Post by reddevil on Feb 11, 2010 16:52:21 GMT
Sky Sports Scout is our exciting feature where we scour the globe looking out for the best talent and bring you a report on what we find.
Our Scout will report back and you can comment on what you think of our appraisal.
Also, in association with Football Manager, we give all readers the chance to win a copy of the latest game by nominating a player.
You can only nominate a player by emailing here, including the word 'Scout' in your subject line and please check to make sure we haven't already covered the player!
Should your player get reviewed by our scout, and you were first to send in his name, then you will win a copy of Football Manager 2010.
Latest under our scout's gaze is Liverpool's Lauri Dalla Valle.
The scout reports...
After watching recent displays at Under-18 level, we report on one of the most exciting attacking talents from the Premier League Academies, Liverpool's Lauri Dalla Valle.
The Finnish striker shot to prominence last season in his club's run to the FA Youth Cup final. Since that time a style and eye for goal, which has earned frequent comparisons to club colleague Fernando Torres, has led to a promotion to the reserves.
Dalla Valle began his footballing career in Finland at JIPPO before spending three months with Inter Milan. He then returned to his boyhood club before joining Liverpool in 2008.
The 18-year-old was reportedly a transfer target of Chelsea in 2007, while a number of other European clubs were also interested in his services before Liverpool's Academy offered a three-and-a-half-year contract following a trial.
Dalla Valle has represented Finland at U16, U17 and U19 level but he could yet choose to play for Italy as a full international because he would qualify for the current world champions through his Italian father.
But how good is the youngster? Well, at one stage in his Liverpool U18s career he had scored 20 goals in 28 appearances and so is obviously a genuine talent with a bright future.
The comparisons with Spain star Torres are not drawn from Anfield hype. Dalla Valle's 35-minute hat-trick against Leicester in this season's FA Youth Cup highlighted similarities in terms of awareness, gliding physical speed and work-rate.
Naturally right-footed, but also comfortable on his left, he has superb strength despite a small frame and demonstrates on a regular basis that he is capable of holding possession before using his passing skills to bring midfielders into play.
Dalla Valle has the striking instinct to be in the right place at the right time and possesses a ruthlessly rapid speed of thought when inside the 18-yard area, a trait in all top-level forwards, while he is also more than capable of scoring from long range.
As with a lot of players of his height, there is a need to improve his heading ability. But that could come with age and experience.
The scout says...
Although not at his best in Monday night's FA Youth Cup defeat to Watford, Dalla Valle appears to have all the characteristics to become a major talent in the Premier League and Europe.
There is obviously room for improvement but a clinical touch, excellent decision making, speed and physical strength bodes well for the future.
The Scout rating...
Shooting: 9 out of 10
Passing: 7 out of 10
Tackling: 6 out of 10
Heading: 7 out of 10
Pace: 9 out of 10
Vision: 8 out of 10
Current ability: 7 out of 10
Potential ability: 9 out of 10
OVERALL SCOUT RATING: 62/80
Current value: £2million
Potential value: £18million
Our Scout will report back and you can comment on what you think of our appraisal.
Also, in association with Football Manager, we give all readers the chance to win a copy of the latest game by nominating a player.
You can only nominate a player by emailing here, including the word 'Scout' in your subject line and please check to make sure we haven't already covered the player!
Should your player get reviewed by our scout, and you were first to send in his name, then you will win a copy of Football Manager 2010.
Latest under our scout's gaze is Liverpool's Lauri Dalla Valle.
The scout reports...
After watching recent displays at Under-18 level, we report on one of the most exciting attacking talents from the Premier League Academies, Liverpool's Lauri Dalla Valle.
The Finnish striker shot to prominence last season in his club's run to the FA Youth Cup final. Since that time a style and eye for goal, which has earned frequent comparisons to club colleague Fernando Torres, has led to a promotion to the reserves.
Dalla Valle began his footballing career in Finland at JIPPO before spending three months with Inter Milan. He then returned to his boyhood club before joining Liverpool in 2008.
The 18-year-old was reportedly a transfer target of Chelsea in 2007, while a number of other European clubs were also interested in his services before Liverpool's Academy offered a three-and-a-half-year contract following a trial.
Dalla Valle has represented Finland at U16, U17 and U19 level but he could yet choose to play for Italy as a full international because he would qualify for the current world champions through his Italian father.
But how good is the youngster? Well, at one stage in his Liverpool U18s career he had scored 20 goals in 28 appearances and so is obviously a genuine talent with a bright future.
The comparisons with Spain star Torres are not drawn from Anfield hype. Dalla Valle's 35-minute hat-trick against Leicester in this season's FA Youth Cup highlighted similarities in terms of awareness, gliding physical speed and work-rate.
Naturally right-footed, but also comfortable on his left, he has superb strength despite a small frame and demonstrates on a regular basis that he is capable of holding possession before using his passing skills to bring midfielders into play.
Dalla Valle has the striking instinct to be in the right place at the right time and possesses a ruthlessly rapid speed of thought when inside the 18-yard area, a trait in all top-level forwards, while he is also more than capable of scoring from long range.
As with a lot of players of his height, there is a need to improve his heading ability. But that could come with age and experience.
The scout says...
Although not at his best in Monday night's FA Youth Cup defeat to Watford, Dalla Valle appears to have all the characteristics to become a major talent in the Premier League and Europe.
There is obviously room for improvement but a clinical touch, excellent decision making, speed and physical strength bodes well for the future.
The Scout rating...
Shooting: 9 out of 10
Passing: 7 out of 10
Tackling: 6 out of 10
Heading: 7 out of 10
Pace: 9 out of 10
Vision: 8 out of 10
Current ability: 7 out of 10
Potential ability: 9 out of 10
OVERALL SCOUT RATING: 62/80
Current value: £2million
Potential value: £18million