Academy Task 5: A Look at the Adowa Accra Roster

[Doc]

With another Academy season now underway, I wanted to take a bit of a deep dive into one of the Academy rosters. Since I am selfish, I have chosen the Adowa Accra roster headlined by young superstar Freddy Adu. Without further "adu" (get it??), let's introduce the players.
 

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Mike Bassett – ST
Traits: Runs With Ball Rarely, Plays With Back To Goal
Top Attributes: Bravery, Strength, Jumping Reach

Bassett may not be your prototypical striker, but that doesn’t make him any less intimidating to go up against. Mike has described himself as a “great lump of a bastard target man” and aims to “properly wreck some people.” While he’s not fast, agile, or equipped with a powerful shot, he can hold his position in the box and will not shy away from any battles in the air. Defenders are going to have their work cut out for them on corners when playing against this beast of a man.

 
Bob Berendsen – LAM
Traits: Cuts Inside From Both Wings, Places Shots
Top Attributes: Jumping Reach, Acceleration, Finishing
 

Much like Bassett, Adowa’s second attacking player is a specialist in the air. Unlike Bassett, Berendsen has natural pace and acceleration to create chances in other ways. While still waiting on his first goal, Berendsen is considered the best finisher on the team and should be able to use his natural speed to create chances from the wing.

 
Freddy Adu – CAM
Traits: Gets Into Opposition Area, Tries Killer Balls Often
Top Attributes: Passing, Decisions, Anticipation
 

The last attacker for Adowa is none other than Freddy Adu. Adu slots in as a CAM, known for his excellent passing and decision making. While he can finish when needed, his first instinct is to create chances for the rest of his team. That skill set may not always mesh with target man Mike Bassett, but look for him and Berendsen to create a lot of chances together as they start to develop more chemistry.

 
Nepa Paya – RM
Traits: Dictates Tempo, Dives Into Tackles
Top Attributes: Work Rate, Acceleration, Agility
 

A right midfielder, Nepa Paya aims to be the next Park Ji-Sung on the right flank. A very well-rounded player, Paya is the jack of all trades. He doesn’t do anything at a particularly elite level, but there’s also nothing he can’t do. Nepa will hope to use his fitness level and work ethic to control the middle of the field and get the ball to the feet of those who can put the ball into the back of the net. Expect a lot of overlap with Jay Cue Jr. and a healthy dosage of crosses into the box for Mike Bassett.

 
Gideon Norel – CDM
Traits: Runs With Ball Rarely, Stays Back At All Times
Top Attributes: Decisions, all Mental attributes
 

Slotting in at CDM is Gideon Norel, who has been a standout player in the first two matches. Much like Paya, Norel is a player that aims to do everything at a high level but nothing at an elite level. Gideon’s mental fortitude is his most impressive attribute, which should help with positioning and decision making in the middle of the field. As he develops, his mentality is simple: “Simple passes, brutal tackles.”

 
Archie Lynch – CDM
Traits: Knocks Ball Past Opponent, Winds Up Opponents
Top Attributes: Jumping Reach, Determination, Pace
 

The second CDM for Adowa takes a much different approach to the game than his counterpart Gideon Norel. While Norel has a well-balanced profile, Lynch is a beast of a physical player who aims to get to the ball fast and get rid of it. You won’t look for Lynch to make any flashy plays or create tons of chances, but he should be a reliable player on the backline who can take care of 50/50 balls and keep the pressure off of his center backs.

 
Will Chamblee – LB
Traits: Winds Up Opponents, Marks Opponent Tightly
Top Attributes: Anticipation, Agility, Tackling
 

The starting LB for Adowa is Will Chamblee, a quick player who excels at anticipating offensive buildup and starting a counter attack down the left side. While not the strongest defender, you’ll often see him get into passing lanes to disrupt important passes. Once he makes the stop, he has the skills to get the ball up the field and can deliver a pretty strong cross when called upon.

 
Jay Cue Jr. – RWB
Traits: Gets Forward Whenever Possible, Gets Into Opposition Area
Top Attributes: Pace, Acceleration, Crossing
 

On the right side of the defense is Jay Cue Jr., though at first glance you may mistake him for a rocket ship. While he may be considered a defender, what Cue Jr. really wants to do is race down the sideline and deliver a cross to anyone who is waiting to receive it. When asked what he likes to do on the pitch, Jay responded “I want to start running forward on the right side of defense and stop a few miles after I leave the country.” Sadly his unreal start to the season was seemingly erased from the annals of history, but I believe he still has some great performances ahead of him.

 
Tumelo Letsie – GK
Traits: N/A
Top Attributes: Reflexes, Aerial Reach, Agility
 

Last but not least, we have our trusty keeper Tumelo Lestie. Letsie is an agile goalkeeper who relies on his quick reflexes and large wingspan to stop anything that comes his way. The good news is that through two games, Tumelo has yet to lose a game. The not so good news is that he has only a single save to his name. Though I’m sure he doesn’t mind a quiet day in the net, he’ll definitely have more opportunities to show off his skillset in the future.

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[Hero19]

Solid analysis of the team, highlighting key attributes and emphasising their strengths.

Media Grade 4/5