Steffen Freund - New Technical Coordinator

[ThorntonSpur]

didn't Sherwood train the kids? maybe levy is getting Poch's replacement ready

 

[StartingPrice]

Pretty good write up re: this situation:

http://tottenhamonmymind.wordpress....und-spurs-become-a-player-in-the-global-game/

It's an interesting read, but marred, IMO, by some errors:

For a start, he seems to equate Chelsea's purpose in developing youth with our own. I don't agree. I don't believe I am being naive here - whenever I discuss our youth policy I always mention that developing players to sell and players for the squad is as important as producing superstars. The difference between ourselves and Chelsea is this: that their recruitment drive is taken to extremes with, seemingly, the sole purpose of generating money to cover FFP when it comes to buying more shiny new super-expensive players. Ours, on the other hand does, IMO, have the express purpose of developing players both for the squad and for the 1st team.

Look at it this way - Chelsea can afford to spend a fortune every season on a couple of superstars to augment their incredibly expensively assembled squad. Even if we use all of the money we can to buy superstars they aren't going to be quite as much superstars as the ones Chelsea get, they won't be joining as expensively assembled squad, we won't be able to pay them the same wages and, frankly, we won't be able to offer them the same chances of winning things. That applies, to one degree or another with every one of the five wealthier teams than us in the the EPL. ENIC tried that route, already - with a club legend manager to lead us to glory. It didn't work.

So, we genuinely do want/need to develop squad/1st team worthy players. Then we can use our reasonable amount of money to carefully augment our squad with some reasonably big superstars, just not quite mature so we can afford their wages. If we get it right, we may just have a squad capable of competing.

Secondly, he says first team chances for young players are as limited as they have been in recent years but that's not really true. The youth set-up is not the same as the academy - the youth set-up includes everyone under the age of 21 who isn't immediately part of the first team squad. And the truth is, we have quite a good record, ever since the hiring of Frank Arnesen. Because that is when Levy and ENIC switched to a youth-centric focus. And what we have seen so far is not the fullness of youth products but the early days of it. We began with players that were bought, while training methods and recruitment were taking shape. But most importantly, the age group that should have been the first to get the full benefit of the new methods has been maturing over the last few years - and a fair few of them are getting time in the first team and/or generating some nice funds. And, by all accounts the under 21's and under 18's coming through are showing more talent.

There is every reason to believe it is firmly in the chairman's mind to utilize these resources on the playing field and not just in the bank-balance. And there is plenty of evidence that the greatest care has been taken to ensure we produce players who are actually suited for the first team and not just any player who may generate a profit, as in Chelsea's case (allegedly). On top of which, these is a distinct possibility that one of AVB's many problems may have been that he knew the chairman's intent with the youth set-up when he joined and then isolated himself and the first team squad. Sherwood, notably, immediately began (rightly or wrongly) introducing younglings into the first team - and he, allegedly, had the chairman's ear. That suggests, at least, that he was either directly instructed or, if not, then giving the chairman what he wanted.

 

[spurs9]

It's an interesting read, but marred, IMO, by some errors:

For a start, he seems to equate Chelsea's purpose in developing youth with our own. I don't agree. I don't believe I am being naive here - whenever I discuss our youth policy I always mention that developing players to sell and players for the squad is as important as producing superstars. The difference between ourselves and Chelsea is this: that their recruitment drive is taken to extremes with, seemingly, the sole purpose of generating money to cover FFP when it comes to buying more shiny new super-expensive players. Ours, on the other hand does, IMO, have the express purpose of developing players both for the squad and for the 1st team.

Look at it this way - Chelsea can afford to spend a fortune every season on a couple of superstars to augment their incredibly expensively assembled squad. Even if we use all of the money we can to buy superstars they aren't going to be quite as much superstars as the ones Chelsea get, they won't be joining as expensively assembled squad, we won't be able to pay them the same wages and, frankly, we won't be able to offer them the same chances of winning things. That applies, to one degree or another with every one of the five wealthier teams than us in the the EPL. ENIC tried that route, already - with a club legend manager to lead us to glory. It didn't work.

So, we genuinely do want/need to develop squad/1st team worthy players. Then we can use our reasonable amount of money to carefully augment our squad with some reasonably big superstars, just not quite mature so we can afford their wages. If we get it right, we may just have a squad capable of competing.

Secondly, he says first team chances for young players are as limited as they have been in recent years but that's not really true. The youth set-up is not the same as the academy - the youth set-up includes everyone under the age of 21 who isn't immediately part of the first team squad. And the truth is, we have quite a good record, ever since the hiring of Frank Arnesen. Because that is when Levy and ENIC switched to a youth-centric focus. And what we have seen so far is not the fullness of youth products but the early days of it. We began with players that were bought, while training methods and recruitment were taking shape. But most importantly, the age group that should have been the first to get the full benefit of the new methods has been maturing over the last few years - and a fair few of them are getting time in the first team and/or generating some nice funds. And, by all accounts the under 21's and under 18's coming through are showing more talent.

There is every reason to believe it is firmly in the chairman's mind to utilize these resources on the playing field and not just in the bank-balance. And there is plenty of evidence that the greatest care has been taken to ensure we produce players who are actually suited for the first team and not just any player who may generate a profit, as in Chelsea's case (allegedly). On top of which, these is a distinct possibility that one of AVB's many problems may have been that he knew the chairman's intent with the youth set-up when he joined and then isolated himself and the first team squad. Sherwood, notably, immediately began (rightly or wrongly) introducing younglings into the first team - and he, allegedly, had the chairman's ear. That suggests, at least, that he was either directly instructed or, if not, then giving the chairman what he wanted.

I think he trying to say that Freund's appointment is our way of expanding our aim's for our young players with an increased emphasis on signing young players to loan them in order to make a profit. This doesn't have to decrease our initial objective of bringing through players to our first team squad. One area we have been poor (and Chelsea good), is getting good loans for our youngsters, so hopefully this will help.

 

[chinaman]

I think he trying to say that Freund's appointment is our way of expanding our aim's for our young players with an increased emphasis on signing young players to loan them in order to make a profit. This doesn't have to decrease our initial objective of bringing through players to our first team squad. One area we have been poor (and Chelsea good), is getting good loans for our youngsters, so hopefully this will help.

The reason Chelsea make good loans is because the players are already either full internationals or nearly; or they are big money buys who are experienced players unlike our fringe players who are either budding youngsters needing playing time or someone we don't really rate in the long term.

 

[LexingtonSpurs]

That article above seems to suggest that Levy just found a new home for Freund because Pochettino wanted him out of the 1st team set-up, not necessarily part of some grander scheme for the youth set-up.

 

[spurs9]

The reason Chelsea make good loans is because the players are already either full internationals or nearly; or they are big money buys who are experienced players unlike our fringe players who are either budding youngsters needing playing time or someone we don't really rate in the long term.

That's only true for a handful. Romeu, Hazard, Piazon, Wallace, Cuevas and Traore to name a few, aren't close to being full internationals nor were they big money buys.

 

[SpursManChris]

This could well be the first thing Freund has actually done since the 16th of December last year! Too bad it's not related to his job. Good for him though. All the best to him.

"Steffen sets off on Trek of a lifetime"

"Our International Technical Co-ordinator is trekking the Great Wall of China over five days to raise money for Tottenham Hotspur Foundation’s life-changing projects at home and AIA China’s Youth Football Development Project."
http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/steffen-sets-off-on-trek-of-a-lifetime-221014/

 

[sloth]

This could well be the first thing Freund has actually done since the 16th of December last year! Too bad it's not related to his job. Good for him though. All the best to him.

"Steffen sets off on Trek of a lifetime"

"Our International Technical Co-ordinator is trekking the Great Wall of China over five days to raise money for Tottenham Hotspur Foundation’s life-changing projects at home and AIA China’s Youth Football Development Project."
http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/steffen-sets-off-on-trek-of-a-lifetime-221014/

I want to see him try and kick a ball against it and watch it spoon over the top!

 

[thinktank]

Great guy.

Great to see the mighty ledders kicking a ball again as well.