The Spurs Youth Thread - 2017/2018

[coys200]

How was Griffiths IG ? His goal scoring must be catching the eye. And what happened to shashou senior, I know there was Talk of a loan to MLS.

 

[IGSpur]

cirkin too.

beat denmark 2-0.

I saw that too and was pleased. He also started today as we beat Spain 2-0.

I'm both surprised and not surprised that Cirkin has been called up. I'm surprised because his development has stalled quite badly over the last 12 months. I'm not surprised because England's recruitment policy is so, so bad and they don't seem to do the correct research. Cirkin was called up a year or so ago when he was still quite highly rated and that seems to be all that's required for England to call you up 12 months later. I don't see Cirkin in training so maybe our coaches are seeing things that we're not or they know something we don't about why his progress has stalled but even so on form alone I can't see how he deserves the left back slot for England at this moment in time.

I get that England believe in identifying potential at 14/15 and then trying to keep a team/squad together up to U21s as best that they can to mimic Germany and France but when your youth development is as patchy as it is in this country then I just don't think you can have that unthinking attitude.

As I say, maybe I'm being harsh, but imho Cirkin is struggling to keep pace with the rest of our U16s.

I think you're being very harsh on both England and Cirkin. I obviously don't know how much you have seen of Cirkin over a period of time, but I assume it is a similar amount to me i.e. not a great amount, but more than most.

Cirkin was easily one of the standout players a year ago in this age group which is why he initially got called up. However, to be honest I have seen nothing of him this year, apart from the recent tournament in Qatar where we will all agree he didn't look good, or at least didn't look like the standout player we were both expecting. However, that could easily be down to form as that is the only time I have seen him play this season. Similarly when Kirby played for England in the Nike friendlies, there were plenty here who were unimpressed, after hearing the hype and he had a bad tournament. It wasn't because he was poor player, it was because he had a poor tournament. When Kirby later played against Russia he was one of the best players. Gomes had a poor World Cup, and TOB has looked poor for us but there are still good players in there, that we just don't get to see all the time.

I may be wrong, but I see that Cirkin getting a call up suggests that England still rate him and consider him one of the best LBs around for that age group. There is still a chance, that we could release him, like City did with Lattie who was an England regular, but I'd like to keep him as I don't think anyone could fall off that badly, and reckon the fact England are selecting him suggests that he has been playing well over the season.

Also I don't think England have selection bias anymore or anywhere near the extent they used to. At u15s/u16s they can completely rotate squads as they try to look at as many players as possible so they know what squad they want for the u17 Euros. Both Madueke and Walcott have missed out on previous squads like Cirkin and now all 3 are back. I think the squad they use towards the 2nd half of the season is a lot closer to the final group of players they settle on as they want to start getting them to play together, which bodes well for Cirkin.

To touch on the bias. I definitely think there was a lot of bias before. To think players like Carroll and Pritchard only started to play for England at u20/21 level IIRC shows how slanted they were to the bigger sides. This was at a point where the Spurs u21 and u19 sides were playing well, and they still rarely chose our players, though there weren't as many talented player. Even Kane sometimes struggled to get in and missed out on the Euro u17s but I think that was mainly through injuries. If the selection process was as objetive then as it was now, players like Carroll and Pritchard would have featured a lot more for England.

I don't think there can be an accusation of bias now though for 2 reasons. Look at the results from the recent competitions. We can't say we went for the wrong teams when we cleaned up on all of the tournaments. Scouts are looking at the best players from all over England and if they are good enough they are getting called up. There are some tough decisions, but when we win tournaments they have made the right decisions. I personally don't think we need to win tournaments to know we have quality players, but it is an example of at least is clearly choosing the best. It's why I'm so annoyed Onomah isn't getting a chance in CM. How can there be any bias towards him when he has won 2 youth tournaments in the CM of one of England's most talented age group and never been given a chance there with us.

Anyway, the recent u17s World Cup winning side had a player from Wolves, one player from Wimbledon and a player from Fleetwood.

At least 20 of the call-ups from Cirkin's age group, which is around half (current u16s) have come from clubs in the EFL, 21 if you include Teddy Hoare from Brighton, who only until this season have generally been outside of the PL, with 5 of those from Reading. Only, Chelsea, City and Arsenal are more represented at this age group. Back in the day they would have just thrown in Liverpool and United players for the sake of it. There was actually big talk over the 00,99 and 98 age groups as Liverpool had only contributed around 5 players between them across 3 year groups. That would not have happened a few years back, but scouts are definitely watching a lot more football and are judging players more on ability than the club. The fact that Chelsea and City always have so many players represented is also the reason they win the most tournaments at club level, because they have the best academies. As you say sometimes some coaches get attached to players, or would give a player more chances than they 'deserve; as they like them but that generally happens more u19 level and upwards and again doesn't happen as much.

 

[IGSpur]

How was Griffiths IG ? His goal scoring must be catching the eye. And what happened to shashou senior, I know there was Talk of a loan to MLS.

Griffiths had a generally good game. It was mainly played in the middle and he had to drop deep at points. He is still developing but he hits the back of the net fairly regularly which is great news. He is very cheeky and constantly moans, talks to and tests the referee which is always funny to watch, but it is in more of a jokey way. He did his job well today though.

Know nothing about Shashoua sr

 

[LexingtonSpurs]

harrison is playing lw for southend ... vs walkes at rb for pompey.

amos starts for stevenage, ogilvie starts for gills, loft starts for exeter, onomah bench.

Onomah on at halftime.

 

[Spurzinho]

Loft has been hooked for Exeter at half time.

 

[Westmorland]

Luke Amos 25 yarder for his first goal for Stevenage. Great goal

 

[Blake Griffin]

Luke Amos 25 yarder for his first goal for Stevenage. Great goal

https://twitter.com/Channel5Sport/status/964914573894549504

 

[Blake Griffin]

whiteman has replaced edwards in the uyl squad.

 

[spurs9]

Griffiths had a generally good game. It was mainly played in the middle and he had to drop deep at points. He is still developing but he hits the back of the net fairly regularly which is great news. He is very cheeky and constantly moans, talks to and tests the referee which is always funny to watch, but it is in more of a jokey way. He did his job well today though.

Know nothing about Shashoua sr

Hey bro as far as you know is there any truth in the rumors that we are releasing Reo at the end of the season due to attitude problems?

 

[coys200]

whiteman has replaced edwards in the uyl squad.

Lol not exactly like for like

 

[Spurzinho]

Nabil is acting up again... https://www.football.london/tottenh...hettino-vindicated-over-former-spurs-14304714

 

[WindyCOYS]

Hey bro as far as you know is there any truth in the rumors that we are releasing Reo at the end of the season due to attitude problems?

That'd be such a shame, he has something about him.

 

[WindyCOYS]

We played excellently today after a difficult start. I think we deserved to win and we weathered a couple of storms, which is to be expected from a quality side chasing a game. They lost hit the bar near the end.

Markandays role fit the goal was excellent, held their captain off to win a ball going over his head, got clipped edge of the box, rode it, when most would go down. Never expected him to knowing what he's like, got to the byline in the box ran in rode another challenge and rolled a lovely ball across the box. You can tell he's a player everyone appreciates.

There were 2 moments that brough gasps from the crowd. When Shashoua came on DeBie kicked a ball down the field on the counter Shashoua was running back with a couple of Arsenal players around him and plucked the ball out of the sky. Don't see that a lot.

The other was a nutmeg from Bowden who had a great game, to get himself out of trouble. I was very impressed with Bowden today who did not hide. He showed quicker feet than I've seen before and an ability to change his mind in a split second as play develop around him. I hope that makes sense but he did o t a couple of times, again to relieve pressure and it was very impressive. I think he even pulled off a Maradona at one point.

Maghoma also had a brilliant game, they couldn't cope with his slaloming runs and silky feet as he changed direction on the ball. He is finding his form now. I was worried facing this Arsenal team due to their talent and when we went down early thought, oh no. But Maghoma and Bowde stepped up.

BLF and Skipp unsurprisingly looked assured at the back. Hinds again had a good game Reynolds was out of sorts though, as their winger that replaced the talented Coyle caused him trouble

Bennet was spoken a lot about by spectators I think he had a good reputation. Richards also had a really good game and showed great hold up play bringing the ball down on his chest from goalkicks under pressure something I'd seen him do at u16s.

I saw Pedder and Asante walking around so assume they're here next year. Thorpe, Tainio, Clarke, Poch were all playing u16s. Good for Thorpe to get minutes.

Also a bit of ITK I guess about our relationship with Ajax. Apparently their u16s were at my local youth club going coaching in the community. My club hosted the Spurs academy while the new training ground was being built. So I can only assume Spurs got Ajax in touch with our club or vice versa to do some work. Apparently our u16s then faced each other midweek. Got no confirmation on whether that went ahead. But Ajax were definitely at my club. Can't be a coincidence so shows we're working together.

Thanks, mate, for the excellent write-up. Really pleased to hear that Bowden did well, he's a player I like who often goes under the radar.

Glad to hear Maghoma had a good game too because he'd been poor the last few times I'd seen him.

 

[bat-chain]

The live game. Edwards not in squad. CCV Starting.

 

[coys200]

Griffiths record is something like 21 in 27 this season. Very hard to imagine we would let him go. Also knowing our usual stance hard to imagine he’d be getting game time if he was leaving.

 

[Spurzinho]

The rumour was that he had rejected a contract along with Tariq Hinds. I haven't heard any suggestion that we're unhappy with them. For what its worth I would be very P*ssed off if we lost either but especially Griffiths. Even if he doesn't make it with us, and he may well not, he's definitely going to have a very respectable league career and should make us a few bob.

 

[kmk]

Our ex youth team left back Yuri Berchiche played for PSG against Real Madrid on Wednesday.

 

[Spurzinho]

I think we've got the face facts about Edwards. Those suggesting that there were some issues were, to some extent, right. If Norwich really had a proto-Messi on their hands does anyone think that they wouldn't be playing him every game? Has he even made the bench yet? He's got bundles of talent but he is not ready. Coaches put a lot of emphasis on attitude and behaviour on the training ground and if Edwards isn't 100% committed to shape drills and listening to coaches trying to help him then he's going to get overlooked. There's only so long you can go on defending him. I've seen incredibly talented kids before who had the world at their feet but they didn't want to listen and didn't want to change and didn't want to do the nasty bits of the game and they wasted their talent. I hope so very, very much that Edwards doesn't fall into that trap but his exclusion from Norwich's first team squad since he signed suggests that the penny still hasn't dropped yet.

*hunkers down and reaches for tin hat*

 

[coys200]

Was that Ccv out jumped for the goal ?

 

[coys200]

The rumour was that he had rejected a contract along with Tariq Hinds. I haven't heard any suggestion that we're unhappy with them. For what its worth I would be very P*ssed off if we lost either but especially Griffiths. Even if he doesn't make it with us, and he may well not, he's definitely going to have a very respectable league career and should make us a few bob.

Yup griffiths will be a beast. Even if he doesn’t end up good enough for us, he will make it in lower leagues just by sheer physicality.