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

[IGSpur]

Here's another really informative piece by @KingSRV previewing 'Club England'. Discusses and different England age groups and what we can expect from each one in the following season.

If anyone read his last piece I'm sure they'll look forward to reading this

https://youthhawk.wordpress.com/2015/07/21/2015-16-academy-season-preview-part-2/

 

[BC11]

Agree, though, I have seen indications recently that his long range shooting has improved and he is taking more shots. I'm thinking towards the end of the u21 season saw him go for a few, and also in teh post season match where he came on and shifted the ball and shot low. Haven't seen him do that much. Wrt finishing he is picking up more goals but they seem to be tap-ins which shows good positioning and composure at least.

It will be Pritchard, Alli then CCV I assume.

Pritchard still eligible for this list, and rightly or wrongly they include Alli, though whether he is more talented than the others is again up for debate, but once you start reaching the top 5 they are all similar level, potential, they you can make a case for any 5 to be top.

I wouldn't have Pritchard with the likes of Edwards, Onomah & Alli, to be honest. Think quite a few others have higher ceilings than him.

Edit - just saw they have McEvoy at #14 and Coulthirst at #19. Really?

 

[IGSpur]

I wouldn't have Pritchard with the likes of Edwards, Onomah & Alli, to be honest. Think quite a few others have higher ceilings than him.

Don't know I have always rated Pritchard and always thought he would be a big talented, was very underrated at youth levels.

He was on the same level and Bentaleb, Veljkovic, Carroll and Ceballos for me at that age group, hard to separate who was the most talented at that time but I think all of them and Kane could have played PL football.

As we know though the next lot coming through are arguably more talented so I agree with what you mean about them having a higher ceiling. But he is justifiably in the top 5 due to what he has done and what he can do.

Their criteria is not having featured for the first team

 

[spurs9]

I would actually say finishing (and long range shooting) is his biggest weakness. Opinions, eh?

Haven't been following their rankings, but if Edwards is #5 and Onomah #4 then who is in the top three?

I would have gone:
1) Edwards
2) Onomah
3) Carter-Vickers

Thats a good shout for the 3 best, though Azzaoui and KWP could easily be in there too IMO.

 

[Blake Griffin]

Definitely could have been more informative but don't think they got anything glaringly wrong. But I guess for a top 5 player you'd expect more

seeing as they kept it short then i'm surprised they didn't just do the pogba comparison as not much more needs to be said. they make him sound like more of a tricky #10 type, i know that's where he's playing currently but he's not edwards(who they even compared him to). i think most of their write ups have been decent enough, the kwp one was a bit vague and they got a couple of things wrong with azzaoui but this one is just a bit half-arsed, though i suspect they'll make up for it when they do ccv's

 

[IGSpur]

seeing as they kept it short then i'm surprised they didn't just do the pogba comparison as not much more needs to be said. they make him sound like more of a tricky #10 type, i know that's where he's playing currently but he's not edwards(who they even compared him to). i think most of their write ups have been decent enough, the kwp one was a bit vague and they got a couple of things wrong with azzaoui but this one is just a bit half-arsed, though i suspect they'll make up for it when they do ccv's

Ye it did come across like he was the tricky no.10 which is wrong, but like you said we can expect a good write up on CCV

 

[IGSpur]

Edit - just saw they have McEvoy at #14 and Coulthirst at #19. Really?

I know McEvoy arguably shouldn't make top 25

 

[spurs9]

Spurs have now updated the academy section with the first year intakes.

Edwards is there.

http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/academy/first-year-profiles/

I love the fact that through all the staunch faces the players are pulling you then have Jack Roles just beaming from ear to ear.

 

[allpaths]

compared to the quality of their first prospect rankings two years ago this year one's has been pretty disappointing as they got their lower rankings wrong and a lot of their higher rankings write ups have been underwhelming and/or slightly off. maybe i just know more this time round and my expectations was too great

 

[IGSpur]

I love the fact that through all the staunch faces the players are pulling you then have Jack Roles just beaming from ear to ear.

Looks like Sterling is trying to hold back a cheeky smile too haha.

Also another thing I read that was quite interesting. CCV isn't the only half American with a father who was a pro basketball player. Austin has the same background, don't know how good he is at keeping but I wonder if the US are aware

 

[allpaths]

I love the fact that through all the staunch faces the players are pulling you then have Jack Roles just beaming from ear to ear.

tanganga looks like he didnt know that he was going to have his picture taken lol

 

[IGSpur]

compared to the quality of their first prospect rankings two years ago this year one's has been pretty disappointing as they got their lower rankings wrong and a lot of their higher rankings write ups have been underwhelming and/or slightly off. maybe i just know more this time round and my expectations was too great

Agree with that, though like you said your increased knowledge means you can be more critical whereas before this would have been more informative 2 years ago.

Tbf though for the average fan who doesn't really know/follow the youth this is a half decent introduction to them for most it, though there are a few errors. It isn't meant to be for those who follow the youth properly I don't think

 

[allpaths]

Agree with that, though like you said your increased knowledge means you can be more critical whereas before this would have been more informative 2 years ago.

Tbf though for the average fan who doesn't really know/follow the youth this is a half decent introduction to them for most it, though there are a few errors. It isn't meant to be for those who follow the youth properly I don't think

exactly just look at the comments most of them r just really taking shots in the dark with their comparisons and knowledge, but what frustrates me the most is that whenever a more informed commentor tries to go into some detail they always respond in a cynical fashion, which is too bad

 

[beats1]

tanganga looks like he didnt know that he was going to have his picture taken lol

Nothing beats his picture of him signing the contract, people with an african dad or african family/friends understand that picture lol

 

[loaderspurs]

So, whenever one of our lads goes out on loan I like to go on other teams forums to see their reaction to getting the player. I was doing this for Grant Ward, and came across this gem...

Poster A:
For me this has to be the best signing the club have made in my lifetime as a Miller!

Dont believe me?

Just wait and see.

UTM

Poster B:
That's quite a statement, Poster A. I generally have a lot of time for your views and since you're not generally given to flights of fancy, I'd be interested in knowing why Ward has you so excited.

Poster A:
If you didnt know my 2nd team is Spurs and has been for a very long time (they were the first team I ever saw play live - even before I saw the Millers live) so I have a keen interest in what happens at WHL.

All the buzz at WHL is that this kid is the real deal and a future England Player (If not captain) I am told by my Spurs suporter mates that we have signed a player who is ready for the step up to the Prem and Spurs first team nevermind the Championship! they also say that when he does take the step up that he is going to be in the same class as Raheem Sterling, Gareth Bale etc and I must admit that has me watering at the mouth.



I mean I actually really like Grant, but damn I want what this guy has been smoking?

 

[newbie]

So, whenever one of our lads goes out on loan I like to go on other teams forums to see their reaction to getting the player. I was doing this for Grant Ward, and came across this gem...

Poster A:
For me this has to be the best signing the club have made in my lifetime as a Miller!

Dont believe me?

Just wait and see.

UTM

Poster B:
That's quite a statement, Poster A. I generally have a lot of time for your views and since you're not generally given to flights of fancy, I'd be interested in knowing why Ward has you so excited.

Poster A:
If you didnt know my 2nd team is Spurs and has been for a very long time (they were the first team I ever saw play live - even before I saw the Millers live) so I have a keen interest in what happens at WHL.

All the buzz at WHL is that this kid is the real deal and a future England Player (If not captain) I am told by my Spurs suporter mates that we have signed a player who is ready for the step up to the Prem and Spurs first team nevermind the Championship! they also say that when he does take the step up that he is going to be in the same class as Raheem Sterling, Gareth Bale etc and I must admit that has me watering at the mouth.



I mean I actually really like Grant, but damn I want what this guy has been smoking?

Be nice if he was right though

 

[IGSpur]

So, whenever one of our lads goes out on loan I like to go on other teams forums to see their reaction to getting the player. I was doing this for Grant Ward, and came across this gem...

Poster A:
For me this has to be the best signing the club have made in my lifetime as a Miller!

Dont believe me?

Just wait and see.

UTM

Poster B:
That's quite a statement, Poster A. I generally have a lot of time for your views and since you're not generally given to flights of fancy, I'd be interested in knowing why Ward has you so excited.

Poster A:
If you didnt know my 2nd team is Spurs and has been for a very long time (they were the first team I ever saw play live - even before I saw the Millers live) so I have a keen interest in what happens at WHL.

All the buzz at WHL is that this kid is the real deal and a future England Player (If not captain) I am told by my Spurs suporter mates that we have signed a player who is ready for the step up to the Prem and Spurs first team nevermind the Championship! they also say that when he does take the step up that he is going to be in the same class as Raheem Sterling, Gareth Bale etc and I must admit that has me watering at the mouth.



I mean I actually really like Grant, but damn I want what this guy has been smoking?

Tbf I think he stands a chance of playing in the PL at some point in the future, with us? doubt it, but ye don't know who told him he is like Bale lol.

Also, I suspected it from pictures on twitter but the academy profiles confirmed it, funny how Sterling and Edwards went/go to the same school. Imagine having one of the best u17 players in the world and an international striker. Other teams might as well just go home.

 

[kmk]

Sam Shashoua seems quite posh. He went to the Harrow school.

 

[edson]

Sam Shashoua seems quite posh. He went to the Harrow school.

Very good player defiantly one to watch.Funny thing about Harrow school if you go half a mile down the road its a S**t hole.

 

[yankspurs]

Looks like Sterling is trying to hold back a cheeky smile too haha.

Also another thing I read that was quite interesting. CCV isn't the only half American with a father who was a pro basketball player. Austin has the same background, don't know how good he is at keeping but I wonder if the US are aware

Oh so thats who a US soccer writer was talking about when he said CCV was one of 2 English-American youngsters in the Tottenham academy the US were keeping tabs on some time ago!