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

IGSpur

Well-Known Member
Jan 11, 2013
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13,758
I can understand why some people want to buy a DM but it'd be a shame if we did buy a DM as 2 of our 3 best performing loanees this season can both cover DM.

I was definitely more keen on Milos and think he would have been better than Dier, but Ball could a good understudy to Dier and also covers at CB. I am less sure of how good he could end up being, but I think he would be able to play in the PL and could potentially be very good. Like Dier he can also play RB.

I also don't think it isn't something that would be needed to get in straight away, so could be left towards the end of the window giving them a chance to impress in preseason.
 

Doomchicken

Well-Known Member
Mar 17, 2015
336
503
I can understand why some people want to buy a DM but it'd be a shame if we did buy a DM as 2 of our 3 best performing loanees this season can both cover DM.

I was definitely more keen on Milos and think he would have been better than Dier, but Ball could a good understudy to Dier and also covers at CB. I am less sure of how good he could end up being, but I think he would be able to play in the PL and could potentially be very good. Like Dier he can also play RB.

I also don't think it isn't something that would be needed to get in straight away, so could be left towards the end of the window giving them a chance to impress in preseason.

I'm not sure I'd want Ward playing as a DM. He's played on the wings and as an AM a lot for Rotherham, so I'd rather see him used as an offensive option or as a CM. Ball, though, can definitely play DM off the bench or in the early stages of the cups, and maybe prove himself as a viable rotation option for Dier.
 

IGSpur

Well-Known Member
Jan 11, 2013
7,939
13,758
I'm not sure I'd want Ward playing as a DM. He's played on the wings and as an AM a lot for Rotherham, so I'd rather see him used as an offensive option or as a CM. Ball, though, can definitely play DM off the bench or in the early stages of the cups, and maybe prove himself as a viable rotation option for Dier.

Admit I haven't seen Ward play for Rotherham this season due to lack of availability to watch matches, but when I saw him for u21s in DM he was impressive. I doubt however that his wing play Rotherham would be good enough for what we need next season, and I would be very surprised if he was anywhere near as good as Pritchard. Similarly I doubt it he will be better than Onomah or Winks now and I don't think he has as much potential there either, so in my eyes the only real viable place to play him is at DM
 

Spursidol

Well-Known Member
Sep 15, 2007
12,636
15,834
I was justing reading that Dom Ball is out of contract this summer. It will be interesting to see what happens with him now - Warburton rates him highly.

Don't think Ball would have been allowed to go on loan to Rangers without his contract ending not earlier than June 2017 - he appeared on the bench a couple of times for Spurs first team games last season so clearly is rated within the club.

Don't think that I've seen any contract info on him since he signed his first pro contact (which is often only one or two years), and the 'PL Retained list' at 30 June 2015 simply said 'retained' which tells us nothing either.

I would like to see him used in Spurs pre-season matches to see how he performs against better level opposition as one of the drawbacks of the Rangers loan is that the quality of opposition has not been high, with just one game against Celtic against medium level opposition. But the fact that Warburton selected him to start against Celtic (far and away Rangers biggest match of the season) shows his faith in Ball by itself. As a DM he seems to have the same raw ingredients as Dier, and just as many were very surprised at Dier starting the season as our first choice DM, I'd like to think Ball might be able to provide cover for that role
 
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yankspurs

Enic Out
Aug 22, 2013
41,883
71,187
Admit I haven't seen Ward play for Rotherham this season due to lack of availability to watch matches, but when I saw him for u21s in DM he was impressive. I doubt however that his wing play Rotherham would be good enough for what we need next season, and I would be very surprised if he was anywhere near as good as Pritchard. Similarly I doubt it he will be better than Onomah or Winks now and I don't think he has as much potential there either, so in my eyes the only real viable place to play him is at DM
Ward was also playing exclusively on the wings in 2014 during his MLS loan to Chicago Fire. Also, dont forget that Ehiogu has made a habit of playing guys out of position in the u21s. So maybe Ward really is best on the wings, which is where he has exclusively played on loan for the last 2 years?
 

yankspurs

Enic Out
Aug 22, 2013
41,883
71,187
Don't think Ball would have been allowed to go on loan to Rangers without his contract ending not earlier than June 2017 - he appeared on the bench a couple of times for Spurs first team games last season so clearly is rated within the club.

Don't think that I've seen any contract info on him since he signed his first pro contact (which is often only one or two years), and the 'PL Retained list' at 30 June 2015 simply said 'retained' which tells us nothing either.

I would like to see him used in Spurs pre-season matches to see how he performs against better level opposition as one of the drawbacks of the Rangers loan is that the quality of opposition has not been high, with just one game against Celtic against medium level opposition. But the fact that Warburton selected him to start against Celtic (far and away Rangers biggest match of the season) shows his faith in Ball by itself. As a DM he seems to have the same raw ingredients as Dier, and just as many were very surprised at Dier starting the season as our first choice DM, I'd like to think Ball might be able to provide cover for that role
isnt there a tour in like early july or something? We'll probably see a bunch of youth players being used as we'll be missing losing alot of out players to euros, copa america and the olympics. I think we'll be out at least 13 or 14 players.
 

Spursidol

Well-Known Member
Sep 15, 2007
12,636
15,834
isnt there a tour in like early july or something? We'll probably see a bunch of youth players being used as we'll be missing losing alot of out players to euros, copa america and the olympics. I think we'll be out at least 13 or 14 players.

Australia - we play on 26th July (Juventos) and 29th July (Athletico Madrid), but think we should have a couple of earlier matches in uk - if like last pre-season they'll be behind closed doors v Championship sides.

But agree we will be playing a few matches without a fair few players on international duties. When those players return could well depend on how far the international sides get in their competitions which is more difficult to predict.
 

Spursidol

Well-Known Member
Sep 15, 2007
12,636
15,834
Ward was also playing exclusively on the wings in 2014 during his MLS loan to Chicago Fire. Also, dont forget that Ehiogu has made a habit of playing guys out of position in the u21s. So maybe Ward really is best on the wings, which is where he has exclusively played on loan for the last 2 years?

IMO Ward is a bit of a utility player - I seem to recall him playing at FB and even as a low scoring striker in u18's - and that's both his strength (he can cover lots of positions) and his weakness (lots of other players better in those positions). So Poch might retain him so he can play wherever there is a shortage (eg from injury), but like IG I don't see too many opportunities for him, but he would be a decent squad player to use in lots of positions.
 

THFCSPURS19

The Speaker of the Transfer Rumours Forum
Jan 6, 2013
37,886
130,485
IMO Ward is a bit of a utility player - I seem to recall him playing at FB and even as a low scoring striker in u18's - and that's both his strength (he can cover lots of positions) and his weakness (lots of other players better in those positions). So Poch might retain him so he can play wherever there is a shortage (eg from injury), but like IG I don't see too many opportunities for him, but he would be a decent squad player to use in lots of positions.
Has played CM, DM, AM, LM and RM this season apparently. And you say he's played FB as well in the past. Has he every played as a CB or a Striker lol?

@IGSpur - so according to Spursidol, he has played as a striker :p (don't know if you remember this conversation lol). Who needs Batshuayi? :D
 

Blake Griffin

Well-Known Member
Oct 3, 2011
14,133
38,225
isnt there a tour in like early july or something? We'll probably see a bunch of youth players being used as we'll be missing losing alot of out players to euros, copa america and the olympics. I think we'll be out at least 13 or 14 players.

lloris
walker (probably)
kwp
yedlin
alderweireld
vertonghen
wimmer
rose
davies
dier
dembele
alli
onomah
lamela
chadli (maybe)
son
kane

will all miss most of pre-season. mason will probably be recovering from surgery and i think ogilvie will still be out injured too so that leaves us with:

vorm
mcgee
trippier
ccv
fazio (if he's still here)
ball
bentaleb
carroll
ward
winks
pritchard
eriksen
njie

barely enough to field a team so there should be plenty of opportunities for the youngsters at least in the first few weeks, i'd particularly like to see amos, edwards and harrison get some game time.
 
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yankspurs

Enic Out
Aug 22, 2013
41,883
71,187
lloris
vorm (maybe)
walker (probably)
kwp
yedlin
alderweireld
vertonghen
wimmer
rose
davies
dier
dembele
alli
onomah
lamela
chadli (maybe)
son
kane

will all miss most of pre-season. mason will probably be recovering from surgery and i think ogilvie will still be out injured too so that leaves us with:

mcgee
trippier
ccv
fazio (if he's still here)
ball
bentaleb
carroll
ward
winks
pritchard
eriksen
njie

barely enough to field a team so there should be plenty of opportunities for the youngsters at least in the first few weeks, i'd particularly like to see amos, edwards and harrison get some game time.
CCV is also currently hurt atm. Not sure if he'll be back by then. Why would Mason get surgery? He's fit, atm...
 

Spursidol

Well-Known Member
Sep 15, 2007
12,636
15,834
@IGSpur - so according to Spursidol, he has played as a striker :p (don't know if you remember this conversation lol). Who needs Batshuayi? :D

Yup, but a non scoring or low scoring striker. Emergency use only I would recommend - a bit like Sol i***** in his young days) used to be pushed up front.
 

newbie

Well-Known Member
Jul 16, 2004
6,051
6,342
With Ali suspended and Dier pos out concussed (I think he will be fit though ) could be an chanc to see Onomah and maybe winks will make the bench, could be interesting. Although I think mason and Son will come in.
 

IGSpur

Well-Known Member
Jan 11, 2013
7,939
13,758
IMO Ward is a bit of a utility player - I seem to recall him playing at FB and even as a low scoring striker in u18's - and that's both his strength (he can cover lots of positions) and his weakness (lots of other players better in those positions). So Poch might retain him so he can play wherever there is a shortage (eg from injury), but like IG I don't see too many opportunities for him, but he would be a decent squad player to use in lots of positions.

I'd be interested to see how good he actually is in each position but realistically he just won't get game time. Even at FB I'd rather KWP and Ogilvie but he'd only take up one place in a squad

lloris
vorm (maybe)
walker (probably)
kwp
yedlin
alderweireld
vertonghen
wimmer
rose
davies
dier
dembele
alli
onomah
lamela
chadli (maybe)
son
kane

will all miss most of pre-season. mason will probably be recovering from surgery and i think ogilvie will still be out injured too so that leaves us with:

mcgee
trippier
ccv
fazio (if he's still here)
ball
bentaleb
carroll
ward
winks
pritchard
eriksen
njie

barely enough to field a team so there should be plenty of opportunities for the youngsters at least in the first few weeks, i'd particularly like to see amos, edwards and harrison get some game time.

Hopefully he gets fit agian but being overlooked by England could be the best thin that happens to CCV's career. He can use this preseason to really force himself into managements plans. Whereas KWP and Onomah have had minimal chances, if CCV went away in the summer there would eb no place for him to get tried out.

Look forward to seeing how they all get on though, sadly I expect to be in a place with no internet access round that time so will likely miss it. Would also be good to see Edwards and Harrison get chancees like you say. Amos may not though as we'd likely be trying Winks, Bentaleb, Ball and maybe Ward ahead of him
 

matthew.absurdum

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
3,732
10,120
Liverpool 2-0 Down against Swansea. Their defense is terrible. I don't know why Kevin Stewart can be included in their starting line up. Reasonable for us to release him
 

Spurzinho

Well-Known Member
Jan 24, 2016
2,512
8,342
Does anyone have a clue what's happening with Ryan Loft contract wise? He hasn't made any breakthrough at Braintree, where he has been on work experience, and he hasn't even been making any appearances for our U18s or U21s, which his loan allows for. Windy suggested he'd heard the lad had received an additional year on his scholarship. I had high hopes for him when I first saw him as a 15 year old. Big, strong, powerful but with good technique in and around the penalty box. In a strange way he reminded me of Defoe, his link up play outside the box was poor, his control often let him down and his hold up play needed a lot of work but his touch seemed to get better the closer he got to goal. He protected the ball well and knew to shoot early and with power to beat the keeper. He looked like with the right coaching he could really kick on. Sadly, if anything, he's regressed. It wouldn't surprise me if he left this summer or the next.
 
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