Spurs academy attracting the cream of the crop...

[mill]

Be nice to see us put some faith in our kids hopefully this season we'll have townsend, falque, Carroll, rose and caulker making an impact in the prem with one or two of the others getting the odd appearance in the cups

 

[wlhatwhl]

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.’"

HotspurHQ is part of the American Fansided group but the Spurs blog is very much British as all three writers are from here. Thanks for reading and commenting.
I thought it was interesting to report the views of parents and hopefully we'll see young players progressing from the Academy to become regulars in the 1st team. COYS!

 

[OmarsComing]

90% don't even make it in professional football.

 

[StartingPrice]

I was about to agree but then had to stop myself.

I actually don't think it's about which individual talents happen to pop out, I think it's more about creating a style of football that our kids can all slot into. Like Barca. Having a familiar system and the skills to make the system work.

Very exciting times for our youth and I hope it only goes from strength to strength. I want to see us dominate the NextGen series for years to come.

This.
There shouldn't be such focus on evaluating the system based on the production of one stand out player. The production of several quality squad players of genuine required standard all immersed in an accepted club standard and comfortable with one another can be just as acceptable - freeing up money for marquee signings to fill gaps in the squad.

The thing about choosing technique over size and athleticism is particularly pertinent. IMO this was a major issue with English football (not the only one but a definite one) development over the last 30-40 years (maybe longer).

And this.

Great to read but it's all so simple really isn't it, why hasn't this country done it sooner! Sure richer clubs can do it better but the principle of teaching young players that way can be done at any level.

In regard to BC's post, above, I think there was so much proud emphasis on English/British football, the pace and the power, the up-and-at-'em spirit, etc., the previous success in Europe, that there wasn't an admission that things needed to change (and still isn't in some quarters).
We weren't the first club of standing to make the change - Southampton were the first - and with both clubs there was a clearer than clear reason for doing so. With Southampton, it was a realisation that buying players to get out of the Championship and then selling them to buy players to stay in the EPL would probably just see them expending all of their resources on being a YoYo team. With us, at a higher level, it was the realisation that buying a couple of good players and surrounding them with inferior quality and a few formerly top players now on the downward slope of their careers, was not getting us back into contention - it was just spending the quite a lot that we had that was more than the nothing that some clubs had, but dwarfed by the hell of a lot that some clubs had, to stand still, more-or-less. Our hope was to find an angle, an edge - and that is what Levy did when he took a moratorium after the Glenda dismissal, leaving the PleatMeister in charge , while he had a thorough investigation made of alternative methodologies, and then hired Frank Arnesen. It shouldn't be underestimated how massive the Arnesen signing was for us, nor how much it set us back when Chelsea absconded with him.

That's my theory, anyway

 

[EnfieldYiddo]

Love this... Really hope England start producing quality youngsters who are technically adept on the ball. I genuinely wouldn't care if Arsenal had a world class talent if he was English; I just want to care about my national team again! Still nice to know we are leading the charge for all these quality youngsters.

 

[davethebear]

Sorry I rated funny rather than winner, fat iPhone fingers!!

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.’"

 

[bigpalacios]

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:u

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.’"

I liked this post but in reality I fucking love it.

 

[bilburger]

This is my dream for the club, that it produces its own players. I love big signings (who doesn't) but there's surely is nothing better than cheering on a group of lads who've come through the ranks.

 

[spurious1]

Altough of course it's great from the viewpoint of the team that we are doing this, and apparently getting ahead in the game, I still always get uncomfortable thinking about under-9s getting agressively recruited by PL clubs. My kids both gave up playing since it became no fun at all, it was just pressure and competition, and a lot of 10 year old kids imagining they are going to be first division players. I guess it is the only way to cultivate the select few who do make it, but for the rest, it's a lot of stress, pressure and work that leads to nothing much, except they learn "professional" habits at a young age, diving and waving imaginary red cards. Probably in 'Pool's academy they train them how to bite the opponent most effectively.

By the time they are 15 or so, I guess those still in the structure can reasonably hope to have a career at some level, although still very very few in the Prem or equivilalent.

 

[StartingPrice]

Altough of course it's great from the viewpoint of the team that we are doing this, and apparently getting ahead in the game, I still always get uncomfortable thinking about under-9s getting agressively recruited by PL clubs. My kids both gave up playing since it became no fun at all, it was just pressure and competition, and a lot of 10 year old kids imagining they are going to be first division players. I guess it is the only way to cultivate the select few who do make it, but for the rest, it's a lot of stress, pressure and work that leads to nothing much, except they learn "professional" habits at a young age, diving and waving imaginary red cards. Probably in 'Pool's academy they train them how to bite the opponent most effectively.

By the time they are 15 or so, I guess those still in the structure can reasonably hope to have a career at some level, although still very very few in the Prem or equivilalent.

On the one hand, I agree with you totally.

On the other hand, I don't think that the recruiting of 9 YO's or the success driven ethos from such a young age are uniquely ours. In fact, I think many, or even most teams do it. And, if anything, the methodology we employ is supposed to mitigate against such a heavy focus on success and winning, as the keystone of the approach is supposed to be about producing players who are comfortable with the ball, and not big, strong, imposing, dominating athletes. At least in the European manifestation of this approach, which we are supposed to be emulating, winning isn't even given a high priority, at least with the younger age groups - though I am sure I read an article on SC a few months back, (maybe by Ramsay - but not sure) which did seem to place a certain emphasis on mentality. So, maybe we are looking to moderate the Continental method, or even combine it with a more competitive edge.

Them 'Pool players could certainly do with being muzzled...from a young age (clearly, Jay Spearing discovered a way to amalgamate his muzzle into his face, producing the first Scouse/muzzle hybrid )!

 

[mill]

The thing about choosing technique over size and athleticism is particularly pertinent. IMO this was a major issue with English football (not the only one but a definite one) development over the last 30-40 years (maybe longer).

Shane then our first team seems to be getting filled with hulking beasts rather than technical players just as we start to see the benefit of this

 

[StartingPrice]

1) Shane then 2) our first team seems to be getting filled with hulking beasts rather than technical players just as we start to see the benefit of this

1) BeeCee is Shane Ritchie?

2) The apparent contradiction did occur to me, too...but it is only an apparent contradiction:
Squad building is about the melding of talents, skills and qualities. We don't know exactly what the first team is going to be next season, just that speculation has deduced a switch to a 4-3-3 with, maybe, Sandro/Paulinho/Dembélé as the midfield component - but not necessarily for every single game. We bought Holtby in January, he is hardly a hulking beast. Maybe AVB will see things differently in the EPL, but his team that included Hulk also accommodated Moutinho.
Besides, you are working on an assumption - that all big players are technically backward. That isn't necessarily so - it is perfectly possible to be a big, strong player with technical ability that enhances athletic attributes.
The methodology isn't designed to craft small players into technical supremos. Although some of our most highly touted recent products, like Carroll and Pritchard, are on the short side, it doesn't mean all players from the youth set-up are or need to be small. The methodology, rather, is designed to teach all young players who pass through the youth set-up to be technically accomplished be they small, medium or large in either height or build.

 

[mill]

1) BeeCee is Shane Ritchie?

2) The apparent contradiction did occur to me, too...but it is only an apparent contradiction:
Squad building is about the melding of talents, skills and qualities. We don't know exactly what the first team is going to be next season, just that speculation has deduced a switch to a 4-3-3 with, maybe, Sandro/Paulinho/Dembélé as the midfield component - but not necessarily for every single game. We bought Holtby in January, he is hardly a hulking beast. Maybe AVB will see things differently in the EPL, but his team that included Hulk also accommodated Moutinho.
Besides, you are working on an assumption - that all big players are technically backward. That isn't necessarily so - it is perfectly possible to be a big, strong player with technical ability that enhances athletic attributes.
The methodology isn't designed to craft small players into technical supremos. Although some of our most highly touted recent products, like Carroll and Pritchard, are on the short side, it doesn't mean all players from the youth set-up are or need to be small. The methodology, rather, is designed to teach all young players who pass through the youth set-up to be technically accomplished be they small, medium or large in either height or build.

No you're working on the assumption that I'm assuming thst all all big players are technically backward, I didn't say that at all, I was rather looking at our main midfield 3 and the links too benteke and chadli, while none of them are poor technically it's not something they're particularly renowned for

 

[StartingPrice]

No you're working on the assumption that I'm assuming thst all all big players are technically backward, I didn't say that at all, I was rather looking at our main midfield 3 and the links too benteke and chadli, while none of them are poor technically it's not something they're particularly renowned for

I haven't made any assumption. You said "hulking beasts rather than technical players" - that sounds pretty much like a clear demarcation. Perhaps you were just a bit careless in wording it.

In any case, the main part of my answer stands - it is not important that the players produced should all be renowned for their technical ability, but that they be comfortable technically, no matter what size or shape, or what position they play. There is a difference.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Shane then our first team seems to be getting filled with hulking beasts rather than technical players just as we start to see the benefit of this

Dembele's technique is very good, Paulinho is technically fine, and for a hunter gatherer, Sandro technique is fine.

Personally I'm really pissed off that we have packed Pritchard off to league 1 but I really hope we see a couple of the development group getting more bench, sub and cup time this season.

 

[mill]

Dembele's technique is very good, Paulinho is technically fine, and for a hunter gatherer, Sandro technique is fine.

Personally I'm really pissed off that we have packed Pritchard off to league 1 but I really hope we see a couple of the development group getting more bench, sub and cup time this season.

Dembele's technique is good and the other 2 are fine, but exactly then add in benteke again average technique as well as chadli again average in technique but none of them anything special in that regard, modric and vdv pissed all over them in that respect

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Dembele's technique is good and the other 2 are fine, but exactly then add in benteke again average technique as well as chadli again average in technique but none of them anything special in that regard, modric and vdv pissed all over them in that respect

Agreed, but those two were exceptional players of the very highest calibre.

 

[Flashspur]

wonderful read - thanks for posting

 

[Twizzle]

triffic

 

[martinbrady]

i'll second all the above, I was down there with another EPL U18's team on saturday and watched the young U8's doing 2 v 2 drills, i've never seen anything quite like it. The speed and technique in kids that age made me stop and watch. Head and shoulders above what I have seen at our academy even compared to the U10 team. Some of these boys will be premier league players of the future.