)

  56. Anonymous Says:

    matias fernandez! enough said.
    hes the nearest thing to the current real life cristiano ronaldo

    sergio aguero
    david luiz
    eduardo ratinho
    marcelo
    fernando belluschi
    mario zarate
    andy carroll
    vincent enyeama
    oscar ustari

  57. Anonymous Says:

    there is even SEBY SINGH INDIAN YOUNGSTER!!!!!!!!!
    AT first he isnt good but later he will become a wonderkiD

  58. Anonymous Says:

    in my opinion,criscito and zapata are decent players.but richards and garay are definite purchases.
    barzagli is a very good player.
    he is a quick-addapted player

  59. Anonymous Says:

    MANU REINA!!!!!!!!!!

  60. Spliff Says:

    Lower League Players
    Jukka Lehtovaara GK Awesome and less than 20k lolol
    Jean Ferrari DC very solid
    Diego Buonanotte ML Argentine star
    Cristian Daminuta MC consistant

    cheers

  61. Anonymous Says:

    victor aritzabal great player is 35 at the start of the game but i signed him for sunderland and 29 goals in first season also jozy altidore in 2010/2011 and hes worth 45 million

  62. Anonymous Says:

    can you do a list on rb plaese

  63. Anonymous Says:

    have you tried thiago from sao paulo?? his amazing! a left foot forward that begins with 16/17 finishing and ends up the first season with a 19 and won the world top scorers! i think he begins with 19 years old. other player that i like very much is adrien from scp. a CB that i recomend is andrea coda or barzagali

  64. Anonymous Says:

    kerrison from brazil is definetly a wonderkid,also wijnaldum of holland,also in the 2010 season a player from bohemians called fahy will be the best midfielder in the game at 21

  65. Anonymous Says:

    sotiris ninis [panathinaikos]
    one of the best wonderkids only 117 years old

  66. Anonymous Says:

    try sotiris ninis
    the best greek talent costs around 4.000.000 euros and is only 17 years old

  67. Anonymous Says:

    pablo piatti
    sotiris ninis
    matias cahais
    nazarith
    david
    jo
    moses

  68. Anonymous Says:

    the best of the best is the marquinhos from palmeiras new ronaldo

  69. Anonymous Says:

    the best of the best is the marquinhos from palmeiras

  70. Anonymous Says:

    If Your Looking For An Amazingg youtuh striker try Victor Moses From Crystal Palace Amazing !!!!
    Scored 21 goals in his first season with me as wolves!!
    oh and also isamael Aissaiti from ajaxx is aweseme!

  71. Anonymous Says:

    also check out

    DC Papastathopoulos, Genoa (wonderkid)
    DM Papadopoulos Giannis, Olympiakos (Wonderkid)
    AMRC Ninis, Panathinaikos (Wonderkid)

  72. Anonymous Says:

    Just find out Paolo...ages 16 but as a regen....

    ALL HIS ATTRIBUTES ALMOST 17 AND 18!!!!!!

  73. Anonymous Says:

    buy jaques maghoma from spurs he will be a good player if yu keep playing him in the first team and have someone tutor him

  74. Anonymous Says:

    Here's a few for you

    Goalkeepers
    Oscar Ustari (4.1mill min fee)
    Hugo Lloris (costs about 10mill but awesome)
    Vincent Enyema (200k - world class)
    Younger goalys with potential
    David De Gea
    Antonio Adan

    Centre Backs
    Vincent Kompany
    Richards (man city)
    Mohammad Sakho
    Breno
    Fabricio Colochini (7 mill min fee)

    Left back
    Marcello (5mill min fee if he'll come to you)
    Garath Bale - highly rated youngster
    Manual da costa

    Right Back
    Carlos Diego (or diogo not sure)
    Richards again (man city)

    Midfielders
    Pablo Piatti (100k - ready for prem within a season)
    Marko Marin (400k)
    Matias Fernandez (10mill but worth it)
    Abdou Razak Traore (1.4mill)
    Luis Jiminez (2.9mill)
    Gabriel Torje

    Strikers
    Bodgan Stancu (500k ish)
    Zeefuik (becomes awesome)
    Aquino
    Henri Saivet
    Carlos Vela

  75. Anonymous Says:

    try these guys :

    Cristian Zapata - Defence
    Wjinaldum - Midfield
    Toto Tamuz - Striker(becomes one of the best strikers in the full game within 2 seasons being a regular starter)

  76. Anonymous Says:

    Davide Santon RB - Inter
    Darijo Srna VB,RB - Shaktar
    Marouane Fellaini DM,CM - Everton
    Ramires DM,CM - Cruzeiro
    Andrey Arshavin OM (R,L,C) & F - Arsenal
    Marek Hamsik CM - Napoli
    Tabaré Viudez OM (R,C) & F - Defensor Sporting
    Leó CB - Gremio
    Mezut Özil OM (L,C) - Werden Bremen
    Giuliano OM (R,C) & F - Internacional
    Gaël Kakuta OM (L,C) - Chelsea
    Daniel Opare RB - Real Madrid

    I have them all in my Manchester City and They work all great together after one season :D

    Plus some others who are great

    Theo Walcott OM (R,L) & F - Arsenal
    Jack Wilshere OM (R,L,C) - Arsenal
    keirrison F - Palmeiras
    Marquinhos OM (R,L,C) & F - Palmeiras

    I didnt right them earlier as many of u guys had already mentioned them

    regards X

  77. rickuitputh Says:

    I have found a great targetman major amount of assists if you play with 2 strikers and halve of the goals of your top scorer. Robert Lewandowski 37 appearances 22 assists and 12 goals... make sure u train his targetman stats, he'll be awesome..

  78. typhoon_je@hotmail.com Says:

    hEY,GUYS! I LIKE YOUR ADVICES......I ALREADY HAVE SAKHO.AND BRENO......HERE'S ANOTHER HIT...THERE'S A CENTRAL DEFENDER AT BENFICA, CALLED DAVID LUIZ..HE'S YOUNG AND STRONG.....VERY SIMILAR TO NEMANJA VIDIC AS STYLE OF PLAY.THEESE 2 CAN PROOVE USEFUL WHEN YOU ASK THE TEAM TO GO STRONG ON SOMEONE.HE TOOK JOE COLE ONCE OUT FOR 5 MONTHS

  79. Anonymous Says:

    If you start your game in a small club with a low transfer budget you should try sign these 4 players.

    Patrik Lomski AM RL/ ST
    Emir Sabic DC
    Liviu Ganea ST
    Jukka Lehtovaara GK

    You'll get all 4 players for under 1.500.000 NOK (£ 150.000)

  80. Anonymous Says:

    Lehtovaara
    Kamenar
    Mravac
    Durica
    Reginussen
    S.Puri
    E.Puri
    Teniste
    Saag
    Aaritalo
    Mihelic
    Kalouda
    Grendel
    Goitom
    Stancu
    Bicfalvi
    Skrtel
    K.Svensson
    Bacinovic
    Torje
    Sapara
    Dzsudzsák
    Matusiak
    Zarkovic
    Wijnaldum
    Pjanic
    Matavz
    Tosic

    thank you and goodnight

  81. Anonymous Says:

    oops forgot one

    Putilo

    bye

  82. Anonymous Says:

    conelly, man city, english,
    good pace and acceleration..

  83. Anonymous Says:

    oops..
    i missed something,
    conelly's young striker,
    lack of intelligent but good finishing..check it out!

  84. ginger Says:

    A great young defender to sign is Neven Subotic from dortmund, he will cost about 12m.

  85. PumA Says:

    ok i have a sticker called Tonnie Van Galen, im 6seasons in the game and hes 19yrs of age and i rate him highly!! 20mil he is for me...dont remember his price when i bought, was 3seasons back but highly rated, plus he tall as a bonus for a striker