The Spurs Youth Thread – 2016/2017

[Romulus]

Never seen them play so bad.

neither have i

everybody knows chelseas quality but we can't even do the basics like pass the ball, keep shape and compete. they are stronger than us, more intelligent and fitter

 

[Romulus]

fresh legs Jadon brown just jogging

 

[IGSpur]

Well done Griffiths, I think he's been our best player so far, and trying to do things.

 

[danielneeds]

It's quite clear that the Chelsea youth teams have developed a bit of a fear factor amongst the rest. Other teams are just intimidated by them, and it lets them play with freedom and show their quality.

In the end though you can have as many youth trophies as you want - but having Kane and Winks shining in the first team is priceless.

 

[bceej]

Putting who on a pedestal. I'm calling it as it is. This club have dominated youth football in every format for the last 5 years. No European club comes close. You have no idea how any of these players would have developed or looked had they had a chance in Chelea's first team, or come through in France. You also have no idea how good these Dembeles or Mbappes would have looked if they came through the Chelsea academy and were compared to the other Chelsea players. It is all speculation.

Before Mbappe and Dembele came through, they weren't outstanding or being raved about at international youth level. I'd heard of Passlack, Pulisic and Lee Seung Woo for example, so there is no accurate measure of rating players. Pulisic is now being talked about, but it's just about getting a chance and taking it, without a chance noone can guess how any player would do. Rashford wasn't regarded as one of the best strikers in his age group and was given a chance because of an injury now he is considered as one of the top youngsters in the world. He would not have even got into Chelea's FAYC team, ahead of Musonda, Solanke and Abraham.

As I say these Chelsea players while having individually ability arguably more important function brilliantly as a team, noone knows how well they would do with a first team chance, but we now how well they do compared to their contemporaries at youth level. Its not a stretch to think that just ONE of the last 4 FAYC winning and 2 CL winning teams could have shined in the PL, when you consider how well Winks, Davies, TAA have all made teh step up recentle

Tragic thing is that most of them will stagnate - such a waste. There are a few who play regular top flight from recent memory - Jeffrey Bruma, Patrick Van Aanholt, Ryan Bertrand, Nathan Ake, Andreas Christensen. Just Bertrand was really developed within the academy, although just checked and he was at Gillingham for a decent stint. I imagine the last few years' graduates will start to emerge more within the top flight - too much quality, just whether Chelsea let them go for their own development or as a FFP choice.

 

[Spurzinho]

Missed the whole game. Kinda glad I did. We were always underdogs but any team that loses 7-1, no matter who its against, has had a very, very bad day. I hope McDermott is handing out a few home truths.

 

[Graysonti]

If my boy was a top Chelsea youth player (like today), I would be looking to move him out to get bigger opportunities and first team football in a smaller club

 

[Blake Griffin]

If my boy was a top Chelsea youth player (like today), I would be looking to move him out to get bigger opportunities and first team football in a smaller club

it's probably harder to do when your boy has a million pound contract sitting in front of him though.

 

[Blake Griffin]

Missed the whole game. Kinda glad I did. We were always underdogs but any team that loses 7-1, no matter who its against, has had a very, very bad day. I hope McDermott is handing out a few home truths.

it was basically the same as the 1st leg but chelsea were more clinical this time, we did actually create a couple of chances early on but from there it was just all them.

 

[danielneeds]

Missed the whole game. Kinda glad I did. We were always underdogs but any team that loses 7-1, no matter who its against, has had a very, very bad day. I hope McDermott is handing out a few home truths.

I'm not sure that is the way to go. Our lads obviously feel intimated by Chelsea's power and dominance at this level. Just berating them for it won't solve anything.

 

[BPR_U16]

Daniel will be getting worried that the investment in youth may not save him lots of money in the long term.

Some might go on to make the grade, but after watching the two matches you have to expect more of the Chelsea lads too than ours - just that in all probability they will not be plying their trade for Chelsea

 

[danielneeds]

Daniel will be getting worried that the investment in youth may not save him lots of money in the long term.

Some might go on to make the grade, but after watching the two matches you have to expect more of the Chelsea lads too than ours - just that in all probability they will not be plying their trade for Chelsea

The way I see it the model of their academy and ours is completely different.

They pay to assemble the cream of the crop of youth from far and wide, the same as City.

We work to develop the undervalued kids. The smaller ones like Winks, the ones with more obvious weaknesses, like Kane had.

McDermott has said we work far more at youth levels on developing individuals rather than putting together strong teams.

Nothing has really changed - I'd still put money on the likes of KWP and Edwards breaking through here more than any of the last lot of Chelsea kids, even Abraham.

 

[Blake Griffin]

Daniel will be getting worried that the investment in youth may not save him lots of money in the long term.

nonsense. in the past few years we've sold bentaleb for 18m, mason for 12m, townsend for 12m, pritchard for 8m, caulker for 8m, livermore for 8m, carroll for 5m ... oh and the small matter of harry kane who pays for the academy 20 times over. that's before we get onto the likes of winks and the next wave to come through. i'd imagine daniel will be more worried at how little return he's had from the 70m he spent on transfers last summer.

 

[Spurzinho]

I'm not sure that is the way to go. Our lads obviously feel intimated by Chelsea's power and dominance at this level. Just berating them for it won't solve anything.

It doesn't have to be the hair dryer treatment, but part of making the grade will be resilience and not letting your head drop. I'm sure McDermott will explain that sometimes you've just got to shut up shop, take a 2 or 3 nil and not get embarrassed.

 

[djw1973]

We have KWP, CCV, Edwards, Onomah, Sterling, Roles, Marsh all coming through. Winks has made the transition in 1 year and Edwards would be further on if it wasn't for injury. That should be enough talent to last us a decade!

Chelsea looked very strong. But how many will get a chance and even if they do how much of an extended run would they get in the team? Their track record has been terrible.

 

[danielneeds]

It doesn't have to be the hair dryer treatment, but part of making the grade will be resilience and not letting your head drop. I'm sure McDermott will explain that sometimes you've just got to shut up shop, take a 2 or 3 nil and not get embarrassed.

I don't watch as much youth football
as you obviously do - but is shutting up shop something these lads can do?

 

[Hoddle_Ledge]

One of the cocky Chelsea players looked right at me and did a 3-nil gesture with his hands, I thew one of the walnuts I was eating at him. I missed. Doesn't seem to have been picked up by the TV cameras so my fear of an U-18 ban is no more.

 

[IGSpur]

In the end though you can have as many youth trophies as you want - but having Kane and Winks shining in the first team is priceless.

Ultimately this is the end goal regardless of results

If my boy was a top Chelsea youth player (like today), I would be looking to move him out to get bigger opportunities and first team football in a smaller club

As BG said its difficult with the big money offers but I'd def be looking to try and lure em in. Either before they join the academy or after their first pros. Kemp and Quina did and their the best in Chelsea's academy and will Ho doubt stand a better chance of playing PL football. I would love to pick off Hudson-Odoi I think he is quality and still a schoolboy. So skillful and a good striker. He would instantly come here and stand a good chance of playing first team for us in a few years.

The way I see it the model of their academy and ours is completely different.

They pay to assemble the cream of the crop of youth from far and wide, the same as City.

We work to develop the undervalued kids. The smaller ones like Winks, the ones with more obvious weaknesses, like Kane had.

McDermott has said we work far more at youth levels on developing individuals rather than putting together strong teams.

Nothing has really changed - I'd still put money on the likes of KWP and Edwards breaking through here more than any of the last lot of Chelsea kids, even Abraham.

Tbf to Chelsea they don't go out buying loads of players most of their players have been their since u8s but as you say they can entice the best u8s around.

You're right about our development it's easy to see the individual development done u16 before they come into academy and learn how to function as a team. Don't know how Chelsea work but they function as a unit as well as having great individuals. I do think size plays a factor they have very powerful and big players but that's not to undermine their ability.

Regarding your last paragraph it's sad but so true. Great for us but for Abraham to not get a chance is bad for him and the country

 

[kmk]

Is it just my perception or are the loads of talented young English players of Nigerian heritage?

E.g. Dele Alli, Josh Onomah, TJ Eyoma, Tammy Abraham, the Chalobah brothers, Dominic Solanke, Ike Ugbo, Fikaro Tomori, Ademola Lookman etc?

 

[thefierycamel]

Is it just my perception or are the loads of talented young English players of Nigerian heritage?

E.g. Dele Alli, Josh Onomah, TJ Eyoma, Tammy Abraham, the Chalobah brothers, Dominic Solanke, Ike Ugbo, Fikaro Tomori, Ademola Lookman etc?

Not particularly surprising. Different genetic make up that allows for powerful athletes but as they're english, they've essentially grown up with a football tied to their feet. So they have power and skill. Look at the french national team, so many players of african origin. All big, powerful players who have amazing ball control.