Reading the Caulker thread earlier, a few things came to my attention. Firstly the genuine expectation that Steven Caulker will step up into our first team next season and start making great strides in his Spurs career, and also positive comments about Massimo Luongoand some of the others expected to make the grade in coming season, such as Andros Townsend, Tom Carroll and Harry Kane. Which got me thinking, looking at our reserves, which players do we think will graduate to become first team players in the future? Goalkeepers Ben Alnwick Jordan Archer David Button Oscar Jansson Mirko Ranieri Defenders Nathan Byrne Steven Caulker Bongani Khumalo Kyle Naughton Adam Smith Bruno Uvini* Midfielders John Bostock Tom Carroll Cristian Ceballos Iago Falque Ryan Fredericks Giancarlo Gallifuoco Massimo Luongo Ryan Mason Jake Nicholson Dean Parrett Alex Pritchard Andros Townsend Jesse Waller-Lassen Forwards Simon Dawkins Harry Kane Cameron Lancaster Jon Obika Kudus Oyenuga
don't know to much about them,some of the names i know,like naughton,caulker,carrol etc.but others nothing
He's in our first team, rather than the reserves. Or a figment of our imagination, given he wasn't in the squad to face Stevenage. And probably headed back to Spain in the summer.
Comments below on those that I have sufficient knowledge of Goalkeepers Ben Alnwick - would have moved up by now if able to.... Jordan Archer David Button Oscar Jansson Mirko Ranieri Defenders Nathan Byrne Steven Caulker - definitely! Kyle Naughton - promising - and much needed LB cover. Adam Smith. - very promising Bruno Uvini* - if YouTube can be relied upon I would sign him up tomorrow!! Midfielders John Bostock - who knows??? Tom Carroll - hopeful, but will be tough for him to develop with our current strength in MF Cristian Ceballos Iago Falque - possible if not another GDS Ryan Fredericks Giancarlo Gallifuoco Massimo Luongo - much vaunted by management Ryan Mason Jake Nicholson Dean Parrett Alex Pritchard Jesse Waller-Lassen Forwards Harry Kane - Not sure that he will make the big step Cameron Lancaster - not seen enough but looked promising Jon Obika - don't think so Kudus Oyenuga Andros Townsend - Still hopeful for at least a squad place
Notice that all of our defenders bar Uvini and Caulker are right-backs. That continues the current trend of the first team, for me. For those that I've seen, I'd say that Caulker and Carroll look the most promising.
Our ability to amass right backs is either spectacular or unnerving, depending on which way you want to look at it. I suppose Naughton has the benefit of being able to play left back as well.
Isn't Drury playing at left-back for them? I think Naughton played there for a couple of games recently when he was out, though. Could be wrong.
Thought I'd better check and I'd say that the Norwich board seem to put him at right-back more than left. http://www.not606.com/showthread.php/127654-LINE-UP-PREDICTIONS-v-Stoke He's at left-back quite a bit too, though. Must be doing ok if he's in every single line-up, in one position or the other. Nice to have someone with a bit of versatility at the club.
Ben Alnwick - Legal laws prevent me commenting on this guy. Suffice to say, his attitude is appalling and he seems quite content to watch his career go nowhere fast, whilst boosting his bank balance. Jordan Archer - Nowhere near good enough. David Button - A decent keeper with potential, but not considered mentally strong enough to make it at the highest level. Destined to have a career in the lower divisions. Oscar Janssonn - Suffers from the "Robbo syndrome", in that he easily puts on weight and when he does, his game suffers. Has similar characteristics to Mr Alnwick. Mirko Ranieri - Hmm, some of the best saves I have ever seen, have come from this guy. Trouble is, some of the biggest balls-ups I have ever seen have also come from him. Nathan Byrne - A typical Spurs FB, in that he's good going forward, but not so good on the defensive stuff. Looked reasonable enough at Bournemouth, but needs a similar run of regular football to get back on track for his progress. Steven Caulker - Destined for a good career in the game. Kyle Naughton - Had difficulties settling when first joined the club. Has now put these behind him, but does have off field issues, which do not endear him to our manager. Adam Smith - Has always been highly rated by all at the club. Is now beginning to confirm that belief by consistently good displays for all his loan clubs. Bruno Uvini - Unable to pass comment. John Bostock - There's a talent in there somewhere. Reputed to have an attitude problem, but got married about a year ago, became a devout Christian, yet all this has still not really got his career back on track. Easy to forget he's still only 20, so there's time yet... Tom Carroll - Was written off by all at the club apart from Clive Allen. So many said he wouldn't make it because of his slight build, but Allen told everyone to persevere with him. Carroll himself, has a superb attitude, the perfect professional who trains hard every day. Stands a chance because Harry loves his attitude. Christian Ceballos - A very talented footballer, but his slight build and lazy style might not stand up to the rigours and pace of the English game. has a great touch, but doesn't ride a tacklle easily. Iago Falque - A talent who needs regular football at the moment. Ryan Fredericks - Needs to make his mind up over his best position. Can play anywhere down the right hand side, but to make a career in the game, he needs to work hard. Wouldn't put too much money on him makking it at Spurs. Massimo Luongo - A defensive midfielder who always gives his best. Confident on teh ball, tough tackling and two footed. Loads of energy and it would be a surprise if he didn't get a run out with the first team before too long. He compliments the creative talents of Alex Pritchard so well and the pair work so well together. Ryan Mason - Not good enough for Spurs. Did well in the Academy side a couple of years ago, but will have to work hard to maintain a career in even the Championship. Jake Nicholson - One of our brightest talents. Good technique, good attitude and can play anywhere across the middle. Dean Parrett - A huge prospect as a youngster who completely lost his way for 2 years. Firstly, it an attiude problem then personal problems, and he went from being a massive talent to a lost cause. Now beginning to get his game back on track and going well fro Yeovil, but now sidelined with an ankle injury. It's probably unlikely he'll make it at Spurs now. Shame as he was so good when we first signed him. Jesse Waller-Lasson - Not good enough. Harry Kane - Continues to do well each time he is asked to step up. Never been convinced about him and I think he'll do well to survive in the Championship. But, there are many at the club who do rate him. Cameron Lancaster - Like Tom Carroll, he has an excellent attitude and a good work ethic. Not got that strikers natural intuition or killer insticnt in his game to make it. Jon Obika - Currently playing at his true level.- Yeovil Town. Kudos Oyenuga - Poor first touch and not enough awareness in and around the penalty area to look anything more than an average prospect at the moment. Andros Townsend - An undoubted talent, and despite rumours to the contrary, does have a very good attitude. I still retain hopes for him at Spurs, but this loan move to Birmingham is a vital one for him. Let's hope he makes the most of it, otherwise I fear his days at HL might be numbered. Simon Dawkins - An intersting one. He was released by the club a few years ago as he was considered not good enough. He then got himself injured playing somewhere and was out for some time, but then asked the club if he could train with us to help him regain full fitness. He impressed and was signed on on a non-contract basis, which tehn led to a full time cotract. He's nowhere near good enough and although he has recently reverted to playing in midfiled, he's still nowhere near good enough. Hope all this is useful
What has happened to the free scoring young African lad whose name escapes me just turned 17 I think. Also recently checked out the Southampton squad in a league match and Falque's name wasn't there - I thought he was there for game time, if so he's not getting it.
I think you mean Souleymayne Coulibaly. He's very talented, but also very raw. Not dissimilar to a young Justin Fashanu if you know what I mean. He's gone off the boil after a flying start to his career at the club. His time will come.
Thanks Spurcat,yes that's him- not so long ago a lot of people were clamouring for him to be elevated to the cup squad- I was not one. As you say his time will come, plenty of raw talent to work with.
Spurcat, does Nathan Byrne have dreadlocks? His name is ringing bells for me but I haven't seen our youth play for a couple of years. I remember seeing a left back with dreds who was of the winger masquerading as a full back mould, it was 2/3 years ago in the youth cup against Watford at WHL, would that have been him? I don't think Falque will make it in English football so I was surprised we signed him, he's a number 10 really and hasn't really worked for us when played on the wing. The only number 10s that make it in the England these days are either those that fit into the Premiership blueprint of being fast and strong with a certain amount of skill or an exceptional talent, with touch, passing and reading of the game that rivals the best in the country. I might be being harsh and I'm likely premature with my judgement but I think he's your Taraabt type, he'll find keeping the ball away from defenders almost a full time job before he can even start looking up and showing his skill. In the Championship he may find that he has the abillity to get the better of defenders more comfortably but nothing I've seen from him playing or in his history appears to point to him being sufficiently gifted. Caulker and Naughton are obviously already of Premiership quality and I think they'll be good players for us if they stay, Caulker perhaps having the potential to make him a great player for us. I like what I see from Carroll and really hope he makes the grade or atleast gets the opportunity at Spurs. Townsend, Kane and Fredericks look okay but if we turn into a regular top 4 team over the next for years, I can't see them making the grade. As I've mentioned before I've only seen Adam Smith once and that was 2/3 seasons ago, when I thought he very composed considering his age and I'm pleased to hear he hasn't dropped off the map since, despite me barely hearing about him. The rest I have a very limited knowledge of or I don't rate at all.
