My piece on our under 18’s dynamic attacking midfielder – Max Robson:

Max Robson (17) is a first year scholar in Tottenham Hotspur’s Academy who has been making waves for our under 18’s so far this season. Robson predominantly operates as a CAM, although he is comfortable filling in at CM and CF if he needs to. The teenager who was born in Haywards Heath in County Sussex, but brought up in Burgess Hill and attended Birchwood High School, is a highly talented young player who I am writing the following piece about to give Spurs fans a feel for what type of player the skilful attacking midfielder is, and in this piece I will be talking about the teenagers best attributes and style of play. Robson would have first come to the attention of followers of the Spurs Academy set up as an under 15, when he was a part of a Spurs under 17 side who competed in the ALKASS Cup in Qatar (Robson scored a goal in the game against Guangzhou Evergrande). Robson, who was a mainstay in our under 16 side last season where he chipped in with a number of goals and assists, had to wait until August 2019 before he made his competitive debut for Spurs’ under 18’s. Max made his under 18 league debut in a game against Brighton & Hove Albion in the August of 2019 which he gave a good account of himself in. Robson has been in fine form so far this season for Matt Taylor’s under side 18 side and Ryan Mason’s under 19 side. Directly involved in 11 goals from 21 games (Max has netted six goals and registered five assists). 

Robson is a versatile player though it appears that his favoured or most natural position is as a CAM or as a shadow striker, although he is as similarly as good and effective when he plays in central midfield. As a CAM and as a central midfielder, the nimble footed Robson is a highly skilful player who loves to take opposing teams players on. His exciting style of play is combined with his high work rate, and his love of pressing players (he is aggressive and gets right up in players faces). He also has good ball retention rates and he covers vast amounts of the pitch during each match. Furthermore, Robson is quick and with his good close ball control and skill he is very difficult to dislodge once he is on the ball. Reminding me a little bit of a young Jack Grealish, Robson is a silky player who has great balance. In addition, like Grealish he wins a lot of fouls. Often involved in our under 18’s intricate attacking play, the teenager from County Sussex does a good job at trying to link the play and he makes intelligent decisions both on and off the ball. In addition Robson is good at dribbling the ball into the box and his runs into the danger zone are always impeccably timed. Robson also has good of the ball movement, vision for, and a nice weight of pass. However, it doesn’t matter whether he is playing as a CM or a CAM he epitomises Matt Taylor’s side positivity and he is always looking to drive forward with the ball, and he scans the pitch looking to make that forward pass and pull of a sublime piece of skill. 

The 17 year old makes just as a good an impact on the game when he plays at central midfield and with his strength on the ball and skill he is very good at filling in there. Robson is also defensively responsible and his high work rate and ability to fill in and cover for other teammates is another useful attribute of his game. While he is essentially a very elegant player, Robson also does the dirty and unappreciated side of the game well and he is especially good at scrapping for the ball, he also plays the game like Jamie Bowden and Harvey White and those before him, with real bite. And touching on Robson’s versatility and adaptability, he can also play up front as a number nine as he has done on a couple of occasions so far this season when we have been missing an out and out centre forward, and Robson can do a sterling job up top also. Like the older Spurs Academy graduate Jack Roles who is a player that Max really reminds me of when Roles played at under 18 level. Both players have excellent off the ball movement, are intelligent in their all round play and are able to link the play well. However, most importantly of all both players score goals from midfield and that is something which will take them very far in the modern game. Robson who has a thumping shot at his disposal, shares many similarities with Roles and I see a lot of the young Jack in Max. The alert attacking midfielder who scores all different types of goals, is a very exciting young talent who I am hopeful of having a big future at the Lilywhites. Despite having to limp off the pitch in our under 18’s last league game against Norwich City, Max will hopefully be back in time for our under 18’s next game which is against West Ham on February the 22nd.

Robson has been an absolute pleasure to watch so far this season and his influence on our under 18 side has been immense. Max should be very proud of the consistently very good performances that he has put in so far this season and hopefully he will make his under 23 debut before the season ends.