Spurs Youth 2020/21

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Another trialist - Marcel Lavenier (formerly at Chelsea) a right sided CB/RB (Dob 16 December 2000 so aged 19 still). Portugal u20.......

No sign of the trialist we have signed (Keenan Fergusion), but in one of his favoured positions of RB is Dermi Lusala, a very good prospect in this year's Academy Year 2 makes his competitve u23 debut.

Another triallst on the bench is Tobi Omole (formerly at Woolwich), a LB/CB/DM (Dob 17 December 1999 so aged 20) and regular u18 player last season at Woolwich

There have been several trialists (maybe 4) seen in pre-season, not sure if the two trialists today were two of them or not. Quite surprising these are the 3 defenders on trial - must say something about a gap in the existing line of defenders or maybe Circkin and Walcott likely to be loaned out creating a gap in u23's ?

But also the 2 Estonian CB's, one joined and another on trial at u18 level. Very strange, maybe JM doesnt like some of the charachteristics of some young defenders - maybe wants them taller and stronger for example ? Just a guess to explain the number of defenders seemingly being looked at which has not happened in previous years

White getting u23 minutes as no involvement in first team, but no sign of Cirkin ?
 
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I'm still puzzling over our youth signings :

On tral today - Marcel Lavenier (formerly at Chelsea) a right sided CB/RB (Dob 16 December 2000 so aged 19 still). Portugal u20 . Possibly left Chelsea as he has Reece James ahead of him, and Lamptney left to join Brighton this summer for that reason as he would have no chance of first team game time with James ahead of him. So he could be a decent prospect in his own right.

Just signed - Keenan Ferguson (formerly Sheffield United), CB/RB (DoB 28 August 2000) so same age bar a couple of months as Lavenier. And he looked very good in pre-season compared to some of Spurs other u23 defenders, especially in the streamed game v Orient first team.

Logically you'd expect these two to be in competition (if we sign Lavenier) for the CB/RB position for the rest of this season to see who is better - but both are older than we generally recruit for u23's to be joining Spurs, so what's going on ? Are one or both being trialed to see if they could deputise at RB in place of Aurier either now or in January or even next summer if Aurier leaves ?



Just to add confusion, we have Dermi Lusala (dob 16 January 2003 - a RB/CB so at 17 a year or two away from possible first team training involvement but certainly looking a great prospect last season for u18's) so about 2 years younger than Lavenier and Ferguson and too young yet to be a first team contender. But Lusala will need to be playing u23's this season to develop........so might be tricky if there are 3 contenders for RB..... and not too much spare room at CB with Jubril Okendina (CB/RB) who made pre-season bench and another born in 2000, as was Brooklyn Lyons-Foster (CB/FB ) and Malachi Walcott, CB (born 2003 so a little younger) who made a short appearance off he bench v Leipzig......so llots of competition at CB too.

So that looks like 6 players to fit in at RB or one of the two CB positions......and that's without talking about the Estonian CB's who have already played in the Estonian Leagues......or TJ Eyoma (CB/RB), again born in 2000 who will return at the end of this season from his oan at Lincoln .

So really don't think the recruitment of Ferguson or potential recruitment of Lavenier can be connected to u23's, so other than any plans we might have to loan then out (to create a Loan Army) , only option left on the table seems to be as back up RB's in case Aurier leaves.

Any thoughts WindyCOYS WindyCOYS ? Anyone ?
 
Trialing Omole (LB/CB/DM), born in 1999, today might make more sense for Spurs u23's as its likely that Cirkin, 2002 born, will either spend time with Spurs first team or on loan......and there aren't a lot of alternatives at LB in u23's, and the couple of options in Academy Year 2 are 'ok' and born in 2002 (so quite young to play u23's) rather than top prospects......so the next top prospect Jordan Hackett LB/CB born in 2004 is way too young for the next couple of years.

So Omole might just be LB cover for u23's whilst Cirkin is developed elsewhere.......or could he also be loaned out as part of a change in strategy to look at good prospects released by other academies ?
 
I'm still puzzling over our youth signings :

On tral today - Marcel Lavenier (formerly at Chelsea) a right sided CB/RB (Dob 16 December 2000 so aged 19 still). Portugal u20 . Possibly left Chelsea as he has Reece James ahead of him, and Lamptney left to join Brighton this summer for that reason as he would have no chance of first team game time with James ahead of him. So he could be a decent prospect in his own right.

Just signed - Keenan Ferguson (formerly Sheffield United), CB/RB (DoB 28 August 2000) so same age bar a couple of months as Lavenier. And he looked very good in pre-season compared to some of Spurs other u23 defenders, especially in the streamed game v Orient first team.

Logically you'd expect these two to be in competition (if we sign Lavenier) for the CB/RB position for the rest of this season to see who is better - but both are older than we generally recruit for u23's to be joining Spurs, so what's going on ? Are one or both being trialed to see if they could deputise at RB in place of Aurier either now or in January or even next summer if Aurier leaves ?



Just to add confusion, we have Dermi Lusala (dob 16 January 2003 - a RB/CB so at 17 a year or two away from possible first team training involvement but certainly looking a great prospect last season for u18's) so about 2 years younger than Lavenier and Ferguson and too young yet to be a first team contender. But Lusala will need to be playing u23's this season to develop........so might be tricky if there are 3 contenders for RB..... and not too much spare room at CB with Jubril Okendina (CB/RB) who made pre-season bench and another born in 2000, as was Brooklyn Lyons-Foster (CB/FB ) and Malachi Walcott, CB (born 2003 so a little younger) who made a short appearance off he bench v Leipzig......so llots of competition at CB too.

So that looks like 6 players to fit in at RB or one of the two CB positions......and that's without talking about the Estonian CB's who have already played in the Estonian Leagues......or TJ Eyoma (CB/RB), again born in 2000 who will return at the end of this season from his oan at Lincoln .

So really don't think the recruitment of Ferguson or potential recruitment of Lavenier can be connected to u23's, so other than any plans we might have to loan then out (to create a Loan Army) , only option left on the table seems to be as back up RB's in case Aurier leaves.

Any thoughts WindyCOYS WindyCOYS ? Anyone ?

It could be that we want to loan out Under-23 players so are bringing in temporary cover to allow us to put a team out. But my feeling is that we've spotted that young, English players are undervalued by the market. Get these boys in, get them out on loan and create value in them. It sounds like a decent business model (although ethically not necessarily the best choice for the players).
 
It could be that we want to loan out Under-23 players so are bringing in temporary cover to allow us to put a team out. But my feeling is that we've spotted that young, English players are undervalued by the market. Get these boys in, get them out on loan and create value in them. It sounds like a decent business model (although ethically not necessarily the best choice for the players).

Agree with the 2nd part - but in the announcement by Spurs (in a match report) it said that Keenan Ferguson had signed a one year deal.............which means the loan has no commercial upside to us !

Perhaps by mid October when domestic TW closes a contract extension will have been agreed !?
 
Agree with the 2nd part - but in the announcement by Spurs (in a match report) it said that Keenan Ferguson had signed a one year deal.............which means the loan has no commercial upside to us !

Perhaps by mid October when domestic TW closes a contract extension will have been agreed !?
Think of it as a year long trial? If Tracey has been with us for all of this time then surely Ferguson will get another seven years?!
 
I think it's a case of building a better base of an u23 side so that u18s stepping in are actually able to play in a competitive team. It's no good giving minutes to 17 or 18 year olds in a woeful u23 side that simply cannot compete or do the basics.
 
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