Spurs under 21, under 18 Leagues and other youth news

[Marcus_spur]

Really should have scored, though. Other than that he´s been Englands best together with Stones.

 

[annekcm]

Carrol seems central to every move that England make. Constantly looking for space and seems so comfortable on the ball. Nice pace through their defense to set up the first goal and should have got himself one too when he was played through. Carrol and Redmond are the shining players for me,combining really well, both look like top players. They have that touch of class calmness on the ball.

First time I've seen Shaw play and I've been impressed with him too, great wing back. Southampton have a real prospect on their hands there in my eyes. Mind you, for somebody who is playing regular Premier League football Moldovas under 21s is below him it has to be said.

 

[StartingPrice]

I toddled off to this game last night, anything to escape Jim White and his iPad on SSN, and a string of reporters who must have been back of the queue when charisma was handed out, surrounded by pubescent teens outside a club training ground.

First thing first, we were missing quite a lot of our regulars, but forgetting the result it was another positive example of what we're trying to grow at Spurs. Basically Norwich had 2 counter attacks and scored, they were lovely precise goals - but I'd be pissed if my U21 youth side rocked up playing a very negative 4-4-2, sit deep and look to grab something on the break.

As usual we dominated the ball, not that Norwich had any pretence of battling us for possession anyway, and whilst the unfamiliar make up of the side (inc the curious case of 25yo Simon Dawkins?!?) meant at times it was a little disjointed with some sloppy passes going astray, we moved the ball quickly, combined nicely and a tried to play through them, with a little more luck and precision it would have seen our often excellent approach play reap some rewards. Often our first team don't see that final pass, our kids do seem to see the passes, last night we just didn't quite find them correctly.

Really like the look of Veljkovic, played at the base of the 4-3-3 (later moving to CB) and he set the tempo excellently. Always available, plays on the half turn, the Busquets type 'half touch' type player. I know he's very highly rated and I can see why, slight concern about a lack of pace, but the boy has talent. Bentaleb looks a good prospect too, lovely first touch - reminds me of the players Arsenal had a habit of finding - good technique, dynamic and powerful and can spot a pass too.

We are a very well coached side, not many of our players really stood out last night but again it is clear they are being coached into a collective group philosophy. Pass, move, combine... then press like fuckers high up the pitch. I've said this a lot, but good times ahead for us - in many ways seeing your youth sides play the kind of football we do gives me more satisfaction than Levy and Baldini's shopping trip this summer.

I always thought Luongo looked really good. Now we've sold him to Swindon (though rumours suggest we may have a buy-back). It links to a point I was making the other day. Someone wasn't happy about the Luongo sale (the usual what is the point of having a youth system iirc). I was making the point, only with reference to Luongo, that we can't keep young players just because we think they are quite good. The development staff are constantly assessing the players in their charge, and if they feel that one is more likely to make it for his age than another, or has more potential, or is just plain better, we can't keep the other one just for the sake of it. And this is a good case-in-point - both Velkovij and Bentaleb are very promising . We can't just keep Luongo kicking around for the sake of it, if we rate them as better prospects, and especially with that position being choc full of talent in the 1st team squad anyway.
Folk tend to forget that the youth set-up isn't just there to provide amazing first team players. It also exists to produce squad players and, more importantly, generate funds through sales. Good luck to Luongo, and I hope we have a buy-back and sell-on clause in his sale.

p.s. Did Norwich have a couple of brothers involved, and where they involved in their goals? Seen them before, and they looked prospects.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Where (TV) was the England U21 game on ? I couldn't find it ?

 

[Spurrific]

Really should have scored, though. Other than that he´s been Englands best together with Stones.

I was impressed with Ward-Prowse, Redmond and Shaw as well. Was nice to see Southgate wants to put more of an onus on keeping the ball and promoting technicality in players.

 

[SlickMongoose]

Where (TV) was the England U21 game on ? I couldn't find it ?

BT sport.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

BT sport.

Shit. cheers.

 

[RButch]

Sky Sports 1 now, MK Dons v Swindon if any of you want to watch some of our youngsters

 

[easley91]

Pritchard scored a beauty of a free-kick. If you can find it, watch it!

 

[sloth]

Pritchard scored a beauty of a free-kick. If you can find it, watch it!

Sky Sports!

 

[muppetman]

Pritchard's free kick today against MK Dons

 

[RichieS]

Is Pritch a right footed left winger/forward?

 

[newbie]

I really like Pritchard fingers crossed

 

[beats1]

Doesnt matter what league or level you are in, no keeper was going to save that

 

[elDiablo]

Is Pritch a right footed left winger/forward?

ive only seen him player on the left and he can probably operate in the centre, so I think you are right.

 

[StartingPrice]

Pritchard usually plays on the left. The youth are being schooled in 4-3-3, and everything I have seen of him suggests he will be perfect for that formation. I have never seen anything that would suggest he would be a conventional winger.

 

[Flashspur]

Alex is a standout at youth level but it remains to be seen if he kicks on.....i hope he does and Swindon is giving him decent game time

 

[BringBack_leGin]

I watched the first half v MK Dons. He played on the right of the there behind Ranger (it was 4231, a central pairing of Yaser Kaskim and a very impressive Ryan Mason, Nathan Byrne on the left wing, Pritchard on the right and Massimo Luongo in the middle) and he was the best player on the pitch. Great first touch, love dribble on him on a couple of occasions, never wastes a pass and well capable of a through ball and obviously hit a beautiful free kick. First time I've really seen him and if this is what he's like, he's going to be a star for us next season. Hard worker too, tracked back and fought for his team constantly.

 

[Higginz]

Mason played the number 10 role off the striker and played well.

Luongo played alongside Kasim but with more licence to get forward. Pritchard started on the left but swapped to the right after 20/25 mins and looked impressive with a nice free-kick added in.

Hall had a good game but was jointly at fault for the MK goal as both centre-backs lost the striker.

Byrne was having a steady game before being harshly, in my opinion, sent off.

All in all it was a good advert of our youth setup with some promising performances from our current and former youth. It showed that even if they don't make it with us they'll have long football league careers ahead - mainly looking at Byrne and Hall right now, the others could still make the PL with luck and hard work.

 

[beats1]

I watched the first half v MK Dons. He played on the right of the there behind Ranger (it was 4231, a central pairing of Yaser Kaskim and a very impressive Ryan Mason, Nathan Byrne on the left wing, Pritchard on the right and Massimo Luongo in the middle) and he was the best player on the pitch. Great first touch, love dribble on him on a couple of occasions, never wastes a pass and well capable of a through ball and obviously hit a beautiful free kick. First time I've really seen him and if this is what he's like, he's going to be a star for us next season. Hard worker too, tracked back and fought for his team constantly.

Mason played the number 10 role off the striker and played well.

Luongo played alongside Kasim but with more licence to get forward. Pritchard started on the left but swapped to the right after 20/25 mins and looked impressive with a nice free-kick added in.

Hall had a good game but was jointly at fault for the MK goal as both centre-backs lost the striker.

Byrne was having a steady game before being harshly, in my opinion, sent off.

All in all it was a good advert of our youth setup with some promising performances from our current and former youth. It showed that even if they don't make it with us they'll have long football league careers ahead - mainly looking at Byrne and Hall right now, the others could still make the PL with luck and hard work.

I wonder what you guys thought of Yaser Kasim? As he is a interesting case as he wanted to leave us to go to Brighton under Poyet for more first team opportunities and interestingly iirc he started to play very well then and was a good performer and I remember a couple of us were shocked he left!