The All New Spurs U21, U18 & Other Youth News Thread

[DaSpurs]

That's what the full backs are for.

Again, that's not enough bud. If only the fullbacks provide pace, and are supposed to remain wide, that's entirely too predictable. It's that predictability that has allowed teams to remain compacted against us, because they know our pacier options will only cross and that our more forward options will only cut in to create and without much aggressive dribbling.

You've watched Marseille using a similar system. With Ayew providing that pace, aggression, and versatile ability, that opens things up tremendously for Payet and Thauvin.

 

[beats1]

I'm positive his primary foot is his left foot...

Yes and no, he is has always been left footed for Crossing but has a stronger right foot for shooting

He was always used as a LW and did cut in from the left, worth noting that when Obika went away or injured we use to play 4-6-0 alot and that he was instructed to be more of a inside forward at times

However when he went on loan he has always primarily been a Left winger.

At QPR he was used on the wing for the first time but they had no strikers tbh, Zamora had a serious hip injury and struggled to run so crossing on the break wasn't an option so Harry put him on the RW and have Hoillett on the LW

 

[beats1]

You cannot keep re-writing history to suit your agenda. Townsend was getting picked in the league while Lamela was playing in the EL.

Townsend was being played from the right cutting in under Redknapp - before he came back and played under AVB. And he was frequently shooting, I watched him.

And he is still doing exactly the same, shooting badly, too often, as was evidenced in his last couple of games.

No he hasn't the last couple of games he hasn't been shooting as much as he use to and thats been pretty clear

The reason harry told him to shoot alot at QPR was because at times they had no strikers but even then, squawka says he shot once every 30 mins(including blocked shots) or one shot every 48 mins

His shooting wasn't that bad at QPR as well. 6 shots on target, 11 off target and 4 hit the bar in 12 appearances.

 

[beats1]

Remind us again, how was Townsend played by England and what did he do to gain the plaudits when he played - that you keep raving about ? Wasn't it from the right cutting in and shooting (and scoring) ?

Only when he does that for England you claim he was a star, when he did it for Spurs it was a dastardly plan by AVB to ruin him.

Did you watch for england he hardly shoot for england and actually crossed the ball alot from the right hand side

Vs Montenegro (motm) - 4 shots, 1 goal
Vs Poland (was englands best player first half) - 3 shots, 1 hit the bar
Vs Chile (lallana was our best player) - Townsend had 0 shots
Vs Germany(voted englands best player) - 2 shots, one hit the post

 

[Bus-Conductor]

@beats1

How do they compare to his stats under AVB ?

 

[DaSpurs]

No he hasn't the last couple of games he hasn't been shooting as much as he use to and thats been pretty clear

The reason harry told him to shoot alot at QPR was because at times they had no strikers but even then, squawka says he shot once every 30 mins(including blocked shots) or one shot every 48 mins

His shooting wasn't that bad at QPR as well. 6 shots on target, 11 off target and 4 hit the bar in 12 appearances.

If you listen to any of Harry's interviews at the time about Townsend, it's clear from degree of lauding his shooting ability that him being played there was due in no small part to his own ability rather than for the primary purpose of compensating for a lack at striker. He even directly compared him to Robben. Whether that was sensible or not, it was clear that Harry played no small part in Townsend's evolution.

There's no doubt that AVB further encouraged it, but I fail to understand why he's demonized for allegedly "harming" Townsend. I'd say rather the opposite, as he clearly advocated for him and gave him a fighting chance. I remain by my theory that I think as Townsend became more desperate to prove himself at his boyhood club against a new record signing, his shooting worsened. There's no doubt in my mind that last season was an unfortunate cascade of events against his psyche, and so I'm not sure why any other individual is receiving blame.

 

[beats1]

@beats1

How do they compare to his stats under AVB ?

1 shot every 20mins including blocked shots
1 shot every 30mins

So
QPR avg 1.9 shots every game or 3 shot every game including QPR
Tottenham avg 3 shots every game or 4.5 shots every game including blocked shots

His shooting before his injury wasn't bad for us but he wasn't scoring either

If you listen to any of Harry's interviews at the time about Townsend, it's clear from degree of lauding his shooting ability that him being played there was due in no small part to his own ability rather than for the primary purpose of compensating for a lack at striker. He even directly compared him to Robben. Whether that was sensible or not, it was clear that Harry played no small part in Townsend's evolution.

There's no doubt that AVB further encouraged it, but I fail to understand why he's demonized for allegedly "harming" Townsend. I'd say rather the opposite, as he clearly advocated for him and gave him a fighting chance. I remain by my theory that I think as Townsend became more desperate to prove himself at his boyhood club against a new record signing, his shooting worsened. There's no doubt in my mind that last season was an unfortunate cascade of events against his psyche, and so I'm not sure why any other individual is receiving blame.

I agree but it took away from the best part of his game and he wasn't passing, the thing is AVB likes his RW's to cut in and shoot with the AM to then drift on the right and potentially provide width(Guarin). Its why his RW's tend to outscore his strikers

Sturridge - 9 goals in 21 league games
Torres and Drogba - 6 in 39 combined league appearances

Hulk - 23 in league
Falcao - 16 in league

Defoe and adebayor - 16 goals
Bale - 21 goals

All these players were strikers before AVB turned them in to RW's except bale however townsend was nowhere near the level of bale when he went on the right/centre

For europe he sets his team up differently and his strikers score more than the wingers

Bale - 3 goals
Defoe - 4 goals
Adebayor - 3 goals

Hulk - 8 goals
Falcao - 18 goals

Sturridge - no goals
Drogba - 3 goals
Torres - 2 goals

 

[IGSpur]

Is that meant to read ahead of Oduwa ?

I haven't seen anywhere near enough of Oduwa, so cat compare or comment, I have seen shit loads of Pritchard and would very much like to see him given his chance. As you say, time is on Oduwa's side.

Players who can effect games are always useful so there's no reason why both couldn't be given pitch and bench time, it's not like we are over blessed with creative attacking players.

Yes it was meant to read Oduwa (now edited). I think Pritchard has the qualities to effect games any where in the midfield attacking 3

 

[Gingeryid]

Yes it was meant to read Oduwa, not edited. I think Pritchard has the qualities to effect games any where in the midfield attacking 3

But is he a technician?

 

[IGSpur]

But is he a technician?

Do you not think he is not? Or is that a genuine question?

If it's the latter I believe he is. He has good vision, passing and creativity, and can assist via a through ball or crossing. Additionally his first touch, ball control, dribbling and freekicks are top notch and probably his best qualities.

While he mainly plays in front of defence he will also run in behind which other than Mason we don't really have anyone doing that from midfield atm, actually our striker barely do it too. This would help push defences back. Right now we are predictable as noone does it so the don't have to worry about anyone potentially doing it

 

[Bus-Conductor]

If you listen to any of Harry's interviews at the time about Townsend, it's clear from degree of lauding his shooting ability that him being played there was due in no small part to his own ability rather than for the primary purpose of compensating for a lack at striker. He even directly compared him to Robben. Whether that was sensible or not, it was clear that Harry played no small part in Townsend's evolution.

There's no doubt that AVB further encouraged it, but I fail to understand why he's demonized for allegedly "harming" Townsend. I'd say rather the opposite, as he clearly advocated for him and gave him a fighting chance. I remain by my theory that I think as Townsend became more desperate to prove himself at his boyhood club against a new record signing, his shooting worsened. There's no doubt in my mind that last season was an unfortunate cascade of events against his psyche, and so I'm not sure why any other individual is receiving blame.

I agree completely.Some people seem to want to absolve Townsend for his own failings and blame AVB. It wasn't AVB's fault that Townsend was not getting his head up, seeing what was going on around him, making better choices and executing his choices better.

The direction AVB was pushing Townsend in was fine, it was making him a far more interesting proposition as a footballer, especially as he could use both feet, he could go either side of his full back and we saw him put a couple of decent crosses in in Europe.

 

[DaSpurs]

I agree completely.Some people seem to want to absolve Townsend for his own failings and blame AVB. It wasn't AVB's fault that Townsend was not getting his head up, seeing what was going on around him, making better choices and executing his choices better.

The direction AVB was pushing Townsend in was fine, it was making him a far more interesting proposition as a footballer, especially as he could use both feet, he could go either side of his full back and we saw him put a couple of decent crosses in in Europe.

Right. If AVB is to be criticized for this, then he also has to be criticized for making the same move with Bale, a move which turned out pretty well I guess.

 

[newbie]

Right. If AVB is to be criticized for this, then he also has to be criticized for making the same move with Bale, a move which turned out pretty well I guess.

I think Rednapp and bale had already started to get bale wondering more, god I miss bale and Modric

I don't know if Townsend will make it at spurs it would be great if he did but for me he lacks end product.

 

[IGSpur]

Merry Christmas guys hope you all enjoy!

 

[Locotoro]

Merry Christmas ya filthy animals!

 

[Luka Van der Bale]

Right. If AVB is to be criticized for this, then he also has to be criticized for making the same move with Bale, a move which turned out pretty well I guess.

If the two were the exact same player with the exact same skillset then yes.

 

[Locotoro]

The one thing our first team is missing, whether that be from a forward or the Wing or the midfield is penetration behind the defence.
@IGSpur has mentioned that Mason does this but I still don't think it's enough. Do we have anyone else that can do the job Paulinho was brought in for but preferably from the wing

 

[mancman]

Here is a thought for you youth team fans. Slightly less than two years ago Spurs Youth played Bolton Wanderers Youth in the FA Youth Cup 5th round at home. The score Spurs Youth 4 Bolton W Youth 8! What is more important though was who were the players comprising the Spurs Youth team?
Nabil Bentaleb Milos Veljkovic Josh Onomah Shaq Coulthirst Dominic Ball Harry Winks Kenny McEvoy
Grant ward Luke McGee Alex McQueen Connor Ogilvie Filip Lesniak William Miller and others.
The point, well NO Bolton players who played that day have appeared in the Bolton first team and most obviously results at this level should be taken with a pinch of salt. Discuss. Happy Xmas to all contributers.

 

[zicomerc]

Speaking of another youth game I went to see one 5 years ago. when Tottenham hosted Portsmouth in the FA Youth Cup 4th round. I went because a friend of mine was the linesman.

http://www.spursodyssey.com/0910/po110110.html

We had Carroll, Caulker, Fredericks, Parrett, Kane, Bostock who have all featured for the first team at some point with varying success. We lost the game 1-0 as their goalkeeper had a blinder, but to me only Bostock stood out however the ones who have made it are Carroll, Caulker, Kane. It shows that attitude is just as important if not moreso than ability at that age.

 

[Blake Griffin]

Here is a thought for you youth team fans. Slightly less than two years ago Spurs Youth played Bolton Wanderers Youth in the FA Youth Cup 5th round at home. The score Spurs Youth 4 Bolton W Youth 8! What is more important though was who were the players comprising the Spurs Youth team?
Nabil Bentaleb Milos Veljkovic Josh Onomah Shaq Coulthirst Dominic Ball Harry Winks Kenny McEvoy
Grant ward Luke McGee Alex McQueen Connor Ogilvie Filip Lesniak William Miller and others.
The point, well NO Bolton players who played that day have appeared in the Bolton first team and most obviously results at this level should be taken with a pinch of salt. Discuss. Happy Xmas to all contributers.

youth is a bit of a vague term, maybe the bolton lads were a fair bit older than ours? onomah for example would've only been 15 at the time. it's not all about results at these ages either but you present a good point.

speaking of bolton, i noticed that dorian dervite plays for them these days, didn't know that.