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The Spurs Youth Thread - 2017/2018

coys200

Well-Known Member
May 22, 2017
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There’s loads of strikers that I’m sure at 17 didn’t look technically great. Imagine how benteke looked. Ultimately strikers are judged on numbers and you can’t argue with Griffiths tally this season.
 

SpursD22

Well-Known Member
Aug 3, 2017
4,682
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For me Griffiths isn't one of our most technically able Academy players, but I don't think he'd look out of place if he were to get five minutes at the end of a PL match, and I'd personally want us to be looking to do that in order to show him that there's progression there if he works hard enough.

He is physically able, quick, makes intelligent runs, and most importantly he has this confidence/swagger about him which IMO can make up for some technical flaws. He's nowhere near the finished article but with his goal record having only just (in the grand scheme) become a striker we'd be crazy to let him go. If giving him a bench place is one way to persuade him to sign up for another two years I'm all for it.

I disagree. He’s not even a regular U23 player yet and don’t think he’s ready for the first team. And what message would that send to Sterling who’s worked hard in training for only a U18 player to get to the first team before him
 
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ILS

Well-Known Member
Jun 21, 2008
3,803
6,913
I' m very conservative when players are hitting amazing numbers at Under 18 level as I will go back to the case of Connor Wickham. Connor was the standout striker in his age group all the way up from Under 15's to Under 18's due to his power and size but once he got into the first team and came up against "Men" who had the same amount of power and size and in some cases even more then he struggled, as he was no longer able to bully people.

I think if Reo is that good then Poch may include him in the US tour and see how he get's on but there is a long way to go yet before I get excited about him.
 

WindyCOYS

Well-Known Member
Feb 24, 2016
479
1,588
I disagree. He’s not even a regular U23 player yet and don’t think he’s ready for the first team. And what message would that send to Sterling who’s worked hard in training for only a U18 player to get to the first team before him
Well, I'd have given Sterling a few more sub run-outs before now too, so that's another story! I get that you cannot be held to ransome by players, etc, but if you have an intriguing talent like Edwards, Griffiths, and they see no commitment from Spurs that they'll progress, then we'll lose them.

Griffiths has earned 'a reward' for his performances this year and yet has barely even been promoted to the U23s let alone trained with the first team. It can only be due to the ongoing contract dispute, but I'd want the club to meet him (and others) halfway and show their commitment before players are expected to commit.
 

coys200

Well-Known Member
May 22, 2017
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17,403
What more can griffiths do tbh. I think it’s 34 goals all comps. I think he deserves at least some training with seniors. Sterling would just have to suck it up. Griffiths is physically more prepared and his numbers dwarf sterling.
 

chinaman

Well-Known Member
Jul 19, 2003
17,974
12,423
For me Griffiths isn't one of our most technically able Academy players, but I don't think he'd look out of place if he were to get five minutes at the end of a PL match, and I'd personally want us to be looking to do that in order to show him that there's progression there if he works hard enough.

He is physically able, quick, makes intelligent runs, and most importantly he has this confidence/swagger about him which IMO can make up for some technical flaws. He's nowhere near the finished article but with his goal record having only just (in the grand scheme) become a striker we'd be crazy to let him go. If giving him a bench place is one way to persuade him to sign up for another two years I'm all for it.


I have a question about Griffiths and hope our expert youth watchers can answer that. Does he look like a Malcolm MacDonald or Ted MacDougall of the 70s? Both scored tons of goals but were technically deficient.
 

danielneeds

Kick-Ass
May 5, 2004
24,179
48,764
I have a question about Griffiths and hope our expert youth watchers can answer that. Does he look like a Malcolm MacDonald or Ted MacDougall of the 70s? Both scored tons of goals but were technically deficient.
I think the most relevant example is Lukaku, who can't trap a bag of cement most of the time, but still scores plenty with his physical gifts, and cast-iron self-belief.
 

JimmyG2

SC Supporter
Dec 7, 2006
15,014
20,779
I think the most relevant example is Lukaku, who can't trap a bag of cement most of the time, but still scores plenty with his physical gifts, and cast-iron self-belief.
Worked for Man.Utd last week when his miscontrol led to their winner.
Don't under-value technical incompetence
 

guru

Well-Known Member
Mar 20, 2018
233
413
poch won't give him the chance if he is not committed. edwards committed to the club by signing the contract but still couldn't get a chance
I agree and if poch did by some chance , what message would that send to the other lads, basically nobody would sign until they were given the same treatment
 

JRSG

Active Member
Mar 25, 2015
70
117
I think people overestimate how many examples there are of players dominating like this as U18s and it all being because of a physical advantage which leads to them fading away completely. Someone like Jordan Greenidge at Stoke is a lot more reliant on his size. Griffiths with 38 goals in 37 U18 games is really outside the norm. He may be more reliant on his physicality than other players and the gap can close but it's not enough to write him off, especially with speed. It kills at every level.

The mention from Wickham is an interesting one. He did benefit from being more physically developed but at the same time, if not for injuries he'd still be a regular Premier League striker. He's hardly a no brainer, but Griffiths will be interesting to follow.
 

therhinospeaks

Well-Known Member
Dec 18, 2014
667
818
Well, I'd have given Sterling a few more sub run-outs before now too, so that's another story! I get that you cannot be held to ransome by players, etc, but if you have an intriguing talent like Edwards, Griffiths, and they see no commitment from Spurs that they'll progress, then we'll lose them.

Griffiths has earned 'a reward' for his performances this year and yet has barely even been promoted to the U23s let alone trained with the first team. It can only be due to the ongoing contract dispute, but I'd want the club to meet him (and others) halfway and show their commitment before players are expected to commit.

Absolutely agree. The whole process is a two way street., or at least should be.
 

coys200

Well-Known Member
May 22, 2017
8,436
17,403
See the U17 euros start next week. Can’t find England squad anywhere ? Feeling might just be binks ?
 

coys200

Well-Known Member
May 22, 2017
8,436
17,403
Oh and any good info betting wise.
England 11/4
Spain 7/1
Holland 15/2
Italy 8/1
Belgium 9/1

Bookies generally know shit about youth footy always good chance to get one over on them. Cleaned up on England last summer. Spain looks pretty tempting at 7/1.
 

coys200

Well-Known Member
May 22, 2017
8,436
17,403
In qualis all these have 100% record. Chance to see Troy parrott as well.
Belgium
Israel
Serbia
France
Hungary
Austria
Ireland
Italy

Sure our brains trust can pick the winner ?
 

IGSpur

Well-Known Member
Jan 11, 2013
7,939
13,758
See the U17 euros start next week. Can’t find England squad anywhere ? Feeling might just be binks ?
Only Binks will be in. Bowden and Markanday are the only others that could be considered, but half of the squad have already met up at SGP and Binks is the only one tere from us

Oh and any good info betting wise.
England 11/4
Spain 7/1
Holland 15/2
Italy 8/1
Belgium 9/1

Bookies generally know shit about youth footy always good chance to get one over on them. Cleaned up on England last summer. Spain looks pretty tempting at 7/1.

You bet England would win the Euros last year?

And this year is hard to say. It hasn't the all round positional strength/quality and depth of last years team, but the 01s attack could be considered as comparable I guess, but I still don't think it is as good. GOod chance we have the strongest attack in the competition with a decent midfield. Our defence is definitely our weakness, however we also have home advantage.

The downside is that due to the FAYC final and the u18 PL final, half of the potential squad haven't even linked up with the main group. In fact the u18 PL final is played a day after our first match which is stupid. So United, Chelsea and Arsenal players, are all currently missing. In terms of preparation this is ridiculous.

Naming a squad is difficult as well as some of these players could get injured tonight. I think a benefit of it being here though, is we can probably swap players with relative ease if we have injuries.

I probably wouldn't be on England just due to the lack of preparation. Our defence is fairly in experienced and I think Binks is the only pure CB, plus not many of them played much u18s football. However our attack could carry us to the final. From then on in a one-off game with home advantage who knows.
 

JRSG

Active Member
Mar 25, 2015
70
117
Portugal at 9/1 is the best bet. Opposite side of the draw to Group D (Netherlands, Germany, Spain). They didn't have their strongest squad in qualification, Embalo is special and will come back in.
 

IGSpur

Well-Known Member
Jan 11, 2013
7,939
13,758
Portugal at 9/1 is the best bet. Opposite side of the draw to Group D (Netherlands, Germany, Spain). They didn't have their strongest squad in qualification, Embalo is special and will come back in.

Heard so much about Embalo but never seen him play. I know United unsurprisingly are after him. Surely would make sense for him just to stay at Benfica.
 

IGSpur

Well-Known Member
Jan 11, 2013
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13,758
Lovely finish by Amaechi. One of the players currently missing from the u17s who will be in the squad
 
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