What's new

Youth player(s) you had high hopes for?

Navin R Johnson

Well-Known Member
Aug 29, 2011
6,458
15,299
I have a vague memory of playing St Joseph's in the 90's in the national Sunday cup and I believe Kerry Dixon was playing for them.
I don't think a lot of fans know players at the highest level on a Sunday still get paid so can still earn a living/subsidise wages playing non-league on Saturdays/Sundays.
One of my son's mates has kept up playing (my son has discovered women & beer) and is getting paid by a couple of teams locally, fair play to him.
 

Aay_Jay_Dee

Well-Known Member
Mar 18, 2005
1,214
2,689
Rodrigo Defendi

First player signed under Frank Arnesen when he came to the club. Given Arnesens record I had very high hopes.
 

C0YS

Just another member
Jul 9, 2007
12,780
13,817
Mark Yeates. Teared up the reserve league (that included some decent prem players) but think he was just too cocky and therefore didn't work as hard as he should have.
To be fair to Yeates he’s been playing at a very good level for the best part of 15 years, that’s twice the average that most professional footballers last and he’s played mostly in the Championship and League 1, done very well all in all, I would say a very successful graduate. Most will be lucky to have half a career as successful as Yeates,
 

PH936

Member
May 29, 2021
16
28
Garry Brady looked great on his debut but decided first team opportunities would be easier at Newcastle.
 

C0YS

Just another member
Jul 9, 2007
12,780
13,817
Dervitte but he has a horrendous injury and that was that
Maybe, he did then come out and bossed it out on loan to Southend and in fairness. Has had a very reasonable career and now spending his last few in the third decision in Belgium.
 

C0YS

Just another member
Jul 9, 2007
12,780
13,817
Personally the only player I ever watched at a youth team level and thought this guy has to become a PL player or something has gone seriously wrong is KWP.

Apart from that based purely on hype Dixon, John Bostock and Barnard were the biggies.

Meanwhile in terms of actual performances I watched in the main team I would say Caulker and Tom Carroll where the players I hoped the most of, from the youth academy that is. Caulker I mean really should have made it here, he was already good enough and established, but personal stuff took over. Carroll I guess was simply because he was the first player from that generation that would become a pretty special bunch to shine, admittedly at that time all that you needed to do to shine was be able to string a couple of passes together, but I did feel quite excited about him, no shame in Carroll’s career mind.

Oh Edwards as well. Maybe between hype and performance.

Finally the players that I expected to do better then they have which were never likely to make it here we’re Oduwa, who is too talented to be a journeyman just getting by (and current free agent) I think Miller would have a good career in the game, but injuries and deciding football wasn’t for him got in the way, and McEnvoy, I thought he’d become a decent league 1/2 player, I mean we kept him for some time and had something about him but unfortunately it appears his career ended at 23 after struggling to establish himself in non-league then league of Ireland.
 

RickyVilla

Well-Known Member
May 16, 2004
18,518
20,000
McEvoy? The hype was all because he looked like Bale. Pretty average from what I saw of him. Phil Ifil was the one I thought might make it. Watched him one week at Chesham Utd for our XI and a month later lining up against the mickeys.
 

ralphs bald spot

Well-Known Member
Jul 14, 2015
2,777
5,177
Personally the only player I ever watched at a youth team level and thought this guy has to become a PL player or something has gone seriously wrong is KWP.

Apart from that based purely on hype Dixon, John Bostock and Barnard were the biggies.

Meanwhile in terms of actual performances I watched in the main team I would say Caulker and Tom Carroll where the players I hoped the most of, from the youth academy that is. Caulker I mean really should have made it here, he was already good enough and established, but personal stuff took over. Carroll I guess was simply because he was the first player from that generation that would become a pretty special bunch to shine, admittedly at that time all that you needed to do to shine was be able to string a couple of passes together, but I did feel quite excited about him, no shame in Carroll’s career mind.

Oh Edwards as well. Maybe between hype and performance.

Finally the players that I expected to do better then they have which were never likely to make it here we’re Oduwa, who is too talented to be a journeyman just getting by (and current free agent) I think Miller would have a good career in the game, but injuries and deciding football wasn’t for him got in the way, and McEnvoy, I thought he’d become a decent league 1/2 player, I mean we kept him for some time and had something about him but unfortunately it appears his career ended at 23 after struggling to establish himself in non-league then league of Ireland.

I lived in Enfield just round the corner from the training ground and got over to watch the youth and U23 games for a couple of years (So keep an eye on what was my youth team) before moving - of the boys that I watched Winks is still about he was always steady in the youth side but never really outstanding imo I always preferred Lesniak in his role

The guy who watches the Youth Team every week for another Spurs website reckoned that Mcevoy was the outstanding player in the Country for his age group - but was never really able to impose himself as he went into the man's game - the boy who was showing promise of that age group was Azzoui who was beginning to become a player then went to Germany played a few games got an horrendous injury moved to Holland and has struggled which is a real shame

I agree about Oduwa criminal waste of talent imo badly coached - Miller I didn't think he had enough - CCV looked outstanding and I think he and KWP will do very well - I also thought Ogilvie was very decent just left Gillingham turned down a new contract interesting to see where he ends up - Chris Maghoma also at Gillingham being offered out for transfer and Mcgee is playing at Forest Green. Amos was another nice player to watch easy on the eye injuries have stopped him at QPR

Edwards was coming into the side and everyone over there was aware of him and his potential and he was nice to watch but was always struggling to get into games imo

ps watching the EUFA cup final I was at a game that Capoue played in against Reading that ended up with a silly score 7-5 or something like that he got hooked by Sherwood and he had been awful - Sherwood unusually and clearly audible said you will never play another game for this club with a few expletives and he didn't - Coubially was also described as uncoachable which watching him you could understand
 
May 17, 2018
11,872
47,993
I think what is often missed with young players is the element of choice. You don't really start to mature and consider your choices until you're a young adult, and I expect many of their decisions are made for them up until the point they're in the U16 squad.

Mental health plays a part, and it's perfectly plausible that some just don't want to be footballers, or have that pressure they have potentially suffocated with all their lives. Sometimes it's a shame, and other times it's just how it is. Some people love football, some people don't. Lots of pros have been in the top 1% in ability, but have had no real interest in the sport.
 

danielneeds

Kick-Ass
May 5, 2004
24,183
48,814
Garry Brady looked great on his debut but decided first team opportunities would be easier at Newcastle.
Remember him. He was rapid. Apparently we messed up his contract with an administrative error allowing him to sign for the Toon.
 

Hotspur88

Well-Known Member
Aug 1, 2008
3,153
75,224
When I was younger, I used to tell my brother about all the promising youth players who were going to make it. Naivety on my part from being young at the time and some bad luck for some but to this day, if I even mention a promising youngster, he hammers me with the following....

"Oh yeah?! Like.....

Pekhart
Parrett
Dixon" (Unlucky)

I got a few right as well, but of course they aren't mentioned.
 

agrdavidsfan

Ledley's Knee!
Aug 25, 2005
10,918
13,352
Pekhart was one I expected to be good
Yuri Beriche another
Was also a young danish kid we signed Dag Alexander Olsen? Had pace to burn was meant to be a huge talent but god knows where he is now
 

greaves

Well-Known Member
Dec 6, 2006
6,214
9,156
I think what is often missed with young players is the element of choice. You don't really start to mature and consider your choices until you're a young adult, and I expect many of their decisions are made for them up until the point they're in the U16 squad.

Mental health plays a part, and it's perfectly plausible that some just don't want to be footballers, or have that pressure they have potentially suffocated with all their lives. Sometimes it's a shame, and other times it's just how it is. Some people love football, some people don't. Lots of pros have been in the top 1% in ability, but have had no real interest in the sport.

Yep. Having the chance to do something else can be the making of them.
 

C0YS

Just another member
Jul 9, 2007
12,780
13,817
I lived in Enfield just round the corner from the training ground and got over to watch the youth and U23 games for a couple of years (So keep an eye on what was my youth team) before moving - of the boys that I watched Winks is still about he was always steady in the youth side but never really outstanding imo I always preferred Lesniak in his role

The guy who watches the Youth Team every week for another Spurs website reckoned that Mcevoy was the outstanding player in the Country for his age group - but was never really able to impose himself as he went into the man's game - the boy who was showing promise of that age group was Azzoui who was beginning to become a player then went to Germany played a few games got an horrendous injury moved to Holland and has struggled which is a real shame

I agree about Oduwa criminal waste of talent imo badly coached - Miller I didn't think he had enough - CCV looked outstanding and I think he and KWP will do very well - I also thought Ogilvie was very decent just left Gillingham turned down a new contract interesting to see where he ends up - Chris Maghoma also at Gillingham being offered out for transfer and Mcgee is playing at Forest Green. Amos was another nice player to watch easy on the eye injuries have stopped him at QPR

Edwards was coming into the side and everyone over there was aware of him and his potential and he was nice to watch but was always struggling to get into games imo

ps watching the EUFA cup final I was at a game that Capoue played in against Reading that ended up with a silly score 7-5 or something like that he got hooked by Sherwood and he had been awful - Sherwood unusually and clearly audible said you will never play another game for this club with a few expletives and he didn't - Coubially was also described as uncoachable which watching him you could understand
Miller was never going to make it here, but I thought he'd have a good solid career in the game. He looked like he might tbh. On Oduwa, I think he needs to take some responsibility, he's been given chances, really good chances but no discipline in his play.

I agree with you entirely on Edwards, whenever I watched that was the impression I got. Bags of ability on the ball, but it always felt he was at the periphery of games. Contrast that with Shashoua who while less talented seemed to have a great personality in his play, and it wouldn't surprise me if Shashoua ends up having a better career at the end, he's had a decent season in La Segunda.

I think you're slightly misremembering with Capoue, he played under Poch, he was much better here than some people remember, you're probably thinking of the 6-4 against Reading under Ramos I'm not sure if there was such a game with Sherwood, but ultimately his first season ended with injury, a bit like it started. In fact when not injured in his first season he tended to start, I genuinely thought we had a player in our hands with Capoue, a bit inconsistent but a lot of promise as well. He started the first 11 games under Poch, his career ended here when he was part of that split between players and was ostracized from the squad, like Kaboul and others. But he largly did very well at Watford and I wasn't surprised to see him in a UEFA level side like Villareal.
 
Top