Youth Team In Review

I did this at the beginning of the season, but as soon as a posted it I realized all of my info was out of date, and the players I had discussed were either loaned out or sold. So seeing as how the second half of the season is when most youth team players get promoted to the first team (i.e. De la Red, Soldado, Negredo, Torres in previous years). Who will it be this year?!? I dont know, Schuster needs to use the young guys we have (Soldado, Gago, Drenthe, Balboa, Codina) first before we use Castilla players.

You may say I have a strange fascination with young boys fine, I am a big fan of producing youth talent. So here is a look at our excellent “quarry” system. WARNING: Lots of stats

Current squad 2007/08

Castilla roster

* U-23 players (minium of six)

Position Player
GK Antonio Adán
GK Felipe
DF Dani Guillén
DF Sergio (captain)
DF Javier Velayos
DF Krzysztof (Polish)
DF Gary (Uruguayan)
DF Hernán Villafañe (Argentinian-on loan from Boca Juniors)
DF David Mateos
DF Christopher Schorch (German)
DF Claudio
MF Rodri
MF Marcos Tébar
MF Miguel Nieto
MF Pedro Mosquera
MF Juanmi Callejón
MF David Vázquez
MF Dani Parejo
MF Javi Modrego
FW Gorka
FW Alberto Bueno
FW Ángel
FW José Callejón
FW Ádám Szalai (Hungarian)

Juan Forlin (Argentinian-on loan from Boca Juniors) needs to obtain a Italian passport in order to be registered with the team for the second half of the season.

There was a massive clear out this summer for the youth team as Michel lead them to demotion to the Second Division B. Here is the goings first, then all the players either promoted from the C team or brought in on youth contracts.

Transfers 2007/2008

In:
Position Player
GK Felipe Ramos (promoted from Real Madrid C)
GK Aitor (promoted from Real Madrid Juvenil A)
DF Christopher Schorch (signed from Hertha Berlin)
DF Javier Velayos (promoted from Real Madrid C)
DF Krzysztof Król (promoted from Real Madrid C)
DF Juan Forlín (on loan from Boca Juniors)
DF Hernán Villafañe (on loan from Boca Juniors)
DF David Mateos (promoted from Real Madrid C)
MF Daniel Parejo (promoted from Real Madrid C)
MF David Vázquez (promoted from Real Madrid C)
MF Juan Miguel Callejón (promoted from Real Madrid C)
MF Pedro Mosquera (promoted from Real Madrid C)
MF Claudio Giráldez (promoted from Real Madrid C)
MF José Manuel Cruz (promoted from Real Madrid Juvenil A)
MF Cidoncha (signed from Las Rozas Juvenil)
MF Javier Modrego (on loan from Valladolid B)
FW José Callejón (promoted from Real Madrid C)
FW Gorka (signed from Rayo Majadahonda)
FW Javi Hernández (promoted from Real Madrid Juvenil A)
FW Pablo Carnero (signed from Celta Juvenil)
FW Ángel (on loan from Tenerife)
FW Jesús Berrocal (signed from Espanyol Juvenil)
FW Ádám Szalai (signed from VfB Stuttgart)

Out:
No. Position Player
1 GK Jordi Codina (to Real Madrid)
2 DF Míguel Palencia (Contract rescinded)
4 DF Agus (On loan to Celta)
7 MF Borja Valero (to Mallorca – free transfer)
8 MF Javi García (€2.5m transfer to CA Osasuna)
9 FW Álvaro Negredo (to UD Almería)
11 MF Esteban Granero (to Getafe on loan)
13 GK Kiko Casilla (to Espanyol – free transfer)
16 DF Sergio Sánchez (to Espanyol – loan return)
19 FW Rayco (to Villarreal B)
20 DF Rafael Santacruz (to Ceuta – free transfer)
21 MF Rubén De la Red (to Getafe with two year buy back option)
22 DF Miguel Torres (to Real Madrid)
26 MF Adrián González (to Celta on loan)
28 FW Juan Mata (to Valencia CF – free transfer)

And some stats from last year:

Statistics 2006/07
Segunda División Position Pts P W D L F A
Real Madrid Castilla 19 49 42 13 10 19 55 67

* Top Scorers
o Álvaro Negredo – 18 goals
o Juan Mata – 10 goals
o Adrian – 5 goals
o Rayco – 4 goal
o Esteban Granero – 4 goals
o De la red – 3 goal
o Borja Valero – 2 goals
o Javi García – 2 goal
o Alberto Bueno – 2 goals
o Marcos Tébar – 1 goal
o Sergio Sanchez – 1 goal
o Parejo – 1 goal
o Nieto- 1 goal

* Top Goalkeepers
o Codina – 56 goals In 38 matches Not much help from the defense ehh?
o Antonio Adán – 7 goals In 3 matches
o Kiko Casilla – 3 goals In 1 match

Pretty good stats for a youth team, even tough they were relgated. I attribute that partially to loosing Negredo, De la Red, Soldado and Torres last year at different points, while some of the back up players were nothing special for the lost men. And out central defenders were not the greatest (Agus, Jeffrey). But, a really good youth team, only Sevilla Atletico are better as they are in the 2nd division this year. I attribute the drop mainly to Michel though, he seems like he just doesnt have a handle on the whole coaching thing yet, but I will not right him off just yet. Unfortunately he was replaced by Juan Carlos Mandia. I do not know much about him, but he has been doing reasonably well so far, with Castilla in 5th place currently.

Team Overall Home Away
GP W D L GS GA W D L GS GA W D L GS GA GD P
1. Deportivo La Coruna II 18 9 8 1 18 7 6 3 0 12 5 3 5 1 6 2 +11 35
2. Universidad Las Palmas 18 9 7 2 22 10 7 3 0 18 6 2 4 2 4 4 +12 34
3. Pontevedra CF 18 9 6 3 27 14 4 3 2 12 6 5 3 1 15 8 +13 33
4. UD Pajara Playas de Jandia 18 9 5 4 19 14 5 4 0 11 5 4 1 4 8 9 +5 32
5. Real Madrid II 18 9 4 5 32 21 6 2 1 19 8 3 2 4 13 13 +11 31
6. Rayo Vallecano Madrid 18 8 6 4 26 13 6 1 2 21 7 2 5 2 5 6 +13 30
7. UD Fuerteventura 18 8 5 5 20 18 5 3 1 9 4 3 2 4 11 14 +2 29
8. Atletico Madrid II 18 6 9 3 26 26 4 4 1 14 9 2 5 2 12 17 0 27
9. UD Lanzarote Arrecife 18 7 5 6 23 23 2 4 3 10 10 5 1 3 13 13 0 26
10. CD Lugo 18 7 4 7 23 24 6 1 2 16 9 1 3 5 7 15 -1 25
11. Celta de Vigo II 18 6 5 7 24 22 5 3 1 18 8 1 2 6 6 14 +2 23
12. UD Vecindario 18 7 1 10 21 26 7 0 2 18 10 0 1 8 3 16 -5 22
13. UD Villa de Santa Brigida 18 5 6 7 18 23 4 3 1 12 8 1 3 6 6 15 -5 21
14. CD Leganes SAD Madrid 18 5 6 7 13 19 2 4 3 7 9 3 2 4 6 10 -6 21
15. CD Ourense SAD 18 4 8 6 13 17 2 4 3 5 5 2 4 3 8 12 -4 20
16. AD Alcorcon 18 5 4 9 14 20 3 3 3 6 6 2 1 6 8 14 -6 19
17. Club Marino Luanco 18 3 6 9 10 20 3 2 4 4 5 0 4 5 6 15 -10 15
18. CD Fuenlabrada 18 3 6 9 14 25 2 4 3 7 9 1 2 6 7 16 -11 15
19. UD SS de los Reyes 18 2 7 9 9 19 1 3 5 7 11 1 4 4 2 8 -10 13
20. CD San Isidro 18 3 4 11 22 33 2 2 5 12 16 1 2 6 10 17 -11 13

We are currenty on a 7 match winning streak, which has restored us to 5th place after an indifferent and often inconsisten first half. Only being blown out by Celta Vigo II, we have handled the drop down well and I expect the team to challenge for a promotion spot this year. The Callejon brother are scoring the goals, Juanmi with 7 (6th place on the scoring charts) and Jose with 6, Dani Parejo with 6 and Bueno with 4. Adan and Felipe are both doin well, and the 7 match winning streak is a record. So far so good right?

Okay, so after the general over view, here is my thoughts on some of the players:

Keepers

Adan:

Although Cobena, Casilla and Codina have all been excellent prospects, none have gotten a shot because Casillas is the best keepr in the world. And unfortunately Antonio wont get much of a shot either, although he has more talent then Cobena, Casilla and possibly Codina. Usually reliable for club and country, he can be ear marked for greatness, but he wont find it at Real. We prdouce some great keepers, this is just the next in the line. A move away is his best bet though, not that I wouldnt like to have him in the team.

Felipe:

Felipe Ramos was with the triumpant u-18 team this summer although he missed the final if I remember correctly. Or maybe not, he was with a Spanish youth team that beat France this past summer. Real lists him at 19, but he is only 18. And like Adan, he is a great prospect. He wont have much of a chance either though, no one will for another 10 years unless Casillas leaves. Great prospect though, move away his best shot too.

Defense

Dani Guillen:

What can you say about this guy. He is 23 and still with Castilla. Has never made a first team appearance despite our troubles at left back in the recent past, so he will be cleared out this summer, probably to a Segunda B team. So he will be use to playing in that division. He never was earmarked for greatness so oh well.

Sergio:

Dont know much about him, he is the captain of the team at left back but plays centrally too, but at 22, may also be moved on at years end. Thats all.

Chris Schorch:

This kid is queer looking, not that I have anything against being gay, its more of my hetero way of saying he looks like a pussy. But he is suppose to be a good defender, who we bought from Hertha Berlin after he made a first team appearance at center back at the end of last year. He has played a few games, and is relatively young at 18 for this team, but he will hopefully make it up to the first team eventually, he has Metz to look up to. Id give him a 4 of 5 for potential.

Thumbs Up Again, Is That The Only Thing He Does?

Krol (Krzytof):

He played at the u-20 tournament in Canada this summer, and he was sent off agaisnt Brazil. He is a good prospect as well, and at 20 going on 21, he should be looking for a first team oppurtunity. He is another that has some potential at left back, very quick and aggressive as hell. I liked what I saw when I saw him against Brazil in Canada.

David Mateos:

No picture, but with Agus moved out to Celta Vigo he gets more of a playing chance. Id equate him to Alvaro Mejia, he would be a good backup player for the first team eventually. But as far as being a futurestar, its unlikely.

Javier Velayos:

I like thisk id, whether he has much of a chance I dont know, but he has alot of attacking menace in him, but at right back he has Hot as Balls Ramos and Torres in head. So you be the judge of what happens here. To bad too.

Gary:

There he is tussling with Gio. He is a good prospect, he was in the team last year I think. A Uruguayan, he is expected to be rugged and tough tackling. He and Schorch form a good partneship, and he would be my first pick to move up into the first team, if Schuster was ever to use Castilla players.

Vilafane:

On loan from Boca along with Forlin, although Forlin isnt playing due to passport issues and may be back in Argentina, Vilafane is a good prospect that we got after the Gago neogotiations went so smoothly. Mijatovic and co. seem to smooth over and hard feelings that Calderon may leave with his rash declarations about signings in the press, and Boca seem happy to supply us with youn Argentine talent. I do no know anything about him, he is 19 and may have little time to impress for a full deal.

Midfield

Perdo Mosquera:

He has a first team number, and he is a quality player, but he has yet to be called up, and I expect he will either be out on loan for the new year or sold permanently this summer. He probably doesnt have the quality required for the first team, but in a few years he may be like Albert Riera or Luis Gacia, journeymen-come-good.

Marocs Tebar

He is a holding midfielder, combatative and rugged. He has really plateaued recently, I can remember seeing him in FIFA 04’s Real first team and I figured he would be a good bet for the future. Like Mosquera, unless a call up comes this season, he will probably be shipped off somewhere. I hate to see it happen, but it does.

Miguel Angel Nieto

Cant find a picture for him which is strange because he has played the most first team games out of all the Castilla players. Last year he played a bunch of games and looked good, a quick and tricky right winger, he probably would be in the first team if Balboa was not. I like him, I think he should go out on loan to prove his worth along with Tebar and Mosquera, and I think he alon with Dani Parejo are the best bets for the first team right now.

Juanmi Callejon

He played the full year with Castilla last year after a tremendous 05-06 with the Juvenil team. He is a a gifted player at 20, and will probably need another year in the oven, but the next preseason tour of where ever, he should probably be in the suqad if he doesnt move.

Jose Callejon

Their brothers, and their single and their colored and their dancing! Give me a high five BAM! Thats the old Wayans Brothers show intro theme, which I always thought was catchy, Jose Callejon is our top scorer right now, and although he is touted as having less potential then 4-goal ALberto Bueno, he is a deadly finisher in the mold of Ruud. Dont know what to tell you about him, he may make it up one day.

David Vazquez, Javi Modrego, Gorka, Angel, and Adam Szalai

I do not know anything about these kids, the first three were promoted from the C team, Angel is on loan from Tenerife and is a second forward like Raul, and if he is the player I think he is then he has alot of potential at 18. And Szalai, dont know much about him but theres been a couple young hungarians going abroad lately so he may have some class in him.

Alberto Bueno

The last remaining member of the musketeers (Negredo and Mata being the other two), this kid has a big future, but unfortunately he will probably get the shaft like Negredo and Mata did. Mata did it to himself actually and has been utter garbage and Valencia, but Negredo has set La Liga on fire with Almeria and more power to him. Bueno though, is not having a good scoring year, but he has been improving his overall game. If Saviola was to be sold, I would like Bueno to be promoted and given a shot at the first team. He is a good prospect for us, I hope he makes it into the team one day.

Thats all of the Castilla team. I may decide to preview a few select players in the C team, but to keep this article relevant I want to get it out now. Enjoy, and as always, Hala Madrid!

Category: Editorial/Opinion

Tags: Editorial-Opinion

Subscribe   The Offside RSS Feeds

Print

Share