Spurs under 21, under 18 Leagues and other youth news

[Bus-Conductor]

I wasn't saying he was responsible for it but it was better imo before the changes sherwood was youth coach/technical director

Harry did give the players more of a chance though which under AVB some players went backwards

Are you saying it was better before Sherwood was given job as technical coordinator ?

I'm not sure that's true except where Redknapp didn't want to play in the Europa so used the kids, that didn't really lead to any of them getting major chances in the EPl though did it, it seemed more a case of him just not caring about the Europa and not wanting to risk senior players.

That doesn't altar the fact that AVB was poor when it came to integration. I was disappointed. But I wonder how much of that was the initial bust up with Sherwood ? There seems to have been a bit of a power struggle or at the very least a personality clash.

I can't think of a single development player that broke through to our first team in a proper way (like Bentaleb this year) under Redknapp.

 

[Romulus]

Very little.....if anything at all.

Those largely responsible for the performance of our current youth set up are, variously: Arnesen, Comolli and McDermott.

Even David Pleat will have made more of a contribution than Harry.

absolutely

 

[Spursidol]

Very little.....if anything at all.

Those largely responsible for the performance of our current youth set up are, variously: Arnesen, Comolli and McDermott.

Even David Pleat will have made more of a contribution than Harry.

I'd generally agree with that, although I'm not sure whether Commoli.did that much - I can't even remember many overseas young players coming into the academy expect M'Poku which I'd have thought would have been his contribution as I'm not sure he had any coaching background.

However once the 1991 year group (Caulker, Townsend et al) came out of the academy, I think that the Development group coaching also needed new modern coaching so Clive Allen (who was 'old school') was moved aside by Redknapp to allow Sherwood/Ramsey in to do the Development coaching for the 18 - 21 age group.

 

[Spursidol]

Are you saying it was better before Sherwood was given job as technical coordinator ?

I'm not sure that's true except where Redknapp didn't want to play in the Europa so used the kids, that didn't really lead to any of them getting major chances in the EPl though did it, it seemed more a case of him just not caring about the Europa and not wanting to risk senior players.

That doesn't altar the fact that AVB was poor when it came to integration. I was disappointed. But I wonder how much of that was the initial bust up with Sherwood ? There seems to have been a bit of a power struggle or at the very least a personality clash.

I can't think of a single development player that broke through to our first team in a proper way (like Bentaleb this year) under Redknapp.

AVB's job title was Head Coach, that is of the first team, and it seems to me he took that to mean looking after the first team squad and pretty much igniored the youth set up despite it being said at the time of his appointment that he would not.

Think you are correct about HR, although it has to be said playing the youngsters in EL did help their development enormously which meant that they were more capable and likely to break through to the first team, although as you saay in reality he did not give the youngsters much chance of polaying in the PL (except as QPR manager of course !)

 

[Spursidol]

If anyone's interested I've just found the England U17 game on Europsport 2HD now and it's repeated at 5am if you want to record it.

Is Onomah our only player involved ?

Yes Joshua Onomah is the only Spurs player in the Eu17 squad

 

[Cheltenham Spur]

http://www.thefa.com/news/england/d...nd-uefa-european-under-17-championship-150514

Report from the FA website of the U17 game last night for anyone interested. Josh onomah played the whole game.

 

[jambreck]

I'd generally agree with that, although I'm not sure whether Commoli.did that much - I can't even remember many overseas young players coming into the academy expect M'Poku which I'd have thought would have been his contribution as I'm not sure he had any coaching background.

However once the 1991 year group (Caulker, Townsend et al) came out of the academy, I think that the Development group coaching also needed new modern coaching so Clive Allen (who was 'old school') was moved aside by Redknapp to allow Sherwood/Ramsey in to do the Development coaching for the 18 - 21 age group.

Was that a Redknapp decision or a Levy decision? More likely the latter, IMO.

And correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't John McDermott join our academy during Comolli's time at the club (though I suspect that David Pleat might well have had something to do with that)? It would also be fair to say that it was during Comolli's time at the club that we consistently started to attract a far better quality of player to the academy. One of Comolli's remits was to revamp our youth scouting network for local kids. So I think it's a little unfair to dismiss his contribution on the basis of the lack of players signed for the academy from abroad.

 

[Spursidol]

Was that a Redknapp decision or a Levy decision? More likely the latter, IMO.

And correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't John McDermott join our academy during Comolli's time at the club (though I suspect that David Pleat might well have had something to do with that)? It would also be fair to say that it was during Comolli's time at the club that we consistently started to attract a far better quality of player to the academy. One of Comolli's remits was to revamp our youth scouting network for local kids. So I think it's a little unfair to dismiss his contribution on the basis of the lack of players signed for the academy from abroad.

I'm pretty sure McDermott joined at about the time that Aarnesan left, so I assumed that Aarnesen apponited him, with McDermott working out his notice at the FA causing the delay in him starting. If Commoli had appointed him I think it would have been almostr the first thing which he did at Spurs and MCdermott had no notice period to work.

Of course it could be Levy and/or Pleat who appointed McDermott after he was drawn to their attention - he was noted at FA as being a good youth coach and as a REgional Director was an obvious candidate to head up Spurs Academy.

I think that McDermott and the youth scouting sert up brought in the better quality young players rather than Commoli - he may have helped set up the youth scouting set up and other things. so maybe I am beung unfair on him

 

[Romulus]

Was that a Redknapp decision or a Levy decision? More likely the latter, IMO.

And correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't John McDermott join our academy during Comolli's time at the club (though I suspect that David Pleat might well have had something to do with that)? It would also be fair to say that it was during Comolli's time at the club that we consistently started to attract a far better quality of player to the academy. One of Comolli's remits was to revamp our youth scouting network for local kids. So I think it's a little unfair to dismiss his contribution on the basis of the lack of players signed for the academy from abroad.

id agree with that aswell

 

[jambreck]

I'm pretty sure McDermott joined at about the time that Aarnesan left, so I assumed that Aarnesen apponited him, with McDermott working out his notice at the FA causing the delay in him starting. If Commoli had appointed him I think it would have been almostr the first thing which he did at Spurs and MCdermott had no notice period to work.

Of course it could be Levy and/or Pleat who appointed McDermott after he was drawn to their attention - he was noted at FA as being a good youth coach and as a REgional Director was an obvious candidate to head up Spurs Academy.

I think that McDermott and the youth scouting sert up brought in the better quality young players rather than Commoli - he may have helped set up the youth scouting set up and other things. so maybe I am beung unfair on him

You may be right but I seem to have it in my head that McDermott joined the club in 2006, a year into Comolli's tenure at the club.

Nevertheless, I suspect that the decision to appoint McDermott probably owed a lot to Pleat's influence.

 

[eddiebailey]

I think perhaps we are being a bit unfair on Dangerous Clive. His touchline running commentary was always colourful and I doubt that at halftime he could be trusted with the crockery, but he romped away with the reserve league and had our side playing some very attractive football; most of his former charges have gone on to respectable careers in the football league (or in the case of McKenna and Burch, coaching at Spurs).

David Pleat, who is no mug, spoke of him as an exceptional young coach, and thought highly enough of him to appoint him even though he was initially unavailable for reserve games because of television commitments. Under Jol, he had already been combining first team duties with the reserves, and as the person who knew the players best it was a fairly natural move for him to switch to working with the first team fulltime under Harry, particularly after we withdrew from the reserve league.

I do not think moving him away from the reserves should necessarily be seen as a sign of dissatisfaction with his performance in that role, and I am not sure dissatisfaction would be justified. Certainly we improved markedly at reserve level during his time in charge.

 

[Spursidol]

You may be right but I seem to have it in my head that McDermott joined the club in 2006, a year into Comolli's tenure at the club.

Nevertheless, I suspect that the decision to appoint McDermott probably owed a lot to Pleat's influence.

One time I came across a CV for John McDermott on the net, which I think said he joined in 2005 but I cannot find it now !

However in Spurs 2005 results published in October 2005 underthe heading 'Overview' it says ' Other considerable changes in our restructuring programme have been the complete overhaul of the Academy which is now headed up by John McDermott who joins us from the F.A. John has brought renewed processes, enthusiasm and experience to this key area of the club' suggesting that he joined earlier than October 2005. Aarnesen left in September 2005 (but I think was suspended by Spurs in JUne 2005) and I think Commoli joined pretty soon after Aanesen actually left (so towards the end of 2005)..
http://www.investegate.co.uk/article.aspx?id=200510050700142164S

So I think McDermott probably joined before Commoli started.

 

[jambreck]

One time I came across a CV for John McDermott on the net, which I think said he joined in 2005 but I cannot find it now !

However in Spurs 2005 results published in October 2005 underthe heading 'Overview' it says ' Other considerable changes in our restructuring programme have been the complete overhaul of the Academy which is now headed up by John McDermott who joins us from the F.A. John has brought renewed processes, enthusiasm and experience to this key area of the club' suggesting that he joined earlier than October 2005. Aarnesen left in September 2005 (but I think was suspended by Spurs in JUne 2005) and I think Commoli joined pretty soon after Aanesen actually left (so towards the end of 2005)..
http://www.investegate.co.uk/article.aspx?id=200510050700142164S

So I think McDermott probably joined before Commoli started.

Good search re McDermott. I couldn't find anything! However, Comolli was appointed in early September 2005. As I said, though, the McDermott appointment was most likely on Pleat's recommendation anyway.

Even so, Comolli was in part responsible for revamping our youth scouting network and therefore has to take some credit for the improvement in the quality of player that our academy has attracted and is producing.

 

[Spursidol]

Good search re McDermott. I couldn't find anything! However, Comolli was appointed in early September 2005. As I said, though, the McDermott appointment was most likely on Pleat's recommendation anyway.

Even so, Comolli was in part responsible for revamping our youth scouting network and therefore has to take some credit for the improvement in the quality of player that our academy has attracted and is producing.

Think we are in agreemenr !

 

[Spursidol]

Not sure if this is the provisional squad for the Terborg Tournament (last weekend in May) or just a stock picture of the Academy lads. No Christian Maghoma or Cameron Carter-Vickers makes me suspect the latter.


Back row from left to right
Luke Amos, Filip Lesniak, Joe Pritchard , Harry Winks, Lloyd Ross, Kyle Walker-Peters, Cy Goddard

Middle row from left to right
Anthony Georgiou, Emmanuel Sonupe, Daniel Akindayini, Connor Olilive, Channing Campbell-Young, Anton Walkes, Shayon Harrison, Kane Vincent-Young

Front row left to right
Luke McGee, Nathan Oduwa, Paul Brush (coach), Kieran McKenna (under 18s coach), John McDermott (Academy Manager ), Robert Burch (Goalkeeper Coach), Joshua Onomah, Harry Voss

http://www.terborgtoernooi.nl/voetbaltoernooi/index.php?tottenham-hotspur

 

[SlickMongoose]

I saw a really interesting thread on Southampton's forum:

Lee Barnard appreciation

 

[TottenhamLegend]

England U17 vs Portugal at the moment. Onomah started on the bench but just came on in the first half after an injury. Game is live on Eurosport. Portugal have hit the woodwork 3 times!

 

[spursfan77]

England U17 vs Portugal at the moment. Onomah started on the bench but just came on in the first half after an injury. Game is live on Eurosport. Portugal have hit the woodwork 3 times!

I've a feeling I've read that the Portugal team are pretty highly thought of

 

[TottenhamLegend]

I've a feeling I've read that the Portugal team are pretty highly thought of

You'd expect so. Historically both Sporting and Benfica are two fantastic academies, Sporting particularly.

 

[spursfan77]

You'd expect so. Historically both Sporting and Benfica are two fantastic academies, Sporting particularly.

Yeah I was reading something in the week while watching England Holland highlights and apparently there are a few highly thought of Portuguese prospects.

Re onomah, I thought he looked ok against holland, appeared to have time on the ball like all good players do but he looked a little lazy. Could have been the fact that it looked really hot though.