Hours before the first-team’s disappointing defeat to Stoke, City’s under 18’s side hosted last season’s Champions of the BU18PL Everton; quite a spectacle in the making. I was at Platt Lane for the repeat of last season’s play-off final and was thoroughly impressed with what I saw. Whilst there is a great a difference in level between Jason Wilcox’s young side and Manuel Pellegrini’s City superstars, the contrast in performance was highly notable – and for me there were encouraging signs that we are developing our players in the right way.
The first glimpse I got of the U-18’s was back in last season’s pre-season preparations, when Jason Wilcox took his side to Stainton Park; home of the stubborn Radcliffe Borough. Radcliffe provided a tough test for Wilcox’s men, yet despite the age gap, they displayed great maturity and ended up winning the game 2-1. What I found most striking on that occasion was Wilcox’s shrewd coaching, constantly advising and instructing the players even in a pre-season friendly with little meaning attached. At the end of the game, the former winger ordered his players to clean up the bottles they had left on the side of the pitch, before commanding the group to sign autographs for a few little kids- this could be the closest they got to a set of City players. From that point, it was clear to me that our academy set-up is well-structured and we are going in the right direction; the recent trip to Platt Lane supplied me with further evidence.
Since the last campaign, there have been a few major changes in the U-18’s squad. The likes of Kean Bryan, Jack Byrne, Ashley Smith-Brown, Denzeil Boadu, James Horsfield, Brandon Barker and last season’s top scorer Thierry Ambrose have all progressed to Patrick Vieira’s EDS squad, leading to a bit of reshaping in the U-18 ranks. Having lost to Everton devastatingly in the all-important title-clincher in the last meeting, as well as wholesale changes in the squad, I was unsure of what to expect from this new-look City outfit – but it was not long until I was made aware of the great quality this team had. Wilcox had them well-drilled and was typically active on the touchline as they began to pick off an Everton side who are the reigning champions.
In terms of the side Wilcox had at his disposal, Charlie Albinson proved reliable in goal, while Sam Tattum and Charlie Oliver were solid at full-back; defensively sound and displaying great leadership in organising and communicating. At the heart of defence was the pairing of Nathaniel Oseni and Tosin Adarabioyo – two players who were dominant in all senses at the back, yet demonstrated accomplished abilities on the ball. Moving onto midfield, Marcus Wood took on the role of the destroyer; possessing a knack for snuffing out attacks, as well as showing intelligence positionally to drop in and cover his teammtates. Accompanying Wood in the middle was two highly influential players; Spaniard Manu Garcia and Bersant Celina –a player who has already been called up to represent his national team at the tender age of 17. Both players were inventive and had an eye for a defence-splitting pass, but they too fulfilled their expectation of working for the team. Isaac Buckley-Ricketts was a livewire up top, working tirelessly and showing good energy and movement, both Callum Bullock and Aaron Nemane were menacing on either flank; combing great work ethic with a direct, pacy threat on the ball.
Both goals in City’s two-nil win were prime examples of the way they want to play. Comfortable on the ball, opening up a host of angles, avenues and routes to goal; the sort of style that Pellegrini’s City currently occupies. They were not predictable or sloppy but resilient, relentless and professional. The opening goal came from aggressive pressing and harrying in the middle, as City emerged with the ball, moving the ball crisply to the right and setting up Marcos Wood to deliver a cross for Manu Garcia who popped up to finish cleverly. As for the second just after half-time, it typified the style of play implemented at all levels. Skipper Adarabioyo drove out of defence with sheer power and speed, before playing a one-two with Garcia and bending the ball into the top corner. It was a defender who had the licence to maraud forward and get involved. Being equally as comfortable defending as you are attacking is definitely a key principle for the academy troops.
I have been a regular watcher of Vieira’s EDS side; who go about their football in the same way – in fact I think every City side plays an expansive 4-3-3 apart from the first team. With the new state-of-the-art Etihad Campus well underway, it’s an exciting time to be a youth player at Manchester City. Arguably development of players is more important than results at youth levels, but I believe I’ve seen enough to know that in the U-18’s especially, we have the resources, we have the talent and the correct coaching, so there is no reason to not have faith in our youth system. Admittedly, the club have so many players in their ranks that it makes it inevitable that many will not make the grade. But the one’s that do will be ready, having already acclimatised to our ethos, principles and the City approach to football.
