Both Brian Barry-Murphy and Ben Wilkinson’s youngsters are aiming to build on league title successes earned in the previous campaign.
Things are currently going to plan, with our EDS eight points clear at the PL2 summit while our U18s boast a six-point cushion on second-placed Liverpool.
And below, we break down some of the incredible statistics that have formed the bedrock of both team’s success to date, including a phenomenal unbeaten home run and James McAtee’s astonishing goals return to date.
The role of the collective
In total, 35 different players have grabbed a goal or assist for either side this season, demonstrating the incredible strength in depth that both our EDS and U18s have at their disposal.
Brian Barry-Murphy’s men boast 24 of those players, while 18 different members of the U18s squad have also picked up a goal involvement so far.
Of that total, seven different players have been among the goals for both sides (Micah Hamilton, Dire Mebude, Carlos Borges, Luca Barrington, Nico O’Reilly, Rico Lewis and Will Dickson).
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McAtee Magic
The 2021/22 campaign has been one of incredible progress for James McAtee.
In September 2021, the 19-year-old came off the bench against Wycombe Wanderers for his senior debut, and he’s since gone on to make another five appearances for Guardiola’s men in all competitions.
That exposure to senior football has been just rewards for a truly phenomenal individual campaign, in which McAtee has grabbed 23 goals and seven assists in 25 matches.
An impressive 17 of those strikes have come in PL2, where he is currently the competition’s leading scorer, while he has also found the net in the EFL Trophy and UEFA Youth League.
Indeed, McAtee’s combined total of 30 goal involvements equates to an astonishing. 44% of our EDS’ strikes so far this season.
At the sharp end
Emulating the free-flowing brand of football played by Pep Guardiola’s men, both our EDS and Academy sides have found the net with a remarkable consistency so far in 2021/22.
Brian Barry-Murphy’s youngsters currently boast 68 goals from 32 matches in all competitions, while Ben Wilkinson’s side add a further 62 from 25 matches to that tally.
In total, that means our EDS and Academy sides have got on the scoresheet 130 times in just 57 matches, averaging out at 2.3 goals per game across the entire campaign.
Solid foundations
While our attacking prowess deserves recognition, much of City’s success this campaign has also been forged on a watertight defence.
Pep Guardiola’s men currently boast the Premier League’s best defensive record, and that feat has been emulated by both our EDS and Academy sides in PL2 and U18 PL.
Brian Barry-Murphy’s youngsters have shipped just 28 league goals so far this campaign, while our Under-18s have conceded on just 21 occasions in 19 league matches.
Indeed, when also taking the Under-18 Premier League Cup and FA Youth Cup into account, Ben Wilkinson’s side have let in just 28 goals in 25 matches across the entire campaign.
Both our EDS and Under-18s’ defensive diligence has proved invaluable across 2021/22.
Home Record
An incredible home record was a cornerstone of City’s U18 Premier League triumph last season and it’s been a similar story across the current campaign.
Ben Wilkinson’s side have won eight of our nine home league matches this season, with a 3-3 draw against Leeds the only blemish on an otherwise flawless record, while we also put Aston Villa to the sword with a 5-2 U18 Premier League Cup triumph back in September.
Incredibly, our last league defeat at the City Football Academy came back in November 2019. We’ve played 30 U18 Premier League home matches since then.
