Divine Mukasa

[Norman kneejerk]

He's been impressing for a while but I got sent these pics and a YouTube compilation in the past day...

View attachment 139482
View attachment 139483

I know someone who said his mate was talking to an old West Ham fan ages ago whose son was a youth player there in the early 90s, apparently the West Ham fan who has watched a lot of their youths since reckons Divine Mukasa was not only their best youth player, he's also comfortably their best attacking talent in a quarter of a century if not best young talent they've had at the club in that time.

He's talking potentially the best talent the club have had on their hands on since the days of Joe Cole, Frank Lampard, Rio Ferdinand, Jermaine Defoe and Michael Carrick coming through, supposedly his ability alone was a massive help to West Ham youth tournaments wins at a very early age, that the club were genuinely gutted to have lost him too as they had really high hopes for him.

I'm not sure whether to take that with a grain of salt seeing as West Ham still won the 2023 FA Youth Cup final 5-1 without his involvement, his control on the ball though and passing seems pinpoint plus he's also scored a good few bangers too let's just hope he remains level headed.

I'm not saying he's definitely going to break through or owt but personally I'm getting similar vibes I got about Oscar Bobb a couple years back, as in Bobb was going a little bit under the radar due to the club's exciting academy wingers taking all the plaudits, that hat trick for Mukasa and the strike he scored from the kick off will have done wonders for him getting more attention though.

Here's that YouTube compilation...

Great feedback thanks. He's looking very strong now, and a very exciting group.

 

['alifax Blue]

He's been impressing for a while but I got sent these pics and a YouTube compilation in the past day...

View attachment 139482
View attachment 139483

I know someone who said his mate was talking to an old West Ham fan ages ago whose son was a youth player there in the early 90s, apparently the West Ham fan who has watched a lot of their youths since reckons Divine Mukasa was not only their best youth player, he's also comfortably their best attacking talent in a quarter of a century if not best young talent they've had at the club in that time.

He's talking potentially the best talent the club have had on their hands on since the days of Joe Cole, Frank Lampard, Rio Ferdinand, Jermaine Defoe and Michael Carrick coming through, supposedly his ability alone was a massive help to West Ham youth tournaments wins at a very early age, that the club were genuinely gutted to have lost him too as they had really high hopes for him.

I'm not sure whether to take that with a grain of salt seeing as West Ham still won the 2023 FA Youth Cup final 5-1 without his involvement, his control on the ball though and passing seems pinpoint plus he's also scored a good few bangers too let's just hope he remains level headed.

I'm not saying he's definitely going to break through or owt but personally I'm getting similar vibes I got about Oscar Bobb a couple years back, as in Bobb was going a little bit under the radar due to the club's exciting academy wingers taking all the plaudits, that hat trick for Mukasa and the strike he scored from the kick off will have done wonders for him getting more attention though.

Here's that YouTube compilation...

Thanks for this, he appears modest and 'laid back' in his interviews and goal celebrations. Going back to Saturday, at the match I didn't realise that he chested the ball in from somewhere near the penalty spot? I'm looking forward to the Youth Cup this Friday all ready.

 

[franksinatra]

Does anyone know if he is training with the first team yet, playing for the U21s etc.

The stats look great but to me it shows he may have already outgrown that level of football and needs a pathway to develop or we may lose another one.

 

[Delphinho]

He's been impressing for a while but I got sent these pics and a YouTube compilation in the past day...

View attachment 139482
View attachment 139483

I know someone who said his mate was talking to an old West Ham fan ages ago whose son was a youth player there in the early 90s, apparently the West Ham fan who has watched a lot of their youths since reckons Divine Mukasa was not only their best youth player, he's also comfortably their best attacking talent in a quarter of a century if not best young talent they've had at the club in that time.

He's talking potentially the best talent the club have had on their hands on since the days of Joe Cole, Frank Lampard, Rio Ferdinand, Jermaine Defoe and Michael Carrick coming through, supposedly his ability alone was a massive help to West Ham youth tournaments wins at a very early age, that the club were genuinely gutted to have lost him too as they had really high hopes for him.

I'm not sure whether to take that with a grain of salt seeing as West Ham still won the 2023 FA Youth Cup final 5-1 without his involvement, his control on the ball though and passing seems pinpoint plus he's also scored a good few bangers too let's just hope he remains level headed.

I'm not saying he's definitely going to break through or owt but personally I'm getting similar vibes I got about Oscar Bobb a couple years back, as in Bobb was going a little bit under the radar due to the club's exciting academy wingers taking all the plaudits, that hat trick for Mukasa and the strike he scored from the kick off will have done wonders for him getting more attention though.

Here's that YouTube compilation...

This U18s squad is the best in many years. I’d say Headley, Mfuni, McAidoo, R.Heskey, Gorman, Dunbar-McDonald and Mukasa all have good chances of making the first team. In previous years I’d say there’s usually been only 2-3 in the U18s with that kind of potential

 

[jollylescott]

He's improving rapidly from someone easy on the eye to a major influence in matches
What a great exhibition the team gave there. Some great displays , mobile defenders, midfielders who could make space and finish, 1 fast direct winger, 1 full of tricks, mobile striker. All full of goals. A real bueprint for how a city/Pep team should play.
Also made me think it's more the players than the system with the first team which in a way is a bit worrying.

Well said mate.

It was a fantastic exhibition by the team. The talent on display was outstanding, even taking into account the quality of opposition. I don’t want to name every player but, apart from Mukasa, the attacking prowess of McAidoo, Heskey and Warhurst is breathtaking. Then you can add in Gorman (scored a brilliant goal) and Headley driving the team through midfield.

All up the future is very, very blue!

 

[oldius]

This U18s squad is the best in many years. I’d say Headley, Mfuni, McAidoo, R.Heskey, Gorman, Dunbar-McDonald and Mukasa all have good chances of making the first team. In previous years I’d say there’s usually been only 2-3 in the U18s with that kind of potential

Yes. This is a supreme crop with a lot of potential. It is great that we get the opportunity to watch them, but, then again, so will Dortmund!
What I like about this particular group is that the skillset is so varied: there is a real mix of pace, power, technique, dribbling and finishing ability. It isn't only small, technical players, there are a crop of physical beasts in the lineup too. Unlike other dominant youth teams though, those physical players are all technical too. Mukasa has looked like a first-team shoe-in in this season.
I saw something, yesterday, that suggested that in recent training matches, our first team had been beaten by the academy teams several times. True? I don't know.

 

[Colin Bells Boots]

Yes. This is a supreme crop with a lot of potential. It is great that we get the opportunity to watch them, but, then again, so will Dortmund!
What I like about this particular group is that the skillset is so varied: there is a real mix of pace, power, technique, dribbling and finishing ability. It isn't only small, technical players, there are a crop of physical beasts in the lineup too. Unlike other dominant youth teams though, those physical players are all technical too. Mukasa has looked like a first-team shoe-in in this season.
I saw something, yesterday, that suggested that in recent training matches, our first team had been beaten by the academy teams several times. True? I don't know.

For supporters who don't get to watch our young players, I really enjoy these posts.

Thanks to all those taking the trouble to post.

 

[Kinkladze's crazy skills]

Yes. This is a supreme crop with a lot of potential. It is great that we get the opportunity to watch them, but, then again, so will Dortmund!
What I like about this particular group is that the skillset is so varied: there is a real mix of pace, power, technique, dribbling and finishing ability. It isn't only small, technical players, there are a crop of physical beasts in the lineup too. Unlike other dominant youth teams though, those physical players are all technical too. Mukasa has looked like a first-team shoe-in in this season.
I saw something, yesterday, that suggested that in recent training matches, our first team had been beaten by the academy teams several times. True? I don't know.

I've heard similar too then saw this earlier on as well...



I don't think it's an isolated thing or even too unusual and Pep will use that against players to up their performance levels, I'm sure one of the first things he did as Barca boss was make the first team play the Barca B team he managed.

The B side he managed before taking over, was meant to have pretty much embarrassed the first team.

 

[GaudinoMotors]

I refuse to believe he can be as good as McAtee.

 

[Kinkladze's crazy skills]

I refuse to believe he can be as good as McAtee.

McAtee has always had top potential both look to have good potential but this comparison is very unfair, due to the absolutely massive age difference between both of these talented players, Mukasa is barely 17 and not long started his very first pro contract whereas McAtee is 22.

Think about it and realise the age difference between both Mukasa and McAtee because it's just too much to compare, it's about the same age difference between Phil Foden and Jack Grealish nearly 5 years... There's also about the same age difference between Jack Grealish and Kieran Trippier it's just the wrong comparison.

James is a fully fledged professional who although very talented sadly hasn't developed to the level we'd expected by now, he's at or near the point where he needs games week in week out but Divine Mukasa is just a top level prospect in his first year as a professional.

Quite a few on here said the same about Oscar Bobb that he's nowhere near James McAtee's level, that he'd never be and this was while Oscar Bobb and James McAtee were both playing together, plenty were even pissed off when Bobb got academy player of the season despite McAtee's goal contributions.

Although I'd argue McAtee should've possibly won that award and that he definitely deserves to have had more chances in the last month especially, he's definitely way behind Oscar Bobb now who we've really missed and there's also sadly potential exit talks now for James.

I think McAtee still has top potential personally but the very same can also be said of Divine Mukasa, he's only just turned 17 not even a man and you're comparing to to a 22 year old professional footballer.

With Mukasa it's not just the stats which are crazy he has 10 goals and 10 assists in 12 games, he seems to be passing the eye test very well making impressive passes looking technically very good and unlucky not to have even more contributions, he's very young still and there's time for enormous improvement to how good he is already long-term.
We all know I think that McAtee has every chance of being a very good Prem player in his career, possibly even good enough to become an England squad regular if he develops right.

I'd love to see him succeed too but you and others need to understand that James McAtee is no longer just a kid, he's actually 4 years and 10 months older than Divine Mukasa and that is a really massive age difference to compare them.