Footy Stars Watch

Rasmus Elm (AZ)

• Full Name: Rasmus Christoffer Elm
• Date of Birth/Age: March17 1988/Age 22
• Place of Birth: Kalmar, Sweden
• Main Position: Central Midfielder

• Description: A great young Swedish midfielder, Rasmus Elm had a good 2009-2010 season for current club AZ, scoring 3 goals and setting up many plays in 23 appearances for the club, and he looks poised to have a breakout 2010-2011 season. With great shooting and passing abilities, Elm has all of the potential to become a top midfielder. He has also represented Sweden on the senior national team level, having earned 12 caps and scored 1 goal so far, and could be a team star in the future.

• Pros: Shooting, Passing, Technique
• Cons: Strength, Dribbling
• Transfer Interest: Medium, but will rise if he keeps playing well for AZ
• Highlights:

Here is a look at and projection of the Villarreal side for the 2010-2011 season:

Players In: Borja Valero (attacking midfielder, loan), Carlos Marchena (centre back, €2.475 million), reserve team player

Players Out: Joseba Llorente (striker, €2.5 million), Damián Escudero (left midfielder, undisclosed fee), David Fuster (attacking midfielder, €1.5 million), Diego Godín (centre back, €8 million), Sebastián Eguren (defensive midfielder, free transfer), Javi Venta (right back, free transfer), player out on loan

Strengths: Strikers, with Nilmar, Giuseppe Rossi, Marco Ruben and Jozy Altidore, Villarreal have a great offensive line. Their centre backs are also good, with Gonzalo Rodríguez, Carlos Marchena, Mateo Musacchio and Kiko making up the core.

Weaknesses: Central Midfielders, Villarreal do have some players to fill in, however they could still use another creative natural central midfield player.

Projected Place: 7th

Overall: Villarreal have a good team, and if they keep playing well, could surely move higher in the rankings.

Bebé (Manchester United)

• Full Name: Tiago Manuel Dias Correia
• Date of Birth/Age: July 12 1990/Age 20
• Place of Birth: Agualva-Cacém, Portugal
• Main Position: Striker

• Description: A great young Portuguese attacking talent, Bebé impressed for former club, Portugal’s Vitória de Guimarães, scoring 5 goals in 6 pre-season matches, which led to a variety of big clubs being after his services. Manchested United won the race and signed the striker during the summer of 2010. He has a true rags-to-riches story, as Bebé was raised in an orphanage, having lived on the streets before that, and played for the CAIS team in the 2009 European Street Football Festival.  He has also played for amateur side Loures, and Portuguese Second Division side Estrela da Amadora (2009-2010, 4 goals in 26 appearances). A player with great dribbling and finishing abilities, Bebé has all of the potential to become a great striker. He has also represented Portugal on the U-19 level, and could surely receive a senior squad call-up in the near future.

• Pros: Finishing, Dribbling, Technique
• Cons: Hard to judge so far, he just needs more experience
• Transfer Interest: Medium as he just transferred to Manchester United
• Highlights:

Here is a look at and projection of the Mallorca side for the 2010-2011 season:

Players In: Jonathan de Guzman (attacking midfielder, free transfer), Fernando Cavenaghi (striker, loan)

Players Out: Felipe Mattioni (right back, undisclosed fee), Juanmi Callejón (attacking midfielder, free transfer), Mario Suárez (defensive midfielder, €1.8 million), Aritz Aduriz (striker, €4 million), Fernando Varela (right midfielder, free transfer), Julio Álvarez (attacking midfielder, free transfer), reserve and academy team players, and those out on loan

Strengths: Strikers, with Fernando Cavenaghi, Pierre Webó, Emilio Nsue, Alhassane Keita and Víctor among others, Mallorca have a great offensive line. Their centre backs are also good, with Nunes, Iván Ramis, Rubén González and Martí Crespí making up the core.

Weaknesses: Wingers, as Mallorca only have Chori Castro as a left winger, and Ratinho as a right winger, and could use another player to cover. They do have youngsters to fill in, however their inexperience could be a factor.

Projected Place: 6th

Overall: Mallorca have a good team and with more depth or player development, can surely move higher in the rankings.

Tommy Oar (FC Utrecht)

• Full Name: Thomas Michael Oar
• Date of Birth/Age: December 10 1991/Age 18
• Place of Birth: Southport, Queensland, Australia
• Main Position: Left Winger

• Description: One of the best young Australian talents, Tommy Oar has been impressive over the past few years for former club Brisbane Roar, scoring 2 goals and setting up many dangerous plays in 26 appearances for the club. These performances led to the winger transferring to Dutch club FC Utrecht during the summer of 2010, where he could have a breakout 2010-2011 season. With great dribbling and shooting abilities, Oar has all of the potential to become a quality winger. He has also represented Australia on the senior national team level, earning 2 caps so far, and could be a team star for years to come.

• Pros: Dribbling, Crossing, Shooting
• Cons: Strength, Heading
• Transfer Interest: Medium as he just transferred to FC Utrecht
• Highlights:

Here is a look at and projection of the Atlético Madrid side for the 2010-2011 season:

Players In: Mario Suárez (defensive midfielder, €1.8 million), Fran Mérida (attacking midfielder, free transfer), Diego Godín (centre back, €8 million), Filipe Luís (left back, €12 million)

Players Out: Cléber Santana (defensive midfielder, undisclosed fee, but rumored to be about €2 million), Roberto Jiménez (goalkeeper, €8.5 million), Pablo Ibáñez (centre back, free transfer), José Jurado (attacking midfielder, undisclosed fee, but rumored to be about €13 million), reserve and academy team players, and those out on loan

Strengths: Strikers, with Diego Forlán, Sergio Agüero and Diego Costa, Atlético Madrid have a great offensive line. Their centre backs are also good, with Diego Godín, Juanito, Tomáš Ujfaluši, Luis Perea and Álvaro Domínguez making up the core.

Weaknesses: Wingers, as Atlético Madrid only have José Antonio Reyes as a left winger, and Simão Sabrosa as a right winger, and could use another player to cover. They do have youngsters to fill in, however their inexperience could be a factor.

Projected Place: 5th

Overall: Atlético Madrid have a good team and surely have the potential to challenge for a higher place in the rankings, if they keep playing well.