The Under-18s Thread

[MutableEarth]

A 15 year old shouldn’t captain 17/18 year olds. Kinda embarrassing for the others

I mean......he's the best player in the academy!

That said, the u18s could actually still win the title.

 

[MutableEarth]

U18s won again today against Fulham, 3rd win in a row. We were losing 1-0 but Zecevic-John and captain Max Dowman scored for us to win. A Max Dowman winner, guess we're gonna hear that a lot .

Highlights will hopefully drop soon

Some good talents in this team. Zecevic-John and Bailey-Joseph dangerous as per. Ibrahim looks the more dominant midfielder at the moment, while Murisa looks to be adjusting to the higher level (Porter put him in deep trouble with his pass though). Dowman simultaneously the baby of the team and the man of the team.

 

[MutableEarth]

Well well well.

U18s win vs Leicester City 5-3. Max Dowman scored a hattrick, one of them a penalty and the other two goals were described as solo goals starting from the halfway line so I'm sure we'll all be waiting on those highlights. Marciniak (an underrated talent) and Bailey-Joseph (the other star talent IMO) both scored.

The most intriguing aspect of today outside of Dowman being Dowman is that our U18s have an outside chance of winning the PL South as we have 2 games in hand on the leaders and only Villa have more games in hand and a chance at winning. Dowman firing this team to a league win after the disappointment of the Youth Cup exit would be interesting. Additionally if we win the PL South, the playoff for PL South vs PL North could be against Man United (again). They beat Leeds U18s 13-1 today.....

 

[hydrofluoric acid]

Arteta really need to debut Dowman this season.

 

[MutableEarth]

Arteta really need to debut Dowman this season.

He can't due to him being a registered u15 player. Preseason will be when he makes his mark.

 

[MutableEarth]

U18s highlights: Leicester City 3-5 Arsenal

Watch at: U18s highlights: Leicester City 3-5 Arsenal

Max' 2nd goal doesn't disappoint. Breezes past everyone like they aren't there. Liked Bailey-Joseph's weak foot finish aswell. Another one in the tally for him too.

Could be a late title chase for the U18s this year, led by Max Dowman. While we don't have a Chido up there, we do have a dangerous overall frontline IMO.

 

[MutableEarth]

Youtube link.

 

[db10_therza]

Youtube link.

The boy is special innit.

Arteta gonna have a welcome headache on how to integrate him into the team in due course. Guess it helps that he can play in a couple different positions.

 

[MutableEarth]

The boy is special innit.

Arteta gonna have a welcome headache on how to integrate him into the team in due course. Guess it helps that he can play in a couple different positions.

It definitely strengthens the Ethan #9 discourse that's been bubbling up for a minute now.

But yeah, Dowman is definitely the best prospect I've seen so far at this point. I want to see what preseason looks like for him.

It also begs the question as to what the u18 team will look like without him in the league - and in particular what the Youth Cup team looks like with him in it. Because there could be another couple to come up with him (Marli Salmon potentially being one) as there's some good ones on the come up in this team too. Remains to be seen.

 

[Geofranco]

It definitely strengthens the Ethan #9 discourse that's been bubbling up for a minute now.

But yeah, Dowman is definitely the best prospect I've seen so far at this point. I want to see what preseason looks like for him.

It also begs the question as to what the u18 team will look like without him in the league - and in particular what the Youth Cup team looks like with him in it. Because there could be another couple to come up with him (Marli Salmon potentially being one) as there's some good ones on the come up in this team too. Remains to be seen.

I don't know if I'm ready to rank him above Wilshere, Nwaneri and Skelly in terms of raw talent and impact. Saka also up there in terms of IQ, guile, physicality and mentality for youth prospects. Dowman reminds me of Patino, ESR and Saka. He has some of the best attributes of all them.

 

[MutableEarth]

I don't know if I'm ready to rank him above Wilshere, Nwaneri and Skelly in terms of raw talent and impact. Saka also up there in terms of IQ, guile, physicality and mentality for youth prospects. Dowman reminds me of Patino, ESR and Saka. He has some of the best attributes of all them.

We can only see if he ranks above them once he's in the 1st team. But for where he is now, haven't seen anyone perform better at this stage.

 

[Halend]

It definitely strengthens the Ethan #9 discourse that's been bubbling up for a minute now.

But yeah, Dowman is definitely the best prospect I've seen so far at this point. I want to see what preseason looks like for him.

Is this going to a bit of an issue in being able to sign both long term?

Like does Ethan want to be a a 9 prospect and if not does he decide not to sign long term now vs wait and see another year.

Plus obviously we have to still get Dowman's commitment in a year and half, them both being RCM prospects is probably not ideal. Can you see Dowman playing LCM?

 

[MutableEarth]

Is this going to a bit of an issue in being able to sign both long term?

Like does Ethan want to be a a 9 prospect and if not does he decide not to sign long term now vs wait and see another year.

Plus obviously we have to still get Dowman's commitment in a year and half, them both being RCM prospects is probably not ideal. Can you see Dowman playing LCM?

I don't think it'll be much of a problem with either talent. Dowman could probably play the LCM role if it was configured slightly differently, while Nwaneri I feel genuinely has false #9 potential. Both players can fill in at RW too if needed. There's a variety of options there and both players are versatile enough and great enough that they will get enough time to do their stuff IMO.

 

[MutableEarth]

Another Dowman brace.

Maalik Haashi with another start and he looks really good. Technical, agile and an eye for goal. Really like him. Reminds me of Salah-Eddine a bit.

Brando Bailey-Joseph looking dangerous as per usual. The way he switches gears on the ball and has a dangerous looking ball/shot on the end of his runs consistently is something that will set him apart.

Interestingly we're still in the title hunt having not lost for 7 games now.

 

[MutableEarth]

I'm currently watching Palace U18s face us in one of our games in hand and we're unfortunately losing 1-0 at HT to a penalty. We have dominated however, and that's without Max Dowman who is missing from the squad today.

We lack final 3rd sharpness at the moment, but we've still carved out decent opportunities. We do lack some dribbling thrust at the moment, with Ceadach O'Neill playing a little reserved and Annous not getting as much of the ball as we'd like. Zecevic-John seems better served out wide with Annous in the middle. Annous himself managed to get a good chance but snatched at it a bit.

Casey seems the most dangerous as per usual but he's perhaps being a bit greedy at times. That said, he looks our likeliest scorer along with Annous.

Ife Ibrahim has been the best player on the pitch by far. Save for one time when he was dispossessed after being put in trouble, he's been excellent. Winning the ball back tons of times and launching counters, passing the ball around well when we have it and generally controlling our pace. He's got controller potential, really makes everything tick when he's on it.

 

[Geofranco]

I'm currently watching Palace U18s face us in one of our games in hand and we're unfortunately losing 1-0 at HT to a penalty. We have dominated however, and that's without Max Dowman who is missing from the squad today.

We lack final 3rd sharpness at the moment, but we've still carved out decent opportunities. We do lack some dribbling thrust at the moment, with Ceadach O'Neill playing a little reserved and Annous not getting as much of the ball as we'd like. Zecevic-John seems better served out wide with Annous in the middle. Annous himself managed to get a good chance but snatched at it a bit.

Casey seems the most dangerous as per usual but he's perhaps being a bit greedy at times. That said, he looks our likeliest scorer along with Annous.

Ife Ibrahim has been the best player on the pitch by far. Save for one time when he was dispossessed after being put in trouble, he's been excellent. Winning the ball back tons of times and launching counters, passing the ball around well when we have it and generally controlling our pace. He's got controller potential, really makes everything tick when he's on it.

I like Ibrahim's profile.

 

[MutableEarth]

I like Ibrahim's profile.

Me too. Has that regista type ability but also has the physique and robustness of a destroyer.

 

[MutableEarth]

2nd half were still dominating.

Ibrahim still having a great game. Annous more involved now and looking likeliest to score. Feel like the goal is coming.

Bailey-Joseph is finally on. Keen to see what he can do to get us the points.

 

[MutableEarth]

Bailey-Joseph almost scores with his first meaningful touch. This kid is the bollocks.

 

[MutableEarth]

20 mins to go. We need to win this to have a chance at winning the title.

Ibrahim been amazing but we need to get Annous and Bailey-Joseph on it more. They're the most dangerous. LZJ waned a little bit.