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The Spurs Youth Thread - 2017/2018

WindyCOYS

Well-Known Member
Feb 24, 2016
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And clearly given the fact he's including Amos and Sterling, he recognises it's the right opportunity, but for whatever reason, Edwards, in the coaches eyes, is undeserving of this opportunity.
My opinion on that - they've done nothing especially to deserve it and our, instead, just fortunate enough to be the next in line for the two positions we're lacking cover most in. But that's just an opinion and could be wide of the mark.

Ultimately my opinion is that I think we're making a mess of the development of our young players right now.
 

Hengy1

Well-Known Member
Aug 7, 2014
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#UYL: GOAL! @Sam_shash's corner is met by the unmarked Tanganga with a simple downward header. 3-0, 43mins #COYS
 

SpursD22

Well-Known Member
Aug 3, 2017
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3-0 Tanganga after a Shashoua corner. Tanganga has been the most consistent player in the academy and should’ve been rewarded with playing against Apoel in the CL
 

codspur

SC Supporter
Jul 14, 2008
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My opinion on that - they've done nothing especially to deserve it and our, instead, just fortunate enough to be the next in line for the two positions we're lacking cover most in. But that's just an opinion and could be wide of the mark.

Ultimately my opinion is that I think we're making a mess of the development of our young players right now.
How so Windy?
 

coys200

Well-Known Member
May 22, 2017
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Definitely some big decisions to be made on alot of very talented kids in the next couple of years. I fear we will let a few go that we will later regret.
 

nicdic

Official SC Padre
Admin
May 8, 2005
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My opinion on that - they've done nothing especially to deserve it and our, instead, just fortunate enough to be the next in line for the two positions we're lacking cover most in. But that's just an opinion and could be wide of the mark.

Ultimately my opinion is that I think we're making a mess of the development of our young players right now.

If the only factor that counted was what we can see in the u23s games then yeah, but clearly much more goes into it than that. Poche clearly cares about the man, how he handles himself around the first team, and I'd guess their performance in training.
 

Spurzinho

Well-Known Member
Jan 24, 2016
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I try not get involved in the Edwards debate because it gets people very angry. Poch talks about his values a lot and king among them is respect. Even if a player is ready technically and in terms of intelligence Poch is looking for the humility, respect and professionalism that Bielsa instilled in him. He'll tolerate immaturity and being headstrong to some extent but he wants total immersion in the group, desire and teamwork. Sir Alex wasn't all that different. He insisted that you conform to his vision in terms of character and conduct. If you didn't (see Beckham) then no matter how good you are, you're off. United let some talented young ones go over the years because they wanted to stay on the outside and play for themselves.

We all share the frustration at Edwards not breaking through, maybe for some people who haven't seen this before it hurts that little bit more but I've seen it happen countless times at this club, where a player predicted to do great things just never "got it" and wound up playing for AFC Wimbledon or Aylesbury Town. From before my time there were future England captains like Darren Caskey. During my time following the youth there's been:

Guaranteed future England international Ben Bowditch
Wonderkids Owen Price, Mark Yeates and Phil Ifil,
The Welsh Wayne Rooney - Scott Thyer
The next Bobby Moore - Leigh Mills
The French colossus Dorian Dervite
The next Patrick Vieira - Jacques Maghoma (according to multiple Spurs youth coaches - including Bradley Allen, Alvin Martin and Pat Holland)
Isa Hussein - the most skillfull player at the club, junior or senior, according to David Pleat during his time as DOF
A "new kind of footballer" - Simon Dawkins (was fresh of the brand new Brazilian Soccer School system along with Micah Richards)
Future England No.1 David Button
The next Ledley King - Troy Archibald-Henville
The best Spurs youth I ever saw and also the one I was most sure HAD to make it - Terry Dixon
Andros Townsend - guaranteed to be a winger legend
Adam Smith - guaranteed to succeed Phil Ifil at right back
Danny Rose - Leeds wonderkid
Ryan Mason - our very own wonderkid with incredible skill and goalscoring record - second in my opinion behind Dixon in the rankings of youth prospect
Steven Caulker - Spurs & England stalwart for years to come
Dean Parrett - the next Steven Gerrard, picked for England till 20 years old based on nothing more than his potential at 15.
John Bostock - Premier League debut at 15. World at his left foot
John Megicks - one of the best 14 year olds in the country
Kudus Oyenuga - rediculous goal record, always ahead of Kane at youth level
Kenny McEvoy - the next Gareth Bale
Laste Dombaxe - Playing youth football from 15, seemed to have everything a footballer needs
Connor Ogilvie - Imperious ball playing central defender for spurs & England schoolboys, so much expected
Nathan Oduwa - the most insanely, ridiculously skillful footballer I've ever seen come through our system. Technique second to none.
Aaron McEneff - "Plays like a young Roy Keane" - John McDermott (Spurs head of youth)


and that brings us up to Poch's tenure.

My intention is not to dampen peoples enthusiasm for Edwards, but just to show that there has always been more to breaking through than talent alone. We've had some incredible talent on our books but even under coaches that didn't have Poch's standards they didn't always break through. Poch is very demanding but he's trying to change the mentality at the club from top to bottom. He wants youngsters with a certain character. The odd one out for me is KWP who clearly has what Poch is looking for. Onomah's omission I understand. Edwards omission I understand. Harrison's omission I understand. It also makes sense of Amos, Georgiou and Sterling's inclusion when none are among the most talented or promising players we have. Amos, as many know I am particularly cold on.

Its fine to feel frustrated with the Edwards situation but I hope some will understand the context a little better.
 

WindyCOYS

Well-Known Member
Feb 24, 2016
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If the only factor that counted was what we can see in the u23s games then yeah, but clearly much more goes into it than that. Poche clearly cares about the man, how he handles himself around the first team, and I'd guess their performance in training.

Of course, of course. It's the double standards that irk me. Danny Rose can call up The Sun and deliver an embarrassing story to them which questions the chairman, manager and squad and come back into the fold after making an apology. But Marcus Edwards - the most technically gifted youngster we've developed in years - cannot get any gametime in nearly 18 months and could potentially start to have his head turned because he's perceived to not be 100% team-focused? I just don't get it.

I'm not articulating myself partcularly well in this thread; it's difficult because there are so many back and forths... but I've started writing something and will post it here when it's done. It'd be good to get your views.
 

allpaths

Well-Known Member
Oct 31, 2014
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8,381
Think it's really as simple as Edwards isnt physically mature enough to compete consistently at a senior level. That's why we see the likes of Georgiou and Amos get opportunities, despite their performance levels in matches. Very understandable as a lot of lads dont fully mature until there 21. But I still think that this policy unnessecarily restricts and hampers some of our more talented lads who have extremely limited amount of senior expeirence, by the time they are 20. Which can make the full time transition to the first team squad all that trickier. See KWP.
 

IfiHadTheWings

Well-Known Member
Aug 5, 2013
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11,481
3-1 my Spurs supporting hat says we will lose this 4-3 :cautious:...Didn't Edwards miss a penalty in one of the last UYL games?
 

nicdic

Official SC Padre
Admin
May 8, 2005
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Of course, of course. It's the double standards that irk me. Danny Rose can call up The Sun and deliver an embarrassing story to them which questions the chairman, manager and squad and come back into the fold after making an apology. But Marcus Edwards - the most technically gifted youngster we've developed in years - cannot get any gametime in nearly 18 months and could potentially start to have his head turned because he's perceived to not be 100% team-focused? I just don't get it.

I'm not articulating myself partcularly well in this thread; it's difficult because there are so many back and forths... but I've started writing something and will post it here when it's done. It'd be good to get your views.
I think it's hard to compare this to an established first team player, but I see your point. Though we don't know what Rose's attitude has been like in training and other situations.

I personally don't think Edwards is a bad boy per-se, but clearly there's more to it than just being about on-pitch performance. I'm desperate for him to make it with us.
 

Hengy1

Well-Known Member
Aug 7, 2014
2,744
7,424
Spurs find that fourth goal. Lovely finish from Rodel Richards after good work from Marcus Edwards.
 
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