JJ Gabriel | 2026/27 Performances

Bastian

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Full Name: Joseph Junior Andreou Gabriel
Date of Birth: Oct 6, 2010
Nationality: England
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Height: 165cm
Position: LW/AM/CF
Foot: Right
Player Agent: Represented by his father Joe O'Cearuill
Squad Number: #77
Joined: Academy
Contract until: Can sign a pro contract Oct 2027
Outfitter: Nike​
 
Still 15. Seems like he has been in the news for a while...
Very exciting talent.. looking forward to seeing him in preseason..

Don't really expect him to get any first team minutes this season though..
 
If LVG was still here he'd start him opening day

I sometimes miss that crazy Dutch bastard
 
We clearly rate him and he is settled at the club with a clear path to first team football. I will be quite surprised if he wants to move. Maybe see how Alejandro did at Chelsea.

I am quite excited to see him play however no pressure as he could easily be 2-3 seasons away from being in the squad.
 
RegisteredToSayOneThing said:
You say that like every club in Europe isn't circling. There are no safeguards until he signs a pre-contract.
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Safeguarding because he is still a child, he isn't allowed to do certain things with the 1st team until he is older that's the law, it does look like they have him with the 1st team but there will be still be certain things he isn't allowed to do until he is older these are laws
 
Gavinb33 said:
Safeguarding because he is still a child, he isn't allowed to do certain things with the 1st team until he is older that's the law, it does look like they have him with the 1st team but there will be still be certain things he isn't allowed to do until he is older these are laws
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Arsenal managed it with Dowman. Barcelona managed it with Yamal. He can't change around the adults. It's not a hard problem to solve.
ManRed said:
We clearly rate him and he is settled at the club with a clear path to first team football. I will be quite surprised if he wants to move. Maybe see how Alejandro did at Chelsea.

I am quite excited to see him play however no pressure as he could easily be 2-3 seasons away from being in the squad.
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We are his 4th club. His father is very mercenary/ruthless.
 
I think this guy is one of the more fun and exciting topics around the club. A player with an x factor a notch higher than probably anyone i seen in our academy.

Not sure what is the best next step for him. He is young and lightweight enough to make a season at u21 make some sense. But not sure it would do an awful lot for his development. First team squad this season might be too early but i would not be against it. Would be fun to see if he could adapt quickly.
 
Id genuinely let his start the game with the first team lads rather than bringing him on with the other kids. See how he fairs playing with more experienced players. Be interesting to see
 
So many fine lines with this one. The club is in an unenviable position with him.

If he does well, the clamour to include him elevates. If he doesn’t get “adequate” time, the potential of his camp getting antsy rises. Further to that, someone so small and fragile really needs to be carefully managed in an adult game.
 
Can't see him getting a kick this season. Way too young/small.

Taking him on pre season is just a case of keeping him and the family happy.
 
Fortitude said:
So many fine lines with this one. The club is in an unenviable position with him.

If he does well, the clamour to include him elevates. If he doesn’t get “adequate” time, the potential of his camp getting antsy rises. Further to that, someone so small and fragile really needs to be carefully managed in an adult game.
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Doesn't help that his dad seems impatient. He must realise what too much, too soon can do to a young player.
Michael Owen was finished as a WC player into his mid 20's. Barca ran Fati into the ground.
 
Nice to see him in training with First Team squad and rumours of him being in squad against Rosenberg. Wasn't sure he'd be involved in any pre-season matches after him missing the game against Wrexham and us signing Thompson
 
Dazzmondo said:
Nice to see him in training with First Team squad and rumours of him being in squad against Rosenberg. Wasn't sure he'd be involved in any pre-season matches after him missing the game against Wrexham and us signing Thompson
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Id imagine his signing a new youth deal and not already leaving was contingent on him getting a look in and around the first team on preseason and the league cup as a sub and whatnot. I can understand the team behind him want to see how he does against men as quickly as possible and get as much money and exposure as quickly as possible. He's some talent that's for sure. He's up there with Greenwood and Morrison as the best I've seen at that age. Let's hope he's listening and can see them as a cautionary tale and he has a smoother carear here but something tells me there's going to be lots of twists and turns with this lad one way or another. He'd be best served to keep his head down for the next 2-3 years and really work on breaking through in a meaningful impactful way instead of chasing bits of the limelight and rushing himself. Also all the other stuff that goes with being a really famous kid...

Frankly i think I'll be surprised if he turns out as good and as professional as we all hope and if he does I'd say he still may have his head turned sooner or later on a crap deal for us. Just my gut feeling but hopefully 3rd time lucky for us!
 
Ali Dia said:
Id imagine his signing a new youth deal and not already leaving was contingent on him getting a look in and around the first team on preseason and the league cup as a sub and whatnot. I can understand the team behind him want to see how he does against men as quickly as possible and get as much money and exposure as quickly as possible. He's some talent that's for sure. He's up there with Greenwood and Morrison as the best I've seen at that age. Let's hope he's listening and can see them as a cautionary tale and he has a smoother carear here but something tells me there's going to be lots of twists and turns with this lad one way or another. He'd be best served to keep his head down for the next 2-3 years and really work on breaking through in a meaningful impactful way instead of chasing bits of the limelight and rushing himself. Also all the other stuff that goes with being a really famous kid...

Frankly i think I'll be surprised if he turns out as good and as professional as we all hope and if he does I'd say he still may have his head turned sooner or later on a crap deal for us. Just my gut feeling but hopefully 3rd time lucky for us!
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I don't watch our youth teams anymore (aside from individual highlights sometimes) so I'm not sure how his level compares with Garnacho, Greenwood and Rashford. Ravel I was always pretty sceptical of tbh despite being in the minority at the time. I thought he benefitted from the extra space you get at youth level that disappears at senior level (especially in the Premier League). Pogba and Greenwood were the most talented players I've seen in our youth teams.

Tbf the Greenwood situation wasn't due to unprofessionalism relating to football, it was due to a discovery of his real life behaviour outside of football. Had that not been uncovered I doubt the club ever would have considered selling him.

If JJ is as good as his reputation suggests, hopefully he'll be a bit patient. There's really no reason to be expecting 1st team football before the age of 18. Rooneys and Bellinghams are incredibly rare. Even Max Dowman who's probably the most highly regarded English player under 18 has gotten pretty limited mins
 
Dazzmondo said:
I don't watch our youth teams anymore (aside from individual highlights sometimes) so I'm not sure how his level compares with Garnacho, Greenwood and Rashford. Ravel I was always pretty sceptical of tbh despite being in the minority at the time. I thought he benefitted from the extra space you get at youth level that disappears at senior level (especially in the Premier League). Pogba and Greenwood were the most talented players I've seen in our youth teams.

Tbf the Greenwood situation wasn't due to unprofessionalism relating to football, it was due to a discovery of his real life behaviour outside of football. Had that not been uncovered I doubt the club ever would have considered selling him.

If JJ is as good as his reputation suggests, hopefully he'll be a bit patient. There's really no reason to be expecting 1st team football before the age of 18. Rooneys and Bellinghams are incredibly rare. Even Max Dowman who's probably the most highly regarded English player under 18 has gotten pretty limited mins
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He doesn't have an adult physique like Bellingham or Rooney did, but the few times I've seen him he definitely looks special in terms of receiving the ball and turning and creating.

Doesn't have top end pace so it might be hard for him in the men's game for a while. Odegaard's first full season in La Liga was at 21 and had almost 3 seasons in the Eredivisie under his belt. Xavi Simons was 19 for his first full season at PSV.

He can take Mount's spot in the team and backup Bruno when he's ready and we sell Mount, but that's surely not a question until next year. Wirtz and Musiala got close to starter minutes at 17. Gabriel turns 17 in October next year, so I'll guess the schedule is:

2026-27: Lots of first team training and a few cup minutes off the bench
2027-28: Gabriel joins the first team even if he's not physically ready, to keep him from wanting to move and go play for Dortmund or Leipzig or somewhere he can be a backup getting real minutes immediately. We really need to be in Europe for him to get enough minutes, I would guess.
2028-29: Proper first team squad member at 18
 
NoPace said:
He doesn't have an adult physique like Bellingham or Rooney did, but the few times I've seen him he definitely looks special in terms of receiving the ball and turning and creating.

Doesn't have top end pace so it might be hard for him in the men's game for a while. Odegaard's first full season in La Liga was at 21 and had almost 3 seasons in the Eredivisie under his belt. Xavi Simons was 19 for his first full season at PSV.

He can take Mount's spot in the team and backup Bruno when he's ready and we sell Mount, but that's surely not a question until next year. Wirtz and Musiala got close to starter minutes at 17. Gabriel turns 17 in October next year, so I'll guess the schedule is:

2026-27: Lots of first team training and a few cup minutes off the bench
2027-28: Gabriel joins the first team even if he's not physically ready, to keep him from wanting to move and go play for Dortmund or Leipzig or somewhere he can be a backup getting real minutes immediately. We really need to be in Europe for him to get enough minutes, I would guess.
2028-29: Proper first team squad member at 18
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It would be a big concern if he's not fast. Strength-wise I'd be less concerned, with modern understanding of nutrition and fitness most people can put on a lot of muscle very quickly unlike 20-15 years ago. The way we play, it is vital that our front 3 be fast to hurt teams on the counter.

I'm surprised you're comparing him with cams. My understanding was that he was definitely a left winger (pretty sure all the highlights I've seen of him had him playing there too).
 
Dazzmondo said:
It would be a big concern if he's not fast. Strength-wise I'd be less concerned, with modern understanding of nutrition and fitness most people can put on a lot of muscle very quickly unlike 20-15 years ago. The way we play, it is vital that our front 3 be fast to hurt teams on the counter.

I'm surprised you're comparing him with cams. My understanding was that he was definitely a left winger (pretty sure all the highlights I've seen of him had him playing there too).
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He played left wing and striker
 
This kid will be absolutely desperate to play some part this season - whether that be minutes in the dying embers of PL games or playing in earlier rounds of FA Cup or Carabao cup games (should the draw allow).

He’ll see how Dowman has developed over the season and will want the same. I’m sure this lad will absolutely have 1 eye on Euro 2028.
 
Dazzmondo said:
Yeah that's what I thought. Has he ever played cam?
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I think it's his style of play that has people comparing him to CAMs. He's more of a Saka than a rapid flying winger, although he scores goals like one. He'll likely start as a LW, but it wouldn't be any suprise to see him move inside to CAM to get him more of the ball.

Just to clarify I'm not saying he'll be as good as any of the players I'm about to list.

He's got the flicks and tricks that make ridiculous highlights like a Neymar style.
His goal scoring record, club he plays for and position has people comparing him to a young CR7.
His tight space work likens him to CAMs and why I'd say he's similar to Saka. Not lightning quick, but quick enough at his level.

I think the worries about Barcelona/Madrid are due to how his style is very suited to La Liga, more so than the power and pace of the PL.

There's been lots of clips of him putting in the gym work this off season so I'm interested to see how he does on Friday. If he's bulked up a bit has it affected anything else in his game.
 
Dazzmondo said:
Yeah that's what I thought. Has he ever played cam?
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I would say he played mostly left wing when I was first watching him then the matches I saw last season he was joining the striker. But transfermarkt has him as playing AM for most matches. So I think its a bit of a cloudy one whether he's playing as a withdrawn striker or behind someone else. In the end they both end up about as far forward. The determining factor is probably if another striker is playing, of those Bradbury played the most with 16 matches. So perhaps he's playing AM off Bradbury in those games rather than up front also. So probably left wing, and a central role whether its striker or supporting striker which could be described as an AM
 
Ekeke said:
I would say he played mostly left wing when I was first watching him then the matches I saw last season he was joining the striker. But transfermarkt has him as playing AM for most matches. So I think its a bit of a cloudy one whether he's playing as a withdrawn striker or behind someone else. In the end they both end up about as far forward. The determining factor is probably if another striker is playing, of those Bradbury played the most with 16 matches. So perhaps he's playing AM off Bradbury in those games rather than up front also. So probably left wing, and a central role whether its striker or supporting striker which could be described as an AM
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He played all three positions a lot. Earlier in the season he was winger and striker more, towards the end second striker more.

He looked at his best in the 10 or up front, though we're yet to see if his creative passing is at a level to develop into the 10 long term. If not, he's going to be a striker, in my opinion.
 
dwd said:
Just realised what JJ stands for. His Dad is going to be a nightmare isn’t he?
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Didn't want to say it but the signs are there. Probably been explained before but was interested to know where the Gabriel came from in his name and if Google is telling the truth then it's painting a picture, fairly or not.
 
Meh we know little about his family, let’s not speculate on something we have little evidence about.
 
MiceOnMeth said:
If LVG was still here he'd start him opening day

I sometimes miss that crazy Dutch bastard
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I miss him too! The way he brought Rashford in and then just kept playing him. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.
 
The boy -- and I do mean boy -- turns 16 on October 6. Maybe he gets a sniff at PL action at the end of the season but I can't imagine it before then.
 
Berbasbullet said:
Meh we know little about his family, let’s not speculate on something we have little evidence about.
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Yeah, I think we should really try and be as un-weird as possible in the way we talk about a fifteen year old on our public internet forum. Our theories about his dad definitely don't help with that.
 
SubutaiScipio said:
He played CAM a great deal as the season progressed and in my opinion that was his best position. At the start of the season he played LW and CF.
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Just eye-test wise to me he has the attributes of a #10 or #10 shoved wide like Baena at the World Cup, but obviously he might not be done growing and that would change things long-term.

Presumably he'll start his career at LW so he can try to create without having adult level defensive responsibility and size. The middle can be hard on a young player.
 
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