sloth
Well-Known Member
- Mar 7, 2005
- 9,018
- 6,900
This is taken from an article on Hotspur HQ (a US site apparently): http://hotspurhq.com/2013/07/12/tottenhams-academy-players-benefiting-from-new-training-facilities/?
Rather than reproduce the whole article I thought I'd just take the relevant quotes:
Attract the best!
(1) ‘My son plays in the foundation group of elite players at the Spurs Academy at Bulls Cross new training centre. He is currently too young to sign with the club.
I’ve been able to see first hand that Spurs are indeed creating world class players for the future. The Under-9 to Under-14 groups are jaw dropping to watch, the technique and speed is hard to take in for kids so young. What will these lads be like at 18 years old? Exciting times ahead if you are a Spurs fan (I am not). The new training facility is world class and currently the best in the country no question so it will attract the best talent.’
Goalkeeping Talent
(2) ‘My son is in the Under-9 squad at Spurs. The facilities will attract the best talent and the coaching (although frustrating to watch sometimes) is consistent and very well planned.
What is also overlooked is the fantastic set up for Goalkeepers at Spurs. I have yet to see better talent at any other Academy. I guarantee they will produce a world class keeper in the next 10 years.’
1st Choice – Tottenham!
(3) ‘The new facility is already paying off for the Academy boys, in particular with recruitment at the foundation stage. Previously the club would fight the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea for the best players within their catchment area and this could be a real battle. Now with the world-leading facilities and the extensive recruitment of more qualified coaches they can attract the best players. Where as previously Spurs may sign 16 boys at Under-9, only 5 or 6 of these boys would have been on their initial hit-list, the remaining 10 would be the best of those left from not being signed by Arsenal and Chelsea. Now it’s the other way round – the best are picking Spurs, then leaving Arsenal and Chelsea to pick up the best of the rest.
I’ve seen first hand the current Under-7s and Under-8s (pre-Academy elite boys) at all of these clubs and trust me Spurs have the most impressive looking boys technically. They might not be match winners at this age but you can see their squad already have some kids that have core skills that would embarrass most decent adult players. With Arsenal and Chelsea they seem more attracted to bigger match winning players now rather than looking forward long term.
Ajax in their hay-day made a point of signing smaller technical players at a very young age to perfect their ball control under pressure, when they caught up in size at age 12 or 13, they destroyed any opposition in their way as their ball control was just too good and too quick for the opponents who didn’t have to work as hard as these smaller boys had to work because their physical size and strength meant they didn’t have to.
Spurs have picked up on this, look at the Spanish players now, none of those players would have been signed by EPL players at Academy level as they would have been too small and that’s a fact. We are years behind in this country in recognising talent early and progressing it for the long term results not short term rewards.
A good future ahead.’"
Rather than reproduce the whole article I thought I'd just take the relevant quotes:
Attract the best!
(1) ‘My son plays in the foundation group of elite players at the Spurs Academy at Bulls Cross new training centre. He is currently too young to sign with the club.
I’ve been able to see first hand that Spurs are indeed creating world class players for the future. The Under-9 to Under-14 groups are jaw dropping to watch, the technique and speed is hard to take in for kids so young. What will these lads be like at 18 years old? Exciting times ahead if you are a Spurs fan (I am not). The new training facility is world class and currently the best in the country no question so it will attract the best talent.’
Goalkeeping Talent
(2) ‘My son is in the Under-9 squad at Spurs. The facilities will attract the best talent and the coaching (although frustrating to watch sometimes) is consistent and very well planned.
What is also overlooked is the fantastic set up for Goalkeepers at Spurs. I have yet to see better talent at any other Academy. I guarantee they will produce a world class keeper in the next 10 years.’
1st Choice – Tottenham!
(3) ‘The new facility is already paying off for the Academy boys, in particular with recruitment at the foundation stage. Previously the club would fight the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea for the best players within their catchment area and this could be a real battle. Now with the world-leading facilities and the extensive recruitment of more qualified coaches they can attract the best players. Where as previously Spurs may sign 16 boys at Under-9, only 5 or 6 of these boys would have been on their initial hit-list, the remaining 10 would be the best of those left from not being signed by Arsenal and Chelsea. Now it’s the other way round – the best are picking Spurs, then leaving Arsenal and Chelsea to pick up the best of the rest.
I’ve seen first hand the current Under-7s and Under-8s (pre-Academy elite boys) at all of these clubs and trust me Spurs have the most impressive looking boys technically. They might not be match winners at this age but you can see their squad already have some kids that have core skills that would embarrass most decent adult players. With Arsenal and Chelsea they seem more attracted to bigger match winning players now rather than looking forward long term.
Ajax in their hay-day made a point of signing smaller technical players at a very young age to perfect their ball control under pressure, when they caught up in size at age 12 or 13, they destroyed any opposition in their way as their ball control was just too good and too quick for the opponents who didn’t have to work as hard as these smaller boys had to work because their physical size and strength meant they didn’t have to.
Spurs have picked up on this, look at the Spanish players now, none of those players would have been signed by EPL players at Academy level as they would have been too small and that’s a fact. We are years behind in this country in recognising talent early and progressing it for the long term results not short term rewards.
A good future ahead.’"
