the last youngster you thought would make it

[hellava_tough]

Caulker's a good shout

I'm never all that optimistic about youth players. It's so, so difficult to break into the first team of a top 6 side the odds are stacked against the young'uns

Saying that, perhaps we should bite the bullet and take the approach of Man Utd under Fergie. He always had 6 or 7 home grown players in the squad. Helped with continuity/stability

 

[Spurger King]

Andy Turner was another who arrived with a bang and left with a whimper about 2 months later. Scored a belter on debut then disappeared.

Andy bloody Turner. I remember him scoring in an FA cup game. I was only about 13 or 14, and ran down the stairs cheering like a loon, semi-naked as I waved my Spurs shirt over my head, straight into a living room full of my sister and all her mates. Of course they all immediately started taking the piss.

Crawled back upstairs in embarrassment, only to discover that his goal had been ruled offside

 

[beats1]

Troy Archibald-Henville, because i hoped and prayed he would become captain, as no name has ever been crying out to be preceded by Captain as his.

El Hamdaoui was one i thought would be a superstar, Pekhart, and there was a young Irish lad we had who was supposed to be absolute mustard, next up he was crocked and i think he plays for a non league side now. Anyone remember who i'm talking about?

He looked good until he was played in a formation with 3 at the back and essentially started to emulate the current Man Utd defence

El Hamdaoui has done well, just not with us but did well for AZ, winning the league with Van Gaal. Did well at ajax considering he fell out with De Boer. Also back in the Fiorentina team with Rossi injuring his ligaments for the fourth time.

 

[TheChosenOne]

Troy Archibald-Henville, because i hoped and prayed he would become captain, as no name has ever been crying out to be preceded by Captain as his.

El Hamdaoui was one i thought would be a superstar, Pekhart, and there was a young Irish lad we had who was supposed to be absolute mustard, next up he was crocked and i think he plays for a non league side now. Anyone remember who i'm talking about?

They couldn't fit all those letters on Troy's shirt. As for Terry Dixon he was supposed to be the bee's ....


I'm outta here.

 

[ilikeost]

Caulker.

 

[dagraham]

Never really followed the youth team, so I can only go on players that I've seen live.

The last one was probably Dean Marney. Played an absolute blinder in a 5-2 win against Everton, then disappeared. Which just goes to show, anyone can look great for one game.

The one I remember the most though is Andy Turner. Really thought this kid had a future, both with Spurs and England.

 

[Gassin's finest]

Will agree with Bostock.

 

[danielneeds]

Mark "Champagne Kid" Gower. Teddy picked him out as one to watch in an interview, but never got his chances here.

 

[al_pacino]

Never really followed the youth team, so I can only go on players that I've seen live.

The last one was probably Dean Marney. Played an absolute blinder in a 5-2 win against Everton, then disappeared. Which just goes to show, anyone can look great for one game.

Currently a Premier League player with Burnley having played over 200 games in the top2 divisions in England is only a relative disappearance.

 

[dagraham]

Currently a Premier League player with Burnley having played over 200 games in the top2 divisions in England is only a relative disappearance.

Yeah, fair enough and compared with some who are now probably playing non league football it is still a good career. I meant disappeared in terms of us and the PL.

EDIT : actually didn't realise he was still playing for Burnley. Now I've slated him he's going to score the winner against us, isn't he? What have I done?

 

[lenny7]

Townsend, Caulker, Mason & Parrett were notable standouts of their youth generation, probably the last time I really followed the Youth team, two have arguably made it, Mason has yet to make an impact but is still at least on the books and what happened to Parrett I don't know, but he went from promising starlet to plying his trade in League 2 for Stevenage.

 

[Blockbuster]

Phil Ifil; I have never been so sure about a young player. I thought he was nailed on as a future England regular. Can't get a game in the Conference now.

what on earth happened to him?

He was quite small, then one summer he tanked up and looked great...then he vanished?

 

[bceej]

I've got to the point where I no longer take it for granted that any kid will make it no matter how bright they shine as youngsters. It's about so much more than pure football ability. Mentality, character, attitude and plain old luck can play huge parts too.

We've produced a bunch of well schooled kids lately with varying degrees of talent and all I've wanted is to see them tested properly, with us, not thrown to the wolves in hotch potch teams away in the Ukraine before they are written off.

I think Pritchard should be here this season, especially as we are so short on creative attacking options from the bench. Very disappointing.

I am baffled by the decision to sell Adam Smith rather than promote him to back up RB. Yes, he had some defensive learning to do, but the boy had ability and full backs are so fucking rare, and we certainly aren't blessed with geniuses in that dept.

But it's really pleasing to see Bentaleb out there regularly.

I am too but think he can do well under Eddie Howe. Bournemouth play nice football. Would hope the club keeps an eye on our old academy products as I'd love to see some return from the wilderness.

 

[jezz]

What happened to Retro ziegler?

 

[jezz]

Andy bloody Turner. I remember him scoring in an FA cup game. I was only about 13 or 14, and ran down the stairs cheering like a loon, semi-naked as I waved my Spurs shirt over my head, straight into a living room full of my sister and all her mates. Of course they all immediately started taking the piss.

Crawled back upstairs in embarrassment, only to discover that his goal had been ruled offside

Not a lots changed for you then

 

[SlickMongoose]

What happened to Retro ziegler?

Had a decent career in Serie A. Then he signed for Juventus and has been loaned out all over the place.

 

[Kendall]

Have to agree with Pekhart, he was genuinely raved about. I thought O'Hara would become a solid Premier league player, not at us, but maybe at a Fulham (pre fall from grace). But maybe that was more a question of his aptitude rather than ability.

 

[Kendall]

Thought Baardsen would have a good career for us.

Now a hedge fund manager in the City after doing an OU degree in economics whilst with us.

Big time charlie.

 

[kungfugrip]

Yeah, fair enough and compared with some who are now probably playing non league football it is still a good career. I meant disappeared in terms of us and the PL.

EDIT : actually didn't realise he was still playing for Burnley. Now I've slated him he's going to score the winner against us, isn't he? What have I done?

Marney did well for Hull as well when they were first promoted to the Premier League ..... and returned to the Lane to beat us with them in the Premier League. So, unfortunately, he didn't disappear quite well enough.

 

[Time for Heroes]

Alton Thelwell.

Looked better than Ledley did when they first came through but suffered some horrendous injuries.