It’s Sol Campbell all over again ?
Harvey White named as our scholar of the year by youthhawk.
I'm excited that Jose has stated he'll be in the first team this season. He's certainly an exciting talent who I'm hoping will benefit from our season in the Europa League. It certainly gave Arsenal and United's youngsters the platform to breakthrough.
Can also put Skipp and probably Bowden in that bracket, just wondering if White with his passing range and versatility will eventually overtake Winks in the pecking order ?Tom Caroll, Ryan Mason, Harry Winks, Harver White - all are too similar style midfielders ?
Neat, Tidy passer in the middle of the pitch rather than physical presence? Though Mason had more aggression to his game
Can also put Skipp and probably Bowden in that bracket, just wondering if White with his passing range and versatility will eventually overtake Winks in the pecking order ?
Incidently does anyone know how tall White is ?
Tom Caroll, Ryan Mason, Harry Winks, Harver White - all are too similar style midfielders ?
Neat, Tidy passer in the middle of the pitch rather than physical presence? Though Mason had more aggression to his game
Spurs look initially for technical players believing that they can add the other qualities to the mix later, whilst believing that they can't do it the other way round. Certainly when I was watching the youth team one of the failings were that the sides didn't always express themselves as well against sides who were physically big and had some expertise in the dark arts (and yes certain youth teams always seemed to have that trait)
Now Mcdermott has moved on I do wonder if there might be some subtle changes in recruitment and the type of player - though in all honesty most of the young youth players of any note are well known to all the clubs and its a competitive market to try to bring them in. So perhaps the style of coaching would need to change which seems unlikely.
Incidentally speaking to a lower league manager at a youth game he said he was concerned that taking a player from Spurs on loan was a big risk. In that the boys are encouraged to play in a certain way and to take risks on the ball his reckoning that might be ok and prepare them for the Premier League but there is a hell of difference bringing a boy into a League 2 side where the football isn't so technical and you need to 'role your sleeves up' incidentally he is no longer managing in England but interesting nevertheless
McDermott believed in producing no.8's (box to box midfielders). He believed that 8's possessed all the skills necessary for modern football and then as their natural physical abilities began to mature they would be converted into different roles. Harry Kane's versatility is a result of the club developing him as an 8. The reason we produce short arse centre backs like CCV and Tanganga is because they possessed the skillset of an 8 at junior levels where as more obvious centre backs get released . Once you get to U16 they begin to assess your suitability to particular roles and if you're not competent at the basic skill set of that role then you don't get a scholarship. If you can't jump, head the ball or tackle at 16 then you're not getting a scholarship if you've been specialising at centre back over the last year or so.
I would agree with that and whilst I think its probably the right way it is in direct contrast to some other sides who look at physique and strength as key components Arsenal under Wenger looked for athletes who could be taught (i think we have discussed before Spurs being willing to bring in players born after April where some clubs find that difficult) . I personally think there needs to be more of a blend and my opinion is that there is almost too much emphasis on the technique side though I kind of write that and almost half sentence disagree with myself.
My one question about Mcdermott is that he tended to end up a little insular on players and his approach as I saw it was almost one size fits all and the academy at times has lacked individual plans for players though that is a perception based on observation rather than fact
He also showed in that clip that he can play with his right foot when he had to. Preferring one foot and not being able to use your weaker foot are two separate weaknesses, with the first being a lot easier to fix.
The only concern that I have from this brief appearance is cirkins lack of physicality.
In a position where you're often up against physical opponents, he looks like he would get knocked off the ball easily.
It remains to be seen how he can handle shoulder to shoulder challenges from forwards. I am sure the team are looking at this and will work on it with him in the gym.