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The Spurs Youth Thread - 2018/19

spurs9

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
11,840
34,012
But and I know everyone will look to the Slovenian league or whatever, but Oduwa, was psychically able to play for the first team. He was quick and strong, and skillful and was more than good enough to play Europa League football.
He's not in the Slovenian league anymore, his team released him and he joined a team in the Danish league (2nd from bottom), but has only managed 3 sub apps so far. He's played more mins for their reserves.

If you talking Poch Specific, then you have to take into account that the 1st season Poch was here, he used the Europa to look over squad players (Townsend, Kane, Lamela etc) and in his 2nd season, our EL group was more difficult than some CL groups, yet he still played Onomah and Carroll etc, so I think your being a bit harsh here.

Also, I think Oduwa's issue was he has a poor/fragile mentality, so he was always going to struggle IMO.
 
Jan 9, 2019
44
86
Because this is my point. English clubs have failed to bring through loads of players despite having incredible talent. You believe they were never good enough, I believe they weren't developed properly. That is why I mention it, as it is relevant to us also.People now believe this year group are different but it's because they are now leaving and looking for opportunity abroad. Look at Lookman, he had no chances under Big Sam, went Bundelsiga for half a season. Did excellently. Came back to Everton and still get a chance. This therefore means he is not good enough? So was that Bundesliga stuff an anomaly. He is proof that of the ridiculous nature of the Premier league. Before he went he wasn't good enough, if someone would suggest he should have gone abroad, you'd get they can't all go abroad. He went abroad, did well and proved himself, and still isn't playing here. If he stayed there where would he be? So basically, an academy player not getting opportunity at Premier League is not an indication of his actual ability in my eyes.



There are many reasons for this. Different styles. Being raised to play a certain style, and then playing with players and a manager that doesn't play in a style you are used to. Stagnation and a lack of interest due to the stagnation and feeling of hopelessness, as Vieira alluded to. The lack of being able to set roots in a club and properly develop. When a player comes here we give them at least a season before we judge them. Heck we gave SIssoko two. Or we claim they haven't had a preseason. We hang onto a player until end of August send them to a club that plays completely different football. They may struggle, get scapegoated, even if they do well, they come back go somewhere else, completely different style, never give them actually opportunities alongside quality players or have the trust from the manager. Then release them at 23, to go to another random club playing with poor players and go 'see I told you they were never good enough'.



I just flat out disagree with this. But that's my opinion, and I think people are starting to realise that one of those cliches with no real substance behind it. If someone comes through by pure fortune you can say they were always good enough, but you can never prove that someone would have been good enough had they got the chance so people have continued to use it.

I think after the last 5 years people are starting to realise how much talent has been wasted and how poor opportunities are.

But this is just all my opinion of course.[/QUOTE

But take Edwards. Clearly poch, rightly or wrongly does not think he is ready. So we loan him to Norwich. They hardly played him. So they obviously felt the same. So we loan him to a club in Holland where I think we would all agree the standard is a little lower. And so far, albeit it's early, he is not doing too much there. So at some stage u have to look at the player also. Playing under management with different styles is part of a footballers life. U have to be able to cope and adapt. Look at ratchford under mourinho. Men's football is a completely different game to underage with club and country where it's effectively played without any pressure and in many ways is based on raw talent. Men's football involves a mental toughness and ability to play under intense pressure week in week out, and in front of vocal supporters. They are poles apart. I would accept that the riches a player enjoys when they make the breakthrough in many ways is what prevents them getting opportunities in the first place as the game now, and managers jobs, are entirely dictated by riches in the game and the importance of finishing top four, avoiding relegation, getting promoted etc. So in many ways the financial success of the Premier league is working against young academy players.
 

blackburn

Active Member
Aug 31, 2012
809
1,132
An enormous factor is the first professional contract, some use it as a springboard, others see huge money (as a teenager) as arrival, it blows their mind as well as the people around them. Think of a kid you know from an estate that as a teenager is given £5/10k a week and the effect it would have on him.

There is more to football than football, the supporters of any club will give you a long list of lads that could have made it and didn't, they simply can't cope with the pressure and expectation.
 

C0YS

Just another member
Jul 9, 2007
12,780
13,817
I think that one of the most important differences between playing youth football and professional football is weaknesses get exposed. I think it was our own accadamy director who said a player who doesn't he basics very well but maybe isn't the most talented is much more likely to make it to the top than those super talented but ain't so good at the basics. If you have the rare combination of both then you can really hit the top.

This is a really important point, look at most of the players who make it to the top, or in the PL or even in international teams, most of them are not particularly exciting or players who take you out of your seat.

To make it you can't have weaknesses, people like Onomah are super talented but particularly when playing CM get exposed time after time in the championship. People like Oduwa were often quickly dropped from loan spells after consistent poor decisions. You can't do that at the top.

A lot of people need reminding, the best youth team players do not always, or even not usually, make the best professional players. The things that make certain players stand out in a league where they are not exposed, and battered and bruised about, rarely translates at the top level. If you can't do the basics well you not going anyway. Even exceptionally talented players, like taarabt, who have the ability to be right up there with the best in the world and have done ok when made the centre of everything are playing reserve football in Portugal. Being a Pro is not the same thing as being the 'best player'.
 

DCSPUR

Well-Known Member
Apr 15, 2005
3,918
5,415
Don't have all the answers but building on some comments here: they have talent (Onomah, Edwards etc.) but can they work on the physical side (Kane stories illustrate this). Alli is an interesting eg for them to follow. Before pre-season says he wants to work to win a first team place and then he came into his first pre-season and clearly was intent on winning all the physical tests (beating out the prior top man Nabil) and then there is the mentality....comes in 3 months after playing Yeovil and nutmegs Modric and Kroos.
https://www.skysports.com/football/...-key-moments-in-his-amazing-year-at-tottenham

Feel as if Onomah has been a bit unlucky and could have a shot this summer if he can remain injury free and come in with a positive mindset
 

Johnny J

Not the Kiwi you need but the one you deserve
Aug 18, 2012
18,117
47,878
Because this is my point. English clubs have failed to bring through loads of players despite having incredible talent. You believe they were never good enough, I believe they weren't developed properly. That is why I mention it, as it is relevant to us also.People now believe this year group are different but it's because they are now leaving and looking for opportunity abroad. Look at Lookman, he had no chances under Big Sam, went Bundelsiga for half a season. Did excellently. Came back to Everton and still get a chance. This therefore means he is not good enough? So was that Bundesliga stuff an anomaly. He is proof that of the ridiculous nature of the Premier league. Before he went he wasn't good enough, if someone would suggest he should have gone abroad, you'd get they can't all go abroad. He went abroad, did well and proved himself, and still isn't playing here. If he stayed there where would he be? So basically, an academy player not getting opportunity at Premier League is not an indication of his actual ability in my eyes.



There are many reasons for this. Different styles. Being raised to play a certain style, and then playing with players and a manager that doesn't play in a style you are used to. Stagnation and a lack of interest due to the stagnation and feeling of hopelessness, as Vieira alluded to. The lack of being able to set roots in a club and properly develop. When a player comes here we give them at least a season before we judge them. Heck we gave SIssoko two. Or we claim they haven't had a preseason. We hang onto a player until end of August send them to a club that plays completely different football. They may struggle, get scapegoated, even if they do well, they come back go somewhere else, completely different style, never give them actually opportunities alongside quality players or have the trust from the manager. Then release them at 23, to go to another random club playing with poor players and go 'see I told you they were never good enough'.



I just flat out disagree with this. But that's my opinion, and I think people are starting to realise that one of those cliches with no real substance behind it. If someone comes through by pure fortune you can say they were always good enough, but you can never prove that someone would have been good enough had they got the chance so people have continued to use it.

I think after the last 5 years people are starting to realise how much talent has been wasted and how poor opportunities are.

But this is just all my opinion of course.
I agree that a lot of talent is being wasted. If would be interesting to look at how many home grown youngsters who are actually given a chance in the first team succeed or fail. My perception is that a great number succeed, which might suggest that clubs just need to give them more chances.

I mean, KWP is quite obviously ready for the PL, and has played well whenever he's given the rare chance. Yet if he was playing abroad, we'd probably be interested in buying him.
 

C0YS

Just another member
Jul 9, 2007
12,780
13,817
What's the evidence for Onomah getting exposed time after time in the Championship?
Based on when I watched him play CM at Villa. You can ask a few people on here who agree and some villa fans.

There is a reason managers have consistently been unwilling to play him in central midfield..
 

danielneeds

Kick-Ass
May 5, 2004
24,179
48,764
Not even sure it's that...

You look at Rashford, Odoi, Lookman, Sancho, Sane etc and, basically, they're all freaks - ridiculous speed, solid builds, great technique, balance and decent composure.

Not sure we've had a single attacking youth player who fits all those elements despite some looking promising - and all our lads can probably knock on Kane's door to ask what they need to work on in the gym, as well as on the pitch.

Even Edwards still isn't explosive enough and still doesn't fight hard enough, despite his great balance and technique - and, I'm sure, people have been pointing out that he needed to work harder on the physical side.

He could still be great, but guys like Silva are small and have a massive fire in their belly etc. That fire is just as important as the vision.

As for Onomah, I'm a bit baffled by that one. Was absolutely certain he'd make it. Hope he stil does. Maybe that gym work and yardage is missing. Not sure.
It's pretty well known that the likes of Chelsea and City hoover up all the most physically gifted kids at young ages. And that we stopped concentrating on that under McDermott, and started searching for the overlooked kids, the younger, smaller ones in each age group, who need more time and developing.
 

Blake Griffin

Well-Known Member
Oct 3, 2011
14,133
38,225
Interesting.
Believe he partly left to further his career but does not appear to be ahead of a number of his peers

he left to go to chelsea, it was only because we threatened to report them that he ended up at palace.

other clubs were after tob at the time too but we managed to convince him to stay. i remember saying that it'll be interesting to see which of the two made the right choice but as it stands neither are really where they'd hoped to be at this stage, though it's still relatively early days for both. i've been disappointed by tob's progress(or lack of) and i'm not really sure what we're trying to achieve this season by constantly playing him as a winger, to be fair he's quite a difficult player to define but i don't see this as the best way of using him.
 

edson

Well-Known Member
May 17, 2005
3,945
12,117
he left to go to chelsea, it was only because we threatened to report them that he ended up at palace.

other clubs were after tob at the time too but we managed to convince him to stay. i remember saying that it'll be interesting to see which of the two made the right choice but as it stands neither are really where they'd hoped to be at this stage, though it's still relatively early days for both. i've been disappointed by tob's progress(or lack of) and i'm not really sure what we're trying to achieve this season by constantly playing him as a winger, to be fair he's quite a difficult player to define but i don't see this as the best way of using him.
If I remember rightly Kirby also played in a match for arsenal but nothing come of it and ended up at Palace.
 

BPR_U16

Well-Known Member
Jun 28, 2006
1,783
2,603
he left to go to chelsea, it was only because we threatened to report them that he ended up at palace.

other clubs were after tob at the time too but we managed to convince him to stay. i remember saying that it'll be interesting to see which of the two made the right choice but as it stands neither are really where they'd hoped to be at this stage, though it's still relatively early days for both. i've been disappointed by tob's progress(or lack of) and i'm not really sure what we're trying to achieve this season by constantly playing him as a winger, to be fair he's quite a difficult player to define but i don't see this as the best way of using him.
Agree he ditched us for the promised land of Chelsea - but why when they bring no-one through their ranks?

TBH he would have had as good a chance breaking thru with us as any other premiership club.
 

Cornpattbuck

Well-Known Member
Jul 23, 2013
6,873
15,942
he left to go to chelsea, it was only because we threatened to report them that he ended up at palace.

other clubs were after tob at the time too but we managed to convince him to stay. i remember saying that it'll be interesting to see which of the two made the right choice but as it stands neither are really where they'd hoped to be at this stage, though it's still relatively early days for both. i've been disappointed by tob's progress(or lack of) and i'm not really sure what we're trying to achieve this season by constantly playing him as a winger, to be fair he's quite a difficult player to define but i don't see this as the best way of using him.

So, basically, it would appear they both got their heads turned and have struggled to focus since.

Interestingly, with our lack of transfer activity, I really hope Edwards and Onomah are busting a gut to prove themselves. Clearly got the talent.
 

littlemandefoe

Conte's Blue and White Army!
May 22, 2005
4,245
4,540
So, basically, it would appear they both got their heads turned and have struggled to focus since.

Interestingly, with our lack of transfer activity, I really hope Edwards and Onomah are busting a gut to prove themselves. Clearly got the talent.
He seems to have an extremely poor attitude, unfortunately. He isn't producing anything special in Holland, either. I really really hope it works out for him but I am not so sure.
 

Blake Griffin

Well-Known Member
Oct 3, 2011
14,133
38,225
Agree he ditched us for the promised land of Chelsea - but why when they bring no-one through their ranks?

TBH he would have had as good a chance breaking thru with us as any other premiership club.

money i guess, though he did grow up a chelsea fan so maybe that came into it.

He seems to have an extremely poor attitude, unfortunately. He isn't producing anything special in Holland, either. I really really hope it works out for him but I am not so sure.

They do not notice anything of discipline problems like at Norwich City. "He has to be there at half past nine, he is always on time."
- adrie poldervaart (excelsior manager)

perhaps he is growing up, or maybe the accusations were overblown to begin with. unfortunately though once a player gets tagged with having a bad attitude then it usually stays with them.
 

coys200

Well-Known Member
May 22, 2017
8,436
17,403
At this point nobody really knows what our transfer spending will be Over next 5 years. But another couple of low spends will definitely indicate some austerity for a few years. On the plus side to that and especially if pochettino stays it may mean we will almost be viewed by the talented kids as a move to Germany now is. A top club but with a realistic chance of 1st team football.
 

Blake Griffin

Well-Known Member
Oct 3, 2011
14,133
38,225
u18s vs brighton:

oluwayemi; tainio, okedina, lyons-foster, cirkin; white, maghoma; markanday, richards, bennett; parrott

subs: kurylowiz, walcott, binks, a.shashoua, clarke
 
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