Chizz & Crackers
Chizaram Ezenwata - Chelsea U18s | Rabah Madjer, signing and coaching a few 2025 French pyramid top scorers back in 2017-2020
Chizaram “Chizzy” Ezenwata scored a brace vs Arsenal. Melting defences etc etc…
I absolutely adore England ; including the quirk to feast on what would be: French “broke student snack from 20th of the month onwards” such as… cheese & crackers
Crackers, Chizzy scored a few this season like against Spurs U16s
Chelsea is well known in the English Academy world for developping some of the best players on the island - stemming from a robust domestic scouting platform.
Cobham trained players are exceptional benchmarks for movement in all directions, technical ability and decision making once put together.
I’ve seen glimpses of things I really like as an all-round striker from Ezenwata (#18) who came on vs Mertsham in the FA Youth Cup
Even getting on the scoresheet
Things I like:
good movement outside the box (runs in behind),
good box movement on crosses,
plays back to goal,
can carry and take on.
You don’t find these at the bus stop let alone on the Stoke d’Abernon train platform.
The kind of striker you say “he should be at Chelsea Academy”
Well now he is, what does it look like?
Or, what does “effective 9 play” look like?
Receptions back to goal
Box movement
Movement to receive
Finishing skill
Carries
Also :
How did I end up signing the rival’s number 9 at U19 level in 2020
who as of March 2025 just scored back to back hat tricks including against Girondins de Bordeaux to become French National 2 top scorer.
Also on centre forwards:
Receptions back to goal
Stiff arm
That ball from Subuloye isn’t ideal, knee height isn’t great to get hold of it
CB nudge forces a longer first touch
Anticipating the challenge
Getting the leg in front
Taking the hit whilst keeping the ball under control (don’t try this at home)
Stiff arm to keep the ball away from the defender
Back to goal and multitasking
Reading of the channel flick could’ve been a tad quicker (dragging a CB out of position, flick it outside and draw a yellow card).
Fast forward to Reading A yesterday:
Receiving front foot appearing when the ball is about to reach him, receive front foot and roll the defender to draw a free kick
Back to it:
Decent reach to take a first touch, albeit it’ll demand more gamemanship considering the Arsenal CB (tries to) put him off balance with a nudge. Stays on his feet
Multitasking is the challenge for strikers getting into competitive 11-a side football.
From:
🇵🇪🦙Alpacanalysis: Víctor Guzmán
With two defeats in two, Peru look set to crash out from the CONMEBOL SUB20 2025
How to spot if a player is “football-strong”
It has to do with maintaining balance on the move, and specifically keep the centre of gravity over the feet / ball even moving away
Strength to lay off
Darting from CB’s blind side to show up to that line breaking pass
Bracing himself from the challenge
So that the shoulders are still over the ball when laying off
Position of the left foot is excellent, pointing towards the outside to not shank the layoff and hit the other leg
Then changing direction to support the attack
Clean technical layoff
Many strikers would lean backwards, clip the ball from beneath and send the wall pass in team mate’s keee
Key is footwork to land the left (support) foot next to the ball
Go through in the middle (and not top, or underneath) the ball.
Layoff to spin immediately
The point to layoff back foot once you know there’s little pressure from behind
is that it’s easier to sort out the footwork to spin
Right pass, then lands to push
Left to run forwards
As opposed here to do left pass, land the right foot and spin, land the left then start pushing. An economy of one foot
Chizzy makes a lot of runs, but his propensity to play layoffs with good technical quality makes it a good outlet as well as a rarity for that cluster of running strikers
Kavuma-McQueen is through and draws a penalty
Up-back-through
Clean layoff with the laces
And a good follow through movement with the laces (pointing where he wants the layoff to go)
To find Ryan
Needle pass and hold up play
Difficult task to retain, but evidence team mates trust CE to stay on the ball
Stiff arm, there’s a big difference between the “Clothline” WWE arm swing, and having the arm to resist and push the chest away
Movement to receive
“There’s no space when teams sit deep”
There’s simply too many bad strikers and bad (opininated) coaches / fanalysts
Reading the space between the lines:
Genesis Antwi underlaps and wants to attack the space in behind
...And Then There Were Three...
Chizaram Ezenwata (CE) immediately reacts by going into feet, causing the Arsenal CB to glitch as to which player to pick:
Pass is screened, but these are some of the cues you want to look at : strikers perceiving where’s the space, and precisely reacting on cues to fill it up organically
Appear from blind side on second balls
Stay on the CB’s blind side, to only sprint when the ball is about to be challenged in the air. In case his team mates flicks it inside, CE would then appear and the CB react to it.
As opposed to leave the CB time and space to come closer in cover and use off the ball shenanigans
Chelsea however pick up the second ball
It would have been ideal to move back (into the green circle) to get to the blind side of the ball far CB, to manufacture the space to:
get on the move
ask into feet
ask into space
Chiz gets on the move (which is the pre-condition to receive) but goes away from the interesting “pocket” in front of the CBs
Mostly a matter of optimising the starting point of the run (for the same movement, but different output as the angle created would exist to receive from the wide player.
Something he did well at Reading yesterday:
Coming from the ball far CB with a clear movement to receive into feet (he decides when to cut and come for the ball)
Which creates an issue for the “ball near CB” who doesn’t know where the striker is coming from (outside his field of vision)
Room behind the fullback
Chiz’s starting position is good: ball far CB, opposide side to the ball
Identifies the space behind the fullback and CB ; if Calvin Diakite (5) is able to clip a pass around the corner to find him in the awkward area when CBs and GKs have to decide whether to head it back or leave the GK pick it up
Spin
Calvin Diakité feeds Ryan Kavuma-McQueen (very peculiar and talented attacker, I don’t quite figure out anyone who plays like him)
How Ezenwata creates space for himself by baiting the defender
RKMcQ ? More like Flash McQueen amarite problem solves to find a way to drive diagonally
CE blocks his momentum firmly
Uses the left leg as a pivot to spin 180°
Ready to sprint in the other direction whilst the CB is still feet in cement
Football is essentially a series of challenges with decision making.
Situations are never identical (it’s a complex system) but can be clustered
LW cuts inside, 2v2 against 2 CBs is one of them
If the CB stays in position, up-back with 9 for through pass
If the CB steps up, slide it to the CF making the run
Arsenal’s CB does well to mitigate, make himself bigger than he is and blocks RKMcQ.
That’s why you train these situation (perception / affordance / action) in an opposed way, and not with a plastic mannequin who’ll never block that pass and give players a false degree of confidence
Something I developped in my UEFA A thesis in 2018
442 “diamond”. Where does the opponent fullback goes when the CM drops and the striker drifts wide?
On that goal (first win at Angoulême for a half a decade at U19 level in 2017-18), the left back gave a Barco to Emegha assist (for the second striker lurking between the CBs) - the striker drifting wide scored 6 goals in Ligue 2 in 2024-25.
Coaching courses teach you to break down and “modelise” situations with 3v2 / 4v3 and see what are the possible combinations (decision making tree basically)
We scored a few good goals.
Here are:
“meh he’s a CB” (his own friends nickname him “Flaco” like Javier Pastore, so I’ll have him at 10 thank you, I appreciate it rattles you) delivering the backheel
“don’t sign him” (can’t even write what I overheard) - now he’s professional in Ligue 2.
Player creativity > play der play der
Ligue 2 striker down the road. 2017 v 2025
Diagonal run for a straight pass
Ryan Kavuma McQueen finds a right foot pass through a needle eye
Finds Walsh between the lines, who tries a trivela pass for CE albeit he was probably looking for a pass across (the Arsenal RCB) does well to mitigate and defend the space (between
Box movement
Ball goes wide: Saratoga, ice bucket and penalty spot
Genesis Antwi, from the very start, going around to get in a crossing position
for CE, the point is to create the distance to gather speed, and a running angle that makes him connect with the cross in front of him (with the goal in front of him)
Going aound the penalty spot ball far is always ever the only good solution for strikers on crosses.
Still generates a decent enough “scoop” going backwards (that goes of target)
Thanks to the small nudge - or as Guy Roux said; “dire oui au ballon” (say yes)
Morning routine: chizz & crackers
CE sprints back to get around the penalty spot.
Some strikers get their decision making wrong; their bad movement leads to coaches telling them to get more involved, then they would run the channels (and sometimes being the one crossing for nobody) when the team mate is in crossing position.
Good 9 play to focus on getting in a good spot
Same moments later:
Genesis Antwi in crossing position, attack the near post
Players don’t need sock puppet hype accounts, tacticos or diagrams to see a dangerous striker
CE draws the two CBs at the near post because his running angle starts from the edge of the defenders’ field of vision, they see a moving shape and jump on
Box movement on crosses, and Rabah Madjer
Legit one of the best goals I’ve seen at Academy level this season.
Being a striker is a mindset. You need to think different
Everyone’s shuffling across towards the ball, not CE who stands still (to get into people’s blind side)
Good strikers give defenders torticollis (unrelated to Richard and Michael even if they frequently give their defenders one).
Blind side, defender can’t focus on the ball/crosser and the striker.
Go around the penalty spot
Benchmarking with the absolute best: Jamie Vardy
I was in the Holte End - witnessing that goal from the far end of the stadium
Vardy’s box movement was the most blatant “he’s gonna score” (made connection, Martinez spilled it, Mavididi tapped the ball in).
Go around the penalty spot
Dart near post when the cross is hit
The finish is absolutely outrageous
Especially generating that much power to actually shoot and not just connect / flick
In pickup football, we used to call it “La Madjer” .
No idea if English speakers do the same
Here’s the Original Gangster:
Great goal, incredible ball mastery, agility and creative thinking
There’s however people who are gonna waste bandwidth and be annoying with:
Madjer is with the bottom of the foot, the backheel - so they say. Yes there’s always this “well achkually your pickup goal isn’t quite a Madjer because”. Bo ring
Ezenwata got carried beyond the near post, hence the requirement for a creative solution to connect and hit goal. This one is me.
But also, speaking of; I’ve coached the best striker in French tiers 2, 4 and 5 ; the latters being top scorers in 2024-25
Wall pass then run in behind
The “You’ve got to write something” play.
CE showing up at the right moment, defender is reacting
Lots of average strikers get carried with momentum
CE blocks his run (right foot)
To cut and go around the penalty spot from the defender’s blind side
Box movement on crosses
For consistency purposes: CE starts from the CB ball far, 2/3 of the space between two defenders.
Calvin Diakité about to put a cross in, CE darts at the near post.
Doesn’t need a GPS
Nor a morning alarm
Second goal
Landon Emenalo on set pieces duties - superb footballer
Chizzy’s decision to smash the ball is spot on
as the ball gather speeds once it bounces, rebound depending on the pitch.
Harder to save (unless it’s a Drogba header) than a header below the crossbar, that the GK can tip or parry
Finishing skill
Half volley for (not) a half chance
Ball sent on the wide area, CE goes around the penalty spot opposite side
Chests it well
A good volley is hit when the ball goes down, not up which is what CE does
However, hits it before the rebound.
Ideally, this one is hit after the rebound, with the outside of the boot laces to get under the GK’s arm (and above his leg)
Where’s the line between “bait the press” and “this is Johnny Knoxville”
Arsenal CB leaning back time wasting on the ball, aaand welcome to Jackass
The way CE proceeds is to try to have a strong right to get the left leg in front to knocn the defender off the ball which he does
flipside of being able to carry the ball with the laces, is to keep the ball close to feet whilst this situation probably encourages to knock the ball in front (he’s strong and quick = powerful) to bait the GK into rushing out then shoot in the space
That touch stays in CE’s feet and the defender can make up ground
GK does well giving himself time to react without rushing, leaving little space on the ground or in the “triangle” (arms / legs). Probably easier to spread wings than lower spread arms (Martinez vs Kolo Muani)
As for gamemanship, the defender has no issue shoving CE’s shoulder, and CE could also use a stiff arm to get a clean shoot with space created for backlift.
Carries
Drop the shoulder
Look at the defender, look one way
Spin another way
Knock pass and draw a foul, having dragged the CB wider than the box
Get in front to draw a free kick
Seen vs Mertsham in the FA Youth Cup
Yes, Chizzy gave the ball away.
But for the first time watching him in the flesh, I noted the layoffs.
So it’s very unusual to have 9s who are already refined into doing back to goal, carries and runs. And he scored a header off a cross.
Getting across the run of the defenders is a good decision (he can then cut to his left to go at goal)
Priority is to get the right leg and arm in front for a guaranteed free kick
Shoulder vs shoulder vs a player keeping his centre of gravity over his feet only ends one way
In 2019-20, my U19s beat rival Le Mans 2-0 in a local derby under biblical wind and rain conditions (but with some fairly decent goals)
Goalscorer 1: Sofiane
Opening goal after three minutes, by Sofiane, new signing from Stade de Reims:
next to the goalkeeper
Far left of the picture
Sofiane is top of the league in Bordeaux’s seed with Saint Malo as of 2024-25
Gave the assist for St Malo’s draw vs Girondins de Bordeaux
Anyway that’s Sofiane’s first goal for my team in February 2020 for a 2-0 win.
Striker 2: Ibrahim
The two goals involve Ibrahim, signed by the scout who found Serhou Guirassy - also at Grassroots.
Second goal, wing back and striker linking up, cross for the other wingback
Goal scored by the U17 striker who replaced the new signing on his first touch.
I felt pretty smug
Ibra is currently out and about, was on the books at SPAL at some point. Will be there, waiting for some smart club realise what they’ve got right before them because he won’t give up anytime
Striker 3: Noa
Anyway, Le Mans had a striker who gave some impression
The weather was fucking atrocious for a 11am kick off in February 2020 but Noa moved like crazy upfront, we were all over them and won 2-0.
I was like "what the fuck, that's Victor Osimhen, I need that guy upfront"
Even had the peroxyde hair
And he kept looking at me in the dugout after every play
The vibes were immaculate—despite the other coach boiling piss in the dugout.
Which brings us to summer 2020 when Noa calls me to say he wants to join my team, from arch rivals Le Mans - right in the middle of COVID lockdowns.
I guess my pitch was successful
So I prepared a 1h video session for his signing day with every bit of match footage I could find and how I'd make him better, I think the close circle was impressed.
Breaking down everything - Movement ball far - Channel runs - Central runs - Box movement - Back to goal - Link up play - Carrying - Mindset - Pressing
Here’s some tidbits
Noa’s movement on crosses
Noa’s short separation movement
Noa’s carries
Noa’s chances in the box
And chances from crosses
Talent ID is so difficult. Like what makes you think there’s something there?
I also knew I had a secret weapon (sort of) because Noa's cousin Rafael (U16 in 2019-20) was turning U17 and I wanted to make him my left back at U19 level -
Slide 47 : come and join your cousin (who I was asking every now and then about it)
against everyone's opinion, as usual.
Shit went political, because I wasn't playing the local golden boy at LB.
But try harder, I can see a player
Rafael (the left back) was extremely good at timing runs in behind, good finisher as well. Reminded me a lot of Hassane Kamara (Udinese / Watford)
My idea was fairly straightforward: pair Noa with Ibrahim (background), both 2002 strikers. Ibrahim - signed from grassroots by the same scout who found Serhou Guirassy, at the same level.
That was similar to the Abraham - Solanke combo - levels permitting
Abraham / Ibrahim as the selfless striker sometimes playing wide, playing back to goal and good in the air
Noa / Solanke as the feline poacher (Solanke does more things in open play than Noa mind).
After a few matchdays, the team was working it’s way up with by far the best underlyings in the league.
Earliest leads, longest time ahead. And unhinged 20% conversion rate (funny what happens when you release strikers early) especially if you could survive the opening 20’ of halves (where we had the most shots and also scored 1in 3 as opposed to 1 out of 6 or 7 at top level)
Come opening day of 2020-21 I decide to give Noa the armband (for a wind up to keep the squad on edge) as we play away at Nantes (best team in western France) for a narrow defeat where he scored the first goal on penalty.
So comes the local U19 derby vs Le Mans in September 2020. I had three top strikers to pick from, so I start the two tallest ones to keep the quickest one as an option off the bench. Noa against his former club, and coach (who called me all sorts of names).
Referee affiliated to our next opponent (rival) in the league.
Decides to not send off (let alone book) the fullback doing a Liam Roberts / Mateta, high studs in the head for a U19 derby, on Rafael’s head.
10 minutes in. I knew from that point hell would break lose later in the game. Anyway.
Rafael on set piece duty, delivering on the EFL special (watch the EFL, you'll find out what works) Ping the ball on the tallest player on the pitch rushing like a train at the far post, flick it near post for runners going around the penalty spot.
Boiling piss. Arguably the most intense game I've coached.
You could feel the tension. Albeit the ref (affiliated to our next opponent) sent of 2 and booked 7, gave +8’ added time, changed a corner in goalkick after +11’ where Le Mans equalised from.
I was beyond swallowing the venom, I was smirking at the idea - not being rock bottom after 4 matchdays (and a 4 week pre season with COVID policies - absolute shitshow) but knowing being able to get chances 9v11 was probably gonna get us somewhere
Somewhere like level of points after 4 wins in a row, ahead of Rennes where Ugochukwu or Mathys Tel were kicking the ball about.
Noa (2002) just scored two consecutive hat tricks and is currently the top scorer in National 2
Yes, Andrew Thomas Carroll is “Andy Carroll”
Striker 4 : Mamadou
Another striker I coached - at U12 level
Would be somewhat closer to Ezenwata from a playing style standpoint ; albeit more of a wide forward cutting inside but also quite fast with or without the ball
Down memory lane
Runs in behind from wide left was his bread and butter
I loved that 2016-2017 season. I coached the U12s in a U13 league to get my UEFA B
The competitive height disadvantage was kind of a thing.
Mamad with #7 and his grey boots.
Mamad was absolutely relentless to get into shooting position, would try over and over.
I think he had a preferential shooting location - at least based on my Data Drivel model
These charts are based on what players “do”, not “might do” or “should do”
And from there you have to lay out specific training to get them to improve their strengths - because nothing ever comes to people who don’t work.
Regression to the mean is a lousy concept - if your shooting mechanics are fucking tragic, so will be the output of your chances.
I was doing live notational analysis - Fail to prepare, prepare to fail.
I only started filming games the season after (2017-18 as part of my UEFA A license)
This one, against the grassroots club sharing the facilities.
2-0 up with U12s often meant losing 2-3 in second half
Off target / on target / goal / Set piece / 6 boxes for shot location / shooter / assist
I reckon that’s the only game I’ve ever seen U12s numb and down after a game, somehow losing 3-2 in deep countryside despite 10 shots on target
We won a U13 tournament against a grassroots team with the U12s a few weeks later though.
Club was too broke or cheap to buy kits so they were waiting for Federation donations, that was a Credit Agricole nike kit we just received.
Probably a bit oversize but then again so was the opponent (mostly U13s)
Mamad scored the winner in the final for a 1-0 win ; which I started with my 3 best players on the bench - not playing a minute in a final isn’t fun so at least everyone played a bit.
They won a football, I won a pen and keychain from Shein and the ugliest trophy ever - which I brough back at the club who was like “who cares”.
Probably should’ve kept it. Or maybe not, to this day I’m still not sure
Looks like Mamad does well this season.
Age 19 and scoring 13 goals in 20 games in Tier 5.
Will be in a Ligue 2 squad whithin 8 months.
He bagged 4 goals against the reserve of a pro club - shall I hold my breath
Striker 5: Sofiane K
Speaking of Reims: in 2020-21, I signed the winger in the third row; third from the left.
A few weeks into the season; as he parted ways with his club.
Can you guess who was Sofiane K’s team mate ; top left.
Some will say he’s the only one who didn’t need a stool to look taller.
Who’s that tall guy serving the assist? (from 36’ )
The two Sofiane(s) I signed played a bit with Hugo Ekitike at Reims.
One striker I coached was signed by the scout who signed Serhou Guirassy
You’re alway ever one or two degrees of separation in Football.
Being aware of this makes you realise and benchmark players better
And listen or believe into what you see and do; because not everyone puts the hours in so why should their opinion matter.
Freedom of speech doesn’t mean opinions are equal.
Just like two shots from the same location don’t have the same value depending on who takes it.
Good strikers who score goals, will score goals.
