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Something a bit different today; here's a rough team of opposing players who impressed me while watching #CFCU18 this season. Southern-biased due to the fixture list, not necessarily 11 'ones to watch', but those who stood out on the day and have something about them.
GK: Oliver Bosworth (Leicester)
Pulled off a string of impressive saves that prevented a 4-1 defeat from becoming even heavier; perhaps a little undersized but has plenty going for him, captains his U18 team, and earned an England U18 cap this season.
Pulled off a string of impressive saves that prevented a 4-1 defeat from becoming even heavier; perhaps a little undersized but has plenty going for him, captains his U18 team, and earned an England U18 cap this season.
RB: Daniel Oyegoke (Arsenal)
A dynamic force at right-back, you can see he has a recent history of playing further forward, but giving him space to attack from deep allows him to make direct threatening bursts. Making big strides already.
A dynamic force at right-back, you can see he has a recent history of playing further forward, but giving him space to attack from deep allows him to make direct threatening bursts. Making big strides already.
CB: Jamal Baptiste (West Ham)
Despite still being a schoolboy he's been a regular for West Ham's U18s for two years already. Oozes class, plays with authority and leadership, and is growing into a CB's build. A really really good prospect.
Despite still being a schoolboy he's been a regular for West Ham's U18s for two years already. Oozes class, plays with authority and leadership, and is growing into a CB's build. A really really good prospect.
CB: Alex Mitchell (Millwall)
At the heart of the team that reached the last eight of the #FAYouthCup was Millwall's captain, who may be more of an old-school 'see it, clear it' defender, but those players are always needed. Looked to have the right attitude to make it.
At the heart of the team that reached the last eight of the #FAYouthCup was Millwall's captain, who may be more of an old-school 'see it, clear it' defender, but those players are always needed. Looked to have the right attitude to make it.
LB: Hugo Lopes (Wolves)
Wolves plucked him from lower-league Spanish football and, while he's played at wing-back for them and I've shoehorned him in as a LB, he warrants recognition. Gets up and down well, confident in possession, an interesting player to keep an eye on.
Wolves plucked him from lower-league Spanish football and, while he's played at wing-back for them and I've shoehorned him in as a LB, he warrants recognition. Gets up and down well, confident in possession, an interesting player to keep an eye on.
CM: Antef Tsoungui (Brighton)
An ex-Chelsea schoolboy who left at the end of his U14 year, Tsoungui stood out for a Brighton team that challenged at the top before Christmas. Comfortable at CB or DM, he plays a mature game and relishes the dirty work to set the team up.
An ex-Chelsea schoolboy who left at the end of his U14 year, Tsoungui stood out for a Brighton team that challenged at the top before Christmas. Comfortable at CB or DM, he plays a mature game and relishes the dirty work to set the team up.
CM: Carney Chukwuemeka (Aston Villa)
U16 by age group only, Chukwuemeka is already playing for Villa's U23s because he combines his powerful build with a deft touch and a driving box-to-box midfield game. When he's on his game, as he was against Chelsea, he's hard to stop.
U16 by age group only, Chukwuemeka is already playing for Villa's U23s because he combines his powerful build with a deft touch and a driving box-to-box midfield game. When he's on his game, as he was against Chelsea, he's hard to stop.
AM: Fabio Carvalho (Fulham)
The Portuguese-born England youth international is a quality performer; a creative threat every time he gets the ball, he was part of an outstanding Fulham team this season and caused Chelsea no end of problems.
The Portuguese-born England youth international is a quality performer; a creative threat every time he gets the ball, he was part of an outstanding Fulham team this season and caused Chelsea no end of problems.
AM: Veron Parkes (West Ham)
A really underrated and smart player who can operate as a 9, a 10, or anywhere along the attacking midfield line. Can do everything well and has reportedly rejected pro terms as interest in his services builds from elsewhere.
A really underrated and smart player who can operate as a 9, a 10, or anywhere along the attacking midfield line. Can do everything well and has reportedly rejected pro terms as interest in his services builds from elsewhere.
AM: Aaron Ramsey (Aston Villa)
No, not that one. The younger Ramsey has been highly-touted for some time now and is a lovely player to watch, very easy on the eye with great technique, and has plenty of end product.
No, not that one. The younger Ramsey has been highly-touted for some time now and is a lovely player to watch, very easy on the eye with great technique, and has plenty of end product.
FW: Mohamed Sankoh (Stoke City)
Has recently been linked with a switch to Chelsea and, given his performance against the Blues, it's easy to see why. Busy with razor-sharp reactions, he has very good movement, two good feet, and a goalscoring prowess.
Has recently been linked with a switch to Chelsea and, given his performance against the Blues, it's easy to see why. Busy with razor-sharp reactions, he has very good movement, two good feet, and a goalscoring prowess.
