Football in Five

1. New wonderkids

Its all coming up Football Manager with the top teams in the Prem at the moment. All seem infatuated with Wonderkids and finding the new big thing. Last weekend Max Dowman at the magical age of just 16 exploded fully on the scene by scoring a goal at the end of the Everton game. Not only making me feel ancient, as Max is the same age and school year as my daughter but also highlighting the need for youthful endeavour in Football currently. As tactics and coaching making Football feel like chess at times the unpredictable nature of young players make them not only exciting but also make a point of difference for the leading teams.

I thought I would highlight the next wonderkids around the top Prem teams.

Arsenal have Max Dowman as previously mentioned, making Ethan Nwaneri feel like a veteran at the grand old age of 18 and as they occupy the same area of the pitch and Arsenals need to sell this summer mean that Nwaneri could be surplus to requirements and destined for a loan or transfer to Fulham, Palace or West Ham next season. Max Dowman has so far played 7 games for the first team and has gained invaluable experience achieving more at the tender age of 16 than the majority of the population can ever hope for. As an attacking midfielder and winger and the exciting nature of how he glides across the pitch in a Yamal type of way. It is not inconceivable that Dowman ends the season with 3 or 4 winners medals. The future is bright for Arsenal and Dowman is the cream of the crop.

Man City have Cavan Sullivan in their ranks (he doesn’t actually join the team until the summer of 2027). Sullivan is 16 and made history playing for the first team in North American Major league at the age of just 14. Sullivan is an attacking midfielder  and his style is a cross between Silva and De Bruyne. He is a regular first teamer for the Philadelphia Union and has made 18 appearances so far. City have high hopes for Sullivan and by the time he joins i anticipate he will have made his national debut.

Im very excited by Man Utds next big prospect JJ Gabriel. He is only 15 so isnt old enough to play in the Prem however he has trained for the first team. He plays in the Fernandes role and has the skills of Neymar and Suarez and he is tearing up the under 18 Prem league scoring 18 goals in just 19 games. I predict Gabriel will make his first team debut next year and will be the next one aboard the hype train. Again making Man Utd fans forget all about the ancient Shea Lacey at 18.

Finally Liverpool have Rio Ngumoha who is a Grandad at 17 and has broken through the ranks and is now a first team regular playing 12 games already this season and with his ability to play on the left wing and as an attacking midfielder his creativity and directness causing defenders panic and making a difference in a number of games he has played. Ngumoha was.poached from Chelsea in 2024. He has been a great antidote to the likes of Gakhpo, Salah, Wirtz and the like his penetration at the end of games is what Slot is trying to achieve with Chiesa however Injuries have taken their toll on that player making him a 10 min player. Next season will be Ngumohas true breakthrough season that for me will.lead to his inclusion in England’s senior national team

All aboard the hype train please.

2. Champions League Goal Bonanza

What a week in the CL. Tons of excitement, goals and a little predictability made this even more intriguing.

68 goals were scored in the Round of 16 and beat the previous record of 62 set almost 10 years ago. After the first legs as predicted there were no shocks in the returning fixture.

Bayern put Atalanta to the sword scoring another 4 to beat them overall by 10-2 & in turn setting up a mouth watering fixture with Real. The latter easing past Man City with their tie never in doubt especially after Silva got sent off after 20 mins. For me Bayern versus Real is the tie of the round.

PSG absolutely smashed a woefully out of form Chelsea with an irresistible performance as they start to enter the business end of the season. They meet Liverpool who thrashed a poor Galatasaray team 4-0 however it could and perhaps should of double this score. Liverpool will be looking to exact revenge on PSG for knocking them out last season.

Arsenal eased past Bayer to set up a fixture with Sporting who broke the hearts of Bodo/Glimt and ruined the fairytale. Arsenal have arguably the easiest game of the Quarters and will expect to breeze into the Semi and I fully expect them to do so. Sporting have overperformed in getting to stage of the tournament and I believe are a very average team.

Barcelona smashed Newcastle 7-2 on Wednesday and were absolutely purring going forward and the front three of Yamal, Lewandowski and Raphinha rival Bayerns attacking prowess as the best in the world. They met Atletico who predictably beat Spurs who were surprisingly spirited under Tudor and actually won the game on Wednesday (albeit not the tie) as Atletico didnt bother getting out of second gear.

I love the Champions League!

3. Lovely bit of Carabao

Firstly has anyone actually drunk Carabao ?!?! How much better would it sound if it was sponsored by Monster?!?!?

The first bit of silverware of the season for English teams pitting Arsenal up against Man City. First against second the best versus the best, the master against his pupil. This game i believe will come down to how seriously Guardoila and Arteta take it. How many first team players will be dropped? And I believe the fewer changes to the first 11 wins. If I was in Artetas shoes I would play my best 11 and get the first trophy in the cabinet of the season. Arsenals best 11 beat Man City’s currently on form so why doesn’t he play this team? There is an international break straight after this match so my advice is go big or go home empty. The issue is that Both Guardiola and Arteta over complicate and over compensate so i expect both teams to make significant changes. This is in turn will create a more open game and a more exciting cup final. If Arsenal make changes to the defence Man City will score goals and Arsenal will come out and play and hopefully go toe to toe. Guardiola is the league Cup master having won the cup 4 times. Arteta needs trophies and this is his best opportunity. Go for the throat Mikel and bring the cup home.


4. Relegation battle

We are now at the critical stage of the season where games between the teams at the bottom matter even more for momentum, morale and of course points. Forest play Spurs and after both have had European trips and tough games and I believe if one of the teams win the other will be relegated.

Has Tudor turned things around in the space of a week or were the last 2 games fools gold. An early goal against Spurs will break them and if I was Periera I would instruct my team to go hard and fast at Spurs straight away, play with pace and move the ball quickly and Spurs will wilt. Forest problem is that they are blunt up front and not having a regular goal scorer is killing them currently. They are a good team but without Woods goals this season they have struggled.

Whereas Spurs need to get Solanke upfront with Richarlson and Muani. They need to bully their way to get a win. Gray has been impressive in midfield and he is critical alongside the return of Van de Wen in defence. This is crunch time for both teams and if West Ham can get a result away to Villa that will also put the pressure on.


5. Tommy T’s England Squad

How many players?!??!?!?!? 35 whooping players called up smacks of desperation at this stage of proceedings. Less than a few months before the start of the World Cup and it looks like Tommy T has no clue for half of the squad otherwise he would not of called up so many players.

A few highlights or issues the squad has highlighted is a huge lack of depth in key areas. Right Back – Tommy T obviously does not fancy Trent and has left him out Livramento is the only out and out right back in the squad. Left back has Hall and Spence (who can play on the right as well). Shaw has been ditched permantly which is no bad thing for me as i think he has list all his pace and is a liability going backwards. For me this highlights massive weaknesses and inexperience in England’s defence on the flanks. Maguire, Tomori and Stones all return which is very welcome bit of experience.

In midfield we lack any form of cover for Rice. Mainoo returns to the squad however all the midfielders are fighting it out for the other spot alongside Rice. Number 10 Tommy T has bottled it so far and picked Foden, Rogers, Palmer, Eze and Bellingham 5 into 1 doesn’t go?!?! Gibbs White has been ditched as well but understandable after his poor season.

Up front highlights if Kane get crocked we are surely stuffed. Watkins has been dropped after his average form and Solanke and Calvert Lewin have been called up – neither of which would strike fear into any defence.

Playing against Uruguay and Japan wont tell as any indication to what team Tommy T will play in the world cup but hopefully will tell us who he definitely doesn’t want .