The Spurs Youth Thread – 2016/2017

[Bus-Conductor]

Mixed feelings on the Harrison loan, from the first time I saw him (away at Liverpool u18 game) I've liked the kid, I really think he has something and his skill set is different to any other of our current forwards, albeit at a much more embryonic stage, to that ends I'd love to have seen him stay with the first team, get some bench and cup time but with Kane, Janssen and Son also needing to be kept busy that is pretty unlikely. Poch's stance on loans means this could be a worrying move, especially as he's been sent somewhere like Yeovil. Can just hope it's because they want to see him exposed to the harsh realities of real football to get him some experience.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

On a lighter note, just watching Jacques Maghoma play for DR Congo against CDI, blast from the academy past!

 

[Hercules]

Mixed feelings on the Harrison loan, from the first time I saw him (away at Liverpool u18 game) I've liked the kid, I really think he has something and his skill set is different to any other of our current forwards, albeit at a much more embryonic stage, to that ends I'd love to have seen him stay with the first team, get some bench and cup time but with Kane, Janssen and Son also needing to be kept busy that is pretty unlikely. Poch's stance on loans means this could be a worrying move, especially as he's been sent somewhere like Yeovil with Johnson. Can just hope it's because they want to see him exposed to the harsh realities of real football to get him some experience.

Sorry, he isn't good enough. That has come after a good 3 years watching him.

 

[spursfan77]

Interesting move for a couple of reasons, first Poch's well known distrust of loaning young players and secondly Yeovil are a Gary Johnson team, i.e - not very silky. He might bang in a few goals and I have no doubt he will improve them but I find it hard to believe a dinosaur like Johnson will do much to prepare Harrison for our first team.

Maybe it's just our history of sending them to Yeovil. We trust the club to make sure they're properly looked after perhaps?

 

[allpaths]

Sorry, he isn't good enough. That has come after a good 3 years watching him.

U maybe right he might never be good enough but, there's a player in their I just think he needs time to develop and mature.

 

[Nine while nine]

Interesting move for a couple of reasons, first Poch's well known distrust of loaning young players and secondly Yeovil are a Gary Johnson team, i.e - not very silky. He might bang in a few goals and I have no doubt he will improve them but I find it hard to believe a dinosaur like Johnson will do much to prepare Harrison for our first team.

I too find it hard to believe a dinosaur like Johnson will do much to prepare Harrison for our first team, not least because Johnson isn't actually at Yeovil and hasn't been for a couple of years.

Darren Way is the manager now, although, seeing as he both played and coached for Johnson, chances are your fears are still likely to be realised.

FYI, Johnson is currently at Cheltenham where he's presiding over the careers of a couple of players called Jack Munns and Jack Barthram, with Munns playing his first ever season in the Football League (having previously only played for them in the Conference, notably in the legendary 'El Glosico' against the mighty Forest Green Rovers).

 

[GetSpurredOn]

Sure I read somewhere about when Caulker went to Yeovil, how he felt it was the making of him, exposing him to the reality of life at that level, how win bonuses affect mortgage payments etc, so far removed from the bubble of PL life. Could be that's the reason, and to toughen him up, so he comes back mentally and physically stronger.

 

[Hercules]

U maybe right he might never be good enough but, there's a player in their I just think he needs time to develop and mature.

Wish I could agree with you, as he is a great kid. Unfortunately I cannot.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Sorry, he isn't good enough. That has come after a good 3 years watching him.

Not good enough for what ? To play for us now ? To ever play for us ? To play PL footballing ? He's 19 ffs, Ive seen (and am seeing) players with less talent than him play for us and many other PL teams.

He's consistently played pretty well and banged goals in the last 2/3 years at the relevant levels he's played. If he can transfer that knack to senior football he'll do ok.

If Defoe can touch the ball 8 times a game and score 14 goals a season and have the career he's had, then I don't see why Harrison can't have a career.

What did you think of Kane at 19?

 

[Hercules]

Not good enough for what ? To play for us now ? To ever play for us ? To play PL footballing ? He's 19 ffs, Ive seen (and am seeing) players with less talent than him play for us and many other PL teams.

He's consistently played pretty well and banged goals in the last 2/3 years at the relevant levels he's played. If he can transfer that knack to senior football he'll do ok.

If Defoe can touch the ball 8 times a game and score 14 goals a season and have the career he's had, then I don't see why Harrison can't have a career.

What did you think of Kane at 19?

Not good enough for us, or top prem team. I always rated Kane, and always said he would come good once developed etc. Sorry I cannot agree with your argument. Kazim Sterling is a much better prospect. He has to opportunity to bang in goals, and cause the management to take notice. We will see how he does. Remarkable also there were no takers at championship level at least.

 

[Spurzinho]

I too find it hard to believe a dinosaur like Johnson will do much to prepare Harrison for our first team, not least because Johnson isn't actually at Yeovil and hasn't been for a couple of years.

Darren Way is the manager now, although, seeing as he both played and coached for Johnson, chances are your fears are still likely to be realised.

FYI, Johnson is currently at Cheltenham where he's presiding over the careers of a couple of players called Jack Munns and Jack Barthram, with Munns playing his first ever season in the Football League (having previously only played for them in the Conference, notably in the legendary 'El Glosico' against the mighty Forest Green Rovers).

lol. You're quite right. Brain fart.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Not good enough for us, or top prem team. I always rated Kane, and always said he would come good once developed etc. Sorry I cannot agree with your argument. Kazim Sterling is a much better prospect. He has to opportunity to bang in goals, and cause the management to take notice. We will see how he does. Remarkable also there were no takers at championship level at least.

Really? The championship is an incredibly competitive league, not too many teams can afford to gamble on a 19yo rookie striker, just so we can develop him, especially when a lot of them only play 1 up top.

What part of Harrison's game "isn't good enough"?

I don't think I've seen anyone state that Harrison is certain to play for a top club, but in a world where players like Defoe, Bent, Andre Grey, Berahino,Diouf, Walters, Wilson, Afobe, Long, Vardy, Mbokani etc can play PL football, I don't see why Harrison shouldn't.

 

[Hercules]

Really? The championship is an incredibly competitive league, not too many teams can afford to gamble on a 19yo rookie striker, just so we can develop him, especially when a lot of them only play 1 up top.

What part of Harrison's game "isn't good enough"?

I don't think I've seen anyone state that Harrison is certain to play for a top club, but in a world where players like Defoe, Bent, Andre Grey, Berahino,Diouf, Walters, Wilson, Afobe, Long, Vardy, Mbokani etc can play PL football, I don't see why Harrison shouldn't.

That is your opinion, and you are welcomed to it. I
Must have seen at least 50 plus games with him playing at his absolute best, and worst. I just cannot see him cutting it. He will
Make it in the game at a lower league level. He needs to bulk up, and do the simple things much better. He is almost 20 years old.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

That is your opinion, and you are welcomed to it. I
Must have seen at least 50 plus games with him playing at his absolute best, and worst. I just cannot see him cutting it. He will
Make it in the game at a lower league level. He needs to bulk up, and do the simple things much better. He is almost 20 years old.

Why does he have to bulk up, is he going to have to travel back to the 70's and play for Watford to make it ?

I don't have a rock solid opinion on whether he will make it, it's hard to say that about any 19, even the best ones, I just think it's very silly to write a kid off at 19 who clearly has ability.

I've not watched him as much as you but I've seen plenty of him and, as I've said, there are plenty of forwards earning a PL living who aren't exceptional.

Surely People like Defoe prove that even if all you can do is score with half reasonable frequency and do fuck all else, you can have a good PL career?

Harrison might have to drop down to get his career going but after that it's anyone's guess based on what we are watching now in the PL and the names I've already quoted.

 

[ralphs bald spot]

Interesting move for a couple of reasons, first Poch's well known distrust of loaning young players and secondly Yeovil are a Gary Johnson team, i.e - not very silky. He might bang in a few goals and I have no doubt he will improve them but I find it hard to believe a dinosaur like Johnson will do much to prepare Harrison for our first team.

A loan isn't just about football development its almost as much about coping with circumstances and seeing the rough end of football coming away from the relative comfort zone of reserve football in a safe environment. Shay is a talented boy and a decent finisher but he needs more to his game in particular the physical side he won't learn that in the U21's he needs different exposure.

Its not a one size fits all policy with the youngsters some need a loan and I think Shay is one of those, but I do think with him this is vital to his development as for me at the moment he is a long way from being a first team player at Tottenham though he has done ok and well at times but for me he needs more to his game and this might help him

 

[WindyCOYS]

I've never been Harrison's biggest fan (though can't argue with his scoring record), but I'm not willing to write him off just yet. He's still a kid and I've seen stranger things.

That said, personally I'd be surprised if he had a long-term future with us.

 

[beats1]

A loan isn't just about football development its almost as much about coping with circumstances and seeing the rough end of football coming away from the relative comfort zone of reserve football in a safe environment. Shay is a talented boy and a decent finisher but he needs more to his game in particular the physical side he won't learn that in the U21's he needs different exposure.

Its not a one size fits all policy with the youngsters some need a loan and I think Shay is one of those, but I do think with him this is vital to his development as for me at the moment he is a long way from being a first team player at Tottenham though he has done ok and well at times but for me he needs more to his game and this might help him

The problem is in league two, there isn't much development going on and often targeting of younger/smaller players, that simply doesnt happen in the levels above

Are we really saying that Loft who hasnt really kicked on at all but we sent him to the same level as Shay

This is like Oduwa going to a lesser team than Sonupe for me.

I been watching Derby and championship a lot and struggle to believe average players in their academy can go to top sides in league 1 have a decent loan spell whilst the best we can do is league 2.

In the old days we could recall them and send them to league 1 after a month, those days are well gone, Timmy has taken 3 players off Chelsea this window, that should have been an avenue we looked at imo

 

[For the love of Spurs]

I've never been Harrison's biggest fan (though can't argue with his scoring record), but I'm not willing to write him off just yet. He's still a kid and I've seen stranger things.

That said, personally I'd be surprised if he had a long-term future with us.

Who would you say does have a long term future?

 

[allpaths]

With Harrison's loan I am interested in seeing if this opens up opportunities for sterling, I'd like to see the whole lot of second years move up to the u-23s. And I really like Sterling and he's been in great form as of late, but in yesterday's training picks it was interesting to see Reo Griffiths feature so heavily.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

The thing is, when I first saw Harrison play for the U18's it was more his intelligence, technique and decision making that impressed me, he played more as a "10" in the early games I saw and was dropping and playing clever little passes. I think he seemed to get pushed into a more pure "9" type role because of our paucity of quality options, once Kane had moved up, the quality of what was left behind was pretty poor, so Harrison was given a very slightly different remit, but has adapted and seemed to do what's been asked of him, and has continually scored goals. A very good habit to have, and certainly a quality prized highly in football.

As with some other players, I think it's hard to completely evaluate the development of some of our players because of the nature of the U21/U23's teams. For the last two/three years, players like Harrison have been played in very tactically chaotic sides with a very varied mixture of constantly changing personnel of differing age groups.

As far as Sterling goes, he's never really overly impressed me, always seemed like his industry supersedes his actual ability, but I've not seen as much of him as Harrison and maybe I've just not seen the best of him.