Spurs Youth 2018/19

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Still no announcement of the new First Year Academy despite the fact they will be in he 2nd week of preseason, best guesses are :

Isak Solberg (GK)
Timothee Lo'Totula (GK)
Tobi Oluwayemi (GK)
Dermi Lusala (RB/CB/DM)
Marques Muir (CB)
Kalum Cesay (RB/CM)
Jeremy Kyezu (LB)
Michael Craig (CB/DM)
Matthew Craig (CM/AM)
Romaine Mundle (mid)
Nile John (AM)
Max Robson (AM)
Eddie Carrington-Alberdi
Tarrelle Whitaker (striker

About half have made their Spurs u18 debuts.
There were also rumours we had signed a good 16 year old Spanish midfielder, Yago De Santiago from Celta Vigo.

Wouldn't be surprised if another striker was found as well
 


Confirmed as a pro contract. But we are overstocked on young his arm !


So even with a couple being released that's four pro keepers in the Dev Squad which seems a lot. Would hope at least one goes out on loan, ideally two.

Whiteman
Austin
De Bie
Oluwayemi

We'll also have three (or even four) in the Academy I would think.
 
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Pleased about Ryan Mason returning. He will do a good job. Comes across as a clever person too.
Have to remind myself hes still only 28. In coaching terms he will ne well ahead of the curve in experience and has a unique persoective. Im desperate for him to do well.

Saw Matt Taylor, formerly of Portsmouth, has joined us in a coaching role too. He was a good pkayer. Saw him play last year at Swindon town, bizarrely enough.
 
So even with a couple being released that's four pro keepers in the Dev Squad which seems a lot. Would hope at least one goes out on loan, ideally two.

Whiteman
Austin
De Bie
Oluwayemi

We'll also have three (or even four) in the Academy I would think.

I've had an educated guess of 3 in first year academy ( a couple f posts ago) plus Kurylowcz(sp) in 2nd year academy so 4 GKs I total.

Or 8 GKs in u21' and u18 which is a lot for just 2 teams.

Any thoughts on Whiteman getting the 3rd GK slot for first team to use one GK ?
 

Friday at 12.30 is the first draw of the season involving Spurs ! Draw is to select opponents in the EFL Trophy where our u23 side will compete against League 1 and League 2 sides, arguably the most important matches of the season for the individual players development.

Spurs are in the southern groups and will be drawn as no 7 ,- on Talks port
 
Rumours and reports we're looking at a kid I've seen play quite a few times, Charlie Allen (15) from Linfield.

He has been named in the 1st team squad for a Champions League qualifier against Rosenborg tomorrow which would see him as the youngest player to play in the competition I think (if he plays).

Tottenham, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Leicester City, Leeds United, Celtic, Rangers and Aberdeen have watched him...has already played in a tournament for Rangers which they beat Roma in the final of.
 

Friday at 12.30 is the first draw of the season involving Spurs ! Draw is to select opponents in the EFL Trophy where our u23 side will compete against League 1 and League 2 sides, arguably the most important matches of the season for the individual players development.

Spurs are in the southern groups and will be drawn as no 7 ,- on Talks port
Imagine if the final was between 2 under 23 sides.
 
Surprised there hasn’t been more of Jack Roles inclusion in training... The is he/isn’t he saga of whether he’s in Poch’s plans trundles on?

Yeah, I think this is his opportunity to show Poch what he's got during pre-season. Let's hope he grabs it with both hands and then I can see him playing a part in the first team throughout the season.

Either that, or he get's a loan to a Championship side. But whatever happens, I want to see him playing grown up football next season.
 
One attribute Poch seems to like in many players is size - that's why Skipp was given a chance last season, as he's got the physique of a man although his muscles are not yet fully developed - and I think the same is true of Jack Clarke too. Of course both players are technically good but its their physique Poch likes which distinguishes them from Edwards, Sashoua and Markanday who are all small.

I'm not sure a Sporting Director needs to be 'over' the head coach, but even on the same level can 'challenge' the need for size. Its certainly true we need a squad with some bigger players in it, but imo some smaller players who have outstanding technique are needed too (not all big players do - look at someone like Loftus Cheek). Maybe one solution for this players would be going to the gym to develop legs like Modric - a slight player but amazingly strong legs and difficult to knock off the ball, but he became that way aged about age 23 after big clubs were not interested in him due to his slight physique aged 20. But that is the type of discussion that a Sporting Director can have.

This is formed from the famous quote, about Bielsa coming to his house, and, simply checking his calf muscles when he was in bed, as a young/youth player.

The reality is that, I think there is a very strong correlation to strong (or optimal) early muscle growth and organ development. As I have spoken about in many threads before (on other forums), it is no good a player like Edwards getting to 20-22 and hitting the protein shakes and gym. He will not have developed the bone mass, Kidneys or Liver function to support all the extra metabolic churn that will induce, so may get him in top shape 23-26 but then he will likely be the perpetually injured type (IMO using Edwards frame as an example).

This somewhat unskilled mindset of Pochettino, if real, is very helpful when looking at a players ability to potentially cope with high intensity roles, but lacks the understanding (or trust) of a sports scientist who can decide certain aspects in reporting to a Sporting Director, is my suspicion.

This Leeds lad, would be a key point, he may have the right frame, good technique, but do they know how it (frame) has been grown? Is there any real investigation into nutritional profiling and lifestyle, not sure at this level. He had a seizure, which given some other identifiers I see, would bring huge alarm bells about his Liver for me, and, whether he has the right mindset to adapt his lifestyle for Pochs needs.

Think there are some key areas, such as this point you raised well (or BC, whoever questioned the young lad coming in, contextually) that the club could really use a Sports Director for, but worry how it would mesh with Poch and Levy.
 
This is formed from the famous quote, about Bielsa coming to his house, and, simply checking his calf muscles when he was in bed, as a young/youth player.

The reality is that, I think there is a very strong correlation to strong (or optimal) early muscle growth and organ development. As I have spoken about in many threads before (on other forums), it is no good a player like Edwards getting to 20-22 and hitting the protein shakes and gym. He will not have developed the bone mass, Kidneys or Liver function to support all the extra metabolic churn that will induce, so may get him in top shape 23-26 but then he will likely be the perpetually injured type (IMO using Edwards frame as an example).

This somewhat unskilled mindset of Pochettino, if real, is very helpful when looking at a players ability to potentially cope with high intensity roles, but lacks the understanding (or trust) of a sports scientist who can decide certain aspects in reporting to a Sporting Director, is my suspicion.

This Leeds lad, would be a key point, he may have the right frame, good technique, but do they know how it (frame) has been grown? Is there any real investigation into nutritional profiling and lifestyle, not sure at this level. He had a seizure, which given some other identifiers I see, would bring huge alarm bells about his Liver for me, and, whether he has the right mindset to adapt his lifestyle for Pochs needs.

Think there are some key areas, such as this point you raised well (or BC, whoever questioned the young lad coming in, contextually) that the club could really use a Sports Director for, but worry how it would mesh with Poch and Levy.

Actually think Poch and size generally seems to go beyond your post.

Most of Poch choices of youngsters are large lads - the most noticeable exceptions are probably Harry Winks and Ryan Mason both of whom are (at least when younger) of slight build. It would seem that his ideal CM would be someone like Loftus Cheek for his physique - yet Spurs academy ( certainly until very recently,) almost specialise in taking the highly skilled but more slight kids into the academy, quite possibly because Chelsea have hoovered up the bigger framed kids with ability.

I'd guess there would have been a ,50/50 chance of someone like Eriksen coming through the Spurs youth system under Poch because he has a relatively slight build despite his tremendous stamina. And many youth watchers have concerns about the more averaged frame kids like say Jack Roles will fail at Spurs because of this seeming marked preference for larger framed kids regardless of ability.

If you look at say Luka Modric he has an average sized frame with a slightly lower centre of gravity than most but tree trunks for legs, which I think are the result of extreme gym work which I do not think we're as marked when he came to Spurs. Whilst not being an expert o n Messi physique he is not a man with a large physique.

So whilst I understand, as a layman,your comment that early large organ growth etc show that the kid is likely to grow into a man with probably above average physical abilities, the examples of Modric,Messi, Eriksen and many others show it's not a one to one correlation that it's necessary to have a big frame to be a good footballer/athlete.

So we come back to the scenario that says physical size should only be one of a number of attributes that should be selection criteria for young footballers - yet under Poch that seems to be of a much higher priority.

As a watcher of football only, it seems to me that you need maybe half the team to be of a decent size for physical power, heading ability etc. But usually successful teams also have a number of more average or even short players on the team who have different attributes eg low centre of gravity, shooting ability, passing ability etc which are not always found in the big guys you have in your team.

And that come down to a Sporting Director input ( if there is such a person at the club) , preferably one with a working knowledge of sports science or to have s sports scientist working for him.
 
The point I failed to make, is that I agree, it is a logical fallacy to look the way Poch does at players, without understanding the dynamics at play.

He does not understand, it seems, that upper body strength means in most modern dynamics, players simply have to carry that 'bulk' around, then their organs deal with the extra burden placed on them (CB fine, mostly). Look at Loftus-Cheek, how many injuries has he had? (no idea, just suspicion) He will be beset by injuries if he is played is a high mileage position all his career, IMO.

The calf point is a good one though, as it indicates something good (from a managers viewpoint), but it has led to a silly interpretation that bulk is good and wiry is weak, yet wiry is best if the key areas are strong.

Modric and Messi are classic examples of players who can play to 35 easily, very low metabolic turnover, yet strong on the core and legs. Poch it seems likes Dier/Wanyama/Dembele as you say all 6ft+ with thicker set, this is fine, but you put the in a high press for 2/3 years and you get what we now see, Dier a physical mess, Wanyama destroyed, Dembele saying "I can't handle it"...

If they want the high press, high intensity, you cannot have big framed units in CM (or any of the high mileage/high sprint positions) and expect them to last 5/6/7 years, unless they have freakishly strong lungs/heart/liver/kidneys and diet. Or, you need to play them like the FB's are sometimes and rotate week to week.

That Poch's son is a sports scientist makes it very awkward, if he is aware of this situation, how does he tell dad that his publicised position is one which is nothing like reflective of modern life (football has changed, 'match us equally to earn the right to play' used to mean Stoke and the equaliser, now it is run 12km with plenty of burst sprints.

Interesting where it takes things.
 


Great for TOB if true, a Championship loan with a manager that knows and trusts him - TOB was probably the "go to" midfielder for E u17s at u17 WC which they won.

Gets TOB out of the rut he has got into and could well be the naming if him.
 
Still no announcement of the new First Year Academy despite the fact they will be in he 2nd week of preseason, best guesses are :

Isak Solberg (GK)
Timothee Lo'Totula (GK)
Tobi Oluwayemi (GK)
Dermi Lusala (RB/CB/DM)
Marques Muir (CB)
Kalum Cesay (RB/CM)
Jeremy Kyezu (LB)
Michael Craig (CB/DM)
Matthew Craig (CM/AM)
Romaine Mundle (mid)
Nile John (AM)
Max Robson (AM)
Eddie Carrington-Alberdi
Tarrelle Whitaker (striker

About half have made their Spurs u18 debuts.
There were also rumours we had signed a good 16 year old Spanish midfielder, Yago De Santiago from Celta Vigo.

Wouldn't be surprised if another striker was found as well

Pleased to see whoever updates the wiki site for Spurs u23s and academy site has used the same names as me other than Yago De Santiago. Unless of course we are both wrong !
 


Great for TOB if true, a Championship loan with a manager that knows and trusts him - TOB was probably the "go to" midfielder for E u17s at u17 WC which they won.

Gets TOB out of the rut he has got into and could well be the naming if him.

He is being linked with Leeds as well. Will he be able to get into their first teams? Sink or swim time for TOB.
 
He is being linked with Leeds as well. Will he be able to get into their first teams? Sink or swim time for TOB.

Probably Spurs bring pro active - we have good relations with Swansea ( CCV, Carroll and others) plus a coach who knows TOB and the Leeds link via Bielsa is obvious. I'd guess QPR had a look but took Amos instead
 
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