CLGS 6th round, Dec. 12-13, 2023

[Lorric]

Hamilton on debut scores a great goal from a tight angle into the roof of the net. Not a player I'm familiar with at all as he only has 3 England U16 caps. He's 20 now, apparently was a ball boy for City 5 years ago.

I wasn't all that familiar beyond the name. Just before he turned 18 he had a bad ankle injury that kept him out for 18 months, which explains why he disappeared from the England age group teams. Because of all the missed football he won't get too many more opportunities this season - regular 90s for the under-23s will be viewed as more important than a few minutes here and there for the first team. The likes of Foden and Palmer used to combine the two - play u23 on Sunday if unused or only a few minutes on Saturday. That's rarely an option any more. Apparently other teams have got wise to it and where possible arrange u23 fixtures against City to clash with the first team in the hope of facing a weaker side.

I see. Very unfortunate for him. I don't know how it works at U23, but I would have thought if clubs decide, wouldn't City have the decision for their home games? Also seems counterproductive for other teams, okay, if you're going for the title, or fighting relegation, perfectly understandable, but otherwise, wouldn't you want your guys playing the best possible opposition?

[Oldelpaso]

Hamilton on debut scores a great goal from a tight angle into the roof of the net. Not a player I'm familiar with at all as he only has 3 England U16 caps. He's 20 now, apparently was a ball boy for City 5 years ago.

I wasn't all that familiar beyond the name. Just before he turned 18 he had a bad ankle injury that kept him out for 18 months, which explains why he disappeared from the England age group teams. Because of all the missed football he won't get too many more opportunities this season - regular 90s for the under-23s will be viewed as more important than a few minutes here and there for the first team. The likes of Foden and Palmer used to combine the two - play u23 on Sunday if unused or only a few minutes on Saturday. That's rarely an option any more. Apparently other teams have got wise to it and where possible arrange u23 fixtures against City to clash with the first team in the hope of facing a weaker side.

I see. Very unfortunate for him. I don't know how it works at U23, but I would have thought if clubs decide, wouldn't City have the decision for their home games? Also seems counterproductive for other teams, okay, if you're going for the title, or fighting relegation, perfectly understandable, but otherwise, wouldn't you want your guys playing the best possible opposition?

PL2 is a bit of a mess. Its not like the UEFA Youth League where you play the same team as the seniors. City do set their home games, but they've only had five so far this season and three have been when the first team played on Sunday. As for the opposition attitudes, it does seem petty and counterproductive, but I guess when you have coaches wanting to keep their jobs and budgets these things happen.

[Lyonnais]

WS marks - Average of the 3 best performances


Top 10

8.80 Galeno (Porto, ML, 26, POR)
8.75 Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid, AMC, 20, ENG)
8.65 Gabriel Jesus (Arsenal, FW, 26, BRA)
8.58 Mehdi Taremi (Porto, FW, 31, IRN)
8.56 Bukayo Saka (Arsenal, FWR, 22, ENG)
8.50 Alvaro Morata (Atletico, FW, 31, ESP)
8.49 Joao Cancelo (Barcelona, DR, 29, POR)
8.46 Antoine Griezmann (Atletico, FW, 32, FRA)
8.42 Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal, FWL, 22, BRA)
etc.


Best XI

.............. Galeno (Porto) - G.Jesus (Arsenal) - B.Saka (Arsenal) ....................
... B.Mendez (R.Sociedad) - J.Bellingham (R.Madrid) - M.Merino (R.Sociedad) .....
D.Raum (Leipzig) - M.Hummels (Dortmund) - Natan (Napoli) - J.Cancelo (Barcelona)
................................ A.Schlager (Salzburg) .........................................


U21 Players

8.75 Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid, AMC, 20, ENG)
8.05 Xavi Simons (Leipzig, AMC, 20, NED)
7.89 Jamal Musiala (Bayern, AMC, 20, GER)
etc.


Best per club

8.34 Harry Kane (Bayern, FW, 30, ENG)
7.69 Kevin Diks (Copenhagen, DC, 27, NED)
7.61 Sacha Boey (Galatasaray, DR, 23, FRA)
7.86 Rasmus Hojlund (Man United, FW, 20, DEN)

8.65 Gabriel Jesus (Arsenal, FW, 26, BRA)
7.46 Johan Bakayoko (PSV, AMR, 20, BEL)
7.50 Przemyslaw Frankowski (Lens, DMR, 28, POL)
7.36 Youssef En-Nesyri (Sevilla, FW, 26, MOR)

8.75 Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid, AMC, 20, ENG)
7.87 Natan (Napoli, DC, 22, BRA)
7.79 Bruma (Braga, AML, 29, POR)
7.69 Frederik Ronnow (Union, GK, 31, DEN)

8.24 Mikel Merino (Real Sociedad, MC, 27, ESP)
7.41 Hakan Calhanoglu (Inter, MC, 29, TUR)
7.65 Angel Di Maria (Benfica, AMR, 35, ARG)
7.85 Alexander Schlager (Salzburg, GK, 27, AUT)

8.50 Alvaro Morata (Atletico, FW, 31, ESP)
7.38 Ivan Provedel (Lazio, GK, 29, ITA)
7.92 Calvin Stengs (Feyenoord, AMC, 24, NED)
7.37 Matt O'Riley (Celtic, MC, 23, ENG)

7.90 Mats Hummels (Dortmund, DC, 34, GER)
8.13 Kylian Mbappé (Paris, FW, 24, FRA)
7.67 Rafael Leao (Milan, FWL, 24, POR)
7.68 Nick Pope (Newcastle, GK, 31, ENG)

8.38 Phil Foden (Man City, AMR, 23, ENG)
8.08 David Raum (Leipzig, DL, 25, GER)
7.49 Ulisses Garcia (Young Boys, DL, 27, SUI)
7.52 Osman Bukari (Crvena zvezda, FW, 25, GHA)

8.49 Joao Cancelo (Barcelona, DR, 29, POR)
8.80 Galeno (Porto, ML, 26, POR)
8.01 Danylo Sikan (Shakhtar, FW, 22, UKR)
7.61 Arthur Vermeeren (Antwerp, DMC, 18, BEL)

[Juliusz]

MD6 attendances

Dortmund - Paris SG 81,365
Union Berlin - Real Madrid 73,420
Man United - Bayern 73,073
Inter - Real Sociedad 69,010
Atlético de Madrid - Lazio 63,574
Celtic - Feyenoord 56,391
Newcastle - Milan 52,037
Crvena zvezda - Man City 49,443
FC Porto - Shakhtar Donetsk 48,113
Leipzig - Young Boys 43,331
Napoli - Braga 37,841
Lens - Sevilla 37,456
PSV - Arsenal 35,000
Copenhagen - Galatasaray 34,726
Salzburg - Benfica 27,134
Antwerp - Barcelona 13,550