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The Spurs Youth Thread - 2017/2018

Blake Griffin

Well-Known Member
Oct 3, 2011
14,133
38,225
But don't we have to offer a professional contract at 18 or release? It might be a case of simply the agent can't get a fee until the player is 18 so that's when we offer him one.

no, we can offer a 3rd year scholarship if we wish, once they've finished that then we either sign them to a pro or release. i don't know why an agent would have to wait until the player is 18 before they get a fee, not when the age that they can sign one is 17. even if that were the case, which would be strange, reo turns 18 in a couple of weeks so they could've just waited until then. every current 2nd year player has signed a pro deal except for griffiths. when our 4th/5th choice keeper who has played about two games is on a contract but our 30+ goal striker isn't then it's only logical to believe that it's down to the player, rather than the club.
 

Lilbaz

Just call me Baz
Apr 1, 2005
41,363
74,893
no, we can offer a 3rd year scholarship if we wish, once they've finished that then we either sign them to a pro or release. i don't know why an agent would have to wait until the player is 18 before they get a fee, not when the age that they can sign one is 17. even if that were the case, which would be strange, reo turns 18 in a couple of weeks so they could've just waited until then. every current 2nd year player has signed a pro deal except for griffiths. when our 4th/5th choice keeper who has played about two games is on a contract but our 30+ goal striker isn't then it's only logical to believe that it's down to the player, rather than the club.

Will try and find the article. Basically the fa changed the rules that agents could not receive a fee for a transfer or contract negotiation for a player under 18. A player at 18 would then be offered a professional contract. The idea was that young players would stay at smaller clubs then at 18 they would stay with them getting more playing time. Rather than go to big clubs to be in the reserves. Which would also be against the agents interest.
Problem is that agents have been taking young english players abroad. Which for the fa and england is good but the parent clubs don't get a fee.
 

Lilbaz

Just call me Baz
Apr 1, 2005
41,363
74,893
Found the rule.

THE RULES OF THE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION LIMITED (“The Association”) (“The Rules”) as adopted by The Association on 18th Ma - The FA
PDFwww.thefa.com › cfa › files › about › rul...

See section c.

Sorry pdf so can't copy and paste.

Basically any player in full time education cannot sign a professional contract with a club. Untill 18.
 
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IGSpur

Well-Known Member
Jan 11, 2013
7,939
13,758
@IGSpur how do you manage to keep up with all this? Do you actually get to see many of the youth team games, or do you just follow the talk about it onlien? And if you do see them, is it in person or online/TV? I'd love to follow more youth team football but don't have much idea of how to go about it below U21 level (and the major international tournaments at lower levels that the mainstream media is beginning to follow now that England are good).

Most of it mainly comes from my own research. Attending u18 games here and there then speaking to people. Hard to watch anything u16 and below in person other than showcase events, so it comes down to following players on social media, they might post a tournament they're at, I'll find it, then post results, or post streams or highlights from the website where I can, for others to watch. Then through that you will find out squad lists, then you might find more on social media, they will post other tournaments or even highlights of games not televised. And gradually build up more of a picture of the players.

Secondly, I speak to fans of other clubs here and there who are interested in youth football and have connections and they will share information on what they've heard relevant to Spurs or ask me for information. Reading forums, sometimes watching other clubs youth tournaments, England tournaments. Sometimes ITKs who know I have an interest will kindly share info as I assume they see me as a responsible poster and depending on the information I might also share. It's just a few years of being interested and now knowing where to go.

I reckon, across a whole season, from u23s downwards. If we're talking full matches(indoors/outdoors) which can range from 15mins to 90 mins depending on age group and taking into account club and internationals, I watch between 30-50 matches per season.
 

IGSpur

Well-Known Member
Jan 11, 2013
7,939
13,758
Haysman, Hackett and Bryan-Waugh have been called up to the second England u15 camp of the summer. There will be 3 camps. I think there are usually 2, but for the 00 age group I remember there being 3. If I'm correct that could imply that this is another good generation. As I said there are many from our age group, if City and Chelsea produce their standard amount plus the others then I imagine it will be a good year group.

None are a surprise, as above. Club players can be spread across different camps so I'd expect at least Scarlett and Forson to also get call ups - and Hudson, if he is as good as a I remember him from last season, haven't seen him this season.

These will take place in August. I will provide updates when I can

Dane Scarlett has been invited to the first u15 camp
 

Disconosebleed

Well-Known Member
Dec 22, 2005
2,553
2,569
Most of it mainly comes from my own research. Attending u18 games here and there then speaking to people. Hard to watch anything u16 and below in person other than showcase events, so it comes down to following players on social media, they might post a tournament they're at, I'll find it, then post results, or post streams or highlights from the website where I can, for others to watch. Then through that you will find out squad lists, then you might find more on social media, they will post other tournaments or even highlights of games not televised. And gradually build up more of a picture of the players.

Secondly, I speak to fans of other clubs here and there who are interested in youth football and have connections and they will share information on what they've heard relevant to Spurs or ask me for information. Reading forums, sometimes watching other clubs youth tournaments, England tournaments. Sometimes ITKs who know I have an interest will kindly share info as I assume they see me as a responsible poster and depending on the information I might also share. It's just a few years of being interested and now knowing where to go.

I reckon, across a whole season, from u23s downwards. If we're talking full matches(indoors/outdoors) which can range from 15mins to 90 mins depending on age group and taking into account club and internationals, I watch between 30-50 matches per season.

Nice one mate, I can't tell you the number of times I've touted young players that "are supposed to be potential stars" to my mates off the back of your info. They think I actually know what I'm on about.

What players (across Spurs, English football or world football in general) are you most excited about for the future?
 

IGSpur

Well-Known Member
Jan 11, 2013
7,939
13,758
Nice one mate, I can't tell you the number of times I've touted young players that "are supposed to be potential stars" to my mates off the back of your info. They think I actually know what I'm on about.

What players (across Spurs, English football or world football in general) are you most excited about for the future?

Glad I can help sadly, none of these guys are actually coming through though, so I know I'm looking foolish I just hope you don't too.

There are a lot to get excited about, the problem as ever is stuck in clubs where even the best won't get a chance. Of course Sancho is quality, and I have always really liked Hudson-Odoi. There are plenty of slick wingers stuck at City who, if scattered across other clubs, might actually come through and get chances, but sadly, while they are battling with each other, they are then behind Foden and Diaz, and were behind Sancho, and they are all behind any winger City choose to sign for their first team anyway.

One winger I've mentioned that City have who has also suffered an injury is Taylor Richards and I bet he is wondering what might have happened if he just stayed at Fulham, and Poveda went there from Brentford and won POTT in the recent u18 tournament that England played in, which shows the depth of the age group that none of their 'best' players were there and we still had the best player.. Curtis Jones at Liverpool is also a very exciting and skilful player who I think stands a decent chance of coming through at Liverpool but no doubt his break through will be dependent on injuries.

These are all exciting players, who were they to come through elsewhere, whether that be abroad or the EFL, would stand a great chance of ending up at a top club, but tbh I wouldn't be surprised to see every player mentioned in this post including Foden to play a combined 500mins of PL over the next 2 years.

For us, Skipp is as good a choice as any to get into the first team, due to his low risk style, work rate and ability. But outside of Edwards, other than Shashoua, I can't see any attacking players coming through anytime soon now. I'm still really looking forward to KWP and Onomah getting proper chances, and hope if they do get them they manager to show what they can do.

I don't know too much about the world football other than what I read and when I see us play against teams from abroad.
 

Spurzinho

Well-Known Member
Jan 24, 2016
2,512
8,342
Former youth winger Emanuel Sonupe has signed for Stevenage. He had been playing for Kidderminster after a unsuccessful spell at Northampton. Hope it goes well for him, seemed a nice lad. He definitely had something about him but he seemed to plateau for us. Didn't score enough, didn't create enough, didn't commit defenders enough, didn't drive past players and use his burst of pace enough. All things that can be down to a lack of footballing maturity. If ever a player needed to leave the comfortable surrounds of Spurs and feel the pressure of big stakes senior football then it was Sonupe. He scored a bundle of goals last season so something must have finally clicked.
 

IGSpur

Well-Known Member
Jan 11, 2013
7,939
13,758
Former youth winger Emanuel Sonupe has signed for Stevenage. He had been playing for Kidderminster after a unsuccessful spell at Northampton. Hope it goes well for him, seemed a nice lad. He definitely had something about him but he seemed to plateau for us. Didn't score enough, didn't create enough, didn't commit defenders enough, didn't drive past players and use his burst of pace enough. All things that can be down to a lack of footballing maturity. If ever a player needed to leave the comfortable surrounds of Spurs and feel the pressure of big stakes senior football then it was Sonupe. He scored a bundle of goals last season so something must have finally clicked.

I actually think he was a good winger, a livewire, quick, could beat a man but had one of the worse end products I'd seen. As you say always came across really well.

Hope Stevenage works out well for him
 

WindyCOYS

Well-Known Member
Feb 24, 2016
479
1,588
I actually think he was a good winger, a livewire, quick, could beat a man but had one of the worse end products I'd seen. As you say always came across really well.

Hope Stevenage works out well for him
Agreed. In matches where he had the beating of his man every time it worked well because one in every ten passes/crosses would end in a goal, but otherwise he was very wasteful.
 

Spurzinho

Well-Known Member
Jan 24, 2016
2,512
8,342
Good luck to Joe. Always worked hard and gave his best. He'll be in the squad with former youth teammate Joe Muscatt.
 

mill

Well-Known Member
May 21, 2007
10,385
37,100
With bielsa in at Leeds what do we reckon as a destination loans? Poch will obviously trust the coaching which has been mooted as a previous concern
 

Spurzinho

Well-Known Member
Jan 24, 2016
2,512
8,342
With bielsa in at Leeds what do we reckon as a destination loans? Poch will obviously trust the coaching which has been mooted as a previous concern

It depends whether Bielsa is still there next week, you know what he's like.
 

Spurzinho

Well-Known Member
Jan 24, 2016
2,512
8,342
Former U18 defender William Troost-Ekong starting for Nigeria tonight. Started out in his country of birth Netherlands with Haarlem before they went bust. He trained with Fulham for a bit before signing for us after a trial. he barely paid in the three years he was with us for reasons I could never quite fathom given his inclusion in Dutch youth squads.
 

Spurzinho

Well-Known Member
Jan 24, 2016
2,512
8,342
Update: Poor old William gave away a poor penalty in the second half. Wrestled Mandzukic to the ground during a corner kick. Stone wall penalty. It has to be said Nigeria would have lost the game anyway as they were completely awful.
 

Locotoro

Prince of Zamunda
Sep 2, 2004
9,326
13,915
Taarabt may have had more tricks than Edwards but that was about it IMO. Edwards the superior player for me.
With respect, I think you’re seeing this with rose tinted glasses.

As wasted a talent as Taraabt is let’s not forget he’s a full international and has played for a few of Europe’s biggest clubs.

If we’re talking raw footballing ability I don’t think Edwards is anywhere near the level his hype is.
 
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