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The Spurs Youth Thread - 2017/2018

coys200

Well-Known Member
May 22, 2017
8,436
17,403
I think why strikers are hard to judge is that they are given massive leeway if they score.I really think if Kane hadn’t scored from the get go fans would have lost patience quickly. Kane’s all round game has come on massively. But early days he just didn’t look like a top striker but he was still scoring. So therefore a striker can contribute very little in a game but if he scores 2 will prob be Man of match. Sounds obvious to say but essentially strikers are judged on goals not their general technical ability.
 

coys200

Well-Known Member
May 22, 2017
8,436
17,403
Janssen a perfect example of the above . For me great all round contribution,but ultimately he failed to score and was judged on that.
 

brendanb50

Well-Known Member
Jul 21, 2005
4,484
3,890
Good points regarding the strikers. Ultimately we seem to have gone for mentality and work ethic in signing for the first team; both attributes seem to be key in Sterling's game currently.

His all round ability can't be expected to be exceptional given his age and experience, but if he applies this work rate daily, it will come on. Whether it will to the level he'll break through for us is another matter but he looks to me like he'll give it a decent try.
 

Romulus

Well-Known Member
Jun 14, 2012
6,901
11,081
Skipp really is developing into a lovely player. his footballing IQ is through the roof, always knows what to do and when. if he keeps this up it won't be long until we see him training with the first team squad
 

Cornpattbuck

Well-Known Member
Jul 23, 2013
6,873
15,942
Great article. He makes the same points many here make, that no one has a problem with us signing quality players but the problem is blocking our talented players with average players from here or abraad.

As we've all said the players coming through now are a lot better than 20 years ago, and he admitted that his age group, couldn't do the things these players do. Let that sink in Gerrard et al wouldn't be as good,comparatively and would not be coming through in this day and age, and we have people saying these players aren't good enough, we are shelling talent I hope something is done soon.

These comments old heads always make are annoying though. They always imply that these kids don't work as hard as they ever worked and think they need to do some outdated sweeping of terraces like they had the hard life. I always read these articles and it reminds me of people debating housing. Old pros will talk about how much money they have and these superficial issues like they have it easy but breaking into the first team is harder than it ever has been which is ultimately the aim of these players. While Parker didn't have s much money he would still have been paid comparatively more than 18 year olds of a similar age but had a lot easier route to the first team. It's like those born in the 50s saying how hard they had it with no internet but could buy a house off a basic wage and saying how young people have it easy. I know I'd rather be able to buy a house the same way, the players today would rather get first team chances if it meant given up 5k per week.

I don't think any academy player is stupid enough to think they no longer need to work hard, and Poch wouldn't stand for it anyway so claiming they're not working as hard as they did 20 years ago just feels like more excuses and blaming academy players for the situation they're in. I bet Bobby Charlton probably looked at the Scott Parker generation and said the same thing. These new pundits always strike me as the 'in my day type' and don't really tackle the problem. I also think the reason England has such a lack of talent is because the only ones that ever break through are those with great work rate and not necessarily the most talent. England loves placing too much emphasis on passing and work rate, which is whereas other countries appear to value talent first and then mould them into what they want. I remember Xabi Alonso wondering why England seem to praise people making tackles, and that is the issue. Wanting that player that runs around, and if they're not doing that, they can't get their chance. It's football not athletics, lets try get these kids through,if they're performing well and work on their mentality later, if it is such an issue.

I'm not really sure why you'e on such a downer at the mo.

He makes plenty of valid points there ESPECIALLY about the mental side of the game.

There's a trail of destruction of young players given too much too early, whose careers then burn out within a few years.

What Scott is saying seems a very sensible approach to bringing through talented footballers who are also well rounded humans who can deal with all the **** inevitably thrown their way at some point down the line.

Seems positive to me...?!
 

Cornpattbuck

Well-Known Member
Jul 23, 2013
6,873
15,942
Skipp really is developing into a lovely player. his footballing IQ is through the roof, always knows what to do and when. if he keeps this up it won't be long until we see him training with the first team squad

Completely agree. He reads the game so easily.
 

Lemon

End World Debt
Jul 17, 2014
2,436
4,664
Skipp really is developing into a lovely player. his footballing IQ is through the roof, always knows what to do and when. if he keeps this up it won't be long until we see him training with the first team squad

He reminds me of Winks/Parker.
 

Streetspur77

Happy Clapper
Jul 20, 2017
2,792
9,404
Great article. He makes the same points many here make, that no one has a problem with us signing quality players but the problem is blocking our talented players with average players from here or abroad.

As we've all said the players coming through now are a lot better than 20 years ago, and he admitted that his age group, couldn't do the things these players do. Let that sink in Gerrard et al wouldn't be as good,comparatively and would not be coming through in this day and age, and we have people saying these players aren't good enough, we are shelling talent I hope something is done soon.

These comments old heads always make are annoying though. They always imply that these kids don't work as hard as they ever worked and think they need to do some outdated sweeping of terraces like they had the hard life. I always read these articles and it reminds me of people debating housing. Old pros will talk about how much money they have and these superficial issues like they have it easy but breaking into the first team is harder than it ever has been which is ultimately the aim of these players. While Parker didn't have s much money he would still have been paid comparatively more than 18 year olds of a similar age but had a lot easier route to the first team. It's like those born in the 50s saying how hard they had it with no internet but could buy a house off a basic wage and saying how young people have it easy. I know I'd rather be able to buy a house the same way, the players today would rather get first team chances if it meant given up 5k per week.

I don't think any academy player is stupid enough to think they no longer need to work hard, and Poch wouldn't stand for it anyway so claiming they're not working as hard as they did 20 years ago just feels like more excuses and blaming academy players for the situation they're in. I bet Bobby Charlton probably looked at the Scott Parker generation and said the same thing. These new pundits always strike me as the 'in my day type' and don't really tackle the problem. I also think the reason England has such a lack of talent is because the only ones that ever break through are those with great work rate and not necessarily the most talent. England loves placing too much emphasis on passing and work rate, which is whereas other countries appear to value talent first and then mould them into what they want. I remember Xabi Alonso wondering why England seem to praise people making tackles, and that is the issue. Wanting that player that runs around, and if they're not doing that, they can't get their chance. It's football not athletics, lets try get these kids through,if they're performing well and work on their mentality later, if it is such an issue.

But I swear he says the exact opposite? He says he's at a club that's not like that and that "wants to do it" and that the youth players "wouldn't be here if they didn't have a chance"

Obviously there are a few signings that have turned out to be average but they are very much the exception not the rule, I can't see many reasons to be negative about our academy use right now with 2, arguably 3, graduates being key first team players and a few on the fringes and a lot more to come
 

allpaths

Well-Known Member
Oct 31, 2014
3,174
8,381
I cannot see what we get out of playing Marsh as a CB or full back,I get the point that you move players around a bit to give them options but Marsh has been played as a Defender for far too long and I do not see what Spurs get out of doing this because he is not a Defender and that is the same for Bennetts,fair play they have tried it but it is not working and both are Midfielders and should be played as one.
Agree with you on Marsh, but I think the only way Bennetts makes it to the very top of the game, playing champions league/top 6 pl football, is as a FB/WB. His passing isnt intricate around the opponents penalty area enough to be a good consistent option further forward. From deep he sees the pitch a lot better and his pace and power is a lot more useful. Yes he needs to work on his defensive side, but if Rose can make the transition, then I back Bennetts to do the same. If he can only play in midfield I see him being around Townsend level, which isnt necessarily bad.
 
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