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The Spurs Youth Thread - 2017/2018

George94

George
Feb 1, 2015
3,661
19,454
Bumped into a load of our youth players on Saturday - they were all sat in the same block as me.

For what it's worth Troy Parrott looks and acts older than 17 - he's probably around 5'11, so already a decent size.

High hopes for him.

In other news, Maximus Tainio has wonderful hair... :whistle:
 

IGSpur

Well-Known Member
Jan 11, 2013
7,939
13,758
Arsenal U18 v Tottenham: Barden Clarke-McGuinness-Spencer Adams-Omole M. Smith-Azeez Beckford-McEneff-Swanson Okoflex Subs: Okonkwo, Flaherty, Cottrell, Ogungbo, Olowu.
found this on twitter
one u15, one u16, seven u17s, two u18s. their 1st choice were rested for the youth cup final coming up.

we were six u17s and five u18s.

Only 2 schoolboys. When we played them earlier in the season we played 2 schoolboys too. I reckon it was a similar strength team. Okoflex and McEneff are both talented players, I don't know much about the rest, but we had Walcott and Statham at CB last time making a few errors. So not really an excuse to lose by THAT much

Seems weird to say this, but I really don't think he's that great! He does hold the ball up well, and his finishing is good...just something missing from him, can't put my finger on it....
Agree. Still don't know where I stand with him, which is interesting considering his goals. Seen him play more than enough, and even still I have seen him develop quite a bit in his awareness and finishing, but as you say still something missing. Only his 2nd/3rd year as a striker so still a lot of learning/developing and these numbers which are better than any u18 striker I can remember for a while, show he has a lot to build on.

May have been very similar feeling about kane at same age. Doesn’t look that fluid but is efficient in what he does. But Kane was better technically, much better.
As Waxman said he is nothing like Kane. You could tell from watching Kane, and I don't remember how many goals he scored, that Kane looked a better striker or footballer, and it is n't the same at all watching them. I could give an opinion on Kane at the time, but I am still unsure what I think about Griffiths and he's finished his 2nd year.

I see you're somewhat right, he was in the european runners up squad, but got dropped for the world cup champions squad.
Was listed as a midfielder too, wide I assume. So might be time to get the opportunity as striker.
He played a couple of games a striker at u16 level I think in a tournament at SGP, when they faced US. I believe it's the tournament Hinds pulled out of. I actually don't remember him going to the Euros, but that could be because he never got on. He definitely deserves another call-up especially as Brewster is still injured. Not sure were Soule and Samuels are at with their development but you can't argue with Griffiths goals, though Loader is probably next in line. As I said in a previous post him, Hinds and BLF deserve call-ups, even Richards if the 00s attack wasn't so strong, but it appears there are no more u18s games this year.

Also found out from Lilywhiterose that Thorpe was being looked at by Sporting Lisbon before we signed him
 
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Blake Griffin

Well-Known Member
Oct 3, 2011
14,133
38,225
u18 south top scorers -

reog.png
 

EQP

EQP
Sep 1, 2013
7,960
29,658
Really is an incredible scoring record. Tbh it puts Nketiah's 28 goals across u18 and u23 and international football into perspective. That really was an incredible season for him, but Griffiths has great stats.

Any updates on Griffiths staying/leaving at the end of the season?
 

coys200

Well-Known Member
May 22, 2017
8,436
17,403
Can I just clarify I never said griffiths was like kane. What i compared was that neither are very easy on the eye in the way they move. And both can look cumbersome at times.But Kane technique was obviously far superior at that age.

What’s the general feeling on Dinzeyi. He doesn’t get much praise here but seen some complementary stuff on twitter?
 

Hercules

Well-Known Member
Jul 23, 2014
5,694
156,565
Any updates on Griffiths staying/leaving at the end of the season?
The kid knows his worth and value. He has many suitors, and has done for over a year. Now, do you sign and wait 4 years? I don’t think so! Is he ready for first team squad, when Sterling can’t get a look in? And I am not advocating that Sterling is good enough.

When the academy elite youngsters are now looking elsewhere. Can you blame him? Did I not address this situation last summer?
 

ljinko888

Well-Known Member
May 17, 2016
2,080
5,376
If we can't keep hold of our own youth how can we entice the cream of the crop elsewhere to join us?
 

Sykes

Well-Known Member
Jul 16, 2017
165
811
I dont want to be negative but it would be such a shame to lose out on youth players to other teams because of fears of game time. I for one get excited when a home grown player plays and too lose out on a 25+ goal a season player in the U18's would be gutting if he turns out to be a great player.
 

alexis

Well-Known Member
Sep 1, 2012
1,820
3,374
His dad is a top bloke, I highly doubt it

If he was white, would we be saying this

I feel sometimes people see a teenage mixed race kid who is a bit moody and paint their own picture

The idea he is as bad as morrison, is laughable, seriously comparing him to a guy who was in trouble with the law is insane

Mason couldnt muster it at the championship yet the season after he was in league one, was our most influential player
Kane wasnt doing well for leicester but the season after was in our first team, shit vardy was getting a dogs abuse at the same time and couldn't get in to the leicester team over nugent and wood
Rose couldnt cut it at bristol yet a month later was LB for us against Man City
Really
 

IGSpur

Well-Known Member
Jan 11, 2013
7,939
13,758
Can I just clarify I never said griffiths was like kane. What i compared was that neither are very easy on the eye in the way they move. And both can look cumbersome at times.But Kane technique was obviously far superior at that age.

What’s the general feeling on Dinzeyi. He doesn’t get much praise here but seen some complementary stuff on twitter?

Maybe it was misinterpreted but what I thought you meant that, both were good but you couldn't understand why, as they don't/didn't look particularly good. For Kane imo you would look at Kane and think he is a good player, Griffiths, you still don't quite know what you're watching. But I will say, he is a good player and there is a lot to work with.

Dinzeyi is a decent defender. Really impressed when he was a schoolboy after being converted from a winger. I think earned a call-up to England. Started to look a bit clumsy but I think has found the form that made him appear promising in the last 6 months. Rumours are Poch rates him, but we have a plethora of quality CBs. I personally would have Tanganga, Eyoma and BLF as more promising. I even like Brown. The issue is if they weren't there or he were at another club he'd get a lot more love and ratings. What has been said about him?

Hope we send out at least 3 of our CBs on loan next year, don't really care which ones, then have the other 2 stay behind and play regular u23 football.
 

IGSpur

Well-Known Member
Jan 11, 2013
7,939
13,758
To put Griffiths situation into some context, which may explain why he isn't as hyped as people might expect. If we look at Englands successful u17 sides.

The 93s had Afobe, Berahino, Wickham and Kane. A very strong selection of strikers and Kane was still good enough to earn himself regular call-ups to that age group. I believe he only missed out on the Euros due to injury but someone more knowledgeable or aware of that period may correct me. I certainly didn't know as much then as I do now.

The 97s had Solanke, Abraham and Armstrong (Rashford was nowhere near the picture). When they were u17s Abraham wasn't there and Brown and Roberts acted as forwards, but Abraham was called up at u18s. In my personal and maybe somewhat bias opinion at that time I would have had Harrison as one of the next in lines. That is another very strong selection of strikers, and I think Harrison was unlucky to have not been called up at any point.

The 00s. Brewster, Loader. They actually don't have that strong of a selection. The striker options are the weakest point of that squad, I think Loader is a better player than Brewster, but Brewster is the better striker. But Brewster isn't a great striker especially compared to previous age groups. Hudson-Odoi can be a back-up striker. And yet Reo has only received a call-up for one tournament at u16 level and has only played 10mins of international football since the u17s. He is probably in the same position as Harrison despite having weaker and less competition.

It's very strange and yet understandable that he hasn't appear much for England, and I'd still argue that as a player Harrison was probably a better striker/player. If there were international games coming up he'd 100% deserve a call-up but he has been consistent throughout the season and still didn't get called up to the u18s last month, despite Brewster being injured, they went with Loader. There is no way the England scouts are not aware of what he is doing which leads me to believe the England coaches are watching him and still also not sure what to make of him. And I think nowadays the England scouts really know what they are doing. I think that sums him up well, someone who is scoring bags of goals, yet still isn't convincing, for whatever reason.

He is very unfortunate, and should have been rewarded more, and I'd personally like to keep him, to see what he could end up doing, but I'm definitely not waxing lyrical about him yet, but maybe I should be. I can see why he would have a lot of suitors, and I imagine if he went abroad, he would get chances, which is why, if I were him I'd still leave. I wouldn't just go to another English club though.
 

Cravenspurs

Well-Known Member
Jul 31, 2011
2,864
3,680
Would be pretty spursy to allow our young talent to go elsewhere. Why invest in a training ground and infrastructure just to let the likes of KWP, Josh and others prove their worth elsewhere
 

EQP

EQP
Sep 1, 2013
7,960
29,658
The kid knows his worth and value. He has many suitors, and has done for over a year. Now, do you sign and wait 4 years? I don’t think so! Is he ready for first team squad, when Sterling can’t get a look in? And I am not advocating that Sterling is good enough.

When the academy elite youngsters are now looking elsewhere. Can you blame him? Did I not address this situation last summer?

Hope this pre-season is better for the likes of Onomah and KWP. Really want them to break into the 1st team and show what they can do.
 

DCSPUR

Well-Known Member
Apr 15, 2005
3,918
5,415
it is hard to get a sense of what will happen this summer....on the one hand we have some serious backing for Poch (we hope and anticipate thanks to @Hercules) and on the other hand we need to show our top talent that there is a pathway to the first team.
Seems like the way to thread the needle is for Poch to make sure (a) Winks still has scope to win a starting berth (once his injuries clear up) and (b) that KWP is one of two RB's and is in a straight fight for the top dog role in that spot.

If he can give one other young talent a chance of solid minutes in LC games etc. that would round things off and might be enough for those coming through....who could that third talent be? Not sure if it will be Josh but hope so
 

willcpt17

Active Member
Apr 7, 2018
88
127
it is hard to get a sense of what will happen this summer....on the one hand we have some serious backing for Poch (we hope and anticipate thanks to @Hercules) and on the other hand we need to show our top talent that there is a pathway to the first team.
Seems like the way to thread the needle is for Poch to make sure (a) Winks still has scope to win a starting berth (once his injuries clear up) and (b) that KWP is one of two RB's and is in a straight fight for the top dog role in that spot.

If he can give one other young talent a chance of solid minutes in LC games etc. that would round things off and might be enough for those coming through....who could that third talent be? Not sure if it will be Josh but hope so
We really missed Winks the last few games, I think a healthy, in-form Winks would've been a great option off the bench. I would have liked to see KWP get more opportunities this season and think it will be difficult if both Trippier and Aurier are still with us. Aurier will hopefully show some improvement after a full preseason with Poch.
I think Keanan Bennetts could be that third talent. He has been very impressive this season for the U23s and should get an opportunity to travel with the first team for preseason tour. Bennetts versatility could be an asset and he could excel as a LB/LWB. Josh has definitely impressed recently for Villa and I think this could be a make or break preseason for him as far as his Spurs career is concerned.
 

spursfan77

Well-Known Member
Aug 13, 2005
46,680
104,957
It’s definitely harder to get these kids first team chances when every game matters so much. As I see it there’s 2 things we could do, 1 is in our hands and the other isn’t. Firstly we could be better at loaning our players out. Secondly we could be lobbying the premier league to allow larger subsistute benches. If there were 11 subs for example we could easily put a few on the bench. (I’m sure this is planned somewhere, not sure it’s the premier league though, might be the champions league).
 
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