THE SIGNS are not good. Slowing pulse? Check. Breathing? Barely. Vision? Blurry. Position in the competition? Let’s not go there...

My fantasy A-League team is a failure.

There is no chance of winning. Anything I do will be pointless. Neglected for several months, it is completely and utterly absurd to even suggest a chance of making the top 100.

Which is why, in my pain, I decided to create a FANTASY YOUTH LEAGUE TEAM! (cue Coca-Cola-inspired-sugar-high happy dance)

Basically, I’ve picked the best 11 players in the competition with a substitute keeper, defender, midfielder and attacker in a 4-4-2 formation.

The rules I used to decide the team were:
- Players must have played at least 5 NYL matches.
- They cannot have played anymore than 5 A-League matches in their career (hence the omission of Michael Zullo etc.)

So, this is how the team lines up…

----------------------Birighitti--------------------
--Weidenbach---Sherlock---Doyle---Golec--
Jukic--Karakolevski--Grossman--Theodore
----------Monterosso---------Danning----------

Subs – Andrucci, Bowles, McVey, Rooney.

It makes sense to start Mark Birighitti (AU) in goals. He’s part of the best defence in the NYL and bound to be a future A-League star. Plus, his experience in the ACL makes him invaluable in a youth competition.

On the right side of defence is Scott Weidenbach (AU) who has started every NYL game for his club. When I saw him play he was a solid and imposing player.
In the centre of defence are Nathan Sherlock (CCM), captain of the Mariners’ youth team, and Hayden Doyle (PER), who has made several first team appearances for Perth. Both are brilliant defenders despite their respective clubs not having the most brilliant defensive records.

On the left side of defence is Antony (or Anthony, the SFC website doesn’t seem to know what his name is) Golec (SYD), who has a first team contract with Sydney FC and should probably be playing more first team football than he is.

In right midfield is Andrija Jukic (PER), Glory’s highest goal scorer in the NYL so far. He has a powerful strike and is sure to net more as the season goes on.

Adrian Karakolevski (NEW), who scored a ripper of a goal against the Coasties in round 5, partners Chris Grossman (QLD) in the middle of midfield. Grossman is pure class and if rumours of his move to NQ Fury are true, then that’s not very good for Roar.

In the left midfield position is AIS graduate Mathew Theodore (MEL) who has appeared in all nine youth fixtures but is yet to score. He’s a bit like Massimo Murdocca. But not.

Up front is Francesco Monterosso (AU). He’s one of the players in the NYL who I think is going to be snapped up on a professional contract very, very soon.
Partnering him is Kofi Danning (SYD). If you haven’t heard of Kofi yet, then I am worried about you but in short: the kid is brilliant.

On the bench is goalkeeper, Lucas Andrucci (AU), defender Daniel Bowles (QLD), midfielder Josh McVey (QLD) and striker Sean Rooney (SYD).

Theoretically, I could’ve just had and entire team full of Sydney youth. You’ve heard me harping on about their youth team enough to know that I’m a big fan. However, every team has its standouts.

On a different-but-similar note, Kossie needs to start talking to his youth team coaches a bit more. I think he should be experimenting with his younger players a bit more. The few minutes Brendan Gan played on the weekend were only a glimpse of how brilliant he is and in my opinion, he’s not even the best player on the youth team.

Kossie is very lucky to have such an amazing squad of young players at his disposal, yet seems to be labouring under the delusion that Bobby Petta is better and more deserving of a spot than some of these young guys. Champagne football? More like Chumpagne football.

Calling Chris Payne, Kofi Danning, Nik Tsattalios, Antony Golec, Brendan Gan…...actually just the entire Sydney youth team... Could they be the answer to Sydney’s problems?