Many of us follow England Youth games, McAtee is a podium level talent, easily stands out amongst many others who are quickly rated as £50m+ players like Dibling and Gittens.
Sadly, we likely can’t get him, but I think he is a much nearer cert than almost all U21’s down (Moore is exquisite potential, but too young to know if his game matures, as it should).
English youth is a ridiculous talent factory these past 5years now.
Absolutely correct.
There has been a steady stream of young English players going to play at european clubs, which really got under way with Jaen Sancho going from ManCity to Dortmund as City wouldn't play him - and the reason why Dortmund were interested is that the PL academies are churning out many times the number of high class talent than any of the european club equivalent academies. And there is the chance the european clubs can cash in by selling a more developed youngster back to PL for a high price as Dortmund did selling Sancho to ManU.
Incidentally Spurs tried to get Sancho bundled in as part of deal of Walker going to ManCity but ManCity refused.
Spurs academy has rebounded after Poch's 'no loan ' and rarely playing youngsters policy followed by Conte's hatred of anything other than tried and tested veteran players (Mourhino to be fair helped our youth), and we have a conveyor belt of players coming through now, and although not necessarily world class, I think a number are good enough to be squad players and as List B/Club trained or u21's add numbers to our squad too. A short list of the players who might fit into the squad over the next year or two :
Alfie Devine (age 20) - 2 years on loan currently at Championship level club in Belgium. Better as a deep lying midfield player, can play AM too. Versatile mid who could play either Bissouma or Bentancur type roles
Jamie Donley (age 19) - first year at L1 Orient but absolutely killing it now after being the GOAT for Spurs u21's who won PL2 last year. Scores and creates assists for fun - ideal understudy for Madison and Kulusevski.
George Abbott (age 19) - Captained Spurs u21's to PL2 victory last year as RB where overlooked a bit for the other stars. This season at L2 Notts County he's become one of their top players taking them from near bottom of division into play off places. Their fans hope to keep him in L1 next season although already Champioship clubs are looking at him. Plays DM for Notts County but can get forward - 4 goals and 3 assists so far - plus can play full back either side.
Ashley Phillips (Age 19) - Played in Championship for 2 seasons as CB (usually not a position for youngsters) , currently Stoke fans think he's their best CB and one of best in Chamopionship. E u19 captain
Luka Vuskovic (age 17) - Tearing up the Belgian top division where he's widely thought to be best CB in the division, not to mention his ability to score 6 goals in 22 matches so far. Given his youth it maybe better to give him a season in Championship before coming to Spurs, but a great decision to have
And that's on top of Mikey Moore (still only 17) who is starting a few games now and will only improve next season at Spurs with strikers Dane Scarlett and Will Lankshear both still developing.
And in younger age groups, a few more coming through who may get sub opportunities but are a year or two away from joining the above list.
We will have 3 Club Trained positions to fill (Austin fills the 4th) in uefa squads and can have unlimited List B players, so in short term its easy to see maybe 4 or so youngsters in squad who can gradually be developed (as Gray and Begvall have in first half of season) to add genuine quality but also shear numbers to avoid the worst of an injury crisis like we have had this season. So there's genuine reasons to develop our own youth - and once every few years we have a chance of finding a world class player.