Nick's totally unbiased S26 Academy First XI

[nckkss]

Hello and welcome to my totally unbiased assessment of the class of S26 Academy players based purely on ratings and not at all on my own opinions. Any presence of my own teammates or player is entirely coincidental... mostly.


I chose to pick a starting XI based on a 4 -2-3-1 formation as many regard it as the standard “default” formation. Arguments can be made for more of a 4-2-4 or at least a 4-2-2-2, with two strikers and two attacking wingers, especially with the strength of the strikers in this Academy, but for this article, we will be sticking with the time-honoured classic.


We will be ignoring Legend players as they will not looking to graduate, despite their performances often outshining the junior players around them. There are two legend players in the top 10 rated players, for example! But from the 59 academy hopefuls, this is my chosen first XI.


So, onto the team, largely based on primary position they've played in, and average rating as given by the game engine itself. It was actually pretty straightforward to determine who the best players were, but a little harder to make sure they actually play in their supposed positions.


Goalkeeper
Moew enBach, Stockholm IK  Average rating 7.09 (@Moew)

(Honourable Mention: Zryachiy “The Headhunter” Istanbul F.K.  7.5 off 1 appearance) 


enBach has been stalwart as part of Stockholm’s rearguard action, with 4 clean sheets from 7 appearances in what has been a high scoring academy season already, but in a class low on quality goalkeepers, he could be overtaken by the newcomer at Istanbul, who enjoyed an amazing start to their Academy career.


Right Back

Ewan Purves, Adowa Accra , Rating 7.57 (@Ewan1245)

Who could it be but Ewan Purves, the free-scoring Scottish Right back plays alongside me at Accra? While it be very childish of me to refer to him as selfish, his couple of wondergoals have put him amongst the highest scorers for us, as well as solid defensive display alongside some legend centre backs, Chavez at Left Back, and countryman Albert Flowers in goal.


Centre Defenders

Martin Krpan, Stockholm IK  7.17 & Jimothy Erickson, Port Royal FC 6.74  (@ChiefVito & @GingerJLD)

Like their goalkeeper colleagues, this an academy class with few options in CD, but unlike their friends between the posts, any CD willing to stay in that position will probably go high in the draft. Two standouts for me have been Krpan and Erickson, who both have bright future trying to stop the rest of us from scoring.


Left Back
Geronimo Datbasted Stockholm IK  7.47  (@TescoValueThor)

Surprise surprise, another Stockholm player to go alongside their storm to the top of table in the last 7 matches. A really exciting position with lots of promise, Datbasted just pipped ahead on average rating, and his name, when you're trying to beat him, is exactly what you'll be shouting.


Central Midfield
Che Youz, Adowa Accra  7.63, Tim Quackereedoo, Sydney City  7.1  (@Youz & @canard101)

Youz has 4 goals with Accra, but Quackereedoo has shined amongst a Sydney team that struggled to reach the standards set by the rest of the academy. These two are a great example of a healthy group of central midfield players, many of whom can play all across the spine of the team, with Youz playing CAM and CM several times.


Right Attacking Midfield
Nick Kasak, Adowa Accra 7.67 OR Bruce McAllister, Victoria Falls Eagles , 7.53 (@Spree)

Well, this is awkward, my own name came up as one of the top rated right wingers, which is lovely except I haven’t played every game there, swapping over to my favoured (and much more competitive) left for the last couple of matches. I mean, I do have 6 G/A and did get a 10.0 rating but is it really fair?

No, it isn’t, but thanks for letting too my own horn for a moment.

McAllister, on the other hand, has been consistently performing in a VFE side which has so much promise about it and is finally coming good, and will surely shine as an academy grad in that position.


Central Attacking Midfield

Arsene Cardinet Stockholm IK  7.56 (@ArsN)

A late starter with the academy, Cardinet burst onto the scene and has been fantastic in a crowded position. So many great players either are primarily CAMs or secondarily playing there, and from nowhere Arsene has 6 G/A from 5 appearances. Long may it continue!


Left Attacking Midfield
Joe Mormor, Victoria Falls Eagles , 7.86 (@Haramcha)

Now this academy group boasts a wealth of talent on the left, meaning despite my own somewhat impressive stats above, I’m pushed into second on my favoured wing. But Mormor is streets ahead, with a whopping 10 goals and assists to their name, and has been absolutely outstanding. And I am streets behind.


Striker
Nacho Kusora, Victoria Falls Eagles  8.34, 12 goals  (@Wahgao)
(Special mention: Dennis van Huntelrooy, Stockholm IK  7.74, 9 goals) (@Jeanious)

Averaging nearly two goals a game, Kusora is responsible for the goalfest that has been the academy season so far. His skills, timing and finishing, alongside the lack of many recognised central defenders, have come to define this group of goalscorers in this great Academy year.

Likewise, van Huntelrooy, with 9 goals in 7 appearances, has been pushed into second place for goals even with their astonishing return.

Kusora, of course, is the highest average rated player in this Academy team, followed by his teammate Joe Mormor, and van Huntelrooy in third.

So our final team:


GK: enBach
RB: Purves
CB: Krpan
CB: Erickson
LB: Datbasted


CM: Youz
CM: Quackereedoo


RAM: Kasak McAllister
CAM: Cardinet
LAM: Mormor


ST: Kusora


Subs:
The Headhunter
van Huntelrooy


So there we have it, I hope you’ve enjoyed my take on the S26 Academy XI based on the first half of the academy season, look out for your name come the end of S25 to see if your player makes the cut. 

What do you think? Let me know below.