Sunday afternoon in the pub with the papers - reading the Modric stuff in the red tops made my blood boil so was glad to see this article in Observer Sport now made available online on the guardian website:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/jun/19/fa-plans-age-group-football
The original print article was a bit more concise and more about Spurs but basically highlighting the same subject. The article doesn't mention whether other teams have adopted this approach but it's good to see Spurs have. If players like Harry Kane, Andros Townsend, Kyle Walker and Danny Rose eventually become class players it will be a credit to Spurs development strategy.
Especially how the other day some rival fans on here were claiming Spurs youth policy was to nick promising talent from lower league clubs...
Tottenham - summer babies
posted on 21/6/11
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 21/6/11
Jolly Roger,
I gave four examples. Kane and Townsend are Spurs academy products. Leeds received £1 million for Danny Rose barely aged 17, if Rose does become the next Messi then you could feasibly call that theft. Until then I'd call it a purchase.
posted on 22/6/11
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 22/6/11
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 22/6/11
I hope this is true. Both my sons were at one of Tottenhams footballing schools last summer and both won player of the week for their age groups. On the last day one of the Tottenham scouts had a chat with my wife and told her if it was down to him he would love to take both of them to the Tottenham academy but at the moment ( please don't take this as a racial slur as I am no way a rascist , nor was the scout in question ) Tottenham are only taking players that are 6 feet tall and coloured, which I think my oldest son found quite hard to take. You are either good enough or you are not , should not matter what colour you are , how tall you are or when your birthday is. and by the way my oldest sons birthday is in June , as the article states kids born in May - August very rarely get picked.
posted on 22/6/11
Crazyspurs, I hope both your sons make it!
I think this is the problem with EPL. The emphasis on height, power and speed from coaches and manager. According to these criterias; Messi, Xavi, Iniesta won't make the team.
posted on 22/6/11
Crazyspurs, best of luck to your boys.
I never thought Spurs youth policy was anything to write home about purely because our academy hasn't been conspicuously churning out lots of great young talent year after year. Ignoring whether Comolli was a good or bad thing for us, my take on Spurs decent league finishes in the last few years is it's down to Jol/Harry and a great crop of players brought in during the Comolli/Arnesen period. VDV aside, our more recent signings haven't excited me.
This article gave me hope in that - if it is to be believed - the future is bright because Spurs are innovative at the youth level. However Crazyspurs' personal experience might suggest otherwise. Interesting.