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Player Watch: Marcus Edwards

IGSpur

Well-Known Member
Jan 11, 2013
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13,758
This would make sense except we did also want to sign Sancho and city sold him to Dortmund so hard to say if we would have given him game time or not but there was a clear focus on his talent with the intention to sign him
You're right but I am just basing it off what I have seen so far. As long as you've played some level of senior football you are much more likely to then be given genuine chances and then continue to develop compared to if you have zero experience.

What would have helped Sancho though is the likely fee we would have paid. I don't think we are in a position to pay 8m and not even give a player a chance. So I change my mind, he probably would have got a chance with us, but it would definitely have been a lot slower process than the one he went under at Dotmund

One of the things that is starting to stand out about Edwards is his ability to stay fit - not a knock on him, per se, but it feeds into the narrative that Poch did not feel he was physically ready to handle more senior matches. Seems like every time we had a cup match, Edwards was injured. Now that he is on loan at Norwich, he has taken a while to recover.

Might just be that he needs to get stronger before he is really ready to challenge at the senior level - a pretty typical concern for all youth players.

He's never had many injuries before, since he rolled his ankle I think last year, he has had a lot of niggles since. I'm not sure what's going on as it's not like he's been training with the first team, so I'm not sure it is the physical side of it. Could be a training/work out regime that isn't working for him or just bad luck. I'm just guessing though
 

Locotoro

Prince of Zamunda
Sep 2, 2004
9,326
13,915
One thing is clear though, at the moment, Norwich would put him in if they thought he would have a positive effect on the team but he isn't making the Norwich bench let alone being ready for a team like Spurs. Whether that be for injury reasons, mental or physical.

The lad needs much more time and more developing before he's ready
 

DCSPUR

Well-Known Member
Apr 15, 2005
3,918
5,415
You're right but I am just basing it off what I have seen so far. As long as you've played some level of senior football you are much more likely to then be given genuine chances and then continue to develop compared to if you have zero experience.

What would have helped Sancho though is the likely fee we would have paid. I don't think we are in a position to pay 8m and not even give a player a chance. So I change my mind, he probably would have got a chance with us, but it would definitely have been a lot slower process than the one he went under at Dotmund



He's never had many injuries before, since he rolled his ankle I think last year, he has had a lot of niggles since. I'm not sure what's going on as it's not like he's been training with the first team, so I'm not sure it is the physical side of it. Could be a training/work out regime that isn't working for him or just bad luck. I'm just guessing though

Not 100% sure if I agree with it being a slower process....have been thinking a lot about the Dele situation.
When he came to the club he was a prospect/ a project for a team that had just finished 5th but had really good momentum.
All reports suggest he just crushed the pre-season program and forced Poch to think about him earlier than had been anticipated.

So it suggests that there is a fast path for a young player if he is exceptional and really shows it.

Have also been thinking about some of our key young talent (specifically Josh, Edwards, CCV and KWP).
I think we have been looking at these 4th in a broad way but actually each is a different situation.
The unluckiest for me is KWP - I think Poch got a bit nervous about losing Walker and not replacing him with a player more experienced than KWP. I wonder whether he would have brought in Aurier if KW had got an injury the season before and KWP had played a handful of games at the level of his Newcastle performance.

CCV is, conversely, the guy with the least to complain about. Poch spoke v. highly of his mentality but I have to say I was shocked how slow he was on the turn during some of the pre-season games....he looked miles away from the first team.

Josh O is a tough one. A bit unlucky that Poch and Levy made a panic buy when they got in Sissoko for 30 million it was a real block to his progress and he hasn't been able to pull a Dele and crush it in pre-season.

Edwards --- don't know what to think. Do have this feeling that he gets injuries at the most inopportune moment.

My feeling for the next 1-2 years:
CCV and Josh --- sign extensions and then give them 2 year loans to Celtic to play under Rogers (incentivise him to play them)
KWP to Brighton for a season loan
Edwards keep with the first team
 

IGSpur

Well-Known Member
Jan 11, 2013
7,939
13,758
Not 100% sure if I agree with it being a slower process....have been thinking a lot about the Dele situation.
When he came to the club he was a prospect/ a project for a team that had just finished 5th but had really good momentum.
All reports suggest he just crushed the pre-season program and forced Poch to think about him earlier than had been anticipated.

So it suggests that there is a fast path for a young player if he is exceptional and really shows it.

Have also been thinking about some of our key young talent (specifically Josh, Edwards, CCV and KWP).
I think we have been looking at these 4th in a broad way but actually each is a different situation.
The unluckiest for me is KWP - I think Poch got a bit nervous about losing Walker and not replacing him with a player more experienced than KWP. I wonder whether he would have brought in Aurier if KW had got an injury the season before and KWP had played a handful of games at the level of his Newcastle performance.

CCV is, conversely, the guy with the least to complain about. Poch spoke v. highly of his mentality but I have to say I was shocked how slow he was on the turn during some of the pre-season games....he looked miles away from the first team.

Josh O is a tough one. A bit unlucky that Poch and Levy made a panic buy when they got in Sissoko for 30 million it was a real block to his progress and he hasn't been able to pull a Dele and crush it in pre-season.

Edwards --- don't know what to think. Do have this feeling that he gets injuries at the most inopportune moment.

My feeling for the next 1-2 years:
CCV and Josh --- sign extensions and then give them 2 year loans to Celtic to play under Rogers (incentivise him to play them)
KWP to Brighton for a season loan
Edwards keep with the first team

Alli had just scored 16 goals in L1 and played around 50+ league games and cost 5m, he could play Premier League football. In the same way if we bought Maddison he would start getting introduced into our squad a lot sooner than any youth player and I'd back him getting CC starts or introduced into PL in sub appearances.

Regarding all of our academy players with no experience, we've been through this, but all I see is 'bad fortune' stopping each one from getting proper chances. I'm sure they are just all unlucky over the last 4 years, and the misfortune will continue
 

coys200

Well-Known Member
May 22, 2017
8,436
17,403
I’ve only really upped my interest in youth football the last 2 years. I would say along with sancho and hudson-odoi ,Edwards is the most exciting young talent I’ve seen. I think I’ve got a pretty decent eye when it comes to players. But I’m really starting to think I’ve seen something I haven’t seen. I guess nobody really knows what’s going on but I find the whole situation a bit baffling. As I’m pretty sure I saw him come on in the World Cup and single handily win England 2 games. But even then couldn’t get a start which just adds to the mystery even more.
 

Bus-Conductor

SC Supporter
Oct 19, 2004
39,837
50,713
One of the things that is starting to stand out about Edwards is his ability to stay fit - not a knock on him, per se, but it feeds into the narrative that Poch did not feel he was physically ready to handle more senior matches. Seems like every time we had a cup match, Edwards was injured. Now that he is on loan at Norwich, he has taken a while to recover.

Might just be that he needs to get stronger before he is really ready to challenge at the senior level - a pretty typical concern for all youth players.


Or it could just feed into the narrative that football players get injured, sometimes meaning they miss 1/2/3 months. Like Alderweireld, Lamela, Kane, Wanyama, Winks, Rose, Dembele etc etc.
 

Waxman

Active Member
Nov 14, 2003
187
633
I’ve only really upped my interest in youth football the last 2 years. I would say along with sancho and hudson-odoi ,Edwards is the most exciting young talent I’ve seen. I think I’ve got a pretty decent eye when it comes to players. But I’m really starting to think I’ve seen something I haven’t seen. I guess nobody really knows what’s going on but I find the whole situation a bit baffling. As I’m pretty sure I saw him come on in the World Cup and single handily win England 2 games. But even then couldn’t get a start which just adds to the mystery even more.

Marcus is a skilful kid no doubt, but imo the most exciting prospect we have at the moment is Oliver Skipp. This kid will make it....he has it all and he's just 17 years old

It's a great thing to be able to run with the ball, have close control and be tricky, but that doesn't make you a guaranteed success. There's another kid in our youth setup who isn't far behind Marcus Edwards in all of those traits (Dylan Markanday), for example.

What you need to look for in a youth player is application, desire, vision across the pitch (Not just when you've got the ball at your feet).

I'm not saying Marcus doesn't have those things, but they're not as well developed yet.

Skipp however has them in spades

A few other players who I've seen and identified for having those traits over recent years whilst watching youth football: Adam Smith, Alex Pritchard, Harry Kane. All of whom at 16/17 had 'it'

Marcus Edwards is a 'get you out of your seat' player for sure, but for me, until he develops those other parts to his game, he'll be seen as a luxury player. And I think the game has moved on from the days when a luxury player could be accommodated, in the English leagues at least...
 

LexingtonSpurs

Well-Known Member
Aug 27, 2013
13,456
39,042
Or it could just feed into the narrative that football players get injured, sometimes meaning they miss 1/2/3 months. Like Alderweireld, Lamela, Kane, Wanyama, Winks, Rose, Dembele etc etc.
Nope, you're right. Edwards has demonstrated an amazing ability to stay healthy throughout his brief career.
 

Ghost Hardware

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
17,996
61,593
It is hard to stay optimistic about this kid future, he seems to be struggling to get a look in anywhere. I realise he has been suffering from injuries at the worst moments but thats seems to be only a part of the story. He looks worlds away from Jadon Sancho who was recently named Bundesliga rookie of the month. Saying that he also seems to have picked up a pretty bad injury so who knows how long he will be out for. Still, that very impressive from Sancho. Still, lets hope Edwards manages to work his way into the team, its true it way to early to give up on him yet but he does need game time.
 

'O Zio

Well-Known Member
Dec 27, 2014
7,405
13,785
It is hard to stay optimistic about this kid future, he seems to be struggling to get a look in anywhere. I realise he has been suffering from injuries at the worst moments but thats seems to be only a part of the story. He looks worlds away from Jadon Sancho who was recently named Bundesliga rookie of the month. Saying that he also seems to have picked up a pretty bad injury so who knows how long he will be out for. Still, that very impressive from Sancho. Still, lets hope Edwards manages to work his way into the team, its true it way to early to give up on him yet but he does need game time.

He's also only 19 don't forget. Most kids don't get a look into the first team until their in their early 20s. I think he's just suffered from being well-known among fans since he was about 15 and so people are getting impatient because it seems like he's been around forever without getting into the first team when in reality he's just going through the same stages most youth players do. Alli being able to just come in at that age and boss it is an exception not the norm, and arguably that had a lot to do with the fact that he'd been playing senior football for a few seasons rather than academy football, so comparing his progression to Alli's isn't really a fair comparison but it seems that's what a lot of people (not necessarily you) keep doing.
 
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longtimespur

Well-Known Member
Sep 10, 2014
5,830
9,949
Well hopefully it's "I think Marcus could do a job for us against this lot", and not "I think this guy's a lazy believes his own hype prick".

Don't answer if you don't want to but is the emboldened what is being suggested as a problem for him?
 
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