Ball Sup Blog... U18 Academy 2019/20

[Ball_Sup (Phil)]

I'm sort of responding to a request in the "Zak Brunt" thread by finlaytheblade for information on our Academy Players. I'm afraid I'm generally sketchy about FACTS like who is on what type of contract, how old they are, and how they got here. But, I'll have seen some of them play, and I record my thoughts on my Blog. So that provides a sort of diary I can look up. If any Academy Lads, Dads & Mums read through this forum, don't get upset. It's just my ramblings.
So, let's start with a quick overview.
The Category 2 U18 Professional Development League 2019/20 season has already been canned. Officially, a decision has yet to be taken about whether & how to award final places. There is NO promotion & relegation. Utd were second (of 11) in the North Group when the season was suspended. P20 W13 D3 L4 Pts42. It's a 30 game season. We were a full 15 Points behind Wigan. But, they had played 24 to our 20. And, we were six points ahead of Barnsley. They'd played 22. We also played two FA Youth Cup games. (So 22 games across League & Cup).
Frankie Maguire made 20 starts & 2 subs
Harrison Neal made 19 starts
Sam Kelly made 19 starts as Keeper
Jake Kelly (his twin) made 17 starts & 1 sub
Leo Gaxha & Tommy Williams made 16 starts
Zak Brunt made 15 starts
All told, we used 30 players
Daniel Jebbison was Golden Boot with 9 goals from 8 starts & 9 subs
Sam Ackroyd scored 8 from 14 starts & 4 subs
Leo Gaxha scored 7 from 16 starts
(sorry all data is "best I've got")

?any questions?

 

[Digs blade]

I demand boot sizes.

Thanks for this mate. I like many do pay a passing interest in the academy set up and value your assessments on any up and coming players although I know you have a strong opinion on how difficult it is to force into the first team squad these days.

I used to go to watch the academy sides many years ago but not so much now. I went to nearly all the home games in the sharp, forte era when they had a good side and before that used to be a regular at the Davy McKee watching the Mendonca, Marsden side, which was also a good team

 

[Teofilo Cubillas]

Did they all have shorts?

 

[Ball_Sup (Phil)]

Did they all have shorts?

Great Question. Here's one of my favourite Academy pictures. Taken by my own gnarled hand. Away at Parkgate. Utd in Fluorescent away kit. Say what you see....

 

[Reus]

I'm sort of responding to a request in the "Zak Brunt" thread by finlaytheblade for information on our Academy Players. I'm afraid I'm generally sketchy about FACTS like who is on what type of contract, how old they are, and how they got here. But, I'll have seen some of them play, and I record my thoughts on my Blog. So that provides a sort of diary I can look up. If any Academy Lads, Dads & Mums read through this forum, don't get upset. It's just my ramblings.
So, let's start with a quick overview.
The Category 2 U18 Professional Development League 2019/20 season has already been canned. Officially, a decision has yet to be taken about whether & how to award final places. There is NO promotion & relegation. Utd were second (of 11) in the North Group when the season was suspended. P20 W13 D3 L4 Pts42. It's a 30 game season. We were a full 15 Points behind Wigan. But, they had played 24 to our 20. And, we were six points ahead of Barnsley. They'd played 22. We also played two FA Youth Cup games. (So 22 games across League & Cup).
Frankie Maguire made 20 starts & 2 subs
Harrison Neal made 19 starts
Sam Kelly made 19 starts as Keeper
Jake Kelly (his twin) made 17 starts & 1 sub
Leo Gaxha & Tommy Williams made 16 starts
Zak Brunt made 15 starts
All told, we used 30 players
Daniel Jebbison was Golden Boot with 9 goals from 8 starts & 9 subs
Sam Ackroyd scored 8 from 14 starts & 4 subs
Leo Gaxha scored 7 from 16 starts
(sorry all data is "best I've got")

?any questions?

Great return from Daniel Jebbison. Think he is Canadian and this is his first season with United. Seems to have had A big impact When coming On from the Bench.

 

[Ball_Sup (Phil)]

Great return from Daniel Jebbison. Think he is Canadian and this is his first season with United. Seems to have had A big impact When coming On from the Bench.

Daniel also made two Sub appearances in 2019/20 with the older U23 Academy side. (I hadn't heard mention of any Canadian connection before).
I make it 5 goals from the bench.
v Leeds came on 76, scored 90+2 (to seal 4-2 win)
v Crewe came on 58, scored 75 & 80
And, of course, in that joyous 2-1 win v Wimbledon at The Lane in the FA Youth Cup, Daniel came on at 68 minutes, Utd a goal down, and won it with goals on 70 & 80
(Wimbledon report on my Blog, here)

https://ball-sup.blogspot.com/2019/12/cask-v-keg-drink-off.html

 

[EddieColquhoun]

Great return from Daniel Jebbison. Think he is Canadian and this is his first season with United. Seems to have had A big impact When coming On from the Bench.

Transfermarkt has him down as English.

UK Football Trials - Daniel & Micah Jebbison - Aged 14 & 16 - Trial for Sheffield United | UK Football Trails

Daniel & Micah Jebbison - Aged 14 & 16 - Trial for Sheffield United

ukfootballtrials.com

 

[Reus]

Transfermarkt has him down as English.

UK Football Trials - Daniel & Micah Jebbison - Aged 14 & 16 - Trial for Sheffield United | UK Football Trails

Daniel & Micah Jebbison - Aged 14 & 16 - Trial for Sheffield United

ukfootballtrials.com

Quick Search on the internet has him starting at ANB futbol academy in Canada and relocating to UK in 2017. Think I saw a United article which said he was Canadian.

Also believe that Ayari is from the US and Osula is from Denmark.

 

[EddieColquhoun]

Quick Search on the internet has him starting at ANB futbol academy in Canada and relocating to UK in 2017. Think I saw a United article which said he was Canadian.

Also believe that Ayari is from the US and Osula is from Denmark.

Thanks for that Reus:

http://www.anbfutbol.com/2019%20Daniel%20Jebbison.pdf

Transfermarkt have Ayari as Tunisian!

 

[Ball_Sup (Phil)]

Hasan Ayari was/is a 10m YouTube viewed Viral Sensation dubbed The Little Messi before he (eventually) rocked up at Shirecliffe. In case you haven't seen this.....

 

[Reus]

Hasan Ayari was/is a 10m YouTube viewed Viral Sensation dubbed The Little Messi before he (eventually) rocked up at Shirecliffe. In case you haven't seen this.....

I think Osula was some sort of kid sensation as well. I think He won some sort of talent contest with Man United.

 

[Ball_Sup (Phil)]

Rodley
Asked in another thread about Leo Gaxha. I'll answer on this thread to keep all my musings in one place.

Negative Disclaimer. It's very, very hard for any youngster to break through in a Premier League (or even Top End Championship) First Team Squad. Very hard. The simple numbers are against our Academy lads making it to our First Team. If I've seen one of them play, and you ask me "will he make it, Phil?", I'll play the percentages & say - No, Sorry.
Positive Disclaimer. I love watching all our Academy lads play, with their muckers, against their contemporaries. Putting the lot in. Enjoying it. Revelling in it. Dreaming. I go to watch them in the moment. Not to worry about the future. If I've seen one of them play and you ask me "is he a good player, Phil?". I'll say - Fuck Yeah.

Leo Gaxha
To answer Rodley specifically. No mate, he's miles off the First Team squad. He made 4 starts and 2 subs for the U23s this truncated season. Scoring twice. But 16 starts for the U18s. Seven goals. The previous season, 2018/19, Leo made 17 starts & 9 subs for the U18s. Scoring 3 goals. I'd say Leo is a quite versatile striker or attacking midfielder. He's not particularly tall. Growing into his body a bit this season & becoming stockier & stronger. More fox in the box than target man. Quick feet, good on the ball & can run the channels.
It so happens that Leo had a very lively game over in S6 for the U23s as recently as 7 March 2020. He scored United's only goal. Running in the inside left channel, great work by Harry Boyes & Zak Brunt fed him. And he finished nice & calmly. On a different night, he might have done the hat trick. Hitting the Wednesday keeper on the chest with one effort. And drawing a great save more or less immediately.
Leo had also shone earlier in March v Bolton U23s at Shirecliffe. Scoring the winner in that game. Callum Gribbin won a penalty on 74 minutes. Wriggling in the box before being tripped. There was a bit of debate with Jake Young. But, Leo won & banged the winner home. As it happens, that's about the best I can recall seeing Gaxha play. He had that sort of greedy streak that I love in predatory strikers. Very keen to run his channels & stay involved. So. A great finish to the truncated U23 season for him.

 

[Ball_Sup (Phil)]

I'm tidying up a few questions I've been asked about Academy prospects in recent weeks. So this is effectively a REPOST

Zak Brunt.
Negative Disclaimer. It's very, very hard for any youngster to break through in a Premier League (or even Top End Championship) First Team Squad. Very hard. The simple numbers are against our Academy lads making it to our First Team. If I've seen one of them play, and you ask me "will he make it, Phil?", I'll play the percentages & say - No, Sorry.
Positive Disclaimer. I love watching all our Academy lads play, with their muckers, against their contemporaries. Putting the lot in. Enjoying it. Revelling in it. Dreaming. I go to watch them in the moment. Not to worry about the future. If I've seen one of them play and you ask me "is he a good player, Phil?". I'll say - Fuck Yeah.
I feel there is a lot to like about Zak. The problem is, our Academy has had lots of big engined, box to box midfield dynamos. Coustrain, Reed, Gilmour, Slater. Some of those are/will make a buck in the lower leagues. Regan may get there - we're still assessing. Currently, I don't see much from Zak that puts him above them. Like them, he's a joy to watch. Committed. Intelligent. Organising. Zak is/was a mainstay of the U18 side this season before it was canned. 15 starts. 4 goals. With occasional U23 run outs. Occasionally, he gets stuck up top. But, he's essentially a versatile midfield player. Good in all the roles. Take it at the back of the diamond. Break play up. Hold it. And, number 10 make things happen. I've liked him best in a more attacking midfield role. But, I'm always attracted to players who can do different stuff. (See Ben Whiteman). I last saw Zak v Barnsley U23 in February. I was impressed by that night. He covers a lot of ground. He’s got a mean deep high at pace corner on him. As United chased the game late on, I noticed (coach) Andrew Hughes directing that Zak should take the dead balls. Zak has got very quick feet and, that night, he constantly wanted to attack his man & get through the line. As, I say, a lot to like. But, negatively, I've seen "his like" before. He's developed well since he came to the club. Hope he pushes on.

 

[Ball_Sup (Phil)]

I'm tidying up a few questions I've been asked about Academy Prospects in the last few weeks. So this is effectively a REPOST

Angelo Cappello
Negative Disclaimer. It's very, very hard for any youngster to break through in a Premier League (or even Top End Championship) First Team Squad. Very hard. The simple numbers are against our Academy lads making it to our First Team. If I've seen one of them play, and you ask me "will he make it, Phil?", I'll play the percentages & say - No, Sorry.
Positive Disclaimer. I love watching all our Academy lads play, with their muckers, against their contemporaries. Putting the lot in. Enjoying it. Revelling in it. Dreaming. I go to watch them in the moment. Not to worry about the future. If I've seen one of them play and you ask me "is he a good player, Phil?". I'll say - Fuck Yeah.

Assessing Angelo is tricky. Mainly because of Google Searching my Blog for his name. I realise I've never spelt his surname the same way twice. Every combination of Ps and Ls. As has been said on other threads, he is effectively already a Belize International. I first saw him in July 2017 playing for a Blades U15 side in the SuperCup in Northern Ireland. He set up wide left, attacking midfield. Physically compact, but not slight. Fast, with neat ball skills. As you'd hope at that age, all the backheels & flicks. Started really well. But, drifted in n out (as they do at that age). He was subbed off later in the game. He had a major assist in the Blades first goal that afts. Robbing his man on the left, took the ball into the box at pace, and kept his shot down well. The keeper could only beat it out & 9 Ryan Viggars knocked the rebound in. Intriguing anecdote follows. Harrison Foulstone, who Captained that afts, bollocked him in the second half “Ange, look like you want to play football man”.
The stats show that Angelo has not actually played many games for Utd Academy Teams. Certainly not for the U18 nor U23 Professional Development Teams. Although I have seen him a bit in friendlies and Futures games v non league kids. By July 2019, I'd got him scoring a hat trick away at Parkgate. (One of the first times I'd seen new Academy Guru Jack Lester at one of our games). Angelo had grown a bit stockier & bulked up. He's not tall, short arse if owt. But, looked strong enough. He had a great game & was bang at it. So, stocky, but short, attacking midfielder, or up top if it comes to it, great on the ball, eye for goal. Got a skill set. But, I have to say, he has not made me sit up & think - hello, here we go.

 

[Ball_Sup (Phil)]

Unashamed Repost of gubbins about an Academy Player that I've already posted in a specific thread.

Jéan Leroy-Belehouan

Usual Negative Disclaimer. It's very, very hard for any youngster to break through in a Premier League (or even Top End Championship) First Team Squad. Very hard. The simple numbers are against our Academy lads making it to our First Team. If I've seen one of them play, and you ask me "will he make it, Phil?", I'll play the percentages & say - No, Sorry.
Traditional Positive Disclaimer. I love watching all our Academy lads play, with their muckers, against their contemporaries. Putting the lot in. Enjoying it. Revelling in it. Dreaming. I go to watch them in the moment. Not to worry about the future. If I've seen one of them play and you ask me "is he a good player, Phil?". I'll say - Fuck Yeah.

Jéan made 21 starts at U23 in the truncated 2019/20 season. More than any other player. He made 11 U23 starts (& 1 sub) the previous season, 2018/19. Remembering that players can be more versatile at U23 level, and are occasionally played out of position to test them. That taken, Jéan mainly sets up as one of a back three. More often RCB. Personally, I have not seen too much to choose between Jéan, Kyron Gordon, Keenan Ferguson, Nickseon Gomis and maybe even Ashton Hall. Those four have been the defensive choices for the U23s this season. (Opinion) none of those are anywhere near ready for a loan to the EFL. Maybe a short spell in non league somewhere to put them up against men. But, not the EFL.
Jéan has developed physically as kids his age do. Strong, fairly tall, lithe. But, deffo not Man Boy proportions (ie not Young Harry Maguire). For instance, not a big unit like Sam Graham. I've seen Jéan get stuck in & he doesn't shy from the rough stuff. Pretty good at reading the game. Plays his part in the attacking overlaps as per the script. I've seen him have some really good games. Example - v Bristol City U23 in September 2019.

Doing well. Doesn't particularly stand out from the other group of U23 Centre Backs. A long way off an EFL loan. As you'd expect, got a way to go yet.

 

[Ball_Sup (Phil)]

Heffernans tache
Some Academy musings collated here mate. If you need them.

 

[Heffernans tache]

Heffernans tache
Some Academy musings collated here mate. If you need them.

Cheers Phil, that's fantastic.

Thanks for making me welcome.

 

[Ball_Sup (Phil)]

 

[TJB.]

Hope he's alright giving up meat!

I like FGR. Summet a bit different.They're certainly a club on the up if my FIFA career mode is to be believed.

 

[Charlieblade]

Thanks Phil. Always a pleasure to hear about our youth team players, even if few of them will make it to the top. They can still earn a living at the appropriate level.
Enjoyable read.