Just for
laughs
An article written in 2003: 
The recent steady flow of talented young stars has turned into an
veritable torrent, with a new teenage hero seemingly unearthed
every week.
A brace by 19-year-old Michael Tonge against Liverpool on
Wednesday, while 20-year-old Neil Mellor was scoring at the other
end, added two more names to this term's astounding production line
of promise.
And future England manager Alan Shearer must be rubbing his
sensible hands together in glee at the pot of gold maturing before
his very eyes.
Goalkeepers
Chris Kirkland, 21 now, will be the world's finest goalkeeper by
2008, especially after another five years of shot-stopping practice
at the back of Liverpool's attack-shy team.
Leeds' Paul Robinson, 23, is unlikely to be far behind his
Liverpool rival and the two of them are likely to vie,
Shilton-Clemence style, for the number one jersey for many
years.
Defence
History has shown that every successful England international team
has contained brothers, and Rio and Anton Ferdinand will form the
bedrock of Shearer's defence.
Rio will be the team's veteran at 29, but Anton will possess the
same assured approach and, let us hope, the same "funky"
goalscoring celebrations.
Blackburn's Martin Taylor will be there to mop up when the
siblings' rivalry causes them to lose concentration.
Ashley Cole and Shaun Wright-Phillips will be devastating
wing-backs, whose surging runs will leave Italians crying into
their capuccinos and Germans blubbing in their bratwursts.
Midfield
This is where England excel, with the maverick talents of Joe Cole
and David Dunn backed by the steel and vision of Steven
Gerrard.
With Dunn (28 in 2008 ) and Cole (26 in 2008 ) possessing maturity
and talent, all England need is for Gerrard (27) to end his current
run of form which is, unfortunately, rubbish.
All three will be at their peak, and the onlooking David Beckham,
who will probably retire from football at 30 to pursue a rock
career, will smile in the stands as his successors shine.
Forwards
England will have so much talent up front it will be embarrassing,
and other teams may concede games before kick-off to avoid the
humiliation on the pitch.
The original odd couple will spearhead the attack - Wayne Rooney
and Michael Owen.
Off the field, the pair will fight like dogs, but on the field they
will combine to create flowing football poetry which will reduce
even the most toughened defenders to mere shells of men.
And to keep them alert, the likes of Liverpool's Neil Mellor, Aston
Villa's Darius Vassell, Leeds' James Milner and West Ham's Jermaine
Defoe will all be in the prime of their careers.
