Strongest U-18's Team

MPTutd

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Just watch the U-18's game against Spurs, and having watched most games this season I completely forgot Barmby is still an U-18.

So what do you guys reckon would be our strongest team if everyone was available?

Sutherland or Gollini in nets

Love
Grimshaw
Ioannou
Rowley

Daehli
Rothwell
Pearson
Barmby

Januzaj
Wilson

That still leaves Pereira, Rudge, Gorre and Byrne out, plus any of the U-16's that might take a step up.
 
It's bloody hard to say, even harder than the current first team I'd say. I'd have to go with a 4231 or a 451 cause we have so many talented midfielders and even with those formations we couldn't accommodate them all.

-----------Sutherland
Love Grimshaw Ioannou Rowley
--------Rothwell Pearson
-----Daehli Januzaj Barmby
-------------Wilson

And as you say that's with Pereira, Gorre and the rest on the bench.
 
The front 6 by Barely is just brimming with potential. Shame a lot of them spend quite a bit of time in the treament able.
 
I'd put Gollini in nets, been impressed with him lately.

The rest looks spot on. Maybe James in at the back but only played once.

Love
Grimshaw
Ioannou (from what I've heard)
James

Rothwell
Pearson
Barmby
Daehli
Januzaj

Wilson

Seems harsh leaving out Pereira. Lots of options & with Demetre Mitchell emerging from the U16's.
 
Barely HangingonEmu said:
It's bloody hard to say, even harder than the current first team I'd say. I'd have to go with a 4231 or a 451 cause we have so many talented midfielders and even with those formations we couldn't accommodate them all.

-----------Sutherland
Love Grimshaw Ioannou Rowley
--------Rothwell Pearson
-----Daehli Januzaj Barmby
-------------Wilson

And as you say that's with Pereira, Gorre and the rest on the bench.
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I agree with your formation and most of your selection. Gollini is a no-brainer for me, gets better by the week. I'd swap Barmby for Pereira too. We tend to wax lyrical about our academy side every season but having the luxury of leaving players as good as Rudge, Weir, McNair, Byrne and Barmby out of a top XI is indeed a bit rare.
 
Elliott said:
I agree with your formation and most of your selection. Gollini is a no-brainer for me, gets better by the week. I'd swap Barmby for Pereira too. We tend to wax lyrical about our academy side every season but having the luxury of leaving players as good as Rudge, Weir, McNair, Byrne and Barmby out of a top XI is indeed a bit rare.
Click to expand...

I was considering having a Daehli-Januzaj-Pereira but I figured the side could do with at least one out and out winger type, those 3 all strike me as more central attacking midfield types, I suppose it works for City though so it should still do well.
 
I don't get to watch a lot of the u18 games but of the few I watched last season Pearson was one of the most impressive and he's someone you don't really hear a lot about, it's usually all Daehli, Januzaj, and Pereira.
 
Every time I have watched Gollini so far he has impressed me a lot.
 
Pereira might be more talented than Barmby (might) - but judging from their current ability, Barmby is a lot better player than Pereira!
 
Cold_Boy said:
Every time I have watched Gollini so far he has impressed me a lot.
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He has had quite a few mistakes when dealing with crosses - but he has taken huge steps over the summer and looks a lot better now
 
Thisistheone said:
I'd put Gollini in nets, been impressed with him lately.

The rest looks spot on. Maybe James in at the back but only played once.

Love
Grimshaw
Ioannou (from what I've heard)
James

Rothwell
Pearson
Barmby
Daehli
Januzaj

Wilson

Seems harsh leaving out Pereira. Lots of options & with Demetre Mitchell emerging from the U16's.
Click to expand...

James isn't an U18.
 
For me (4-2-3-1): Gollini; Love, Wilkinson, Ioannou, Rowley; Pearson, Rothwell; Dæhli, Januzaj, Barmby; Wilson.

Bench: Sutherland, Grimshaw, Weir, Pereira, Byrne.

Tough on Grimshaw - not convinced by him at CB and Love's looked to have a bit extra at RB, but LG could easily slot in somewhere there. Pereira a bit unlucky but so much talent in the second-year midfield/attacking-midfield crop.

Could easily go with Sutherland instead of Gollini to be honest, Jonny was really pretty decent in the Youth Cup run last season and still not particularly convinced by the Italian yet. Gone with Gollini just because he seems clear #1 this year and Sutherland I assume must be injured.

Only the two first-years in that side - similar sort of situation to the 2010/11 crop. Looking ahead to the sort of team we might have next year's quite interesting already, lots of unknown quantities.
 
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