Barcelona identify 16-year-old Spurs player as a star of the future

[Lighty64]

He is very small though. He is of course really talented the best English player in his age group and one of the best in Europe he looked the best player in the recent Euro u17s. However, whereas Rooney was quite filled out at the age, Edwards is still small relative to his own age group.

What even smaller than Modric?

I'm not talking about throwing him in at the depend of the EPL, but a small appearance in a CoC against a lower opponent if we are 3 or 4 goals up.

1, it would give him the feel, and show if he could cope. The only worrying thing would be if he froze how much it could set him back.

Was going to compare him with Ward-Prowse but Akins gave his debut, but Poch never discarded the lad, and he is a tidy little footballer

 

[Shea]

going back 40yrs I could name our reg u21's, reserve team, and our 1st team, unfortunately now days I don't know much about our squads below, and due not having the time to read as much as some do on this site have never got round to following our youth team threads.

but as you said "if good enough, you're old enough". perhaps now days development does need to be managed, but if he has got that something special (age of Wayne Rooney), that even those above him haven't quite got, you could actually stop his development, and help someone pinch him for pennies, because they are willing to give him a chance.

That's why I said it's a fine balance and the people in place need to be experts at managing the careers of the youth players and their development

Don't throw them in before they're ready, don't leave them waiting too long and stunt their career.

Understand how best to use the loan system for them

In this case make sure another team doesn't tempt him away

Perhaps the group stages of the europa league could be an opportunity to afford him some first team exposure - there doesn't seem to be many forward players ahead of him in the youth system queue so it might not run the risk of offending other players although it could affect his expectations for his development and lead to frustration if he doesn't quickly become an established first team player and has to go back to the youth set up

There's no standard right or wrong thing to do I'd suggest, very much a case of each player being individuals and their man management requirements being different potentially

Hopefully he will sign his pro forms and continue to develop and one day we will see him become a star out of our academy system

 

[IGSpur]

What even smaller than Modric?

I'm not talking about throwing him in at the depend of the EPL, but a small appearance in a CoC against a lower opponent if we are 3 or 4 goals up.

1, it would give him the feel, and show if he could cope. The only worrying thing would be if he froze how much it could set him back.

Was going to compare him with Ward-Prowse but Akins gave his debut, but Poch never discarded the lad, and he is a tidy little footballer

Ye he is small for his age. When I saw him he looked around 5"5 maybe 5"6. The thing is he only featured for the u18s I'd say a Max of 10 times this season including sub appearances , though he looked really good towards the later games as he settled at the level. Maybe the only thing we could do is get him playing some u21 matches towards the back end of next season and just ease him up level. I do get a feeling of needing to keep him sweet though.

Perhaps the group stages of the europa league could be an opportunity to afford him some first team exposure - there doesn't seem to be many forward players ahead of him in the youth system queue so it might not run the risk of offending other players although it could affect his expectations for his development and lead to frustration if he doesn't quickly become an established first team player and has to go back to the youth set up

Nice post. Regarding this bit as I said he is small if you can find highlights of the FAYC match against Man U he is the smallest on the field and we had another small u16 playing.

Also I don't know what you mean by many and forward but we have Oduwa on the wings who I'd say is next in line. Then Azzaoui who was 2nd highest goal scorer at u17 Euros and one of the best players alongside Edwards. Lastly, we have Yahaya who if he is still joining is a 17yo and the u20 World Cup and arguably our most effective but not dazzling winger Georgiou who is 18. As a no.10 though after Pritchard and Onomah he is our next in line so could be played there.

Also like your point about playing them going back to the youth system and almost seem regressive even though they're still ahead in their development, and affect them.mentally like they have lost their chance. Almost happened to Mason but he had that mental strength to come back

 

[Blake Griffin]

Ye he is small for his age. When I saw him he looked around 5"5 maybe 5"6.

tbh, for the kind of player he is, 5'6-5'7 is about the perfect height and he's on course for that.

 

[IGSpur]

tbh, for the kind of player he is, 5'6-5'7 is about the perfect height and he's on course for that.

Of course but I'm talking in terms of playing EL or CoC matches now. Those who are 5"7 like Modric or Iniesta are still built like men for their age. Edwards still looked one of the smallest players at Euro u17s and most of those players in that tourney are nowhere physically ready for mens football

 

[DiscoD1882]

Swap for messi.

 

[IGSpur]

Swap for messi.

May have the next one . I jest but their playing style is incredibly similar

 

[Lighty64]

I always wonder if it was the size aspect that never really gave Carrol enough chances early on.

lets hope he can develop his body structure enough (though hope it doesn't effect his balance) to give him his chance to shine. we need a player that can be able to pass with both feet, and can actually glide past the ops

 

[Blake Griffin]

I always wonder if it was the size aspect that never really gave Carrol enough chances early on.

lets hope he can develop his body structure enough (though hope it doesn't effect his balance) to give him his chance to shine. we need a player that can be able to pass with both feet, and can actually glide past the ops

if you haven't seen him, here's a video that was posted on here recently which shows a little of what he's about

 

[Lighty64]

if you haven't seen him, here's a video that was posted on here recently which shows a little of what he's about

very agile, though was worried about his RIGHT foot left foot till the very last piece.

 

[Lilbaz]

Wouldn't worry. Both barca and madrid were after pritchard at the same age but nothing came of it.

 

[Main Man]

Tim Sherwood's description of him sounds like he is talking about Adel Taarabt when we first had him.

 

[Blake Griffin]

Tim Sherwood's description of him sounds like he is talking about Adel Taarabt when we first had him.

in what way?

 

[Main Man]

in what way?

"a make-the-difference footballer. He can win you a game. These are the kind of talented players that we must not neglect."

I have seen Marcus play and his ball retention is phenomenal. I will go as far as saying he is the best in that respect for his age in this country.

But there is still something that worries me about him. I like to see a young player who expresses himself - and isn't shackled with the rigidness of the 'English way' - but there is a lack of structure to his game which he seems unwilling to compromise.

I don't like reading quotes talking youth players up, I don't think it helps anybody in any way. There is just no need in building young players up whatsoever, it simply serves no purpose.

 

[Blake Griffin]

"a make-the-difference footballer. He can win you a game. These are the kind of talented players that we must not neglect."

I have seen Marcus play and his ball retention is phenomenal. I will go as far as saying he is the best in that respect for his age in this country.

But there is still something that worries me about him. I like to see a young player who expresses himself - and isn't shackled with the rigidness of the 'English way' - but there is a lack of structure to his game which he seems unwilling to compromise.

I don't like reading quotes talking youth players up, I don't think it helps anybody whatsoever. There is no need in building young players up whatsoever, it simply serves no purpose.

can you expand on the lack of structure part? i do agree that tim shouldn't have spoken publicly about him though, he could've just said there's a young player at tottenham yada yada without actually naming him.

 

[Main Man]

Structure as in functioning as part of a team.

Football isn't an individual sport, it's a team game and that is something I don't think he is fully appreciating quite yet - probably because he could do it all by himself for so long.

That is critique you could aim at a huge amount of attacking players aged 16/17, but I am not sure a willingness from himself exists to compromise doing everything by himself.

In this country, and with what is at stake when representing the First Team etc, that is a compromise he has to make.

 

[Blake Griffin]

Structure as in functioning as part of a team.

Football isn't an individual sport, it's a team game and that is something I don't think he is fully appreciating quite yet - probably because he could do it all by himself for so long.

That is critique you could aim at a huge amount of attacking players aged 16/17, but I am not sure a willingness from himself exists to compromise doing everything by himself.

In this country, and with what is at stake when representing the First Team etc, that is a compromise he has to make.

if that's a roundabout way of calling him a ball hog then ok, but i don't agree.

 

[Main Man]

if that's a roundabout way of calling him a ball hog then ok, but i don't agree.

You don't agree with what? That he is a ball hog?

This kid is a long way from professional football at any level, that is my ultimate point.