Subject: [u21 NT] Squad

First order of business for me is to examine the squad, get rid of the dead wood and call up those might make the grade.

The existing squad consists of 31 players. I'll group them here by age and give some thoughts on their prospects, while including their value and a typical recent mark.

21 years

Jabulani Mudau - R4.3m (43), 14 caps, magical form - hard tackling defender, some weak points but valuable to the team
Solomuzi Murape - R3.7m (48), 14 caps, divine form - looks a candidate for the defensive midfield role
Quintin Mosa - R3.5m (44), 12 caps, brilliant form - certain to fit into the back line
Moeneeb Makhanya - R3.4m (48), 13 caps, unearthly form - not the quickest, but good defensive and midfield skills
Sazi Mkhize - R2.3m (47), 14 caps, weak form - been playing on the wing for us; could also fit in as an attaking midfielder; form is a concern
Amos Gatri - R2.3m (40), 2 caps, superdivine form - recently broke into the team; possibly a borderline defence candidate but in great form
Augusto Bell - R2.2m (41), 2 caps, average form - possible defender/defensive mid candidate, but form is a concern. Improving.
Ernest Ramudzuli - R2.1m (38), no caps, weak form - manager hasn't logged in for 2 weeks, player skills haven't been updated in 6 months, form is poor. RELEASED but could get recall if manager returns and updates skills. Seemed to be improving before being benched at his club on 26 April.
Brett Maselesele - R1.5m (10) - no caps, incredible form - striker who has been playing in goals for almost a year; no skill updates, BOT team. What on earth is he doing in the squad? RELEASED.
Zamuxolo Kgomane - R1.4m (42) - no caps, unsatisfactory form - good marks for such a cheap player, but they come from modest all round skills. Doesn't have the quality to for any particular job and form is poor. RELEASED.

20 years

Jaba Shasha - R11.8m (76), 13 caps, unearthly form - super young goalkeeper; if he's not available, we're in deep trouble.
Irvin Chenene - R3.9m (41), 4 caps, outstanding form - pacey striker trainee but may just be suited to a position out wide at this stage of his career; promising.
Michael Stober - R2.2m (37), 3 caps, magical form - has weak points and lack of stamina would likely see him on the bench, but is in contention and improving.
Kanku Blankenberg - R2.2m (35), 12 caps, brilliant form - has been a constant in the midfield for the team; may be better suited out wide and low stamina is a concern.
Patrick Johnson - R1.8m (44), no caps, magical form - good marks but has an unusual set of skills, perhaps best suited to a defensive midfield type position; improving but low pace and stamina is a concern
Vincent Ngaduna - R1.7m (37), 1 cap, outstanding form - striker training with midfield instructions so marks lower than can be expected when he plays up front; likely to be the one we're relying on for goals.
Kaizer Djiehoua - R1.4m (39), no caps, formidable form - doesn't stand out in any one area but could possibly support the midfield from the bench; appears to be getting training but marks not improving very quickly; borderline player but will keep in squad for now. With training, could be useful nest season; stamina a concern.

19 years

Wade Zulu - R2.7m (45), 8 caps, superdivine form - highly talented youngster with star potential; current skill set is a bit unsual though leaving him not particularly suited for any specific position but useful nonetheless; his training plan is giving me some headaches...
Ashley Champion - R2.0m (41), 8 caps, brilliant form - very promising midfielder with wing or attacking midfield potential
Zane Tsotesi - R2.0m (47), no caps, superdivine form - goalkeeper, likely to take over from Shasha when the latter turns 22 though training status is currently uncertain
Marc Cox - R1.9m (40), no caps, incredible form - lacks the pace to be useful to the team right now, but could be valuable in the next season or two with continued training
Arthur Buckley - R1.5m (35), no caps, very good form - striker trainee; not likely to get further than the bench at current pace and stamina levels, but has potential
Moses Chembo - R1.5m (31), no caps, outstanding form - skills currently don't lead themselves to a particular job in the team, stamina is low and training appears slow, but the base is there for him to be useful to the squad in the future, perhaps as a wing or attacking midfielder
Howard Lechesa - R1.5m (33), no caps, outstanding form - only has pace and technique to recommend currently but training as a striker and it's not impossible for him to be a contender for the starting lineup in the future
Ntokozo Skosana - R1.1m (33), no caps, unearthly form - well rounded defensive capabilities and likely to feature in any u19 games but stamina is low and will need to be well trained to make the u21's in future seasons. TRANSFER TOPIC CURRENTLY OPEN
Wiseman Mgqamqo - R0.9m (35), no caps, magical form - decent striker with full training scheduled; likely to feature for u19's
Bruce Moloi - R0.9m (34), 1 cap, tragic form - third best goalkeeper but better pace/passing than Tsotesi; doesn't appear to be getting training
Simon Babale - R0.6m (22), no caps, excellent form - poor skills, poor marks, seldom gets full matches; shouldn't be here. RELEASED
(edited)

18 years

Ntsu Lekoho - R1.5m (26), no caps, divine form - some way to go yet but looks a possible winger, good training program scheduled
Alexander Rhode - R0.8m (29), no caps, weak form - decent set of skills for a future wing/midfielder; all depends on his training program
Franklin Fernandez - R0.5m (27), no caps, excellent form - perhaps called up too soon but has potential as a wing or striker; trainer appears enthusiastic; will retain and watch his progress

Right. We've whittled down the existing squad of players to 27.
As you can see, we're a bit short of depth at the top with only SEVEN 21 year olds in the squad and a further SEVEN 20 year olds. The 19 year old bunch are looking promising.

Time to call up some additional players, and here's a few that I've found so far.

21 years

Sibonelo Tefera - R1.9m (35), no caps, solid form - marks appear low but training out of position in most matches; stamina and form could be better; however, skills are such that he could be a valuable resource on the bench to be used as an impact striker or as a replacement in the back line
David Augustine - R2.0m (40), no caps, magical form - technique not up to scratch but could be a useful backup to the defensive line

20 years

Victor Doxakis - R1.4m (38), no caps, brilliant form - needs more pace to be useful but is being trained
Sibonelo Ncaca - R2.0m (44), no caps, incredible form - a bit short on pace and stamina but potentially useful midfielder and marks appear to be improving rapidly
Malcolm Lushozi - R1.3m (36), no caps, incredible form - nothing really special but decent all round skills for a midfielder and appears to be improving
Lesley Ramakgopa - R2.4m (39), no caps, divine form - has potential as a wing or attacking midfielder
Jack Winstanley - R1.6m (40), no caps, incredible form - lack of pace and technique is a worry but is being trained and has some useful defensive mid qualities
Ernest Niang - R1.1m (36), no caps, incredible form - lacks stamina but fair all round mid skills and being trained

19 years

Oscar Hufkie - R1.1m (35), no caps, incredible form - striker trainee, improving steadily
Mwila Matamela - R1.5m (34), no caps, formidable form - current skills unknown but value and marks improving and potentially a useful midfielder. Will consider release if manager refuses to update.
Excellent Malatsi - R0.8m (32), no caps, formidable form - skills not yet good enough but very talented and being trained; worth watching for now
Dume Bikwani - R0.8m (26), no caps, tragic form - striking skill improving nicely; form, technique and stamina make selection unlikely but worth watching for now
Piyoyo Bax - R1.3m (n/a), no caps, excellent form - unearthly and talented youth, will be trained, looks like a great midfield prospect

That brings us up to 40 in the squad.

None of these positions are locked in stone. Younger players with more potential could easily bump out some of the borderline guys I've included here.

Also, if anyone has a player they think deserves inclusion, let me know.

Here's a list of the current squad of 40 players, grouped by age, and ranked by the total points of their best 3 skills (excluding stamina) as per the stats listed in the database.

21 years old

37 Jabulani Mudau
36 Solomuzi Murape
35 Quintin Mosa, Moeneeb Makhanya
34 Sazi Mkhize
33 Sibonelo Tefera
32 Augusto Bell
31 Amos Gatri
26 David Augustine

20 years old

36 Jaba Shasha
33 Irvine Chenene
32 Kanku Blankenberg
31 Michael Stober, Vincent Ngaduana, Sibonelo Ncaca
29 Patrick Johnson, Lesley Ramakgopa, Kaizer Djiehoua
28 Victor Doxakis, Jack Winstanley
27 Ernest Niang
25 Malcolm Lushozi

19 years old

33 Wade Zulu
30 Ashley Champion, Moses Chembo
29 Arthur Buckley, Marc Cox, Piyoyo Bax
27 Dume Bikwani
26 Howard Lechesa, Wiseman Mgqamqo
25 Ntokozo Skhosana
23 Oscar Hufkie
22 Excellent Malatsi
21 Zane Tsotesi

18 years old

28 Charles Roskruge, Camilius Masanabo, Tsepo Davies
24 Ntsu Lehoko
21 Franklin Fernandez

Updated 19 June 09.
(edited)

It's a pity not to be able to use a promising young player, but if a manager ignores update requests, and the current skills are 8 months out of date for a 19 year old, there's no way I can use the player. Out goes Mwila Matamela.

In comes Theunis' new striker, Charles Roskruge.

solid passing adequate striker
Sibonelo Ncaca, age 20
value: 2 366 000 R
wage: 20 200 R
unearthly form
bookings:
very good stamina tragic keeper
good pace good defender
excellent technique very good playmaker
formidable passing unsatisfactory striker

Here is the players updated stats.

I'm bringing in the new 18 y/o keeper, Camilius Masanabo, to replace 19 y/o Bruce Moloi.
Moloi's marks haven't improved since being transferred, so it's unlikely that he's getting any training. Masanabo's skills are marginally better, and he's a year younger. Let's hope that he does get trained.

It appears that a skills update on a player was incorrect. Querying the situation with the manager. Here is what I was sent 20 days ago:

Sibonelo Tefera , wiek 21
wartość: 961 000 zł
wynagrodzenie: 12 300 zł
solidna forma

słaba kondycja (4) tragiczny bramkarz (0)
znakomita szybkość (12) znakomity obrońca (12)
świetna technika (11) niedostateczny rozgrywający (2)
mierne podania (3) świetny strzelec (11)

Here are the players stats as seen on the transfer list right now:

Sibonelo Tefera, age: 21
value: 2 058 000 R, wage: 24 600 R
very good form, good tactical discipline

weak stamina tragic keeper
very good pace outstanding defender
very good technique unsatisfactory playmaker
poor passing formidable striker

Pace and technique are both very good, not outstanding and formidable. I'll adjust my earlier posts and the database.
(edited)

Jaba Shasha is looking great :)

A Belgian girl was willing to train him keeper. His talent is really extremely good :)
(edited)

For the interest of all our u21 trainers, here is a current list of the most valuable South African u21 players.

Goalkeepers
13.512m Jaba Shasha (20)
2.074m Zane Tsotesi (19)
1.196m Bruce Moloi (19)
1.142m Darren Fish (21)
1.140m Calvin Kalaka (21)
1.078m Jason Modabi (21)
0.724m Dume Mcube (18)
0.676m Marlen Mathopa (19)

Defenders
4.810m Quintin Mosa (21)
4.064m Jabulani Mudau (21)
3.466m Moeneeb Makhanya (21)
2.852m Wade Zulu (19)
2.640m Michael Stober (20)
2.592m Amos Gatri (21)
2.570m Augusto Bell (21)
2.496m Ernest Ramudzuli (21)
2.184m Sibonelo Tefera (21)
2.166m Patrick Johnson (20)
2.100m Marc Cox (19)
1.906m David Augustine (21)
1.846m Lesley Marumo (20)
1.696m Jack Winstanley (20)
1.476m Victor Doxakis (20)
1.414m Adam Mahule (21)
1.366m Daniel Scott (20)
1.362m Moeneeb Joel (21)
1.290m Gerald Nong (19)
1.252m Sibusiso Bartlett (21)
1.112m Godfrey Mahule (21)
1.074m Steven Louvie (20)
1.010m Marc Mabotsa (21)
0.958m Vivian Khanyile (19)

Midfielders
4.986m Irvin Chenene (20)
3.696m Solomuzi Murape (21)
2.742m Sibonelo Ncaca (20)
2.330m Kanku Blankenberg (20)
2.268m Lesley Ramakgopa (20)
2.102m Sazi Mkhize (21)
2.058m Ashely Champion (19)
1.942m Mwila Matamela (19)
1.838m Erwin Mokoena (20)
1.724m Mtsu Lehoko (18)
1.692m Moses Chembo (19)
1.666m Kaizer Djiehoua (20)
1.626m Malcolm Lushozi (20)
1.546m Zamuxolo Kgomane (21)
1.458m Koketso Joel (21)
1.378m Charles Nxumalo (20)
1.348m Erwin Lane (21)
1.304m Henrico Tulare (21)

Strikers
1.714m Howard Lechesa (19)
1.628m Vincent Ngaduana (20)
1.498m Brett Maselesele (21)
1.492m Oscar Hufkie (19)
1.440m Nuro Vukubi (20)
1.358m Arthur Buckley (19)
1.306m Norman Mabedi (21)
1.272m Jason Donnelly (20)
1.192m Nuro Banda (21)
1.100m Dume Bikwani (19)
0.954m Wiseman Mgqamqo (19)
0.868m Quintin Cupido (21)
0.792m Thomas Taulibudine (20)
0.762m Frank Chenene (21)
0.686m Wesi Vonk (19)
0.678m Moses Jooste (21)
0.570m Henry Davis (21)

Some players might look like they're in the wrong categories. I've just gone by their highest skills, not necessarily where they're being played at the moment or what they're being aimed at in training.
(edited)

Released Alexander Rhode and called up Tsepo Davies, the young star causing waves on the transfer list right now. Let's hope he's well trained.

Rhode is 18 years old, in hopeless form, and doesn't seem to have made much progress since his transfer from Bulls 3 months ago, despite the R32m tag paid for him. He could very well be recalled into the squad at a later stage, especially next season when the current 21 year old players move on.

He has generated a lot of interest. If only I can get another player like him from my players coming out in 3 and 4 weeks time.