Jack Wilshere

[Royal Rother]

Best English player since Paul Gascoigne.

[winchester_royal]

Class player, worried about his injury record though.

[retro_royal]

Best English player since Paul Gascoigne.

Yes he can run, he puts in a tackle and he shows a lot of enthusiasm but at the end of the day he gets bossed by even Cleverley when they come up against each other.

[Handsome Man]

He looks good, but seems to have a large turning circle.

Best "best player since Gascoigne" since Joe Cole probably.

[soggy biscuit]

IN for page 1 of everyone disagreeing with Royal Rother

[biscuitman]

Class player, worried about his injury record though.

One very bad injury to be knowledge. Fair play to him to get back fit.

[cmonurz]

Very, very good player, needs to kick on this season and next though and prove he can stay fit, and maintain his form.

[KDRF]

Best English player since Paul Gascoigne.

Yes he can run, he puts in a tackle and he shows a lot of enthusiasm but at the end of the day he gets bossed by even Cleverley when they come up against each other.

No, just no. Wilshere>Cleverley any day.

[Hoop Blah]

Best English player since Paul Gascoigne.

Yes he can run, he puts in a tackle and he shows a lot of enthusiasm but at the end of the day he gets bossed by even Cleverley when they come up against each other.

He does?

How many times have they played against each other? Would it be just the once when Wilshire was just coming back from over a year out?

[winchester_royal]

Best English player since Paul Gascoigne.

Yes he can run, he puts in a tackle and he shows a lot of enthusiasm but at the end of the day he gets bossed by even Cleverley when they come up against each other.

He does?

How many times have they played against each other? Would it be just the once when Wilshire was just coming back from over a year out?

Not forgetting of course that Wilshere is 3 years younger than Cleverley, who at his age was playing for Watford.

Both excellent players mind, and along with the likes of Ox, Welbeck, Sterling, Jones, McEachran etc may well make up a soon to be dubbed 'platinum' generation of English talent.

[Victor Meldrew]

Best English player since Paul Gascoigne.

That's not saying a lot though is it?
In today's game he looked completely lost in the first half against Chelsea's foreign midfielders.
To his credit he kept going and the boy certainly has energy. but is a bit prone (as we saw at the Mad Stad) to go over and feign injury when there is nothing wrong with him but he is far from alone in doing that.
A long way to go to match Gerrard IMHO but he does time on his side.

[Albert Spangler]

Best English player since Paul Gascoigne.

Nah. Biggest fanny in football. Goes down under the slightest challenges and feigns injury. He also flies in on others and moans when the ref blows. For me, his attitude stinks and I don't want precious little whingebags like that being our Great White Hope. Thanks though.

[Royal Rother]

What are you thanking me for?

So of the other "Best Since Gascoigne" candidates, can you come up with a name who doesn't have those irritating habits?

[Albert Spangler]

What are you thanking me for?

So of the other "Best Since Gascoigne" candidates, can you come up with a name who doesn't have those irritating habits?

I never thought I'd say it, but Michael Carrick.

Pulling up trees in an understated yet undeniably affective way.

[soggy biscuit]

Best English player since Paul Gascoigne.

In any position?

[SPARTA]

What has he actually done yet to earn such rave reviews? So far he's had a handful of good games, and because he's a) young and b) english the media label him the next big thing. I haven't seen anything to get excited about yet.

[cmonurz]

Why does everything have to be black and white?

Is he our Messi? No. Has he looked very, very good for Arsenal, when fit? Yes he has. And did he look at home in the England midfield? Yes, he did.

He's got a lot to prove again now he is back from injury, but to imply he's looked nothing more than run-of-the-mill is ridiculous.

[Royal Rother]

It is very rare to see an English player capable of killing a ball stone dead with one touch, making barnstorming runs through the midfield with the ball under close control, tackling hard, making slick passes with vision, playing intricate one-twos around the edge of the area, retain possession when surrounded by opponents, then lay it off...

I think it is easy to forget he hasn't yet made 50 League appearances for Arsenal.

Obviously not the finished article uet but if he keeps his head, stays fit and keeps developing then I do think he'll eclipse all players since Gazza.

Hopefully he'll prove capable of producing the goods at major tournaments unlike the last, ultimately disappointing, pretender.

[SPARTA]

It is very rare to see an English player capable of killing a ball stone dead with one touch, making barnstorming runs through the midfield with the ball under close control, tackling hard, making slick passes with vision, playing intricate one-twos around the edge of the area, retain possession when surrounded by opponents, then lay it off...

Agreed. He's no Danny Guthrie that's for sure.

[gazzer, loyal royal]

Needs to mature as a footballer. Has a petulant red card in him that's for sure. However at 19, the guy has real talent. A leader already at a young age. Has a real burst of speed and is direct, something I like to see in a central midfield.