The Spurs Youth Thread - 2017/2018

[WindyCOYS]

That was a very good performance, that's a very talented group. I appreciate TOB seemed to be instructed to play a very disciplined role, which he did pretty well, but I thought he was very quiet today, compare that with the very similar role Onomah played for the U20's in which he excelled in their final. I suppose with the more footballing McEchran next to TOB as opposed to the more workmanlike Cook with Onomah it was slightly different.

Hudson-Odoi had a very good game, as did Foden. I thought Sessegnon had a better game today, and I think he definitely gets forward better than Eyoma.

It is slightly odd that TOB -- who've we've always described as this technically excellent player who can pass, run with the ball, etc etc, takes on workmanlike role and looks like the water carrier next to these players as they are next level.

Yesterday I worked out who TOB reminds me a little of. Paulinho.

 

[Blake Griffin]

It is slightly odd that TOB -- who've we've always described as this technically excellent player who can pass, run with the ball, etc etc, takes on workmanlike role and looks like the water carrier next to these players as they are next level.

Yesterday I worked out who TOB reminds me a little of. Paulinho.

he really doesn't compare too well against skipp at the moment does he? skipp plays with aggression, urgency and is always showing for the ball. tob on the other hand plays very timid and moves around almost like he's in a trance. he's capable of striding past opponents but nine times out of ten he plays it safe - which isn't always a bad thing but he could take a few more risks and look to impose himself on the game once in a while. i don't think it's a case of the team he's playing in or what he's been instructed either as his performances for our u18s have been the same, by and large.

 

[DEFchenkOE]

I didn't think tob had a bad game yesterday but he didn't stand out, the game passed him by a little bit. I haven't watched many of the other games in this tournament so not sure how he played in those.

 

[coys200]

he really doesn't compare too well against skipp at the moment does he? skipp plays with aggression, urgency and is always showing for the ball. tob on the other hand plays very timid and moves around almost like he's in a trance. he's capable of striding past opponents but nine times out of ten he plays it safe - which isn't always a bad thing but he could take a few more risks and look to impose himself on the game once in a while. i don't think it's a case of the team he's playing in or what he's been instructed either as his performances for our u18s have been the same, by and large.

Just hope we don’t take that out of skipp.We Seem to have a habit of producing “tidy” midfield players. Who are technically very good but have limited impact in games with assists or goals.Oh for the days if a swashbuckling midfielder like Bryan Robson or ince.

 

[ljinko888]

Just hope we don’t take that out of skipp.We Seem to have a habit of producing “tidy” midfield players. Who are technically very good but have limited impact in games with assists or goals.Oh for the days if a swashbuckling midfielder like Bryan Robson or ince.

I put this down to the way coaching has changed. Academy players are being taught to play in systems and with this the way they play and habits they form are as a result of what their roles are.

A 'cover all blades of grass' player would probably be reprimanded for not following instructions. Tactics weren't so important in the era of Robson, Souness, Ince etc.

Look around Europe and how many box to box midfielders are there now. Midfielders job tend to be more simplified. Loads don't move from the halfway line. They sit in front of the defence and keep it simple. A number 10 which is all in vogue now doesn't have to defend if there are two men behind him who stay back.

It's not necessarily a bad thing. Someone like Carrick is always going to better than Mark 'run his bollocks off' Noble. But loads of young kids will never be that good and just float around. Tom Carroll and Tom Cleverly came through at the same time and got good hype for being technically better than average at youth level but neither impact a game beyond bringing the ball down and giving it to someone else.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Onomah started for Villa today. Playing as an ACM, playing well so far but the general standard of football is atrocious.

They have just flashed up a stat I’ve not seen flashed up before. Long balls - Bham 14, Villa 19 - we are 20 minutes in.

 

[Hengy1]

Onomah started for Villa today. Playing as an ACM, playing well so far but the general standard of football is atrocious.

They have just flashed up a stat I’ve not seen flashed up before. Long balls - Bham 14, Villa 19 - we are 20 minutes in.

I’m sure those stats would’ve been the same for United yesterday

 

[Blake Griffin]

Onomah started for Villa today. Playing as an ACM, playing well so far but the general standard of football is atrocious.

They have just flashed up a stat I’ve not seen flashed up before. Long balls - Bham 14, Villa 19 - we are 20 minutes in.

acm is generous, he's more or less playing up front ..

 

[Bus-Conductor]

acm is generous, he's more or less playing up front ..

Yeah, was just going to post something similar, Villa seem to have gone to a 442. It’s horrible watching. There is no discernible tactics at all, Villa just hump any ball south of the half way line. Kodja refuses to pass ever. Fuck knows what Onomah is learning. He’s the only Villa player who wants to pass the ball. But Bruce just seems to want him jumping with CB’s for long humps

 

[Hengy1]

Villa are awful and Onomah looks lost playing up top.

At least he’s on the field I suppose

 

[Bus-Conductor]

I had to walk the dog so I’m 15 minutes behind but it’s getting no better. Just diabolical football. 61st minute Villa are defending a corner, ball breaks edge of their box to Elhamody and Onomah is 6 yards ahead/right in acres of space and could break if he passes to him, instead he just wallops the ball 100 yards away.

Bruce’s tactical solution is to take off his only other creative footballer (Snodgrass) and put Jedinak on, like it’s shitkickers they are lacking. Could have just moved Onomah back into midfield and had someone who wants to play football in there.

 

[theShiznit]

Josh playing as a second striker and the game is passing him by, very little passing into feet for Villa, so he's getting dizzy just turning from long ball to long ball, when he has picked it up he has done very little with it, seems to have struggled with the intensity of the derby game.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

That was heinous. Onomah was poor as well but hardly surprising playing a cm as a striker. It’s like the sort of thing you expect youth coaches to do when trying to develop aspects of players games. Maybe Bruce will play him at LB next week.

No wonder Poch doesn’t like loans.

 

[Blake Griffin]

I had to walk the dog so I’m 15 minutes behind but it’s getting no better. Just diabolical football. 61st minute Villa are defending a corner, ball breaks edge of their box to Elhamody and Onomah is 6 yards ahead/right in acres of space and could break if he passes to him, instead he just wallops the ball 100 yards away.

Bruce’s tactical solution is to take off his only other creative footballer (Snodgrass) and put Jedinak on, like it’s shitkickers they are lacking. Could have just moved Onomah back into midfield and had someone who wants to play football in there.

haha, that was the example i was going to highlight.

josh will probably get dropped after that but i wish bruce would just give him one game in hourihane's position or something as i guarantee that's all it would take for him to cement his place in the side.

 

[IGSpur]

what do you think of tob two years on?

Well he definitely doesn't look as dominant in his style bit that could be due to maturing and maybe altering his style of play. I expect so much more or him as he has loads of ability and at u16s and below he would look on another level. I didn't expect him to continue to dominate like that but he isn't playing anywhere near the same.

However he has taken up more of a sitting reserved role and is performing that well. Once I accept that that is how he now plays I will probably judge him accordingly but I would liked to have seen him do what he did before.

Regarding this tournament I feel he was one of the best CMs of the tournament. England dominated possession in all matches including against Spain and TOB was largely responsible for this taking the ball off the defenders, relieving pressure and generally passing well and supporting McEachran who was more creative, as he would have done with Kirby.

I actually think the final was his best game as he carried the ball and drove at Spain more than against any other sign maybe seeing the urgency of the situation. If we see that more I'll be pleased. So while he isn't where I thought he'd be he is still a very good CM. He just needs to bring it to Spurs more and start taking responsibility. He isn't Onomah dominant but he should still be a quality CM.

Just realised we contributed both CMs to the World Cup winning teams and a full back each.

I feel bad for Eyoma you could see when he wasn't playing we looked less solid, but Sessegnon more than made up for the defensive side with his attack allowing Foden to come inside more. Either way Eyoma has been an ever present in this age group and was key to then reaching Euro final he cab be proud too

 

[IGSpur]

It is slightly odd that TOB -- who've we've always described as this technically excellent player who can pass, run with the ball, etc etc, takes on workmanlike role and looks like the water carrier next to these players as they are next level.

Yesterday I worked out who TOB reminds me a little of. Paulinho.

I like to think BC is right here. McEachran is so much more creative than Cook and with Sessegnon playing they really needed someone to sit. TOB isn't a natural DM so won't make a load of challenges but I think was very disciplined. I'd like to think so anyway. He is clearly liked and rated in England set up and seen as a crucial player in an area they have loads of talent.

As BG it raises the question why even when playing that role can't he do it for us atm

 

[Bus-Conductor]

It is slightly odd that TOB -- who've we've always described as this technically excellent player who can pass, run with the ball, etc etc, takes on workmanlike role and looks like the water carrier next to these players as they are next level.

Yesterday I worked out who TOB reminds me a little of. Paulinho.

I think Poch has told him to watch Dier.

 

[spursfan77]

Howard wilkinson's words here confirm why we as a nation were in such a bad situation bringing through players. He was the technical director for years yet sees our players going abroad to play as a weakness. How bad is that? I can't believe what I've read.

https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...nte-england-under17s-chelsea-howard-wilkinson


“That’s something that has to be worked on,” he said. “We used to be a finishing school for players like Thierry Henry, to name but one, and it would be a shame if these players have to go to the continent to get their chance. We’ve already got players in Europe, especially in Germany, and they are never slow to latch on to a good idea. I would think there may be a few more looking to do the same thing after the success we have had.”

 

[nightgoat]

Howard wilkinson's words here confirm why we as a nation were in such a bad situation bringing through players. He was the technical director for years yet sees our players going abroad to play as a weakness. How bad is that? I can't believe what I've read.

https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...nte-england-under17s-chelsea-howard-wilkinson


“That’s something that has to be worked on,” he said. “We used to be a finishing school for players like Thierry Henry, to name but one, and it would be a shame if these players have to go to the continent to get their chance. We’ve already got players in Europe, especially in Germany, and they are never slow to latch on to a good idea. I would think there may be a few more looking to do the same thing after the success we have had.”

I think what he's saying is that it will be a shame if despite the increased level of success for the age group national teams this crop of young British players don't get first team opportunities here which forces them to look abroad, rather than there being anything intrinsically wrong with playing abroad.

 

[Romulus]

Well he definitely doesn't look as dominant in his style bit that could be due to maturing and maybe altering his style of play. I expect so much more or him as he has loads of ability and at u16s and below he would look on another level. I didn't expect him to continue to dominate like that but he isn't playing anywhere near the same.

However he has taken up more of a sitting reserved role and is performing that well. Once I accept that that is how he now plays I will probably judge him accordingly but I would liked to have seen him do what he did before.

Regarding this tournament I feel he was one of the best CMs of the tournament. England dominated possession in all matches including against Spain and TOB was largely responsible for this taking the ball off the defenders, relieving pressure and generally passing well and supporting McEachran who was more creative, as he would have done with Kirby.

I actually think the final was his best game as he carried the ball and drove at Spain more than against any other sign maybe seeing the urgency of the situation. If we see that more I'll be pleased. So while he isn't where I thought he'd be he is still a very good CM. He just needs to bring it to Spurs more and start taking responsibility. He isn't Onomah dominant but he should still be a quality CM.

Just realised we contributed both CMs to the World Cup winning teams and a full back each.

I feel bad for Eyoma you could see when he wasn't playing we looked less solid, but Sessegnon more than made up for the defensive side with his attack allowing Foden to come inside more. Either way Eyoma has been an ever present in this age group and was key to then reaching Euro final he cab be proud too

Bold bit highlighted

You understand what's going on.