Marcus Edwards - Excelsior

coys200 said:

For us to have a 6th choice AM/winger as an academy kid is perfect. It’s basically taking Nkoudou squad place. He probably wouldn’t play too much bit like KWP situation. I’d like to see him given a chance. But can also understand how another year on loan may benefit him. Personally think the championship would be better for him and toughen him up a bit and see if he can handle the physicality which will always be a question mark given his size. But I definitely think he is the kind of player that would flourish around better players.

Click to expand...

IGSpur said:

The cards aren't falling right for Edwards. He is one of, though some could argue, the best talent we've produced, but is in a position which is stacked with quality in our first team. I don't see how he gets a chance next year, unless one leaves and we really push and rotate him in well whenever possible. I think his performance would look good around high quality players. THe same way Foden doesn't tear it up but looks the part at City I think that is what I would expect from him if he was in our first team until he really settled.

Feyenoord would be good, though I would like him to go to a better league like the Bundesliga but that would require adapting to more new surroundings. What would have been best for him is if he joined Ajax last summer when they were after him, I assume we rejected any bids. His contract ends in 2020, so I can't see the club allowing him to go on loan unless he signs some sort of extension and it becomes that chicken/egg situation again where ultimately the player suffers.

Click to expand...

Blake Griffin said:

yeah i meant another loan providing he signs a new deal, otherwise we will just have to cash in and hope to get a buy back clause in there or something. i think/hope this loan will make him realise that he's not there yet and that the club do have a long-term plan for him, i get why you'd say germany would be a good next step for him but settling and adapting to new surroundings is obviously harder for him than others so that's why i'd probably say that staying in holland might be the better option. reiss nelson for example has only started five games for hoffenheim this season despite banging in a few goals early on, i know it's worked out great for sancho and previously lookman but it's not guaranteed so i'd rather go with the safe bet if it was my choice but as you say we might not even get to that point. i agree that him taking nkoudou's role would be pointless though.

Click to expand...

ralphs bald spot said:

]

I don't like to be down on the lad and I haven't watched today's game but from what I have seen he is further away now than he was a years ago. Then you could accept some of his weaknesses as areas to improve/develop but in these areas as he made a significant improvement?

I would say his weaknesses are he is not good enough defensively - I think he has improved here but its an area where he is never going to be strong.
Does he score enough goals ?
Is his contribution good enough in the final third to compensate for his defensive shortcomings?
Decision making is it good enough ?
Is he a good enough athlete?

Sorry to say but I can't see a path for Marcus at Tottenham and this loan spell has increased this view . As in the case of all young players I hope I am wrong I just don't see him anytime soon challenging Son and Alli for a place or even a desperate call of the bench

Click to expand...

allpaths said:

All of your concerns that you've just mentioned we're thrown against Eriksen while he was at Ajax. It's daft to give up on Edwards just yet and you're crazy if you think this loan has done anything but given Marcus a chance at Tottenham.

And as for his chances at the club, I think if he wants to make he'll have to out compete Lamela if anyone, which with his injury record, his hot and cold form and his previously mentioned desire to return to Argentina one day, does give Marcus a sliver of hope.

Click to expand...

danielneeds said:

He's only got 18 months on his contract, so I can't see him being integrated next year even if he plays out of his skin. He won't sign another one, I'm pretty sure.

Click to expand...

A Tottenham Hotspur player at Excelsior. Pingeldoos Marcus Edwards (20) starts to feel at home in Kralingen. Get acquainted with the British weapon of Woudestein, which played a leading role last Sunday during the crucial 2-1 victory over FC Emmen. "I'm not here to disappoint people."

Theembrace with his father shows pure football happiness in his most vulnerable form. Marcus Edwards celebrates his goal and assist and the oh so important win of Excelsior at FC Emmen at the edge of the field with his support and support. The attacker promised on Friday a goal and an assist and fulfilled his agreement. 'I always do everything I promise' is his simple explanation.
Edwards has to tell his story afterwards for the NOS camera. "No, I would rather not have done that," he confesses. Media attention is nothing for him, he just wants to ping old-fashioned, drive opponents to despair and entertain the audience. It does not stop him from excelling for Excelsior. "I talk with my feet, not with my mouth."

When the Friday morning training in the Van Donge & De Roo Stadium has ended and the players exhaustively find the locker room after a long, intensive session, one player is in the spotlight to kick some balls towards the goal. 'Look, he is busy again,' points trainer Adrie Poldervaart. Marcus Edwards does not want to go inside yet. "This is the Marcus we have seen since the winter break." Last year he was the silent, somewhat withdrawn Englishman who did not seem to be able to ground in Rotterdam. The mystery-Edwardsthey already called him. A stray strange bird. Now he is thawed and he can call himself an undisputed basic player, the hope of Excelsior in the complex relegation battle and a hand binder for Eredivisie defenders. 'This is an incredible player', Vitesse coach Leonid Slutsky remarked after Edwards gave a quick course of slalom to the Arnhemmers immediately after the winter break.

Edwards came to Excelsior in August, stowed by Tottenham Hotspur. He was there like a thunder in a clear sky. In a place that he never thought he would ever be. A mega talent from London in Kralingen, that sounds like a penguin in the desert. With his thoughts he sometimes seemed to be in the English capital, a dreamer on and off the field. Edwards dribbled with the ball on a string, showing himself a comic book hero from a bygone era. His return, however, was low and co-defenders were not there. Was this a mega-talent, once by Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino renamed 'mini-Messi' because of his dribbling?

"He's just twenty." The face of Adrie Poldervaart exudes something natural. The four words of the Excelsior coach tell the story. "Now let's not forget that this is a young boy. Everyone immediately saw that this is an exceptional talent, but he came into a strange country with new people around him and suddenly played against seniors. '

Poldervaart saw the metamorphosis of Edwards from nearby at the training camp in Spain. "I had received an English article about English top talents. Among others about him and about Jayden Sancho from Borussia Dortmund. Supported with statistics and conclusions. I doubted for a long time whether I should let Marcus read, it was quite critical. But I did it anyway. Go and read thisI told him. We also spoke. The penny has fallen, he has to do more than he used to. You see that he is doing better now, is also doing more with others. I like to see it. Jeffry Fortes and Lorenzo Burnet have played an important role in this. I call Lorenzo and Marcus the Two Brothers on the 4th Floor. Fortes and Burnet took care of Edwards in Spain. You should not exaggerate that, but putting him at ease is important. He has become more social. "

Time to ask the protagonist a few things, but that is not a simple task. During the interview request, press chef Vincent Wernke had already warned: 'Marcus does not like the press and does not like to talk.' From the first moment that he was in Rotterdam, you saw the Englishman ostentatiously dodging journalists. The right time and the right comment seem necessary to reach him. A challenge has been born. Also because Edwards has a flat London accent, so that a conversation in understandable and understandable English is not a matter of course.

When the attacker walks out of the field with his small passes, Poldervaart calls him. Edwards greets kindly, in his eyes the fear is visible for what is to come. The trainer puts him at ease and mediates, although no agreements have been made about this in advance. "Marcus, I know you do not like the press, but we have now picked one for you that is of your height, that does not matter." Nothing has been lied to. According to his player passport, Edwards is 1 meter 76, but if you see him working from the tribune, you estimate him smaller. The interviewer is officially three centimeters smaller and slightly less trained, the hairdress explains the difference in the benefit of Edwards.

NAUGHTY LAUGH

Edwards suddenly stands in a place where he would rather not be. Only with a journalist, he feels himself in a dark alley. On the opening question whether he is having a good time at Excelsior, a predictable answer follows. 'Yes.' Honest is fair, a clear answer to a stupid closed question. He is getting ready to walk, but by immediately following an open question, the conversation is saved. In fact, the quiet Edwards does not seem so quiet. If you listen carefully to the inner gibberish, satisfactory answers come. 'I knew little about the Netherlands. I knew the top clubs, otherwise nothing. Excelsior? No, only from the FIFA game. "

A mischievous laugh breaks through. They have not seen him laugh so much in Kralingen, but lately he clearly feels more at ease. "In the beginning I was searching. I was in a strange city, had never been away from home for long. I ended up in a different world, had to get to know my fellow players and get used to the way of training. I wanted to pick it up, I worked hard. " Edwards's presence was good for Edwards. 'It may sound strange, I am a boy of just twenty and live with my father. But I like it. And he too. It's good for me that he is here. "

Pa Edwards is the biggest fan of Marcus. In Gelredome we saw him dancing happily after his first Eredivisie goal was made by his son. Against Emmen we also see him in the stands, Excelsior - and his son in particular - inciting. Enjoying the leading role that Edwards junior claims for. 'A great man who talks a lot', Jeffry Fortes knows. 'A real speech waterfall. I think Marcus does not have that part of him. "

"In the beginning I was searching. I was in a strange city, I had never been away from home for long. "

Edwards is one of the many talented football players from England who hope to get playing time abroad. 'It is true that many young English players go to Europe . It is difficult to break through in England at a young age. On the one hand because there are many foreigners and on the other hand we do not know the youth competition as it is here. You have to play as a young footballer to be able to develop. I'm doing it now. For me the Netherlands is fine. The way of playing football suits me. I played at Tottenham often as 10, here on the outside. I do not actually have a favorite position yet. "

Since his eighth, Edwards is the Spurs playerand in the second cup tournament he was allowed to come in once, for Vincent Janssen. Getting Tottenham 1 seems like a logical dream. "I have no dreams," he confesses. 'I have talent, it is up to me to do something with it. If I bring the first from Tottenham, I have done well; if it does not work, I have to look for the blame myself. I follow Tottenham and will always continue to do so, it is my club. I have seen them win from Borussia Dortmund this week. Then I cheer hard. " Edwards now focuses on Excelsior, life preservation in the Eredivisie is at stake and secretly is expected that he can play a major role in this. 'I have to be important, I want to be important. I know people expect that, I'm not here to disappoint people. "

WINK

"That went pretty well," the visibly surprised press chief noticed. Earlier in the week, Wernke had asked Edwards to work on a piece in the program booklet. "Should I do that or should I do that?" He had answered with a questioning look. We make the appointment after the game against FC Emmen still to meet. One goal and one assist, can we agree on that? The promise is made. And a wink as a bonus. "He's a funny guy," teammate Fortes laughs. Edwards looks around for a moment. He is probably proud of the interview he has given and sticks a thumb. Fortes reacts. "Now I'm going to talk about you, friend."

The Cape Verdean right back sees Edwards as his little brother. "He is not a talker, no, although he begins to become more and more loose. We let him do the music in the locker room, that helps. It is just his character, he is not exuberant, rather in himself. We are always so good at giving someone a stamp in football. Marcus just does not like talking, is not that allowed? You do not need to have a value judgment on that. It also has good sides. He prefers to be at home rather than going into town. Marcus lives for football, he wants to succeed. It's up to him. If you have so much talent, you have to make the most of it. '
How good is Edwards? Fortes laughs, he seems to find it a silly question. "Everyone sees that. He is of a bizarre level. What he can do is really not normal. I have not experienced a better player in my career. Pochettino did not make that comparison with Messi for nothing. He was referring to his way of moving and there is really something in there. You will not get rid of him on a sidewalk tile. But there is more to it, eh. He now plays relegation football. He has never experienced that. He sometimes still plays as a junior, he never had to deal with those responsible. And he plays on artificial grass. He is much better on grass. And there is a certain pressure. He is for many the rented player of Tottenham Hotspur, not Marcus Edwards. Of course it is also incredible that he is walking around here, let's face it. "Fortes expects the British youth to show himself in the coming months. 'He has already done that since the winter break. Now he has to go scoring and give assists. We also have a click on the field. He is left and wants a lot inside, because of that I can over it. Although, I always have to wait and see what he does and respond to it. '

BODYGUARD

When we talk about the future of Edwards, Fortes comes up with a remarkable suggestion. "The Ødegaard route is something for him," he remarks. 'It's a bit comparable. Both super talents, everything is always done for them, the youth team in which they played was decorated on them. I seriously think that Edwards was such a pupil who started dribbling, all opponents passed, scored and pulled the ball out of the net to have the ball again as soon as possible after the kickoff. ' But what is the Ødegaard route? 'Do not go back after half a year in the Netherlands. With his type of game, Marcus fits here, he can develop here. He is not going to play in the first of Tottenham yet, so do it here. Preferably another year at Excelsior, yes,

Edwards meets his promise against FC Emmen. A goal and an assist. He knows and reports laughing. "This was the deal, right?" The fun eyes are sparkling. "Important three points this. Good for the team towards the next matches. And for me, of course. I need to score more and give assists, I know. Efficiency is that called? " Trainer Poldervaart is passing by. "You are friends now, are not you?" Technical director Ferry de Haan has gotten the air from the promised promise of Edwards. "Take him home for a week," it sounds. Edwards now puts the music in the dressing room.

Fortes hopes that they will read the story in London with and about his young teammate Edwards. "In a few years we will go to Marcus if he plays the Champions League final." The older brother devises an alternative route on the spot. "Maybe they see that they have to take me as Marcus's body-guard. It's good for him that I keep a close eye on him. Who is the right back there, Serge Aurier right? "

Click to expand...

Blake Griffin said:

long but very interesting article with marcus giving his first interview since joining excelsior, also gives a great insight into his character.

https://www.vi.nl/pro/overig/spurs-huurling-edwards-komt-los-bij-excelsior-wat-hij-kan-is-niet-normaal/share/433cd040ed [translated]


highlighted a bit where he briefly talks about spurs. i've seen a few accusations with people saying that he's not a spurs supporter or that he doesn't care about the club and that he lacks the drive to want to play for us etc so maybe that will go some way to showing that's not the case.

Click to expand...

Blake Griffin said:

long but very interesting article with marcus giving his first interview since joining excelsior, also gives a great insight into his character.

https://www.vi.nl/pro/overig/spurs-huurling-edwards-komt-los-bij-excelsior-wat-hij-kan-is-niet-normaal/share/433cd040ed [translated]


highlighted a bit where he briefly talks about spurs. i've seen a few accusations with people saying that he's not a spurs supporter or that he doesn't care about the club and that he lacks the drive to want to play for us etc so maybe that will go some way to showing that's not the case.

Click to expand...

SlumDilla said:

So while he's on loan, Marcus has been

* Taking criticism in stride
* Doing extra work after training
* Staying home and avoiding the partying scene
* Taking responsibility for his development and progress
* Giving his all to help the team avoid relegation
* Watching and supporting Spurs from afar

Gentlemen, he's ready! Hope he can stay injury free and enjoy a fine finish to the season.

​

Click to expand...

SlumDilla said:

Gentlemen, he's ready!

​

Click to expand...

SpunkyBackpack said:

Sorry to let the air out of your balloon but if you have watched any of the games you'd see quite clearly he isn't.

Click to expand...

Blake Griffin said:

quiet tonight, his team didn't have much of the ball so he spent the majority of the game defending. they somehow came away with a 0-0 though despite utrecht having 29 attempts to excelsior's three. he's not much use in games like tonight but he had to stay switched on defensively so not a completely useless exercise.

Click to expand...