U18s / U21s / Spurs XI 2013-14

Arsenal U18s 1-3 Spurs - John's verdict

John McDermott lauded the way our Under-18s kept themselves in the driving seat at Arsenal on Wednesday.

First half goals from Shayon Harrison and Daniel Akindayini were added to by Nathan Oduwa after the break, while a host of other chances went begging in our 3-1 victory in the Barclays Under-18 Premier League.

It was a satisfying afternoon’s work despite George Dobson pulling a goal back for Arsenal 11 minutes from time, with Academy Manager John left to reflect on the impressive way our lads moved the ball around.

“I was pleased with the way we played,” he summarised. “We always try and dominate possession and I thought we did that today.

“With this team you’re always looking for something a little bit extra and we probably had too many unfinished chances, but overall I was very pleased. We played well.”


Next Fixtures:

Saturday 5th April, Hotspur Way, KO 11:00: U18s Tottenham Hotspur v Wolverhampton Wanderers

Monday 7th April, Stadium of Light, KO 19:00: U21s Sunderland v Tottenham Hotspur

please log in to view this image

Tottenham Hotspur Reserves (Spurs XI), Under-21s, & Academy (U-18s) 2013-14

 

Spurcat thinks the standard nationwide at U18 level is not too great.
Hence we shouldn't read too much into how our U18s are doing.

Also is it coincidence that since Timmy is in charge of the seniors, the U21s
seems to be winning more often now + more of the U18s are playing for them ??

 

Last season, our U21s were arguably the best squad in the country.

This season, many of those players have gone out on loan at other League clubs or are in or around our first team squad, so understandably the results of the new squad of U21s haven't been quite so good.

But the new crop of youngsters coming through at U18 level are very good indeed.

 

At the moment, there seems to be a bit of a gap in the talent pool in the U19 - U21 range.
Not too much of a surprise, as the Academy is probably nowhere near "production line" mode
yet, where for every age band (U18, U19 etc) there are 4+ good prospects who will move up
to the next band together.

I think Spurcat also suggested that the demise of the Nextgen could deny those caught in
limbo between the U18s and U21s the quality game time they need to keep progressing.

It will be interesting to see which of last seasons' U21s (the GKs, Veljkovic, Ceballos etc) are
going to figure in the seniors next season, whoever the manager may be.

 

We should restart the Nextgen or just create our own.
UEFA have their own CL equivalent, but a lot of big sides won't be in it next season.
Stick AIA's name on it and we could probably even make a few quid on it.

I'll take a cheque please, Mr Levy!

 

The U18s continued to dominate the South Group with a 5-1 win over Wolves today, with goals from Daniel Akindayini (hat-trick), Anton Walkes and Kyle Walker-Peters.

 

We won that game 5-1: goals from Anton Walkes and Kyle Walker-Peters, before a Daniel Akindayini hat-trick.