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The Spurs Youth Thread - 2018/19

Blake Griffin

Well-Known Member
Oct 3, 2011
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Reynold trialist?

he was released so technically a trialist, seems a bit needless to list him as that though.

think he can consider himself unlucky to have been let go, he's better than at least three players in this starting line up imo.
 

Spurzinho

Well-Known Member
Jan 24, 2016
2,513
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Why is he playing for us when we have Oluwayemi, Austin, Whiteman, de Bie, and goodness knows how many other goalkeepers under 20?

No idea. Injuries, maybe? International call-ups? First team involvement? Hard to say.
 

Spurzinho

Well-Known Member
Jan 24, 2016
2,513
8,342
he was released so technically a trialist, seems a bit needless to list him as that though.

think he can consider himself unlucky to have been let go, he's better than at least three players in this starting line up imo.

He was out for a long time with an injury. I do wonder whether he was released with the caveat that he would train with us over summer and if he proved he was fit he would get a new contract. It seemed bizarre at the time that he got released. He's seemed absolutely fine every time I've seen him whichever position he was played in.
 

Blake Griffin

Well-Known Member
Oct 3, 2011
14,133
38,225
What’s the view on Thorpe I’ve not seen much of him ?

not played much over the past couple of years I think mainly due to growth spurts, he was about 5t when he was 15/16 and now he's nearing 6ft so they've had to be careful with him. only seen him briefly a few times so don't have the strongest opinion on him. he's very slight but carries the ball well and has an eye for a pass, not the most athletic, maybe a bit like lamela in some areas. i don't have much faith in burnett making use of/getting the best out of the likes of thorpe, patterson, a.shashoua and markanday though as all are small in terms of height and/or build whilst burnett typically likes bigger or more athletic worker types.
 

Schoolboys' Own Stuff

Well-Known Member
Aug 3, 2005
260
292
I attended the game at Ebbsfleet today. I thought I would put together a few thoughts and a bit of an assessment.

We started with a 4-3-3 (sign of things to come this year for the first team?):

GK - Smith
RB - Okedina
CB - Statham
CB - Dinzeyi
LB - Cirkin
DM - Lyons-Foster
CM - Hinds
CM - Oakley-Boothe
AL - Tracey
AR - Markanday
ST - Richards

It was a classic case of a tale of two halves. We started very slowly, sat deep, got deeper and struggled to play out from the back. To be fair though, the boys kept going, stuck to the game plan even when they were put under pressure from a physically superior opposition.

We went behind from a set piece where I was convinced that our keeper would come out to claim an in-swinging cross but he couldn't make it through the crowd, their player headed in. 1-0 down.

There was one player that really stood out in the first half - Tariq Hinds. His performance over the course of the whole game was really good. Always bright, always looking to get on the ball and make things happen. He started the game in CM and finished it at RB but still remained a real influence on the game even after the reshuffle.

I can't really remember us creating anything much in the first half, Richards looked isolated up top but Tracey made a couple of good runs. Markanday tried to take on his full back a couple of times but nothing really came of it.

Okedina had a really torrid first half at right back, didn't look at all comfortable. He really improved in the second half when he moved to CB. Cirkin at left back did alright, I did think he looked a little timid and nervous to get involved, maybe a bit rusty.

So we entered the second half and it was a bit of a new look team. Shashoua, Clarke, Maghoma and Sterling all came on and each played a role in making the second half a much better spectacle than the first.

We got our equaliser very early on in the second half, the ball was played back to their CB, he turned, went to play the ball back to the Ebbsfleet keeper, got it horrifically wrong and blasted it past him into the back of the net! It showed real vision and composure to score such a beauty - good lad. 1-1.

Ebbsfleet came back with an immediate response and their left back (I think) scored a cracker from about 25-yards out. No chance for our keeper. It was such a sublime hit that you couldn't really begrudge them their 2-1 lead.

We had some really good passages of play, mostly involving Oakley-Boothe and Hinds, and created some good opportunities. Late on in the game, it eventually paid dividends when Thorpe bundled home the equaliser after some great build up play down our right-hand side. 2-2.

And that is how it finished. A great run out for our boys against a decent, physical side. We were easily the best team in the second half. A great atmosphere too.

My thoughts on the performances:

Smith - solid. Made one good save in particular and a couple of catches. I think he'll be disappointed with the first goal as I think he could have done more to claim the ball. He did come out and wipe a couple of players out (including one his own defenders!) in a similar situation after the goal so he does have the confidence in there.

Okedina - shambolic first half at RB. Gave away the ball a few times and gave away a poor free kick. However, he looked much more comfortable at CB in the second half. Very composed, like a different player.

Dinzeyi - mostly impressive. He was really stable at CB and challenged well with some really physical players in opposition. Some decent passing out from the back if unspectacular. Would like to see him play again soon.

Statham - not much to say really. Did alright.

Cirkin - had a decent time of it. He didn't seem totally confident, I felt he could have imposed himself a little more as he did get himself into some good positions.

Lyons-Foster - started slow and grew into the game. By the end of the first half, he started to get on the ball and dictate the play a bit and play some nice passes. I was looking forward to seeing him in the second half but he was one of the player taken off at HT. Would like to see more of him at DM soon as obviously has ability and composure.

Hinds - class. A really good performance and demonstrating excellent versatility by playing CM first half and RB in the second. As mentioned, he maintained his influence on the game in both positions which was great to watch. Very promising. I reckon he could do well out on loan at a decent level, too.

Oakley-Boothe - I was excited to see him on the team sheet. I was concerned early on as he started off quite quiet. However, he too grew into the game as it went on. So much so, he was probably our second best player and arguably pushing Hinds for MOTM. Personally, it has been a long time since I have seen TOB take control of a game but he really did in the second half. It was so great to see. Like Hinds, he could do well for a decent team on loan (maybe Swansea or Fulham would be ideal).

Tracey - not bad. He made a few good bursts down the left side in the first half, relieving some of the pressure in the process. Very Sissoko'esque. No fairytale goal on his return to Ebbsfleet though i'm afraid.

Markanday - I must admit, I was hoping for more. Perhaps that's a little unfair but he just didn't get on the ball enough and was noticeably physically inferior but this will be a good learning curve for him.

Richards - worked hard under difficult circumstances but didn't offer much of an outlet truth be told. I got the impression he would be better out wide as he has quick feet, or just behind a striker. Couldn't fault his effort though.

Subs:
Oluwayemi - Did alright. I can't really remember much involvement.

Thorpe - played AL when he came on, looked lively and grabbed a goal. First time I've seen him play so look forward to seeing him again.

Shashoua - came on and played CM. Took one look at him and though he would get bullied as Ebbsfleet had some lumps in CM. Absolutely not the case, he has quick feet, keeps it moving and gets stuck in. Well done lad.

Clarke - came on as a winger, looked quick and with a trick or two. Got into some dangerous situations but just lacked the composure when it mattered. With that said though, a good first impression on me.

Maghoma - quiet. He didn't get on the ball nearly as much as he should have given his size and ability. Needs to do more but did nothing wrong. Almost scored at the end after another defensive shocker for Ebbsfleet. Put his effort just wide.

Sterling - we looked much better with a ST that could hold it up and offer an outlet. He should have scored though, missed a great chance. Probably quite telling that he's with the U23's but perhaps it is good for some match practice. Anyway, a good player to have around for the younger players.

Reynolds - I don't really remember much of his performance to be honest. Came on later into the game.

All in all, a good game to watch and some great performances. Looks promising for the season ahead.
 
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coys200

Well-Known Member
May 22, 2017
8,436
17,403
I hope they explore Hinds in midfield a bit more. We don’t really have that really energetic CM at youth level maybe Shashoua Markanday but they are more AM. A lot of our CM are very technical and a little bit pedestrian. Be good to have a Naby Keita type midfielder.
 

mill

Well-Known Member
May 21, 2007
10,385
37,100
Apparently one of our kids, 16yo, played for rangers yesterday, can’t remember the name now sounded Italian, initials were L and A
 

coys200

Well-Known Member
May 22, 2017
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17,403
Apparently 1st and 2nd year are off to Belgium today for some tournament so you’d think the intake would be announced unless they are trialing a few maybe.
 

GetSpurredOn

Well-Known Member
Jun 18, 2006
5,022
8,922
Crossing over from the ITK forum, there was talk we are after a highly rated ‘well under 21 player’ that we’re hopeful on but is a tricky situation.
Anyone considered the ‘well under 21 player’ could be Mipo Odubeko? Highly rated young Irish striker, just about to leave Utd having refused to sign a new contract, and being chased by a number of teams from here and in Europe?
Any avid youth football watchers know anything of the player?
 

Lilbaz

Just call me Baz
Apr 1, 2005
41,363
74,893
Crossing over from the ITK forum, there was talk we are after a highly rated ‘well under 21 player’ that we’re hopeful on but is a tricky situation.
Anyone considered the ‘well under 21 player’ could be Mipo Odubeko? Highly rated young Irish striker, just about to leave Utd having refused to sign a new contract, and being chased by a number of teams from here and in Europe?
Any avid youth football watchers know anything of the player?

Talk of transfers in here will just see this thread moved to the transfer forum. Happened last summer. Up to you it's not banned.
 

coys200

Well-Known Member
May 22, 2017
8,436
17,403
Wonder if Ccv will get one last chance on tour. Seems to be training with main group but no sign of Onomah or Edwards.
 

razzmaster

Well-Known Member
Jun 21, 2008
2,312
13,057
Wonder if Ccv will get one last chance on tour. Seems to be training with main group but no sign of Onomah or Edwards.

With Dunk seemingly going to Leicester I wonder if Brighton might come in for him. He did well at Swansea last season so Graham Potter will know him well. I still think there is a Premier League footballer there but can't see it being with Spurs.
 
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