Season 21 U-21 Talk & Predictions Thread

This is the 22nd season for the Dynasty Liga U-21 League.

Season 20 & 21 Champions:

Flamengo doubled up and went back-to-back with U21 holders Flamengo, winning the U21 trophy for the second time. How good were they doing it? They lost their leading scorer Mason Greenwood (and all-around scumbag of the highest, ERR lowest… order) half way through the season and Myron Boadu had no problem picking up the slack. Their challenge this season will surely see a lot new faces with which to contend and compete against.

Season 21 Teams:

BOCA JUNIORS (29/2)
Owner: BLAUGRANA
Assistant Manager: Tite
Captain: Gonçalo Inacio
Top Earner: Yeremi Pino
Lowest Earner: Diego Almeida
Key Player: Yeremi Pino
Zizou’s Key Player: Ander Barrenetxea
Oldest Player: Håkon Evjen, 21
Youngest Player: Hugo Félix, 17
Average Age: 19

Last Season Prediction: 4th
Last Season Finish: 5th
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 12th
Odds to win Championship (FM): 7/1

Key Categories led: Passing, Vision

Zizou’s Thoughts: Arguably no team saw as much remaking as last season’s Las Vegas Lights, this season’s Boca Juniors. In his maiden voyage at the helm, La Boca will seek to avoid comparisons to his precedessor. It has yet to be determined what kind of look Boca will go for to start the season. Arguably no GM was as aggressive as Blaugrana as he attempted a few splashes in failed counter bids but was successful in acquiring the likes of William Saliba, Gavi and Bryan Gil. In terms of free agency strategy, Blaugrana sought to acquire potential starters in Lorenzo Lucca with some long term projects like Jeppe Kjaer and Kobbie Mainoo, who will need some time, as will BG. So, what to expect? Well, it’s tough to say. He’s obviously at a disadvantage being new. All of the evaluations that we’ve made over time… ‘how many young players should I take chances on to compliment older more proven players…?’ ‘what is the right balance…?’. These are things he’s gonna find out about and have to learn to adapt, if need be. But don’t count him out yet.

COLUMBUS CREW (29/3)
Owner: Roberdino
Assistant Manager: Tony Pulis
Captain: –not yet selected–
Top Earner: Marcos Antonio
Lowest Earner: Josh Doig
Key Player: Facundo Torres
Zizou’s Key Player: Tino Livramento
Oldest Player: Hugo Guillamón, 21
Youngest Player: Mikki van Sas, 17
Average Age: 19

Last Season Prediction: 11th
Last Season Finish: 14th
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 11th
Odds to win Championship (FM): 13/2

Key Categories led: Decision-Making

Zizou’s Thoughts: FUN FACT! Tony Pulis hasn’t managed in two years. Following his last dismissal, Sheffield Wednesday owner Dejphon Chansiri called his appointment “a mistake”.

What happens when what you felt would always be there is gone? So often you have to continue to turn the gears and continue to move forward with the clock. But time is usually always the same pace and we get used to it and build natural rhythms or patterns to settle into it. This is how we maintain balance, though it is never routine. But what happens when a disturbance in the force disrupts that balance? Such is the case with Crew having to make do without graduating Centre Forward Darwin Núñez and early graduate Pedri. In what could have been seen as Crew’s last chance for a Top finish for a while, Roberdino will now have to find goals from other sources in order to make up for the severe loss of Núñez and Pedri, to go along with the other 7 players lost to graduation. It won’t be easy. It may not even be possible.

So, where does Roberdino turn? Luckily for Crew, the U-21 League is a developmental league so Crew have a lot of peers in terms of underwhelming star power. Alas, this is the building block league. And no better chance than the one presented to Roberdino now. Personally, I’d start with the assistant manager. Still, it’s not all bad.

Flair and Decision-making is something they have abundance of. But it’ll be a lack of real proven teamwork and leadership that will be Crew’s cross to bear.

FLAMENGO (30/3)
Owner: ProPAIN
Assistant Manager: Marcelo Gallardo
Captain: Sandro Tonali
Top Earner: Eduardo Camavinga
Lowest Earner: Lesley Ugochukwu
Key Player: Nuno Mendes
Zizou’s Key Player: Myron Boadu
Oldest Player: Pedro Neto, 21
Youngest Player: Lesley Ugochukwu, 17
Average Age: 19

Last Season Prediction: 1st
Last Season Finish: 1st
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 4th
Odds to win Championship (FM): 9/2

Key Categories led: Acceleration, Composure

Zizou’s Thoughts: From Mount to Tonali, the baton passes with so much success to live up to. Gone are Mount, Havertz, Kluivert, Leao and James… gone leaving behind a giant, hollowed wound, never to return to the hallowed grounds of the Maracanã.

After finally showing they could do it, Flamengo spent no time in proving that their success wasn’t a fluke, winning back-to-back U21 titles EVER. Well, I can only trace our history back about 10 years and I’m sure Nick would have a story about how he won the first three U21 titles or some shit but in relevant Eff/Dynastyliga history, no one’s repeated. Until Flamengo. Now Flamengo have a chance to go for three with most expecting Flamengo to make another run given the strong team presented, gifted with first touch excellence and bravery amongst their biggest strengths. There are a few weaknesses as the team is not the same set piece threat without their graduates and stamina and work rate will be a bigger challenge than might be expected. Still, Flamengo could go toe to toe with any club and come out the victor.

INTER MIAMI (29/3)
Owner: Gooner
Assistant Manager: Patrick Vieira
Captain: Jude Bellingham
Top Earner: Jude Bellingham
Lowest Earner: Dennis Lütke-Frie
Key Player: Gabriel Martinelli
Zizou’s Key Player: Folarin Balogun
Oldest Player: Nuno Tavares, 21
Youngest Player: Ilias Akhomach, 17
Average Age: 18

Last Season Prediction: 13th
Last Season Finish: 10th
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 14th
Odds to win Championship (FM): 10/1

Zizou’s Thoughts: I often wondered why a chap from Ottawa by way of some dumpy suburb like Loxley in South Yorkshire would select Inter Miami of all clubs for his U21 home. Is it the pink? Is it the dreadfully hot and humid weather conditions? Is it the party city atmosphere? Nah. Gotta be The Herons. Herons are beautiful. Beautiful plumage innit. Speaking of Monty Python, do you remember the Dead Parrot sketch? That Dead Parrot is Inter Miami this season.

Although luckily, Gooner had the mind to name Patrick Vieira as manager of his club to mentor the incredible young three-first-name players into maturity, in the lower half of the table. Once again. Just kidding. Execution in front of the box will be crucial for Miami as they aren’t the highest rated corner takers or finishers so they’ll have to make their chances count. Although I am sure all of the English camaraderie from the lads will be enough to carry them to 7th. Maybe.

LAFC (30/3)
Owner: Zizou
Assistant Manager: Gabriel Milito
Captain: Eric García
Top Earner: Ansu Fati
Lowest Earner: Franco Carboni
Key Player: Ansu Fati
Zizou’s Key Player: Ferran Torres
Oldest Player: Christian Früchtl, 21
Youngest Player: Charlie Setford, 17
Average Age: 19

Last Season Prediction: 2nd
Last Season Finish: 4th
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 1st
Odds to win Championship (FM): 10/3

Key Categories led: Jumping, Flair, First Touch, Average Height

Zizou’s Thoughts: Picked by some, including FM, last season to win the league, I didn’t think that we were convincing enough, at least against Flamengo and Palmeiras, who I saw as the two best sides in the league. But hell, I still picked us to finish second and we fell short, ultimately. I gambled on keeping Iñaki Peña down instead of bidding on a U21 goalie that I knew I could get. By the time I replaced Peña in this offseason, the goalie had been selected by another manager. Those little chances, gambles and opportunities to take ultimately define your experience. They’re things seemingly out of chance like walking into a breeze of cool air. But you have to make them count. I gambled and we ultimately fell short of our targets.

However, that depth that had made LAFC such a favorite in years past is what keeps us strong going forward. Since my other clubs were already ready, LAFC was the only one that took some reshaping during the window and the first team that I saw and felt satisifed about my Starting XI.

CLUB DE FOOT MONTRÉAL (30/3)
Owner: Luigi
Assistant Manager: Simone Inzaghi
Captain: Dejan Kulusevski
Top Earner: Jamal Musiala
Lowest Earner: Cristian Medina
Key Player: Dejan Kulusevski
Zizou’s Key Player: Moise Kean
Oldest Player: Morgan Gibbs-White, 21
Youngest Player: Gabriel Slonina, 17
Average Age: 19

Last Season Prediction: 5th
Last Season Finish: 7th
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 5th
Odds to win Championship (FM): 5/1

Zizou’s Thoughts: Luigi is a smart GM who always seems to have a keen eye for talent. Needing to fill a lot of new vacancies this season following the departures of the likes of Alessandro Bastoni and Samuel Chukwueze. It’s always difficult to try and find new star players and try to find them on the ascent. Somehow, Luigi has had arguably the same or a greater level of success with his own free agent picks as anyone else I can name. This building through U21 (then U22) is the example that I preach about especially to new GMs about how to rebuild. Unlike previous seasons where some of his Montréal teams led the rest of the league in some categories, this year can be seen as a rebuilding one but I still very much expect them to be able to compete and even put forth an outside titlt challenge if it can find a balance between defense and attack. The team in general possesses a high level of technique with good first touch but isn’t the best squad in terms of teamwork and positioning.

It seems Moise Kean has always and will always be U21 eligible. But sadly, this is his last season of eligibility and Montréal boast a few players who are on their last years, looking to leave a footprint before their natural ascent. Gabriel Menino, Dejan Kulusevski and Seb Walukiewicz are also on their last years in what will seemingly be Luigi’s best chance in a while at challenging for U21 hardware.

NEWELL’S OLD BOYS (30/2)
Owner: Kawai
Assistant Manager: Frank Lampard
Captain: Conor Gallagher
Top Earner: Marash Kumbulla
Lowest Earner: Matteo Soncin
Key Player: Tariq Lamptey
Zizou’s Key Player: Michael Olise
Oldest Player: Ben Johnson, 21
Youngest Player: Sávio, 17
Average Age: 19

Last Season Prediction: 12th
Last Season Finish: 2nd
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 7th
Odds to win Championship (FM): 11/2

Zizou’s Thoughts: Who expected that challenge from Kawai last season? You’d be hard pressed to find anyone, including the man himself, who predicted the second place finish they earned. What an incredible turnaround from a season prior and one Kawai can look back on with some level of pride since it was many of his own picks that had the best seasons including Aaron Connolly and Michael Olise, both of whom are back this season. Only two starters from last season’s runners up are expected to be out for Newell’s (Carajo!) so the question is whether Kawai can repeat his threat to the throne currently enjoyed by PP and Flamengo. At first glance, you’d think to think Newell’s has at least a decent shot. Well rated in areas like finishing and acceleration, the quality of their attack will be tested by the unproven half of their defense. Will Kawai come crashing back down to earth or is another dream season on the horizon?

NEW YORK RED BULLS (30/3)
Owner: JR
Assistant Manager: Wayne Rooney
Captain: Alejandro Francés
Top Earner: Rodrygo
Lowest Earner: Fausto Vera
Key Player: Julian Álvarez
Zizou’s Key Player: Jurrien Timber
Oldest Player: Leandro Barreiro, 21
Youngest Player: Alejandro Garnacho, 17
Average Age: 20

Last Season Prediction: 10th
Last Season Finish: 6th
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 3rd
Odds to win Championship (FM): 4/1

Key Categories led: Determination

Zizou’s Thoughts: With so many 2000-born players on their last year of eligibility, JR is looking to go on a run before this crop of youngsters graduate. Unlike prior seasons, there weren’t many vacancies at New York, as a result. Replacing Brahim Diaz and Tyler Adams will come harder than might be anticipated as finding a #10 that can run your tac can make the difference between a top and bottom half finish.

OTTAWA ATLETICO (30/3)
Owner: Curtinho
Assistant Manager: Steven Gerrard
Captain: –not yet selected–
Top Earner: Ryan Gravenberch
Lowest Earner: Marley Aké
Key Player: Curtis Jones
Zizou’s Key Player: Florian Wirtz
Oldest Player: Sven Botman, 21
Youngest Player: Jonas Urbig, 17
Average Age: 19

Last Season Prediction: 6th
Last Season Finish: 9th
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 9th
Odds to win Championship (FM): 13/2

Zizou’s Thoughts: We will never know how Atlético might’ve faired last season with a little more guidance. I hate to beat a dead horse because it’s a recurring theme but it’s a fair point regardless, albeit even if it’s a borderline moot point now in Season 21. A few notable departures saw Gavi, Cody Gakpo and Donyell Malen leave Ottawa and probably very happy to do so, I imagine. It will be up to Curt to make the most of Ottawa’s plethora of great looking youngsters.

PALMEIRAS (30/3)
Owner: evilo
Assistant Manager: Lucien Favre
Captain: Vitinha
Top Earner: Wesley Fofana
Lowest Earner: Melvin Zinga
Key Player: Vitinha
Zizou’s Key Player: Aurelien Tchouameni
Oldest Player: Juan Miranda, 21
Youngest Player: Andreas Schjelderup, 17
Average Age: 19

Last Season Prediction: 3rd
Last Season Finish: 8th
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 2nd
Odds to win Championship (FM): 4/1

Key Categories led: Fitness

Zizou’s Thoughts: evilo has one thing definitely going for him. He seems to be always thinking two steps ahead. Whether it’s losing players to promotion and what to do with them or acquiring new players for trade bait or flip for a different kind of upgrade, his shrewd sharpness will ultimately pay dividends, just wait. Evilo made a host of acquisitions with brilliant moves to add Aurelien Tchouameni, to name a few, to his crop of excellent footballing teenegers. Similar to myself, it seems that evilo looks to acquire his players first and then find a way to build a team around that. Other GMs may look to be idea first. But evilo’s strategy seems effective. The only drawback that I find is Palmeiras may be an injury or two from being exposed by a lack of depth at certain positions but I expect a worthy challenge from Palmeiras regardless of that. They rank high in Vision, Flair and Bravery, as well as always being a threat on corners. The right set piece goals at the right time could make a huge difference.

GUADALAJARA (30/3)
Owner: james
Assistant Manager: Xabi Alonso
Captain: Nathan Collins
Top Earner: Anthony Elanga
Lowest Earner: Matchoi Djaló
Key Player: Luke Thomas
Zizou’s Key Player: Anthony Elanga
Oldest Player: Matěj Kovář, 21
Youngest Player: Alejandro Balde,17
Average Age: 19

Last Season Prediction: 14th
Last Season Finish: 14th
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 13th
Odds to win Championship (FM): 10/1

Zizou’s Thoughts: I thought that it seemed my eyes were deceiving me when I saw someone select Chivas Guadalajara of all clubs to use for U21. Chivas, now that Morelia has left for Mazatlan, is the largest big club that my family supports. I have family members who’ve sat in front of the tv watching Chivas matches and pulling their hair out or yelling at the tv. That’s why after my first season, I moved to Chivas and Chivas USA. I stopped giving a toss about Mexican league football in the 90s and I don’t harbor romantic feelings about Chivas in my 30s but some of my family is still mad over them. Because they disappoint time and time again. Which brings me to James’ Chivas. For once, seemingly ever, James’ u21 team is not the youngest in the league. That’s a good start. James was also smart in acquiring good young talent over the past year like Anthony Elanga, Joao Gomes and Paulo Bernardo. That’s pretty, pretty, pretty good. Now, onto the trouble. They don’t have a single CF finisher. Not a one. Knowing James, he’ll look to Pep a non-CF at that position and it may end up working for him. But short of acquiring a good young goal scorer at the CF position, James will need to be as crafty as ever in his tactics to lift Guadalajara past this initial hurdle called expectations. And while they aren’t the strongest or have the best finishing in the league, Chivas will be tough to play against each and every time.

SEATTLE SOUNDERS (30/3)
Owner: Santiger Munez
Assistant Manager: Luis Enrique
Captain: –not yet selected–
Top Earner: Max Aarons
Lowest Earner: Nicolas Seiwald
Key Player: Giovanni Reyna
Zizou’s Key Player: Jesper Lindstrom
Oldest Player: Max Aarons, 21
Youngest Player: Dane Scarlett, 17
Average Age: 20

Last Season Prediction: 7th
Last Season Finish: 11th
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 3rd
Odds to win Championship (FM): 9/2

Key Categories led: Pace

Zizou’s Thoughts: Disappointing for a number of reasons, chief among them inactivity, Seattle will look to try to fill the void of several key players now graduated to greener pastures, financially. Arguably one of the most shrewd moves of the season was the acquisition via a free agent bid of Giorgi Mamardashvili to mind the net for this season. Without a doubt the best free agent U21 goalkeeper on the market went to the first bidder after I passed up the chance to promote Peña and bid on him in the window prior. For Santi, this bid was very good news. Not so good news, the promotions of Isak, Soumare, Diaby and Cunha leaving gaping holes on the Starting XI for Seattle. Santi made some moves to try and solidify depth at key positions to try and fill the void via committee. Seattle ranks high in Pace, Anticipation, Off-The-Ball Movement as well as Creativity, which should bode well in the goal-scoring department. How well?

VASCO DA GAMA (29/3)
Owner: Xavi4life
Assistant Manager: Marcelo Bielsa
Captain: Abner Vinicius
Top Earner: Danilo
Lowest Earner: Kaiky Melo
Key Player: Agustín Álvarez
Zizou’s Key Player: Manuel Ugarte
Oldest Player: Gabriel Chapecó, 21
Youngest Player: Guilherme Biro, 17
Average Age: 19

Last Season Prediction: 9th
Last Season Finish: 3rd
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 10th
Odds to win Championship (FM): 13/2

Key Categories led: Aggression, Agility, Anticipation, Corner Kick Taking, Off-The-Ball Movement, Crossing, Dribbling, Finishing, Long Shots

Zizou’s Thoughts: Respect I clearly did not have enough of for my man Xavi and his Vasco da Gama team, which bested LAFC for 3rd late in the season. And now, very clearly Vasco is a team to take seriously. While not jumping off the page immediately, if you scan through the players and the roles they fill, it’s easy to see why Xavi is such an effective operator. He THINKS like a manager. From what I know, Xavi is the only one seemingly doing this in his daily life. From getting his initial coaching license to coaching HS athletics, footie is in his blood. And his decisions are not made in vain. Sometimes, mistakes are made. But never without a ton of thought. The skill Xavi has acquired leaves you wondering where his teams would be if he’d have not been late to try to acquire Endrick, Joao Gomes or Julian Álvarez. The players Xavi does have, however, boast some of the most impressive numbers in the game. And all this while having the disadvantage of cutting off the majority of the world from your player selection pool. As a result, Xavi’s depth is weak at Right Back and arguably out wide on the right but that would be understating the value of Kayky Chagas, Biro or Gabriel Veron. Did I say lack of depth? I meant lack of depth beyond those clear stars in the making. Sadly, the only thing holding back South Americans is the competition and the roster sizes making it easy for a player to be lost in the shuffle. But while other GMs might look to acquire players first and build a team around them, Xavi seems to always be thinking a step ahead, looking to supplement depth with a versatile player with different qualities. Whether intentional or not (who are we kidding?), this is what’s kept Xavi relevant and a title threat all these years, the constant turning over of new talent represents opportunity and Xavi has certainly made the most of it. We will see if El Loco is the right man to lead the kids.

WYDAD AC (30/3)
Owner: Xerxes
Assistant Manager: Vincent Kompany
Captain: Jonathan Burkardt
Top Earner: Ozak Kabak
Lowest Earner: Djeidi Gassama
Key Player: Mohammed Daramy
Zizou’s Key Player: Noni Madueke
Oldest Player: Mohamed Camara, 21
Youngest Player: Vinicius Tobias, 17
Average Age: 19

Last Season Prediction: 8th
Last Season Finish: 12th
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 8th
Odds to win Championship (FM): 11/2

Key Categories led: Free Kick Taking

Zizou’s Thoughts: I will never know how Dusan Vlahovic failed to win the Golden Boot in what ended up being his final season of U21 eligibility. Due to his increase in rating, his call up was forced a season early, requiring Xerxes to look elsewhere to try and bring in a goal scorer. And while he didn’t add any names that could hope to fill the shoes anytime soon, Joshua Zirkzee was a keen addition to the squad to support Jonathan Burkardt, the man that will inevitably be called upon to supplant Vlahovic. Several other players were brought in by way of a youth movement. Having to make the second most amount of promotions in the league, Wydad faced a lot of turnover over the off-season and as a result, I expect it will take some time for them to settle into the season. But it really can’t get much worse as a 12th place finish despite one of the league’s best CFs has left questions being asked about what they can do without him and several others like Trincao, Saelemaekers and Lokonga this season. Not only that, they had the poorest offensive output of any of the teams in U21. Wydad will also need to shore up defensively as they were a walking sieve last season, giving up the second most goals allowed. There’s nowhere left to go but up (or down, but let’s face it, when you’re 12th in U21, there’s really not much separating you from the bottom.) Star goaltender Ersin Destanoğlu will be key to WAC having any chance of staying in the hunt for a top half finish this season.

Notes:

– Flamengo has the highest Average Player Salary and the highest Average Player Value.

– Inter Miami is the youngest team in the league.

– Seattle and New York are the oldest teams in the league.

– Montréal and Seattle lead the league with the most internationally capped players with eight.

– The youngest player in the league is Alejandro Garnacho (New York).

– Sandro Tonali (Flamengo) and Ferran Torres (LAFC) are the highest-rated players in the league.

– Mateusz Musialowski (Guadalajara) is the shortest player in the league at 5’4″. Kjell Scherpen (Seattle) is the tallest at 6’8″.

– Guadalajara is the most diverse team in the league, representing 19 nationalities.

FM Predicted XI of the season:
GK: Meslier (Newell’s)
RB: Lamptey (Newell’s)
CB: Fofana (Palmeiras)
CB: Lacroix (Palmeiras)
LB: Mendes (Flamengo)
RM: Kulusevski (Montréal)
CM: Tonali (Flamengo)
CM: Musiala (Montréal)
LM: Szoboszlai (LAFC)
ST: Torres (LAFC)
ST: Fati (LAFC)

FM Golden Boot Predictions:
01. Fati (LAFC), 7-2
02. Álvarez (New York), 9-2
03. Madueke (Wydad), 8-1
04. David (Ottawa), 9-1
05. Gouiri (Palmeiras), 10-1
06. Traoré (Seattle), 12-1

FM Golden Ball Predictions:
01. Mendes (Flamengo), 8-1
01. Fati (LAFC), 8-1
03. Musiala (Montréal), 9-1
03. Torres (LAFC), 9-1
03. Tonali (Flamengo), 9-1
06. Bellingham (Miami), 10-1

Zizou’s Predicted Table:
01. LAFC
02. Palmeiras
03. Vasco da Gama
04. CF Montréal
05. Flamengo
06. New York Red Bulls
07. Newell’s Old Boys
08. Chivas Guadalajara
09. Ottawa Atlético
10. Wydad Casablanca
11. Seattle Sounders
12. Boca Juniors
13. Inter Miami
14. Columbus Crew

Zizou’s Predicted Golden Boot Winner: Ansu Fati