Ricardo Rocha leaves the club

[Scutch]

http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/articles/playerupdate010609.html

The Club would like to thank Ricardo Rocha for his contribution over the past two-and-a-half years following his departure at the conclusion of his contract.

The Portuguese defender made 18 appearances in our colours after joining from Benfica in January 2007.

Reserve team players Simon Dawkins, Kyle Fraser-Allen, Cian Hughton, Danny Hutchins, David Hutton, Jacques Maghoma and Takura Mtandari have also been released at the end of their contracts, along with Academy players Saulo Asajile, Mark Clare, James Dalton and Ajet Shehu.

We wish them all the best for the future.

 

[Azrael]

That's a shame. I rated him personally.

Interesting that it says departure and not "released".

 

[Bobishism]

Surprised about Maghoma Mtandari and Asajile. I thought these players were rated quite highly.

 

[fozzi44]

That's a shame. I rated him personally.

Interesting that it says departure and not "released".

presumably his contract was up

 

[Azrael]

^ Yes. Of course. I'm just in dummy mode!!

 

[Sbix]

12 players in total being released there.. that's quite a bit, but nice to see the overall squad being trimmed. Hope the bunch of promising u18 lads will be stepping up to various levels next season (loans, reserve action or even some first team cameos..)

 

[joey55]

If you look at the FA Youth Cup winning sides for the last decade, so few of those players have gone on to make it at the highest level. The Prem is so strong now that to make it into a top 6 side (which is the standard of players we need) you have to be incredibly talented. Having a decent youth side really isn't all it's cracked up to be. We have one of the best at the moment, but out of all the names we high hopes for (ie Mason, Bostock, Rose, Parret and Townsend etc) the chances are only 1 or just as likley 0 will go on to have a big impact in the Prem with us. If you look at the Arsenal 1st team, who are famed for their youngsters, none of them really came through the Arsenal academy. Nearly all of them had first team experience at their previous clubs. So it's not suprising we let so many of our youngsters go.

 

[danielneeds]

If you look at the FA Youth Cup winning sides for the last decade, so few of those players have gone on to make it at the highest level. The Prem is so strong now that to make it into a top 6 side (which is the standard of players we need) you have to be incredibly talented. Having a decent youth side really isn't all it's cracked up to be. We have one of the best at the moment, but out of all the names we high hopes for (ie Mason, Bostock, Rose, Parret and Townsend etc) the chances are only 1 or just as likley 0 will go on to have a big impact in the Prem with us. If you look at the Arsenal 1st team, who are famed for their youngsters, none of them really came through the Arsenal academy. Nearly all of them had first team experience at their previous clubs. So it's not suprising we let so many of our youngsters go.

It depends on what you count as being "our youth system" too. If Bostock, Rose, Parrett make it, their previous clubs still have to take a share of credit. Likewise at Arsenal, alot of their academy players that have made it in recent years orginally come from teams around Europe.

 

[Jurgen Modric]

Surprised David Hutton has been released.

I would have rather held onto him than Alan TBH.

 

[joey55]

It depends on what you count as being "our youth system" too. If Bostock, Rose, Parrett make it, their previous clubs still have to take a share of credit. Likewise at Arsenal, alot of their academy players that have made it in recent years orginally come from teams around Europe.

I think with the acception of Fabregas, all the recent youngsters who have cemented a 1st team birth at Arsenal have played 1st team football for their previous clubs. And Fabregas himself played for Arsenal first team shortly after joining. So none of them are really products of the Arsenal youth system. Denilson, Walcott, Song, Diaby and Cliche all had plenty of first team experiecne before joinging Arsenal. The only one who played through the youth system was Bendtner. He was 16 by the time he arrived and I can't see him having much of a fututre there.

In fact, if you look at the times the big 4 have produced Youth Cup winning sides from the last decade, not a single player has gone on to have decent career with that side.

 

[Bobishism]

In fact, if you look at the times the big 4 have produced Youth Cup winning sides from the last decade, not a single player has gone on to have decent career with that side.

That only proves young players need first team football. Not that they're any worse than the players the top teams are producing. we should be sending players out on loan as young as 16/17 to lower tier clubs. I think Mason and co. should already be playing for league 2/1 sides.

 

[joey55]

That only proves young players need first team football. Not that they're any worse than the players the top teams are producing. we should be sending players out on loan as young as 16/17 to lower tier clubs. I think Mason and co. should already be playing for league 2/1 sides.

This is why Wenger wants Prem sides to be able to play their reserve teams in second or third tier leagues, as they do in Spain. Our reserve team football isn't strong enough and the loan system doesn't seem to work. Loads of players go out on loan but few seem to develop. Maybe Wenger thinks the benefit of reserve teams playing in the Championship is that they'd still play the style and develop in the manner the manger wants, which perhaps is less likely to happen by going on loan.

 

[karennina]

It depends on what you count as being "our youth system" too. If Bostock, Rose, Parrett make it, their previous clubs still have to take a share of credit. Likewise at Arsenal, alot of their academy players that have made it in recent years orginally come from teams around Europe.

Indeed, Clichy for instance was brought at a very similar age and level of experience to Gunter and Bale. I doubt Walnut ever played for an Arsenal age group team. Ramsey, Gibbs and Traore can't really be said to have made it at top 6 level yet.

Wilshire however seems the best of the lot, and is the one who did come all the way through arse's youth setup.

 

[Krafty]

In Spain they have reserve teams in the league system. For Barca it kind of works, although the top talent dont see much of the B side. For Real Madrid, it doesnt work at all. They have really struggled to bring through youth of any description.

I dont think it would work in England, the lower leagues are far too strong, compared to their spanish rivals.

I think the reason youth players are not getting through is that there is a layer of players, just below the first 16 or so, that are getting in the bloody way! Lets look at us. Gomes and Cudicini covering the keeper spots. Three international/proven right backs, two left backs, and three centre backs. Even with our injury problems in the CB area a youngster has not really got near to being considered. TAH was probably the closest when he got on the bench a few times.

The young players cannot be relied upon to play a whole season or make a massive impact, but they can be used to come in and fill a hole if players are out. Thats how Rodwell, Anichebe, Vaughan and Gosling have got their chances at Everton. Its how the lads at West Ham have got their chances. They play a few games, show that they are not crap and can do a job, and slowly they are given more and more responsibility.

I think modern day squads are too big and there are too many average 27-30 yos that get a dozen or less appearances a season that are stopping the young players progressing.

 

[gibbs131]

Good. Never rated him before he kicked a ball for us. Looks like we are being very abrupt when it comes to knowing what we want.

 

[Schoolboys' Own Stuff]

Glenn Hoddle will pick a few of them up I bet for his academy. Best of luck to them. A special mention to Rocha who has been a great role model for all professionals. Great attitude and I'm glad to see it still exists.

 

[chrissivad]

Good luck to them all.

 

[milkman]

Good luck to Ricardo and to the other lads.

 

[Dan Ashcroft]

Only 10 reserves left now then:

Lee Butcher Goalkeeper
David Button Goalkeeper
Oscar Jansson Goalkeeper
Yuri Berchiche Defender
Troy Archibald-Henville Defender
Dorian Dervite Defender
Danny Rose Midfielder
Jake Livermore Midfielder
Tomas Pekhart Striker
Radwan Hamed Striker

www.tottenhamhotspur.com/players/players_reserves.html

And Hamed hasn't played for three years now due to illness.


There's going to be lots of that academy side stepping up that means, unless we plan to pioneer a 3 goalkeeper formation.

 

[karennina]

Only 10 reserves left now then:

Lee Butcher Goalkeeper
David Button Goalkeeper
Oscar Jansson Goalkeeper
Yuri Berchiche Defender
Troy Archibald-Henville Defender
Dorian Dervite Defender
Danny Rose Midfielder
Jake Livermore Midfielder
Tomas Pekhart Striker
Radwan Hamed Striker

www.tottenhamhotspur.com/players/players_reserves.html

And Hamed hasn't played for three years now due to illness.


There's going to be lots of that academy side stepping up that means, unless we plan to pioneer a 3 goalkeeper formation.

All of which remaining reserves have had attention as potential prospects, at least as far as i've seen, apart from Butcher, Livermore and Hamed. From the media fed perspective, it looks a good trimming with a lolt of space left for more fancied youths.

I wonder whether a season in the reserves will do them any favours ? Does anyone know?