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Similar Type of Player: Antony is a very unique player. He is absolutely in his element when taking a player on and has been known to wait for players to catch up so he can take them on again (a la Garrincha). His turn of pace is so sharp, that if you blink he’ll be gone and he is very skillful. With them traits in mind he reminds me of a Sporting Lisbon/early Manchester United days Cristiano Ronaldo. A lot of work to be done however to hit them heights.
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Footy Files says
Antony’s move to Ajax has come at exactly the right time. As a seemingly direct replacement for Ziyech it’s going to be very interesting to see him slot into the side and ultimately take to the Eridivisie. With pace to burn, the ability to get his head up and pick out a pass, and seeing the pure enjoyment he gets when taking on an opposition player one on one, makes Antony a must watch for any football fan.
Note: A big thank you to Jacek Kulig (footballtalentscout.net) for allowing me to use his template for this bio.
Tournaments Participated In: CONMEBOL Libertadores, Brasileiro Série A, Paulista, Série A1, U17 World Cup
Contract Until: 31/12/2021
Players Agent: Unknown
Transfer Rumours:Juventus (06/20), Chelsea (06/20)
Similar Type of Player: There have been numerous comparisons to Cristiano Ronaldo, but in my humble opinion there are very few similarities between the pair. Kaio Jorge however is strong, very quick, seemingly endless amounts of stamina and knows exactly where the goal is reminding me of a raw Luka Jovic.
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Footy Files says
An unfortunate downfall in his game currently is his reliance on his right foot. Be it cutting back to ensure he gets a shot off on his right foot or his technique when dribbling, his dominant right foot makes Kaio Jorge fairly predictable when it comes to taking on an opponent.
He does however have a couple of aces up his sleeve for it not to be too much of a disadvantage. Strength, pace and an engine that keeps him going for a full 90 minutes. On top of that, his right foot knows exactly where the goal is.Confidence in his left foot will come with experience and Kaio Jorge would push his career to another level, and I can see why the likes of Juventus and Chelsea are keen on him.
Note: A big thank you to Jacek Kulig (footballtalentscout.net) for allowing me to use his template for this bio.
Youth Career: Tegueste, Juventus Laguna, Las Palmas
Club: Unión Deportiva Las Palmas, S.A.D.
Squad Number: 28
Current National Team: Spain U19
Preferred Foot: Right
Market Value (by transfermarkt.de): £6.48m
Tournaments Participated In: U17 World Cup, Campeonato Nacional de Liga de Segunda División
Contract Until: 30/06/2024
Players Agent: Unknown
Transfer Rumours:Barcelona (06/20), Ajax Loan (06/20)
Similar Type of Player: It’s been extremely hard to miss the hype around Pedri since Barcelona have snapped him up. The comparisons have been thrown around left right and centre, and one name keeps cropping up that cannot be ignored: Andrés Iniesta. When you watch how easy Pedri makes transition phases look, the execution of a key pass and his ability to hold onto possession you can see exactly why. Barcelona have signed a real gem.
One word to describe Pedri’s style of play? Effortless. His movement, his passing, his awareness, his very mature reading of the game and confidence in using both feet. He may not walk into the Barcelona side next season, but he’ll be on the periphery. I wouldn’t rule out the anticipated loan offers and seeing him being phased into the squad throughout the season.
Note: A big thank you to Jacek Kulig (footballtalentscout.net) for allowing me to use his template for this bio.
Tournaments Participated In: U17 World Cup, Paulista, Série A1, Brasileiro Série A, CONMEBOL Libertadores
Contract Until: 31/12/2024
Players Agent: Unknown
Transfer Rumours:Barcelona (06/20), Arsenal (06/20)
Similar Type of Player: For a young Brazilian player, particularly an attacking minded skilful individual it’s hard not to be drawn to comparisons with World Class players of the past and present but I do think Veron warrants it. 17 years old, the world at his feet, the close control, pace and awareness that most professionals would be jealous of, the sky is the limit for the youngster. Genuine comparisons to the likes of Neymar (including the occasional theatrics, sorry) and players of the same mould are not being made lightly. Veron looks like the real deal and I look forward to watching his development.
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Footy Files says
Bursting onto the scene during the U17 World Cup and winning the Golden Ball was no surprise to anyone aware of his displays in the Mundial de Clubes de La Comunidad de Madrid. Veron has always shone bright when under the spotlight and continues to do so as he steps up through the echelons of the football system. Palmeiras are a team to watch, even if Veron is starting on the bench as when he enters the fray he is capable of magic.
Note: A big thank you to Jacek Kulig (footballtalentscout.net) for allowing me to use his template for this bio.
Tournaments Participated In: La Liga, Copa del Rey
Contract Until: 30/06/2022
Players Agent: JM10 SPORT
Transfer Rumours:Rennes (06/20), Atletico Madrid (06/20)
Similar Type of Player: With a very good sense of positioning and anticipation, an unwavering strength and ability to be in the right place at the right time, Salisu makes a lot of his game look effortless. With that in mind I make comparisons to Ledley King.
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Footy Files says
Defensively Salisu is beginning to look phenomenal. He is completely fearless in a challenge, extremely consistent and not phased about coming up against the likes of Messi and co. Definitely a big game player. His main downfall currently is his passing ability, as he struggles with long balls often. Sticking to the short passing game would benefit him greatly right now, but he is only 21 and can only improve. One to watch for sure.
Note: A big thank you to Jacek Kulig (footballtalentscout.net) for allowing me to use his template for this bio.
Tournaments Participated In: Ligue 1, Ligue 2, Coupe de la Ligue, EFL Championship, EFL Cup, FA Cup
Contract Until: 30/06/2024
Players Agent: Frederic Guerra
Transfer Rumours:—
Similar Type of Player: I’ll probably be putting my head on the chopping block here as the player he most resembles for me is incomparable. But the driving runs, the confidence to take on the defenders, the ability of providing the spectacular goal, the intelligence to look for space and awareness of his positioning for me all resemble a certain Thierry Henry. Do not twist my words, he is not at that level (yet) but he is player to keep your eye on.
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Footy Files says
Mbeumo has been a breath of fresh air to the Championship this season. The combination of Benrahma, Mbeumo and Watkins (dubbed BMW) has culminated in a fantastic viewing experience and we strongly recommend a watch if you get the chance. It would be a shame to see the trio picked up by other teams at the end of the season, and a promotion to the Premier League at the end of the season might lead to everyone having the pleasure of them playing against some of the world best. Fingers crossed.
Note: A big thank you to Jacek Kulig (footballtalentscout.net) for allowing me to use his template for this bio.
Tournaments Participated In: Austrian Football Bundesliga, UNIQA ÖFB Cup, UEFA Champions League, Ligue 1
Contract Until: 30/06/2023
Players Agent: Unknown
Transfer Rumours:—
Similar Type of Player: Defensively Antoine Bernede has an air of Mousa Dembele about him. The bravery in a challenge and the ability to pick out the quick short pass to the more creative team mate. Going forwards he’s a bit of a rough diamond, although definitely has a presence to build on.
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Footy Files says
Leaving the PSG academy has been a blessing for most youngsters leaving their ranks recently, and I see no reason to believe otherwise for Bernede. The unfortunate timing of his injury may have hampered his development since moving to Austria, but back fighting fit now he is an extremely exciting prospect to watch.
Note: A big thank you to Jacek Kulig (footballtalentscout.net) for allowing me to use his template for this bio.
Tournaments Participated In: CONMEBOL Libertadores, CONMEBOL Sudamericana, Brasileiro Série A, Paulista Série A1
Contract Until: 31/12/2023
Players Agent: P&P Sport Management S.A.M
Transfer Rumours:—
Similar Type of Player: I’m personally never a fan of trying to make comparisons of players who can play such unique roles in a team. Vital does have a tendency to ghost in at the back post in a similar way to how Dele Alli emerged at Tottenham, his ball control, technique and the ability to take a man on are very similar to that of Christian Pulisic due to them both lacking a bit of strength.An amalgamation of both could result in Vital becoming a versatile player that could bolster the ranks of any team.
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Footy Files says
Oddly, nowadays at 22 years old you’re no longer a youngster. But every time Vital takes to the field you can see how promising he looks with his positional sense and his technique. The positive impact that he has on the rest of his team shows that he could really be a diamond in the rough and I would not rule out a move to one of the European leagues in the future. Where? Your guess is as good as mine, but I could definitely see a move to Portugal on the cards. He would fit in very well with current ethos at Famalicão.
Note: A big thank you to Jacek Kulig (footballtalentscout.net) for allowing me to use his template for this bio.
Diogo Calila is a 20-year-old Portuguese right-back who plays for Belenenses SAD in the Liga NOS.
Calila came through the youth ranks of SL Benfica, playing there until 2017. In the summer of 2017 he signed for FC Paços de Ferreira. Calila played in the B-team for a whole year, and started in 23 games while coming on as a sub in 5 matches. He signed for Belenenses SAD in July 2018, and he played for their reserves for a whole year. Again, he started in 23 games and came on as a sub in four games.
This season Diogo Calila has become a regular starter for Belenenses SAD and has proved to be an interesting player to watch for the future. In this piece, his style of play will be analyzed with the help of screenshots from Belenenses SAD – SL Benfica.
Style of play Diogo Calila
Diogo Calila is an offensive right-back who is very comfortable on the ball. Before we head into more detail, let’s assess how Belenenses plays. Belenenses plays with three central defenders, and two attacking full-backs who have a lot of freedom to go forward. Normally, Belenenses likes to keep the ball and dominate possession, but against Benfica this wasn’t always possible, as Benfica is the better side. In possession, both Varela and Calila play as wide midfielders, always offering an attacking outlet down the flanks.
Benfica played in a system with two strikers and two wide midfielders (Pizzi and Rafa Silva) against Belenenses. However, both Pizzi and Rafa Silva positioned themselves mostly central, which means that the two full-backs had to provide width to the team. When the left-back (Grimaldo) was in possession, Diogo Calila put him under pressure immediately, minimalizing the chance for him to pass the ball forward.
One weakness of Diogo Calila is certainly his aerial duels. He is only 1.80M / 5’9 feet, and he isn’t able to jump very high. Against Benfica, he lost three of his four headers.
Calila had a lot of trouble with the pace, skill and agility of Rafa Silva and Pizzi. This lead to some shots on target from Rafa Silva and Pizzi. This happened a few times against other opponents like Boavista as well. This is certainly something Calila has to keep an eye out for. However, he did well to anticipate and intercept the ball in the defensive third a few times. He won the ball six times in total against Benfica.
An example:
In attack, Diogo Calila likes to make an overlapping run and provide an extra passing option down the flank to create width. However, the main issue for Calila is that his decision-making and crossing is weak. Against Benfica, he had the space to be decisive for Belenenses with an assist or a goal, but he failed to make an assist or goal.
A few examples:
When on the ball, Diogo Calila is very comfortable. He doesn’t panic when put under pressure, and his short passing is good. Besides that, he shields off the ball very well and isn’t getting pushed off the ball easily. He is also very quick on the ball, as he is very agile and pacey. In image 2 and 3, he manages to shield off his opponent very well and make a good turn to keep possession.
Normally, Calila makes good runs in behind the defensive lines creating chances for himself, like he did against Boavista. However, it has to be said that Calila did make some runs into space, but the pass was often very bad and resulted in a throw-in for Benfica.
Summary:
Concluding, I think that the match against Benfica was the worst performance of the season for Diogo Calila and is therefore not really a good match to analyze his style of play from. Normally he performs a lot better and he is of value with his attacking threat. If he continues to perform like he is doing this season (apart from the match against Benfica) I think he will remain a regular starter as long as Belenenses is playing in a 3-5-2/5-3-2 formation. In a 4-4-2 formation, like Belenenses played against Famalicão, he won’t be a starter as he is too weak defensively to play in that formation.
So, if Diogo Calila can work on his crossing and his 1-on-1 defending, I think he will be an interesting player for a big team in Portugal for the future.
Note: the match against Benfica was played at the 17th of August, and was the only full match I could find of Belenenses this season. I would have chosen another match if there were more full matches to watch.
In this
monthly series HTGA football writes down who his favourite young players are of
that specific month. This time: September.
For this
edition, bear in mind that I have already written a piece this month about
three talented young players, which were my favourite of August and the
beginning of September.
Nehuén Pérez (FC Famalicão)
Nehuén Pérez is a 19-year-old centre-back who comes from Argentina. He started his career at Argentinos Juniors, and after a few years in the youth set up he moved to Atletico Madrid for £2.25M. He was loaned back to Argentinos Juniors for another year, but yet again he struggled to get game time in the first team. In total he played three matches in the Primera Division for Argentinos Juniors. This summer, Atletico Madrid loaned him to FC Famalicão, which is the best move Nehuén Pérez could asked for.
In Famalicão’s first seven games, Nehuén Pérez was in the starting line-up and has been a rock in defence. He has formed a great duo with 22-year-old Patrick William, although Patrick William is not as good as Nehuén Pérez. The Argentine centre-back is a great tackler, is very strong in the one-on-one duels and is strong in aerial duels. However, there’s one thing the 19-year-old isn’t good at. His long passing is mediocre. Ten of his last 30 long passes had led to a loss of possession.
If he can continues on this development path, he return to Atletico Madrid and fight for a place in the squad.
Daizen Maeda(CS Marítimo)
Daizen
Maeda is a 22-year-old right-winger, who can also play as a striker. The
Japanese has played for several Japanese clubs before moving to CS Marítimo on
loan. In Japan, he played 92 games in both the first tier and the second tier,
scoring 22 times.
In the
first two matches for CS Marítimo, Maeda started on the bench. In both matches
he was subbed on and made a good impression, and found himself in the starting
line-up for the following four matches. In those four matches he scored two
goals and impressed with his incredible pace and dribbling. The match that
stood out was the match against SC Braga. In this match he completed two
dribbles, won a penalty which he scored and he was fouled twice by Braga
players leading to yellow cards.
After this season he will go back to Japan, which makes him an interesting player for several clubs in Europe.
Álex Centelles(FC Famalicão)
Álex
Centelles is a 20-year-old left-back who comes from Spain. The player of
Famalicão came on loan from Valencia CF and has been one of the revelations in
September.
In the first four matches, Centelles was on the bench, and didn’t play a single minute for Famalicão. However, his rival at full back Tymon didn’t play very well and Centelles got his chance against FC Paços de Ferreira, and made an instant impact. He has proved to be a very complete left-back. In two matches (Paços and Sporting), he completed three out of three tackles, he won twelve out of 21 duels, he made nine clearances, he made six interceptions, he won six free kicks, he made five key passes and he completed 79 out of 91 passes.
Centelles has been great in these two matches and it will be interesting to see whether he can continue this great form.
In this piece, I will write down my opinion about three young players who played very well in certain matches and you will surely hear about more often. I’ll be highlighting their best match so far.
Heriberto Tavares(Boavista Porto FC)
Coming
through the youth ranks of Sporting Lisbon, Heriberto Tavares signed for
Belenenses in 2015. After scoring ten times in 22 matches for the under 19’s,
Benfica were interested and picked him up on a free. The winger impressed for
Benfica B, and scoring 29 times in 84 matches before going out on loan to
Moreirense. He stood out with his dribbling, whilst also scoring seven goals
and making six assists in 36 matches.
This season
he got sent out on loan again, this time to Boavista. The 22-year-old started the
season on the bench, but he proved to Lito Vidigal that he needed to be in the
starting line-up. The following match he got the chance and was in the starting
line-up for the next three matches. In those three matches he subsequently
scored twice and made one assist.
The match
that really stood out was the match against Belenenses SAD. He scored once and
played very well. He was very confident in his dribbling, stayed very calm when
under pressure and forced his opponent (Varela) to be subbed off after a hour.
After these three matches he got benched and hasn’t played a lot since.
I’m very interested to see how his career will develop. He could certainly become a regular starter for SL Benfica.
Gustavo Assunção (FC Famalicão)
After playing in the youth teams of FC Porto, São Paulo and Atletico Madrid, Gustavo Assunção signed for FC Famalicão on a free. The Brazilian midfielder immediately got into the starting line-up and both defensively and attacking wise he has been playing very well. His performance against CD Santa Clara stood out for me. Defensively, he won seven out of ten duels, completed three tackles, cleared nine balls and made four interceptions. In attack he completed 25 out of 31 passes, made one key pass, completed one dribble and completed three out of four long passes. After this amazing match, he has played every single match for FC Famalicão, and continued to impress along the way.
I have seen almost every match of FC Famalicão so far, and Gustavo Assunção has been among the stand out performers in every game. I think the 19-year-old will sign for one of the biggest teams in Portugal in the coming years, if he continues on the same path with his development.
Mohamed Diaby (FC Paços de Ferreira)
Mohamed
Diaby is a player that has been impressing me in the last couple of matches.
Before he moved to FC Paços de Ferreira, he played for CD Santa Clara and SC Ideal.
The 23-year-old midfielder stood out in the match against Desportivo Aves, where he was crowned Man of the Match. Let’s start with his defensive stats. He completed two tackles, won 12/15 duels, won 7/7 aerial duels, blocked a shot and made thirteen interceptions. In attack he completed 36/43 passes (15 of them were forward), he completed 6/6 long passes, completed 2/2 dribbles and scored a goal.
His
contract expires at the end of this season, and I’m interested in seeing how
his career will develop.
19-year-old full back Brandon Williams is another of Manchester United’s youth products looking to push into the first team picture. Yet to make a senior appearance, he has comfortably made the step up into U23 football, and has captained the side on four occasions already this season.
Featuring six times, he has started the season well, assisting five goals, including three against West Brom in a 5-0 win, as well as one against Rotherham in the EFL Trophy.
It has been a seamless transition from Under 18 football to Under 23 like many of the currently Manchester United youth team, adding to his two appearances he made at during the 2018/19 season. Captain of the U18 side, he made 16 appearances in 2018/19, plus a further 6 in the UEFA Youth League, scoring three times and assisting a further three goals.
Recently
called up to the England U20 squad, he started both the 0-0 draw against Holland
and 1-0 win against Switzerland, and will be hoping to add to these caps in the
upcoming international break.
Style
of Play:
Williams is an attacking, versatile full back who can play on either flank, but has featured mostly as a left back for U23s this season. United have looked to dominate possession in their U23 games this season, and he has shown he is more than comfortable with the ball at his feet, always offering an attacking outlet down the flank. He possesses pace and energy to get up and down the flank, meaning that if United are caught in possession, he is more than capable of making the recovery runs to track back.
He looks to overlap the wingers when given the opportunity, and shown by his statistics this season, he is a threat in the opposition’s final third. An example below shows one of his assists against West Brom on the opening day, where he was found by from a deep position in behind the defensive back line. His high starting position (circled) is indicative of where he looks to play and offering a wide outlet when United start attacks.
Receiving
the pass, he beat the defender with an excellent first touch and use of his pace,
before showing great composure to pick a player out in the middle for the opening
goal.
Promisingly for United, what this also shows is his understanding with midfielder James Garner (who provided the pass), as this is often a passing combination that they often look to use going forward. His positioning will also suit the style that United play, as when they have a fully fit side, Rashford looks to drift in from the wing, leaving space for the full back to subsequently exploit. An example is shown below, and although he didn’t receive the ball in this move, it indicates how useful an outlet he can be.
Always
looking to create 2v1s with the opposition full backs by supporting his
wingers, his assist for the fourth goal showcased this. Breaking quickly, once
again utilising his pace, he provided an outlet down the left as shown below.
Able to beat
his man easily once again, he was dragged down in the box, winning his side a
penalty, which was subsequently fired home.
However, one
area where he can be targeted is through his aerial ability, and this was shown
in the 2-2 draw to West Ham, where he was fault for the West Ham equaliser. Only
1.76m tall, he can be targeted by target men who look to drift wide, and West
Ham looked to exploit this. Losing the first header, he had made a poor
decision to go for the ball when his left midfielder had it covered.
Subsequently
leaving his man, it created an overload which West Ham were able to exploit,
and this decision making at the back will need to improve, especially when
coming up against more physical players in senior football.
Sent off against Fulham U23s last week, it also showed a level of naivety, picking up a rash second yellow, making a cynical foul in this opposition’s half when already on a yellow (shown below). He will need to learn from what was a poor decision, but his disciplinary record does suggest it was a rush of blood as opposed to a common theme.
Summary:
Another promising youngster looking to make the step up from Manchester United’s academy, chances in the cup competitions could be upcoming for the young full back. With a Europa League campaign and a potential EFL Cup run on the horizon, Solksjaer might be tempted to throw his young full back in, and he looks more than capable to taking that chance. One to keep an eye on, a loan move could also offer him exposure to first team football and certainly benefit
One of
England U17’s 2017 World Cup Winners, 19-year-old Marc Guehi is progressing
quickly in Chelsea’s youth ranks, and looks to be another promising youngster coming
through the production line at Chelsea’s academy.
He is
currently the captain of Chelsea’s U23 side, and has made an impressive start to
the campaign, featuring in the first four of Chelsea’s games, as well as their
EFL Trophy game against Swindon.
He featured 32 times for Chelsea’s youth teams in the 2018/19 season, including playing a key role in the sides run to the Uefa Youth Champions League Final, where they were eventually defeated by Porto. Exposure to first team football was also afforded through four games in the EFL Trophy as Chelsea U23s made it to the Last 16. Only missing two games last season for the U23s in the PL2, he was a key defender in their campaign and was rewarded with a place on Chelsea’s bench for the final Premier League game of last season, and as a result he will be looking to kick on this season, pressing for first team action under Frank Lampard.
He has
already made his England U21 debut against Turkey in September, standing out in
a back three alongside Ben Godfrey and Trevah Chalobah, and opportunities in
Chelsea’s first team won’t be far away, with a Carabao Cup game against Grimsby
a potential opening for the young centre half.
Style
of Play:
Standing at 1.82 metres in height, Guehi is a right footed, ball playing centre half. Comfortable playing out from the back, he is also physically dominant for his age at youth team level, whilst also possessing a turn of pace, making him an exciting prospect as a modern centre back.
This was evident
in his two games for England U21s over the international break against Kosovo
and Turkey. Completing 53 of 54 passes against Turkey and 90 of 93 against
Kosovo, he played on the right side of the back three, supplying a fundamental
link to the RWB and Tom Davies in central midfield. (Shown by heat maps below).
He would often bring the ball out from defence, knowing there was cover
available, and was very comfortable in a side dominating possession, something
key if he is to break into Chelsea’s first team set up.
The shape of
England’s back three is shown below against Turkey, and he was often given this
time and space on the ball below, showcasing his ability to pick out passes to those
up the pitch. He doesn’t look to force his passes, always happy to take a safer
option, and this will only help his development and potential to step up to the
first team, as it minimises the potential for errors on the ball.
He takes
calculated gambles when trying to win the ball back defensively, and this was
helped for the games against Turkey and Kosovo by playing in back three, and
against Turkey in particular he was able to contribute with two interceptions,
as well as winning the ball back on five occasions. However, against Kosovo,
there were occasions where the youngster’s tendency to drift forward left
England exposed at the back, especially with the two full backs left so high,
and was helped by the pace of other around him. An improvement in this
concentration and the decision making regarding when he should press forward
will be needed, however this should come with time and with exposure to first
team football.
He also offers
a threat in the opposition’s box, scoring three last season, including one
against AFC Wimbledon in the EFL Trophy, and has already scored against
Manchester City’s U23s this season.
Summary:
Another one
of Chelsea’s talented youngsters, expect his time to shine in the first team to
come in the coming years. Although often the case with Chelsea’s youngsters that
a loan move is the first step, Lampard’s willingness to test youth players out
will play into his hands. With the transfer ban running out in the Summer, a
loan move may become an option then.
A move to
Vitesse, similar to that of Mason Mount and Jake Clarke-Salter before him,
could be best suited to his development, or he could follow in the footsteps of
Tomori, and look to gain experience in the Championship.
He is
definitely one to keep a keen eye on, and expect to see him progress both for
Chelsea and England U21s in the coming months.
18-year-old
Dylan Levitt has been a main stay in the table topping Manchester U23 side so
far this season, and having been called up to the Welsh national side for the second
time for the last set of International fixtures, he is set to have a bright
future.
Playing
alongside James Garner in central midfield in a 4-2-3-1 formation, he has
started all four of United’s U23 games this season, scoring once in a 5-0 win
over West Brom U23s and providing two assists in the other games, making it a promising
start to the season. He has also started in the 2-0 Leasing.com Trophy win at
Rotherham, which was his first taste of football against senior opposition.
Style
of Play:
He and
Garner are expected to pick the ball up off the centre backs and dictate the
attacks, a role he has slotted into very well. He is particularly comfortable
on the ball, and is more than capable of playing out of tight situations. His
small stature (1.79m) helps him, as his low centre of gravity makes him able to
turn quickly and a handful for attackers looking to press him. Although this may
potentially lead to issues as to whether he can adapt physically against
certain sides, but when playing for a side looking to play out from the back
and keep possession, this isn’t an issue.
He also possesses
excellent ability on the ball to pick out long range passes, allowing him to
either play around the press, or pick out team mates when given time and space.
This vision is key to breaking teams down, and has been valuable this season in
the final third for the U23s. An example below shows his assist against
Newcastle, where he was able to pick out his teammate (circled) in between the
two lines of Newcastle’s defence.
When in
defence, he has shown his ability to press the opposition well, making himself a
nuisance to opposition attackers with his energy, as well as tenacity to win
the ball back. In United’s 4-2-3-1 formation, there is a large reliance upon
Levitt to provide energy in midfield as the front four are much more attack orientated.
The full backs also opt to push high to offer extra width, so any counter
attacks from the opposition he needs to be able to deal with. As a result, his
positioning in attacks is key, and in tandem with Garner, an understanding of
when to push further forward is required. He has shown in these opening games
that he is more than capable of filling this role, and the more football he plays
at this level, the more this side of his game will develop.
Playing 14
times for the U18s last season, he scored 5 goals and assisted a further 6, and
was often used as a deep, central midfielder, making these stats even more
impressive. It was after the turn of the year where he started appearing for
the U23s, and after a slow start in a young side, they have built a side
capable of winning promotion this season, something Levitt will be able to
contribute towards.
Slotting in
alongside the more physical and very talented Garner will definitely have
helped his progression, and exposure to playing against older, more physically
developed players will only aid his own development further. Garner and Levitt
are forming a strong partnership at U23 level, and with the attacking threat in
front of them, such as Tahith Chong and D’Mani Mellor it allows Levitt to play
his natural game and dictate the tempo, whilst as discussed before, having the
vision to pick out his teammates at ease.
Capped 14 times at U19 level for Wales, his call up to the national team was a little surprising, however does show how highly thought of he is in the International set up. Called up in May despite on playing nine U23 games, he was once again called up for the games against Azerbaijan and Belarus, and if he continues his impressive progression for the U23s, a senior appearance for both Manchester United and Wales can’t be far away. With opportunities awaiting in the Leasing.com Trophy against Doncaster and Lincoln, an EFL cup tie against Rochdale on the horizon and the start of the Europa League campaign, it won’t be long until he makes the squad.
Manchester United’s slow start to the season has identified one key aspect that they weren’t able to replace. In losing Romelu Lukaku to Inter Milan after the window shut, they weren’t able to bring in an adequate replacement. This was poor forward planning from United, as throughout the window it looked like Lukaku was set to move on, whether it be to Juventus or Inter Milan.
The 2-1 defeat
to Palace and 1-1 draw with Southampton has thrown up a key trend. Teams have
opted to defend narrow and at times deep against United, as they look to
restrict the threat that Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Daniel James can
have. This subsequently creates space in the midfield for creative midfielders
such as Juan Mata and Paul Pogba, however if the supply is cut off or stifled
out, United have struggled to find a plan B.
Regarding Lukaku, he offered a different approach. Whilst having the ability to hold the ball up and bring others into the game, he also has the pace to run in behind defences and stretch them. What hold up play enabled was the ability to draw out defenders to challenge for the first header, something Martial and Rashford are unable to do. This subsequently creates space in behind for the quick wingers, which United were often able to exploit in Solksjaer’s early games.
His presence
in the air and ability to trouble defenders also meant when United did lead, he
offered an outlet up front. Against Southampton, this was became an issue as
when Southampton pressed high at 1-0 down and cut off the supply from midfield
to attack, United were forced to go long. As Rashford was unable to challenge
in the air (only winning 2/5 aerial duals), the Southampton defence were able
to give themselves an extra yard to deal with his pace from balls in behind,
and as a result United struggled to control the ball. This played a large part
in Southampton getting a foothold in the match, and helped Southampton gain
momentum up until their equaliser.
However, the
main worry United are having is when teams are sitting deep and making
themselves hard to break down. Against open opposition in Chelsea and Wolves, this
was much less of an issue as the space afforded to United’s attackers allowed
them to break both sides down, both on the counter against Chelsea and in
possession against Wolves.
Against Palace and Southampton, United resorted to bombarding the box with crosses to try and create an opening, particularly late on. In past seasons, this has been a reasonable approach, with Lukaku offering a strong aerial threat, and previous to Lukaku, United have had Zlatan Ibrahimović and Marouane Fellaini to turn to as aerial options when this tactic was needed.
It was against
Southampton where this became particularly evident, with Solksjaer opting to
take off Mata and bring on Nemanja Matic to allow Pogba to play further
forward. Partially to allow the French midfielder the chance to impact the game
higher up the pitch, there was also the added element of his aerial ability, and
given United’s tactics towards the end of that match, added the chance he could
add an threat in the box. The lack of aerial duals won in the box is shown
below, with United not winning one of these in the opposition box against
Southampton.
United’s crossing
worries against both Southampton and Palace are shown below. Only winning 13 of
the 50 crosses into the box, if they are to employ tactics such as these, they
should be looking to invest in a striker capable of fulfilling a role similar
to that of Lukaku in January.
With the
problem evident for Solksjaer, it becomes the question of who United should
invest in?
If they were to look purely at the target man approach, similar to what Fellaini was utilised for by Mourinho towards the end of games, the statistics point to the likes of Troy Deeney and Aleksandar Mitrovic being the most threatening, each on average winning 6.5 aerial duals a game. Of the two, an argument could be made for Mitrovic as a back up striker. Surprisingly staying on at Fulham following their relegation, he has shown his ability as a suitable target man and his ability to bring players into the game, whilst also being a nuisance in the box. He has been impressive in performances for Serbia (6 in 6 Nation League games) when surrounded by higher quality players, suggesting a step up wouldn’t be as drastic as it would first seem. Netting 11 goals in a relegated Fulham side was impressive, however he has a tendency to miss a lot of big chances, shown by his xG to conversion rate. Last season for Fulham, he was expected to score 15.45 goals, as opposed to the 11 he scored (understat), and this is a trend from his other full season in the Premier League with Newcastle, where he netted 9 compared to the 10.34 he was expected. The other main issue would be the price he would be available at for the role he would be expected to fill. For the purpose of a back up striker who would be utilised when chasing games in the last 15/20 minutes when chasing games, he wouldn’t represent particularly good value, with Fulham expecting to recoup a chunk of the £30 million outlaid last summer.
Staying in the Premier League, the stand out player who currently could fill the void left by Lukaku is Raul Jimenez from Wolves. 13 goals in his debut season in the Premier League, he has carried his run of form into this season, scoring twice in the league and six in the Europa League already. At 190cm, he has an aerial presence which has been utilised well by Wolves. Although not overly reliant upon this side of his game, he is able to link the play with Diogo Jota, and has a strong ability to occupy defenders. This will leave vast space for the quick Jota to exploit in behind, and he could be employed in a similar way at United, with Rashford, Martial and James being deployed on the wings with him as the focal point of the attack. He also demonstrates good technical ability on the ball, and isn’t afraid to take on defenders. This season he has been averaging 2.3 dribbles per game, a marked improvement on the 0.9 from last season. His link play is also demonstrated by the seven assists and 1.1 key passes per game last season he offered, whilst he currently averages 28 passes a game. Having been signed in the summer, Wolves will be reluctant to sell, especially to a team that could be seen as a rival.
Other potential options include Inaki Williams from Atletico Bilbao, however he has just signed a nine year contract with a release clause of £125m, whilst Bilbao would also have to replace him with Basque-only players. Richarlison from Everton could also be an option, however he is more suited to playing out wide. Although it would help solve the aerial threat when chasing games, the outlet when looking to hold out when in front as against Southampton would still be an issue, as it would see Rashford and Martial moved centrally.
The tactics
currently employed by United show that they are in need of replacing Lukaku, particularly
against sides employed a deep, narrow defensive line. Jimenez would offer more
as a starter, whilst Mitrovic would be an interesting option from the bench.
Whether United would be willing to spend the money on a striker waits to be
seen, however the current tactics suggest this would need to be the case.
Gareth Southgate has announced his England squad for the upcoming fixtures against Bulgaria and Kosovo. As ever, there were some controversial selections and omissions.
The first senior call-ups of Tyrone Mings and Aaron Wan-Bissaka (sadly the latter has had to drop out through a back injury) came after their good form at the start of the new premier league season. However, for Burnley striker Ashley Barnes, the wait for his first chance goes on.
The 29 year old from Bath has started the new season where he finished the last. Already having scored 4 goals in as many games this term. Since the start of 2019, only Sergio Aguero and Sadio Mane have scored more goals in the Premier League than the Burnley striker. That is an incredibly impressive statistic considering the free-scoring teams that those players play for.
Despite Barnes making one U-20 appearance for Austria, he would be available for selection for the England senior team having not played for Austria at the senior level. So the question is, has Barnes been unlucky to have not received a call up from Southgate?
England initial squad for the games against Bulgaria and Kosovo (Credit: @England on Twitter).
With the inclusion of Jesse Lingard, who hasn’t been at his best for Man United this season, I would suggest that he is very unfortunate to have not got the call from Southgate. Let me know your thoughts and whether you would have had Barnes in your England squad?
At the age of just 20, and in a large part down to Chelsea’s transfer ban, Mount has been thrust into the first team and has taken it all in his stride. Be it behind the striker, part of a midfield three, or placed out on the left wing, not once has the youngster looked out of place or out of his depth and for us, would be fully deserving of an England call up.
As we will see below, picking at parts of his performance from his first three matches, Mount’s versatility is key in helping him become a very unpredictable individual, couple that with an undying stamina and a relentless tenacity evoking memories of a certain Carlos Tevez approach at chasing the ball down, he appears to have a very bright future. An odd comparison I know, but one I stand by, Tevez defined the word tenacious on his good days.
Mason Mount vs Manchester United (4-0 loss)
Let’s start with the heat map. Lining up behind the striker, clearly a lot of faith had been put in him by Lampard. Despite the scoreline, Mount was one of the few players to shine.
The map below shows that Mount’s position knew no bounds, especially in the opponents half. If the ball was there, he wanted it, and he has already gained the trust of his teammates that they are more than happy to give him it too.
For the full 90 minutes, Mount strode across the pitch with an endless energy which gave his team a lift. Albeit a fruitless task come full time.
Heatmap: Mason Mount vs. Manchester United (SofaScore)
With his instructions seemingly being almost a free roam, go where needed kind of role, Mount had the freedom to chase down loose balls, pounce on the oppositions mistakes and ultimately win the ball back for his team in the oppositions half.
Looking at the image below through the app StatsZone (@Statszone) we can see that Mount recovered the ball for his side on 8 occasions, 6 of which were in the oppositions half. Now considering the 4-0 scoreline, that’s an impressive stat.
Winning the ball back in those positions was a bonus, and Mount seemed to flourish just as much when it came to productivity. Finishing the match with an 81.6% passing accuracy, making 4 key passes, and even testing the keeper with 2 shots on target. This was no mean feat when making your Premier League debut.
Then we come to his direct play during the match. When out of possession, he made the point of chasing down the opposition relentlessly. When in possession he was just as effective, moving into space and always wanting the ball.
Looking at the example below we can see Mason Mount on the left of the image. He has seen the gap between the four United players and has dropped into it. Knowing the ball is coming his way, his head is already up looking over his shoulder for a teammate in space.
With his first touch he knocks it straight out wide and turns and begins to run. Mount’s anticipation is key here, as he already knows the next pass is not intended for him. Although he knows he wont receive the first ball, he can see the space behind his teammate (just out of picture to the left), and sprints without hesitation.
Mount is now in full stride and is shrieking where he wants the ball. His teammate provides it and in the space of five seconds, the ball has past five United players in four touches. With the defenders being dragged towards the ball, Mount capitalises and relies on his teammates passing ability as he runs past the last man on the halfway line.
Now with the whole side of the pitch to himself, Mount bounds down the sideline with the United players struggling to gain anything on him.
Getting towards the edge of the area, Mount is already looking up and planning his next move. With no one in the box, he needs to drive in a further few yards before releasing the cross towards his teammate.
Unfortunately for Mount, this didn’t result in a goal, or even an opportunity. As he crossed the ball into the box, it was blocked by the covering Wan-Bissaka who incidentally had a fantastic match.
All in all, Mount put on a near faultless display in the face of a 4-0 defeat. How many players can say that?
Mason Mount vs Leicester City (1-1 Draw)
Second game of the season, a second start and a second position out on the left wing (until substitutions in the second half placed him on the opposite side of the pitch). This was a game where the Chelsea fans, along with the football fans watching on got to see a glimpse of the versatility of the 20 year old.
Looking at the heat map below there’s a distinct difference to the area covered in comparison to the United match, almost looking like he was hugging the line. With the primary focus attacking down the left, and tracking back on defensive duties. His boundless stamina is built for this kind of role.
Heatmap: Mason Mount vs. Leicester City
Once again, it was his defensive efforts that stood out. Pressing from the front keeping the opposition under constant pressure and forcing them into mistakes. This ultimately led to the goal and is a fine example of the kind of player Mount is developing into. Looking at the stat below, he recovered the ball on 6 occasions, mainly down the left wing. This stat obviously doesn’t take into account the amount of times he forced the opposition into making errors with his approach.
His attacking stats however, tell us a different story to the above images. His attacking third passes were not limited to the left wing, some were central, and some on the right wing. When out of possession, Mount was drilled in what was expected and where to cover. But after the transition into an attack, a different story emerges as he appears more central.
It’s easy to see, especially from the shooting stats, that Mount was always in the thick of it, and central during the attacking phase. Finishing the match with an 84.4% passing accuracy, making 1 key pass, and even testing the keeper with 3 shots on target and his first goal for the club. Mount continued setting the standard.
The below from the match against Leicester shows the relentless determination of the youngster when his team are out of possession. With Leicester in possession, Mount is highlighted in blue, initially next to Choudhury. But as he reads the game watching the player in possession he knows Ndidi is the target of the next pass.
The pass is played and Mount is already on his way to close down the defensive midfielder. Note the distance between the two players from when the ball is passed to when Ndidi has it in possession (use the cut of the grass to gauge distance).
The Leicester player has had to take two steps towards the ball to collect it. In that time, Mount has more than halved the distance between them. Whilst Ndidi is having to collect the ball, and turn to look for the next pass, Mount has been sprinting in a straight direction and it is obvious that within a couple of feet Mount will have caught up.
It doesn’t appear as if the Leicester player had received a shout from his teammates and was caught almost unawares. With little reaction time, despite the strength difference, he doesn’t have time to shield the ball from Mount, who’s agility and speed allow him to take the ball from the opposition with ease.
Now with the ball in his possession and the defensive midfielder breathing down his neck, the goalkeeper slowly advancing to cut off the angle, and on top of that Mount begins to lose his footing, you’d be forgiven for thinking that this had “scuff” written all over it. But somehow he managed to get enough power and precision on the ball as he was falling to the ground to slot it past the keeper. Ability beyond his years.
Mason Mount vs Norwich City (3-2 win)
In Chelsea’s last match against Norwich, Mount’s position appeared to be very similar to the way he set up against Leicester. However, with Jorginho, Barkley and Kovacic (no real ball winner) lined up behind him, and possibly a bit of a brazen approach at a perceived quality difference, the whole closing down approach was nowhere near as urgent as in previous matches. Which almost cost the club a victory.
Heatmap: Mason Mount vs. Norwich City
This is shown in the below stat when it comes to Mount recovering the ball for his side. Despite the perceived quality difference, the amount of recoveries the youngster made was very limited, which could be down to how the side were set up to play by Lampard.
It could also be thought that there was less ball recoveries because Chelsea had the lions share of the possession but this was simply not the case. Chelsea had 54%, Norwich 46%, most of which was in their own half. In the previous two games, Mount and the rest of the players would have been closing down constantly. But their approach was different in this match and as said above, nearly cost them the win against the newly promoted side. It surely can’t be fatigue already.
Mount’s passing side of the game, was once again extremely consistent finishing the game with 82.1% passing accuracy mainly in the oppositions half. Making 2 key passes, Mount showed once again what a creative force he is becoming, also getting 2 shots on target and another goal to his name.
Now the below is something that hasn’t been mentioned yet. He most certainly is a presence on the pitch, and we know he likes to drop within the space between the opposition to receive a pass. But the below shows his dribbling, technique and finishing.
With the midfield in possession, Mount has positioned himself goal side of the opposition’s right back, but just outside the centre back (highlighted blue).
Mount anticipates the pass forward to Pulisic and is already on the run. Knowing the centre back will be drawn out to close his teammate down, he bends his run staying on side as he waits for the ball to be fed to his feet.
The ball didn’t come straight away however, so Mount changes his run to come inside the centre back. As this is done he receives the pass and knocks it past the last defender with ease on the turn.
Already past the last man, his head is up and he sees there is space in the box to run into. He then looks at the keepers and sees that the keeper is still on his near post.
Without hesitation and only a couple of touches, Mount smashes the ball into the far corner of the net completely out of reach of the helpless goalkeeper.
Summary
Mason Mount’s attributes almost seem endless;
Tracks back when out of possession.
Closes down in the oppositions half.
Wins the ball back in the oppositions half.
Has played behind the front man, out on the left, and part of a midfield three. Very versatile.
Loves a give and go pass. As soon as he has passed it, he is sprinting into space further up the pitch.
Very consistent passing accuracy every game. Above 80%.
An eye for a pass. 7 key passes in three matches.
An eye for goal. 2 goals in three matches.
Does he deserve an England call up? Of course he does. The transition from Championship to Premier League is suppose to be a huge gap, but Mount has shown no sign of this being an issue as he continues to perform week in week out.
Alongside the knowledge that he can play in multiple positions can help Southgate out with any selection dilemmas, and his seemingly endless stamina and high workrate are every managers dream.
Hopefully, the knock he took at the end of the Norwich game isn’t a bad one and keeps him in contention.
Current National Level: England/Ireland U16 International
Last Season Summary
2018/19 – Last season as a 15 year old, Louie lit up the U18 league for West Brom being involved in 7 goals in 12 games, but he also made his mark on the International scene. Barry netted three goals to help England’s under-16s lift the Val-de-Marne trophy after beating Austria 4-1, Japan 3-1, and hosts France by the same scoreline.
Footy Files expectations this Season
2019/20 – Courted by some elite European clubs this Summer, it is rumoured that PSG offered the lad a £2.7m contract to join them. But he ultimately chose Barcelona and their famous La Masia academy. Who can honestly blame him? What to expect for him? Just work hard and enjoy it. We’ll keep an eye on your progression.
2018/19 – Last season saw Elliott’s name hit the headlines as he became the youngest ever player in the Premier League era. However in the two games he played he didn’t really get to express himself as he had in the U18 games with involvement in 8 goals in 12 matches. His confidence in running at the opposition a real highlight along with his work rate.
Footy Files expectations this Season
2019/20 – A somewhat surprising transfer to Liverpool came this season and even some game time during pre-season to allow his new fans to see what the club has invested in too. What can we expect? Well with the calibre of player in front of him, it’s looking like a lot of hard work in the development team is needed. But at 16, and the amount of experience he already has, Liverpool’s youth system is one of the best places to be.
Current National Level: Scotland U17 International
Last Season Summary
2018/19 – Dembele initially caused a stir three years ago when he represented the Celtic U20’s of the age of just 13. Now three years on he continued to progress, when making his debut at the age of 16 as a second half substitute against Hearts.
Footy Files expectations this Season
2019/20 – With no disrespect intended towards the Scottish leagues, it is probably the perfect place for Karomoko to start seeing a few more minutes this season at such a young age. The unfortunate side of things being that he plays for by far the best team in the Country, so playing time will be at a premium. If he gets given the nod, hopefully the learning experience he will receive from it will be priceless.
2018/19 – Last season saw Skipp brought into the first team by Pochettino. To have a manager like the Spurs man must be an absolute dream for a youngster. Playing in a holding role for Spurs in his eight appearances, Skipp held his own and was not afraid of a challenge. He was by no means a stand out player, but he gave a solid account of himself, with high passing accuracy with short precise passes, and only allowing 0.3 dribbles past him per game.
Footy Files expectations this Season
2019/20 – This season, it’s looking increasing difficult for any youngster to get into that midfield. With the signings of Ndombele and Lo Celso, coupled with Dier returning from injury the squad depth is quite crowded. Maybe a loan should have been on the cards? But at the age of 18, training with them players week in week out can only improve you. Hopefully we’ll get to see him in some cup games. He has had an impressive pre-season, with comparisons to Scott Parker..
2018/19 – Last season saw Tomori shoot to prominence on loan in the Championship as part of Frank Lampard’s promotion hunting Derby County. Tomori was ever present starting 43 matches in the league, even grabbing a goal and an assist, but it was his defensive prowess which wowed the onlookers. Only being dribbled past 0.5 times per game, making 3.9 clearances per game, making 1.6 interceptions, and making nearly 60% of his tackles, he has certainly given himself a nice platform to build on.
Footy Files expectations this Season
2019/20 – This season, training with the Chelsea first team, and with Frank Lampard at them helm, Tomori may just get more game time than expected. We were thinking another loan may be on the cards to a Premiership side, but with Cahill, and now David Luiz out the way, the depth a centre back is relatively shallow, perfect for Tomori to step in when called upon.
2018/19 – Last season being loaned out to MK Dons, Tymon didn’t enjoy the best of seasons as the club were relegated after making only 9 appearances. Unable to break into the first team the youngster had also expressed his discontent, however when given the opportunity against Preston, he really didn’t fare well.
Footy Files expectations this Season
2019/20 – Tymon needs game time, simple as that. A player at his age can not progress with little competitive game time. At the time of writing this Josh has just been loaned out to Famalicao in Portugal, a newly promoted side. This could do wonders for his confidence.
2018/19 – Last season as a 16 year old, Knight enjoyed regular game time for the Manchester City U18’s netting on 7 occasions and setting up one goal. Showing no shortage of confidence, his slightly older team mates have no trouble entrusting the ball at his feet. He also added two games for the U23’s, one coming in the EFL trophy.
Footy Files expectations this Season
2019/20 – Knight just needs to carry on what he id doing. The simple fact that the coaches have seen enough in him to give him some minutes at the U23 level speaks volumes about his potential. Just turned 17, we expect him to get more minutes under his belt, and progress well at a top academy.
2018/19 – Parrott hit the mainstream in Youth football last season as he went on an absolute goal rush in the U18’s league, netting 14 times in 9 games, averaging a goal every 56 mins. In the UEFA Youth League, Parrott proved he could do it against some of the best academies in Europe netting 3 times and assisting 1 in 5 matches. The coaches at Tottenham were that impressed that he was soon promoted to the U23 side where he did manage a couple of goals under limited time on the pitch. Parrot was also called up to the Republic of Ireland U21 side, but unfortunately had to withdraw due to injury.
Footy Files expectations this Season
2019/20 – Tottenham have a very exciting youngster on their hands. Pochettino obviously aware of this took Parrott among other youngsters on the clubs pre-season tour, giving Parrot game time against the likes of Real Madrid, Bayern Munich (who’m he hit the post against), Man Utd and Juventus. He did not look out of place at all. What can we expect this season? More than likely to continue his development with the U23 squad. An optimist might say that with the departure of Janssen and Llorente, there may be a place in the first team squad for him, but with recent links to Dybala, it’s looking unlikely. Regardless, we are keen to see how he develops.
2018/19 – Greenwood last season was part of the Arsenal U18 squad, featuring regularly for them at the age of 16, and the England U17’s. His versatility is a key attribute for a player of such a young age, seeing him line up as a right winger, a striker, and even a centre midfielder. With a clear eye for goal, Greenwood netted 10 goals in 21 games for his club, whilst he has a superb record of 12 goals in 14 games for the England U17’s.
Footy Files expectations this Season
2019/20 – This season we expect much of the same. Continue as he means to go on. The U18’s seems to be an adequate level, and at a push he could see a few games in the U23 development side.
2018/19 – Last season was massively important one in Tommy Doyle’s development. Not only did the 17 year old feature regularly for the U18’s, he also seen himself promoted to the U23 development side. The coaches clearly see potential in the lad. With an eye for a pass, and late runs into the box, he shown he has an intellect beyond his years when it comes to being in the right place at the right time.
Footy Files expectations this Season
2019/20 – At 17 years of age, in the Man City development system there is not much more we can wish for the Tommy, other than to continue his development and getting minutes under his belt at the U23 level. He is maturing quickly as a footballer and we are looking forward to tracking his progress.
2018/19 – It wasn’t really until Solskjaer began to speak publicly of the youngster that your average fan really took on board exactly who Mason Greenwood was. At youth level last season, he was taking penalties with his left foot, with his right foot, scoring free kicks with his left and right foot, from distance. He is deceptively quick and one of the most confident players of his age when the ball is at his feet. This led to him being brought into the senior squad towards the end of the season when United had lost their spark. He made his senior debut last season and left United fans wanting more.
Footy Files expectations this Season
2019/20 – Greenwood is the real deal. He looks absolutely phenomenal. With Lukaku’s impending exit and only slight murmurs of a replacement, could Solskjaer be leaving the door open for Greenwood to step up at the age of 17? Do we think he’s capable? Yes. Are we excited? YES! If there is just one player you’re thinking of following this season. This guy is our pick.
2018/19 – Starting the season in the development team, Saka showed his creativity laying on 8 goals in 20 matches, scoring 5 in the process. Arsenal’s lack of Champions League football also benefitted him greatly as he was given some much needed game time at a senior level for his club. He shown that he likes to run at the full backs and looks to play the pass rather than shoot on most occasions.
Footy Files expectations this Season
2019/20 – Saka has really impressed on the clubs pre-season tour, but thanks to the signing of a certain Nicolas Pepe, game time may be limited again. Fortunately for the youngster, Arsenal failed in the drive for Champions League qualification last season, so Europa League minutes are very possible.
2018/19 – Garner, towards the end of last season stepped up from training with the development side, to training with the first team. Solskjaer really has took an interest in the youth players at Manchester United and Garner was one of the first to benefit from his watchful eye. At 18, and very little experience, it was always going to be tough to break into that first team when you’re up against the likes of Matic. But Garner did make his senior debut in United’s win over Palace, albeit for a minute.
Footy Files expectations this Season
2019/20 – Garner was taken on the clubs pre-season tour playing in quite a few games, and notably scoring against Perth Glory with his first touch from outside the area. This season, we believe that Garner may be a bench warmer for long periods of United’s campaign, but we certainly think he will see plenty more minutes due to the clubs Europa League campaign.
2018/19 – Last season, Tyreece took the jump from U18 to the U23 Development side at Arsenal and did not look out of place. Averaging a goal every 60 mins in the U18’s, the step up couldn’t have come sooner and he took it in his stride. Playing 17, scoring 6 and laying on 2 assists, also appearing in the EFL Trophy too, getting involved in 5 goals, in 4 games.
Footy Files expectations this Season
2019/20 – When you look around the youngsters coming through the Arsenal academy, most clubs would be envious. John-Jules looks set to have a bright future, and was taken on the clubs recent pre-season tour, playing into two matches. Emery is obviously aware of him, but we think this season he will continue in the U23’s. He looks to have a bright future.
2018/19 – Ellis Simms record last season for the Everton development team was phenomenal. Playing ins 21 matches for the U18’s, scoring 32 goals, Simms averaged a goal every 55 minutes. Eye watering stats. Scoring 5 in 4 FA Youth Cup games it is obvious to everyone that the youngster certainly has an eye for goal.
Footy Files expectations this Season
2019/20 – We expect Simms to be promoted to the U23 side this season and play in the PL2. A loan move is unlikely, yet not off the cards. If he continues how he has started his short career, Everton have a pedigree for bringing through youngsters, so he is already at the right club to climb the ladder.
2018/19 – Last season as a fresh faced 17 year old Appiah made his senior debut for Forest. The attacking winger, looks confident on the ball, likes to run at a defender, and despite looking a little rough around the edges, showed glimpses on quality and trickery leading to him taking a few kicks, albeit winning free kicks.
Footy Files expectations this Season
2019/20 – With six games, two starts under his belt from last season, we expect the youngster to be on the periphery of the First Team, making the bench most games. He will definitely be seeing a lot more minutes this season due to the sheer volume of matches in the English Championship and cup competitions.
2018/19 – Reece Oxford is a name that a lot of football fans in the UK would have heard of before. Bursting onto the scene for West Ham as the man that marked Mesut Ozil out of the game, he was player that Hammers fans grew quite excited about. For some reason at West Ham, things never really panned out and he saw himself loaned out to Reading, Monchengladbach and Augsburg (where he ended up at last season). You’d be forgiven for not realising that Oxford is still only 18 years old and has bags of experience behind him now at a top level. Still only regarded as a rotational player, when called upon last season Oxford was a rock. No errors leading to goals, 4.5 clearances per game, winning 75% of his tackles per game, and being dribbled past 0.3 times per game. He really stepped up when called upon.
Footy Files expectations this Season
2019/20 – Augsburg snapped Oxford up in a heartbeat and were quick to give him the number 5 shirt. We think we will see a lot more game time for the youngster this season, and with a real lack of depth at the centre back position for England, give him an outside chance of a call up. One to watch.
2018/19 – Last season, unless you followed youth football or are a Chelsea fan, it was unlikely that you had heard of Hudson-Odoi until Bayern Munich came in with a “surpise” bid for the youngster. Honestly, it was not a huge surprise, Callum has been hailed (along with Greenwood, Foden and Sancho) as one of the stars of the English generation. He was just unfortunate to have a player like Eden Hazard ahead of him in the pecking order. Subsequently, the bid from Munich instantly saw him thrust into the limelight, and even given more game time, a long with a genuinely surprising couple of England call-ups..
Footy Files expectations this Season
2019/20 – This is HIS season. With Hazard out of the picture, and a transfer ban for the club, Hudson-Odoi has to be one of the first names on the teamsheet. His potential seems unrivalled by most youngsters (apart from those named above) and Chelsea could have a new look young, fresh faced side that would be very interesting to follow this season.
2018/19 – Last season Panzo did exactly what a lot of youngsters have been doing recently, leaving the English academies and looking for a quicker route to the Senior level in different leagues around Europe. So did it pay off for the young centre back? Well, yes and no. Panzo spend the majority of last season playing for Monaco II, but he did make his senior debut in the Coupe de Ligue for Monaco. Also, training with the first team, he was always on the periphery.
Footy Files expectations this Season
2019/20 – During pre-season, I don’t remember Panzo missing a game. Sure he never got a full 90 mins, not many of the squad did, but he has been used repetitively. Be it in a back 4 or a back 3, Panzo has been trusted during the pre-season. We at Footy Files think this could be the season where he could break into the first team on a more regular occasion, and will be watching in anticipation.
2018/19 – Last season was a bit of an odd one for Ampadu’s progression. Getting the odd game in the FA Cup, Europa League and Premier League, it was clear that Sarri saw something in Ampadu. But a full match was rare. This didn’t stop him from being called up to represent his country again, after doing so from his loan period with Exeter. When he did play, he looked solid and made no errors leading to goals, what more can you ask from a centre back?
Footy Files expectations this Season
2019/20 – With the departure of Gary Cahill, and the transfer ban at Chelsea, we believed this might be the year that Ampadu broke onto the Premier League scene. This was not the case, and he has gone out on loan to RB Leipzig, and by all accounts turned down numerous English clubs to do so. With Leipzig’s reputations of playing youthful teams this could prove to be a very useful season for Ampadu as he looks for more game time. although Upamecano and Mukiele wont exactly step aside for the Welshman. Time will tell if he can break into the starting eleven..
2018/19 – After appearing on a few occasion for Man City’s U23 side, Matondo was purchased in the Winter Transfer Window by Schalke 04. Turning a lot of heads due to what happened that last time a City youngster moved to the Bundesliga (Sancho), there was a lot of eyes watching the youngster. Three days later, he makes his Senior debut as a late substitute and has made a solid, if unremarkable start to his career. Despite only having limited game time, Matondo also made his International debut.
Footy Files expectations this Season
2019/20 – At 18 years old, he has made his debut in the Bundesliga and represented his Country. This season is all about racking those minutes up and becoming a more complete footballer. We have complete faith that as we watch this season, he will show that he belongs in this division.
2018/19 – Angel Gomes has been a name known in the U23 development league for a short while, but it was last season that the youngster got the call up to the senior squad after Solskjaer took the helm. Making his senior debut, last season can definitely be put down as a success, and whilst it was only a few short minutes in a couple of games, it is an experience that every young player craves.
Footy Files expectations this Season
2019/20 – Having played in 3 of United’s International Champions Cup games, and bagging a goal, Gomes’ confidence has to be sky high. Coupled with the fact that United have not managed to get any major business done in the transfer window besides Maguire, Wan-Bissaka and James, Gomes may just be afforded more opportunities this season. Hopefully we’ll get to see him rack up more minutes this season.
2018/19 – Last season saw Griffiths continue his development in Lyon II, playing regularly in the French youth league whilst also featuring for the side in the UEFA Youth league. Noteably scoring 2 goals in 4 appearances, coming off the bench in the Quarter Finals to net against Barcelona within two minutes of appearing.
Footy Files expectations this Season
2019/20 – Lyon have one of the best youth systems in the world so Griffiths is in the right place for his development. With teammates such as Maxenc Caqueret and Amine Gouiri graduating towards the first team there is a clear route to the senior level and if Griffiths gets his head down the opportunity could still arise for him. At 19 years old, he should be looking to make his Senior debut as soon as he can, if not at Lyon, then possibly elsewhere on loan.
2018/19 – Last season, Foden got to show glimpses of what he is capable of for Manchester City. Whilst he is such an exciting prospect, the task of breaking into the first team must appear daunting at times. But Foden has taken everything in his stride so far. From Pep’s press conferences which place plenty of weight on the youngsters shoulders, he has never been one to shy away from the ball during the game. Always wanting the ball to his feet, and a real eye for a pass, along with trickery and great ball control you can see why Guardiola raves about him..
Footy Files expectations this Season
2019/20 – We can almost guarantee that Foden will see a lot more game time this season. Two seasons ago he averaged 9 mins a match, last season he averaged 26 mins. This season will only increase further as Pep continues to nurture the youngster. Bleeding Foden into an already world-class side can not be easy but Pep appears to be doing a fine job. We’re calling it now, England call up before the season is over. One to watch.
2018/19 – What a difference a season makes. From blowing up in the Championship, to a slight murmur in the Premier League. Few would be forgiven he may just be a one season wonder. But two season’s ago Sessegnon came to prominence when he was pushed forwards into the attacking left wing role. But last season, Sessegnon was given a bit of a utility role before falling out of favour with the manager, appearing at left back, striker, support striker and right wing, as well as his natural position of left wing. For an 18/19 year old, inconsistent positions can lead to inconsistent performances unfortunately. However Sessegnon still managed 2 goals and 6 assists in the league last season.
Footy Files expectations this Season
2019/20 – We think that Sessegnon is onto a winner regardless of what happens this transfer window. If he stays, he’ll get regular first team football at a high level. If he leaves, he appears to have one main suitor in Tottenham, and whilst usually this could limit opportunities, having a manager like Pochettino should excite anybody who enjoys seeing youngsters given an opportunity to thrive. We’ll see where he ends up when the window closes.
2018/19 – Last season Brewster appeared for the Liverpool U18, and U23 development squads on 36 occasions, netting 15 times and providing 13 assists. The youngster has proven that he is already above the youth level and is in dire need of more competitive football. Klopp has acknowledged this by naming the youngster on the bench a few times last season.
Footy Files expectations this Season
2019/20 – Whilst Brewster appears happy to wear his Champions League Winners medal on social media, he must be thinking about needing a loan move this summer. With the quality ahead of him in the squad; Salah, Firmino, Mané, Origi and Shaqiri, can we really say he will get adequate game time above youth level next season? For the sake of his development he needs a loan move, possibly to the Championship. At the age of 19, these games can prove the most beneficial when it comes to a youngsters development. Rhian definitely has the potential to become a top level striker, he just can’t afford to waste it waiting for an opportunity at Liverpool this season.
2018/19 – Who could’ve seen what last season would bring for Sancho? Towards the end of his first season in the Bundesliga he had made 12 appearances, scored one and set up four. But last season was a season of epic proportions. Breaking into the England squad, becoming one of the most creative and prolific forces in the World. Boasting a goal and assist tally (26 combined in the league alone) that would make most world class players envious. The only thing that could have improved the season would have been lifting the League Title.
Footy Files expectations this Season
2019/20 – What is there to expect this season? The German Super Cup was played this weekend just gone with Dortmund defeating Bayern 2-0, Sancho with a goal and an assist. It looks like Sancho will continue to thrive in the Bundesliga. With Brandt and Thorgan Hazard by his side, I firmly believe that his side will be challenging for the Title this season, and Sancho will be at the forefront of that challenge.
2018/19 – Harper’s start to the last season was nothing to write home about. Named on the bench a few times, but very few minutes and a lot of time in the U23 development squad. But as he shone in the developments, the manager took notice and at the turn of the year he was given plenty of game time. Appearing in 16 matches towards the end of the season in the league, starting 13 of them.
Footy Files expectations this Season
2019/20 – Harper possesses an eye for a pass, and already has ball control beyond his years. The Championship is definitely the correct league for him right now. With West Brom aiming to be battling at the top this season, this could be a very exciting season for Harper. Providing he still gets the nod from the manager, this could be one of the most important seasons of development any youngster could dream of.
2018/19 – Gibbs-White had a slow but steady season. Almost always on the subs bench, starting just 5 games in the league out of 26 appearances. Averaging 25 minutes per match, it’s clear that he is well within his Managers thoughts. The unfortunate thing for the youngster is Ruben Neves, Joao Moutinho and Leander Dendoncker are the men who are filling the roles in the middle of the pitch. A tough crowd for any 19 year old to push their way in to.
Footy Files expectations this Season
2019/20 – With Wolves’ successful season behind them, this Season will definitely see Gibbs-White get a whole lot more game time. The Europa League will have the squad stretched for fitness and will hand Morgan the perfect opportunity to fight for a place in the first team. I’d expect Wolves to go deep in the competition too if they avoid an injury crisis leaving Gibbs-White a definite one to watch this season.
2018/19 – Last season Mason Mount really did burst onto the scene despite being sidelined for two months with a hamstring injury after an FA Cup game against Accrington Stanley. Still, he started 38 games in the league, grabbed himself 8 goals and provided 4 assists. He became one of the brightest names in the league as he helped Derby in their bid for promotion.
Footy Files expectations this Season
2019/20 – This season could really be his season. With Chelsea’s enforced transfer ban, the lack of additions has Chelsea looking more and more towards their youth for depth. With Frank Lampard now at the helm too, the relationship that the pair have from Derby could prove very beneficial for the youngster as he looks for more game time. If he continues to progress on from last season, we could be seeing an England call up before this season is over. Very exciting season ahead.
2018/19 – Last season Aarons started an impressive 41 games in the league last season, playing to a consistently high standard. Grabbing two goals for himself and providing 6 assists, the young full back has shown that he has the potential to take it to the next level. Not just on the attacking side either, he intercepted and tackles once per game on average, and was dribbled past 0.4 times per game.
Footy Files expectations this Season
2019/20 – This season, after Norwich’s promotion Aarons has opted to ignore all the speculation and stick with the club who gave him his first opportunity. This will be a learning experience for the youngster and we look forward to seeing how he fares.
2018/19 – Nelson came on leaps and bounds last season whilst on loan at Hoffenheim. Pace, trickery, an eye for a goal and accurate passing are all well within his capabilities and he was only too happy to show the Bundesliga last season. Being used much as an impact sub, Nelson only managed 5 starts from 23 appearances, but the youngster managed to bag 7 goals in the process averaging a goal every 92 mins.
Footy Files expectations this Season
2019/20 – This season, the rumours are that he will be stepping up to train with the first team. Whilst Reiss could provide Arsenal with cover for the wingers, we really think it would be beneficial for him to get a loan move where he is guaranteed first team football. However, given the opportunity at Arsenal, he may just give Emery a selection headache.
2018/19 – McNeil burst onto the scene last season for Burnley making the left wing his own. Starting 19 games in the league, scoring 3 and creating 5 it is clear to see how effective he can be in a game. With his direct running, and eye for a pass he has set a precedent of what to expect next season.
Footy Files expectations this Season
2019/20 – Dwight McNeil just needs to build on what he started last season. Causing full backs all manner of problems last season with his pace and trickery, McNeil looks very promising. Given consistent game time at the top level, I don’t think it will be too long before we hear his name mentioned with a transfer to a bigger club.
2018/19 – Last season Willock managed to play in both the Europa League and Premier League for Arsenal, albeit limited minutes. He did however make the most of his game time and managed to bag himself a goal in the Europa League.
Footy Files expectations this Season
2019/20 – Given that Ozil tends to consistently disappear over the past few seasons, this season could be the perfect opportunity for the youngster to step up and make that spot his own. Having the opportunity to ply his trade behind the trident of Lacazette, Aubameyang and Pepe, this could be the season that Willock comes into his own.
2018/19 – After impressing in the PL2 with the Arsenal development team last season, Nketiah found himself on the bench for Arsenal on numerous occasions. Making 5 appearances in the league, averaging 13 minutes per game, Nketiah didn’t get a lot of time on the field. However, this didn’t stop him from netting once and gaining a lot of experience from playing with strikers like Lacazette and Aubameyang.
Footy Files expectations this Season
2019/20 – If it wasn’t for the signing on Nicolas Pepe we would have higher hopes this season for Nketiah. Luckily for him though, Arsenal are likely to play 50+ games this season thanks to Europa League involvement. Being on the periphery of the team, Nketiah can expect some game time, and will hopefully make it count. A loan move to a Championship could do wonders for his development though.
2018/19 – Making the move from Tottenham to Monchengladbach, the media had been keeping a close eye on Bennetts thanks to the emergence of a certain Jadon Sancho. Unfortunately the first team was not the expectation of the youngster as he plied his trade with the clubs B team, playing 22 games, scoring 1 and assisting 2.
Footy Files expectations this Season
2019/20 – With the sale of Thorgan Hazard to Dortmund, whilst unlikely it would be good to see Bennetts given a few minutes in the Bundesliga this season, but the arrival of Marcus Thuram may hamper any hopes of this happening. However Bennetts has had some game time this pre-season in the defeat to Bilbao, proving that he is on the periphery on their thoughts. All eyes on Keanan and his progress this season.
2018/19 – McGuane made 24 appearances for the Barcelona B team last season in the Spanish Second tier. Clearly he is rated quite highly to be training amongst the top youngsters in the world at Barcelona and he repaid their faith with some solid perfomances as a defensive midfielder.
Footy Files expectations this Season
2019/20 – Marcus needs to continue to perform for Barcelona B, but we would love to see a Championship side or La Liga side take a punt on him. He does have quality, and just needs regular football in a tougher league to realise his potential.
2018/19 – Declan Rice was a mainstay in the West Ham midfield last season starting 34 matches and being the anchor man they so desperately needed. Receiving plaudits all season, coupled with two caps for England it is clear to see Rice looks to be the heart of the midfield for England for a long time to come.
Footy Files expectations this Season
2019/20 – Two months ago, we at Footy Files probably would’ve said we would like to see Declan get a transfer to a team higher up in the league. But with Pellegrini at the helm, a first team place all but secure, and new signings like Haller and Fornals in the attack, this season could prove very successful for West Ham. We look forward to following Rice’s progress during this promising campaign.
2018/19 – Last season Edwards was sent out on loan to Excelsior in the Eridivise. After a slow start being used as a bit part player, Edwards managed to force his way into the starting eleven and he didn’t look back. Averaging the most dribbles per game (3.2), more than likes of Ziyech, Neres, Bergwijn and Lozano, Edwards was always exciting to watch. He appeared in 25 games, starting 19 of them, scoring 2 and setting up 4.
Footy Files expectations this Season
2019/20 – Back at Tottenham this season, it would seem that working under Mauricio Pochettino and his staff would be the perfect combination for the youngster. However, rumours of Edwards not having the best ‘attitude’ have recently seen him training with Brentford United. Marcus really needs to progress on last season, and a loan or permanent move to the Championship may be just what he needs.
2018/19 – Superb to watch last season, Trent’s progress over the last few years has been nothing short of phenomenal. Last season the youngster was near on faultless and enjoyed being part of a Title race, and picking up a Champions League winners medal. Playing 29 games in the league and providing 12 assists for his teammates too.
Footy Files expectations this Season
2019/20 – What can he do this season to improve? Just remain consistent. It’s clear to see he is already among the elite when it comes to his position and he should have that position nailed down at National level too. The good thing is with Aaron Wan-Bissaka beginning to develop, he is sure to keep TAA on his toes.
2018/19 – Originally signed by Sampdoria as a possible replacement for the departing Lucas Torreira, a lot was made of Vieira. Unfortunately last season, his game time was limited, but he did have a stand out display against AC Milan. Ronaldo appeared 14 times for the Italians last season, starting 6 matches.
Footy Files expectations this Season
2019/20 – Last season has definitely given the youngster something to build on this season. Hopefully Ronaldo can cement his place in the starting eleven as he continues to build on the start of an impressive career in the Serie A.
2018/19 – Stephy Mavididi has been a regular for Juventus U23’s last season featuring in the Serie C, Girone A 32 times, scoring 6 goals. Towards the end of the season Mavididi was afforded the opportunity to make his Juventus agains SPAL when he came on as a sub in the 70th minute.
Footy Files expectations this Season
2019/20 – We would love to see Stephy given a loan move at a higher level than the Serie C, possibly to the Serie B or a Championship side. At 21 years of age Mavididi still has a lot of time to progress, and the step up could benefit him greatly if he is not in Sarri’s plans.
2018/19 – Chris Willock has been with the Portuguese giants for two seasons now after signing a 5 year contract when he moved from Arsenal. Playing with the clubs B team he featured in the Portuguese second tier on 34 occasions, netting 11 times.
Footy Files expectations this Season
2019/20 – At the age of 21 we would really like to see Willock making that step into the first team. The unfortunate thing for Chris is the sheer quality that comes through the Benfica academy may limit his game time. A loan mover to a top tier Portuguese side would definitely help, or even if a Championship side picked him up, he definitely has the makings of a great winger.
2018/19 – Aaron started 35 league matches for Crystal Palace last season, bursting onto the scene in his debut season. During that time he provided 3 assists, whilst winning over 2 tackles and 2 interceptions per game with a minimal foul count.
Footy Files expectations this Season
2019/20 – At Footy Files we think that there has been far too much made of the comparisons with Trent Alexander-Arnold. Both are very good in their own right but Wan-Bissaka’s strengths come in his defensive ability. This season we look forward to seeing his progression as one of the main starters for United and would not be surprised if he is used as a centre back now and again.
2018/19 – Playing in the Championship for Swansea last season, James made 33 appearances in the league averaging 75 mins per game. In that time he found the net 4 times, and provided an assist 7 times.
Footy Files expectations this Season
2019/20 – There has been quite a lot of intrigue this season with Manchester United landing the signing of Daniel James. In what appeared to many as a shock signing not too much was expected of the young Welshman, but during their pre-season tour he has gone on to become one of their most exciting prospects. We believe he will become a first team regular at United this season and are exicted to see how he develops.
2018/19 – Playing 33 matches in the league last season, starting 26 matches it is clear that Rashford is a fully fledged member of the first team. Scoring 10 goals he averaged a goal every 236 minutes in the league.
Footy Files expectations this Season
2019/20 – A lot of the time last season Rashford was used out wide, mainly due to his pace. We believe that if he gets used as a striker this season, we would see a higher return of goals for the striker. With Lukaku looking likely for an exit and the Welsh youngster Daniel James seemingly cemented the left wing position, hopefully Rashford will get time as the spearhead of the attack.
2018/19 – Last season Lookman was a regular on the Everton bench, taking part in 21 games, but only starting 3 games. With an average of 29 mins per game it’s clear that Lookman was not given ample time to get any momentum going.
Footy Files expectations this Season
2019/20 – With his recent transfer to RB Leipzig in Germany, we are hoping that Ademola can pick up where he left from his loan period two seasons ago when he got 7 goals in 11 games. Lookman clearly has talent and the 21 year old just needs game time to develop into the player we hope he can become.
2018/19 – Tammy Abraham was loaned to Aston Villa from Chelsea. Abraham scored 25 goals in 37 games in the Championship helping guide Villa to promotion to the Premier League. Towards the end of the Season, Abraham also made his first two appearance for the English National team.
Footy Files expectations this Season
2019/20 – With Chelsea’s ongoing transfer embargo and with only Giroud & Batshuayi in the squad with a claim for the starting Striker spot. We would love to see Abraham take the bull by the horns and make that spot his own this Season.
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Footy Files 