My end of season player review of the Spurs under 18 side:

All in all it has been an excellent season for Scott Parker’s under 18 side, over the course of the campaign they competed in three major competitions. The under 18 premier league south, in which they finished fourth in, the FA youth cup where they were knocked out to our old nemesis Chelsea in the fifth round. And the inaugural edition of the premier league under 18 cup, which was without a doubt their highlight of the season. After scraping through the group stages, Scott Parker’s side swept away Liverpool and Arsenal with excellent performances en route to the final, where they faced Chelsea at their Cobham training centre. Unfortunately Parker’s talented pool of players met their match, and they were comfortably beaten 2-0 by the blues, in what was a dominant performance from the home side. The philosophy at Spurs is not always to set our team up to try and win matches, it is instead about experimentation. It is essentially about testing our young players mettle, putting players in uncomfortable positions, etc. Given that Parker’s side consisted mainly of first year scholars (one of the most talented year groups in recent seasons!) I think his side have done incredibly well this season, they’ve played some sparkling attacking football (far better then then the U23’s) but most importantly of all, they have embedded Pochettino’s philosophy into their playing style. Parker and McDermott had an array of talent at their disposal for the 2017/18 campaign, the free scoring Reo Griffiths led the line excellently and only went onto score 34 goals. You had the creative talent of players such as Phoenix Patterson, Jamie Bowden and Rodel Richards. Parker also managed to blood in a fair few of next seasons first year scholars such as the excellent J’neil Bennett and more recently young Irish prodigy Troy Parrott.

We managed to score an impressive 58 league goals throughout the season and as far as the cup competitions were concerned, I thought we did really well to achieve what we did in both of those competitions. It’s been a fine first season for Scott Parker and his lads, and I feel that it has really aided the development of so many of the young Spurs boys, who I consider to have made great strides over the course of the campaign.

Goalkeepers: Jonathan De Bie: Tottenham’s skipper for the entirety of the domestic season, the young Belgian enjoyed an excellent campaign. Playing in all but one of our league games, De Bie also played every game in the run up to the league cup final and the youth cup fifth round. After suffering a severe injury during the previous season, De Bie has done a remarkably good job as both a leader and keeper for Parker’s side. Our most consistent player of the season, De Bie was solid throughout. The 18 year old is incredibly well rounded for a goalkeeper, excellent at shot stopping and dealing with corners/crosses. The former Mechelen schoolboy is also an effective leader who certainly knows how to marshal his defence. De Bie who can often be heard bellowing the phrase ”early, early, early” to his teammates, is cool and composed under pressure. His distribution is good and so is his reading of the game. I couldn’t pick a main criticism out of the Belgians game. De Bie’s excellent season was recognised by Spurs and the PL youth, and he was invited to the annual award ceremony for scholars in Wolverhampton, where he was awarded with Spurs’ scholar of the season award. The 18 year old will compete with Brandon Austin and Alfie Whiteman for a starting berth in the U23 squad next season. De Bie could also make the odd appearance for the under 18 side as an overage goalkeeper. He is such a bright prospect.

Joshua Oluwayemi: The first year scholar (17) made only three appearances for Parker’s side during the season just gone. Strikingly small for a goalkeeper Oluwayemi impressed when called upon. Known for his excellent shot stopping ability, Oluwayemi impressed during his second half debut against Leicester back in August. Another impressive performance came in our sides 5-0 thrashing of Aston Villa at the villains Bodymoor Heath training ground. The former England U15 international who has a younger brother at Spurs called Tobi, put in a fine display against Villa. His composure and distribution under pressure were both particularly impressive features during the game. The 17 year old goalkeeper who hails from Waltham Forest also featured prominently for the Spurs under 17 side, which competed in the ALKAAS tournament out in Qatar in February. As I’m writing this Oluwayemi is out in the Netherlands with the Tottenham U19 side that is competing in the annual Terborg tournament.

Charlie Freeman: The Goodmayes born goalkeeper has endured an extremely difficult two years as a scholar for Spurs. Freeman only featured once for the under 18’s during the 2016-17 season owing to the excellent form of both Brandon Austin and Alfie Whiteman. After featuring briefly for the development side during pre season, young Charlie picked up an unfortunate injury to his arm, right at the beginning of the league campaign. This significantly hampered his progress and Freeman had to wait until March before he could return to competitive action. His return to U18 league football came during our under 18’s unfortunate 5-3 away defeat to Norwich. Due to his rustiness, Freeman would have hoped that he could of done better to prevent some of Norwich’s goals. Yet people will often forget the fact that he made some excellent saves during the same game. Bearing a striking resemblance to a young Pat Jennings, the highly rated Freeman was called up to an England U16 training camp a couple of years ago. An excellent shot stopper and all round goalkeeper who had an excellent season for the under 16’s back in the 2015/16 campaign. Freeman is in my eyes one of our best goalkeeping prospects, and you’ll get to hear about him a lot more next season when he will play for the under 18’s as an overage goalkeeper. The teenager also appeared for our under 19’s during their recent involvement in the Volksbank cup, in Germany.

Defenders: Tariq Hinds: A mainstay within the under 18 side during the 17/18 campaign, industrious right back Tariq Hinds was a consistent performer for Parker’s side. A terrific defender whose versatility proved useful throughout the season, Hinds also put in some impressive performances as a left back, centre half and central defensive midfielder. Hinds defensive stance is at odds with the many attacking fullbacks that we have at the club, whilst he has shown on occasions that he poses a danger surging forwards. Hinds tends to stay deep, and rarely did he get beaten by his man during the season. The tenacious 18 year old made 29 appearances for the under 18 side during the season, proving to be a crucial member of the side which reached the league cup final. Hinds also featured prominently for the under 19’s in Europe, and also made his first under 23 start of the season during our 5-0 defeat against Manchester City. Hinds is more than ready to make the permanent step up to the development side.

Matt Lock: It’s been a strange old season for young Matt Lock, after seeming to make good progress towards the end of the previous campaign. The budding right back started the beginning of this season well and featured quite prominently in our first few games. However, he seemed to disappear for the rest of the season. Only reappearing for the odd under 18 game and under 23 game where he would occasionally come on as late substitute. The skilful right back who is very slight in build, is a player who has an excellent low centre of gravity and is particularly potent going forward. I have seen a couple of things on social media that have suggested that ’Locky’ will be released by the club, upon the expiration of his contract next month. If that is to be the case then I wish him the very best of luck for the future.

Brooklyn Lyons-Foster: One of the most exciting academy players to emerge from Hotspur Way in recent seasons, young Brooklyn plays like he’s been schooled at Ajax’s youth academy. The Stones-esque ball playing centre half ranks as one of the finest young English defenders in the country. Throughout the season I couldn’t sing Lyons-Foster’s praises highly enough, he was exceptional for Parker’s side. He plays like a 27 year old not a 17 year old, his awareness and reading of the game is second to none. He snuffs out danger like a seasoned pro, he defends like a young Alderweireld. An exceptional passer of the ball, the Archway born defender can often be found darting forwards from deep, with the ball glued to his boot. Brooklyn who featured 21 times for Parker’s side during the season was without a shadow of a doubt our player of the season. Yes it may seem unthinkable that I haven’t chosen Griffiths however, Lyons-Foster’s remarkable first year as scholar is even more impressive. After impressing in both the run ups to the UEFA youth league quarterfinal and the league cup final where he unfortunately picked up a bad ligament injury. Brooklyn didn’t feature again for the under 18’s after hobbling off the pitch against Chelsea in the cup final. Without exaggerating Brooklyn is the most promising young defender at the club, he has all the attributes needed to make it at Spurs. He has it all pace, aerial quality, a good passing range and decision making, you name it he’s got the lot. Alongside his 21 appearances for the under 18’s this season Lyons-Foster made two appearances for the development side and also played a prominent role in the under 19 side that reached the quarter finals of the UEFA youth league. His injury came just after he had been called up to the England under 18 side which was a great shame. As he develops physically I’d expect him to feature a lot more for the under 23’s. In every other department he is light years ahead of his teammates!

Further reading: https://superhotspur.com/2018/02/28/brooklyn-lyons-foster-coolness-personified-the-latest-starlet-to-emerge-from-hotspur-way/amp/#click=https://t.co/WKo9bmVMsG

Jubril Okedina: Unfortunately it was a frustrating season for the centre back, who was ruled out for a large chunk of the campaign through injury. The talented and highly rated centre half only featured on two occasions for Parker’s side. A dominant defender, who impressed greatly for the under 16’s during the previous campaign, the teenager will feature a lot more for Parker’s side during the 2018/19 season.

Maxwell Statham: The son of former Spurs fullback Brian Statham, the centre back had a decent season as a first year scholar. Featuring 13 times for the under 18’s this season, Statham is a specialist at making blocks and sliding challenges. Good in the air but at times not best suited to our play it from the back philosophy, Statham put in a series of mixed performances for Parker’s side throughout the campaign. After impressing on his debut against Southampton, Statham struggled for game time owing to the form of Lyons-Foster, Dinzeyi and Eyoma. When he did play it was usually in games against teams near the bottom end of the table. Prone to making a fair few mistakes whilst playing it out from the back (our 5-3 defeat to Norwich comes to mind) Statham could at times show a lack of concentration. However, as previously mentioned he is a big strong centre half who is excellent in the air and strong in the challenge, he is particularly good at getting in the way of forwards and making last ditch blocks/challenges. Next season should see the teenager get a lot more game time.

Maximus Tainio: Teemu’s son signed for Spurs on scholarship terms at the beginning of the season from HJK Helsinki. A steady right back, the Finn made seven appearances for Parker’s side during the 17/18 season. The Finland under 18 international also made his debut for the under 23 side during our 2-2 draw with West Ham in February. Tainio started the season playing for the under 16’s and had to wait until November before he could make the step up in level. He has looked decent whenever he has played. He doesn’t strike me as much of an attacking fullback and he also lacks pace. However, he is a solid defender who is a good crosser of the ball. The Auxerre born defender put in some strong defensive performances against the likes of Aston Villa and Arsenal, I look forward to seeing more of him next season.

Jamie Reynolds: After struggling to get game time during the previous season, the Tottenham coaches quickly converted the central midfielder as a left back for the beginning of this season. Reynolds excelled in his new position, an energetic and hard working full back, the 18 year old was one of Spurs’ most consistent performers throughout the season. A very attacking and pretty speedy left back, Reynolds was a constant threat down the left wing. With his pace and dribbling ability, Reynolds was able to show off his excellent crossing ability. This resulted in him getting seven assists throughout the campaign, Reynolds who is also eligible to represent Ireland, is very much a modern day full back. After adapting incredibly well to his newfound position, Reynolds tricky runs and solid defending combined nicely. Featuring on 27 occasions for Parkers side throughout the season, Reynolds fine form was rewarded with a place in the sides that faced both Monaco and Porto in the UEFA youth league. I really like the look of Reynolds since he converted to left back, he has all the tools to make it. He is a tough tackling defender who loves to go on surging runs down the wing, with Tsaroulla and Brown likely to be released I would expect Reynolds to be the number one left back for the U23’s next season. It’s worth noting that Reynolds picked up a bad injury in our 5-3 defeat to Norwich, he subsequently underwent an operation but should return in time for pre season.

Midfielders: Jamie Bowden: Despite being the youngest off all our first year scholars, midfielder Jamie Bowden played a key role in Scott Parker’s U18 side. Featuring 20 times for the under 18’s during the 17/18 season, the former England U16 international was the creative jewel of the team. A tigerish central midfielder who filled in well at centre back on occasions, like Oliver Skipp Bowden mops up well in the centre of the park. But it’s his excellent passing range which has really impressed me, Bowden makes defence splitting passes for fun. Oozing in class and composure, the talented Bowden is not too dissimilar to Michael Carrick in his style of play. However, the Londoner has a touch of Pirlo about him. That composure on the ball, his impeccable passing range and his reading of the game is all very similar to that of the footballing legend. Bowden put in many dominant performances in the centre of the park, like Skipp he has the ability to dictate games from deep. He loves to spray the ball around the park, he creates openings out of nothing, and links up well with the forwards. Bowden picked up four assists this season and netted on one occasion. People will have heard a lot about the likes of Skipp and Oakley-Boothe, but this kid is just as promising. It was a complete mystery to me as to why he was left out of the England under 17 squad that played in the Euros this summer. However, the silky midfielder is also eligible to represent Ireland and I’m sure they’ll have been watching him closely over the course of the season. I would love to see him feeding balls over the top of the defence for Parrott to chase onto! Next season Bowden will play an even greater role in the under 18 side, it is also likely that he’ll make his debut for the under 23’s at some point. He is yet another player who is beyond his years.

Rayan Clarke: A direct and pacy left winger, Rayan Clarke picked up a knee injury during pre season which ruled him out until October of last year. It took Clarke less than five minutes to find the net on his first under 18 appearance of the season (a league cup tie against Fulham). The talented winger who has also filled in at fullback on the odd occasion, has had a good season. Playing 14 times for Parker’s side over the course of the campaign, Clarke netted on two occasions and laid off the same amount of goals for his teammates. Known for his lung bursting runs, Clarke is a strong and powerful winger who has a lot more to offer. He made his debut for the under 23’s during their 2-2 draw with West Ham back in February. Clarke will likely play a starring role in Parker’s side next season, I like him a lot and am curious to see how he gets on.

Paris Maghoma: An exciting attack minded midfielder, Paris Maghoma was one of the under 18’s most important players this season. Dividing his time as both a cam and cm, Maghoma put in a series of really impressive performances for both the under 18’s and 19’s. With his driving forward runs through the middle, exciting skill and fine shooting ability. Maghoma is part of a dying breed of central midfielders who aren’t afraid to run at the defence. During his 26 games for the under 18’s, Maghoma chipped in with three goals and five assists. Whilst Maghoma provides a great attacking threat, he also adds steel to the midfield. He has the ability to glide past players, he is agile and crafty. He is a crisp passer of the ball and an expert from dead ball situations. He has great technique and I’m convinced that Troy Parrott learnt to take his trademark free kicks from Maghoma! One of the younger members of the squad, Paris has made the transition from U16 football to the under 18’s with ease, he is physically very strong and agile. He played an important role in the side that reached the league cup final, he played a particularly big part in us beating Arsenal in the semis. His impressive performances also earned him a place in the under 19 side which impressed in Europe. Paris put in some eye catching Onomah-esque performances against the likes of Dortmund and Monaco. I’d expect Maghoma to make quite a few appearances for the under 23 side next season.

Dilan Markanday: Markanday’s mesmeric dribbling ability and high intensity performances out on the right wing, were a common theme throughout the season. The Barnet born wide man who is also comfortable at playing in the number 10 role, was one of our most influential players throughout the season. Chipping in with nine goals and four assists Markanday was one of Parker’s main creative outlets. A skilful player with an excellent low centre of gravity, Markanday terrorised fullbacks with his menacing weaving runs. Strong on the ball and forward thinking, Markanday loved to play perfectly weighted Lamela-esque through balls to the centre forwards. Putting in a series of strong performances throughout the campaign, Markanday really reminds me of both Samuel Shashoua and Marcus Edwards when they were the same age. He has got that bit of a magic about him, time and time again he was able to produce the spark which Spurs needed. A clinical finisher in and around the six yard box, Markanday is a lively player with a tremendously high work rate. He has excelled for the under 18’s this season, he was also given his under 23 debut during our 5-0 defeat to Man City. In doing so he became only the second first year scholar to feature for Wayne Burnetts side that season. Markanday is a frighteningly good player who I’m expecting to push on even further next season. I could easily see him having a season just like Samuel Shashoua had when he was a second year scholar, watch this space!

Moroyin Omolabi: After a fairly uninspiring first year as a scholar, Omolabi was converted into a centre half for the beginning of this season having previously played as a cdm. Omolabi put in some decent for Parker’s side during the eight matches that he did play this season however, Omolabi had his contract cancelled by mutual consent by the club back in January. He has since joined fellow category one academy side Reading, who he appears to be doing well at. I wish Moroyin all the best for the future. And I think that Reading will prove to be a great fit for him in the long run.

Elliot Thorpe: Thorpe was another player who suffered with injuries throughout the season. Initially playing for the under 16 side, Thorpe picked up an injury to his wrist which ruled him out for much of the early parts of the season. The highly thought of Wales U19 international had to wait until January before he could make his debut for Parker’s side, that came in our 6-3 win against Brighton. All of Elliot’s three appearances this season have come from the subs bench, when he was involved he looked neat and tidy in the centre of the park. Thorpe is by trade a cam but since his considerable growth spurt in the last year he is now just as suited to playing in the centre of the park. A player with great technique, it’s been a great shame that the 17 year old missed so much of the campaign. You guys will be hearing a lot more about Thorpe next season.

J’neil Bennett: A schoolboy who we picked up from QPR last season, rapid winger J’neil Bennett has excelled for Parkers side since making the step up from the under 16’s in November. With his blistering pace and good balance, Bennett first came to my attention during the annual academy showcase game against Cambridge United in October. That day he ran the Cambridge defence ragged, I couldn’t get over how fast he was with the ball at his feet. Bennett’s excellent start to the U16 season saw him quickly fast tracked in to the under 18 side. He made his debut away to Swansea in October and never looked back, featuring on 14 occasions for Parker’s side. Bennett became a useful creative outlet and managed to lay off six goals for his teammates. A Zaha-esque winger with skill and pace in abundance, Bennett put in some wonderful performances for Spurs. I can recall him totally embarrassing defenders down the left wing, a consistent performer Bennett looked at ease in the u18 side. Putting in some masterful performances against the likes of Aston Villa, Preston and Arsenal, Bennett was a real joy to watch. However his lack of strength and experience did show on a fair few occasions throughout the season. Bennett played predominantly for the under 16’s during the last two months of the season and he stole the limelight once again with his performance against Ipswich during a showcase game at Portman road, earlier in the month. The Camden born winger is an incredibly exciting talent who I’m sure will play a key role in the under 18 side next season.

Maurizio Pochettino: The gaffers son struggled for game time during his first year as a scholar at Spurs. Featuring only ten times for Parker’s side during the 2017/18 season, he looked decent whenever he played. Though his lack of pace and flair limited his impact on games. Scoring once for the club during our 5-2 away win at Swansea, Poch junior would have liked to have had more pitch time, but he is nowhere near the likes of Dilan Markanday and Rodel Richards at the moment. Pochettino who was highly thought of by the coaches at Southampton will hope for more starts next season.

Phoenix Patterson: An intelligent wide man who showed that he is more than capable of playing in the centre of the park. Having featured heavily for the under 18 side during the previous season, Patterson upped his game during the most recent campaign. After starting the season brightly out on the left wing, Patterson whose younger brother Kane was released by the club back in February, is a skilful and resourceful forward who uses the ball intelligently. Featuring on an impressive 29 occasions throughout the season, I think it’s fair to summarise Phoenix’s season as a good one. As previously mentioned, he was excellent during the first few league games but he then seemed to drift away a bit from the action. Parker and his coaching staff subsequently tried him out as a number 10 which he impressed at, and then as a central midfielder where he also gave a good account of himself. Patterson is a really silky craftsman who is on his day a younger version of Mesut Özil. Patterson has great vision and a proper footballing brain, his weight of pass is second to none, as too is his movement in and around the box. A free kick specialist, Patterson scored eight goals for Parkers side and assisted a further nine. Impressive statistics from a player who remains one of our hottest young talents. The 17 year old has impressed me throughout the season and has had some really good games, none more so than our 6-3 victory over Brighton, inwhich Phoenix scored a hat trick in. However, I get the impression that he still hasn’t found his perfect position, I personally could see him ending up as an advanced central midfielder, a bit like Jack Grealish. I would expect Patterson to feature for the development side a fair bit over the course of next season.

Armando Shashoua: When I tell you that the attacking midfielder was only directly involved in two of Spurs’ goals last season, you may be unimpressed, however, listen carefully. The younger brother of Samuel Shashoua, Armando has been one of our star performers throughout the season. The 17 year old featured on 23 occasions for Parker’s side, Armando is like a more advanced version of Harry Winks. He is a vital cog in Spurs’ attacking machine, he keeps things ticking, with crisp and accurate passes. He is great at creating space for himself in and around the six yard box, showing great awareness of his surroundings. He links up perfectly with the centre forward and the wide men, he was an integral part to much of Spurs’ attacking exploits over the season. Armando who can also play as a central midfielder, is like a terrier to play against, he is constantly hounding the opposition. Pressing them constantly he forces so many errors out of the defenders. Earlier on in the season I compared him to Renato Sanches which at this moment in time doesn’t sound like much of a compliment. But Harry Winks is the player who he most reminds me of most, he keeps things simple, he is good on the ball but never wasteful. He keeps his passes short and crisp, if anything he plays like a young Spanish player. Reluctant to shoot Armando prefers to create openings for his teammates, he is the ultimate grafter. He combines intricacy with hard work, I’m not joking when I compare him to someone like Kante, you literally have to drag him off the pitch at the end of matches, such is his stamina. It’s only when you take him out of the team that you realise how effective he is to Parker’s side. Like his older brother I couldn’t sing his praises highly enough.

As he is usually the smallest player on the pitch, opposition players will often try to bully him and outmuscle him. But to Armando’s credit he never reacts, he just gets straight back up and back into the thick of the action. The lad is a serious talent who is able to initiate attacking moves but at the same time graft like nobody else on the pitch, and get back to cover for the central midfielders who are higher up the pitch. It’s been a fantastic season for the Kensington born midfielder, and if I was one of the England youth team coaches I’d act fast to integrate him into the national side. Apart from England he is eligible to represent Venezuela, the USA and Spain and I’m sure scouts from all three footballing federations are tracking him closely. In my opinion he would thrive for the Spanish youth team and I for one hope that he would snub England if Spain did come calling. Next season Armando will play an even greater role in Parker’s side. He is such a joy to watch!

Jeremie Mukendi: After featuring prominently for the under 18’s during the first few games of the season. Mukendi seemed to disappear off the radar for much of the remainder of the season, with the exception of the odd appearance here and there. An incredible athlete who picked up many awards at his school, Mukendi is very much a direct winger. Of his 13 appearances for the under 18’s Mukendi put in a series of very mixed performances, he looked bright during his first few games and managed to pick up two assists. But for the rest of the campaign he was unable to really influence play, despite managing to create a lot of space for himself out on the right wing. His decision making isn’t the best nor is his end product, but what I like about Mukendi is his directness and willingness to run at his man. I hope he is able to show more of his quality next season.

Forwards: Reo Griffiths: What 17 year old centre forward Reo Griffiths achieved during the 2017/18 campaign was nothing short of sensational. A couple of years ago Griffiths was a marauding centre half, in the season just gone Reo has scored a remarkable 34 goals in all competitions. The former Leyton Orient schoolboy was our talisman throughout the campaign, he was a powerful and charismatic figure within the squad. He could often be found celebrating extravagantly by the corner flag, but what he did best was putting the ball into the back of the net. Reo really stepped up this season, on his day he was unplayable, his sheer strength proving too much for even the most physical of defenders. He led the line to perfection, he worked extremely hard and was constantly pressing the defenders, his hold up play was also of the highest standard. Reo is constantly on the move, peeling off his marker and looking to make runs into the box. His prowess in and around the danger zone took the U18 league by storm, the amount of times he would come off the pitch with the match ball in his arms was an absolute joke. He scored 26 league goals for Parker’s side, far more than anybody else in the league managed. Reo scored all types of goals, from tap ins to 30 yard screamers and unstoppable looping headers, Griffiths made a name for himself amongst the Spurs fan base. Whilst he was phenomenal throughout the season, it’s worth noting that Reo is by no means the finished article. He is similar to players such as Salah and Son, in the sense that for every one on one with the keeper he gets, he’ll only end up converting one in three of those chances. He has missed some absolute sitters this season but my word has he made up for them. He is by no means our most technically gifted young striker but he is without doubt our most effective.

However, success doesn’t come without speculation and since February time Reo has been the subject of numerous stories linking him with a move away from Spurs. He has been strongly linked with a move to German side RB Leipzig but he has also attracted the attention of other top clubs such as Juventus, Celtic, Roma and Barcelona. The young Griffiths has revelled in such attention and has retweeted many of these stories on his twitter account. He has also teased fans with numerous cryptic posts including a video which said ”I’ll be signing something soon”. You’d have thought that he’d have been promoted to the under 23 squad pretty early on in the season, but he only made three appearances for Burnetts side throughout the campaign. Griffiths is an excellent young player and I’d love to see how he would get on in the development side. He may well be leaving the club upon the end of his scholarship next month and whilst I wish him all the very best, I feel that it would be a real blow to lose him. Let’s wait and see what happens.

Rodel Richards: Due to Reo Griffiths’ excellent form throughout the season, centre forward and first year scholar Rodel Richards was forced into playing out on the left wing. The former Arsenal schoolboy made a great impact on the side during the course of the season. A pacy and tricky winger who was clinical in front of goal, Richards alleviated some of the pressure off of top scorer Reo Griffiths, he even hit the headlines after he scored two hat tricks in six days. A mesmeric dribbler with blistering pace and good balance, Richards excelled for the under 16 side the previous season. A hardworking player who loves a crunching challenge, the south Londoner is a natural goalscorer and is without a doubt a more clinical finisher than Griffiths. Scoring 15 goals for the under 18’s from out wide, a more than impressive feat for a first year scholar, Richards also impressed in Europe for the U19’s. Hopefully he’ll be able to play in his natural position of centre forward more next season. I like him a lot!

Troy Parrott: The Irish wonder kid had to wait until his 16th birthday before he could represent the under 18’s. Parrott who hails from Summerville in Dublin, has been described by many as the next Robbie Keane. Parrott is a remarkable young striker who has been rightfully touted to achieve great things. A star of the Ireland U17 side which competed in the Euros this summer, Parrott also impressed for Parker’s side during the four games which he featured in for the U18’s. Scoring on one occasion, Parrott put in a series of really mature performances. His strength, movement and ball control were all highly impressive. Parrott is a natural goalscorer who starred during an U17 tournament in Borgaro Nobis in Italy, back in March. Parrott is an extremely exciting prospect who I’m predicting to go onto play for the U23’s come the middle of next season!

Further reading: https://superhotspur.com/2018/05/19/some-notes-on-troy-parrotts-performance-against-the-netherlands-under-17s/

The Superhotspur goal of the season: After much thought, the award for the best goal of the season has to go to Phoenix Patterson for his sensational free kick against Brighton during our 6-3 win over them. It was the goal which sealed Patterson’s hat trick down on the south coast. Having already scored a free kick earlier in the game, Patterson would have fancied his chances when Spurs were awarded one from about 25 yards out from goal. Patterson curled the ball beautifully around the wall and into the top right corner of Brighton goalkeeper Tom McGill’s goal, it was a superb goal.

The Superhotspur game of the season: Whilst our 9-0 thrashing of Arsenal was an incredible game of football, I’ve decided to pick our 4-0 win over Liverpool as my game of the season. It was Liverpool head coach Steven Gerrard’s first taste of defeat, after the reds dominated much of the first half. Spurs showed great resilience to nick the lead through Griffiths on the stroke of half time. From then on they were superb, they sparkled all across the park and ended up totally outplaying the Merseyside club to progress to the semifinals of the competition.

The Superhotspur player of the season: For his outstanding goalscoring exploits I feel obliged to award it to Reo Griffiths for his exceptional season. However, I’m going to give it to Brooklyn Lyons-Foster for his terrific season as a first year scholar. The immensely talented ball playing centre half was for me Parker’s most consistent performer. His many masterful performances in the heart of the Tottenham defence and his reading of the game was just brilliant to watch. A player who is years ahead of his age, Lyons-Foster is the perfect modern cb. He can play it out from the back, he can pass well but most importantly of all he is an exceptional young defender. Congratulations and good luck for the new season Brooklyn!

Under 18 Goals scored during the 2017/18 season: Reo Griffiths-33
Phoenix Patterson-8
Dilan Markanday-9
Jamie Bowden- 1
Moroyin Omolabi-1
Rayan Clarke-2
Maurizio Pochettino-1
Paris Maghoma-3
Rodel Richards-15
J’neill Lloyd-Bennett-2
TJ Eyoma-1
Armando Shashoua-1
Troy Parrott-1

Assists: Phoenix Patterson-9
Jamie Bowden-4
Matt Lock- 2
Jeremie Mukendi-2
Jamie Reynolds-6
Reo Griffiths-12
J’neill Lloyd-Bennett-6
Rayan Clarke-2
Rodel Richards-2
Dilan Markanday-4
Oliver Skipp-2
Tariq Hinds-4
Paris Maghoma-5
Armando Shashoua-1
Maurizio Pochettino -1
Jonathan Dinzeyi-1

My end of season player review of the Spurs under 23 side:

It’s fair to say that it’s been a thrilling and at times difficult season for Wayne Burnetts development squad over the course of the 2017/18 campaign. There have been many highs and lows, and disappointments on the domestic stage. But his young side have shown the character and the bottle when it mattered. Seemingly destined to be heading for relegation at the midpoint of the league season, Burnett and the now departed Justin Cochrane galvanised the side into going on a great run of results. A 3-1 win at Old Trafford in January was the start of the fight back, impressive victories against the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal followed. And Burnett’s side secured their division one status with a game to spare, after they defeated Chelsea 2-1 at Stamford Bridge with just ten men! Burnett’s first season as manager of the development squad has seen Spurs compete in three domestic competitions. The PL2, the checkatrade trophy (which we need to enter again next season) and the premier league international cup. We were knocked out of the checkatrade trophy in the group stages after picking up one point from our three games. We were also knocked out of the premier league international cup in the group stages however, we were desperately unlucky. We finished second in a group containing Villarreal B and Benfica B. We picked up four points from our three matches, and only missed out on one of the two best runners up places by one point. Whilst us surviving relegation in the league, was by far our best achievement, I think the season gone has provided some invaluable experience for members of the development squad, particularly for those who have yet to play a minute of senior football.

It’s been an absolute pleasure traveling the country reporting on this team, I have seen some great games of football. But most importantly of all I have been left proud of every single one of our lads performances throughout the season. They embody the very spirit of this club, they are all one of our own. The following is an in-depth review of each players season, I have not included those who have made the odd appearance from the under 18 side, as I will be doing a separate review of the under 18’s season at a later date. All views are my own. COYS

Goalkeepers:

Alfie Whiteman: It’s been an interesting season for the 19 year old goalkeeper, Whiteman made more appearances for the development side then any other keeper. But due to the arrival of Paulo Gazzaniga back in the summer of 2017, Whiteman’s involvement with the first team has decreased. Now regarded as the fourth choice goalkeeper at the club, Whiteman has still been training with the seniors on occasions. He even featured on the bench for Pochettino’s side during our premier league game against Crystal Palace, owing only to an injury crisis. As for Whiteman’s performances for the under 23’s, well they’ve been varied. Don’t get me wrong he is a solid and talented young goalkeeper however, I feel that his lack of consistent game time for the youth team over the last year and a half has hampered his development just that little bit. His performances for the development side have varied greatly. Most of the time he has been decent for Burnetts side. However, I have noticed quite a few costly errors which have stemmed from his distribution. Games against Barnet and Manchester United particularly spring to mind. Whiteman, who hasn’t been called up to England’s youth team in a over a year will most likely be on the plane to the states with the seniors this summer. Still only 19 years of age, I’m predicting a first team loan to a league one or two club next season, to aid his development. Kenny Jacketts Portsmouth side springs to mind.

Brandon Austin: The former Chelsea schoolboy has made great strides this season. A key member of both the development side and the under 19’s. Austin’s exceptional performances inbetween the sticks, have been an all too common theme in my reports over the course of the season, and this hasn’t gone unnoticed. The USA under 19 international has recently been called up to England’s under 19 squad ahead of next months European championships in Finland. Austin was also given a new contract by the club earlier in the season. A consistent and important member of Burnetts side, Austin’s excellent shot stopping ability combined with his fine all round goalkeeping has impressed me massively throughout the campaign. Austin played every game in the run up to the quarterfinals of the UEFA youth league, his goalkeeping heroics in the last 16 against Monaco helped us to win the penalty shootout. I’m a big fan of Austin, not only do I think he’s a brilliant keeper. But I also like his assertiveness and dominance inside the box, he is a vocal member of the side and he manages to marshal his defence well. I would expect Brandon to be the first choice goalkeeper for the under 23’s next season, assuming of course that Whiteman will go out on loan. His only direct competition would come from Jonathan De Bie.

Luke O’Reilly: O’Reilly was a surprise inclusion in the development squad at the start of the season. He appeared out of nowhere on the bench for our first U23 game of the season against Sunderland, back in August. It turned out that he had joined Spurs on a one year deal after being released by Cardiff City. O’Reilly who is also eligible for the Republic of Ireland, only went on to make one appearance for Burnetts side. That came in our 1-0 victory over Liverpool in February, he actually looked really good in the one game that he did play for us. A good all round keeper who looked good with his feet. However, I wouldn’t be too surprised to see him end up being released come the end of June.

Tom Glover: Glover (20) spent the entirety of the season out on loan with Australian A league side Central Coast mariners in his native Australia. Glover only played two games for the A league club all of which came in the first month of the season, for the rest of the season he sat on the bench and had his loan terminated earlier this month. There is talk that Glover will be released upon the expiration of his contract in June.

Defenders:

Jaden Brown: Brown made the step up full time to the development side for the 17/18 campaign. A versatile defender who is primarily used a left back, Jaden went on to make 17 league appearances for Burnetts side during the season. Brown has looked decent and competent at this level, but he is a very defensive Ogilvie-esque fullback who rarely takes on players. The Lewisham born defender who has also filled in at cb on occasions, is a decent prospect who defensively speaking has had a good season. Although injuries have halted the 19 year olds progress to an extent, he has put in some strong performances notably against the likes of Sunderland and Liverpool towards the beginning of the campaign. Brown has also been involved in a number of UEFA youth league matches and scored an excellent goal in our win against Borussia Dortmund. It is unclear what the future holds for the 19 year old.

Jonathan Dinzeyi: Dinzeyi is a player who I am a massive fan of, he is an exciting ball playing centre half who loves to take risks. The 18 year old has made great strides during the 17/18 season. Combining his time playing for both the under 18’s and 23’s Dinzeyi endured a difficult first few months to the season. After being included in Pochettino’s pre season squad which traveled to the USA in the summer, Dinzeyi also appeared on the bench for our senior side during their friendly with Juventus at Wembley, in August. However, he had to wait until the end of that month before he played his first youth game of the season. Then came the injuries, and the youngster had to wait until October time before he could start getting regular game time at both u18 and u23
level. Dinzeyi featured on eight occasions for Burnetts side throughout the season, the second year scholar put in a string of strong performances. Most of which came with the commanding Maghoma by his side. Dinzeyi also featured prominently for Scott Parker’s under 18 side where he also put in a string of fine defensive performances. Dinzeyi is an interesting player to watch as he is still a relatively recent convert to his role, it wasn’t too long ago that he was playing for the under 16’s out on the wing. Dinzeyi is a courageous defender who is never afraid to slide in on his man, something which has tended to cost him on occasions. However, I greatly admire his style of play. He certainly isn’t afraid to go on long surging runs through the middle, nor is he afraid to play about the with the ball whilst under pressure. He is very raw and is by no means the finished article, but the former England youth international shows great promise and the recent campaign will have given him a lot to build on ahead of next season. A loan to a lower league 2 or national league club certainly isn’t beyond his capabilities!

TJ Eyoma: Eyoma has enjoyed an excellent season in the Tottenham youth set up, the England under 18 international has played in a variety of roles but has remained consistent throughout. Playing mainly at right back, Eyoma has been eased back into his natural position as a centre half as the season progressed. Featuring 14 times for Burnetts side during the PL2 campaign, Eyoma’s ice cool defending and maturity proved crucial to Spurs avoiding the drop. Eyoma was solid at right back for the majority of the campaign though his lack of pace could be an issue at times. But it was when he was in his natural position of centre half, which he really shone. Unlike Dinzeyi he rarely dives into challenges, for Eyoma it’s all about timing. His anticipation to danger is second to none, Eyoma was also an important member of Scott Parker’s under 18 and 19 sides. Hopefully next season will see Eyoma play in his favoured position throughout the U23 season.

Christian Maghoma: Without the Democratic Republic of Congo international, Wayne Burnetts side would not have avoided the drop, it’s simple as that! The towering and dominant centre half was a leader throughout the campaign, his steel and grit at the heart of the Tottenham defence combined with his excellent aerial ability, really strengthened our young defence. I thought that him and Dinzeyi formed a particularly strong defensive pairing. Unfortunately Maghoma will be leaving Spurs next month with a whole host of top European clubs looking to secure him on a free transfer despite Spurs wanting to keep him.

Further reading: https://superhotspur.com/2018/05/20/farewell-and-good-luck-to-our-young-defender-christian-maghoma/

Japhet Tanganga: Tanganga is another defender who suffered with injury problems throughout the campaign. However, the England under 19 international still managed to rack up 15 league appearances for the under 23 side. Tanganga had a good season, particularly in the UEFA youth league. The Hackney born defender put in a series of strong defensive performances, excellent in the air and as good as anyone at making a challenge, it was a fine albeit slightly frustrating season for Tanganga. I sincerely hope that he’ll get exposure to men’s football over the next course of the next season. Physically and technically speaking he is more than ready to play for a league one club.

Anton Walkes: After spending a successful loan spell out in the states, Walkes returned to Spurs in January of this year. And would go onto play two games for the development side (scoring one goal) before being shipped out on loan once more, this time to league one side Portsmouth. Walkes enjoyed a successful loan spell at Pompey, he played 12 times for the south coast club before having to return to Spurs following an injury. Hugh Bunce of Pompey news now, kindly gave me some insight as to how Walkes got on at the league one club. “Anton arrived on loan in January after previously impressing on loan for Atlanta United. Anton slotted straight in at right back and scored on his debut with a volley at the back post. The first attribute that stands out is his excellent athleticism. Combining this with an excellent work-rate, Walkes gets back into defensive position very quickly after pushing forward. After losing Danny Rose to injury before Christmas, Pompey desperately needed a defensive midfielder. Walkes strength, tenacity, athleticism and ability to make a good pass out of midfield made him a prime candidate. It took Kenny Jackett a little longer to realise this, however, once Walkes was moved to defensive midfield he thrived. Pompey looked like a different side with Walkes in the middle. He closes teams creative midfielders down well. Against Champions Wigan, Walkes helped keep their flurry of creative midfielders at bay, while making the pass to Ben Close who won a penalty. There is a lot of creditable chat that Walkes will be back with Pompey on a permanent deal next season. Specifically, to play his new role in the heart of the Pompey side.“

Nick Tsaroulla: Nick Tsaroulla’s season has been absolute nightmare and I really feel for the talented 19 year old fullback. Barring a five minute cameo against West Ham under 23’s back in August, Tsaroulla hasn’t kicked a ball for Spurs this season. It is to my understanding that Nick was involved in a car crash right at the beginning of the campaign, this resulted in a neck injury being sustained, an injury has continued to bother him throughout the season. Nick is an exciting left back who was pivotal to Spurs under 18’s reaching the semifinals of the FA youth cup the previous season. Pacy and nimble footed, Tsaroulla is an excellent dribbler who contributes massively to the game at both ends of the pitch, he loves a crunching challenge! Tsaroulla has often been seen watching the development side warm up ahead of games. More positively I have noticed that Nick appears to be back in training at Hotspur Way however, I have seen various postings on social media suggesting that he will be released by the club next month. I would be shocked if that were to be the case.

Connor Ogilvie: Connor spent the entirety of the season out on loan with league one side Gillingham, after joining the Gills back in June of 2017. His third consecutive loan spell in three seasons, the left back who is now 22 went on to appear 41 times for the Kent club. Ogilvie turns 23 next February and I cannot see him spending another season on loan from the lilywhites, unfortunately I would expect him to be sold during the summer, which is a shame as I’ve always been a big fan of the former England under 17 international. A Gillingham supporter kindly gave me his take on Ogilvie’s season for the Gills. ”Connor Ogilvie has played forty two Matches For Gillingham football club, with his only goal for the Gills coming in our 2-1 Away Defeat Against Bury. LINK IS HERE”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OO7D9vx0i_Y

”Connor Ogilvie has played at left centre back In a back Three / back five, left wing Back, and for the most part, Connor Ogilvie has started for Gillingham at left back, but has struggled to get in the starting line up recently, With Bradley Garmston recovering from injury. I think it has been a difficult step up for Ogilvie, having had loan spells with Stevenage in League Two, and Gillingham have had a tough season this season before finally being able to retain our league one status with a 1-1 draw against Bristol Rovers a couple of weeks back. I am unsure on what happens for Connor Ogilvie in the summer, does he go back to Tottenham and push for a first team role, could he return to Gillingham on loan again, or sign for a league One / league two club on a five month loan deal, or a season long loan.“

Midfielders:

Luke Amos: The 21 year old did a fine job for the development side during the first half of the season, operating mainly as the hod carrier within the side. Amos even made the bench for the senior side during our champions league game against APOEL back in December. A tireless and tenacious midfielder, Amos was loaned out to league two club Stevenage for the second half of the season. Twitter user Stevenage central picks up from here: ”Some players struggle to adapt to EFL football but Amos has settled right in perfectly. He gives everything in games. He is very mobile and has high levels of composure, he is so calm on the ball. He is very adaptable and played on the right side of a diamond for a fair while before he revelled in his chance to shine in attacking midfield. He has this way of finding space and making things happen. He has put a shift attacking and defending as well. He’s dealt with physicality well. He transformed our midfield and we all think he is capable of higher league football. He in february had arguably had one of the best midfielders in the division Luke Berry in his back pocket. Popped up with two important goals. Took the club in to his heart and always has time with fans. We are desperate for him to stay but if not he’s got our best wishes because he’s got a massive future ahead of him. I couldnt even pick a main criticism out of his game really.” I would be shocked if Luke wasn’t included in the squad that will travel to the US in July!

Marcus Edwards: Widely regarded as Tottenham’s most exciting youth prospect in a generation, by many. Marcus Edwards rocketed to fame amongst the Spurs fans the previous season after his lively 15 minute cameo against Gillingham in the league cup. Forward a year and a half in time and Edwards situation couldn’t look more different. Tottenham’s ”mini Messi” put in a series of mixed performances for the development side, though he was excellent for the under 19’s during the group stages of the UEFA youth league. Still this was not enough for Pochettino to call him up to the senior side. Edwards was subsequently loaned out to Norwich in January in what turned out to be a disastrous loan move for the teenager. It took weeks before canaries boss Daniel Farke even named him on the bench for the Championship club. Matters weren’t helped by the fact that Farke hinted that there were a couple of issues with Edwards attitude, as previously alluded to by a fair few journalists. Edwards made just the one appearance for Norwich when he came on in the 84th minute of their 2-0 home defeat to Fulham. Edwards never played for Norwich again and his loan spell was terminated back in April, this prompted a very interesting article in the Telegraph which I’m sure you lot are all aware about. Edwards has talent in abundance, but I don’t subscribe to the massive hype that surrounds him. And I personally much prefer Samuel Shashoua who is a very similar type of player to Edwards. I just hope that Edwards gets given the chance to showcase his quality out on loan again, next season.

Dylan Duncan: Looking to build on a great season with the under 18’s the previous term. The powerful midfielder shone in pre season for the development side and he was able to continue that fine form into the beginning of the domestic campaign. Putting in some eye catching performances in the centre of the park, Duncan was showing an attacking flair to his game, which even saw him score two goals in the month of August. However, from that moment on Duncan was plagued with injuries and was ruled out until January. After returning to action in our 3-1 win against Manchester United at Old Trafford. Duncan went on to make a series of appearances from the subs bench, but was unable able to regain his place in the side.

Anthony Georgiou: For many of you who follow me on Twitter, you’ll know that I’m a massive fan of Anthony Georgiou. I don the Spurs wingers shirt with pride at every game, and have long been a fan of the pacy and direct left winger. Anthony has had the season of his life for both club and country, he shone during the pre season tour of the states. He seized his chance with both hands and put in a really promising performance against Roma in Minneapolis. Georgiou featured on a couple of more occasions for the seniors that summer but the best part was yet to come. After training exclusively with the senior side during the first few months of the season, Pochettino handed Anthony his senior debut for the club in our UEFA champions league group game against APOEL. Georgiou came on as a late substitute in a country that he has such strong links with, it was a wonderful moment for the youngster. Anthony appeared on the bench for the seniors on two more occasions, against both Real Madrid and Newport respectively. He also made 12 appearances for Burnetts development side, scoring on one occasion in a 4-2 win against Derby. Anthony divided his time playing at left wing back and also as an out and out winger, he put in a series of excellent performances for the U23’s across the campaign. His searing pace, strength and excellent crossing ability combined with his tight defending, gave the team an important attacking outlet. In an age where the modern winger has become more and more reluctant to take on defenders, it is so refreshing to see Anthony run at defenders without any fear.

By the end of the season Anthony had won two full international caps for Cyprus, a remarkable feat! What Anthony has achieved in the season just gone is absolutely incredible, when you think back to the 16/17 season. A season which Anthony missed the vast majority of due to a serious knee injury. After a long rehabilitation process which resulted in a trip to the Aspetar clinic in Qatar, Anthony has come back even stronger. He is without doubt the hardest worker on the pitch of anyone in the development side, and he is a great role model to any young player in the academy. I hope to see Pochettino involve Georgiou even more in the first team next season, he is capable of offering so much to the side.

George Marsh: The tough tackling midfielder made 15 league appearances for Burnetts side during the 17/18 season. Marsh who also featured prominently for the under 19’s, had on the whole a decent season which was at times spoilt by his lack of discipline. Marsh put in a string of a very competent performances at both right back and CDM, he was particularly good at chasing down opponents and fitted in well with Tottenham’s high pressing philosophy. As mentioned in almost every single one of my reports over the course of the season, Marsh has an issue with his temper. He was sent off twice last season but in men’s football that figure would have been far, far higher. Don’t get me wrong I am an admirer of Marsh, I like his style but I think that a loan to a league two club would do him the world of good.

Samuel Shashoua: After an exceptional season for the under 18’s in the 16/17 season, Shashoua made the permanent step up to the development side during the recent campaign. A player who I have called ”our own David Silva” for his likeness to the Man City star, Shashoua is without doubt one of our brightest academy prospects. However, owing to a series of injuries Shashoua has been unable to make as much of an impact as he would have liked this season. He was unable to get many opportunities to start for the 23’s during the first few months of the season. Owing to Marcus Edwards and Shilow Tracey being given a large bulk of playing time. Yet when he did play he impressed, and it was during October time when he went on a fine run of form for both the under 19’s and 23’s, putting in some sparkling attacking performances. Frustratingly injuries continued to disrupt his progress for the remainder of the season, but when he did play he was excellent. His clever little weaving runs, deceptive through balls and movement in the final third caused opposition teams many problems. Earlier this month Shashoua picked up the player of the tournament award in the U19 Volksbank cup in Germany, finding the net on five occasions. I’ve been very impressed with Samuel once again this season, and I’m sensing an even brighter campaign for him next season. Of Samuels many impressive performances this season, ones which stand out are his game changing performance against Monaco in the Youth league. His mesmeric display against West Ham in August, aswell as his quietly influential performance against Arsenal in March.

Oliver Skipp: Name me a better 17 year old (English) midfielder then Oliver Skipp and I’ll be mightily impressed. The immensely talented central midfielder made incredible strides during the course of the season. After an impressive pre season, Skipp took to under 23 football like a duck to water. Playing over 20 times for Burnetts side, Skipp became a key player in the side. His remarkable maturity and awareness made the first year scholar a force to be reckoned with. He singlehandedly embarrassed Jack Rodwell during our first PL2 game of the season, up in County Durham. From there he never looked back, his consistent and dominant performances in the middle of the park blocked the progress of players such as Jack Roles (19) who couldn’t get a game. Skipp is hard to compare to one particular player as he has such a wide ranging skill set, comfortable at centre half which he has filled in at on many occasions for the under 18 side this season. Skipp has the ability to totally dictate games from the middle of the park, the way in which he bosses the midfield, recycles possession and creates from deep is superb. He is light years ahead of his age group, it’s his anticipation of the game which makes him such a good player. He is constantly looking over his shoulder, he doesn’t play about with the ball nor does he take unnecessary risks, for me he is the complete midfielder. I would be astonished if he doesn’t make his senior debut for the lilywhites next season.

Keanan Bennetts: Sadly Bennetts has since departed Spurs for Bundesliga side Borussia Mönchengladbach. However, were it not for the flying winger/wing back, Spurs wouldn’t have stood a chance in beating the drop. Chipping in with seven goals and eight assists for the development side, Bennetts was unquestionably our player of the season. After enjoying a fine second half of the season for the U18’s back in 2017, Bennetts really stepped up this season. Dividing his time playing at both LWB and LW, Bennetts produced the magic which time and time again saved us. His exceptional dribbling ability, searing pace and perfectly timed crosses wreaked havoc for opposing teams defenders. The 19 year old starlets departure is such a massive loss.

Further reading: https://superhotspur.com/2018/05/18/farewell-keanan-and-good-luck/amp/#click=https://t.co/LUOFjaMCpL

 

Tashan Oakley-Boothe: To put it quite bluntly the 18 year old has endured a season of nothingness at Spurs. That may sound odd when you consider the fact that he impressed with the seniors out in the US in the summer, as well as the fact that he made his senior debut for the club in the Carabao cup against Barnsley in September. However, his exclusive training with the main team meant that he only played a handful of games for both the 18’s and 23’s. Not ideal for an 18 year old midfielder, Oakley-Boothe is an exceptionally talented player. An under 17 World Cup winner with England, TOB is highly regarded in the England youth setup. Oakley-Boothe is an exciting and very much attacking central midfielder I just hope that he gets plenty of games under his belt for the under 23’s next season.

Joe Pritchard: A crucial figure within the development squad, the now departed Joe Pritchard (21) had an excellent season for the under 23’s. A tireless grafter in the centre of the park, Pritchard was tidy and efficient. Defensively sound, he would fill in for other players who joined in during attacks. Creatively speaking he was also very good, he laid off seven assists for his teammates whilst also finding the net on four occasions. Pritchard skippered the side on multiple occasions, since leaving Spurs he has trialled with the likes of Cheltenham and Bolton U23’s. I wish Joe all the very best for the future and have no doubts in my mind that he’ll go onto achieve great things in the game.

Jack Roles: Roles had to wait a long time before he got given his first start of the season for Burnetts side. The Cypriot under 21 international only featured on 9 occasions in the PL2, but still managed to find the back of the net on three occasions. After scoring 18 goals for the under 18’s the previous season I was hopeful that Roles would play a starring role in the under 23 side this season but the aforementioned Skipp blocked Roles’ progress and limited his chances of starting. Roles did impress when he played for Burnetts side and still showed that excellent knack of ghosting into excellent positions. He was in a rich vein of form in the month of January, and went on a run of scoring in three consecutive games. I expect Roles to play a more prominent role in the side next season.

Shilow Tracey: After a difficult first half of the season, the 20 year old who we signed from Ebbsfleet for 200k back in January of 2016, went on to enjoy his best form in a Spurs shirt, during the second part of the campaign. Tracey scored three goals for Burnetts side and created a further seven goals for his teammates. He gets a lot of unfair criticism but the youngster has showed during the second part of the season that despite his limited skill set, he can still go onto become a useful player. Post January Tracey started to really take on fullbacks, his pace and strength started to cause a lot of problems. His directness worked a treat for Spurs and his best game came during our thrilling 3-3 draw with Benfica B back in January. I hope that Tracey gets his contract extended by the club for another season as he thoroughly deserves it.

Forwards: Kazaiah Sterling: Sterling played his part in Spurs’ push for survival under the tutelage of Wayne Burnett. He was by no means outstanding but his extremely high work rate really impressed me throughout the season. He does lack a bit of physicality at this level as well as a bit of craftiness inside the danger zone, but he is still a very clinical finisher. Sterling scored eight league goals from 20 games the development side and ended up finishing the season as our top scorer. A loan move beckons next season. Sterling made his senior debut for Spurs during their 3-0 win against APOEL at Wembley in December, he also appeared on the bench for our premier league game with Man City.

Ryan Loft: After an uninspiring season last term, Ryan Loft would have hoped to made more of an impact in Burnetts side during the first half of this season. The physical Loft struggled for game time and only featured 11 times for Spurs scoring once in our defeat to Luton back in January (it was a cracking finish by the way!). Loft was subsequently loaned out to Exeter during the winter transfer window however, it has been another disappointing loan for the Kent native. Loft has only featured once for the league two club and unless they have an injury crisis ahead of this Monday’s league 2 play off final against Coventry, then it will stay that way. Loft’s prowess at under 18 level (due to physical advantage over opponents) should serve as a reminder to Griffiths that form doesn’t always stay on your side after you step up a level. I would expect Loft to be released by the club next month.

Shayon Harrison: The 20 year old centre forward was in sparkling form for the development side during pre season. However, an unfortunate injury ruled him out for the opening couple of months of the league campaign, after returning from injury in October. Harrison looked decent for the under 23’s and went on to score four goals from 10 games. Harrison was loaned out to league one club Southend United in January. Twitter user Southend United fans explained to me how Shayon faired in league one: ”In fairness we didn’t get to see an awful lot of him but when he did play he looked a nippy, skilful player who can bring something else to the attack and cause opposition defenders problems. He had a good first touch and control on him and you could certainly tell that he has some elements of class about him. I would probably say his best game for us was at home to Portsmouth in a 3-1 win where in the first half of that match he was unplayable and I thought the best player on the pitch. The defenders defended him better in the second half of that game but he still managed to cause a few issues;he was very impressive that day.“

The Superhotspur goal of the season: After much thought, it has to go to Keanan Bennetts for his terrific free kick against Arsenal during our 3-1 win against the gunners back in March. At least 28 yards out from goal Bennetts tried an audacious effort at goal, it was a Bale-esque free kick. It flew over the Arsenal wall and dipped wonderfully inside the top right hand corner of the goal leaving the gunners goalkeeper Matt Macey rooted to his spot. The significance of the goal was instrumental in Spurs avoiding the drop and picking up a famous win against their old foes.

The Superhotspur game of the season: Our 3-1 victory against Manchester United at Old Trafford in January proved to be a turning point in our season. 1-0 down with just over half an hour to go Burnetts side showed immense character to stun the Red Devil’s on their own patch, goals from Bennetts, Roles and Sterling secured all three points. It was brilliant to watch!

The Superhotspur player of the season: Keanan Bennetts had a sensational season for the under 23’s. His bursting pace, mercurial skill and decision making in the final third resulted in him being involved in 15 of our goals. Time and time again the teenager came up with magic at the decisive time. Young Keanan will be a great success for Mönchengladbach next season.

U23’s 2017/18 statistics: Top scorers: Sterling-11
Loft-1
Duncan-2
Edwards-4
Tanganga-1
Pritchard-4
S.Shashoua-5
Bennetts-7
Tracey-3
Harrison-4
C.Maghoma-2
Roles-4
Walkes-1
Eyoma-1
Skipp-1
Georgiou-1

Assists: Skipp-1
Miller-1
Sterling-2
Pritchard-7
Edwards-3
Tracey-7
Eyoma-1
S.Shashoua-1
Brown-1
Sterling-4
Bennetts-8
Marsh-1
Harrison-1
Roles-1
Tanganga-1

Farewell and good luck to our young defender Christian Maghoma:

With our young defender Christian Maghoma set to depart the club upon the expiration of his contract on June 30, I thought I’d write a farewell piece, on a young player who has such a bright future in the game. A player who I will be sad to see leave the lilywhites after so many years spent in the academy set up. 20 year old Christian Maghoma becomes the third member of the under 23 side who is set to leave the club, after Joe Pritchard announced on social media last week that he had left the club. Whilst it was announced on Friday that promising young winger Keanan Bennetts had joined German side Borussia Mönchengladbach in a deal worth £2 million. A towering centre half who is dominant in the air and strong in the challenge, Maghoma has followed in the footsteps of his older Jacques in coming up the various youth levels at the club. Christian is a proper defender, similar to someone like Brightons Shane Duffy in many ways. Less of a ball playing centre half, and more of a classic Dawson-esque defender. A defender who puts his body on the line for his teammates, who gets stuck in and leads by example. Christian is a natural born leader, and those qualities have really shone this season for the under 23 side. He is charismatic and composed, vocal and encouraging to fellow defenders, particularly to those who are new to the development side. I remember vividly back at the beginning of the PL2 season, when Christian was constantly giving words of advice and reassurance to the then 16 year old Brooklyn Lyons-Foster on his debut at that level. That is just one many examples which I can recall from seeing over the the past couple of seasons.

Capped at under 16 level by England, Christian enjoyed a fantastic season for the under 18’s back in the 2014/15 season, whilst still a first year scholar. Physically far too good for that level, Maghoma would go onto make six starts for the development side that season. Including an incredibly assured performance against Norwich’s Gary Hooper at Carrow road, in front of a bumper crowd. Christian was still only 16 years of age at this time, yet he had been able to totally nullify the threat of an experienced striker, who had experience playing in the champions league. Christian capped off the season with a fine goal against Fulham at White Hart lane, a powerful bullet header from a Will Miller corner, I remember it well! Maghoma spent the majority of the following season in the under 21 side under the tutelage of the great Ugo Ehiogu, barring a brief loan spell at Yeovil town where he failed to make a senior appearance for the glovers. The 2016-17 season saw Christian play more games then anyone else at under 23 level, he became a mainstay in the side and was rewarded at the end of the campaign with a first international call up to his country, the Democratic republic of Congo. He made his debut for the DRC in an international friendly against Botswana at the age of just 19. However, it was in the 2017/18 campaign that Christian really stepped up a level. A pivotal figure in Wayne Burnett’s side over the course of the season, the defenders courageous defending coupled in with his effectiveness to lead the backline, proved to be crucial in Spurs’ push for survival. Maghoma skippered the side on a number of occasions and put in a series of high quality performances. At times not best suited to Spurs’ play it out from the back philosophy, Christian made up for this with the many heroic blocks and clearances which he made during the season.

Christian has always played as a defender and I remember him citing the legendary Ledley King as his footballing hero, in an interview which I conducted with him back in 2016. The dominant centre half chipped in with two goals for Burnett’s side during the season just gone. One was an unstoppable bullet header against West Ham, the other a memorable goal against Liverpool in front of the Kop. It was a lovely finessed effort from the edge of the penalty area. Maghoma provided Burnett’s inexperienced side with a solidity at the back, he formed tenacious defensive partnerships with the likes of Japhet Tanganga and Jonathan Dinzeyi. Drawing back to my earlier comparisons with Shane Duffy, Maghoma gave the development side a physical presence which could be unrivalled by any centre forward. Excellent in the air, strong on the ball and above all else he put his body on the line for his team to make important blocks, challenges and goal line clearances. He doesn’t show off nor does he take unnecessary risks, he just gets on and does his defensive duties. He has put in many magnificent performances over the course of the season. Maghoma put in a terrific performance up against Cambridge United’s senior side back in pre season. He marshalled his defence incredibly well back in January during our 3-1 win at Old Trafford. He also singlehandedly kept out Liverpool’s Dominic Solanke in a league meeting in February. However, Maghoma’s most impressive performance came during our under 23’s 6-1 thumping to Leicester City. Yes, it may seem odd to single out a game in which we lost by such a scoreline however, Christian was magnificent that day he held it together after Spurs were reduced to nine men. Whilst his teammates fell apart around him, Christian put in the performance of a lifetime to stop Leicester running riot and getting into double figures.

A tenacious and hardworking defender, it was a great shame that Christian never got the opportunity to play for the first team. However, I have no doubts whatsoever that Christian will go onto enjoy a great career in the game, he has the talent and determination to do so. He is also a thoroughly nice young man who I have had the pleasure of meeting on numerous occasions, he has always has time for us Spurs fans! I wish Christian all the very best of luck for the future and I thank him for his great service to the club.

Myself and Christian after our development squads pre season friendly with Ebbsfleet back in July of 2017: 

Some notes on Troy Parrott’s performance against the Netherlands under 17’s:

It was an under 17 Euro quarterfinal unlike any other for Troy Parrott’s Ireland, who went out of the European championships in the most controversial of fashions in Chesterfield, on Monday evening. I was in Chesterfield solely to report on the performance of our young striking starlet but before I get going, I must explain what happened or what didn’t happen during the match. Ireland took on an extremely highly rated Netherlands side in the quarter finals of the European championships, in the warm evening sun at Chesterfields Proact stadium. The Dutch, who had won all three of their previous group games without conceding a goal, were heavy favourites for the tie. The first half was controlled from start to finish by Holland who kept onto the ball for fun, they knocked it about with ease and panache. And whilst Ireland stood resolute in defence they stood no chance of getting the ball off of them, it was to their credit that the Dutch had been unable to really test the Ireland goalkeeper Jimmy Corcoran, such was the resolute defending from the Irish. In the second half the Irish opened up a bit more, but Parrott was still getting virtually no service from the wide men. It was only when the Dutch took the lead from a corner kick on 62 minutes, that the Ireland team were really sparked into like. Young Troy initiated a move only a couple of minutes later before clinically finishing it off on the edge of the area, to draw Ireland level. There was little between the two sides during the remaining 16 minutes, meaning that the tie would be decided by a penalty shootout. Despite Adam Idah having the first penalty of the shootout saved, both teams converted their remaining penalty kicks.

This ultimately meant that with the scores tied at 4-4, the Netherlands had the chance to win the shootout through Chelsea’s Daishawn Redan. This is how the controversy came about, Redan’s powerfully struck effort was excellent saved by the diving Corcoran. Irish players and myself were celebrating wildly, but only a couple of moments later that joy was turned to despair. The referee pulled out Corcoran’s second yellow card of the game and sent him off. In the most absurd set of circumstances the referee had deemed Corcoran to have come off his line as Redan took the penalty. Yet if you watch Ireland’s first penalty, you’ll see that the Dutch goalkeeper commits exactly the same ‘offence’. An outfield player (Oisin Mcentee) was forced to go in goal for the retake, but unsurprisingly Redan buried his effort this time round. The decision from the referee was utterly perplexing and infuriating from an Irish perspective, many of the Ireland players were in tears after the game, slumped to the floor and in total disbelief. Getting back to Troy Parrott’s performance, it was another excellent shift from the Tottenham youngster. Who made the most of his time as an attacking midfielder who was reliant on limited service. There was little to report of Parrott’s performance in the first half, he had been starved of service as the Dutch dominated possession. In fact Ireland had not even managed to have an attempt on goal. As Ireland opened up in the second half, so did Parrott. He embarked on a promising run through the middle shortly after the restart, before being involved in a meaty challenge which resulted in a minor scuffle between both sets of players. Parrott picked up a yellow card in the process.

After the Dutch had taken the lead through Van Gelderen in the 62nd minute, Colin O’Brien’s side were forced into changing their game plan. It took only a couple of minutes for the Irish to respond, due mainly to the intricacy of Parrott. After being picked out on the edge of the Dutch penalty area by Ledwidge’s cross, Parrott delicately poked the ball through to Barry Coffey inside the box. The young Celtic midfielder swivelled round before laying the ball back off to Parrott on the edge of the penalty area, the striker made no mistake as he clinically side footed the ball into the bottom right hand corner of the goal, it was a brilliant finish from the Dubliner! There were to be no more meaningful chances for either side, and the game would eventually be decided by a penalty shootout. Parrott took Ireland’s second penalty of the shootout, he calmly slotted it into the far corner of the goal. It was another really impressive performance from the young centre forward. Despite not being played in his favoured position throughout the tournament, Parrott managed to score three goals in the four games that he played in. He has an attacking nous about his game which few schoolboys can rival. He shows great awareness to his surroundings, and one thing which is striking is his excellent ball control and movement. His fine scoring record for Ireland gives an indication as to what a clinical finisher he is. I’m already excited to see how he performs for the under 18’s next season, when he has players with the quality of J’neil Bennett and Rodel Richards out wide. Phoenix Patterson in behind him setting up chances, and the Winksesque Jamie Bowden sending precise passes over the defence for Parrott to chase onto.

I’m going to make a bold prediction about the Irishman, similar to one which I made about Oliver Skipp at the end of the 16/17 campaign. I think Parrott will excel at under 18 level during the first few months of the season, so much so that I think he’ll be a fully integrated member of the development side by January. I’ll end this piece by sharing an amusing story of Troy’s time spent on trial with Celtic, one which shows just how ridiculously talented the kid is. I was told up in Chesterfield, that Troy was on trial with Celtic a couple of seasons back. During the trial if you can call it that, Parrott scored five goals in the first half of a game. At halftime a coach (who I won’t name) decided to even things out a bit by putting Parrott in the other team, but young Troy only went and scored four more goals!

Farewell Keanan and good luck:

On Tuesday afternoon quite out of the blue, rumours started popping up on social media suggesting the imminent departure of our promising young winger Keanan Bennetts, to German club Borussia Mönchengladbach. The rumours came from a story on a website called footballinsider247.com, the title read simply ”Bennetts agrees move to Gladbach”. This sudden story startled me and many other youth followers on Spurs Twitter, prompting the question of why would one of our most promising youth players want to leave Spurs? After making such great strides for the development squad during the 17/18 season. Bennetts who recently turned 19, has been without a shadow of a doubt our most consistent and effective player in the under 23 side this season, Bennetts was able to carry on his fine form for the under 18’s the previous season, into the development squad. Where he has shone at both LW and LWB over the course of the season, his rapid progress made me convinced that he would have appeared on the bench at least once for Pochettino’s side, before the season ended. Unfortunately, that never came to fruition and today the club announced that they had reached an agreement with Mönchengladbach for the transfer of our young starlet, believed to be in the region of £2 million pounds. With a year left on his remaining contract, the club would have wanted to cash in on Bennetts rather then letting him leave on a free at the end of next season. Unlike the recent exodus of young English players who have made the move to the Bundesliga, the likes of Jadon Sancho, Reece Oxford and Ademola Lookman all springing to mind. Bennetts has strong ties with the country, his mother is German, Bennetts speaks the language and has previously represented the German under 15 side before later going on to represent England at youth level.

For those with long memories, you’ll remember back in 2015 when Bennetts was the tug of war between England, Germany and Nigeria as to who he would pledge his allegiances to. After being massively hyped during his first season as a scholar, Bennetts endured a bit of a difficult campaign as he divided his time playing for Ugo Ehiogu’s under 21 side and Kieran McKenna’s under 18’s. It was not until the following season that Bennetts began to show the confidence and flair which had been so prevalent at schoolboy level. A mainstay in the under 18 side, Bennetts proved to be a vital part of the side that reached the semifinals of the FA youth cup in 2017. Whilst he did lack a bit in consistency and decision making in the final third, the teenager from Borehamwood had shown great confidence at taking defenders on, on either flank, scoring some spectacular goals in the process. It was not until this season however, that Bennetts was able to make the permanent step up to the under 23’s and what a season it has been for Bennetts. Across the various youth levels for Tottenham, Bennetts has chipped in with nine goals and assists, his exceptional performances as both a fullback and as a winger, have won him many plaudits throughout the campaign. His ridiculously quick feet, unstoppable pace and fine eye for a cross made him an extremely difficult player to play against. Not only was he direct and tricky, he was also exciting and unpredictable. The amount of times he would cut inside on either foot, and totally outwit the keeper with a fizzing shot, was sensational.

If you go back and read my reports over the course of this season, you’ll see that 99.9% of the time I’ve written glowing reports of the teenager, as he divided his time as both a fullback and winger. Bennetts blistering pace, mercurial skill and unpredictably made him almost Zaha like in style. Not only does he have all the tools of a modern day wing back, he has more than just speed, skill and intricacy. Bennetts is an expert at dead ball situations and has managed to score many free kicks over the campaign, he is comfortable on corners and good at reading the game. A prime example of the wingers magic, came only a month ago at Stamford Bridge during a PL2 game involving Spurs and Chelsea’s under 23’s. Down to ten men against a Chelsea side who were leading comfortably at the bridge, Bennetts provided the impetus behind a remarkable comeback for Burnett’s side. Not once, but twice did he risk the fortunes of his team by driving at the Chelsea defence. On the first occasion he did excellently well to win a free kick on the edge of the box, he stood up comfortably to bend a sublime effort into the back of the net. Burnett and his coaching staff would have been more than happy with a point, but Bennetts had other ideas. A couple of minutes after scoring our equaliser he drove at the Chelsea defence once again, winning a free kick in an almost identical position to the first. He stood up once more, this time with little to aim at, before calmly tucking the ball around the wall and past the Chelsea goalkeeper into the bottom corner of the net, to ensure all three points for Spurs. His tendency to try his luck at the extraordinary has also resulted in a string of stunning goals for the young lilywhites this season, most of these goals come from his excellent ball control in tight spaces and two footedness.

Whilst many of us would have been focusing on the rumours regarding the Reo Griffiths contract saga, a player who has also incidentally been linked with the Bundesliga. I feel that losing Bennetts is an even greater loss for the club, especially as I’m confident that he will excel in Germany’s top division over the course of the next few seasons. The lure of first team football in a country he knows so well, will have been an offer far too tempting for Keanan to refuse. He becomes part of a group of young English players to make the move to the country over the last few seasons, to better their chances of playing first team football sooner rather than later. Another young English player who decided to make the move to Die Fohlen was Mandela Egbo, a promising right back who joined the German club a couple of season back from Crystal Palace. Bennetts will be hoping to emulate the path of players such as Sancho, Egbo and Lookman. And when you think about it from his perspective, it’s not difficult to figure out why he’s decided to leave. I would expect Bennetts to rack up at least a dozen appearances for the German club next season compared with playing the majority of the season for the Spurs development squad, tied in with maybe a couple of league cup appearances if he was lucky. Still, I feel that it is a great, great shame that we have lost one of our most promising youth prospects, a player who I have had the great pleasure of watching develop over the last couple of seasons. Whilst it is unknown whether or not Spurs have included a buyback clause as part of the transfer, I certainty wouldn’t rule him out from returning to Spurs in a couple of seasons time. I wish young Keanan all the very best of luck at Mönchengladbach and I look forward to following his progress over the coming seasons.