After being unable to write an end of season review for the Spurs Under 23 side for last season (2020/21) because of being unable to go to matches, this season my end of season review of the Spurs Under 23 side returns. During the 2021/22 season Spurs’ Under 23 side finished in seventh place in the Premier League 2 Division One, with 37 points from 26 matches. Wayne Burnett’s side started the season well, but it was an eight game unbeaten run which started in October, which in my opinion was when they were at their very best. Dilan Markanday was scoring regularly, and Harvey White was so creative in midfield, but then there was also Nile John and Alfie Devine, who were both scoring and assisting goals. While the Spurs defence put in some really good performances, against the likes of Manchester City and Manchester United. A number of players left the side during the January transfer window however, (including Jack Clarke, who joined Sunderland on loan) with Dilan Markanday leaving the club to join Blackburn Rovers on a permanent transfer. In addition to Dilan Markanday leaving the club, Nile John left to join Charlton Athletic on loan, while Harvey White was promoted to the first team on an almost permanent basis, and Brooklyn Lyons-Foster missed much of the second half of the season because of injury.
When you consider that the side which started the first half of the season was quite significantly different to the side that complete the second half of the season, I thought once again that this was another good season for Wayne Burnett’s side, who did well throughout the season. Spurs recorded some memorable wins over the course of the season, such as winning twice against Manchester City in the Premier League 2. They also competed in the Papa Johns Trophy during the season just gone, and they finished in third place in group 16, and they won 4-3 in a brilliant game against Stevenage’s first team, at the Lamex Stadium, earlier on in the season. The team made good strides during the season and although they had some difficult matches during the second half of the season, such as the one when they lost 7-1 away to Liverpool, I really think that this was a good season overall. During the following long piece I will be writing on all of the players who were a part of the Spurs Under 23 side/development side during the 2021/22 season. I will also be including some highlights of the season, at the bottom of the article. It’s been a real pleasure to follow the team again, home and away during the season just gone.
The squad:
Goalkeepers:
Joshua Oluwayemi: The 21 year old goalkeeper made 18 competitive appearances for Spurs’ Under 23 side during the 2021/22 season. The third year professional who made the bench for the Spurs first team in a pre-season friendly against Colchester United last summer, made the most appearances as a goalkeeper for Wayne Burnett’s side this season. Oluwayemi, who was only last year called-up to represent the senior Nigeria national team, was consistent for Spurs throughout the 2021/22 season, in my opinion. The London born goalkeeper who is very composed on the ball as well as being a very good goalkeeper, impressed a lot in Premier League 2 games against the likes of Arsenal (away) and Blackburn Rovers (at home), this season. Joshua is a very good goalkeeper, who I have always been impressed with, and he is capable of making spectacular saves, but the penalty saving specialist is also good with his distribution as well. He spent some of the previous 2020/21 season out on loan with non-League side Maidenhead United, and it will be interesting to see whether or not he goes out on loan again next season, in 2022/23.
Thimothée Lo-Tutala: The France Under 19 international wasn’t always the first choice goalkeeper for the Spurs Under 23 side, in 2021/22. However, when he was selected to start matches, he did really well in my opinion. Lo-Tutala made 11 appearances for the Spurs Under 23 side during 2021/22, keeping four clean-sheets and saving one penalty kick this season. The Paris born goalkeeper also made two Premier League South appearances for Spurs’ Under 18 side, keeping one clean-sheet from those two appearances. The 19 year old goalkeeper also became a regular for France’s Under 19 side during the season just gone, and he will be hoping to be selected for France at the UEFA European Under 19 Championship, this summer. I didn’t see Thimothée not do well whenever he started matches this season, and I was really impressed with how well he did in his first full season with the Spurs Under 23 side. The former Brentford Academy player had probably his best two games against Leicester City Under 23’s (away) when he saved a penalty in a 4-1 win, and then in a 3-0 home win over a very good Manchester City side, at Hotspur Way.
Thimothée commands his penalty area so well, and he is a very confident goalkeeper who is reliable in goal, and capable of making really good saves. His positioning is also consistently very good. Lo-Tutala certainly did well during 2021/22, for club and country.
Isak Solberg: Norway Under 19 international Isak Solberg made the bench on four occasions for the Spurs Under 23 side in 2021/22, but he didn’t actually make any appearances for the side. He did make one competitive appearance for the Spurs Under 18 side last season, while in his second year of scholarship with the club. Isak was formerly with Byrne FK, in Norway, prior to joining Spurs on a two year scholarship for the start of the 2019/20 season.
Kacper Kurylowicz: The 20 year old goalkeeper didn’t actually feature for the Spurs Under 23 side during the 2021/22 season. Kurylowicz did however, join Isthmian Premier Division side Potters Bar Town on loan for the second half of the season, where he made seven starts for Potters Bar Town (I watched their league game against Bishop’s Stortford, which he impressed in). A goalkeeper who I’ve always thought very highly of, Kacper is a former Poland youth international, and as a goalkeeper I’ve always had, and continue to have high hopes for him in the game. Very good at closing down the angles inside his penalty area, and at rushing out of his goal, the Luton born footballer was selected as the third choice goalkeeper for the Spurs senior team, in their 2-2 draw with Liverpool in the Premier League, in December of 2021. A very confident goalkeeper who is really good at organising his defenders, he is also very encouraging to his outfield teammates during matches. It was announced by Kacper on Twitter that he had left the club, on the 23rd of May.
Defenders:
Marcel Lavinier: The former Chelsea Academy player made 21 competitive appearances for Wayne Burnett’s Spurs Under 23 side in 2021/22. The London born full-back who often started matches as a right-back this season (he also started matches at left-back, and also one in midfield), has previously represented England and Portugal at youth international level. Lavinier (21) is a skilful player who has good pace, and who likes to go forward with the ball down the flanks. He provided five assists for his teammates in 2021/22, as he showed how good he is at getting forward, both with and without the ball. After initially trialling with Spurs at the beginning of last season (2020/21), Marcel signed for Spurs on a permanent basis shortly after. He has once again been a mainstay of the Spurs Under 23 side during this season, and it will be interesting to see if the player who made the bench for the Spurs first team on one occasion this season, will go out on loan for the first time in his career, next season. Lavinier arguably had his best game of the season while starting at right-back in a 4-0 home Premier League 2 win over Everton, in November of 2021. He captained the Spurs Under 23 side on two occasions in 2021/22.
Kallum Cesay: This was a season of good strides for full-back Kallum Cesay, who in addition to making 25 competitive appearances (he scored one goal) for the Spurs Under 23 side in 2021/22, also made two first team appearances in pre-season friendlies last summer. The East London born former West Ham United Academy player also made the bench for the Spurs first team in competitive competitions in 2021/22. A versatile player who likes going on long and skilful runs with the ball down the flanks, in addition to playing at full-back, Cesay can also play out wide as a winger, and in central midfield. He is strong in the challenge and good at breaking up play when starting matches in midfield, and Kallum had a good and solid debut season with the Spurs Under 23 side in 2021/22. However, probably the highlight of Kallum Cesay’s season was making his international debut for Sierra Leone, in a 2-1 international friendly win over Congo, in the March of 2022. The full-back scored both of Sierra Leone’s goals in that game.
Dermi Lusala: The highly skilful full-back who was excellent during his first season of scholarship in 2019/20, missed most of the first half of the 2021/22 season because of injury, as he didn’t make any squads for Wayne Burnett’s Spurs Under 23 side until the January of 2022. The Edmonton born right-back made his first competitive appearance of the season for the Spurs Under 23 side in a 1-0 away Premier League 2 loss to Everton in late January. Lusala appeared in the remaining nine Premier League 2 fixtures of that season, getting some good minutes of football. A full-back who is capable of playing on either flank and in central defence, Dermi is so skilful on the ball, and very capable of going past players with the ball. He is also very good at making challenges, and he has a good balance to his game. Dermi also featured for a Spurs Under 19 side at the end of season Terborg Tournament, but he picked up an injury in one of the matches towards the end of the tournament. The former England youth international will be hoping to become a regular starter for the Spurs Under 23 side in 2022/23.
Jeremy Kyezu: The left-back didn’t actually feature for the Spurs Under 23 side during the 2021/22 season, in competitive competition. Jeremy (he was a third year scholar during 2021/22) did make the bench for the Spurs Development side in their Papa Johns Trophy group game with Stevenage, early on in the season. Kyezu later left the club to join Millwall on a permanent transfer. He would go on to play for their Under 23 side during the remainder of the 2021/22 season.
Maksim Paskotši: The Estonia international wasn’t always a regular for the Spurs Under 23 side during the season just gone. However, in his second season with the club, Maksim impressed with the Spurs first team during pre-season (he has also impressed for his country, Estonia), and he even made his competitive first team debut for the club as a late substitute in the UEFA Conference League play-off round first leg tie against Paços Ferreira. The 19 year old central defender made ten competitive appearances for the Spurs Under 23 side during the season just gone, with two of his best performances (in my opinion) coming in Premier League 2 wins over Manchester City (away) and against Leicester City respectively (at home). Maksim is good on the ball and also fast, with good reading of the game. He is also capable of playing at full-back, as well. He captained the Spurs Under 23 side on one occasion in 2021/22.
Malachi Fagan-Walcott: Central defender Malachi Fagan-Walcott was a regular for the Spurs Under 23 side in 2021/22, after missing much of the previous season because of injury. The Edmonton born defender made 20 competitive appearances for the Spurs Under 23 side this season, as well as featuring for the Spurs first team in pre-season, and also making the bench for them on two occasions. The 20 year old formed a very good central defensive partnership with former Spurs Academy player Luis Binks during much of his time as a scholar with Spurs. Fagan-Walcott’s positioning, passing ability, tackling and braveness in defence makes him in my opinion a really good prospect. He did well again this season after having some injuries last season, and the former district 200m sprint champion got better and better as the 2021/22 season went on. He finished the season well for Wayne Burnett’s side, by putting in some really good defensive performances against Brighton & Hove Albion and Chelsea respectively. And the defender who scored two goals during the season, would form a good central defensive partnership alongside the more experienced defender Tobi Omole.
Malachi captained the Spurs Under 23 side on one occasion during the season just gone, and it will be very interesting to see whether he goes out on loan again (he joined Dundee on loan for some of the 2020/21 season) during the 2022/23 season.
Tobi Omole: Central defender Tobi Omole (22) joined Spurs after his contract with Arsenal came to an end in 2020, after initially trialing with the Spurs Under 23 side. The Brockley born defender is a versatile player who is also a footballing central defender, with good distribution. Good in the air and commanding in defence, Tobi made 18 competitive appearances for the Spurs Under 23 side last season, and he scored two goals and provided one assist from those games. He also featured for the Spurs first team in pre-season, and made the bench for the Spurs first team on three occasions during the early stages of the season. I like how composed Omole is in his defending, and as one of the most experienced members of the Spurs Under 23 side in 2021/22, I thought that he did well once again this season. Tobi was outstanding for the Spurs Under 23 side in a very impressive 3-0 Premier League 2 win over the champions Manchester City towards the end of last year, in what was a really good defensive performance from him, and one of his best of the season. However, it will be interesting to see whether he stays next season with Spurs, and if he does, whether or not he goes out on the first loan move of his career so far.
Marqes Muir: The skilful central defender who likes to go on skilful forward runs with the ball out from defence, is a defender who from watching him regularly at Under 18 and 23 level for Spurs, is quite clear to me that he is a central defender who just loves defending. The Lambeth born first year professional wasn’t always a regular starter for the Spurs Under 23 side throughout the season, but I thought that as one of the younger full-time members of the side, that he got better and better as the season went on. Marqes is a very skilful player with really fine reading of the game, but he is also very brave and is consistently well positioned to make blocks, challenges and clearances. Strong in the air and quick on the ground, Muir made 15 competitive appearances for the Spurs Under 23 side in 2021/22, and during the second half of the season he had some really good games against the likes of Everton, Derby County and Chelsea respectively. He also did well in pre-season for the Spurs Under 23 side. I personally reckon that Marqes Muir will become a very important member of the Spurs Under 23 side next season, as he continues to get even better.
Midfielders:
Brooklyn Lyons-Foster: After establishing himself as one of the most important players and leaders in the Spurs Under 23 side during the first half of the 2021/22 season, the player who featured for the first team in pre-season, would very unfortunately suffer a season ending injury in a Premier League 2 fixture against Blackburn Rovers in the January of this year. Lyons-Foster continued to play as a defensive-midfielder during the first half of the 2021/22 season, having previously played regularly in central defence and at full-back. The Islington born third year professional who signed a new contract with the club towards the end of the season, would make 17 competitive appearances for the Spurs Under 23 side in 2021/22, scoring one goal. Brooklyn captained the side quite a bit during the early stage of the season, and as you’ll all know from reading my many reports over the years, I’ve long been a big fan of the versatile midfielder. He was quietly very efficient in midfield during games that he played in, and when he was starting matches alongside Harvey White in midfield, I personally thought that that was one of the very best midfield partnerships in the Premier League 2 last season.
The player who made the bench on two occasions for the Spurs first team during the 2021/22 season, is an excellent reader of the game. He was impressive in fixtures against Arsenal (at home), Manchester United (at home) and Stevenage (away) respectively, and his defensive responsibilities in midfield, which I thought that he did very well at, allowed Harvey White to get forward to create and to score goals. Lyons-Foster is a player with tremendous ability on the ball, and his versatility and talent makes me really hope that he will get a chance for the Spurs first team again this pre-season. And it will be interesting to see if the 21 year old does go out on loan for the first time in his career, next season.
Harvey White: Creative central midfielder Harvey White didn’t go out on on loan again during the 2021/22 season, after spending the second half of the previous 2020/21 season on loan in League One with Portsmouth. The Maidstone born second year professional was a real standout player during the first half of the 2021/22 season, for Wayne Burnett’s Spurs Under 23 side. He scored a good number of goals (seven) and also provided seven assists from 21 competitive appearances for the Spurs Development side. The left footed midfielder and set-piece specialist is always good creating space to receive the ball, and his vision for a forward pass is very, very good. Harvey White captained the Spurs Under 23 side on many occasions during the 2021/22 season, before being promoted to Antonio Conte’s first team (he did play for the first team during pre-season) for the majority of the second half of the season, when he was almost always making match day squads for the Spurs first team. I thought that the 20 year old really impressed for the Spurs Under 23 side during the first half of the season, and he made great runs into the penalty area, was creating plenty of chances each match for the forwards, as well as demonstrating good leadership qualities on a regular basis.
It must have been really good for Harvey to get to train on a very regular basis with the Spurs first team during the second half of the season, and it will surely have made him a better player. He is more than capable of running games from midfield, and he did show this once again during the season just gone, with games against Leeds United (away) and Everton (at home) really standing out. It will be really interesting to see whether or not Harvey does go out on loan again next season, as I personally think that he is now too good to be regularly playing Under 23’s football.
Matthew Craig: Barnet born defensive-midfielder Matthew Craig made 20 competitive appearances for the Spurs Under 23 side in 2021/22. He provided one assist for the Spurs Under 23 side last season. A Scotland Under 19 international, Matthew was a regular starter for Wayne Burnett’s side, and he would also fill in at full-back and at centre-half over the course of the season. Craig is a hardworking, solid and reliable midfield player, who is a good passer of the ball. He would make the bench for the Spurs first team on seven occasions in 2021/22. He impressed while playing at right-back in a Papa Johns Trophy match against Cambridge United last year, and other notable performances over the course of the season included a 4-2 win over Leeds United, early on in the season, and also a 3-1 home win over Leicester City in 2022. Matthew Craig was also part of the Spurs Under 19 side that went to the Netherlands, to compete at the end of season Terborg Tournament. It will be interesting to see if the 19 year old does go out on the first loan move of his career, in 2022/23. Also, it will be interesting to see whether he makes his first team debut for Spurs during pre-season.
Michael Craig: Midfielder Michael Craig (19), twin brother of Matthew Craig, started the season with the Spurs Under 23 side during pre-season. He also made the bench for the Spurs first team alongside his twin brother on two occasions in European competition, making club history in the process. However, Michael would make 11 competitive appearances (he provided one assist) for the Spurs Under 23 side during his time at the club during the 2021/22 season, before leaving them in early 2022. Michael, who is a midfield player with good passing ability and who is also assertive in midfield, would join Southampton’s Under 23 side on trial, before then joining Reading’s Under 23 side on trial towards the end of the season just gone. It will be very interesting to see where the Scotland Under 19 international goes next season.
Jamie Bowden: Republic of Ireland youth international Jamie Bowden (20) spent pre-season of 2021/22 with both the Spurs first team and also the Under 23 side, before going out on loan to then League Two side Oldham Athletic. The central midfielder would make 25 competitive appearances for Oldham on his first ever loan move, during the first half of the season. Jamie scored one goal and provided five assists during his time with Oldham, and from the matches that I saw him in, I thought that he did well, especially as you consider that this was his first ever loan move. Bowden would return to Spurs in the January of 2022, and he would go on to make seven appearances for Wayne Burnett’s Spurs Under 23 side in the Premier League 2. He would captain the side on all but three occasions when he played this season, and the boyhood Spurs supporter made a good impression on the side. With his excellent passing range, composure on the ball and fine reading of the game, he did well as one of the more experienced members of the side, during the second half of the season. Bowden scored one goal and provided two assists for the Spurs Under 23 side during the second half of the season. He also made the bench for the Spurs first team on one occasion.
Hopefully Jamie will get a chance to impress for the Spurs first team during pre-season, and it will then be interesting to see whether he goes out on loan again next season.
Rafferty Pedder: Rafferty Pedder started the season with the Spurs Under 23 side and he featured for them during pre-season. Rafferty then made four competitive appearances for the Spurs Under 23 side during the first half of the season, before leaving the club in January to move to Queens Park Rangers. He would make eight appearances for QPR’s Under 23 side (he captained the team on one occasion) during the second half of the season, scoring three goals and providing two assists. The Maidstone born midfielder was always a player who I thought highly of at Spurs. Very skilful on the ball and really clever in his movement off it, Rafferty is a very good athlete, and he is a player who likes to go on long surging runs with the ball. In my opinion it is a shame that he left the club midway through the season, but I reckon that just like with Chay Cooper at Colchester United, that Rafferty will do really well at QPR, the club that he recently signed a new contract with.
Nile John: The midfielder would score an impressive number of goals in 2021/22 for the Spurs Under 23 side (seven) as well as providing four assists, from 19 competitive appearances. The player who captained Spurs at the end of season Terborg Tournament, and who also started a UEFA Europa Conference League play-off match for the Spurs first team, is an England Under 19 international. John excelled at Under 23 level for Spurs during the season just gone, and he scored some really good goals. The West London born footballer is a very skilful midfielder (he often started matches as a CAM for the Spurs Under 23 side in 2021/22) and his impressive goalscoring form resulted in him joining League One side Charlton Athletic on loan until the end of the 2021/22 season, but he didn’t play any matches for them. He returned to Spurs to play the final Under 23’s matches of that season, and Nile John showed how good he is at bringing the ball forward with great skill, on occasions during those matches. Like with many players who are with the Spurs Under 23 side, it will be interesting to see whether he does go out on another League One loan next season, and also whether he makes any appearances for the Spurs first team in pre-season, again.
Max Robson: Midfielder Max Robson (19) missed much of the first half of the season, because of injury. However, the skilful first year professional featured on nine occasions for the Spurs Under 23 side during the second half of the season, scoring one goal from those appearances. The attacking midfielder was very, very good at Under 18 level for Spurs, and he is a midfield player (he often starts matches as a CAM) who likes to go past players with the ball with skill. He often led the line for Spurs’ Under 23 side when he featured during the second half of the season, and he had fine matches in games against West Ham United, Crystal Palace and Derby County respectively. Max is a very talented player, and one who I believe can become a very important player for the Spurs Under 23 side in 2022/23. He is a real goalscorer and a player who is very capable of getting a good number of assists as well.
Alfie Devine: The skilful and creative midfielder who often started matches for the Spurs Under 23 side as a CAM in 2021/22, would be one of the standout players for Spurs over the course of the season at that level (he featured for both the Under 23 side and first team during pre-season). The former Wigan Athletic player spent the vast majority of the 2021/22 season with the Spurs Under 23 side, although he did make four competitive appearances for the Spurs Under 18 side (three of those appearances came in the FA Youth Cup), scoring two goals. The England Under 19 international made 18 competitive appearances for the Spurs Under 23 side, scoring nine goals and providing four assists. For a second year scholar he was consistently superb for the Spurs Under 23 side in the Premier League 2, and when he was in the side he was so creative, and he also always looked as if he was going to score whenever he received the ball in and around the penalty area. Devine is a very good finisher who has good skill on the ball, but he is also very quick, and I have been able to appreciate that even more over the course of this season. He likes to go on surging forward runs with the ball, and his movement off the ball and ability to create space for himself shows just how good he is for a player who is still in his second year of scholarship.
The Warrington born midfielder (17) also represented his country, England (at Under 19 level), during 2021/22. He will be hoping to be selected to represent the England Under 19 side at the UEFA European Under 19 Championship, this summer. Devine showed his versatility over the course of the season, and he was excellent in big games against the likes of Liverpool (at home), Arsenal (away) and also against West Bromwich Albion at Under 18 level in the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup. It will certainly be interesting to see if the player who made the bench for the Spurs first team as recently as the final day of the season against Norwich City, will stay with Spurs next season, or go out on the first loan move of his career as a first year professional. However, in 2021/22 he did very well.
Forwards/wingers:
J’Neil Bennett: Highly skilful two footed winger J’Neil Bennett made ten competitive appearances for the Spurs Under 23 side in 2021/22. After starting pre-season really well with the Spurs Under 23 side, the London born second year professional (20) made his first team debut for Spurs as a late substitute in the first leg of their UEFA Europa Conference League play-off tie against Paços Ferreira. After starting and scoring for the Spurs Under 23 side in their opening Premier League 2 fixture of the season against Chelsea, he soon joined then League One side Crewe Alexandra on loan. Bennett started well after signing for Crewe, and in his second league game for them he scored a goal and provided an assist in a 2-0 win over Burton Albion. In total he made 11 competitive appearances for Crewe, before an injury meant that he had to return to Spurs. He spent the second half of the season with the Spurs Under 23 side, and over the course of the season Bennett made ten competitive appearances for the Spurs Under 23 side, scoring two goals.
Yago Santiago: Former Celta Vigo Academy player Yago Santiago made the most competitive appearances (27) of anyone in the Spurs Under 23 side in 2021/22. Santiago showed his versatility throughout the season, as he played as a centre-forward on occasions, as a CAM and also as a winger. Yago scored two goals and provided two assists for Wayne Burnett’s Spurs Under 23 side last season, and he impressed a lot in games against Stevenage and also against Liverpool Under 23’s, during the early stages of the season. However, he was consistent throughout the season, hardworking on the pitch and skilful and creative with the ball. Santiago could well get even more minutes for Spurs’ Academy sides next season, as along with the Spurs Under 23 matches, Yago is also eligible to be selected to represent the Spurs Under 19 side in the UEFA Youth League. Yago was another member of the Spurs Under 23 side who traveled to the end of season Under 19 Terborg Tournament, and he had one impressive game as a winger in Spurs’ final game, which was against Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Romaine Mundle: Skilful winger Romaine Mundle made his first team debut for Spurs in a friendly with Leyton Orient in July 2021. He would subsequently spend much of the remainder of the season with the Spurs Under 23 side. The first year professional also made the bench for the Spurs first team on one occasion in competitive competition, last season. A direct, skilful and unpredictable winger with the ball, Romaine also has a good amount of pace. He got better and better as the season went on with the Spurs Under 23 side, and he was consistently very good towards the end of the season. The creative winger provided one assist from 18 competitive appearances for the Spurs Under 23 side, and he played matches with great confidence. Romaine was also a member of the Spurs Under 19 side that competed in the end of season Terborg Tournament, in the May of 2022.
Jeremie Mukendi: Only making one competitive appearance for the Spurs Under 23 side during 2021/22, as a late substitute in a Premier League 2 fixture with Everton at the Lamex Stadium in the November of 2021, forward Jeremie Mukendi has missed a lot of football because of injury, since the 2018/19 season. The Hackney born player who can play as a winger, as a full-back and as a centre-forward, has just been so unlucky because of injuries over the past three or so seasons, which is why he has hardly featured for Spurs at Academy level in recent seasons.
Dane Scarlett: This would have been a season of good development for centre-forward Dane Scarlett, who despite not playing a lot of games at Academy level, he was part of the first team set-up for much of the season. Scarlett (18) spent pre-season of 2021/22 with the first team (he scored a goal in a friendly against Leyton Orient), and during the season he would make seven competitive first team appearances for Spurs. The England Under 19 international who was in really good form for his country over the course of the season, would make nine appearances for the Spurs Under 23 side last season, as a second year scholar. Scarlett scored one goal and provided one assist from those matches. The Hillingdon born footballer has very good movement off the ball and is a clinical finisher, and as with many of the players who played for the Spurs Under 23 side this season, it will be interesting to see if Dane does go out on loan next season, as a first year professional. He will surely be part of the England Under 19 side that competes in the UEFA European Under 19 Championship this summer.
Troy Parrott: Forward and Republic of Ireland international Troy Parrott spent the early parts of pre-season with the Spurs first team, before joining League One side MK Dons on a season long loan in the summer of 2021. The Dublin born second year professional had some really good moments during the season with MK Dons, and overall it would have been a great learning curve for Troy. He played in a number of positions, and scored ten goals and provided seven assists from 47 competitive appearances for MK Dons. He helped them to reach the semi-finals of the League One play-offs, and towards the end of the season when MK Dons were in great form, Parrott was one of their most influential players. He did really well during the final stages of the season, which coincided with MK Dons doing really well in League One. Parrottt’s hard work off the ball was so important to the side, and he scored a good number of goals during the last stage of the season, and he was also one of MK Dons’ best players in the second leg of their League One play-off semi-final with Wycombe Wanderers. I’m a big fan of Troy and I do believe that the ever improving forward could become an important player for the Spurs first team in the future.
Kion Etete: Tall and skilful centre-forward Kion Etete made some appearances for the Spurs Under 23 side in pre-season (he also scored for them in the final Premier League 2 match of the season), before then going out on loan to League Two side Northampton Town, last summer. Etete would do well for the League Two side, and he joined League One side Cheltenham Town for the second half of the season. Overall from 36 competitive appearances for Northampton and Cheltenham combined, the impressive centre-forward scored nine goals and provided five goals, which is good for a 20 year old centre-forward. The former Notts County player didn’t just impress with his goals and assists as he made the step-up from League Two football to League One football well, and Kion did well with his link-up play and movement off the ball. It will be interesting to see whether he makes another step-up next season, this time to Championship football, on loan.
Dilan Markanday: The incredibly skilful winger/forward was in outstanding form during pre-season with the Spurs Under 23 side, when he scored a really good number of goals. He would continue his excellent goalscoring form into the regular season, when he scored 12 competitive goals and provided eight assists from 16 competitive appearances for the Spurs Under 23 side. The Barnet born footballer has got even better and even stronger on the ball, during the last 18 months. He would start some matches at centre-forward during the first half of the 2021/22 season, as well as starting matches out on either flank, and as a CAM. Markanday made his competitive first team debut for the Spurs first team last season in a UEFA Europa Conference League group game against Vitesse Arnhem, but for the Spurs Under 23 side he was superb during the first half of the season. Dilan was really creative and his goals and assists aside, he was just so good and skilful on the ball. He was deservedly nominated for the 2021/22 Premier League 2 player of the season award. Dilan joined Championship side Blackburn Rovers in the January of this year, on a permanent transfer. However, he very unfortunately picked up a bad hamstring injury in his Championship debut for Blackburn, which ruled him out for much of the remainder of the season.
Dilan Markanday returned as a substitute for the final Championship game of the season, which was against Birmingham City. And I really hope that he has a great 2021/22 season for Blackburn Rovers next season.
My goal of the season: Dilan Markanday’s clinical finish against Leeds United (away), in Spurs’ 4-2 Premier League 2 away win in the August of 2021. Markanday latched onto a header from Harvey White, with his back to goal. He then worked his way around Charlie Cresswell and Jack Jenkins with some spectacular skill, before then entering the left side of the Leeds penalty area and hitting an unstoppable effort into the roof of the Leeds goal. It was a brilliant goal, and Dilan scored a hat-trick during that game.
My save of the season: I can’t recall there being a really outstanding save made by a goalkeeper for the Spurs Under 23 side in 2021/22, that really stands out. However, there were plenty of very good saves that were made by Joshua Oluwayemi and one of those saves was against Leeds United, at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, in the February of 2022. A long ball forward reached Leeds United player Max Dean, who was through on goal inside the Spurs box. However, Oluwayemi was alert and showed good reactions to save his fine effort on goal with his legs.
My game of the season: Spurs Under 23’s 3-0 Manchester City. It was one of the most impressive performances of the season, as Spurs’ Under 23 side won 3-0 against the reigning Premier League 2 Division One champions Manchester City, at Hotspur Way in the December of 2021, in the Premier League 2. The team played really well, and they were very intelligent in how they approached the game, using the ball well and making some good runs in behind the Manchester City defence. Spurs defended really well throughout the match, but it was a clinical goal from Jack Clarke and two really good finishes from Nile John which won Spurs the match. It was a really good team performance from Spurs.
The Superhotspur Spurs Under 23’s player of the season (2021/22): Dilan Markanday. He may have left Spurs halfway through the 2021/22 season, but Dilan Markanday finished the season as Spurs’ top scorer at Under 23 level, with 12 goals, as well as providing the most assists (eight). He was absolutely brilliant during the first half of the season, and with his excellent surging forward runs, balance and skill on the ball, he wowed the crowds who were in attendance at many of the games that he was involved in. Markanday deservedly made his first team debut for the Spurs first team during the same season, before joining Championship side Blackburn Rovers in the January of this year. Confident and composed on the ball, Dilan’s pace, outstanding skill and agility, as well as his excellent work off the ball, will take him very far in the game. It was wonderful to see the very talented 20 year old winger do so well for Spurs during the first half of the 2021/22 season.
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