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The Spurs Youth Thread - 2017/2018

SpursD22

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Aug 3, 2017
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I looked back at the incident again and that’s not a red card. His arm was already out in a natural position and the player jump at it. That’s what I saw
 

IGSpur

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Jan 11, 2013
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Maitland-Niles having a good game against the Champions in a relatively unfamiliar position for him
 

mancman

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Aug 24, 2006
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I have watched many games in my time but this one has been the most depressing. Firstly to see such an idiot of a referee (I usually never criticise referees) make two terrible decisions that utterly destroyed the game with no development for anyone. The two sending's off were simply ridiculous.
Secondly it did confirm a belief i have had for the last few years that the coaching of the defensive side of the game leaves a lot to be desired. It's as if the defensive players think they are playing 5 a side football in a confined space (the defensive third) and if they make a mistake it's so called part of the ' learning curve'. I am fed up of seeing Spurs's defensive players playing themselves into trouble leading to mistakes and conceding goals.
Finally it is clear to me that Luke Amos, Anthony Georgiou, Joe Pritchard and Shilow Tracey simply are not good enough. They are all 20+ (bar Tracey who is 19) and have simply not moved up a gear to be considered anywhere near good enough for the first team. I know Georgiou has been out injured but he looks a ghost of his past. Christian Maghoma is superb in the air and pacey but does seem to lack defensive awareness (which is pretty important given you are a centre half!) but i would give him another year.
I know we were missing Tanganga and Edwards but this must rank as the worst reserve (U23) team i have ever seen Spurs field. Good young players from the U18's need to play with much better players than themselves and this they are clearly not doing.
 

IGSpur

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Jan 11, 2013
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Steven Gerrard in an interview on BT Sport says 'to get in and stay in a top 6 club you have to be World Class'. What is he on about? He needs to be careful what he says as he has influence and people will listen to him and agree, and hold that standard over academy players. How can he go around saying that, when he is coaching an u18s side, how do they expect to ever get through. He is also putting more justification in them not getting chances.
 

WindyCOYS

Well-Known Member
Feb 24, 2016
479
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I have watched many games in my time but this one has been the most depressing. Firstly to see such an idiot of a referee (I usually never criticise referees) make two terrible decisions that utterly destroyed the game with no development for anyone. The two sending's off were simply ridiculous.
Secondly it did confirm a belief i have had for the last few years that the coaching of the defensive side of the game leaves a lot to be desired. It's as if the defensive players think they are playing 5 a side football in a confined space (the defensive third) and if they make a mistake it's so called part of the ' learning curve'. I am fed up of seeing Spurs's defensive players playing themselves into trouble leading to mistakes and conceding goals.
Finally it is clear to me that Luke Amos, Anthony Georgiou, Joe Pritchard and Shilow Tracey simply are not good enough. They are all 20+ (bar Tracey who is 19) and have simply not moved up a gear to be considered anywhere near good enough for the first team. I know Georgiou has been out injured but he looks a ghost of his past. Christian Maghoma is superb in the air and pacey but does seem to lack defensive awareness (which is pretty important given you are a centre half!) but i would give him another year.
I know we were missing Tanganga and Edwards but this must rank as the worst reserve (U23) team i have ever seen Spurs field. Good young players from the U18's need to play with much better players than themselves and this they are clearly not doing.
This read savagely on first skim but it's hard to disagree. I'd say only Skipp, Bennetts and Eyoma from the starting XI have any real chance of progressing for us. As you say, there are some players there who have failed to progress year on year and I don't really see why they're still at the club. I would definitely include Maghoma as one of those - personally I think he's a poor defender, albeit excellent in the air.

At this point I'd have our Under-23 side looking something like:

Whiteman; Eyoma, Foyth, Tanganga; Walker-Peters, Skipp, Oakley-Boothe, Bennetts; Edwards, Sterling/Griffiths, Shashoua.

That would mean: games for Whiteman, KWP, TOB, Foyth, some experience in the team, and a better overall side leading to better results, a more positive mentality, an upward spiral and hopefully better loan moves as a result of scouts being more impressed.

Even if they're adamant that Whiteman, KWP, TOB, Foyth are now first team and first team only (which is a bit of a joke as they so rarely play a part), then they could have:

Austin; Eyoma, Lyons-Foster, Tanganga; Hinds, Skipp, Amos/Roles, Bennetts; Edwards, Sterling/Griffiths, Shashoua. That's a heck of a lot better than the teams we generally trot out.

Generally speaking, I've been disappointed with the direction (or lack of) of the Development Squad ever since Tim Sherwood left.
 
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