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End of season report on our young players on loan

MEHSTG

Member
Dec 6, 2006
52
0
1. Kyle Walker (20 yrs old) - right back, QPR, Aston Villa - he has done very well at both clubs, forcing his way into the full England squad. Played centre half at QPR but has excelled as an attacking right back at Villa. Should be our first choice right back next season. KEEP.

2. Steven Caulker (19 yrs old) - centre half, Bristol City - elegant and imposing defender, another good season on loan, he was named the Football League Young Player of the Month in November and attracted praise from his manager Keith Millen and the veteran keeper David James. Shame he was injured towards the end. We should look to loan him to a promotion-chasing Championship side next season (West Ham?) or a team at the bottom of the Premier League and then he should be challenging for a first team place in the 2012/13 season. KEEP.

3. Bogani Khumalo (24 yrs old) - centre half, Preston North End - big, tough defender, only played a few games in a side struggling against relegation and then got injured, but had positive reviews. If Bassong is sold, he should be in the first team squad as cover at centre half and can expect games in the League Cup and in Europe (if we qualify). KEEP.

4. Kyle Naughton (22 yrs old) - right back, Leicester - attacking right back, very good season, scored 6 goals from right back and was named in the Championship Team of the Year. However, not sure if he can cut it in the Premier League, he has looked shakey defensively on his first team appearances. We have too many right backs so I would sell him for a couple of million. SELL.

5. Giovanni Dos Santos (22 yrs old) - forward, Racing Santander (Spain) - has had a successful loaned spell with 5 goals in 15 games and attracting praise from Sid Lowe, the football journalist who covers Spain for the Guardian. Had a very good World Cup last summer alongside Javier Hernandez. However, has never really been given a chance by Redknapp and when he has been in the first team (i.e. against Young Boys in the CL) he has not impressed. Time to cash in. SELL.

6. Danny Rose (19 yrs old) - left midfield / defender, Bristol City - he did not shine in a Bristol City side that was struggling at the time, but has done very well at left back for us in the last few games against tough opposition and we will never forget his thunderbolt against the Goons. He is also an regular England U-21 player, with 16 caps and 2 goals. He should be in and around the first team squad next season as cover for BAE, playing in the Cups and Europe (if we qualify). KEEP.

7. Andros Townsend (19 yrs old) - winger, Ipswich, Watford, Millwall - quick and direct winger, in and out of the team at Ipswich and Watford, but did very well at Millwall helping them on their strong run at the end of the season. Also did well against Charlton in the FA Cup 3rd round for the first team. We should send him out on loan to a Championship club pushing for promotion and see how he does settled at one club. Alternatively, if we sell Bentley and Krancjar he could be in the first team squad offering cover on both wings and playing in the Cups and in Europe (if we qualify). KEEP.

8. Jake Livermore (21 yrs old) - midfielder, Ipswich and Leeds - looks to have found his level in the Championship and could not hold down a first team place at Ipswich or Leeds. Looks a limited player for me, despite his height and strength. I don't think he will make it at Spurs. SELL.

9. John Bostock (19 yrs old) - midfielder, Hull City - supremely talented playmaker who we paid over GBP1m for and who was the youngest ever fist team player at Spurs in the UEFA Cup in 2009. Showed his skill with a spectacular goal on the opening day for Hull, but his loan spell was cut short apparently as a result of his attitude, as happened during his spell at Brentford last season. Redknapp has also hinted at his bad attitude in press comments. I would give him one last chance next season at a Championship club, but he needs to sort out his attitude over the summer, otherwise his chance will go. KEEP.

10. Dean Parrett (19 yrs old) - midfielder, Plymouth Argyle and Charlton - struggled in his first loan spell at Plymouth in a poor team, but did much better at Charlton. He is highly rated and already started for the first team in the UEFA Cup in 2009. He isn't that big, so I think he needs another season on loan in League One or the Championship to toughen him up. KEEP.

11. Ryan Mason (19 yrs old) - attacking midfielder, Doncaster - there were high hopes for him this season after the very successful loan spell at League One Yeovil last season, but he has not managed to be a first team regular at Doncaster in the Championship over two loan spells, as he has struggled with injury. He needs a full season at a Championship club to see if he can cut it. KEEP.

12. Jon Obika (20 yrs old) - forward, Crystal Palace, Peterborough, Swindon, Yeovil - he has been around the houses on loan this season and struggled with form and injuries, only scoring goals at Yeovil, where he had a successful loan spell last season. Remains to be seen whether he can cut it at Championship level, let alone the Premier League. SELL.

13. Adam Smith (20 yrs old) - right back, Bournemouth - had a full (made 35 appearances) successful season in a Bournemouth side that just missed out in the play-off semi-finals. He should try the step up to Championship football next season. KEEP.

14. Simon Dawkins (23 yrs old) - forward, San Jose Earthquakes (USA) - was on trial at a few clubs in the summer but then got injured, he seems to have found his level in the US. Getting too old to be considered a prospect. SELL.

15. David Button (22 yrs old) - goalkeeper, Plymouth Argyle - played the full season for a side that was relegated from League One, so had plenty of practise. He should be loaned to a Championship club to see if he can cut it there, if not time to go. SELL.

16. Harry Kane (17 yrs old) - forward, Leyton Orient - the great lilywhite hope. He scores for fun in the reserves, all types of goals too, and got 5 goals in 18 appearances (over half as sub) for Orient, a great return for such a young lad. Perhaps we should keep him at the club for the first half of next season and involve him in the Cups and in Europe (if we qualify) and then loan him out in January to a top League One club or a Championship club. He could conceivably be pushing for a place in the first team squad in the 2012/13 season. KEEP.

17. Paul-Jose M'Poko (19 yrs old) - attacking midfielder, Leyton Orient - a strong and quick attacking midfielder who has 7 goals in 6 games for Belgium U-19s. He did well at Orient, especially in the FA Cup against the Goons. He should go out on loan against next season to a top League One club or a Championship club to continue his progression. KEEP.

18. Tom Carroll (18 yrs old) - midfielder, Leyton Orient - elegant midfielder, did well at Orient again especially against the Goons in the FA Cup. He should play a full season in League One next year. KEEP.
19. Nathan Byrne (18 yrs old) - midfielder, Brentford - had a short spell, needs a full season in League One or Two next season for the experience. KEEP.

20. Oscar Jansson (20 yrs old) - goalkeeper, Northampton - Swedish U-18 player, only had a short spell, needs a full season in League One or Two next year for the experience. KEEP.

21. Cameron Lancaster (18 yrs old) - forward, Dagenham & Redbridge - had a short spell, needs a full season in League One or Two next season for the experience. KEEP.

22. Jake Nicholson (18 yrs old) - midfielder, MyPA (Finland) - loan spell cut short as not getting enough games, needs a full season in League One or Two next year for the experience. KEEP.

23. Kudos Oyenga (18 yrs old) - forward, MyPA (Finland) - loan spell cut short as not getting enough games, needs a full season in League One or Two next year for the experience. KEEP.
 

eddiebailey

Well-Known Member
Oct 12, 2004
7,452
6,672
Button is quality, but seemingly a bit of a confidence player, even so he is making good progress for a player his age, and he has another three or four years on his contract. He would probably benefit form another season on loan, but I would not be too concerned to see him as our third choice keeper.

Otherwise I agree with all the assessments, except that ‘SELL’ may be overoptimistic in some cases…
 

MEHSTG

Member
Dec 6, 2006
52
0
Thank you to Eddiebailey for his post, I know from reading his previous posts that he at least used to, perhaps still does, follow the youth team carefully.

On Button, with Pletikosa and Alnwick leaving this summer, perhaps he could step up and be our 3rd keeper for a season or two?

Also take your point about "SELL", may be more release on free transfer.
 

MikeCOYS

Member
Jan 8, 2011
553
19
Wow, excellent post repped :). Loving the review for each player. I think Livermore should be kept as well. He maybe another Rose, not that good in championship but stood out when he played for us in those dozens of games.

Plus he has the physique to be one of a great player.

PS: He supports Spurs, scored a goal against Barcelona and replied we're the best team when asked after the Barca match =]
 

MEHSTG

Member
Dec 6, 2006
52
0
I forgot to include O'Hara! He isn't exactly young at 24, but I think that is Khumalo's age too. So -

24. Jamie O'Hara (24 yrs old) - midfielder, Wolves - has had a successful loan spell this season, scoring a couple of goals and getting positive reviews. This follows his excellent season for Portsmouth last season. However, he has said he wants first team football and he will not get in our first team over Sandro, Huddlestone, Modric and Bale, let alone Jenas, Palacios and Pienaar, so I think it is time for him to go. Hopefully we'll get GBP4m to 5m for him as he has proved himself to be a creditable Premier League performer. SELL.
 

minesadouble

Drove my Chevy to the Levy
Jul 27, 2006
749
2,933
Thanks. Excellent post. I sadly never get to the youth or reserve matches nowadays. I catch the loan guys on TV occasionally but that's pretty much it. Your assessments seem sound to me. From Levy's comments it sounds as if the Club feels a few of our young might be ready to step up. There should be some main squad places available in the 25 (for Europe) but the PL regulations also allow us to use as many home grown youth in league and domestic cup matches as we like.

Guys like Walker, Rose, perhaps Caulker and Townsend are ready to stay at WHL, and not be loaned out. Dos Santos and O'Hara are presumably ready to go. Most of the rest will go out on loan, hopefully to Championship sides in the main. I think the drop in quality to Divs 1 and 2 is too great to educate most of our outfield prospects.

I'd like to see us loan a couple to Blackpool. This could help lubricate a deal for Charlie Adam. But also Holloway is the right kind of manager to teach young players to play and behave the right way. It's a small club that deserves our support after what they brought to the premiership this season, although they cost us points !
 

Boony

Active Member
Feb 24, 2004
1,475
0
This is excellent thanks. Also good to see that most of the players are worth keeping also. Ive too heard that Bostock is a too big for his boots, id like to see us slowly bedding some players into the Prem before they join us too.
 

JimmyG2

SC Supporter
Dec 7, 2006
15,014
20,779
Thanks. Good to be able to keep track of what we already have.
Especially now that the transfer window has opened
and all attention is focused on which superstar, young or old
we can break the bank for.

Surprised that Livermore doesn't look likely to make it.
Thought he was shaping up well acouple of years ago.
 
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