Tag: arsenal

Age 23   Position 10/Winger

Current Club Wingate and Finchley (Step 3)

Background

Caoilan McGettigan has been one of my hardest research projects to date, a talent who has seemingly worked his way up through the depths of non-league with barely any information on where he’s come from or who he’s played for. According to reports McGettigan started his non-league career as a left back for Hadley before moving to West London side Edgeware and Kingsbury FC in Step 5, by the end of the 2021/22 season McGettigan had picked up their supporters’ player of the season and earned a move back to Hadley in Step 4. However, he would have further spells at Walthamstow and Takeley building his experience in the men’s game before returning to Hadley for the 2024/25 season. His third spell at the Barnet based side enabled him to take up a more attacking role which saw him finish last season with 14 goals and a number of assists, this caught the attention of several clubs, but he opted to join Wingate and Finchley in the Isthmian Premier this summer, a club known for producing top non-league talent.

Playstyle

As mentioned previously McGettigan started as a left back, but it wasn’t until his move to Hadley where he became an established winger/attacking playmaker where he really hit form and started to kick on. Since joining Wingate in the summer this form has continued, netting 2 in 5 in the league bagging another goal against National League South side Dorking Wanderers in the FA cup, not a bad start for a debut season at Step 3.

So far this season McGettigan has been given an almost “free roam” role, finding space in the pockets in front of the oppositions defence whether that be on either wing or more centrally. McGettigan is not the most physically imposing player but his ability to play with his back to goal and his understanding of when to keep or release the ball sets him above the rest, reminds me a lot of Santi Cazorla. McGettigan has spent most of this season on the right receiving the ball and moving inside onto his left foot creating chances from crosses or line splitting passing, once he moves the ball, he looks to get himself in the box where his movement has enabled him to become an impressive poacher. McGettigan is also what you’d call a flair player, he loves a little flick, turn or trick in the final third to get fans off their seats.

Strengths

Press Resistance | Trickery | Game Intelligence

Where should he go next

For now he needs to continue his form throughout this season and conquer Step 3 and if he can do that, then he will have a hell of a load of opportunities waiting for him at the end of it.

Southend United | 23 Years Old | Striker (9)

Background

Originally from Bulgaria, Slavi Spasov moved to United Kingdom aged 12 joining Oxford United shortly after this relocation. His time at “The Us” was monumental in kickstarting his professional career, Spasov made his senior debut in an EFL Trophy fixture against Fulham in September 2018. Spasov came on as a substitute, scoring a penalty and becoming the clubs youngest ever goal scorer at 16 years 226 days old, this led to a league debut three months later and a call up to the Bulgarian u18s side. However, appearances became sparse for Spasov who then joined National League side Woking in October 2020 on a short-term loan making 19 appearances scoring 3 times before returning to Oxford. Spasov’s next loan would come in 2022 but would also be the start of a number of unsuccessful moves, the first coming at North Leigh in the Southern Central, then a double loan spell at Banbury United before joining Southern Prem side Hungerford United after being released by Oxford United at the end of 2022/23 season, across all these spells Spasov scored only 3 goals (as reported). After a promising start to his teenage career, it looked like it had now plateau, but still there was interest from clubs. In December 2023 Spasov joined NLS side Slough Town and manager Scott Davies renowned for developing players into stars to then move higher up the pyramid. Davies’s management enabled Spasov to score 6 goals in 21 games within his first season, a steady improvement. But it was last season where he really took off contributing to 15 goals and 5 assists in 3,205 minutes, meaning he was working at a rate of a goal involvement every 160 minutes. This form has earned him a move to Essex powerhouse Southend United a team who have just missed out on promotion to League 2 by one match.

Playstyle

Spasov is a serial poacher, he works by stretching defences with his movement either working space for himself or tricky wingers who are then able to provide him with service. Within the box his movement and intelligence enables him to create space to deliver one of his deadly finishes. He is uber composed within the box and has the ability to bring the ball down and beat a defender to then slot calmly past the keeper. Reminds me of Alexander Isak with the way he stretches the play but has the natural goalscoring and movement of Harry Kane.  

How He Fits Southend

From the majority of games I watched, Southend tended to play with an aggressive front two or a proper striker and then a false 9 dropping into the half spaces. Even though he is not the smallest Spasov looks to stretched play with his movement rather than hold the ball up so you would expect him to be partnered with a more target man type forward, who he can create space for through his movement. Southend love a set piece which could see Spasov either gambling on second balls and deflection within the box or being involved in fine-tuned set piece routines that see him as the designated finisher. From what I saw Southend create chances from both the wing and also more central areas whereas the majority of Spasov’s goals came from the wide areas at Slough, so he may have to adapt slightly to receiving the ball with his back to play. But again his off the ball running fills me with confidence that he is more than suitable to play this role.

Key Attributes

Movement | Goalscoring Intelligence | Finishing