Spurs under 21, under 18 Leagues and other youth news

[Spursidol]

Under 18's played today at the new training ground v ManU in the ir second game of season - last week beat Newcastle away.

Read from botton upwards. Both Ray Lo (SO) and Windy at game so 2 reports likely

Windy ‏@WindyCOYS
Cracking U18 match, even game when when 10v11. Harsh to lose late on.

Result - Lost 3-4

3-4 now, but remember we are playing vs a very good team and we're down to 10 men.

Windy @WindyCOYS
United take the lead - brilliant team move finished off by Pearson.

Windy‏@WindyCOYS
3-3! Dombaxe rounded keeper and I think it was him who forced it over the line.

Windy‏@WindyCOYS
Dombaxe on for Lameiras. Need the strength in midfield.

Windy‏@WindyCOYS
2-3. Spurs attempted offside failed, calm finish, I think from McNair (not 100%).

Windy‏@WindyCOYS
Scrap that, Zapata on for Michael-Percil.


Windy‏@WindyCOYS
No changes despite being down to 10 men.


Windy‏@WindyCOYS
Spurs had been back on top with the United keeper making an amazing reflex save from McQueen. 2-2 now! McQueen smashes into roof of net!

Windy‏@WindyCOYS
Bentaleb had been so impressive but has just been sent off for second booking. Had just had a long warning.

Windy‏@WindyCOYS
Daehli makes it 1-2.

Windy‏@WindyCOYS
1-1, smart turn and cross-shot from Coulthirst deflected in across keeper. Mats Daehli very impressive for United.

Windy‏@WindyCOYS
Spurs dominating possession but United very dangerous on counter - two more clear chances, both saved well by McGee.

Windy‏@WindyCOYS
0-1, goal from corner.

Windy‏@WindyCOYS
Subs: Dombaxe, Voss, Zapata, Winks, Ogilvie.

Windy‏@WindyCOYS
Spurs line-up: McGee; Bush, Gardiner, Ball, Smith; Bentaleb, Onomah; D McQueen, Lameiras, Michael-Percil; Coulthirst

McGee​

Bush, Gardiner, Ball, Smith (S)​

Bentaleb, Onomah;​

D McQueen, Lameiras, Michael-Percil​

Coulthirst​

Think this is a debut for Joshua Onomah (Spurs under 16), Luke McGee is in Acdemy Year 1, young bench too with Harry Voss (Spurs u 16 goalkeeper), Connor Ogivie (Academy Year 1 CB - looks to have a great future based upon Milk Cup performances, a few u 18 appearances and NextGen debut as sub), and Harry Winks (Academy Year 1 mid). All the other players are from Academy Year 2.

 

[Spursidol]

http://windycoys.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/250812-tottenham-hotspur-u18s-3-4.html#comment-form

This was my first visit to the club's new training ground in Enfield, and it is certainly impressive. It is, as yet, not totally finished - there are still dugouts to be built and certain areas are taped off - but the eleven pitches look immaculate. It is a pretty different environment to watching at Spurs Lodge in Chigwell, which always had a "village" feel; there's a burger van where tea and coffee are also available, the pitch has a fence around the perimeter, and you can overlook the U16 game with ease at the same time as taking in the U18s.

Spurs made a couple of changes, bringing in U16 Josh Onomah to play in the middle of midfield alongside Bentaleb, who has always impressed me. Mason Bush was a surprise selection at right back (I've normally seen him play off a front man or wide) and I can only assume that he was filling in, rather than this being some kind of experiment.

Luke McGee (16)​

Mason Bush (17) Dominic Ball (17) Tom Gardiner (17) Sam Smith (17)​

Nabil Bentaleb (17) Josh Onomah (15?)​

Darren McQueen (17) Ruben Lameiras (17) Roman Michael-Percil (17)​

Shaquille Coulthirst (17)​

Substitutes:

Victor Zapata (17) for Roman Michael-Percil.
Laste Dombaxe (17) for Ruben Lameiras.
Connor Ogilvie (16) for Darren McQueen.

Not used:

Harry Winks (16)
Harry Voss (15?)

Manchester United: Gollini; Love, Grimshaw, McNair, Rowley; Weir, Pearson, Rothwell, Daehli; Byrne (Dalley), Wilson. Subs not used: Sutherland, McConnell.


It was immediately evident from kick off that these were two footballing sides - that we weren't going to see many long balls, and that both teams would take risks playing out from the back. United's Norwegian number 10, Mats Daehli, was immediately at the centre of their approach play.

An early Onomah through ball found Coulthirst in space, but his touch took him slightly wide, and he eventually had to play back to Bush. Bentaleb then showed some quality in the middle of the park - beating his man and lifting a pass just too far in advance of the advancing attackers.

United's James Weir had a great chance, but didn't make a proper contact after James Wilson beat Mason Bush down the outside and put in a low cross. It was a sign of things to come for Bush, though, who was finding that winger Wilson, and left back Rowley were making probing runs with regularity.

It was Rowley who opened the scoring on 6 minutes, getting on the end of a corner at the back post, and directing his header into the net. 0-1.

At the other end Bush was trying to justify his selection with bursts forward, but in losing the ball left us a little exposed. Fortunately, Dominic Ball showed the intelligence to push up and squeeze the play, and managed to block the ball out for a throw.

Weir had another opportunity, but Luke McGee read the situation and came out well to close the angle and block the shot.

Sam Byrne was then gifted a chance after a defensive mix-up, but didn't take the opportunity, before Ruben Lameiras picked a fantastic reverse pass to find Coulthirst - his cross from the right was over hit slightly, and the headed clearance dropped to Onomah, who volleyed over.

Bush was finally able to gain some confidence after he got tight to Rowley and made a good challenge near to the touchline, but minutes later couldn't quite find the right cross at the other end. McQueen robbed Grimshaw and played in Coulthirst, who in turn set Bush free wide on the right. He attempted to flash a ball across the face of goal, but the goalkeeper was alert and was able to gather it in.

Ball missed his header which lead to a cross coming in,only to be missed at the near post, as Gardiner converged with the attacker and managed to scramble it away. Spurs then lost the ball with a lot of bodies committed, but with a two against one situation developing, Ball kept his nerve and managed to get a nick on the attempted pass, allowing him to clear it. Onomah then made a sloppy pass which was nearly punished, but Gardiner made a decent recovery challenge.

Roman Michael-Percil was switched to the right temporarily, and seemed to immediately get some joy, and it was from this side that the equalising goal came. Coulthirst found space, turned well, and hit a cross shot which clipped Rowley and found the far corner. 1-1.

Masn Bush then read the game well, burst forward, and found Coulthirst, but this time his effort was straight at the goalkeeper.

Lameiras was left very angry after Rowley caught him with a high tackle - the referee gave Rowley a long talking to, but didn't show a card.

Sam Smith had to resort to a professional foul after an Onomah error allowed United to break forward - he was left one on one, and took the attacker's legs, conceding a free kick just outside the box, which Rothwell struck narrowly over.

Minutes later, Michael-Percil left the goal-posts shaking after smashing a fantastic drive against the post from the inside left channel.

The impressive Daehli made it 1-2 with a clever finish with the outside of his foot, and United instantly created another couple of chances - Wilson beat Ball, rounded the goalkeeper, but managed to hit the post; as the rebound came back out, it looked like Daehli would grab another, but he somehow managed to sky his effort.

After Coulthirst was played in, but dallied, things went from bad to worse for Spurs in a short space of time. Nabil Bentaleb was booked for something which looked innocuous (it could have been dissent), and then got a stern talking to after a firm challenge in the centre (albeit having got a lot of the ball). Just minutes later, he went to ground again and didn't take the ball, earning himself a second booking. He jumped the fence and trudged off.

In between Bentaleb's bookings, McQueen nearly equalised after our best move of the half (involving Lameiras and Michael-Percil), ended with him taking a first time shot from close-range, which Gollini saved magnificently, one-handed low to his left.

Somehow, 10-man Spurs pushed on at the end of the half. A fantastically weighted cut-back from Michael-Percil found McQueen, and he wasn't going to miss this time - he made a good contact and rifled the ball into the roof of the net from close range. 2-2.

Victor Zapata-Caceido replaced Roman Michael-Percil (later seen limping heavily) at half time, and played on the left. Lameiras played a lot deeper, and a lot was asked of Coulthirst as the lone front man.

Onomah, impressive throughout for one so young, broke through the centre, but his shot was saved. At the other end, Gardiner made another saving challenge. The ball ran to Ball, who needed to clear first time. Instead, he tried to play out, and was fortunate when McGee managed to pounce on the ball.

Rothwell, United's captain, then played a nice pass through our defence, but McGee read the situation well, and rushed out to make a fantastic save with his legs - the ball seemed to have gone through him, but clipped off his ankles and went wide.

McNair made it 3-2 to United when Spurs failed to play offside, and he was left with a simple finish one-on-one in plenty of space.

Dombaxe replaced Lameiras in midfield, as Spurs replaced subtlety with more muscle in an effort to regain some momentum. Within minutes, he drove a powerful effort just over.

United replaced Byrne with Dalley - this led to a re-shuffle ending with Wilson playing up top.

Josh Onomah received a pass in a tight area, turned well, but had few options and eventually ran into trouble. In trying to retrieve the ball, Coulthirst went to ground and picked up a booking for his troubles.

Shaq Coulthirst grabbed his second to make it 3-3 on 75 minutes. Laste Dombaxe charged through on the inside left channel, rounded the goalkeeper with a clever piece of skill, and as the defender blocked on the line, Coulthirst followed up to force the ball over the line.

Connor Ogilvie came on for Darren McQueen, who had been struggling with cramp, with Gardiner moving to right back, and Bush to a more familiar midfield position.

McGee made a good save when it looked like it would be easier for the attacking player to score. Rothwell then drilled a first time shot straight at McGee - anywhere else in the goal, and it would have been in.

United then put together the move of the match, and took the lead late on - Pearson finished well, and was mobbed by his teammates. 3-4, cruel for Spurs.

Spurs, having played with one less player for a long part of the game, pushed on again - Dombaxe fired a raking pass out to Coulthirst, who shuffled into the box, and hit a fierce left footed effort, which was parried by the goalkeeper. With seconds to go, Coulthirst then hit the woodwork - it just wasn't to be.

It was an error-prone performance from Spurs, presenting United with lots of chances, but considering that they were down to 10-men for nearly 60 minutes, the effort, commitment and never-say-die attitude was impressive.

Player assessment :

Luke McGee 6 - mishit a couple of clearances but made some good saves and, despite conceding 4, will have been relatively pleased with his performance overall.​

Mason Bush 4 - at one point in the second half, Onomah spread the ball intelligently to him, but his first touch got away from him and gifted the ball back to United - this pretty much summed up his day. I really felt for him playing in the unfamiliar right back role, as he's a good player. He'll have learnt a lot from the experience.
Dominic Ball 6 - kept talking, played out well from the back, and got his head up early. He did make a number of errors, but it will take time for him to form a reliable partnership with Gardiner.
Tom Gardiner 6 - showed signs of some impressive one-on-one defending but, like Ball, did have a few lapses.
Sam Smith 6 - a solid if unspectacular performance - I thought he did particularly well in the second half, when he was constantly under-pressure but made good decisions.​

Nabil Bentaleb 5 - was having such a tidy game until a rush of blood led to him receiving his second yellow card, seconds after receiving a lengthy warning.
Josh Onomah 6 - a real mixed bag, with plenty of errors, but also plenty of plus points - shows good ability on the ball, goes past players for fun at times, and looks to unlock defences. One to watch.​

Darren McQueen 6 - finished really well for the first goal and also showed good defensive responsibility. I like him, and it he can stay fit, he could be a very important player for the U18s this year.
Ruben Lameiras 5 - he's a very elegant and tidy player, and he played some nice reverse passes, but when United's midfield started to dominate, he was getting bypassed and was rightly replaced.
Roman Michael-Percil 6 - he didn't get on the ball as much as he would have liked, but when he did he looked dangerous. Surprised he didn't play at right-back, which is certainly more familiar to him than Bush.​

Shaquille Coulthirst 7 - a bit of an up and down game, but he scored two goals and showed a terrific work ethic throughout. Did play one pass straight out of play under no pressure, and also frustrated when he was put through twice but didn't want to take a shot early, and was forced to turn out.

Victor Zapata 5 - didn't really manage to get into the game in the second half, but it was always difficult with 10 men.
Laste Dombaxe 7 - made a difference when he came on - driving forward and playing some useful passes.
Connor Ogilvie - had a steady few minutes.​

 

[Spursidol]

Ray Lo's report :​

http://www.spursodyssey.com/

Premier Academy League, Group 2​

Spurs Training Ground, Bulls Cross​

Saturday 25th August 2012, 11am​

​

SPURS v MANCHESTER UTD​

(All White) (Red/Black)​

4-3-3 4-4-1-1​

​

3(2) 4(2) ​

​

​

Luke McGee 1 Peirluigi Gollini​

Mason Bush 2 Donald Love​

Sam Smith 3 Louis Rowley​

Nabil Bentaleb 4 Patrick McNair​

Tom Gardiner 5 Liam Grimshaw​

Dominic Ball 6 Ben Pearson​

Darren McQueen 7 James Weir​

Joshua Onomah 8 Joe Rothwell(C)​

Shaquile Coulthirst(C) 9 Sam Byrne​

Ruben Lameiras 10 Mats Daehli​

Roman Michael-Percil 11 James Wilson​

​

Laste Dombaxe 12 Declan Dalley​

(10)53Mins. (9)61Mins.​

Harry Voss 13 Jonathon Sutherland​

Victor Zapata-Caicedo 14 Ryan McConnell​

(11)46Mins. (6)85Mins.​

Harry Winks 15​

Conor Ogilvie 16​

(7)74Mins.​

​

Scorers:-​

Coulthirst 24 Byrne 5​

McQueen 45 Daehli 33​

o.g. Rowley 74 McNair 51​

Pearson 85​

​

Booked:-​

Bentaleb 34(Late), 44(Late) – Red card​

Coulthirst 63(Late)​

​

Coach:-​

A. Inglethorpe P. McGuinness​

​

Referee:- J. Garwood

It was a bright sunny morning for my first visit to the new training ground at Bulls Cross.There is still work to be done but it looks good. Only Academy matches are being played here at the moment and today's was the first home match of the season.


Spurs lined up with Ball and Gardiner at the back with Bush at right back and Smith on the left.Bentaleb was in the centre of midfield with Lameiras on the right and Onomah on the left. Up front Coulthirst was central with McQueen on the right and Michael-Percil on the left.

Spurs kicked off attacking the west end but United made the early running. Wilson got down the left and crossed for Weir to see his effort turned wide. From the corner, the ball was headed on at the near post for Byrne to score at the far post. Weir drew a save from McGee having been put through by Daehli. Byrne saw an effort saved by McGee before seeing his shot fly wide following another good run by Wilson.

Love fired wide following the corner and McGee saved a effort from Pearson before Spurs equalised. Onomah's chipped pass saw Coulthirst get through on the right and his whipped ball in was deflected past the the keeper. Coulthirst drew a save from Gollini minutes later.

Pearson struck the bar from a free kick which was followed by a drive by Michael-Percil hitting a post. When Spurs failed to clear, Daehli fired in from the edge of the area to put the visitors back in front. Wilson seized on a weak pass and advanced to drive the ball against the post with Daehli blasting the rebound over the bar.

Lameiras drew a save from Gollini before Bentaleb caught Perason late and went into the ref's book. A good ball into the box saw McQueen denied by the keeper. Bentaleb was booked again for a late tackle on Pearson where the United player had jumped in front of him and the cry of “pain” helped the referee to his decision to give Bentaleb a second yellow, and therefore a red card.

Spurs struck back despite being a man down when Michael-Percil crossed for McQueen to score from six yards. Wilson saw his effort deflected over for a corner from which Rothwell fired wide.

Spurs re-organised for the start of the second half replacing Michael-Percil with Zapata-Caicedo. Coulthirst dropped deeper. Gollini saved from Onomah for a corner. Wilson won a corner before United went in front again. When the ball was not cleared Rothwell drove in from the edge of the area.

Dombaxe replaced Lameiras in midfield and after Rothwell drew a save he got forward and fired over. United brought on another defender to hold onto their lead. Coulthirst was booked after another challenge on Pearson who felt the need to emit a cry of pain. A mistake by Love saw Zapata-Caicedo get into the area and drive for goal which was blocked on the line. Coulthirst followed up but his effort was also blocked on the line only for the rebound to come off Rowley into the net for a third equaliser to Spurs.

This time it was Spurs who sought to hold out by replacing McQueen with Ogilvie. McGee saved from Wilson and Rothwell before Pearson drove in from the edge of the area. The visitors were so overjoyed that Pearson was injured in the goal celebrations and had to be replaced. With time running out Wilson drew a save from McGee, and in a last push by Spurs, Coulthirst had an effort saved. He also struck a post. United held on to register their first win and Spurs lost their first game at Bulls Cross.
Having lost our main driving force in midfield to two yellow cards in quick succession it was always going to be a tough ask but Spurs nearly made it. Spurs showed some good approach work. Bush, despite being given a hard time by Wilson, got down the right a number of times getting in crosses. Spurs had three midfield players in the back four, and this led to them wanting to play the ball out more often, thus giving the opposition a chance to get a foot in. With an aggressive midfielder like Pearson, who was not afraid to dive in, you are always going to lose the ball in dangerous situations. He is also good at winning free kicks. It was good to see Spurs not give up and to keep fighting until the end.

Spurs play United's U-21 side on Wednesday evening at Altrincham (Ray and your webmaster will be there!)and then Sunderland U-21 at Spurs Lodge on Saturday morning. The next Academy game is away to Stoke City on the 15th September which will be after the NextGen game against Barcelona at White Hart Lane. (September 13th).

 

[Spursidol]

OS
UNDER-21S RELISHING UNITED CLASH

Posted 29 August 2012 09:04am

Chris Ramsey insists our Under-21 squad will be determined to show what they can do against Manchester United tonight.
We meet the Reds at Altrincham’s Moss Rose stadium for a 7pm kick-off in the Barclays Under-21 Premier League.
The lads were rocked in their opening game at Newcastle on August 18. They were 2-0 down inside five minutes and 5-1 down at half-time before dominating the second half and eventually losing 6-4.

Assistant Technical Co-Ordinator Chris expects a reaction tonight.
“We’d expect them to be hurt by that result because whenever you go out to play a match, you want to win,” he said.
“If it’s a loss, or a win, players will react in one way or another. We certainly don’t want to find ourselves 5-1 down at half-time and having to climb that mountain again.”

Darren Fletcher played as United opened their campaign with a 1-0 win at Stoke in Group Two of the new league.
“They always do things right and we know they will have players who are hungry and want to do it the United way,” added Chris.
“We will go there and try our best to do it the Tottenham way. The players will give their all and will try to play in a fashion that suits the way we are trying to develop. It will be a big night for a lot of the players.”

COYYS

 

[Spursidol]

Jordan Archer ‏@Jordan_Archer
On the way up to Manchester for the game against ManUtd u21's tonight

Lawrence Vigouroux ‏@LawrenceV93
Off to Manchester, got Manchester United tonight

Vocal goalkeepers !

 

[ShelfSide18]

Cheers Spursidol, I'm going to be be going to the Spurs Barca game to check some of these lads out, that is if they get a touch of the ball!

 

[Spursidol]

Cheers Spursidol, I'm going to be be going to the Spurs Barca game to check some of these lads out, that is if they get a touch of the ball!

Think Spurs will do better than Liverpool did last year when bindippers replaced us in NextGen competition - Spurs technically better, but tough game.

Regrettably may not be in UK otherwise I would be joining you.

 

[ShelfSide18]

Think Spurs will do better than Liverpool did last year when bindippers replaced us in NextGen competition - Spurs technically better, but tough game.

Regrettably may not be in UK otherwise I would be joining you.

Whatever happens it will be a great experience for the kids, in the Liverpool game last year I went too Pool were stronger physically and pushed us around a bit, but as you say it was obvious (other than Raheem Sterling) that we were the better side technically. I like what we have going on in the youth system a lot - currently reading Graham Hunter's Barca book and it specifically mentions Spurs youth set-up and ethos is very much in line with Barca's, and has a good quote from Tim Sherwood too.

 

[Spursidol]

BTW tonight's game being shown live on MUTV, so many purveyors of riverlettes may have some offerings tonight !

 

[spudtrader]

Whatever happens it will be a great experience for the kids, in the Liverpool game last year I went too Pool were stronger physically and pushed us around a bit, but as you say it was obvious (other than Raheem Sterling) that we were the better side technically. I like what we have going on in the youth system a lot - currently reading Graham Hunter's Barca book and it specifically mentions Spurs youth set-up and ethos is very much in line with Barca's, and has a good quote from Tim Sherwood too.

Thats interesting regarding the book mentioning our youth set up?

Could you explain a little more about what it says about us? or is that it?

Cheers

 

[ShelfSide18]

Thats interesting regarding the book mentioning our youth set up?

Could you explain a little more about what it says about us? or is that it?

Cheers

I will when I get the chance.

 

[beats1]

Team today

Archer​

Smith Hall Caulker Byrne​

Carroll Mason​

Falque Obika Townsend​

Kane​

 

[leffe186]

Team today

Archer​

Smith Hall Caulker Byrne​

Carroll Mason​

Falque Obika Townsend​

Kane​

Obika and Kane the other way around, no?

 

[beats1]

Obika and Kane the other way around, no?

Thats what I would think but that was how it was given out

 

[leffe186]

Thats what I would think but that was how it was given out

Weird.

I like that we're treating it like a proper young 'uns league. Do you think we'll use it for those recovering from injury a la Fletcher?

 

[beats1]

Weird.

I like that we're treating it like a proper young 'uns league. Do you think we'll use it for those recovering from injury a la Fletcher?

Doubt it since we sending Hudd on loan and gio isnt playing but United have Lindegaard, evans, Fletcher, Machede playing today

 

[yanno]

Team today

Archer​

Smith Hall Caulker Byrne​

Carroll Mason​

Falque Obika Townsend​

Kane​

beats1 - thanks.

Strong team. It will be interesting to see how Carroll and Mason, both silky passers of the ball, manage defensively.

Where are Parrett and Bostock?

 

[beats1]

beats1 - thanks.

Strong team. It will be interesting to see how Carroll and Mason, both silky passers of the ball, manage defensively.

Where are Parrett and Bostock?

Not too sure but United have a strong team they have

Lindegaard
Wooten who was on the bench the other day for them
Evans
Keane - not as highly rated as his brother and not heard much about
Buttner - their new lb signing from Holland
Fletcher
Tunnicliffe - not heard anything about him
King - seems to be highly rated
Powell - thier new signing
Brady - did very well for Hull from what I saw
Macheda - not done much since his breakthrough season tbh

 

[Spursidol]

Our subs at MU - Ceballos, Vigouroux, Stewart, Veljkovic.

Only 4 subs - plenty of ithers such as Parrett, Gallifucco etc

MU include summer signings Buttner and Powell, plus Fletcher, Evans, Lindegaard.

 

[leffe186]

Doubt it since we sending Fletcher on loan and gio isnt playing but United have Lindegaard, evans, Fletcher, Machede playing today

I meant Darren Fletcher. I wouldn't expect to see Gio feature until the transfer window ends, if at all. I just think it's interesting that we have kept the focus on the kids, whereas Man U (and to a lesser extent, Newcastle) have fielded some fringe squad players. Maybe I'm not right, or maybe it's simply a fluke (Man U need to give Evans, Lindegaard, Fletcher and Macheda games.