Month: January 2022

Where are they now? Former Spurs Academy player Moroyin Omolabi:

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A versatile player, former Spurs Academy player Moroyin Omolabi, was capable of playing in defence, at centre-half or in a midfield role, during his time at Spurs. Omolabi joined Spurs full-time in the summer of 2016, and over the next season and a half (2016/17 and the first half of 2017/18) he would make a total of 22 league appearances for the Spurs Under 18 side, scoring one goal and providing one assist. Moroyin played at centre-half and in central-midfield, during his season and a half as a scholar at the club. At the start of the 2017/18 season (while still a second year scholar) the former Spurs Academy player teamed up on some occasions with Brooklyn Lyons-Foster at centre-half, where he did well. I remember Moroyin being very good in the air, composed on the ball and good in the challenge. I also remember Omolabi being good at reading defensive situations, as well. Around halfway through the 2017/18 season, Moroyin Omolabi left Spurs as a second year scholar, and joined Reading, where he started playing some matches for their Under 18 side. 

The defender made some competitive appearances for Reading’s Under 18 side during the remainder of the season, and in one Premier League South game against Norwich City, he scored two goals from midfield, in a 4-1 win. Then during the following 2018/19 season, Moroyin made two Premier League 2 appearances for Reading’s Under 23 side. The former Spurs player left Reading at the end of the 2018/19 season, and then he joined non-League side Berkhamsted, in November of 2019. After some time spent there, Moroyin joined another non-League side in Grays Athletic, who he was with for a while. And most recently Moroyin had been playing in the third tier of Swedish football, with Ljungskile, who he made 19 league appearances for during last season. Omolabi last made a squad for Ljungskile, who finished in sixth place in their league, last season, back in November of last year, when he came on as a late second half substitute against Lindome. Ljungskile’s new league season starts in April of this year, but I have been unable to find out whether or not Moroyin will still be playing for them during the new season. However, I wish him all the very best of luck for his future in the game.

Where are they now? Former Spurs Academy player Reo Griffiths:

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Centre-forward Reo Griffiths (21) was at Spurs for a number of years as an Academy player, after making the move from his first club Leyton Orient. A very versatile player, who could play in defence, out-wide, in midfield and up-front as a centre-forward, prior to signing scholarship forms with Spurs, when Reo would often lead the line for the Spurs Under 18 side. After signing scholarship forms in the summer of 2016, the former England youth international became a regular for the Spurs Under 18 side, and although he didn’t always play up-front as a centre-forward during that 2016/17 season. He still scored a good number of goals. Griffiths was also an important member of the Spurs Under 18 side that reached the semi-final’s of that seasons FA Youth Cup, and he scored one goal in the quarter-final 5-3 win over Newcastle United, that season. In 2017/18 Reo had an outstanding season with then Head Coach Scott Parker’s Spurs Under 18 side, when he was honestly unplayable in nearly every game that season. The then second year scholar scored a combined total of 34 goals for the Spurs Under 18 side, and the Under 19 side in the UEFA Youth League, and also provided 12 assists for his teammates.

During 2017/18 Reo, who hadn’t really long started playing up-front by that stage in his career, was really adding a lot more to his game. He was holding the ball up really well, bringing others into play, and most importantly of all scoring a real variety of goals. The centre-forward finished the 2017/18 season as top scorer in the Under 18 Premier League South, with 27 goals. Griffiths also made four competitive appearances for the Spurs Development side during 2017/18. In recent years however, Reo’s outstanding goalscoring total will probably not be bettered or even matched for a very long time, by a Spurs Academy player. However, at the start of the following 2018/19 season Reo departed Spurs, as he moved to France to join French side Olympique Lyon, on a contract until the summer of 2022. The former Spurs player made his competitive debut for Olympique Lyon B, in the fourth tier of French football, as a substitute in a league game with FC Martigues, in December of 2018. He made a further seven competitive appearances for Olympique Lyon B, during the remainder of that season. 

Strong in the air and a clinical finisher, who likes to try his luck on goal from distance. Griffiths scored six goals and provided one assist from 16 competitive appearances for Olympique Lyon B, during 2019/20. He then scored six goals from nine league appearances during the following 2020/21 season, when he captained Lyon’s B team on three occasions. However, during the current 2021/22 season Reo has only made one appearance for Olympique Lyon B. With that coming in a 4-0 league defeat to Marignane G. FC, in October of last year. That was his first competitive game of football for a long time. He last made a squad for Olympique Lyon B in November of 2021, and with Reo’s contract running out at the end of this season, it will be interesting to see if he does stay with Lyon, in France, or if he even comes back to England at some stage. I always enjoyed watching Reo play for Spurs at Academy level, and in particular during that 2017/18 season he was just so consistently good. I wish him all the very best for the rest of the 2021/22 season, and also for his future in the game.

Some notes on Spurs loanee Troy Parrott’s performance against Wycombe Wanderers:

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Troy Parrott (19) completed the whole of MK Dons’s League One match with Wycombe Wanderers, at Adams Park on Saturday afternoon. The Spurs loanee started the match up front, as a forward, and would lead the line for the majority of the game, until Connor Wickham came on in the second half. MK Dons won the game 1-0. Early on in the match Parrott received a pass from Scott Twine, he then entered the Wycombe penalty area after going on a forward run with the ball, following some good movement off the ball. However, the Republic of Ireland international was crowded out by Wycombe defenders, and had to pass the ball back to a teammate, despite it initially looking like a promising move. MK Dons took the lead in the 13th minute of the game, after Theodor Corbeanu’s low cross from the right wasn’t gathered properly by the Wycombe goalkeeper, and Scott Twine was able finish from inside the Wycombe box. However, Parrott had made a good and well timed run into the Wycombe penalty area, and this could have possibly distracted the Wycombe goalkeeper, David Stockdale, for the goal.

I noticed at the game today, that during the first half Troy was giving out advice to teammates, dropping deep quite a bit to get on the ball, and also looking confident on the pitch. After latching onto Tennai Watson’s pass down the right hand side of the Wycombe box, Parrott tried his luck on goal, with a powerful effort. However, goalkeeper David Stockdale managed to gather his effort at his near post. Wycombe defender Ryan Tafazolli could often be seen trying to mark Parrott during the first half, and often following him when he dropped deep into midfield. After receiving Theodor Corbeanu’s pass on the right hand side of the Wycombe penalty area, Troy attempted to find a teammate at the back post, who was in space. However, Wycombe defender Anthony Stewart did well to get to the ball, and put it behind for a corner-kick. Continuing to work really hard defensively for the team, Troy Parrott saw a half chance come his way, fairly early on in the second half. A cross into the Wycombe box came Theodor Corbeanu’s way, and his headed effort hit the crossbar. The ball then came to Parrott, but with some Wycombe defenders around him, his effort which lacked power was saved relatively comfortably by David Stockdale.

After receiving a yellow card in the 67th minute of the game, Troy seemed to move out more to the right flank, following the introduction of Connor Wickham, shortly afterwards. I was impressed with how much ground Troy covered during the second half, and he could often be seen defending inside the MK Dons box. Late on in the match Troy received a clever pass from Connor Wickham, down the right side of the Wycombe box, but with no support he had to try his luck on goal, and his effort was blocked behind for a corner-kick off of Ryan Tafazolli. This was a really hardworking performance from the Dublin born Spurs loanee, and there were about three or four occasions during today’s game when Troy had got into some really good goalscoring positions, after making some good runs. On another day he would have had the ball played into feet at least twice, in those situations.

Where are they now? Former Spurs Academy player Tariq Hinds:

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Full-back Tariq Hinds was at Spurs as an Academy player for a number of years, up until leaving them at the end of his contract in the summer of 2020. The Goodmayes born footballer who is capable of playing at full-back on either flank, or in central-midfield, was a player who was consistent in my opinion, and also very reliable during his time as a Spurs Academy player. Hinds signed scholarship forms with Spurs during the summer of 2016, and he would make his first competitive appearance of the season for the Spurs Under 18 side in a 5-1 home league win over Aston Villa in the August of 2016. Making good progress during that 2016/17 season, Tariq also stepped up to play for the Spurs Under 23 side on occasions during that season. The then first year scholar had a memorable game against Swansea City at Under 18 level during 2016/17, when he scored a brace against them, while playing in central-midfield. Tariq helped Spurs’ Under 18 side reach the final of the Under 18 Premier League Cup, during the following 2017/18 season, when he was a regular and important player for the Spurs Under 18 side for the second consecutive season.

Hinds stepped up permanently to the Spurs Under 23 side during the 2018/19 season, when once again I thought that he did well on a consistent basis. A good all-round full-back, who reads the game well and is tenacious, but who also is a really good and skilful footballer who has good pace and who likes to take players on. Tariq is a real team player and one who will always give his all for the team. He reads situations really well, and is always alert. And his versatility and ability to comfortably play at full-back on either flank, or in midfield, is something which is really impressive. During his final season at Spurs (2019/20), Tariq played almost every game for the Spurs Development side, and he often filled in at left-back because Dennis Cirkin was injured for quite a bit of that season. A really determined player, Hinds provided two assists for Wayne Burnett’s side during that season, and he put in very good performances for the Under 23 side against the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool and Everton. However, he was released by the club at the end of the 2019/20 season, and he would then unfortunately spend some time without a club.

Tariq decided to try a new footballing culture and he joined Portuguese side Lusitano Évora, and he played there for a while during the 2020/21 season, in what must have been a really good experience for him. He returned to England for the beginning of this season, and he joined National League South side Billericay Town, in October of 2021. The now 21 year old has made 11 league appearances for Billericay since joining them, and he seems to be doing well for them. His most recent appearance for them came as recently as Tuesday, when he played for them against Slough Town, in the National League South, in a game which ended 1-1. Teammates of Tariq’s at Billericay, are former Spurs players Shaq Coulthirst and Jack Munns. Tariq also plays in the same league as former Spurs Academy player Maxwell Statham. Billericay are currently in bottom place in the National League South, but hopefully they can stay up. I wish Tariq all the very best of luck for the remainder of the season, and for his future in the game.

Some notes on Spurs Academy player Nile John and his loan move to Charlton Athletic:

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Midfielder Nile John (18) joined League One side Charlton Athletic on loan for the remainder of the 2021/22 season, on Thursday. John had been a regular and important player for the Spurs Under 23 side during the first half of this season, and he had been directly involved in 11 goals (seven goals and four assists) from 16 competitive appearances. John had almost always been playing as a CAM for Wayne Burnett’s side this season, but he is also capable of playing out-wide, or in central-midfield. The London born footballer who has been at Spurs for many years, made his competitive debut for the Spurs Under 18 side during the 2018/19 season, and signed scholarship forms with the club at the end of that season. Nile had some injuries during the following 2019/20 season, and he missed a fair bit of the season, but he did return before the end of the season, and he did well during the remaining matches for the Spurs Under 18 side. In 2020/21 he did well for the Spurs Under 18 side, and he then spent much of the second half of the season with the Under 23 side, who he made ten competitive appearances for.

A highly skilful forward thinking midfield player, Nile John likes to go on skilful forward runs with the ball, taking players on and then using his nice weight of pass to thread a pass through to one of the Spurs forwards. However, this season he has been trying his luck on goal a lot more than during the previous seasons, and he has scored some really well taken goals. The player who has already made two competitive appearances for the Spurs first team, has enjoyed a really good first half of this season and his loan move to League One side Charlton Athletic is in my opinion really good for his development as a footballer. Former Spurs player Johnnie Jackson is the manager at Charlton, and Nile will be competing with Charlton midfielders such as Albie Morgan, Alex Gilbey and Sean Clare, for a place in the side. However, it will be interesting to see whether Nile plays in central midfield or as a CAM, where he has been playing at for most of this season. I’m a big fan of Nile John and his style of play, and I’m really hoping that he’ll get a lot of games for Charlton, from now until the end of the season. I wish him a very successful loan move at Charlton.

Some notes on Spurs Under 23’s player Dermi Lusala’s return to competitive action:

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Right-back Dermi Lusala (19) made his return to competitive action earlier this week, when he started for the Spurs Under 23 side away to Everton, in the Premier League 2. Born in nearby Edmonton, Lusala was previously with west London side Brentford, prior to joining Spurs as an Academy player. He made his competitive debut for the Spurs Under 18 side, in Spurs’ penultimate game of the 2018/19 Premier League South season, against Chelsea. He then signed scholarship forms with the club during that summer, and would go on and become a regular and important player for the Spurs Under 18 side during 2019/20, and would provide a good number of assists from out-wide. Dermi then made ten competitive appearances for the Spurs Under 18 side at the beginning of the following 2020/21 season, plus one appearance (his debut) for the Under 23 side, presumably before picking up an injury. The defender who can also fill in well at centre-half, didn’t feature for the Spurs Under 23 side during this pre-season (2021/22), and made a Spurs Under 23 squad for the first time this season earlier this month, in a Premier League 2 game against Manchester United.

Dermi made his return to competitive Academy football when he started for the Spurs Under 23 side against Everton, in the Premier League 2, earlier in the week. Starting at right-back and completing the whole of Spurs’ 1-0 loss, the first year professional often stayed deeper than left-back Marcel Lavinier, but overall I thought that he had a solid game defensively, especially when you consider that this was his first competitive game of football in a very long time. Lusala showed consistently at Under 18 level for Spurs, that he has a really good balance to his game. Good at defending, at right-back and at centre-half, but really good going forward, at taking players on for skill and at creating chances from out wide. Dermi, in my opinion did consistently really well for the Spurs Under 18 side during the 2019/20 season, and whenever he played at full-back he got up and down the flank really well. I really like how he is unpredictable with the ball and difficult to defend against when in the opponents half, but how he also is very versatile, good at defending and very good at making sliding challenges. I can see Dermi getting a good run games for the Spurs Under 23 side, from now until the end of the season. And I wish him all the very best of luck for the remainder of the season.

The three Maghoma brothers (former Spurs Academy graduates): Where are they now?

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It’s quite rare for two players who are brothers, to progress up the ranks at Academy level at the same club and play for them at the very highest level of Academy football. However, for three brothers (all at different times) to feature for the same club at Academy level, is very rare. In the following piece from my series following the former Spurs Academy players and where they are now, I will be looking at the three Maghoma brothers – Jacques, Christian and Paris. And I will be looking at their footballing journey so far, post Spurs. While Jacques played at Academy level before my time of watching Spurs at Academy level, I have seen quite a lot of him play in more recent years. While his younger brothers – Christian and Paris, were players who I saw a lot of for Spurs at Academy level. All three brothers are still playing the game.

Jacques Maghoma: Born in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, now 34 year old winger Jacques Maghoma progressed up the youth ranks at Spurs during the 2000s, and would progress up to the reserve side. A very skilful and reliable player, who did have injury troubles during the early parts of his footballing career, Jacques would end up featuring for the Spurs first team in some friendly matches during his time at the club. Jacques later signed for Burton Albion, after being released by Spurs at the end of the 2008/09 season. By the time that he had left Spurs, he had played a really good number of games for the Spurs reserve side. Jacques had a successful time at Burton, scoring a good number of goals, and would end up staying at the club until 2013, when he transferred to Sheffield Wednesday. He spent two seasons with Sheffield Wednesday, before leaving at the end of the 2014/15 season, after his contract came to an end. He joined Championship side Birmingham City, when Gary Rowett (previous Burton Albion manager) was the manager, and his time at Birmingham was probably the most successful of his career, so far. 

A regular for Birmingham City, during the majority of his time at the club, Jacques spent five seasons with Birmingham, and he enjoyed some really good times with them (he won two club end of season awards at the end of the 2017/18 season). Direct and expressive with the ball at his feet, but always working hard without it, Maghoma became an important player for the side. He left the club from the English Midlands in the summer of 2020. He joined Indian Super League side East Bengal in the October of 2020. He scored three goals and provided one assist from 19 competitive appearances for them, during his season with the club. In the October of the following year, and after sometime without a club, Jacques joined National League South side Hemel Hempstead, during the current 2021/22 season. He has so far made six competitive appearances for them, providing one assist from those appearances. During his career so far, Jacques has also won 25 international caps for his country DR Congo, in what has been a very good footballing career so far. 

Christian Maghoma: Centre-half Christian Maghoma was born in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, but brought up in north London. Christian Maghoma joined Spurs as a schoolboy footballer, was an important player for the Spurs Under 18 side that won the Southern Division, before then signing scholarship forms with the club in summer of 2014. A mainstay in the Spurs Under 18 side during the 2014/15 season, Christian stepped up to make his competitive debut for the then Under 21 side during the same season. A tall centre-half, who is excellent in the air, but strong in the challenge, Christian established himself as an important player for the Spurs Development side during the 2015/16 (he spent some time with Yeovil on loan during that season), 2016/17 and 2017/18 seasons, and he would captain the side on numerous occasions. He made his one appearance to date for DR Congo, in 2017, in a friendly. Christian joined Polish side Arka Gdynia at the end of the 2017/18 season, and early on in his time with them he won his first senior competitive trophy – the Superpuchar Polski. Christian made a total of 39 competitive first team appearances for Arka Gdynia.

Christian returned to England and signed for League One side Gillingham, in the summer of 2020. He has so far made 12 competitive appearances for Gillingham, but joined National League side Eastleigh on a loan during this season, where he has so far been doing well, playing a number of matches for them. Christian has made 18 competitive appearances for Eastleigh, so far this season, scoring two goals. They are currently in 14th place in the National League. A leader on the pitch, the now 24 year old defender has been making good strides this season, and I hope that he continues to do well from now until the end of the season.

Paris Maghoma: Londoner Paris Maghoma was at Spurs as an Academy player as recently as 2020. The central-midfielder/CAM, who was also capable of playing out wide, was a player who I was a big fan of during his time at the club. Paris made his competitive debut for the Spurs Under 18 side during the 2016/17 season, and would sign scholarship forms with the club before the start of the 2017/18 season. Always looking to take players on for skill, pass the ball forward and look for create chances for teammates, Paris became an important player for both the Spurs Under 18 side and Under 23 side, during the 2018/19 season, and he scored a good number of goals and provided a good number of assists during that season. During the pre-season of the 2018/19 season, the midfielder made his one and only appearance for the Spurs first team, in a friendly match with Spanish side Girona. Paris spent the first half of the following 2019/20 season with the Spurs Under 23 side, before moving to then Championship side Brentford, who he joined on a permanent transfer in the January of 2020.

The now 20 year old footballer has made many appearances for Brentford’s B team, since signing for them. He has also made the bench for their first team in competitive games on six occasions so far. The England youth international is definitely a player with a very promising future in the game, and I personally reckon that it’s only a matter of time before he makes his competitive debut for now Premier League club Brentford. He was an absolute pleasure to watch play for Spurs at Academy level, and his ability to go past players from the opposing team at ease, open up defences with a well weighted forward pass, and also score goals made him such an influential player for the Spurs Under 18 and 23 side. Paris recently signed a new contract with Brentford, which runs until 2025.

Some notes on recent Spurs Academy signing Charlie Sayers:

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Defender Charlie Sayers (17) recently joined Spurs on a permanent transfer from National League side Southend United. The player who is capable of playing as a left-back or centre-half, has so far made six competitive appearances for the Spurs Under 18 side, and made the bench for the Under 23’s on one occasion. Sayers is a tall defender, but one who has good ability on the ball. The Southend born footballer who attended Beauchamps High School, was previously with Billericay Town and Bowers & Pitsea at youth level, prior to joining Southend United. Sayers made his competitive first team debut for Southend back in October of 2021, when he started at left-back in a National League game against Solihull Moors. He made an additional five appearances for the Southend United first team, before playing his first game for the Spurs Under 18 side (it was announced soon afterwards that he had joined the club) in an Under 18 Premier League Cup game with Fulham, at their Motspur Park training ground. Fulham won that game comfortably, and it was a difficult first game for Charlie Sayers to make his debut in (he was playing on the left side of central defence).

Sayers captained the Spurs Under 18 side on his next appearance for them, in a 3-0 Premier League South defeat away to Crystal Palace. Then he started again (starting at centre-half once again) for the Under 18 side against Leicester City, in a league game. And while in my opinion he did well in that game against Leicester City, I though that his best performance to date for Spurs at Academy level, came in  an FA Youth Cup third round tie with Ipswich Town, in December of 2021. In that 5-1 win for Spurs, I thought that Charlie had a really strong game game in central defence. He made two really important defensive interventions during the first half, kept really good positioning throughout the game and was really assured in defence, working well with right sided centre-half and first year scholar Alfie Dorrington. Sayers continued his good start to life at Spurs by helping their Under 18 side to a 2-1 league away win over Southampton, earlier this month. With the second year scholar scoring an 88th minute winner for Spurs, in that game. He then scored another goal in his most recent appearance for the Under 18 side in their 6-1 FA Youth Cup fourth round tie win over West Brom, last week.

The versatile defender has so far played all of his games for Spurs at Academy level at centre-half, and in that West Brom game Charlie Sayers and Alfie Dorrington worked really well together again, in central defence. Both players helped to keep talented West Brom forward Reyes Cleary fairly quite throughout the game. Although it’s still early days, I have been impressed with the former Southend United player in regards to his positioning, overall defending and also his ability on the ball, and his willingness to get on the ball and bring it out of defence, and make some good forward passes. Sayers seems to be strong in the air, and he also reads the game in an impressive way. He recently made the squad for the Spurs Under 23 side, for the first time, which I think was really well deserved. While I hope that he does to get to make his competitive Under 23’s debut during the remainder of the season, Sayers will be very important for the Under 18 side as they look to continue their FA Youth Cup run. I wish Charlie all the very best of luck for the rest of the 2021/22 season, and congratulate him on having joined Spurs during late 2021.

Some notes on Spurs Under 23 player Max Robson’s return to competitive action for Spurs at Academy level:

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Attacking midfielder Max Robson was probably the best and most consistent player in my opinion, for the Spurs Under 18 side during the 2019/20 season, while still in his first season of scholarship at the club. The Haywards Heath born player scored five goals and provided six assists, from 20 competitive appearances for Spurs at Under 18 level. Robson, who was brought up in Burgess Hill, and who attended Birchwood High School, also made three additional appearances (scoring once) for the Spurs Under 19 side in the UEFA Youth League, during 2019/20. The player who can also play up-front as a false-nine, or in central-midfield and out wide, is a player who loves to take players on for skill. Always looking to play the ball forward and be creative in possession, Robson’s off the ball pressing and overall work is consistently very good. During his second year of scholarship, Max presumably was out injured for quite a while. Having to wait until the November of 2020 to make his first competitive appearance of the season for the Spurs Under 18 side, in a Premier League South game against Southampton. Robson made just seven more competitive Under 18 appearances during the remainder of 2020/21, plus an additional appearance for the Under 23 side (his debut). However, he did score one goal and provide two assists, from those games that he played.

Now in his first year as a professional with the club, Robson made some appearances for the Spurs Under 23 side during the pre-season of this season. However, he had to wait until last night, before making his first competitive appearance of the season for Wayne Burnett’s Under 23 side – as he came off the bench to replace Yago Santiago in the 76th minute of the game. A versatile but very talented and determined player on the pitch, Robson is fearless on the ball, but it’s his ability to get into really good pockets of space, which makes him so potent inside the penalty area. He also has very good reactions and can dribble with the ball at a good pace, as well. Max came quite close to scoring with a headed effort at the near post of the Everton goal, after meeting Romaine Mundle’s cross in the Under 23 game on Monday. Although he wasn’t on the pitch for long against Everton, I thought that he looked good and was always looking to try and influence the game. The 19 year old will be hoping to make his first start of the season for the Under 23 side, in the near future. And if there are some outgoing loans from the Under 23 side before the end of the month, then Robson could hopefully get more opportunities in the side.

I’m a big fan of the CAM, and while he clearly has a tremendous work ethic on the pitch, his quality with the ball is excellent, and he’s a real joy to watch on the pitch. Hopefully Max will get a good run of games for the Under 23 side during the remainder of the season, and I wish him all the very best of luck for the rest of the season.

Spurs Under 23’s 0-1 Everton: (match report)

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Spurs’ Under 23 side traveled up to Southport for a Monday evening Premier League 2 meeting with Everton, at The Pure Stadium. Wayne Burnett’s Spurs side saw their impressive unbeaten run come to an end, as the home side – Everton won the match 1-0, and it was a very strong defensive performance from them. Spurs lined-up with Joshua Oluwayemi in goal, while a back four of Dermi Lusala, Marqes Muir, Malachi Fagan-Walcott and Marcel Lavinier, lined-up in-front of him. Jamie Bowden and captain Harvey White started in midfield, and Jack Clarke and Yago Santiago started out on the flanks, either side of CAM Alfie Devine. Dane Scarlett led the line for Spurs, for the second Under 23 game in a row. Spurs got the game underway on a very cold evening in Southport. After Everton goalkeeper Harry Tyrer punched clear Harvey White’s corner-kick, Spurs defender Malachi Fagan-Walcott headed an effort wide of the Everton goal. A decent start from Spurs resulted in them seeing more of the ball than the hosts. 

After receiving Dane Scarlett’s pass, Jamie Bowden continued forward with the ball before hitting a low effort wide of goal. A couple of minutes later and after going past Malachi Fagan-Walcott and entering the Spurs box, Ellis Simms hit an effort towards the Spurs goal, but Joshua Oluwayemi saved well with his feet. At the other end of the pitch Marcel Lavinier had an effort blocked inside the Everton penalty area, before Alfie Devine saw his deflected effort saved by Tyrer. Then after Devine 

passed the ball through to Jack Clarke inside the Everton box, Everton defender and captain Ryan Astley made a good and important block. After receiving Harvey White’s lofted pass, centre-forward Dane Scarlett managed to get around an Everton defender, before having his powerful effort inside the Everton box saved by Tyrer. Spurs continued to see a lot of the ball, and after Bowden found Devine with a lofted pass inside the Everton box, Devine brought it down and was through on goal. But once again Harry Tyrer was alert and was able to make a good save to stop Devine’s effort on goal.

Jamie Bowden had an effort from distance saved by Tyrer, before Everton took the lead against the run of play. Recent signing from Rangers – Nathan Patterson delivered a good ball into the Spurs box from the right flank. The ball was met by Lewis Dobbin, whose header beat Oluwayemi in the Spurs goal, and went into the left corner of the goal, 0-1. Shortly before half-time Marqes Muir made an important challenge on Lewis Dobbin, to stop a promising Everton counter in what was the last bit of action from the first half. Everton got the second half underway and Spurs goalkeeper Joshua Oluwayemi had to make an early save to stop Isaac Price’s effort. The impressive Lewis Dobbin then managed to get past Malachi Fagan-Walcott, and down the right side of the Spurs penalty area, before being met by Oluwayemi, who bravely gathered the ball. 

Everton had started the second half better than they had the first half, and a ball over the top of the Spurs defence resulted in Lewis Dobbin trying to get away from Marqes Muir. However, Muir stayed with the Everton man well, before managing to block his eventual effort on goal behind for a corner-kick. Oluwayemi saved well from Jarrad Branthwaite’s headed effort, from an Everton corner-kick. There were then some more efforts on goal, before Lewis Dobbin narrowly put the ball over Oluwayemi’s goal. Spurs winger Jack Clarke received a yellow card, before Kyle John hit an effort over from distance. Malachi Fagan-Walcott then also received a yellow card from the referee, and he was then involved in the resulting Everton free-kick. As he headed clear, but Sebastian Quirk managed to get onto the ball and hit an effort from distance which went wide of the Spurs goal. 

Wayne Burnett made a double change as Max Robson and Romaine Mundle came on in place of Jack Clarke and Yago Santiago. Muir did well to stop an Everton forward move with Ellis Simms, before Lewis Warrington’s deflected effort from a corner-kick hit the inside of Joshua Oluwayemi’s left hand post, before going wide. First year scholar Jaden Williams came on to replace Alfie Devine. Max Robson headed Dermi Lusala’s cross off an Everton defender, and behind for a Spurs corner-kick. Jaden Williams had a looping header saved by Harry Tyrer, from the resulting corner-kick. And then very late on in the game Max Robson headed just wide at Harry Tyrer’s near post, after meeting Romaine Mundle’s cross inside the Everton box. Then even later on in the game Marqes Muir hit a deflected effort behind inside the Everton box. However, the referee sounded the final whistle a couple of moments later. Spurs’ next Premier League 2 game is on the seventh of February, when they host Crystal Palace.

Player reviews:

  • Joshua Oluwayemi: The Spurs goalkeeper made a couple of good saves, and in my opinion had a solid game.
  • Dermi Lusala: On his first appearance of the season for the Spurs Under 23 side, following his return from injury, right-back Dermi Lusala had a good first half. He often stayed deeper than Marcel Lavinier, who was playing at left-back. 
  • Marqes Muir: My man of the match, see below. 
  • Malachi Fagan-Walcott: Playing as a left-sided centre-half, Malachi Fagan-Walcott was good in the air and had to do quite a bit of defending to stop Everton winger Lewis Dobbin.
  • Marcel Lavinier: Playing at left-back for this game, Marcel Lavinier really got forward a lot. 
  • Jamie Bowden: The Spurs midfielder, whose loan at Oldham Athletic only recently ended, worked well with Harvey White in midfield. He created one very good chance for Alfie Devine, during the first half. 
  • Harvey White: The Spurs captain showcased his impressive passing off both feet, and often seemed to create time and space for himself on the ball. 
  • Jack Clarke: Playing out on the right flank and completing 76 minutes of the game, Jack Clarke had a slightly quieter game in comparison to his previous last couple of matches. However, Everton did defend very well throughout the match. 
  • Alfie Devine: The CAM made some good runs into decent areas, worked hard off the ball and was unlucky not to score during the first half.
  • Yago Santiago: The left winger for the game went on some promising runs both with and without the ball, during the first half.
  • Dane Scarlett: The centre-forward worked very hard inside the Everton half, and he was quite unlucky not to score during the first half.
  • Romaine Mundle: The second half substitute created one good chance for Max Robson late on in the game.
  • Max Robson: It was great to see Max Robson make his first competitive appearance of the season for Wayne Burnett’s Under 23 side. He created some good space for himself, and was unlucky not to score from his late headed effort on goal.
  • Jaden Williams: The late second half substitute played in the CAM role during the late stages of the game.

My man of the match: Marqes Muir. On his first competitive appearance for the Spurs Under 23 side since October, centre-half Marqes Muir, was in my opinion Spurs’ best player against Everton, on Monday evening. Teaming up with Malachi Fagan-Walcott, in central-defence. Muir played as a right-sided centre-half, and he always looked composed both with and without the ball. He helped to keep Everton centre-forward Ellis Simms fairly quite during the game, and he also made some important defensive interventions. His positioning was very good throughout the game.