the last youngster you thought would make it

[scat1620]

The one I got disastrously wrong was Ledley King. Really didn't think he'd make it with us after seeing Kanu make a complete mug out of him during a 0-3 home defeat against the Scum. Didn't really make any allowance for his age nor the fact that Arsenal were several classes above us all over the pitch that day. Happy to have been so very wrong.

The most recent yoof player that I thought would break into the team and stay in the team was Caulker, partly because he looked like the only man in a team of boys when we lost to the Scum in the FA Youth Cup a few seasons back, and partly because he'd really stood out during his loan spells at Yeovil and Bristol City. Not quite sure he'll end up being the very top bracket player that I used to think he was certain to become, but I'm sure he will have a very respectable career nonetheless.

The moral of the story is that I need to stop judging our youngsters on the basis of their exploits against Arsenal...

 

[spursboy2008]

Andy Turner

 

[teok]

Rohan Ricketts for england!

 

[Time for Heroes]

How has nobody mentioned the legendary Jonathan Blondel!

 

[Time for Heroes]

Johnnie Jackson and that sweet left foot!

 

[Time for Heroes]

'I know Teddy is getting on a bit but we have Jamie Slabber knocking on the door for a start'

 

[Shadydan]

Daniel Slade is another one, played upfront with Teddy in a cup match against Foreat in which we lost on pens if I recall. Played really well to, looked the real deal to, ended up at QPR and then went downhill from there.

 

[theShiznit]

Gerard McMahon.
Peter Gain... Saw him in a few ressie games at Leyton orient and thought he looked good.
Ryan Mason always liked silky and has a great knack of scoring. Not sure if his injury problems will ever leave him though.

 

[VanZan]

I know people will laugh but I was most impressed with Gary Doherty when he first broke into the team. Suffered a broken leg from a reckless challenge and was just never the same. Sad.

 

[dude573]

He wasn't a complete youth player but I though Giovani Dos Santos would be massive for us. I was so excited when we got him from Barca.

 

[RJ1882]

Darren Caskey. Captained England U21's to a European Championship I think. Looked like he was really going to be a player

Took the wrong path and ended up on the piss with Gazza every week!!! What a waste

Now Assistant Club Manager at Gateshead. His son looks a decent prospect at Brighton

Remember lsitening to a game on the radio when he scored a hat-trick against Everton i think. He soon joined the famous 5 on my bedroom. Was Covered in posters. Barmby, Anderton, Klinsmann, Sherringham, Dumitrescu..... and Caskey

 

[ilya]

Coulibaly

 

[RJ1882]

Remember lsitening to a game on the radio when he scored a hat-trick against Everton i think. He soon joined the famous 5 on my bedroom. Was Covered in posters. Barmby, Anderton, Klinsmann, Sherringham, Dumitrescu..... and Caskey

My memory might be jaded and this may be the game I remember. Though i was sure he had a hat-trick somewhere.

http://www.statbunker.com/competitions/MatchDetails?comp_id=12&match_id=3058

 

[RickyVilla]

Daniel Slade is another one, played upfront with Teddy in a cup match against Foreat in which we lost on pens if I recall. Played really well to, looked the real deal to, ended up at QPR and then went downhill from there.

Steve Slade wasn't it?

 

[jimmy-jojo]

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

Isn't this a bit of a myth, though? Apart from the Class of '92 how many other youth teamers have they brought through?

 

[spurs9]

Isn't this a bit of a myth, though? Apart from the Class of '92 how many other youth teamers have they brought through?

Evans, Brown, O'Shea, Fletcher, Cleverley, Gibson, Richardson & Welbeck.

 

[Jimmypearce7]

Tommy Harmer

 

[hellava_tough]

Isn't this a bit of a myth, though? Apart from the Class of '92 how many other youth teamers have they brought through?

See Spurs9's post

I heard on 5live the other day that Man Utd have gone 70+ years and 6000-odd games with always having at least one player brought through the youth ranks in their match-day squad (either playing or on the bench)

Not necessarily all that impressive pre-Premier League, but for this to happen over the last 20 years is pretty incredible

 

[Lenny Leonard]

See Spurs9's post

I heard on 5live the other day that Man Utd have gone 70+ years and 6000-odd games with always having at least one player brought through the youth ranks in their match-day squad (either playing or on the bench)

Not necessarily all that impressive pre-Premier League, but for this to happen over the last 20 years is pretty incredible

Ryan Giggs probably, it seems that's how long he's been around