ACADEMY: Two best performing players of the season in U18s and U21

Yesterday at 07:56 AM

Although it's not even halfway through the academy season, multiple players have impressed throughout the campaign. Two particular standouts from each age group have performed at a very high level. 

U18s standouts

Picking two standout players from the U18s side is a difficult task this season because several have contributed with fantastic performances, with the collective effort being the key ingredient to their success. However, one player stands out from a goalscoring perspective. 

La'Sean Sealey has accumulated the most goal contributions for the U18s this season (7), scoring important goals to lift the team up the table. One of those vital goals came against Arsenal U18s towards the end of October, overcoming a 2-0 deficit in a thirty-minute period, with Sealey scoring the winning goal late in added time. 

Sealey has occupied two differing positions in the attacking frontline, playing as a right-sided striker during the start of the campaign, and then shifting over towards a wide-left role in the last month. This allowed Finn Corke to take the central striker position after his injury at the start of the season. Although La'Sean hasn't played as a stereotypical striker through the middle across the campaign, his flexibility has enabled coach Greg Crane to tinker with his side and use others in their natural roles. 

^{La'Sean Sealey featuring earlier in the season. Credit: Gorleston FC}

The teenage striker is brilliant in front of goal and shows great composure when burying his chances. He has demonstrated his instinctive qualities to find the corners, using both feet to finish. Due to Sealey's efficiency in the final third, he has been rewarded with a couple of U21 appearances, after playing every minute for the U18s.

Furthermore, Sealey has provided immense physical qualities to the U18s this season, as his running power gets the team up the pitch. Not only does he have the fantastic acceleration to burst past defenders, but his strength to force his way through congested spaces is superb and often earns fouls for the team in dangerous areas.

Another player who has impressed throughout the campaign is Rio Mundle. The first-year scholar has played in two positions during the season so far, similar to Sealey. He was deployed in the central-midfield role during the opening games of the campaign but has since been deployed at right-back. 

The versatile teenager has accumulated five goal contributions since the start of the season, with three of those contributions coming in October. 

Mundle has provided a reliable attacking threat on the right-hand side, overlapping his right inside forward repeatedly. He has also produced numerous perfectly weighted crosses from the right flank, allowing fellow attackers to get on the end of those opportunities.

This was displayed in consecutive games against Brighton and Arsenal, when Mundle provided two assists for Lloyd Ofori-Manteaw to tuck home from a cut-back situation, demonstrating the effectiveness of this rehearsed attacking pattern.

However, his more eye-capturing performances came in the central midfield position, as his physical qualities assisted the team greatly both in and out of possession. 

Due to the teenager having long legs, his intensity to press is second to none, as he was effective at getting out to opposition players and winning numerous turnovers in advanced areas. Due to his fantastic physical characteristics, he's also able to win multiple interceptions in vital zones of the pitch and initiate counter-attacks for his side. 

With specialist right-back Finn Oligbo returning from injury recently it will be interesting to see where Mundle will play in the side, as he's played at a high level at right-back and central midfield. With Crane opting for the same midfield line-up for the last four games, Mundle might have to be patient to get another chance in midfield. 

U21s standouts

Since Finley Welch initially moved on loan to Boston United, before picking up an unfortunate injury, the development team have gone six games without a victory. His presence has been massively missed. They have missed his ball-carrying qualities, and ability to win fouls in dangerous areas. As a result, their volume of shots at goal has decreased. 

However, when Welch was present for the U21s, he played almost every minute of the opening eight games. He showed tremendous personality to demand the ball off his teammates, wanting to play on the half-turn and subsequently approaching the final third. He was also an effective resource at increasing the tempo in possession, breaking through lines at a rapid rate. 

Before his injury, Welch's biggest improvement from last season was his productivity in the final third. He accumulated six goal contributions in eight games – averaging a goal contribution every 120 minutes. With this being added to his game, Welch was becoming a more complete player and an individual ready for success at first-team level. 

Lucien Mahovo is another who has demonstrated fantastic consistency throughout the season, and has been a mainstay in the development side. Despite him only accumulating a single goal contribution during the campaign, it doesn't reflect his impact from an attacking perspective as his deliveries have been impeccable. 

Mahovo has earned the reputation of being a playmaker from defensive positions, finding his attacking teammates regularly with defence-splitting passes. The left-footed defender also has magnificent press resistance, allowing him to play progressive passes even when under pressure. 

Not only has Mahovo been a reliable attacking option from the left, but his defensive work has been calculated; making important tackles at the correct time without committing too many fouls.

Considering academy football is filled with direct wingers, the teenager has overcome many difficult opponents and flourished in numerous one-on-one battles. 

Mahovo's positive work throughout the U21s season has resulted in first-team recognition, as the youngster was involved in the previous three games before the international break. This demonstrates a clear pathway available to him if he continues to work hard.