Marcus Edwards

[Cochraam]

It's all a bit sad. He's clearly prodigiously talented, but seems to be going through a rough patch (some possibly of his own making). I would love to see the club stick with him through this, perhaps finding a loan that could suit him and give him more first team exposure, maybe even out of the country to shake things up for him.

There was a story when he returned from Norwich that he never showed up to a practice on time. Both Poch and Norwich's Farke have said he doesn't run enough or contribute enough off the ball. All of that just seems like immaturity, but of course 18 and 19 year olds are often immature. He could be a different man in a couple years, so I think it's worth sticking with him. He clearly has some growing up to do, but I also don't think the club needs to take a hard line approach with someone so young.

 

[diamondlight]

Does feel a little like John Bostock (although I am sure that there are plenty of other examples) in that he has been given loads of hype but has failed to make an impact either at his own club or on loan and hints that the attitude is not always there. I hate these 'the new Messi or the next Ronaldo' tags. It's so lazy and only places unwanted pressure on the player.

I don't buy all this negativity about the 'pressure' of being compared to a brilliant footballer. I'd LOVE to be known as the new Messi.

 

[glospur]

Pochettino wouldn’t need experienced internationals if the kid was good enough. Anyone who deserves a chance gets one.

Careful. That's like the bat signal for the Youth Thread lynch mob who believe that only Pochettino is to blame when a kid doesn't make it.

 

[Univarn]

Alasdair Gold mentions something interesting in this - Ajax have been interested in Edwards in the past - could he be part of a deal for De Ligt?

https://www.football.london/tottenh...ottenham-marcus-edwards-germany-ajax-14749533

Exclusive: Spurs wonderkid Marcus Edwards exit could help club sign Ajax star Matthijs de Ligt

The teenager appears to be on the way out of Tottenham this summer


Tottenham Hotspur teenager Marcus Edwards looks to be heading towards the club's exit door this summer and football.london understands that a number of clubs from across Europe are interested in signing him.

The 19-year-old was long considered to be one of the brightest prospects to have come through Spurs' academy in recent years, with his dribbling ability and eye for goal, and he earned lofty comparisons to Lionel Messi from manager Mauricio Pochettino back in 2016.

However Edwards is now reluctantly looking to make a move away from the club this summer, following a season in which the teenager has seen the path to the first team grow ever longer.

football.london understands that clubs from the Premier League, Championship as well as Germany and the Netherlands are all showing an interest in signing the attacking midfielder, who has 50 caps for England at various youth levels.

Tottenham are reluctant to let the teenager go, having signed him up to a new deal until 2020 last summer, but are expected to allow him move on if they are offered a suitable deal, potentially including a buy-back option and sell-on clause.

One possible destination for Edwards could be Eredivise side Ajax. The Dutch giants have previously shown interest in taking the teenager on loan and are keeping close tabs on his situation.

With Spurs looking to sign Ajax defender Matthijs de Ligt this summer, Edwards could potentially be used as part of the deal, heading in the other direction.

Pochettino admitted this year that with the club pushing to new heights in recent season it has become increasingly harder for academy youngsters to break through and this summer in particular he is set to be handed a substantial transfer war chest to take the club to the next level.

"We have built a very strong squad and the demands are higher [for the academy players]," the Argentine said. "If you were seven out of 10, you were going to have the possibility to play but now we have said to them they need to be an eight or an eight and a half."

Edwards first came to Spurs fans' attention with a sparkling ten-minute cameo against Gillingham in the League Cup back in 2016.

The teenager drew lofty praise from his manager, who said he had 'similar traits' to a young Messi and Erik Lamela and that if he was Brazilian or Argentinean then the whole world would be talking about him.

However, an ankle injury that season stopped Edwards from making any further progress that season and then the following year he seemed to drop off the grid somewhat in terms of the first team picture, despite impressing for the U23s and U19s in Europe.

The Argentine admitted that comparing Edwards to Messi was an error.

"Maybe I made a mistake. I believed it was positive and he was going to take it in a positive way. When you’re young, sometimes you need more time. Sometimes you stop your evolution. We still trust in him," the Spurs boss said.

"No, I’m not going to talk about [questions over the player's attitude]. It’s about performance. Of course he needs to work hard like different players that we have in the academy, and wait for the opportunity. It’s never easy, the last step, to join the first team from the academy."

Pochettino made the unusual step of talking about the teenager 'having behavioural issues and problems with authority' in his book ' A Brave New World'.

Edwards was handed that new deal though as the club believed in his talent and eventually sent out on loan to Norwich in January to get a taste of first team life.

However, the move proved to be a disaster with a back injury initially hampering his early weeks and the loan was terminated early, with Edwards having played just a handful of minutes during one substitute appearance and he returned to Spurs amid more claims about his attitude as well as time-keeping issues.

There is no doubt that Edwards has talent aplenty though and he caught the eye of many clubs in Europe with his performances and goals during the club's UEFA Youth League matches last season, before his move to Norwich, as Spurs sparkled against the likes of Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Apoel Nicosia.

His development squad team-mate Keanan Bennetts moved to Bundesliga side Borussia Monchengladbach for £2m this summer and it appears that a fresh start also beckons for Edwards.

Even if it is not part of the De Ligt deal (would hope so), Ajax are fighting to keep hold of Kluivert and Ziyech this summer and barely holding on. There is an opportunity there for him to make a claim for a spot.

 

[St José Dominguez]

He's never going to get game time anywhere let alone here if he doesn't sort out his mind. Think fact he couldn't barely get a minute in a Norwich side who were in horrible form spoke volumes.

Extremely gifted but extremely stupid if he wastes what he's got. He doesn't know how lucky he is, he's not far off chucking all of it, including chance of millions of pounds, down the toilet. I bet he's surrounded by family and friends who all kiss his arse and don't tell him straight.

 

[yanno]

If we're in for Kluivert Jr as well as De Ligt, and if it's true that Marcus wants out, then this would make some sense.

Signing Kluivert would directly block Edwards' path to first team football here.

However, I say this with some regret, as Edwards has oustanding ability and it will be a real shame if that potential isn't fulfilled in a Spurs shirt.

 

[Lighty64]

Pochettino wouldn’t need experienced internationals if the kid was good enough. Anyone who deserves a chance gets one.

think he is good enough with his feet, it seems he struggles with the thinking and working side of things (but I'm only going by a comment in Poch's book and other links I've read).

perhaps the crowd he is hanging around with outside (the clingers/ponses) the game are not doing him any favours

 

[Metalhead]

I don't buy all this negativity about the 'pressure' of being compared to a brilliant footballer. I'd LOVE to be known as the new Messi.

It's more that it lacks imagination and it's very premature to label someone as the new version of an existing player. How about him just being Marcus Edwards?

 

[EQP]

Careful. That's like the bat signal for the Youth Thread lynch mob who believe that only Pochettino is to blame when a kid doesn't make it.

This silly narrative about the youth thread posters, again?

 

[diamondlight]

It's more that it lacks imagination and it's very premature to label someone as the new version of an existing player. How about him just being Marcus Edwards?

That doesn't seem to be working. He could use a role model like Messi by the sounds of it.

 

[EQP]

I think the showing up late to training is the shocking part. Your job is to go kick a ball, run and stay fit. At worst, I'm sure he could afford to have someone wake him up and in a daze, direct to him the bathroom and then yell at him to hurry up and get ready for training. Sounds like he might not want it as bad as we want it for him.

 

[ButchCassidy]

Similar to that Man Utd youngster a few years ago that Ferguson said was so talented. I don't know why these kids do it to themselves. Obviously get with the wrong mates and end up chasing women cars and drink.

To be fair have you tried women cars and drink? Not hard to see how it can be addicting...

 

[Hercules]

I posted in the Youth thread on the issues

 

[Metalhead]

That doesn't seem to be working. He could use a role model like Messi by the sounds of it.

If you mean role model in the sense of a physical mentor, that sounds like a great idea.

 

[glospur]

This silly narrative about the youth thread posters, again?

Less a silly narrative, more a non-fiction narrative.

 

[popstar7]

There's quite a few English teenagers at Bundesliga clubs. Mostly doing well too. Don't like to see anyone wasting their talent and a change of environment could be what he needs.

 

[mill]

Careful. That's like the bat signal for the Youth Thread lynch mob who believe that only Pochettino is to blame when a kid doesn't make it.

Does mummy know you’re using the internet?

 

[sonofsam]

How long is left on his contract? Do you we not have time to loan him out for a year before totally giving up on him?

 

[buckley]

A list of players that in my opinion had all the parts except balls.Taarabt.Ravel Morrison.Edwards.I am sure there are many others but for the moment they don't come to mind.All of them large egos small commitment

 

[wirE]

It's hard to judge a player which I've never or rarely seen play a game, but given recent media reports and quotes from Poch that he's got an attitude problem doesn't make his chances of staying any better. He ended his loan with Norwich only a couple of months in because he felt he wasn't given a fair chance to prove himself. I don't know how an 18 yrs old loanee can just come in to an establish team who is fighting for promotion (at that time) and claim a spot in the starting XI before you've proven yourself. Kid got confidence and huge balls, I give him that.