Spurs under 21, under 18 Leagues and other youth news

[kr1978]

Sherwood's original role as 'Technical Co-ordinator' was to ensure that Spurs wre using the same system throughout the club from first team doiwn to u 18's and younger.

That slightly eases the transition of players through to the first team as they know how they should be playing - but does not address the way in which they get the experience to move from development squad tio first team.

Thanks for that as well! Answers my earlier post about a system too

 

[Spursidol]

I think that in the PL and CL you should only be playing the team you think is good enough to win, and the players in that team should be good enough to play in that team. If we have Academy players at that level then they should get the opportunities you suggest, and I believe that has happened several times this season. If you look at our current first team, Walker, Caulker, Dawson, Naughton, BAE, Bale, Huddlestone, Livermore, and Lennon all came in as young prospects (some with big reps), and found a way to the first team, some of course have since fallen out of favour, but even so, that's nine first teamers out of squad of regular(ish) first teamers of 20 or so. Not bad, and evidence that we've been doing quite well at this for years now. Add into that mix the current Academy players finding places on the bench and a bit of first team game time, and also all the other players in other PL squads who came through our academy, and I'd say we've done well. Of course we can always improve, and I think the club has shown it realises that with the kinds of actions it's taken in the last few years.

I object to the inference (not by you, but elsewhere in this thread) that the academy players have been left out when they could have played more due to the fact the club is short-sighted, and, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, and with plenty of evidence which supports it, take the view that the reason they haven't had more opportunities in the PL is because they aren't ready yet.

Point of clarification, I'm usually talking about the Professionals rather than the Academy when I'm talkinmg about players moving into the first team - difference being that most of the players I'm suggesting to be integrated into the first team are 20/21 rather than u 18's.

We have no disagreement that the team put out should be capable of getting a good result. Sometimes that does not mean just involving first team players - one surprising example was the team played against PAOK last year away. Full of youngsters with more youngsters on the bench, imo actually too many youngsters to be comfortable. But they got a very hard fought draw in a cauldron of fireworks and noise. In the home leg the team was very strong (none or almost no development squad involved) , but lost.

This year against a Greek side which was a place or two away from PAOK in the Greek league, Spurs drew way with no youngsters really involved. All the evidence is that against 'poor' opposition, a few youngsters who really want to be in the team and care try a lot harder than some of the first team.

That's why I believe you sare wrong in saying not to involve development squad players in more first team games.

Again the facts regrettably make a mockery of your outright opposition.

 

[Spursidol]

Glad to see Harry winks playing again (came on for a bit last night) . The admittedly few games I've seen with him he has always looked impressive and one of the ones to keep an eye on

Yes he looks a good prospect for the future - first came majorly to my attention when he was named 'Best Midfielder' last year in the u 16 Riga Cup.

 

[Spursidol]

Ray Lo's usual excellent detailed report on today's u 18's 4-0 win over WBA - his 3rd report in the last 24 hours, a very commendable achievement.
http://www.spursodyssey.com/1213/u18wb160213.html

This result looks better and better the more you look at it - WBA were at the top of the table before the match yet our scratch side (most of the regulars played last night) made up of several from last nights bench, a few unused u 18's and a few u 16's thrown together beat table topipng WBA 4-0.

After this match and toniights matches Spurs now top their Group table on goal difference from Sunderland
http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/...mier-league-tables.html?paramYouthStage=ELITE

OS report will follow when its ready !

 

[Danny1]

Spursidol, do you know much about this Lesniak fella, I see that he captained the side earlier that beat West Brom!

Thanks in advance mate!

 

[Spursidol]

Spursidol, do you know much about this Lesniak fella, I see that he captained the side earlier that beat West Brom!

Thanks in advance mate!

Filip Lesniak is a Slovak u 17 international player who used to play for MFK Košice (a city of that name in Slovakia which is 50 miles from the Ukraine border) who aigned for Spurs about a year ago after being spotted in a Nike tournament and started in the Academy last Summer - played in the Milk Cup 2012 for Spurs.

A central midfield player (more of a DM than a creative player I think), seems to be highly rated but not a regular starter - maybe still finding his feet in UK (but that's a guess) and also Spurs have a lot of CM players.. Still only 16 so will probably play more next season. No idea on what basis they select the captaincy - of that line up probably Lawrence Vigoroux the goalkeeper is the most senior player, the most experienced outfield player is probably Dominic Ball for example - unless its an award for the best trainer in the precediong week

 

[ogsvaldo]

Thanks spursidol for all your updates, is a great thread and really appreciated.

Wondered what your opinion on Cabellos is? Seems to be doing well in the u21s and have only seen him a couple of times, but was impressed and seems to be a good technical player and is excellent in tight spaces. Any idea how rated he is and of he has chance at making the breakthrough to the first team in the next couple of years or so. Thought he might have been loaned out in jan - or a case of thinking championship to physical for him at moment.

 

[Spursidol]

Thanks spursidol for all your updates, is a great thread and really appreciated.

Wondered what your opinion on Cabellos is? Seems to be doing well in the u21s and have only seen him a couple of times, but was impressed and seems to be a good technical player and is excellent in tight spaces. Any idea how rated he is and of he has chance at making the breakthrough to the first team in the next couple of years or so. Thought he might have been loaned out in jan - or a case of thinking championship to physical for him at moment.

I saw Ceballos a couple of times last season and thought he was a good technical player but never got the game by the scruff of the neck to dictate the pace of the game, seemed too easily knocked off the ball, and his shirt was always worryingly clean even when this around him were not ! In other words too much of a lightweight (the rumoured reason he was released by Barca) for the English game - I had similar views expressed to me by Chris Miller (Windy), a good youth pundit.

However towards the end of last season he seemed to get more control of the game, and I think everyone agrees that this season he seems to have taken a step up as an AM and is also contributing goals on a regular basis - he's scored 9 for u 21's this season, and another 2 in Spurs X1 games.

He's now 20 (similar age to Tom Carroll, and a year older than Harry Kane to put things into perpective), so needs to move up from the u 21 squad and he's one that I wondered whether he would get a loan somewhere in January because of that, but that has not happened.

I still wonder whether he would fare better in a more technical, less physical league like Spain or France rather than PL, soi my prognosis is that he may move on rather than stay at Spurs in the next couple of years.

But my track record on guessing players is not perfect - I like most Spurs fan pndits thought that Livermore and Obika would have ben released 2 years ago - Livermore is now of course an England international whilst Obika is top scorer for Spurs this season - so I could still be wrong !

 

[Spursidol]

Harry Voss ‏@Harry_Voss
Trained with Lloris and Friedel today, #buzzing

Good to see the youngsters training from time to time with the more experienced pros - in this case Spurs u 16 goalkeeper (Freidel could almost be his gandfather let alond father !)

 

[spursyido1]

For those that didn't go to the game (or did, and want a different viewpoint), here is 10 minutes ish highlights of the U18 game on Friday night.

For me, it reaffirms my view on the night, that our goals were generally well put together and considered, with patient build up play and possession. However, our defence was woeful in dealing with the direct strength/power/pace of Bolton's attack whenever they decided to go for a dribble or shot.

Personally, I think they were just having a bit of an off day and maybe just general lack of organisation at the back.

(Also, shame there's no volume as the 1882 crowd were awesome).

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Looked like some really, really sloppy defending at times, but with a slightly makeshift side and chasing the game from the moment we were 1-3 down I guess it can happen, particularly at that level.

 

[SlickMongoose]

How come Bolton can produce highlights of a youth game at WHL but we can't?

 

[kazzah9]

How come Bolton can produce highlights of a youth game at WHL but we can't?

Yea we should at least show the goals. Maybe its so other clubs can't see how awesome our players are

 

[yojambo]

So the next gen are playing PSG on wednesday.

Im gonna be in Paris this week, would love to go watch.

Anyone know if the game is open to the public?

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Im gonna be in Paris this week, would love to go watch.

Anyone know if the game is open to the public?

What game ?

 

[RickyVilla]

So the next gen are playing PSG on wednesday.

Im gonna be in Paris this week, would love to go watch.

Anyone know if the game is open to the public?

I think it's royalty only.

 

[yojambo]

What game ?

Haha, Whoops, that would help.

The Next Gen game against PSG.

I knew what game i was talking about.

 

[Spursidol]

So the next gen are playing PSG on wednesday.

Im gonna be in Paris this week, would love to go watch.

Anyone know if the game is open to the public?

Open to the public for sure. I think this is the address and directions, but you should double check.

PSG Training Ground address - Camp des Lodges, 7 Ave. du President Fitzgerald Kennedy, St Germain (in the Western suburbs of Pairs)

Nearest station. St. Germain-en-Laye.

Nextgen site say 17.00 local time (ie 4 pm UK time) http://www.nextgenseries.com/FixturesResultsTables

Biut Spurs say 7pm local time (6pm local time) http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/spurs/Academy/next-gen-2012-2013.page?

I think I would trust the NextGen site if I were you ! If I get any update on time I will post on here.

Any chance you can send updates - either post on this thread or twitter is fine , I'm Spursidol on there too

Enjoy the match !

 

[Spursidol]

So the next gen are playing PSG on wednesday.

Im gonna be in Paris this week, would love to go watch.

Anyone know if the game is open to the public?

Yojambo - Spurs are now agreeing the same match time as the NextGen site.

OS ;

The Europa League in Lyon isn’t the sole Spurs focus in France this week - our Academy team travel to Paris to face PSG in the last 16 of the NextGen Series tomorrow night.

The Under-19 tournament has reached the knockout stage and last 16 ties will be decided on the night.

We take on PSG at their Camp des Loges training ground kicking-off at 5pm local time, 4pm UK.

“The NextGen Series has been responsible for some of the most difficult and high-profile games we’ve had, so we’re delighted to have qualified for the knockout stages,” said Academy Manager, John McDermott.

“We’ve had great challenges against Wolfsburg, Anderlecht and Barcelona this season, experienced highs and lows in those matches and to now play Paris St Germain in Paris is a real test, and one I’m sure we’ll respond to.”

John is well aware of the need to bounce back after the Academy’s 8-4 loss at home to Bolton in the FA Youth Cup on Friday. The team took the first steps 12 hours later with a fine 4-0 win against West Brom in the Barclays U18 Premier League, now it’s back to cup action.

“We’re hoping for those who performed poorly against Bolton that it shocks them back into the form that we all know they are capable of,” he added.

“Also, some of the players who did so well on Saturday will be included. Last week, we picked a team for Friday and a team to go to Paris, both A-class matches.

“We shared the selection out and it’s now up to the likes of Lawrence Vigouroux, Kevin Stewart, Jack Barthram and Harry Winks, who will get the starts, to show what they can do.

“As painful as it was to play again on Saturday, it was the ideal way to get back on the bike within 12 hours. These things happen. Thankfully, they are few and far between here. It’s an opportunity to now vent some of that anger and move on from here.”

Other players on their way to France for this match are Shaq Coulthirst and Kenneth McEvoy (who I expect may get the chance to play in Pritchard's place) and Roman Michael-Percil

 

[Spursidol]

http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/foo...rs-youngster-to-top-of-the-class-8500997.html

Decent interview with Ryan Mason on his loan move to Lorient (I've also put it on Mason's loan move page)