Spurs Youth Thread 20/21

[C0YS]

I realise this isn't completely pertinent to the thread, but it is a carry on from what I said earlier. Does the FA have a blue print of 523/352 being played throughout the ranks or is it coincidence that both the senior team and the U19's play a system that leaves the striker isolated.

I know I'm watching youth football, however the comparisons are there to be made. The u19's at least seem braver on the ball but I can't help but notice how little of the ball Scarlett saw unless we were breaking on Austria. It's exactly the same as Kane for the senior side, where he has to drop all over the pitch just to see the ball.

Tbf part of that is just the nature of international football. Also, neither 3-4-3 or 3-5-2 are formations any more likely to leave forwards isolated than other alternatives.

 

[BoringOldFan]

Didn't realise that Yusuf Demir was playing for Austria, he made his senior team debut last year and he's playing for the U19s now. Should played Bellingham then.

He looks like he’s in his mid-twenties. I know it was an 8pm local time kick off, but that’s a hell of a five o’clock shadow he’s got.

Alfie looks about 12 in comparison.

 

[Buggsy61]

Here’s the highlights from last night. Devine is definitely one for the future and has some real oomf about him. The Villa lad is quality- probably see him in their first team next year.

 

[ralphs bald spot]

Cochrane the coach who left us for United to work with their academy has now moved on to Brentford where he will be working with their first team

 

[Lilywhite Rose]

Who is the defensive minded player in the midfield of this England u19 team? Also thought Ramsey was a more attacking player when I have seen him for Villa and it can’t be Alfie, Harvey Vale or Cairney Chukwumenka

 

[ralphs bald spot]

I still don’t see Scarlett, he must be an elite trainer ??‍ He does ok but I’ve yet to see anything that makes me go wow like I did with Devine tonight.

But in Parrott Gil Sarr Devine we have 4 really exciting youth talents.

watching Scarlett for me he is working extremely hard and seems to have spent a lot of time on the physical aspects of the centre forward role which is unusual for a kid. I think the way the centre forward role has developed its one of the most difficult for a youngster to shine at

. The young strikers all start as goal machines at their various levels and then suddenly they find themselves moving into adult football where its not only about goals its about work rate bringing others into play and being an outlet. Watching Scarlett he has developed physically ,his work rate is impressive as his is awareness if he can add goals to that he has half a chance

 

[Flobadob]

Who is the defensive minded player in the midfield of this England u19 team? Also thought Ramsey was a more attacking player when I have seen him for Villa and it can’t be Alfie, Harvey Vale or Cairney Chukwumenka

Tim Iroegbunam another Villa lad, looked pretty handy last night as well

 

[Lilywhite Rose]

Tim Iroegbunam another Villa lad, looked pretty handy last night as well

Thank you. Villa bringing through some great prospects

 

[Flobadob]

Thank you. Villa bringing through some great prospects

Yeah they are fixing to line up a nice midfield in the future with Ramsey, Chukwuemeka and Iroegbunam. Must be exciting for their fans and you’d imagine Gerrard will be a great influence on players in that position too

 

[spursfan77]

Tim Iroegbunam another Villa lad, looked pretty handy last night as well

If he played for us, nobody on here is spelling his surname correctly!

 

[Flobadob]

If he played for us, nobody on here is spelling his surname correctly!

I’d happily take people butchering Chukwuemeka’s name if it meant he played for us tbh! He looks fantastic every time I see him play

 

[chrissivad]

If he played for us, nobody on here is spelling his surname correctly!

He would be called Tim

 

[spursfan77]

I’d happily take people butchering Chukwuemeka’s name if it meant he played for us tbh! He looks fantastic every time I see him play

Yeah he is really good. Threatened to walk out on Villa last season though if he didn't get PL minutes. Seems like quite an attitude for someone so young to have. Not sure if a good or bad one, but of both I suspect.

 

[Delboy75]

Villa will do very very well to hang onto Chukwemeka especially after this tournament only has a year left. I’d guess every single club in Europe would be interested. Pogba is a lazy comparison but it’s kind like what you imagine Pogba could be but never really was if that makes any sense.

 

[Flobadob]

Villa will do very very well to hang onto Chukwemeka especially after this tournament only has a year left. I’d guess every single club in Europe would be interested. Pogba is a lazy comparison but it’s kind like what you imagine Pogba could be but never really was if that makes any sense.

I didn’t know that, we should be absolutely all over that! He’s one of the biggest talents England have had in the youth sides for a while in my opinion. Yeah Pogba is a fair comparison he moves in a similar way, has those long strides and that ability to nick the ball past opponents and is a goal threat too. Seems he’s pretty head strong about his development if what @spursfan77 is saying is right. You can look at it both ways really as either arrogance or ambition, we’ll find out over the course of his career I’d imagine

 

[spursfan77]

I didn’t know that, we should be absolutely all over that! He’s one of the biggest talents England have had in the youth sides for a while in my opinion. Yeah Pogba is a fair comparison he moves in a similar way, has those long strides and that ability to nick the ball past opponents and is a goal threat too. Seems he’s pretty head strong about his development if what @spursfan77 is saying is right. You can look at it both ways really as either arrogance or ambition, we’ll find out over the course of his career I’d imagine

It was in The Sun but something is up. Seems like he won't sign a new contract. I wonder who his agent is. Probably not someone looking out for the player but rather their own pockets.

Chukwuemeka was chased by Barcelona but couldn't get Chelsea 'out of his head'

THERE will be many at Villa Park smarting about Carney Chukwuemeka’s £20million move to Chelsea. The talented 18-year-old was the talisman for Aston Villa’s U18 side in 2021 – sta…

www.thesun.co.uk

However, the was trouble brewing behind the scenes.

As is the norm, wonderkids with an abundance of skill have an expectation to play minutes in the first team.


Chukwuemeka has had minutes, but not as many as he would have liked.

He made his first start in the second game of the season as Villa could only manage a draw at home to promoted Brentford.

But his performance was the standout in an otherwise disappointing result.

Pundit Paul Merson hailed him as "outstanding" saying "he will be an absolute star".

Chukwuemeka has since found himself making cameos from the bench, although his last outing was back on February 13 when he played just five minutes in a defeat to Newcastle.

A contract stand off seems to have got in the way of his development.

Back in January, Villa boss Steven Gerrard revealed talks over a new deal for Chukwuemeka were being had.

"We want him to sign and to extend and reward him for what we've seen so far," Gerrard revealed in a press conference.

"We've got big aspirations and a big road map for Carney but, in terms of answering your question, there's only one person who can answer and that's Carney."

"We've done everything we can from our side to try and make them progress. I'm not sure where that's up to at the moment."

With his future up in the air, only Carney will know his next move. Could it be at the Emirates or the Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund where he realises his true potential.

 

[Barmby Army]

Yeah he is really good. Threatened to walk out on Villa last season though if he didn't get PL minutes. Seems like quite an attitude for someone so young to have. Not sure if a good or bad one, but of both I suspect.

Wouldn't necessarily say that's a bad thing. Depends on how he did it I guess, but being willing to leave a comfortable environment in search of regular football when you know (or think you know) you're ready shows ambition and bravery.

Sancho is a good example - he left City at 17 because he knew he was ready for men's football and wasn't being given an opportunity, went off to Dortmund and was playing CL football within a year. In all probability if he'd stayed at City he still wouldn't have broken through now and his career would be stagnating as those of so many huge talents at big clubs have before him.

Obviously he's made one fairly major bad career decision since, then, but leaving City was clearly a good move.

 

[Flobadob]

It was in The Sun but something is up. Seems like he won't sign a new contract. I wonder who his agent is. Probably not someone looking out for the player but rather their own pockets.

Chukwuemeka was chased by Barcelona but couldn't get Chelsea 'out of his head'

THERE will be many at Villa Park smarting about Carney Chukwuemeka’s £20million move to Chelsea. The talented 18-year-old was the talisman for Aston Villa’s U18 side in 2021 – sta…

www.thesun.co.uk

However, the was trouble brewing behind the scenes.

As is the norm, wonderkids with an abundance of skill have an expectation to play minutes in the first team.


Chukwuemeka has had minutes, but not as many as he would have liked.

He made his first start in the second game of the season as Villa could only manage a draw at home to promoted Brentford.

But his performance was the standout in an otherwise disappointing result.

Pundit Paul Merson hailed him as "outstanding" saying "he will be an absolute star".

Chukwuemeka has since found himself making cameos from the bench, although his last outing was back on February 13 when he played just five minutes in a defeat to Newcastle.

A contract stand off seems to have got in the way of his development.

Back in January, Villa boss Steven Gerrard revealed talks over a new deal for Chukwuemeka were being had.

"We want him to sign and to extend and reward him for what we've seen so far," Gerrard revealed in a press conference.

"We've got big aspirations and a big road map for Carney but, in terms of answering your question, there's only one person who can answer and that's Carney."

"We've done everything we can from our side to try and make them progress. I'm not sure where that's up to at the moment."

With his future up in the air, only Carney will know his next move. Could it be at the Emirates or the Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund where he realises his true potential.

Interesting. Going to Dortmund to be the next Bellingham wouldn’t be a bad idea for him would it!

 

[ILS]

Yeah they are fixing to line up a nice midfield in the future with Ramsey, Chukwuemeka and Iroegbunam. Must be exciting for their fans and you’d imagine Gerrard will be a great influence on players in that position too

Don't rule out Ramsey who played in this match. Not as much hype as Jacob but Aaron is still likely to have a very good career and more of a number 10.

They also have a younger brother in the Villa under 15s who is meant to be very good as well.

 

[C0YS]

watching Scarlett for me he is working extremely hard and seems to have spent a lot of time on the physical aspects of the centre forward role which is unusual for a kid. I think the way the centre forward role has developed its one of the most difficult for a youngster to shine at

. The young strikers all start as goal machines at their various levels and then suddenly they find themselves moving into adult football where its not only about goals its about work rate bringing others into play and being an outlet. Watching Scarlett he has developed physically ,his work rate is impressive as his is awareness if he can add goals to that he has half a chance

Scarlett's finishing is top notch,l technique wise, he can get his shots off from any angle and is also very good in the air for his height. His movement is also very good.

Actually take the opening goal last night. It's seems simple but his movement is great at finding that space and most young players would try and turn and maybe get a shot off in that position, but no, he pulls it back and finds his man.

At under 21s this year he hasn't really found the net very often, but he hasn't played much because of his involvement in the first team amongst other things, he is often played out of position and has rarely got to jel with the team.

But his overall record for us at all levels reads:

27 goals in 47.

For only youth teams

27 in 37. That's a good total, it's not like he's missing goals. He is a goalscorer. Take his England youth record:

11 games 10 goals. That's an awesome record, particularly as he is almost always playing above his age group.

So he has goals, and has the potential for more goals, and a lot of those games playing out wide. At the senior level, no. But he is our youngest ever player, he's only just turned 18 and already has 10 appearances, as well as being a semi regular on our bench. For his age that's an impressive feat in itself and right now it's just about adjustment.

One of the issues I feel with Scarlett is that he has been fast tracked in a way that means we haven't got to see as much of him as other players. Secondly, his attributes are more subtle than most wonderkids. Most young players stick out because they have some special skill or inventiveness. Things that actually youth players really struggle to replicate at higher levels, and skillfulness is in itself a terrible indicator of if a player would make it.

Scarlett on the other hand, is actually very good at the fundamentals, finding space, making good decisions, having good technique etc. That maybe isn't as visable or wow as other qualities but are much better indicators of success.

Scarlett is not our youngest ever player by accident. Mourinho stated:

'I know he’s still very young, just 17, and it is probably too early for the next World Cup, but Tottenham Hotspur have a striker in Dane Scarlett, who, if everything goes well, is going to be phenomenal. For England, there is lots of promise.'

He said this after being sacked by us, so it's not even like he has any selfish reason for mentioning so. For what it's worth, Mourinho did not pick out Devine or Parrott or anyone else and it's incredibly rare to hear something like this for a player that age.

Conte just further backs this up. Very simply stating:

"He is for sure at this moment the best prospect from the academy."

Before again giving lots of other praises.

The picture that is painted of Scarlett is something I haven't really seen that often. Maybe Skipp and a little bit on Poch on Edwards, but the point is he probably is the most likely to make it out of our current crop.

I suspect Parrott, who is 2 years ahead of Scarlett in his development, may be given a close look as Scarlett probably gets loaned out to the championship. It's possible we pick a league 1 loan but there will be championship clubs seriously interested in him, and Scarlett may well be only a good loan away from the first team picture, although the same could be said for Parrott when we initially loaned him out.

But right now Parrott has much less chances than Scarlett in making it at this level. He had a few good months in league 1 and a decent international break. But I'm neither cases was he playing at a particular high level and if he wasn't our player their would be little excitement over him. Parrott is still s real talent who could break through into the team but he really needs to step it up next year. It's really a make or break season for parrott, even if he ends up on loan again.