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Spurs Youth - 2019/20

IGSpur

Well-Known Member
Jan 11, 2013
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13,758
I haven't seen anywhere near enough youth football to give a sincere appraisal. But some interesting insights. One thing I'm very suprised about is not one person mentioning Tom Carroll. I thought he was always a big player in the youth team, but never transferred it essentially to being a dominant first team player. I always thought we fucked up with him by playing him further back, which I understand was the coaches idea. He did play as a striker originally iirc. No one rated him as a youth?

Did forget Carroll, but looking back at my team maybe in the one had a Pritchard in in a central role he might play a part, but I think Skipp and Veljkovic were better holders. Onomah will be the best CM, Carroll is very close and a good shows and I do agree his development was handld badly. Put him next to someone big and mobile and he would've been really good with opportunity I think.

I don't think he wasn't rated as a youngster, he was just small I believe so developed later and wasn't playing much at u18s. I think he really started to appear as a 19 year old and older which is when he started making England squads
 

mpickard2087

Patient Zero
Jun 13, 2008
21,886
32,513
Most of my evaluations would be done at u21/u23 level, but on this topic depends on what your metric is - I think most go on technical ability rather than stuff like game intelligence, positional sense, anticipation, decision making etc.

For instance Winks, even though a year older admittedly, vs. Onomah. Harry was just so far ahead in terms of knowing his role, having a feel for games, and better in the mental aspect. Back when they were like 18/19 the discussion would always be about who deserved or would get the senior team opportunity first, for me (and I said so) it was obvious who was more ready, and though Onomah might have shown more technically and you'd say had the bigger potential I'd still say Winks was the better youth player in terms of the all round package and getting ready for senior football.
 

ralphs bald spot

Well-Known Member
Jul 14, 2015
2,777
5,177
Mcgee - I thought he had some real potential as a keeper
Smith - just edges KWP though very close
Ogilvie - I thought he was destined to be a top player probably lacked a bit of pace but was very close to Chilwell at his age group
Caulker - What a sad story should have been Spurs and England's centre half for years he had the lot
CCV - For me he is is a bit maligned he has a lot going for him as a defender still young
Winks - Deserving of a spot in anyone's side not outstanding as a youth player but very steady and always looked to improve
Carroll - Tom such a nice player to watch moving and playing the ball his size was always a question but he could pay
Pritchard - Talented boy not enough genuine pace about him but he could play
Townsend - I always liked him direct murdered defences at youth level
Mason - Forgotten but a really nice player to watch linked it together
Kane - No other forward really

Mentions for Oduwa - such a shame a real talent for me he was mis handled at Tottenham he had so much to offer and was allowed to languiish on the wing when he had everything a central striker should have

Obika might not be a popular choice but for using all the talent that he had he was decent and knew how to score goals and has made a decent career scoring plenty of goals at a lower level

Missing Bentaleb I thought he was terrific what a loss - Viejkovic as well but he was a little slow for me - Lesniak was always tidy and I enjoyed watching him not spectacular at all but read the game - Azzouii as well a real loss when he went, he had some real talent and potential what a shame that injury has hit him so hard
 
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ralphs bald spot

Well-Known Member
Jul 14, 2015
2,777
5,177
Did forget Carroll, but looking back at my team maybe in the one had a Pritchard in in a central role he might play a part, but I think Skipp and Veljkovic were better holders. Onomah will be the best CM, Carroll is very close and a good shows and I do agree his development was handld badly. Put him next to someone big and mobile and he would've been really good with opportunity I think.

I don't think he wasn't rated as a youngster, he was just small I believe so developed later and wasn't playing much at u18s. I think he really started to appear as a 19 year old and older which is when he started making England squads

Carroll was on loan with Kane at Orient so didn't feature much in the U18'S
 

ralphs bald spot

Well-Known Member
Jul 14, 2015
2,777
5,177
Most of my evaluations would be done at u21/u23 level, but on this topic depends on what your metric is - I think most go on technical ability rather than stuff like game intelligence, positional sense, anticipation, decision making etc.

For instance Winks, even though a year older admittedly, vs. Onomah. Harry was just so far ahead in terms of knowing his role, having a feel for games, and better in the mental aspect. Back when they were like 18/19 the discussion would always be about who deserved or would get the senior team opportunity first, for me (and I said so) it was obvious who was more ready, and though Onomah might have shown more technically and you'd say had the bigger potential I'd still say Winks was the better youth player in terms of the all round package and getting ready for senior football.

Winks vs Onomah - Onomah wins for me in that team he was go to player he received and kept the ball where Winks was more the continuity type player - still a dissapointment that Josh never really got a chance to establish himself his languid style never really helped
 

Blake Griffin

Well-Known Member
Oct 3, 2011
14,133
38,225
Winks vs Onomah - Onomah wins for me in that team he was go to player he received and kept the ball where Winks was more the continuity type player - still a dissapointment that Josh never really got a chance to establish himself his languid style never really helped

watching him for fulham recently he seems to be breaking out of that languid style now or at least he's putting himself about a bit more, maybe that's parker's doing. i don't think it's impossible that he eventually overtakes winks and proves what a lot of us thought of the two at youth level but he just needs to stay fit first and foremost, as every time it looks like he might do something he goes and gets injured again.
 

JimmyG2

SC Supporter
Dec 7, 2006
15,014
20,779
Very informative
and interesting thread
from those ITK about youths.

Thanks.

How's Tom Carroll doing?
Lost track of him
when Swansea went down.
 

IGSpur

Well-Known Member
Jan 11, 2013
7,939
13,758
Think we are playing well and generally in their half but no clear chances being created ny either team
We're looking solid at least at the back.

Bennet playing well but decision making let's him down
Need to get Mundle off and Mathurin or Whittaker on
 

edson

Well-Known Member
May 17, 2005
3,945
12,117
Think we are playing well and generally in their half but no clear chances being created ny either team
We're looking solid at least at the back.

Bennet playing well but decision making let's him down
Need to get Mundle off and Mathurin or Whittaker on
Been very impressed with Lusala at LB so far today.
 

edson

Well-Known Member
May 17, 2005
3,945
12,117
Won 4-1 one of the best team performances of the season and every player had a blinder.
 
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