Liverpool Youth Teams Thread

Sweeting · 17 August 2021 13:32

U23 & U18 Premier League Preview - Episode 15: Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace Youth Preview 2021/22

Palace are undergoing a youth revolution at first team level with thirteen players such as Gary Cahill, Mamadou Sakho, Patrick van Aanholt and Scott Dann allowed to walk away at the expiration of their contracts. In their place have arrived exciting talents in the form of Michael Olise, Marc Guehi and Joachim Anderson. In addition the talented Conor Gallagher has arrived on a season long loan. Palace already had some youth talent, like Tyrick Mitchell and Eberechi Eze, so the future looks increasingly bright for the Eagles.

There is still room for more prospects in the first team and Crystal Palace have an exciting group of talents emerging. The U18 team finished in a creditable second position, beating out the likes of Chelsea and Tottenham, largely through the goals of eighteen year old David Omilabu while the U23 side has shone in preseason with Scott Banks and Rob Street impressing.

Unfortunately Nathan Ferguson, brought in from West Brom in 2020, has suffered another injury setback and may well miss his second full season since signing for Palace. The defender was in line to be the starting right back this season.

U23 Projected Starters
Pos
GK	Oliver Webber
CB	Jay Rich-Baghuelou
CB	Jake O’Brien
RB	David Boateng
LB	Reece Hannam
CM	Malachi Boateng
CM	James Taylor
CM	Nya Kirby
RW	Jesurun Rak-Sakyi
LW	David Omilabu
CF	Robert Street

U18 Projected Starters
Pos
GK	Joe Whitworth
CB	Joe Sheridan
CB	Ryan Bartley
RB	Cameron Lewis-Brown
LB	Omotayo Adaramola
CM	Jack Wells-Morrison
CM	Jadan Raymond
CM	Kayden Rodney
RW	Maliq Cadogan
LW	Fionn Mooney
CF	Victor Akinwale

Players in Profile - Three to Watch in 2021/2022

Scott Banks

Position: AM
Age: 19
Nationality: Scottish

Signed from Dundee United in January 2020, Banks has spent time at Alloa and Dunfermline on loan before returning for preseason this year and making a good impact on the squad. Banks grabbed two goals in back-to-back friendlies, including a Ronaldo-esque free kick. New manager Patrick Vieria is said to be considering giving Banks a more permanent squad role but another loan spell is also possible. The Scotland U21 international is a classic attacking midfielder with good vision and technique that are enhanced when he plays around better and more technical players. If he stays at Crystal Palace for the season, it is possible he could take advantage of Eze’s injury in the hunt for minutes.

Jesuran Rak-Sakyi

Position: LW
Age: 18
Nationality: English

Rak-Sakyi is considered the next big prospect to come out of the Crystal Palace youth system. Having left Chelsea at sixteen, Rak-Sakyi linked up with Crystal Palace and has become a leading light almost immediately. After an impressive U18 career - nine goals and eight assists in eighteen appearances - he progressed into the U23 set up and appeared on the substitutes bench for Palace’s first team last season. It’s a bit of a cliche to compare a winger coming through at Palace to Wilfreid Zaha but it is obvious with Rak-Sakyi that the Palace talisman has had some influence on his game - the two players even have a similar running style. Rak-Sakyi is the top talent at the Palace academy and word from the camp is that he will be allowed a chance to prove himself in the first team this year.

Malachi Boateng

Position: DM
Age: 19
Nationality: English

Boateng was name-checked last season as one prospect very close to making a breakthrough at Palace in the near future. In pre-season he started in the defensive midfield role next to the experienced Cheikhou Kouyate and looked the more composed of the two. The U23 player of the season is a tough-tackling, simple passing type of a player and a very solid prospect. Having had no loan spells to date - and a relatively short youth career of just twenty-four U23 appearances - it is hard to gauge the relative talent level of Boateng but with the youth revolution at Selhurst Park, and Nya Kirby - once considered the leading talent - failing to impress, he may soon get an opportunity to prove it.

redfanman · 17 August 2021 15:03

I have a soft spot for Palace. They’ve brought through a number of young talented players over the years. It would be great to see them do that again.

Sweeting · 17 August 2021 20:46

U23 & U18 Premier League Preview - Episode 16: Reading

Reading Youth Preview 2021/22

The Royals can boast a very productive academy in recent years with two graduates heading out the door this summer in clear upgrading moves. Michael Olise, probably the best player in the Championship last season, has signed for Crystal Palace and Omar Richards, a dynamic full back, has moved on a free to Bayern Munich.

Olise and Richards are both signs of Reading’s progress and their existing issues. The sale of this pair should have fetched tens of millions for the Berkshire club but Richards was allowed to run his contract down while Michael Olise left for a paltry eight million. Exciting youngster Thierry Nevers was also allowed to leave for next to nothing. Reading can be doing more to maximise their profits on these talents, or even better hold onto them.

On the plus side, Reading are one of the best for player pathways with plenty of minutes on offer for U23 players and there are several players ready to take advantage of that.

U23 Projected Starters
Position
GK	Coniah Boyce-Clarke
CB	Nelson Abbey
CB	Michael Strickland
RB	Tyrell Ashcroft
LB	Imari Samuels
CM	Kian Leavy
CM	Malachi Talent-Aryeetey
CM	Dejan Tetek
RW	Mamadi Camara
LW	Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan
CF	Nehum Melvin-Lambert

U18 Projected Starters
Position
GK	Bastian Smith
CB	Kelvin Abrefa
CB	Louie Holzman
RB	Sam Paul
LB	Jordan Addo-Antoine
CM	Benjamin Purcell
CM	Hamid Abdul-Salam
CM	Jacob Borgnis
RW	Ashton Greaver
LW	Harvey Maunder
CF	Jahmari Clarke

Players in Profile - Three to Watch in 2021/2022

Ethan Bristow

Position: LB
Age: 19
Nationality: English

Reading have a huge hole at left back with Omari Samuels heading to Bayern Munich on a free transfer. Currently it looks like the man to fill that role is Ethan Bristow, with the nineteen year old having made inroads on the first team during pre-season. Having only started one FA Cup tie in his career so far, Bristow is inexperienced but has shown flashes of his potential and was one of the stand out players for the U23s in his first season at that level. He appears to be slightly ahead of fellow academy full back Imari Samuels as it stands although Reading could be set for a long time (or a big pay day) with both players having the potential to entrench themselves in the first team set up. Bristow is a prototypical modern full back with the pace and energy to get up and down the left flank.

Dejan Tetek

Position: CM
Age: 18
Nationality: Serbian

An English born Serbian U21 international, Dejan Tetek is already well entrenched as a first team player at the Madejski despite being only eighteen years old. He made seven appearances last season and, now entering the season as the primary backup for the centre midfield position, looks set to be earning significantly more game time in 2021/22. Arsenal were credited with an interest in the midfielder last January and Tetek - although he is a different type of player - could help cautorise the pain of losing Michael Olise by emerging as another homegrown youth midfielder. Tetek is a hard-working, left-footed midfielder with a good engine and excellent passing range. He is also helped by Reading being placed under a transfer embargo meaning added competition is unlikely to be coming in.

Femi Azeez

Position: CF
Age: 20
Nationality: English

Azeez was picked up from non-league football in 2019 having joined Wealdstone and in 2020 he made easy work of his first full season at U23 level, scoring ten goals in twelve starts. He scored five goals in his final three games to round off a breakthrough campaign for the former part-timer. This season he has already started well, scoring his first goal for the first team against Preston North End. At youth level Azeez has played centre forward but he is versatile enough to play out wide which makes his path for regular first team football more feasible. Still under a transfer embargo, Reading are set for a season of leaning on their own youth products and a pacey goalscorer is sure to be heavily used.

rupzzz · 17 August 2021 21:52

Sepp Van de berg scored a cracking own goal tonight for PNE

Euphoria · 18 August 2021 01:03

You see that pace. For a lad Virgils height. Jesus Christ. He was moving quick, some development. Is he still playing right back? Thought the club wanted him moves into the middle.

Sweeting · 18 August 2021 12:32

U23 & U18 Premier League Preview - Episode 17: Derby County

Derby Youth Preview 2021/22

It’s bad times at Derby County right now. Not only are they forced to have Wayne Rooney as their manager but the club are subject to a transfer ban because of discrepancies in their finances for the years 2016, 2017 and 2018. Derby have just thirteen registered players and one of those, Jason Knight, was injured by his own manager during training and will miss half the season.

Knight, however, may be an inspiration that Derby will look to use to make it through this season. Signed from Cabinteely in 2017, Knight came through the youth system and has established himself as a regular in midfield to date making seventy-four appearances in the Championship at just twenty years’ old.

Derby have done a good job of developing their youth talent in recent years. Along with Knight has been the successes of Lee Buchanan, Max Bird and Louie Sibley - all regulars who came through the structure of the club. If the EFL do not relent on a player registration ban then plenty more will be asked to step up for the Midlands club this year.

U23 Projected Starters
Pos
GK	Alfie Roberts
CB	Jordan Brown
CB	Harrison Solomon
RB	Kornell McDonald
LB	Dylan Williams
CM	Liam Thompson
CM	Connor Dixon
CM	Olamide Ibrahim
RW	Louie Watson
LW	Tyree Wilson
CF	Jack Stretton

U18 Projected Starters
Pos
GK	Harvey Randle
CB	Filip Lissah
CB	Eli Christie
RB	Rhys Brailsford
LB	Riley Moloney
CM	Courtney Clarke
CM	Dubem Eze
CM	Cian Kelly
RW	Marko Borkovic
LW	Luke Plange
CF	Malik Mothersille

Players in Profile - Three to Watch in 2021/2022

Festy Ebosele

Position: RB
Age: 19
Nationality: Irish

Ireland U21 international Festy Ebosele is a defender with a real chance of making the right back position his own this year. Current first team right back Nathan Byrne is likely to be transitioned into central defence leaving the pathway clear for the fantastically named Irish prodigy. Ebosele is a modern wing back, a weapon coming out of defence mostly due to his athleticism and pace. With few other options likely to emerge, Ebosele should have plenty of opportunities this year.

Jack Stretton

Position: CF
Age: 19
Nationality: Scottish

Stretton is a prolific Scotland U19 international. The centre forward grabbed eight goals in twelve appearances for Derby’s U23s and then went on loan to National League side Stockport, scoring three goals in five appearances. Now back with Derby, the Scotsman looks set to become a much bigger part of the squad with only Colin Kazim-Richards a recognised striker in the first team. Stretton has featured for Derby in small cameos and, despite an injury ruling him out for much of pre-season, is said to have impressed Rooney across his time at the club. As the type of player who was likely to make a breakthrough anyway, Derby’s precarious situation will likely only accelerate an already inevitable first team promotion.

Eiran Cashin

Position: CB
Age: 19
Nationality: Irish

A no-nonsense style defender, Cashin is a Scottish youth international that Rooney describes as “knocking on the door”. If true, it is likely that door is about to fly wide open with Derby having only one recognised senior centre back - Andre Wisdom - currently on the books. Nothing fancy about the way Cashin plays but he does his job effectively, getting physical with centre forwards and heading away everything that comes towards him in the air. He has impressed in preseason, even managing to get on the scoresheet in a friendly at Notts County, and while reinforcements are likely to be brought to the club Cashin will surely be able to find his way onto the pitch on a semi-regular basis.

Sweeting · 19 August 2021 11:01

U23 & U18 Premier League Preview - Episode 18: Everton

Everton Youth Preview 2021/22

Having appointed Rafa Benitez as their new manager, it is fair to say that the chances of youth team promotions have probably taken a hit. Not exactly famed for his youth development - certainly not at Liverpool anyway - Benitez tends to rely on the older and more experienced squad members.

Everton however do have some promising youth talents - sixteen year old Thierry Small is considered one of the top prospects in the country and has been linked with moves to all the top clubs in Europe (and Arsenal). Seventeen year old forward Charlie Whitaker was also taken on the club’s pre-season tour to supplement the squad.

A club that traditionally excels in youth leagues, a fifth place finish in both the U23 and U18s was probably not considered good enough. With, so far, no players leaving on loan they will have a full accomplishment of reserves to try and dominate this level.

U23 Projected Starters
Pos
GK	Harry Tyrer
CB	Joseph Anderson
CB	Ryan Astley
RB	Kyle John
LB	Thierry Small
CM	Tyler Onyango
CM	Einar Iversen
CM	Rhys Hughes
RW	Sebastian Quirk
LW	Charlie Whitaker
CF	Ellis Simms

U18 Projected Starters
Pos
GK	Jak Stewart
CB	Reece Welch
CB	Jack Tierney
RB	Mathew Mallon
LB	Elijah Campbell
CM	Luke Butterfield
CM	Isaac Price
CM	Imam Jagne
RW	Stanley Mills
LW	Owen Barker
CF	Katia Kouyate

Players in Profile - Three to Watch in 2021/2022

Niels Nkounkou

Position: LB
Age: 20
Nationality: French

Signed from Marseille in 2020, Niels Nkounkou is a French Olympic team international who began making his breakthrough to the Everton first team at the back end of last season. He has a stout, muscular frame that allows him to physically dominate most wingers in a one-on-one match up. Although he isn’t the quickest he still covers ground effectively and is an excellent crosser - usually driving to the byline and standing the ball up to the far post - which may benefit Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin. What makes Nkounkou slightly different as a prospect is not his good wing play - many fullback prospects have that - but actually he is fairly conservative, preferring to pick and choose his moments to attack and playing solid defensively. With Lucas Digne still working his way back to fitness, Nkounkou may get the opportunity to start the season in the first team.

Anthony Gordon

Position: LW
Age: 20
Nationality: English

Scouser Anthony Gordon may already be a familiar name. In fourteen Premier League appearances the winger has already managed a start in the Merseyside derby, not letting himself down during a 0-0 draw at Goodison. Last season he spent half a season on loan at Preston, making a further eleven appearances. Gordon, an England U20 international, is not a flying winger. He doesn’t possess outstanding pace but - similar to Riyad Mahrez - he has more than enough to make playing in a wide role viable. He has good close control and the vision to pick out passes into the forward line. Despite being just twenty, this feels like a big year for Gordon is defining whether or not he is a Premier League prospect. With the underperforming Alex Iwobi his main competition, Gordon has to push on.

Jarrad Branthwaite

Position: CB
Age: 19
Nationality: English

Signed from Carlisle in January 2020, Branthwaite is an English U19 international and spent the second half of last season on loan at Blackburn Rovers, making ten appearances. He broke through into the Everton first team, at centre-back, aged just seventeen and his outstanding ability has seen him linked with a move to Manchester United (and less realistically, Liverpool). Standing at six foot four inches tall, he is surprisingly adept with the ball at his feet, often stepping into midfield and using his long stride to glide away from would-be tacklers. Defensively however that lack of pace does show, as you would expect. For Carlisle, aged just sixteen, he ran from the heart of defence past several midfielders and fired a left footed shot into the bottom corner. Branthwaite is an excellent prospect, one who could go on to be a full England international in future.

redfanman · 19 August 2021 11:11

I don’t think our setup when Rafa was here was much good was it? Even though he brought some of his own people in to improve things, we were still struggling to produce candidates he could use in the squad.

Kopstar · 19 August 2021 13:15

Sweeting · 19 August 2021 14:21

Apparently the Premier League brought in a new rule that says no club channel can show any match coverage at any level if it is on at the same time as any Premier League match.

Liverpool U23s v Everton on Monday clashes with West Ham v Leicester.

Liverpool U18s v Man Utd clashes with Liverpool v Burnley.

With these rules it seems quite likely there won’t be any youth games shown this season.

redfanman · 19 August 2021 14:46

That sounds crazy.

redalways · 19 August 2021 17:35

Yes, because the overlap of people who would watch Liverpool U23 vs Everton U23 as well as West Ham v Leicester is overwhelming…

I really wish the fan backlash over the Super League would continue on to some of the frankly absurd practices of the Premier League and UEFA…

Sweeting · 19 August 2021 20:01

U23 & U18 Premier League Preview - Episode 19: Norwich City

Norwich Youth Preview 2021/22

Norwich continued their trend of Championship domination (and likely will struggle again in the Premier League) last season and managed to do so by continuing to give thousands of minutes of football to U23 players. Max Aarons and Oliver Skipp, loaned in from Tottenham, were the key players while the likes of Todd Cantwell and Jacob Lungi Sorenson also saw plenty of first team action.

Norwich’s results at U23 and U18 level have suffered due to their promotion of youth talent but that is a preferable situation than having good players rot in reserve. The fact that promotions are so common actually means Norwich’s best youth talent rarely play at youth level - a trend that can be seen in many of the best academies across the country with coaches favouring training with the first team instead of playing with the U23s.

This is one of the best breeding grounds for young players in the country - Jamal Lewis, Max Aarons, Ben Godfrey and Todd Cantwell are recent examples of this along with the bought in talent such as Emi Buendia developing well at Carrow Road. The calibre of player still lurking around suggests this pipeline is not dry.

U23 Projected Starters
Pos
GK	Joe Rose
CB	Jonathan Tomkinson
CB	Andrew Omobamidele
RB	Bali Mumba
LB	Rob Nizet
CM	Reece McAlear
CM	Nelson Khumbeni
CM	Melvin Sitti
RW	Tony Springett
LW	Josh Giurgi
CF	Abu Kamara

U18 Projected Starters
Pos
GK	Jayden St Paul
CB	Lewis Shipley
CB	Brad Hills
RB	Harry Pitcher
LB	Ola Okeowo
CM	Harry Brooke
CM	Solomon Alidor-Hamilton
CM	Saxon Earley
RW	Joe Duffy
LW	Oscar Thorn
CF	Kenneth Aboh

Players in Profile - Three to Watch in 2021/2022

Adam Idah

Position: CF
Age: 20
Nationality: Irish

Cork-born centre forward Adam Idah is a full Irish international who is set to have a breakout season in the Premier League. Having scored six goals in less than five hundred minutes last season, Idah has earned the opportunity to stake a real claim on Norwich’s starting lineup this time around. Having joined Norwich from Corinthians in 2017, Idah has quickly become the top talent in the youth system. He has a lanky frame but doesn’t rely on his height, with dribbling and finishing far more part of his game and is often seen drifting out onto the right wing to drive at full backs and cut the ball back to onrushing midfielders. Idah’s first team promotion has long been predicted but, with the outstanding cameo appearances from last season in the bank, 2021/22 should finally be the year that it happens.

Andrew Omobamidele

Position: CB
Age: 19
Nationality: Irish

Another full Irish international at just eighteen years old, Omobamidele follows in the footsteps of Ben Godfrey and fought his way into the Norwich team at the end of last season. Despite a physical similarity - he’s a similar height but slightly stockier than Godfrey - Omobamidele possibly has some even more interesting attributes. He is a ‘football first’ type of centre back, has excellent close control, doesn’t panic when being closed down (he is often able to play his way out of trouble or use a burst of pace to counter the press) and is an excellent short passer. Having signed a new contract and starting pre-season as a first choice defender, Omobamidele may be able to hold onto his end of season form and start the season in the heart of the Canaries’ defence.

Bali Mumba

Position: RB
Age: 19
Nationality: England

Mumba was a highly touted prospect at Sunderland but the Black Cats strangely hesitated over exposing him to first team football, despite their struggles. The central midfielder turned right back instead chose to head to Norwich than stick it out at the Stadium of Light and so far it looks a wise decision with Mumba well placed to earn minutes in the Premier League having broken into the Norwich side late last season. The England U19 international made four appearances and was on the bench for a further ten, hinting that he is on the verge of a breakout campaign - although stepping up to the Premier League may limit that chance and a lot will depend on the future of Max Aarons. Mumba has a lot of the same attributes as Aarons, a flying full back who looks to attack the penalty area rather than whip in crosses. Mumba signed a new contract this off-season tying him to Norwich for the next five years.

carragold · 19 August 2021 20:24

Seven Irish players mentioned so far in the U23 and U18 premier league preview. Hopefully the future looks better than the crap that is there at the moment.

Kopstar · 19 August 2021 20:34

Are any of them Irish in the same way that Declan Rice and Jack Grealish were Irish?

Jesse Pinkman Reaction GIF by Breaking Bad

Speckydodge · 19 August 2021 22:08

Players in Profile - Three to Watch in 2021/2022

Fabio Carvalho

Position: AM
Age: 18
Nationality: English

Aged just seventeen, this Portuguese born England U18 international made four appearances for the Fulham first team and scored with a spectacular explosive finish in a 3-1 defeat to Southampton. A right footed player who plays across all the positions in the frontline, Carvalho is a technically excellent player who plays quicker in his head than his feet. He makes good runs, which has already caught out Premier League defenders - as shown with his first team goal. At his best playing off the wing, Carvalho is a highly creative player who also loves to dribble at defenders, confident in his own ability to go past them. With Fulham back in the Championship, Carvalho will no doubt be confident he can push for regular first team action.

Jay Stansfield

Position: CF
Age: 18
Nationality: English

Brought in from the vibrant Exeter City academy, Jay Stansfield is one of the most prolific strikers in the country scoring twenty-eight goals in twenty-four U18 appearances. His 20/21 season was decimated by injuries but the talented centre forward should rebound this time around and has already begun pre-season in the first team squad. Playing with a freedom to drift onto the wings, Stansfield looks to attack space and has excellent positioning - often turning out to be in the right place at the right time for a simple finish. He’s quick enough although doesn’t possess outstanding pace but his frame is one capable of handling adult football at a high level. Projecting, in my eyes, as a high level target man Stansfield has a good chance of minutes this season and is a Premier League player in the making.

Ibane Bowat

Position: CB
Age: 18
Nationality: Scottish

Another elite prospect linked with a move away from the club. Ibane Bowat is a left footed defender who stands out with his aerial ability and technical proficiency. Physically dominant at youth level, he gets away with slow feet through his pure strength and dominance. In possession he has a modern centre back’s passing range, driving the ball to the feet of wingers with great accuracy. The Scotland U19 international flirted with moves to Everton, West Ham and Arsenal but now looks set to stay with Fulham and have a genuine chance of getting into the centre back rotation.

Speckydodge · 20 August 2021 14:12

Really hope we’re one of the club’s in for Carvalho he looks really really good already. Final year of his contact too but in reality he’s probably best served signing a new one at Fulham and staying another year or two.

Sweeting · 20 August 2021 20:12

U23 & U18 Premier League Preview - Episode 21: Newcastle United

Newcastle Youth Preview 2021/22

One of the most disappointing aspects of North-Eastern football in the last decade or so is the lack of top level footballers coming from the area. As a football-mad part of the country it is astonishing that Sunderland and Newcastle have both consistently failed to develop Premier League players with only Sean Longstaff really breaking through.

In all honesty, this batch of youth talents don’t look much like flipping the script at St James’ Park either. Having finished bottom of U23 Division 2 last season, Newcastle pulled the plug and released sixteen players while bringing in some prospects let go from other clubs - most notably Charlie Wiggett of Chelsea and Remi Savage of Liverpool.

Can Newcastle finally get it right and break someone through? It’s doubtful, to be honest, but if it is going to happen it’ll probably be one of these three…

U23 Projected Starters
Pos
GK	Dan Langley
CB	Remi Savage
CB	Oisin McEntee
RB	Ryan Barrett
LB	Rosaire Longelo
CM	Niall Brookwell
CM	Mo Sangare
CM	Stanley Flaherty
RW	Tom Allan
LW	Elliot Anderson
CF	Cameron Ferguson

U18 Projected Starters
Pos
GK	Max Thompson
CB	Harry Barclay
CB	Ciaran Thompson
RB	Tai Ebanks
LB	Josh Nicholson
CM	Reagan Thomson
CM	Jamie Miley
CM	James Huntley
RW	Jay Turner-Cooke
LW	Michael Ndiweni
CF	Kyle Crossley

Players in Profile - Three to Watch in 2021/2022

Kelland Watts (on loan at Wigan Athletic)

Position: CB
Age: 21
Nationality: English

Former England U19 international Kelland Watts is best placed to break through at Newcastle. The central defender has plenty of experience having played sixty-seven games at League One and League Two level. Last season was his most productive, he started forty-eight games for Plymouth in all competitions and has played well in pre-season reportedly catching the eye of Steve Bruce for his strong showings in the heart of defence. Watts is a composed defender with good on-the-ball skills making him capable of playing out from the back and his time in the Football League has clearly developed how he handles the physical side of the game. He will step up to Championship football this year with Wigan.

Elliot Anderson

Position: AM
Age: 18
Nationality: Scottish

A hip injury has kept Elliot out of pre-season so far this summer and some poor management by Steve Bruce is threatening to disrupt the development of the talented Scotland U19 international. Elliot had the opportunity to go on loan to Luton last season but Bruce kept him and promised significant exposure to the first team - however, he managed just two cameos and a total of forty-two minutes as Bruce shied away from using a teenager while Newcastle battled relegation. Anderson is a tall and physical attacking midfielder, likes to receive the ball on his chest where challenging him is difficult, and then drive towards the penalty area. He has good vision but is perhaps not the most technically fluent player. For Newcastle, if he can stay fit, Anderson certainly has the potential to develop into a Premier League starter but it will require more faith from the management to achieve it.

Stanley Flaherty

Position: RW
Age: 19
Nationality: English

Flaherty has already had something of a journey to end up in Newcastle. Having been released by his boyhood club Arsenal, he wound up training at West Ham before moving up to Newcastle when they refused to offer him a deal. The versatile attacker can play right across the line and turned some heads by scoring seven times for a poor side. He has the advantage of being an excellent set piece taker and the pacey wideman does have a good left foot - with most of his goals at youth level coming from cutting inside and shooting. It would be quite a turnaround in fortunes should Flaherty manage to break through at Newcastle having already been rejected by two Premier League sides but his first season in black and white was a promising one.

U23 Projected Starters
Pos
GK	Luca Ashby-Hammond
CB	Conor McAvoy
CB	Ibane Bowat
RB	Luciano D’Auria-Henry
LB	Ziyad Larkeche
CM	Jonathon Page
CM	Adrion Pajaziti
CM	Tyrese Francois
RW	Fabio Carvalho
LW	Jean-Pierre Tiehi
CF	Jay Stansfield

U18 Projected Starters
Pos
GK	Alex Borto
CB	Thorsteinn Antonsson
CB	Harvey Araujo
RB	Xavier Benjamin
LB	Stefan Parkes
CM	Tyler Caton
CM	Matt Dibley-Dias
CM	Luke Harris
RW	Imani Lanquedoc
LW	Michael Olakigbe
CF	Oliver Sanderson