The Spurs Youth Thread – 2016/2017

[Blake Griffin]

Thank you, I think you are correct and I was thinking of Thorpe. I gather TOB is our next most talented youngster after Edwards, who himself has followed on from CCV and previously Onomah. Hopefully Skipp/Patterson can follow suit.

speaking of thorpe -

Tottenham Academy ‏@thfcacademy 1h1 hour ago
Tottenham's 15-year-old forward Elliot Thorpe has received a first Wales U17 call-up.


tob has also confirmed his call up for england(u17s presumably). would expect eyoma and skipp to be there too.

 

[THFCSPURS19]

If we really are signing Pau Lopez (reports we're signing him on loan with option to make it permanent), then it's not looking good for Luke McGee- I found it bizarre he didn't get many minutes in Australia.

 

[Hercules]

If we really are signing Pau Lopez (reports we're signing him on loan with option to make it permanent), then it's not looking good for Luke McGee- I found it bizarre he didn't get many minutes in Australia.

Don't rate him at all. League 2 level.

 

[ralphs bald spot]

Don't rate him at all. League 2 level.

Very harsh especially since he has hardly played reserve football

Luke is an excellent young keeper capable of making outstanding saves very good command of his box occasionally can be rash with his distribution but that is as result of the way in which the boys are encouraged to play - in many ways I would rather see him than Vorm who I think is very average - though I think Luke would learn greatly from a loan and the premier league isn't a place to learn your trade

 

[Hercules]

Very harsh especially since he has hardly played reserve football

Luke is an excellent young keeper capable of making outstanding saves very good command of his box occasionally can be rash with his distribution but that is as result of the way in which the boys are encouraged to play - in many ways I would rather see him than Vorm who I think is very average - though I think Luke would learn greatly from a loan and the premier league isn't a place to learn your trade

Loan will do him the world of good.

 

[Tottenham_God]

Very harsh especially since he has hardly played reserve football

Luke is an excellent young keeper capable of making outstanding saves very good command of his box occasionally can be rash with his distribution but that is as result of the way in which the boys are encouraged to play - in many ways I would rather see him than Vorm who I think is very average - though I think Luke would learn greatly from a loan and the premier league isn't a place to learn your trade

You think our third choice GK is better than a Holland international quality GK? Our Academy is doing fantastic if so

 

[ralphs bald spot]

You think our third choice GK is better than a Holland international quality GK? Our Academy is doing fantastic if so

I wouldn't and didn't say he was better but Vorm. At the moment Luke has hardly played any reserve football let alone first team stuff and though I think he is capable in all honesty no one knows until he has proved it.

But Vorm for me has been extremely average and at times poor I know its difficult to play just occasionally but he hasn't filled me with great confidence and to some degree Luke might have done just as well but we don't know

 

[spurs9]

Very harsh especially since he has hardly played reserve football

Luke is an excellent young keeper capable of making outstanding saves very good command of his box occasionally can be rash with his distribution but that is as result of the way in which the boys are encouraged to play - in many ways I would rather see him than Vorm who I think is very average - though I think Luke would learn greatly from a loan and the premier league isn't a place to learn your trade

He has played for the reserves (U21s) 25 times.

 

[ralphs bald spot]

He has played for the reserves (U21s) 25 times.

I know he has but hardly at all last season and that's over effectively 3 seasons worth of appearances so his game time has been extremely limited - I think he has real ability, though its difficult to tell with keepers and he could do with a loan to gain experieince

 

[IGSpur]

not sure about the wales part but yeah he and skipp are the main two. it doesn't mean much at this point though, like with last season's first years it was edwards, sterling, shashoua, tanganga and bennetts getting all the attention but imo george marsh and alfie whiteman are now at the top of the pile(only behind edwards) so it can change quickly. elliot thorpe is an u16 and represents wales so that might be who you were thinking of, although i could be wrong about patterson.

I don't know how you judge main two, but I wouldn't necessarily say them two are. I think they have age on their side which means they are likely to appear. But Thorpe and Shashoua are probably rated higher than Patterson, but Patterson is probably more consistent, industrious (not to undermine his ability), injury-free and had a strong end to the season. Then of course in the same age group, you have Maghoma, Clarke and Bowden, 2 of who are internationals, while the other somehow is not. It's another big age group.

for some reason he seems to be in a rush to get first team football, i don't really know why though as whilst he's shown promise it's not like he's above youth football and is being held back. will be interesting to see where he ends up in comparison to tashan oakley-boothe as they're similar level talents(imo tob is better), one left and one stayed so we'll see who made the right choice in the coming years.

He is just probably really desprate to make it, and thinks this will increase his chance. Like we've said, noone has come straight from academy to first team under Poch yet, while this season looks promising. So he m

Its a risky move on his part, there's more leeway for a kid at U18 level. He'll be playing against much bigger, much stronger lads who have more experience. There's more chance to not play and more chances to look bad. If he feels like giving it a go then fair enough.

As Windy said he has a much better option, its no difference to the top players coming through at Fulham and no doubt Dozzell at Ipswich and then Ennis at Wolves. Kirby isn't small though he may be wiry but he knows how to protect the ball and he is a very good player. Sessegnon is already looking good in the Championship and isn't big. People would normally say, he isn't ready yet if they had watched him play youth football last year but has started well in adult football this year as he has the talent. What Kirby should haave done is gone to Fulham Charlton or QPR where he could maybe stand a better chance getting first team football in the Championship. Don't know if Palace will still throw him in, though playing for thier u23s already seems to be a big step.

He's probably the lad who has got a dad on the side of the pitch telling him he's the best player and telling him everyone else is rubbish

I know this may be tongue in cheek but his dad is actually probably the most connected and knowledgeable of all the dad's. As his dad was a part time physio I believe for Spurs. So he has connections and most likely knowledge of what other young players get etc, so maybe used his contacts and advised his son to try and look around.

I know you are only joking but one thing I have not seen much of since going to youth games is bad behavior can only think of one bloke who son was playing for Reading who was a bit of a Dick but nothing major,on the flip side one of Edwards family members is very good when it comes to encouraging other players and not just Edwards.I would highly recommend anyone to go down and watch a game just remember to check the weather because on a bad day it can get F**king cold down there and if you do not have the right gear on you will suffer.

As you say things have improved but I remember a dad from West Ham criticising his son during a match last year and the son having a back and forth with him on the pitch. Was embarrassing for the kid. Fortunately all the Spurs parents I've spoken to generally seem sensible and are very much let the coaches do what they do

 

[IGSpur]

I think we have picked up former Waterford United CB Timi Sobowale. I think he previously trialed with Celtic before joining us. Looks like a tall ball playing CB, with a good passing range. He has represented Ireland at international level, and I think will go into our u15s

 

[spurs9]

Like we've said, noone has come straight from academy to first team under Poch yet

Onomah.

 

[IGSpur]

Onomah.

Should have clarified, I meant substantial chances. I know its up for debate what people consider opportunities, but so far he's received the most and it's 3 cup starts iirc and an ave of 2/3 mins of game time over 18 PL games. I don't know if any academy player assessing his future chances will say he's had an opportunity to show what he can do.

 

[spurs9]

Should have clarified, I meant substantial chances. I know its up for debate what people consider opportunities, but so far he's received the most and it's 3 cup starts iirc and an ave of 2/3 mins of game time over 18 PL games. I don't know if any academy player assessing his future chances will say he's had an opportunity to show what he can do.

If youngsters are expecting to usurp first team players in a team that finished 3rd (but challenged for the title until a few games form the end) at the age of 18, I would say they have unreasonable expectations.

He appeared in 11 out of 15 cup and EL games, starting 4 of them.

 

[taidgh]

I think we have picked up former Waterford United CB Timi Sobowale. I think he previously trialed with Celtic before joining us. Looks like a tall ball playing CB, with a good passing range. He has represented Ireland at international level, and I think will go into our u15s

Yeah, knew he was Irish as soon as I saw the name.

 

[IGSpur]

If youngsters are expecting to usurp first team players in a team that finished 3rd (but challenged for the title until a few games form the end) at the age of 18, I would say they have unreasonable expectations.

He appeared in 11 out of 15 cup and EL games, starting 4 of them.

So ye 4 starts and some sub appearances. I didn't say whether it was right or wrong, but you're always going to look at it as whats best for Spurs and support Poch as he knows whats best.

As we're discussing Kirby, he won't care about that and will want to see opportunity. If Spurs' best academy prospects are getting no first team football or loan football at 20 why is it in his best interest to hang around to see if they might get a chance, while competing with others, when a football career is short and can be wasted quickly. Even looking at Pritchard he could end up like him if we stay a top 3 team. When can he expect to get a chance, maybe at 20/21? Seems his hope would be if we get worse. Noones fault

Or he can go to a weaker club where he will be the best player and increase his chance of getting first team football soon and be more experienced like his friend Sessegnon. Even Leko started getting appearances last season.

 

[Cornpattbuck]

So ye 4 starts and some sub appearances. I didn't say whether it was right or wrong, but you're always going to look at it as whats best for Spurs and support Poch as he knows whats best.

As we're discussing Kirby, he won't care about that and will want to see opportunity. If Spurs' best academy prospects are getting no first team football or loan football at 20 why is it in his best interest to hang around to see if they might get a chance, while competing with others, when a football career is short and can be wasted quickly. Even looking at Pritchard he could end up like him if we stay a top 3 team. When can he expect to get a chance, maybe at 20/21? Seems his hope would be if we get worse. Noones fault

Or he can go to a weaker club where he will be the best player and increase his chance of getting first team football soon and be more experienced like his friend Sessegnon. Even Leko started getting appearances last season.

Or he could have stayed at us and then asked for a lower league loan for first time football when the time came, non?

 

[newbie]

You think our third choice GK is better than a Holland international quality GK? Our Academy is doing fantastic if so

I think Ralph is talking about McGees potential

 

[Luka Van der Bale]

Or he could have stayed at us and then asked for a lower league loan for first time football when the time came, non?

Poch would refuse such a request more than likely.

 

[IGSpur]

Or he could have stayed at us and then asked for a lower league loan for first time football when the time came, non?

Well assuming Poch is still here, as Luka below has said, if he wanted to go on loan he would refuse that request. I know of at least one young player that has been desperate to go out on loan but Poch rejected it, and I know our coaches including McDermott want our top players to go on loan but Poch is rejecting it, so basically they're relying or trusting that Poch gives them chances or they're wasting their time and missing out on key development if Poch decides he doesn't want them come 21/22.

If Poch isn't here. Firstly its easier to get good loans at the 'big clubs' than it is for us, and also loan clubs are more reluctant to give loan players an extended opportunity if they don't hit the ground running compared to if the player was their own. While I don't think level of loan matters that much, most people including managers aren't happy to give a young player a chance unless they have performed well in the Championship at least. Our players can't secure those types first up.

Look at Alli, I'm sure he may have had dips in form at Dons but he would have been persevered as well other players at weaker clubs, its an advantage of coming through the lower league. There is more incentive to develop them whether it be for a better league position or to sell on for a massive fee later.