YOU know you can find some really funny things poking around the internet...

I reckon Melbourne Victory have the best merchandise shop in the A-League. But what’s with their “fashion” range?! ---> a-league.com.au/site/_content/document/00000904-source.pdf <--- It’s Nick Ward as you’ve never seen him before! Good thing they didn’t ask Kevin Muscat to do the job…

And while I wholeheartedly support Gold Coast’s A-League bid, the logo of theirs that is currently displayed on the A-League homepage is horribly reminiscent of the Star Wars one...

Also, has anyone else noticed the picture of Rado Vidosic on his coach profile (QLD Roar website)? Whatever happened to those badly photoshopped pictures of the coaches in their tracksuit?

Last but not least, Mr. Kewell. Harry Kewell. Modelling for Politix. Poor boy looks a bit confused. ---> politix.com.au/section/kewell

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We’re a third of the way through the inaugural National Youth League season and it’s shaping up to be an interesting run to the final. Unlike the A-League, there is no finals series. Instead, only the top 2 teams after 21 rounds will play each other off in the final. So the pressure is on.

Here’s a (very short) team by team analysis and my tip to win the league…

Adelaide United are an elusive lot. According to their official website, they only have one youth player. Hmm. Anyone who has ever seen them play would certainly know better. The team are good value and should be pushing make the final. Look out for Francesco Monterosso, the NYL’s top goal scorer so far – this kid is on fire and is making his mark.

Central Coast Mariners youth team was one of the last squads to be revealed. They currently sit at the bottom of the table and will have to get their game together if they have any hope of a final spot. They’ve conceded 11 goals in five games. Kind of surprising really as the defensive partnership of Steven Tibbets and Nathan Sherlock has been fairly impressive. Look out for those two if you ever see them play.

Melbourne Victory have an impressive youth line up. Their squad is littered with VIS and AIS graduates and almost every player has experience in the Victorian Premier League. However, they have failed to live up to this experience and sit in second last spot. Like the Mariners, they need to make up ground on the leaders quickly. Look out for midfielder Milos Lujic, who is currently with the Young Socceroos but is a promising young star.

Newcastle Jets have an amazing find in Marko Jesic. Everyone remembers him for his brilliant performance against Melbourne Victory in Round 8 of the A-League and when he returns from Young Socceroos duty, the Jets youth will be a force to be reckoned with, despite sitting in the lower half of the table.

Perth Glory youth team is doing well but will need to revert to the sort of form they had in the opening two rounds of the season if they want a spot in the final. Look out for Anthony Skorich in midfield and Andrija Jukic, the young midfielder who scored a hat trick against Sydney’s youth in Perth’s 5-3 loss in round 3.

Queensland Roar have produced some brilliant youth talent since the beginning of the Hyundai A-League. Farina’s fledglings will need to stabilise their up and down form. The ones to watch in this squad are QAS graduate Josh McVey and Chris Grossman (rumoured to be in contract talks with North Queensland Fury for next season).

Sydney FC are my tip to win the inaugural National Youth League. The team sits at the top of the table and is undefeated so far. They boast an impressive squad and several of their youth players have already picked up senior team contracts. One of these is 17-year-old Ghana born striker Kofi Danning who I think, provided he wishes to represent Australia, is a future Socceroo.