Spurs under 21, under 18 Leagues and other youth news

[StartingPrice]

Reflections from the OS...I would say again about the number of highly rated players we had missing. I have commented on this a few times, but more in terms of not knowing how and wanting to do so. Well, the answer is in this piece from the OS - the team at Anfield was missing 13 (THIRTEEN) players who have featured for the U-21's earlier in the season, and yet still won fairly comfortably (IMHO). I think that is pretty damned impressive, made more so by the number of U-18's (even though the Scousers had some of their kids missing/on loan too).
Anyway, here's the article:

http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/spurs/News/u21s-kop-praise-from-chris-02042013.page

"U21S KOP PRAISE FROM CHRIS

Posted 02 April 2013 3:16pm
Chris Ramsey described Monday’s 3-1 win against Liverpool at Anfield as one of the best performances of our Under-21s impressive campaign.
Two goals from Cristian Ceballos and Kenny McEvoy’s late third took the team’s record to eight wins, a draw and one defeat in 10 matches in the second phase of the Barclays U21 Premier League and stretched their lead to 10 points from United in the Elite Group.

Monday’s win in front of over 2,000 fans at Anfield came with six Academy trainees in the starting line-up as 13 players who have featured for the U21s this season are now away on loan.

“It’s one of the better performances and it means that little more because there was a decent crowd there and some of the lads would never have played at a stadium of that calibre and history,” said Chris, our Senior Professional Phase Coach.

“Players from both teams went down with cramp and a lot of that was down to the emotional energy that a game like that draws out of you.

“As far as individual performances were concerned, Nabil Bentaleb was outstanding, the best player on the pitch with Laste Dombaxe and Milos Veljkovic not far behind. That’s where we won the game. It was also good to see Lawrence Vigouroux back to his confident best in goal and he made a fine save in the last minute.”

The biggest compliment is to say the players out on loan weren’t missed as the lads dominated and should really have been out of sight before Liverpool replied and then struck the woodwork in the space of a minute. The comeback didn’t materialise though before McEvoy’s fine strike sealed it.

“It was a great learning curve for the lads in terms of not being clinical with the chances and suddenly, Liverpool got back into it and we were a bit jittery,” added Chris. “We had four clear-cut chances in the second half before they scored, but we took control again after that.”

The win means the team’s overall record in both phases of the Barclays U21 Premier League so far is 15 wins, three draws and four defeats from 22 matches, scoring an amazing 75 goals along the way. Two of the defeats came in the first two matches of the season in August."

 

[Romulus]

yep. bentaleb outstanding yesterday

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

Reflections from the OS...I would say again about the number of highly rated players we had missing. I have commented on this a few times, but more in terms of not knowing how and wanting to do so. Well, the answer is in this piece from the OS - the team at Anfield was missing 13 (THIRTEEN) players who have featured for the U-21's earlier in the season, and yet still won fairly comfortably (IMHO). I think that is pretty damned impressive, made more so by the number of U-18's (even though the Scousers had some of their kids missing/on loan too).
Anyway, here's the article:

http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/spurs/News/u21s-kop-praise-from-chris-02042013.page

"U21S KOP PRAISE FROM CHRIS

Posted 02 April 2013 3:16pm
Chris Ramsey described Monday’s 3-1 win against Liverpool at Anfield as one of the best performances of our Under-21s impressive campaign.
Two goals from Cristian Ceballos and Kenny McEvoy’s late third took the team’s record to eight wins, a draw and one defeat in 10 matches in the second phase of the Barclays U21 Premier League and stretched their lead to 10 points from United in the Elite Group.

Monday’s win in front of over 2,000 fans at Anfield came with six Academy trainees in the starting line-up as 13 players who have featured for the U21s this season are now away on loan.

“It’s one of the better performances and it means that little more because there was a decent crowd there and some of the lads would never have played at a stadium of that calibre and history,” said Chris, our Senior Professional Phase Coach.

“Players from both teams went down with cramp and a lot of that was down to the emotional energy that a game like that draws out of you.

“As far as individual performances were concerned, Nabil Bentaleb was outstanding, the best player on the pitch with Laste Dombaxe and Milos Veljkovic not far behind. That’s where we won the game. It was also good to see Lawrence Vigouroux back to his confident best in goal and he made a fine save in the last minute.”

The biggest compliment is to say the players out on loan weren’t missed as the lads dominated and should really have been out of sight before Liverpool replied and then struck the woodwork in the space of a minute. The comeback didn’t materialise though before McEvoy’s fine strike sealed it.

“It was a great learning curve for the lads in terms of not being clinical with the chances and suddenly, Liverpool got back into it and we were a bit jittery,” added Chris. “We had four clear-cut chances in the second half before they scored, but we took control again after that.”

The win means the team’s overall record in both phases of the Barclays U21 Premier League so far is 15 wins, three draws and four defeats from 22 matches, scoring an amazing 75 goals along the way. Two of the defeats came in the first two matches of the season in August."

Did LFC have any 'highly rated' players missing?

 

[StartingPrice]

Did LFC have any 'highly rated' players missing?

Dunno
I don't know that much about their kids, just that the LFC TV commentators (who were hilariously bad) mentioned having players out on loan as though it was something significant - of course making me think reflect on the large number of top prospects we had missing (which is probably why it stuck in my head). But anyone who knows what I think of Liverfool's youth policy, in general, won't be surprised if it meant a junior version of Jay Spearing :giggle:

 

[IGSpur]

Did LFC have any 'highly rated' players missing?

Was reading a couple of their forums to get opinions of the game, and they said similar to us in that their team now is more u18s than u21s and saying that their u18s are dong well to compete in the elite u21s while of course ours are dominating it .

They said injuris and loans affected them but really named about 8 players, think the majority of their players were 19/20 keeper 22 and a couple of 18 year olds thrown in.

Btw also found this, its the u18s game against them, SpursTV really needs to up its game if its trying to con people into getting memberships when they cant even provide youth games.

EDIT: Lag at the start isnt your comp (although it could be), but is the person's who uploaded it. So just skip past it if you want

Anyway like most, although I had heard of him, I didnt know too much about Harry Winks, and assuming their commentators were correct when naming players I would say he looks classy. Gliided past some players and made some good passes Oduwa and RMP also looked threatening which was good to see. Ive seen Lamerias before but I think he looked alright. But the 3 aforementioned were standouts for me. We seemed to dominate, and what Spurs game would be complete without some comical keeper/defending errors.

To help, as it was hard to distinguish while watching, I have tried to put the positions and what number I think they were. I know the commentators were not always correct as they called either Ball/McEnuff, who are white, Mcqueen, who I know is black haha:- SpursIdol, StartingPrice or anyone that knows better please correct ime if numbers/players/formation wrong. Enjoy!
------------------------1
---------------------McGee
-----2 -----------5-------- 6------------ 3---
McQueen-------Hall------McEnuff------Ward

------------------10-------- 4-----------------
---------------Lamerias Lesniak-------------
------------------------8----------------------
---------------------Winks--------------------
----7-------------------------------- 11-------
Michael-Percil -------------------Oduwa-----
------------------------9-----------------
------------------Zapata-Caciedo------------

 

[StartingPrice]

------------------------1
---------------------McGee
-----2 -----------5-------- 6------------ 3---
McQueen-------Hall------McEnuff------Ward

------------------10-------- 4-----------------
---------------Lamerias Lesniak-------------
------------------------8----------------------
---------------------Winks--------------------
----7-------------------------------- 11-------
Michael-Percil -------------------Oduwa-----
------------------------9-----------------
------------------Zapata-Caciedo------------

Did we have, like, 17 players on the pitch, or summit?

Actually, I think it is Dan levy's Latest cunning plan - employ a load of players with double-barreled names, and then, ever so often, slip something like Bale-Sigurdsson on the team sheet and hope that no-one notices there are 12 names. If anyone complains, say the ref okayed it

p.s. IGS - that looks about right - all our squads (apart from the 1st team) seem to be adopting AVB's preferred 4-3-3, and they do seem to be very fluid.

 

[DEFchenkOE]

Just finished watching the lfc game that i recorded yesterday, very impressed with our kids. Apart from a 15 minute spell in the 2nd half after we conceded we pretty much dominated the game at Anfield. Even though both teams probably had some players missing we were much more fluid than them, our midfield had control and Ceballos and Mcevoy were always threatening.

Overall an encouraging team performance I thought, and it's definitely showing that the team are trying to play a similar style to the first team, high line, lots of pressing, strikers not scoring etc ok just kidding about the last bit our strikers at that level seem to have decent records.

Liverpool had a winger Jordan Ivy i think looked like their most dangerous player, especially in the 2nd half.

 

[Sandro30]

Liverpool had a winger Jordan Ivy i think looked like their most dangerous player, especially in the 2nd half.

Jordon Ibe, made his Wycombe debut at 15 then promptly snapped up by Liverpool. Decent talent but not convinced on him personally, think he stands out at the level due to skill and trickery

 

[Legend10]

Our lads looked very good!

People who have been shouting for Coulthirst to be playing in the first team will have hopefully noted he isn't ready yet, so he can continue his progress in the right environment!

Fryers was interesting as it was hard to work him out, he struggled a bit at times but I couldn't decide if that was because he isn't really that good or because it was all bit too easy for him so he kept losing concentration.

Bentaleb has loads of ability on the ball and at times reminded me of Taraabt in his style of play, but if they can instill all of the not perhaps natural ingredients into him then he definitely has the ability to become a very very good player.

I also liked Dombaxe, McEvoy and of course Ceballos has obvious ability.

 

[Spursidol]

Did LFC have any 'highly rated' players missing?

Good question, Liveropool U21 starting team :

Gulacsi - reserve (ie not u 18)
McLaughlin - reserve
Jones - reserve
Sama - reserve
Roddan - reserve
Teixera - reserve
Coady - reserve
Adorjan - reserve
Peterson - reserve
Morgan - reserve
Ibe - reserve

There are 5 reserves out on loan - source updated to 29 March http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liverpool_F.C._Reserves_and_Academy

Wiki might have the odd error, but none of the starting team seem to have been u 18's (versus 5 for u18's for Spurs), and their 5 loaned out versus Spurs 13 loaned out who have played for u21's and a total of 15 youth loanees.

So Spurs younger u21 team won away at Anfield. Looks even better after that analysis imo

 

[mpickard2087]

Our lads looked very good!

People who have been shouting for Coulthirst to be playing in the first team will have hopefully noted he isn't ready yet, so he can continue his progress in the right environment!

Fryers was interesting as it was hard to work him out, he struggled a bit at times but I couldn't decide if that was because he isn't really that good or because it was all bit too easy for him so he kept losing concentration.

Bentaleb has loads of ability on the ball and at times reminded me of Taraabt in his style of play, but if they can instill all of the not perhaps natural ingredients into him then he definitely has the ability to become a very very good player.

I also liked Dombaxe, McEvoy and of course Ceballos has obvious ability.

He had an off day with his finishing, but at least he was getting in those positions still. The rest of his game was generally pretty good. Always available for the ball to hold it up and bring others into play. When he went off the difference was noticeable. Granted, it was at U21 level, but looking at this all round game that was a better performance than I have seen from Adebayor and certainly Defoe in some time!

 

[Gassin's finest]

Thanks for the upload of that clip. We look very tidy and technical through the middle. I can't make out the shirt number (10?) but there's one in particular who moves a bit like M. Laudrup in his playing days.

Defence and Keeper are a bit ropey mind. What was with all that suicidal messing about in the second half???

Kudos on them coping with that blizzard and the wind too. Where did all the snow go from the first few minutes?!

 

[Spursidol]

He had an off day with his finishing, but at least he was getting in those positions still. The rest of his game was generally pretty good. Always available for the ball to hold it up and bring others into play. When he went off the difference was noticeable. Granted, it was at U21 level, but looking at this all round game that was a better performance than I have seen from Adebayor and certainly Defoe in some time!

Coulthirst was carried offf ionjured in the last Nextgen game and this was his first game back. Pretty sure he was not 100% fit.

But otherwise that was his worst game for a long time, but still was only his finishing which was noticeably off

 

[spudtrader]

Its so cool that we have finally started making moves with our youth system. I wish there was more exposure but i guess that is growing with this new system and NextGen.
Preseason should be an intriguing one.

 

[StartingPrice]

Its so cool that we have finally started making moves with our youth system. I wish there was more exposure but i guess that is growing with this new system and NextGen.
Preseason should be an intriguing one.

My take would be that we started making moves with our youth system when Levy took a moratorium after dismissing GHodd and then appointed Frank Arnesen. Developments have been a bit below ground level since then, but these are changes that would have the most impact on lads of 14 - 15 YO at the time, who would now be in their early twenties - and what we see is a lot of highly rated young players (though, IMHO, not all as highly rated as those coming behind) starting to break through to the 1st team squad.

Unpopular bit: part of that work, and some of the personnel, would have been done under the watch of Damien Comolli, who had overall responsibility for the footballing direction of the club for several years.

 

[knilly]

I

My take would be that we started making moves with our youth system when Levy took a moratorium after dismissing GHodd and then appointed Frank Arnesen. Developments have been a bit below ground level since then, but these are changes that would have the most impact on lads of 14 - 15 YO at the time, who would now be in their early twenties - and what we see is a lot of highly rated young players (though, IMHO, not all as highly rated as those coming behind) starting to break through to the 1st team squad.

Unpopular bit: part of that work, and some of the personnel, would have been done under the watch of Damien Comolli, who had overall responsibility for the footballing direction of the club for several years.

I wonder how much of an influence people like Ricardo Moniz (think that was his name) had on the youth and their progress as he was appointed as a skills coach.

We really do seem to be going places with our youth set up, hopefully we can integrate these players into a more settled first team squad, instead of wholesale changes every summer like we used to have.

 

[Hoddle&Waddle]

Harry Winks looks like a talent from what I've seen and read about him.

 

[IGSpur]

Good question, Liveropool U21 starting team :

Gulacsi - reserve (ie not u 18)
McLaughlin - reserve
Jones - reserve
Sama - reserve
Roddan - reserve
Teixera - reserve
Coady - reserve
Adorjan - reserve
Peterson - reserve
Morgan - reserve
Ibe - reserve

There are 5 reserves out on loan - source updated to 29 March http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liverpool_F.C._Reserves_and_Academy

Wiki might have the odd error, but none of the starting team seem to have been u 18's (versus 5 for u18's for Spurs), and their 5 loaned out versus Spurs 13 loaned out who have played for u21's and a total of 15 youth loanees.

So Spurs younger u21 team won away at Anfield. Looks even better after that analysis imo

SpursIdol you can be reserve and still be u18s no? I know Ibe is 17 and taht Peterson was in the u18 match I posted earlier. Just saying to be fai to pool but does def seem like we played more u18s.

Im erally impressed how Levy has undergone changing our academy set up. Harry Winks does look talented and I am genuienly excited for our future

 

[StartingPrice]

I


I wonder how much of an influence people like Ricardo Moniz (think that was his name) had on the youth and their progress as he was appointed as a skills coach.

We really do seem to be going places with our youth set up, hopefully we can integrate these players into a more settled first team squad, instead of wholesale changes every summer like we used to have.

Good call on Moniz - from the top down, we can only speculate on what influence any individual has had since the appointment of Arnesen.

Yeah, the ideal is that we can integrate players from the youth team into a settled squad. Prospects are good IMHO.

 

[mill]

With these kids there is no excuse for signing players of Dempsey's ilk in the future, sign stars or bring the kids through.

How does it go?
To dare is to do
COYS