U23 & U18 Premier League Preview - Episode 20: Fulham
Fulham always have some exciting talents in their academy but unfortunately for them bigger clubs don’t take long to notice. In successive years Fulham had a top prospect taken for relatively small sums. Liverpool nipped in to take Harvey Elliott, Cody Drameh went to Leeds and it appears to have happened again with twenty-two goal, thirteen assist U18 striker Mika Biereth having reportedly been poached by Arsenal.
It’s an unfortunate fact of life for Fulham that the big-boys know to circle around them. IN response, Fulham just continue to pump talent through the ranks. Their U18 team topped the South division last season, easily beating out the more heralded academies of Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham. Although the U23 team was not quite as successful, there were enough first team promotions to suggest there is talent ready to push for first team action now that Fulham are back in the Championship.
| 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 |
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.