Month: January 2021

Spurs under 18’s versus Newport County: (match preview)

Posted on by superhotspur

Our under 18 side start 2021 by playing their first FA Youth Cup game of the season. A third round cup tie against Welsh side Newport County takes place on Tuesday at 1pm at Hotspur Way (behind closed doors), in England’s most prestigious youth cup competition. Last season Spurs were knocked out by a very talented Wigan Athletic side in the fourth round, a side which included Alfie Devine. However, this year Matt Taylor’s side who sit in second place in the Under 18 Premier League South, will be looking to do better as they look to build on finishing 2020 in such good form in the league. Newport County’s under 18 side play their league football in the EFL Youth Alliance south-west division, and they haven’t played a competitive game of league football since the fifth of December, 2020, when they beat Swindon Town by three goals to nil. Newport had to beat non-League side Brockenhurst FC (they won 3-2) to reach the third round of the FA Youth Cup, and this is the second season in a row that they have reached the third round of the competition (they lost 3-1 away to Blackburn Rovers at this stage last season). Newport do have a number of players who have joined them from category two academy sides, such as Harrison Bright (formerly of Cardiff City), Jack Karadogan (formerly of Swansea City) and Charlie Bullock (formerly of Bristol City). There is no doubting that this will be a tough game, despite the difference in leagues that the two sides play in. Newport will be really up for this, just like Matt Taylor’s Spurs side will be, but in a one off cup game anything can happen.

Usually these games are the first competitive ones that many of these under 18 players get to play in front of fans at a stadium, but due to the current situation this year will be very different, though it will still be a fantastic opportunity and experience for the Spurs under 18 side. Talented first year scholar Alfie Devine made headlines on Sunday when he became our first teams youngest ever scorer and player in a competitive game, by scoring against Marine in the third round of the FA Cup, as he played 45 minutes. Spurs will no doubt put out a very strong side against Newport County, but with our under 23 side playing Brighton later in the week, Devine could well be being saved for that game. However, I would imagine that top scorer Dane Scarlett will most likely play on Tuesday afternoon. This is a very big game for Spurs, and I would like to wish them all the very best of luck for the match. Here’s hoping that this talented side can become the first Spurs under 18 side to win the competition since 1990.

My predicted lineup: (4-2-3-1) Lo-Tutala (c), Cesay, Muir, Matthew Craig, Hackett, Michael Craig, John, Mundle, Robson, Santiago, Scarlett.

Subs from: Hayton, Maguire, Kyezu, Torraj, Carrington, Mathurin, Whittaker.

Injured/unavailable: Paskotši (suspended).

Doubtful: N/A.

Previous meeting: N/A.

My score prediction: Spurs 5-0.

My one to watch: Newport player and second year scholar Zack Maher. A midfielder by trade, Maher scored an important goal against Brockenhurst in the last round to help book Newport’s place in the third round of the cup.

Some notes on Spurs youngster Jubril Okedina’s loan move to Cambridge United:

Posted on by superhotspur

20 year old defender, Spurs academy player and development side captain Jubril Okedina has enjoyed a really fine two and a half seasons, since the beginning of the 2018/19 season. A versatile, adaptable and hardworking defender, Okedina hardly featured in a competitive game for our under 18 side as a first year scholar, mainly due to injury. However, the youngster from south London has become stronger and stronger since getting a good run of competitive games at a youth level, and yesterday it was announced by Spurs on Twitter that Jubril had signed a new contract with the club, and also joined League Two side Cambridge United on loan until the end of the season. A fantastic loan move for Jubril in my opinion, the player who has yet to experience competitive first team football, will now get the chance to test himself further, by being at a League Two side who are just five points off top spot in the league standings. The player who is comfortable at playing as a right back and as a centre half, is in my opinion a very well rounded player, who can also go forward and make an impact in the final third. The former Beths Grammar School pupil is currently the joint top scorer for our under 23 side with three goals, something which he has added to his game during the current campaign. Good in the air and strong on the ground, Jubril is a very good player technically speaking, and he is a good passer and crosser of the ball. He also has good pace which is a really good thing for a defender to have, but I think that his greatest attribute is his reading of the game, as well as his well-roundedness as a defender and ability to get tight to his man. I’ve been doing some research on the current Cambridge United side and the second year professional will be mainly competing with former West Ham United player Kyle Knoyle (Knoyle is the main right back) and Leon Davies for the right back spot. 

Cambridge United play with a back four, but it will be interesting to see where Okedina plays the most, between centre half and right back. At centre half the main players for Cambridge United who play in central defence are Greg Taylor, Harry Darling and Robbie Cundy. 35 year old Cambridge United boss Mark Bonner and his side will be preparing for a League Two game against Harrogate Town on Saturday afternoon, and it will be interesting to see whether Okedina goes straight into the match-day squad. If not then, then he could well be included in the side that takes on Oxford United in the Papa John’s Trophy next week. I’m sure that Okedina will get a good amount of game time at the the League Two Club, and I’ve no doubts whatsoever that the young defender will gain invaluable experience from his loan move, which will make him an even stronger player for when he returns to Spurs. I’m a big fan of Okedina as a player, and I really admire just how consistent he has been at both right back and centre half for our under 23 side over the last season and a half. The player who likes to go on good overlapping forward runs can hopefully contribute a lot for Cambridge, both in a defensive and an attacking sense to a degree. The player who made the bench for José Mourinho’s Spurs first team in a friendly against Watford back in pre-season, will be eager to get going at Cambridge United. I wish him a very successful loan spell, and I shall be following his progress at the club, and I do plan on watching their league game against Harrogate Town on Saturday.