Spurs U21’s, U18’s and other youth news – 2015/16 Edition

[0-Tibsy-0]

Nya Kirby very good player. True Spurs player, does things with a flourish. Love a ball roll and passing with the outside of his foot, got a lot of time for the stylish side

Cool, that's why I was asking...just from that little clip that was the impression I got...

 

[spursfan77]

Oldfirmfacts ‏@Oldfirmfacts1 1h1 hour ago
Alloa defender Colin Hamilton had the Nathan Oduwa situation explained to him, but it went over his head.

Vanguard Bears ‏@VanguardBears 8h8 hours ago
Only in the hate-filled footballing backwater of Scotland would a player demonstrating skill & flair be criticised & maligned. #Oduwa

I bet he gets kicked to shreds in the next game.

Shame, football is about fun and being entertained if you are a fan. I know we have forgotten that at thfc but I'm glad some players are doing it somewhere. Especially if they are ours.

 

[Yid-ol]

I bet he gets kicked to shreds in the next game.

Shame, football is about fun and being entertained if you are a fan. I know we have forgotten that at thfc but I'm glad some players are doing it somewhere. Especially if they are ours.

Maybe fifa should quickly tell messi, Ronaldo and Bale to stop showing off also!

The guy is a muppet, he got show up against a kid and can't handle it! He is getting a good backing from everyone I have heard talking about it.

 

[IGSpur]

I don't see how that would be preferable to regular football. Sorry.

That's fair. I don't see how regular games against part-time footballers is better than playing games in Europe and against good football league teams while being integrated with the first team and training around them. If regular games was what he needs he could have just gone to the Ryman League or stayed and played u21 football the latter would definitely be better quality than where he is now.

 

[carpediem1906]

Liverpool had a young side so no surprise we seemed to have dominated them. Good result regardless

LionsXII 360 ‏@lionsxii360 2h2 hours ago
Team sheet for Tottenham Hotspur #COYS v Liverpool #LFC . One hour to game.

in my opinion our stand out performers were #2 Hinds #6 Griffiths #8 Oakley Boothe #9 Richards #10 Kirby

that said I only watched the final live in person and can only comment based on what I saw.

starting from the back

GK - #1 Brandon Austin was captain material, vocal, always giving instructions, commanded his area very well. Wasn't troubled much but positioning, shot stopping were good. Coming out to pluck at crosses was great.

CB - pairing was #5 and #6. Griffiths stood out, made a couple of king-ish tackles and read the game very well. but #5 was assured as well. composed on the ball, organised in defence. Of course, watch the highlights and marvel at the last goal. What a goal by Griffiths.

RB/LB - #2 Hind played LB first half and RB second and hence was nearest to us both halves and we got to see what he can do. Of the whole lot quoted above, my pick would be that Hind would one day be a EPL level player, if he continues developing. Physically very fit, technically very good. Has tenacity and fight in him. Yet he isn't all brawn. He reads the game well, knows when to overlap or hold his position; knows when to release and move to receive or to take players on.

CM - #8 Oakley Boothe the way he plays reminds me of a young Modric. High praise I know, but Luka makes the difficult look simple and keep the tempo and flow of the game going and that's what Boothe did. Also intelligent positioning means that he makes a lot of interceptions and from there he leads the offence by releasing the ball quickly to players in space. A bit like Schneiderlin in that sense. But he isn't afraid to take players on and you can tell he is intelligent by knowing when to advance with the ball to exploit the space, and then releasing it to his better positioned team mates as the opponents close him down. Very impressive.

ACM - #10 Nya Kirby. MOTM and MVP means that he is acknowledged to be the outstanding player. I think that the work of the players behind him may have gone unappreciated in terms of the awards, as their work ensured that Nya could be left to do the creative attacking work. Incisive. Skilful. Has good lungs on him as well. Will press and chase. Made a few beautiful through balls that weren't captured in the highlights.

ST - #9 Rodel Richards. I like him a lot. It is not easy (in my opinion) to play a lone striker role at such a young age. He worked hard, moved around and was a handful for defenders. What was most impressive though was his finishing. He didn't get many chances (3 or 4 shots all match) but he finished 2 of them with aplomb. Real clinical strikers finish. First with his left and second with his right.

The rest of the team didn't have fantastic individual displays but they were all functioning well as a team. They knew the system very well and knew where they needed to be and what they needed to do, both on and off the ball.

*sidetrack: I remember an interview with some famous coach who remarked at that such a young age, you are looking at off the ball movement and intelligence as well. and I must say we were much superior.*

In fact, the overall game play was fantastic to watch. These boys play just like their seniors in the first team with one exception - they are very quick to exploit gaps and spaces. Whether to take the player on and advance into space or to hold, turn back and switch play, or to play it all the way back, they look a very well drilled side. Also, the rest of the players had good movement, and we move the ball very fast and well. The players don't dwell on the ball. And this aspect is such a delight to watch.

 

[IGSpur]

in my opinion our stand out performers were #2 Hinds #6 Griffiths #8 Oakley Boothe #9 Richards #10 Kirby

that said I only watched the final live in person and can only comment based on what I saw.

starting from the back

GK - #1 Brandon Austin was captain material, vocal, always giving instructions, commanded his area very well. Wasn't troubled much but positioning, shot stopping were good. Coming out to pluck at crosses was great.

CB - pairing was #5 and #6. Griffiths stood out, made a couple of king-ish tackles and read the game very well. but #5 was assured as well. composed on the ball, organised in defence. Of course, watch the highlights and marvel at the last goal. What a goal by Griffiths.

RB/LB - #2 Hind played LB first half and RB second and hence was nearest to us both halves and we got to see what he can do. Of the whole lot quoted above, my pick would be that Hind would one day be a EPL level player, if he continues developing. Physically very fit, technically very good. Has tenacity and fight in him. Yet he isn't all brawn. He reads the game well, knows when to overlap or hold his position; knows when to release and move to receive or to take players on.

CM - #8 Oakley Boothe the way he plays reminds me of a young Modric. High praise I know, but Luka makes the difficult look simple and keep the tempo and flow of the game going and that's what Boothe did. Also intelligent positioning means that he makes a lot of interceptions and from there he leads the offence by releasing the ball quickly to players in space. A bit like Schneiderlin in that sense. But he isn't afraid to take players on and you can tell he is intelligent by knowing when to advance with the ball to exploit the space, and then releasing it to his better positioned team mates as the opponents close him down. Very impressive.

ACM - #10 Nya Kirby. MOTM and MVP means that he is acknowledged to be the outstanding player. I think that the work of the players behind him may have gone unappreciated in terms of the awards, as their work ensured that Nya could be left to do the creative attacking work. Incisive. Skilful. Has good lungs on him as well. Will press and chase. Made a few beautiful through balls that weren't captured in the highlights.

ST - #9 Rodel Richards. I like him a lot. It is not easy (in my opinion) to play a lone striker role at such a young age. He worked hard, moved around and was a handful for defenders. What was most impressive though was his finishing. He didn't get many chances (3 or 4 shots all match) but he finished 2 of them with aplomb. Real clinical strikers finish. First with his left and second with his right.

The rest of the team didn't have fantastic individual displays but they were all functioning well as a team. They knew the system very well and knew where they needed to be and what they needed to do, both on and off the ball.

*sidetrack: I remember an interview with some famous coach who remarked at that such a young age, you are looking at off the ball movement and intelligence as well. and I must say we were much superior.*

In fact, the overall game play was fantastic to watch. These boys play just like their seniors in the first team with one exception - they are very quick to exploit gaps and spaces. Whether to take the player on and advance into space or to hold, turn back and switch play, or to play it all the way back, they look a very well drilled side. Also, the rest of the players had good movement, and we move the ball very fast and well. The players don't dwell on the ball. And this aspect is such a delight to watch.

Thanks mate for the excellent report. Did the other CB (Eyoma) go on any of his marauding runs with the ball? Interesting about Hinds and Richards as well. Seems like with Elliot, Richards we've got a couple nicely stocked up

 

[IGSpur]

Harvey White(AM) an u14 was also at the recent England u15 training camp with Jamie Bowden(DM) and Paris Maghoma(CM). Again that's us essentially making up the 3 CMs for England at that level too.

Really makes a difference to the days, where the likes of Carroll and Pritchard were being overlooked for England selection, due to the big boys being fashionable. Seems like players are finally being selected on merit and our superior academy is beginning to show regularly making up large parts of England squads/teams at all age groups

 

[carpediem1906]

Thanks mate for the excellent report. Did the other CB (Eyoma) go on any of his marauding runs with the ball? Interesting about Hinds and Richards as well. Seems like with Elliot, Richards we've got a couple nicely stocked up

I think he did, once or twice the whole match only. But my opinion is that he didn't need to. #8 Boothe was always available. It was #6 Griffiths that marauded forward more. So might be instruction for him to hold his position.

 

[IGSpur]

I think he did, once or twice the whole match only. But my opinion is that he didn't need to. #8 Boothe was always available. It was #6 Griffiths that marauded forward more. So might be instruction for him to hold his position.

Makes sense as I think he is the more experienced CB, and Griffiths usually gets forward as he is also a RB. Again thanks for the info.

 

[nicdic]

But Pritchards been injured, N'jie wasn't signed still can't play, and Eriksen is playing no.10 if he goes to the left it is so Chadli can go uptop as we have no other strikers.

So I don't see why he couldn't have made subs bench until we made all our signings and Pritchard was fit especially as he was tearing up Championship defenders before sending him on loan

Eriksen played left and Chadli central on Saturday....

 

[Spursidol]

Tottenham Academy‏@THFCacademy
A Spurs XI team play Barnet XI tomorrow in a behind-closed-doors friendly. Suspect it will be mostly fringe U21s with a few U18s. #thfc

 

[ralphs bald spot]

It is actually a lot harder for us to fast track and bump our talented players up, than other clubs due to the amount with have. I think it's one reason we need to slim down our academy. It's harsh but players like McEvoy and Walkes who don't look like they will make it either need to get loaned our or released so we can fast track other players. We have started doing it to an extent as our u21s team was very young last year as we culled the older players but at lower age groups we struggle.

Liverpool had a younger team, as they could put their better u15s/16s into their u18s but we could never do that. The Liverpool manager said in that group they like to think they have 2 or 3 talented players, but in that squad that won the final we had 3/4 England players and 2 more that had been invited to camps and that doesn't include Griffiths and a couple of other like noHinds and Lock who caught the eye, but they can't play u18 football as that team is full of about 5 England players.

Wouldn't really agree with that it all depends on the intake - two years ago we had Walker Peters - Carter Vickers and Maghoma all playing as schoolboys for the 18s even last season several schoolboys played though more as an introduction and of course before that Onomah has seemingly played for the 18s for years

 

[IGSpur]

Eriksen played left and Chadli central on Saturday....

My bad got that wrong, but it doesn't change the fact that we still didn't have anyone on the bench that could have come on and played on the left for the last couple of games, and maybe even the next if Pritchard isn't fit and N'jie doesn't get his permit. I don't see the risk in having Oduwa on the bench, he would only have missed a game against Alloa.

 

[IGSpur]

Wouldn't really agree with that it all depends on the intake - two years ago we had Walker Peters - Carter Vickers and Maghoma all playing as schoolboys for the 18s even last season several schoolboys played though more as an introduction and of course before that Onomah has seemingly played for the 18s for years

Yes but that was because we didn't have any better players. KWP didn't play that much as a school boy but even so, it was only McQueen ahead of him. CCV and Maghoma had again Veljkvoic and Ball who were two years older, with Veljkvoic playing u21s at 17 himself so noone was really blocking them.

Onomah is a fair example.

Looking at our current talented schoolboys. Skipp TOB, and Kirby while I'm sure they got their fair share of games last year at u16s at CM we have Owens, Stylianides, Roles, Duncan, Hayford, and Marsh off the top of my head who are going to want a fair share of games. So it's not like it will be easy to promote them. We may see them here and there get minutes but nothing significant. The only area I can really see someone getting a chance is at RB, if Griffiths or Hinds was to get a chance as Paul is the main one we have there, and it depends on how highly they rate him

 

[Lilbaz]

Yes but that was because we didn't have any better players. KWP didn't play that much as a school boy but even so, it was only McQueen ahead of him. CCV and Maghoma had again Veljkvoic and Ball who were two years older, with Veljkvoic playing u21s at 17 himself so noone was really blocking them.

Onomah is a fair example.

Looking at our current talented schoolboys. Skipp TOB, and Kirby while I'm sure they got their fair share of games last year at u16s at CM we have Owens, Stylianides, Roles, Duncan, Hayford, and Marsh off the top of my head who are going to want a fair share of games. So it's not like it will be easy to promote them. We may see them here and there get minutes but nothing significant. The only area I can really see someone getting a chance is at RB, if Griffiths or Hinds was to get a chance as Paul is the main one we have there, and it depends on how highly they rate him

A lot will get shifted up around xmas. A few will be loaned out and the rest will be shuffled. Same as every year.

 

[IGSpur]

A lot will get shifted up around xmas. A few will be loaned out and the rest will be shuffled. Same as every year.

What u16s? Bennetts and Brown only really started to appear towards the tailend of the season. Every now and then you'd see one or two make the bench. Sterling actually got the most game time, even Edwards wasn't used significantly towards the end.

I don't doubt that what you say may eventually happen as people get promoted by like I said, say Owens/Stylianides get promoted you've still got 3 CMs who will need to play.

Anyway my original point wasn't that it never happens, it was more that we aren't able to do it as much as other clubs at the moment. I don't think anyway.

 

[Spursidol]

Wouldn't really agree with that it all depends on the intake - two years ago we had Walker Peters - Carter Vickers and Maghoma all playing as schoolboys for the 18s even last season several schoolboys played though more as an introduction and of course before that Onomah has seemingly played for the 18s for years

IMO the intakes each year are now getting consistently pretty good with probably say 4 or 5 outstanding players per intake, whereas a few years ago intakes were more patchy with more like 2 or 3 good players - the change probably taking place with the 1996 intake (Winks, Oduwa et al) .

CCV/Maghona (both born 1997) are a good example in the sense that there is/was a gap of 2 years after Veljkovic/Ball (both born 1995) so CCV and Maghoma played up a year or two because of the gap above them.

I'm not sure we'll see that again, unless we get more ruthless in weeding out players at the end of their academy scholarships - but that risks us losing out on some late developers too, unless we farm out these youngsters to another academy either on a loan or with some sort of buyback fee or fee based upon a sale or no of games playing professional football.

 

[ralphs bald spot]

IMO the intakes each year are now getting consistently pretty good with probably say 4 or 5 outstanding players per intake, whereas a few years ago intakes were more patchy with more like 2 or 3 good players - the change probably taking place with the 1996 intake (Winks, Oduwa et al) .

CCV/Maghona (both born 1997) are a good example in the sense that there is/was a gap of 2 years after Veljkovic/Ball (both born 1995) so CCV and Maghoma played up a year or two because of the gap above them.

I'm not sure we'll see that again, unless we get more ruthless in weeding out players at the end of their academy scholarships - but that risks us losing out on some late developers too, unless we farm out these youngsters to another academy either on a loan or with some sort of buyback fee or fee based upon a sale or no of games playing professional football.

I think its unlikely that we would loan out 2nd year scholars - I also understand that its generally not club policy to loan out first year professionals. I think its important that they are given time to understand the club and its doctrine.

As for bringing the younger generation through its difficult I think currently we just about have it right they get introduced towards the end of the season . This season might be difficult though as we had an unusually high 1st year intake.

Letting older players go I think it would have been harsh on the likes Walkes and Goddard to have been released without an opportunity to prove themselves and the onus really is on the younger players to oust the older players and that's how it should be iimo

 

[Spursidol]

I think its unlikely that we would loan out 2nd year scholars - I also understand that its generally not club policy to loan out first year professionals. I think its important that they are given time to understand the club and its doctrine.

As for bringing the younger generation through its difficult I think currently we just about have it right they get introduced towards the end of the season . This season might be difficult though as we had an unusually high 1st year intake.

Letting older players go I think it would have been harsh on the likes Walkes and Goddard to have been released without an opportunity to prove themselves and the onus really is on the younger players to oust the older players and that's how it should be iimo

To clarify, I was not advocating loaning out 1st or 2nd years, only once they have finished their 2 years at the academy

 

[ralphs bald spot]

To clarify, I was not advocating loaning out 1st or 2nd years, only once they have finished their 2 years at the academy

Apologies that is our I read it - I guess though perhaps in exceptional circumstances it could happen maybe Azzoui could be loaned later in the season

I guess if there is any truth in the Roda rumours then that could be a direct route and open up possibilities and perhaps we could use it for World signings