Spurs under 19 Tournament - Germany.

[Spursidol]

OS

The Spurs Academy finished as runners-up in the Volksbank Cup in Germany after a penalty shootout loss in the final to Mexican side, Club America.

Source: Official Site

Alex Inglethorpe's team had earlier put in an outstanding performance to beat Werder Bremen 3-0 in the semi-finals with goals from Bentaleb, Zapata-Caicedo and Ward ensuring we had a chance to win the tournament.

But despite dominating possession and creating the majority of chances in the final, the lads were unable to breakdown a stubborn Club America team.

With the match finishing 0-0, it was left to the lottery of spot-kicks to decide the fixture and it was the excellent Alex Pritchard who was unfortunate enough to miss the decisive kick, allowing the Mexican side to win the shootout 4-3.

"It was an awful way to end it but there are lots of positives to take from the tournament," Inglethorpe told tottenhamhotspur.com after the final.

"I thought we were outstanding against Werder Bremen. It was a very complete performance. We controlled the game, with and without the ball, and I thought we were standout in how we approached the game.

"The result in the final is hard to take because I think we were the better team. Club America were good but they backed right off us; we had all the ball, all the initiative and a couple of chances but we couldn't score."

After playing five matches in three days, Inglethorpe stressed the positives of competing so strongly in such a high quality competition.

"The most pleasing thing about the tournament is that, whilst we've finished second, the best players in the tournament were ours.

"Nabil Bentaleb, Jack Bartram, Kevin Stewart, Alex Pritchard and Ryan Fredericks were all very, very good. Nabil in particular looked like a complete midfield player.

"It's difficult for all of us [to accept a loss on penalties], because everybody has put so much into it. We have to console ourselves with the fact that I believe we had the best players in the competition.

"The reason we go to these tournaments is because the Premier League is an international league. We've played a Mexican side, two German sides, a Swiss side and a Mexican side. We know that we can compete against some of the best young players in the world."

TEAM VS WERDER BREMEN: Lawrence, A.McQueen, Ball, Stewart, Barthram (Gardiner 46), Bentaleb (Smith 44), Gomelt, Munns, McEvoy (W-Lassen 36), Ward, Z-Caicedo (Pritchard 41)
Goals: Bentaleb 8, Z-Caicedo 9, Ward 33

TEAM VS CLUB AMERICA: Miles, Barthram, Ball, Stewart, Smith, Bentaleb, Gomelt, Munns, Pritchard, Fredericks (McEvoy 47), Zapata-Caicedo​

 

[Spursidol]

Well we conceded 4 goals in the first game (3 in the first half) but after that did not concede a goal in normal time in the remaining 4 games, whilst scoring 7 in those games (9 in the tournament). Sounds like we played well in all except that first game (maybe lack of preparation as he lads had not played for a month and not together before)

Either way its good to see a squad with only 1 recognised striker (who has only recently broken through to play and score in the under 18 side), although both Ward and Gomelt can play there too, come to a tournament and score goals through a strong midfield - its perhaps relevant to say that Harry Kane, Cameron Lancaster and Kudos Oyenuga were all eligible to play (indicating the potential equivalent experience in some of the other squads) as well as Souleymane Coulibally and Shaq who also did not appear in the squad.

Most of the squads would have been built on the equivalent of Spurs 2nd year academy, and that is possib;ly the weakest for a few years - I expect only Kevin Stewart, Jack Barthram, Jack Munns (all 3 in this squad) and Willliam Ekong to definitely get professional contracts with the others getting either a 3rd Year academy contract or to leave. The limited number of 2nd year academy players has resulted in half the squad being from the 1st year - which has to say something about that group giving 2 or 3 years advantage to teir opponents yet still playing a major part in getting through to the final.

Its not sensible on the basis of a few games to pick out future stars but it is clear that there is a steady stream of talent coming though after the more tangible stars of (through the academy) Caulkler, Townsend, A Smith, Livermore and (developed) Walker and Naughton.

The future is bright !

and Ray Lo's excellent detailed report and thoughts on the final

http://www.spursodyssey.com/1112/ca270512.html
Volksbank Cup 2012 (Final)
TuS Stemwede, Wehdem
Sunday 27th May 12.30pm

SPURS v CLUB AMERICA
(All Purple) (All Navy)
4-4-1-1 1-4-4-1

0(0) 0(0)

Club America won 4-3 on penalties.
Spurs:- Miles; Barthram, Stewart, Munns, Ball, Bentaleb, Zapata-Caicedo, Gomelt, Pritchard, Smith, Fredericks(C)(McEvoy 46)

Booked – Zapata-Caicedo 16(Late), Fredericks 38(Dissent)
Club America:- Camarena; Delgadillo, Escobedo(Perez 50), Pineda, Gonzalez, Mondraon, Martinez, Solache, Sanchez J., Sanchez E.(Puintana 31), Gil
Booked – Solache 32(Foul), Puintana 33(Late), Mondraon 37(Trip), Sent off:- Puintana 47(Late) - 2nd Yellow
Spurs lined up for this match with Miles in goal behind Stewart and Ball. Barthram was at right back and Smith at left back. Bentaleb and Gomelt started in the centre of midfield with Fredericks on the right flank and Pritchard on the left. Munns was behind Zapata-Caicedo in attack. America lined up with a sweeper and one up front but soon moved the last man into the midfield.
Spurs kicked off attacking the south end in a game that saw few chances as the Mexicans played a waiting game, looking to hit Spurs on the break whilst not letting their opponents run with the ball.
An early corner saw Ball head goalward at the far post to draw a save from Pineda. Fredericks got on the end of a long diagonal pass and forced a corner from his effort. Zapata-Caicedo caught Mondraon late as he closed down the defenders, and he also put the keeper under pressure, just after which the Mexicans wanted him sent off.
Pritchard forced a save from Pineda before Gonzalez won a corner for America. Escobedo then fired wide. Just before the break a long ball from the Mexicans was headed back by Barthram to where Miles should have been and the keeper had to scamper back before it reached the line.
There were no changes for the start of the second half but America sent on Puintana to play up front and harass the Spurs defenders, which he did with a bit too much enthusiasm.
Martinez drew a save from Miles before Solache was shown the yellow card for a foul on Fredericks as he approached the area. Pritchard took the free kick and curled it into the top right corner only to see Pineda push it around the post. Puintana then caught Ball late and went into the ref's book.
Mondraon then tripped Pritchard after he had got past him in the left corner to go into the ref's book as well. This led to Fredericks also being booked for complaining to the official. Camarena drew a save from Miles before Munns worked his way to the far post but the keeper saved at his feet.
Gonzalez fired well over before Inglethorpe replaced Fredericks with McEvoy and Pritchard took the captain's armband. Puintana then caught Bentaleb very late to receive his second yellow of the game. Club America re-grouped and played out the rest of the game making one last substution bringing on a penalty taker.
Gonzalez scored the first penalty after the referee made him re-take it for stopping on his run-up. Bentaleb stepped up and scored for Spurs. After Camarena scored, Munns saw his effort saved. Perez and Martinez scored for America as did Ball and Stewart to leave the last kickers. Sanchez hit the bar which left Pritchard who fired over. This meant that the Mexicans won the cup.
It was a disapointing end to the tournament but Spurs can leave with their heads held high as the were the best team throughout the tournament.

 

[tobi]

We've got Barca in next seasons Next Gen.

24 teams in total, Juve the last team to join.

Looking forward to it.

 

[Spursidol]

We've got Barca in next seasons Next Gen.

24 teams in total, Juve the last team to join.

Looking forward to it.

Should be fun - just made another post on the subject in the Pre-season thread !

 

[mill]

As well as Olympiakos and Wolfsburg

 

[lillywhites61]

Just got to give a word to Alex Inglethorpe, he ha done extremely well in his position with the academy and seems vital in what he does. I wonder whether we would look at getting him more involved with the seniors at some point or if he will remain in his current position?

 

[mill]

anyone listening to Talksport the day the changes to youth football came out?

Someone phoned in whose kid had been at our academy for a year, he said that before he signed for Spurs our coaches warned him not to expect us to go all out to win games, we're more interested in the players developing their technical abilities and putting in to practice what the coaches were trying to teach them. He said at first his kid's team were losing virtually every game, but he said you could see with the kids a few years older it's all really starting to take shape. Seems to be that way with our youngsters now and hopefully over the next couple of season's we'll start reaping the benefits

 

[Spursidol]

anyone listening to Talksport the day the changes to youth football came out?

Someone phoned in whose kid had been at our academy for a year, he said that before he signed for Spurs our coaches warned him not to expect us to go all out to win games, we're more interested in the players developing their technical abilities and putting in to practice what the coaches were trying to teach them. He said at first his kid's team were losing virtually every game, but he said you could see with the kids a few years older it's all really starting to take shape. Seems to be that way with our youngsters now and hopefully over the next couple of season's we'll start reaping the benefits

http://www.nextgenseries.com/en/Watching-NextGen?page=7

Watch Sherwood after Spurs thrashed Inter Milan 7-1 ''we are not taking the results too seriously, its all about developing the youngsters for Spurs first team''

Spurs have totally changed the way the academy develops youngsters over the last 5 -10 years or so...anmd it seems to be working.

 

[StartingPrice]

anyone listening to Talksport the day the changes to youth football came out?

Someone phoned in whose kid had been at our academy for a year, he said that before he signed for Spurs our coaches warned him not to expect us to go all out to win games, we're more interested in the players developing their technical abilities and putting in to practice what the coaches were trying to teach them. He said at first his kid's team were losing virtually every game, but he said you could see with the kids a few years older it's all really starting to take shape. Seems to be that way with our youngsters now and hopefully over the next couple of season's we'll start reaping the benefits

Yeah, this is line with the recommendations made to improve English football about a decade ago - and one of the reasons, I believe, we hired Arnesen.