The advice given on how to make an U-18 player and a solid team, is my opinion only. Only my personal experiences and my in-depth research of other U-18 managers opinions counts.
Nothing can be called actual fact, information gathered comes from 20 odd sources. I chose from the players who had won multiple U-18 National cups and those who played in the highest leagues.
Most of my research is now 4 seasons old and coincides with me winning the first of my last 3 National U18 cups. This season I feel Amputees should have won, however, the main reason was I trained Intel a lot last season, to test if it was applicable (It is not).
Your first valued Question:
“Why should I listen to you? You lose U-18 games all the time!”
You.
“Because once you have the information I share, the shocking realisation that I gathered this from others, who shared with others becomes real.
You can become top shelf and only then you will make it past most group stages. Then you will run into someone who knows what you now know.”
Rubiton111.
Tooting own horn (Sorry)
You can check my upcoming U-18 Matches.
National Cup (Lucky winner)
Spring Cup (Topped Group) Playoff Stage starting
Confederations Cup (2nd Group) Playoff Stage starting
Season Cup (Topping Group)
Defenders Cup (Topping Group)
World League Div 5 (Was Div 2 forgot to buy a ticket grrrr)
League (Div 1 Currently 5th)
Follow my series on the Zone. This will be you.
This Zone edition I will take a look at your striker.
This is for the central striker #96 (Not the advanced forward and deep-lying forward I play behind mine).
If none of your new youth each season suit hit the exchange youth till you find one with a head-start on the balls discussed below.
Building these guys starts at 16.
This formation is the short passing formation I recommend if your choice is wing play, good luck but this series will not discuss wings, only how to counter wings, in the rear case you face it at this level.
I 100% guarantee you this. Use the same U-18 players in both teams and test tactic using your current formation V this formation. Mine will win. Then think of 300 more formations and test them. Mine will win. I did not make this formation, someone smarter than I did.
Fact! If Amputees used this formation V me this season he wins the semi-final 3-0.
Amputees. Please use this formation V my team and let us know the result. My 18’s are set in Challenge as where in Semi. Would be an interesting report from you in the next edition, please.
Speed: This is crucial. Ideal is 7 balls but 6 is acceptable.
Stamina: Over 4 balls is a complete waste of your training time, as it seems that Stamina is “turned down” for U18 games. If you watch enough U18 games you will notice late in the second half no one is slower. In saying that it does seem to affect players with less than 4 balls. So 4 Balls is a must for your Striker.
Intel: If you did not already know Intel trains at around halve the speed of everything else. If you did not already know this, simply go into your training camp and see the progress lines of any player currently training Intel at camp. The Intel line will be well below the other 2 lines. Before this season I was concerned that if all players have 3-4 Intel, they might be better. I was hoping that even though it is slow to train, the end result would be an overall improvement, this is not the case. My advice is to simply do not train this effect. If at some future date your player is a 23yo Star on the rise, then train it, as the speed of training Intel, is increased as the player receives experience balls 🙂
Passing: What your striker has when you get him is the same as what he has at age 19, better things to train on this guy.
Shooting: While it would be nice to have a 10 ball striker, unfortunately, speed, stamina, BC, are all required and you only have a few seasons to make him. Early in his 18yo season, it is OK to have 5 shooting on him, by the time the National cup comes along he will be close to 6 or on the way to 7. 6 Balls is a must, however, and 7 balls is the maximum you should aim for. Time is short.
Heading: Very important if he is a future senior striker, but for now, I advise that you ignore this till he is 19.
Ball Control: Something has to give as we can’t train all the balls we would like. Max him at 4 Balls and move on. It is the very last thing I add to my Striker, after Speed 6 Stamina 4 Shoot 5. Only later do I revisit Shooting after I have 4 BC, then I revisit Speed.
That’s all you should be concerned with for your striker. Partials are OK to pick up, however remember even picking up 3 partials, can cost u a speed ball early on.
I look forward to losing the next U18 National cup, means someone will be listening 🙂
MY CURRENT STRIKER
Was an exchange, got his partial on heading and passing, would have 7 speed if not for training Intel, currently training shooting for sale value if he does not max … then off to his final camp and sale ring.
You will note he has only 6 speed and almost 8 shooting. This happened in camp due to the fact I trained Intel rather than speed in camp. He should have 7 speed. The 3 green flags are his default youth training. It is rear I use that in camp, rather I chose from the list or use training exchange.
Always good to get one with default speed stamina and tackling at age 16.
Speed, Stamina, Shooting, also.
FOOTNOTE!
Note I do not send my 18yo’s to camp until after the Defenders Cup, Spring Cup, Confederation Cup and Season 7 Cup have kicked me out, even then only if un-maxed.
If you send an 18yo to camp day 1 of the new season, you are then a danger of missing the top 2 in National Cup group.
Day 1 this season was January 8
Day 1 of National cup was January 29
Leaving you 10 days without your 18yo’s
That’s the first 5 rounds gone!
What if you’re chasing 2 players who follow this article over the next 7 Zones?
You could be trying to chase down someone on 8-10 points in first and second place, with an equal team… Gulp.
P.S. The National Cup starts on day 21 every season.
P.P.S. Day 82 of the current season is time to send any 17yo to camp, so you have them at 18yo on day one of National Cup next season.
aussiezone 