Author: superhotspur

I am an avid Spurs supporter! I have been all my life, I go to many home games and watch all away games on TV I also have a great interest in the academy set up, and shall report on every aspect of this wonderful club. COYS

Spurs Under 21’s 0-2 Everton: (match report)

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In their second Premier League 2 match of the season, the Spurs Under 21 side faced Everton, at Stevenage’s Lamex Stadium on Friday evening. Wayne Burnett’s side lost the game 2-0. Spurs lined-up with Josh Keeley in goal, while Tyrell Ashcroft, Marqes Muir, Malachi Fagan-Walcott and Kallum Cesay started in defence. Captain Jamie Bowden and Matthew Craig started in central midfield, with Romaine Mundle and Nile John starting out on the flanks, either side of CAM Alfie Devine. Jamie Donley started as the centre-forward for Spurs. Spurs got the game underway. Early on in the match Mackenzie Hunt hit an effort over the Spurs goal from the left side of the Tottenham penalty area. Then a couple of minutes later Charlie Whitaker’s cross to Isaac Price inside the Spurs box, was volleyed across the goal by Price, but in the end Marqes Muir’s attempted clearance unfortunately ended up going into the Spurs goal, 0-1. After Jamie Donley had passed the ball to Alfie Devine on the edge of the Everton penalty area, Devine had an effort blocked by Joe Anderson.

A powerful effort from Jamie Donley on the left side of the Everton box was saved by goalkeeper Zan-Luk Leban. Shortly after that chance for Spurs, Everton managed to create a chance at the other end of the pitch. Tom Cannon did well on the left side of the Spurs box, before hitting a low effort wide of the Spurs goal. After receiving Alfie Devine’s pass, Romaine Mundle hit an effort wide from the right side of the Everton box. Jamie Bowden then picked up an injury shortly after, and had to be stretchered off the pitch. He was replaced by Yago Santiago. After Marqes Muir had fouled Sean McAllister on the left side of the Spurs penalty area, the referee pointed to the penalty spot. The referee also showed a yellow card to Tyrell Ashcroft for a previous challenge. Tom Cannon stepped up to calmly find the bottom right hand corner of Josh Keeley’s goal from the resulting penalty kick, 0-2. Spurs tried to respond, and after Jamie Donley passed the ball to Romaine Mundle on the right side of the pitch, Mundle came inside with the ball onto his left foot, before entering the Everton box and having an effort deflected over the goal.

Jamie Donley had a headed effort from a cross well saved by Zan-Luk Leban, before Lewis Warrington hit a low deflected effort wide of the Spurs goal, from the edge of their penalty area. The referee then sounded his whistle for half-time. Everton got the second half underway, with Spurs making one change at half-time, as Charlie Sayers replaced Malachi Fagan-Walcott in central defence. Tyrell Ashcroft hit an effort over the Everton goal inside their penalty area, after receiving Alfie Devine’s pass, before Everton created a chance at the other end of the pitch. Tom Cannon received Isaac Price’s through-ball pass, but his deflected effort from the edge of the Spurs box went over the goal. Josh Keeley was alert to make a good save to stop Charlie Whitaker’s effort inside the Spurs box, after he had managed to latch onto the ball. Joe Anderson then headed wide from Lewis Warrington’s free-kick, before some good work from Charlie Whitaker with the ball ended in him having an effort from the edge of the Spurs box saved by Josh Keeley. 

Nile John hit a deflected effort wide of the Everton goal, from inside their penalty area, and then a couple of minutes later a loose pass saw the ball go to Tom Cannon inside the Spurs box, but Josh Keeley was able to save his effort. Romaine Mundle hit an effort over from the right side of the Everton penalty area, and then he received a yellow card a couple of minutes later. Alfie Devine headed a good free-kick from Romaine Mundle just wide, inside the Everton box. However, Devine had to be substituted after that chance, as he had picked up an injury. Roshaun Mathurin came on to replace him. After managing to get onto the ball following Kyle John’s headed pass to Everton goalkeeper Zan-Luk Leban, inside the Everton box, Roshaun Mathurin was almost able to control the ball, but his effort went wide of the goal. Nile John hit an effort just wide of Zan-Luk Leban’s goal, shortly after, before Isaac Price hit a low effort wide from distance. Nile John had a late effort saved by Zan-Luk Leban, before the referee sounded his whistle for full-time. Spurs’ Under 21 side face Manchester City (away) next Sunday, in their next Premier League 2 fixture.

My Spurs player of the match – Josh Keeley. The Spurs goalkeeper made three saves against Everton on Friday, and he was also very confident with the ball at his feet, and he turned really well with the ball away from an Everton player inside his penalty area during the second half. The Republic of Ireland youth international also had a good game against Leicester City, on Monday evening.

Spurs Under 18’s versus Leicester City: (match preview)

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Spurs’ Under 18 side face Leicester City at their new training ground on Saturday (the game starts at 11:30am), in their first Under 18 Premier League South fixture of the 2022/23 season. Leicester won both games against Spurs’ Under 18 side last season in the league, and I was very impressed with how they played in the fixture at Hotspur Way, and Wales Under 21 international Chris Popov was very good in that game, for Leicester. This is a difficult opening game of the season for the Spurs Under 18 side, but I would like to wish Stuart Lewis’ side all the very best of luck for the game, and the season ahead. Unfortunately I can’t get to the match tomorrow, as it’s just too difficult on this occasion, sadly.

My predicted lineup: (4-2-3-1) Gunter, Bryan-Waugh, Dorrington, Chaplin, Linton, Abbott, Hall, McKnight, Kyerematen, Bloxham, Williams (c).

Subs from: Krasniqi, Andiyapan, Heaps, Owen, Ajayi.

Injured/unavailable: N/A.

Doubtful: N/A.

Previous meeting: Spurs 1-4. 

My score prediction: Spurs 3-2. 

My one to watch: Chris Popov (17). The highly skilful forward is a player who also has great pace, and last season he was in excellent form for the Leicester City Under 18 side.

Spurs Under 21’s versus Everton: (match preview)

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After recording a 2-2 draw with Leicester City (away) in their opening Premier League 2 fixture of the season on Monday evening, Wayne Burnett’s side host Everton at Stevenage’s Lamex Stadium on Friday evening, in the Premier League 2 (the game starts at 19:00pm). Spurs’ Under 23 side won against Everton at the same venue in this fixture last season, and the new Spurs Under 21 side will be hoping to repeat that this Friday. It was quite an even and end to end game against Leicester City, on Monday, and I think that a draw was the fair result. Everton finished in 11th place in the Premier League 2 Division One last season. Always a difficult side to face in the Premier League 2, Everton play good football and with players like Thomas Cannon and Charlie Whitaker, the Spurs defence will have to be alert to keep a clean-sheet against Everton. This will be another interesting game, and I would like to wish the Spurs side all the very best of luck for the match. 

My predicted lineup: (4-2-3-1) Keeley, Ashcroft, Muir, Fagan-Walcott, Cesay, Bowden (c), Craig, Mundle, John, Devine, Donley.

Subs from: Maguire, Sayers, Mathurin, Robson, Santiago.

Injured/unavailable: N/A.

Doubtful: N/A.

Previous meeting: Spurs 0-1.

My score prediction: Spurs 2-1.

My one to watch: Thomas Cannon (19). The Everton forward did well last season for the Everton Under 23 side, and in the Everton Under 21’s first game of this season he scored a goal and provided an assist in a 2-0 win against Blackburn Rovers. 

Spurs Under 21’s 2-2 Leicester City: (match report)

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In the Spurs Under 21’s first Premier League 2 fixture of the new 2022/23 season, Wayne Burnett’s side played against Leicester City, at their new training ground. The game finished in a 2-2 draw. It was quite a close and end to end match, and in the end I thought that a draw was probably the fair result. Spurs lined-up with Josh Keeley in goal, with Tyrell Ashcroft, Matthew Craig, Malachi Fagan-Walcott and Charlie Sayers starting in defence. Captain Jamie Bowden and Kallum Cesay started in central midfield, as Yago Santiago and Romaine Mundle started out on the flanks, either side of CAM Alfie Devine. Nile John led the line for Spurs, who got the game underway. Early on in the match a through-ball pass from Ethan Fitzhugh to Tawanda Maswanhise resulted in the Leicester forward receiving the ball inside the Spurs box, but his low effort was saved by Josh Keeley. Kallum Cesay blocked Kasey McAteer’s effort inside the Spurs penalty area, before Leicester took the lead shortly after. The impressive Sammy Braybrooke’s lofted pass to Tawanda Maswanhise on the right side of the Spurs box, resulted in the Leicester player heading the ball across goal. However, unfortunately Charlie Sayers’ attempted headed clearance saw the ball go into the goal off of the underside of the crossbar, 0-1.

Less than six minutes after conceding the opening goal of the match, Spurs managed to score an equalising goal. Romaine Mundle’s corner-kick found Malachi Fagan-Walcott inside the Leicester box, and his volleyed effort on goal bounced into the goal and past Chituru Odunze in the Leicester goal, 1-1. After receiving Kasey McAteer’s cross inside the Spurs penalty area, Ethan Fitzhugh’s headed effort on goal was saved by Josh Keeley. A good free-kick from Romaine Mundle deflected wide of the Leicester goal, from the left side of the pitch. Then a couple of minutes later Josh Keeley did well to save Ethan Fitzhugh’s low effort from the edge of the Spurs penalty area. After latching onto a loose pass, Romaine Mundle tested the Leicester goalkeeper Chituru Odunze with an effort from distance, but the goalkeeper saved well, before Alfie Devine hit an effort wide of the goal. After receiving Alfie Devine’s pass on the edge of the Leicester penalty area, Tyrell Ashcroft hit an effort over the Leicester goal.

Jamie Bowden had an effort from the edge of the Leicester penalty area blocked, after receiving the ball from Romaine Mundle’s corner-kick. After winning the ball, Romaine Mundle went forward with the ball at pace, before having a low effort saved from the right side of the Leicester penalty area. Malachi Fagan-Walcott and Tyrell Ashcroft were both shown yellow cards during the remaining minutes of the first half, before the referee sounded his whistle for half-time. Leicester got the second half underway. A low cross from Kasey McAteer on the right side of the pitch, resulted in Tawanda Maswanhise meeting the ball in the centre of the Spurs box, and he tapped the ball past Josh Keeley to put Leicester in to the lead again, 1-2. Josh Keeley did well to get the ball off of Kasey McAteer on the right side of the Spurs box, and he then made a good and important challenge on Ethan Fitzhugh, outside of his penalty area. Spurs made two substitutions in less than three minutes, with Jamie Donley firstly replacing Charlie Sayers, before Roshaun Mathurin replaced Yago Santiago.

Spurs managed to score an equalising goal on 66 minutes, after Jamie Bowden met Romaine Mundle’s corner-kick on the edge of the Leicester box. Bowden’s powerful effort was well saved by Chituru Odunze, but the ball came to Nile John inside the Leicester box, and he was able to finish into the goal, 2-2. Soon after Spurs’ equalising goal, Jamie Bowden had an effort from the edge of the Leicester City penalty area saved by Chituru Odunze, before Marqes Muir came on to replace Jamie Bowden. Very late on in the match Alfie Devine headed an effort just wide from Romaine Mundle’s corner-kick towards the near post of the Leicester goal. The referee sounded his whistle for full-time shortly after. Spurs’ next Premier League 2 fixture is at home to Everton, at Stevenage’s Lamex Stadium on Friday evening.

My Spurs player of the match – Romaine Mundle. Starting the match out on the left flank as a winger, in my opinion Romaine Mundle had a good game, and was arguably Spurs’ best player on the day. The 19 year old used the ball well, went on some good forward runs with it, and he got the assist for Malachi Fagan-Walcott’s goal. Romaine’s set-pieces were consistently good against Leicester City.

Spurs Under 21’s versus Leicester City: (match preview)

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Spurs’ newly named Under 21 side start their Premier League 2 season on Monday evening (the game starts at 19:00pm), when they face Leicester City at their new training ground. Spurs won 4-1 (away) and 3-1 (at home) against Leicester City last season, in the Premier League 2. Wayne Burnett’s Spurs side competed in the annual Tournoi Européen pre-season tournament in France, recently. They finished in seventh place in that tournament. The pre-season friendly matches will definitely have been very important for the Spurs Under 21 side, ahead of their first fixture of the new season. Leicester City are always a difficult side to play against in the Premier League 2, and with forwards like Chris Popov (Wales Under 21 international), Tawanda Maswanhise, Shane Flynn and Portugal Under 20 international Wanya Marçal-Madivadua, the Spurs defence will have to be in good form to keep a clean-sheet this evening. Summer signings Tyrell Ashcroft and Josh Keeley could possibly make their Premier League 2 debuts for Spurs this evening, as could first year professional Roshaun Mathurin. This is a great match to start the season for the Spurs Under 21 side, and I would like to wish the Spurs team all the very best of luck for the match.

My predicted lineup: (4-2-3-1) Keeley, Cesay, Fagan-Walcott, Muir, Lavinier, Craig, Bowden (c), Mundle, John, Santiago, Devine.

Subs from: Maguire, Paskotši, Mathurin, Robson, Donley.

Injured/unavailable: N/A.

Doubtful: N/A.

Previous meeting: Spurs 3-1.

My score prediction: Spurs 3-2.

My one to watch: Chris Popov (17). The second year scholar and Wales Under 21 international is a player who was in great form for Leicester City’s Under 18 side last season, scoring a lot of goals. He also stepped up to represent the Leicester City Under 23 side, scoring one goal from five Premier League 2 matches. Chris Popov impressed very much in an Under 18 Premier League South fixture against Spurs last season, with his very good pace and skill on the ball. He was also very clinical in front of goal in that Premier League South fixture, last season.

My piece on highly skilful goalscoring Spurs Academy midfielder Rio Kyerematen:

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Now in his second season of scholarship with Spurs, midfielder Rio Kyerematen (17) had a very good season in 2021/22, in my opinion. Born in London, Rio has been at Spurs as an Academy player for many years, and he made his competitive debut for the Spurs Under 18 side before he signed scholarship forms with the club, in 2020/21, in a Premier League South win against Southampton. Kyerematen is an England youth international, who was in my opinion one of the Spurs Under 18 sides’ best players last season, scoring seven goals and providing six assists for the side, from 28 competitive appearances. He also stepped up to play for the Spurs Under 23 side on one occasion last season. A versatile midfield player who can play as a defensive-midfielder, a central-midfielder and as a CAM, Rio Kyerematen is highly skilful on the ball. The player who signed his first professional contract last season, is very capable of going past players with great skill, and he likes to go on surging and skilful forward runs with the ball from midfield.

A very promising player, Rio Kyerematen impressed in a really good number of games last season as a first year scholar, in my opinion. He impressed greatly in many of the games that he was involved in (Rio hardly missed a game for the Spurs Under 18 side last season), and his statistics regarding goals and assists were also impressive. Kyerematen had some very good games against Crystal Palace (at home) when he captained the side, West Ham United (at home), and in both Premier League South fixtures with Norwich City. Always looking to make decisive forward passes, Rio is a very good passer of a football, and he has a good range of passing. In addition, he is also very reliable on the ball, is very good at dribbling with the ball and at turning with it, and he uses the ball really well. I was impressed with how Rio would link the play in games last season for Stuart Lewis’ side, and he had a really good balance to his game, regardless of which position he would start matches in.

A good defensive-midfielder, as Rio showed in a couple of games last season, the second year scholar is tenacious and good at winning the ball in midfield, on the occasions that he has played in that position. A clinical finisher with the ball on the edge of the penalty area, Rio Kyerematen can strike a football really well, and it resulted in him finishing last season as the third highest top scorer for the Spurs Under 18 side in 2021/22. I’m sure that the 2022/23 season will be another season that Rio does really well in, for Spurs and England, and I would not be surprised if he went on to feature quite a lot for the Spurs Under 21 side at times this season. I would like to wish Rio all the very best of luck for the 2022/23 season.

Where are they now? Former Spurs Academy player Armando Shashoua:

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London born professional footballer Armando Shashoua was a player who excelled for Spurs at Academy level, during his time at the club. The younger brother of another former Spurs Academy player – Samuel Shashoua. With his low centre of gravity, skill, excellent close ball control and outstanding work off the ball, Armando is also a leader on the pitch, as he showed for Spurs at Academy level so often over the years. After joining Spurs on a full-time basis in the summer of 2017, Armando worked his way up the ranks at the club, at Academy level. He was a regular and important player for the Spurs Under 18 side, during his two seasons as a scholar at the club, and during his second season of scholarship at Spurs, Armando was the captain of the Spurs Under 18 side. He would later progress to the Spurs Under 23 side, and he finished the 2019/20 season as the top scorer of the Spurs Under 23 side, despite leaving the club in the January of that season, to join Spanish third tier side Atlético Baleares, on loan to the end of that season. After making some appearances for Atlético Baleares during that 2019/20 season, Armando would leave Spurs to join the team from Mallorca, in the summer of 2020 on a permanent transfer. Following in his brother Samuel’s footsteps, after he had already played for Atlético Baleares.

Armando did really well, in my opinion during the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons for Atlético Baleares, and he has improved even further in his all-round game. He made 51 competitive appearances for Atlético Baleares during his time in Mallorca, scoring four goals from those appearances. Armando played in a number of different roles on the pitch, during his time at Atlético Baleares. Impressing with Atlético Baleares over the past two seasons, Armando impressed with his ability to bring the ball forward at pace and with great skill from midfield, while starting matches in that position. Armando also played in the CAM role, where once again he linked the play really well, showed his ability to glide past players, as well as working really hard off the ball. He has always been a very clever player, who never stops running and impressing with his movement off the ball, and at Spurs he was a player who I always thought would achieve great things in the game. 

During the 2021/22 season the former Spurs Academy player was a very important player for Atlético Baleares, as they achieved great things in the Spanish Copa del Rey, with Atlético Baleares reaching the round of 16 of the competition that season, having entered it at the first round stage. Armando started his former club’s round of 16 game against Valencia, completing 90 minutes of their 1-0 home loss to Valencia. After two seasons of good strides with Atlético Baleares in the league and cup, the 21 year old midfielder signed for Spanish LaLiga 2 side UD Ibiza last month, on a contract for the next three seasons with Ibiza. Ibiza finished in 15th place in LaLiga 2 last season, and I am sure that Armando will help to improve the side further, as he steps up to play second tier football in Spain, in a very competitive league. I still watch a lot of Armando’s matches, since he left Spurs, and it has been great to see him get better and better in his all-round game. Armando played for UD Ibiza yesterday, against his brother Samuel’s side CD Tenerife, although I don’t believe that Samuel featured in that game. However, hopefully both brothers will feature in the two fixtures involving Ibiza and Tenerife in LaLiga2, this season (2022/23).

I would like to wish the very consistent Armando Shashoua a very successful season, in 2022/23, with Ibiza. He should already be very proud of all that he has achieved in the game, so far.

My piece on Spurs’ talented and skilful Academy central defender Alfie Dorrington:

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Alfie Dorrington signed his first professional contract with Spurs last season, and the 17 year old central defender is a player who has real quality. Now in his second year of scholarship with the club, the Enfield born Spurs player is a very tall defender (he is approximately 6ft 5 inches), but he has great ability on the ball. Dorrington made 29 competitive appearances for the Spurs Under 18 side last season (Alfie scored one goal and provided one assist), in 2021/22, having made three appearances during the season before that, in 2020/21. The defender also made the bench on one occasion for the Spurs Under 23 side last season. Alfie often started matches alongside Charlie Sayers, in central defence for the Spurs Under 18 side in 2021/22, following the former Southend United player joining Spurs in late 2021. Alfie hardly missed a game for Stuart Lewis’ side last season, and he also represented England at Under 17 level last season. A real footballing centre-half, Dorrington is like a playmaker from defence. As he likes to go on surging and skilful forward runs out of defence, taking players on for skill as he brings the ball into midfield, or looks to make a long pass out to the flanks.

Alfie Dorrington is a good passer of a football, and he is very capable of making long and accurate cross field diagonal passes. A strong defender, Alfie is a brave central defender who keeps good defensive positioning on the pitch. He is very good at making blocks and is also strong and decisive in the challenge. A passionate player on the pitch, Dorrington makes it difficult for forwards to get good chances on goal, as he is clever in his defending. The 2021/22 season would have been a great learning experience for the second year scholar, as although results didn’t always go Spurs’ way at Under 18 level, Alfie got to experience playing in the very competitive Premier League South, on a week to week basis. He also got to represent Spurs at the end of season Terborg Tournament, in the Netherlands, where once again he was ever present for Spurs.

 There were a number of matches that Alfie Dorrington impressed me in last season for Spurs. A close and highly entertaining away Premier League South match against Chelsea ended in the home side winning the match, but Alfie Dorrington and Charlie Sayers impressed with their defensive positioning, the amount of headers that they won and also with how many blocks they made and challenges that they won. In an impressive win against Ipswich Town in the third round of the FA Youth Cup last season, Alfie showed his quality on the ball as well as his tenacity in defence, and also his fine reading of the game. He had another very good game in a 2-1 away league win against Reading in 2022, where he had a very solid game defensively. And also, in a loss to Arsenal in Spurs’ final Premier League South game of last season, Dorrington was the best outfield player for Spurs during that match, and he was the main reason why Spurs didn’t lose by more goals, such was his very good defending during the whole of that match. 

A player who I think has really good potential, Alfie Dorrington has been playing quite a lot for the Spurs Under 21 side during this pre-season. And he is currently with the Spurs Under 21 side in France, as they are competing in the prestigious Tournoi Européen. I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Alfie make his Premier League 2 debut for Spurs during this season, and I think that he will also be a very important player for the Spurs Under 19 side in the 2022/23 edition of the UEFA Youth League. I would like to wish Alfie all the very best of luck for this season.

My piece on talented and versatile Spurs Academy player and second year scholar – George Abbott:

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Second year scholar George Abbott (16) is a defensive-midfielder, who also played at right-back and as a box to box midfielder for the Spurs Under 18 side, during the 2021/22 season. Born in Islington but brought up in Muswell Hill, George Abbott made his competitive debut for the Spurs Under 18 side as a late substitute in an Under 18 Premier League Cup group game against Leeds United, last season. He made an additional 14 appearances for the Spurs Under 18 side, scoring two goals and providing one assist from those appearances. Abbott is a tenacious defensive-midfield player, who got better and better as the 2021/22 season went on. He has good pace and skill on the ball, and he had a number of impressive matches last season. As a defensive-midfielder George Abbott does well in front of the Spurs defence, and he is strong in the challenge and a player who covers a lot of ground in the central areas of the pitch.

The midfielder also likes to get forward to support the forwards, especially when he is playing as a box to box midfielder. Very capable of going on surging forward runs with the ball at pace, arguably Abbott’s best performance for the Spurs Under 18 side last season came in a 2-1 Under 18 Premier League South win over West Bromwich Albion. George started and completed that match in the defensive midfield role, in a 4-2-3-1 formation. He was excellent defensively, and he won a good number of challenges in midfield. He also scored a goal in that game, but it was the then first year scholar’s work off the ball, as well as on it, when he would bring the ball forward at pace, which impressed me the most. He didn’t stop running, and he helped the Spurs defence out a lot. Another impressive performance came in a 7-0 home Under 18  Premier League South win over Birmingham City, when George scored a really good goal. 

Also capable of playing at right-back, George Abbott played in that position on occasions during last season, and once again I thought that he did well while playing in that position. In an away 3-2 Premier League South loss to Chelsea the midfield player had a lot of work to do defensively, but he showed his good pace in that game. And he won quite a lot of challenges, and was good defensively. George Abbott also played at right-back at the end of season Under 19 Terborg Tournament, in The Netherlands. In Spurs’ final group game at that tournament, George was without doubt Spurs’ best player in a 2-0 loss to Dutch side De Graafschap, while playing at right-back. He made some important blocks during that game, in what was a good defensive performance on his side of the pitch. George made his debut for the Spurs Under 21 side as a late second half substitute in a pre-season friendly with Billericay Town, this pre-season. Which was great to see.

Just yesterday the midfielder came off the bench during the second half of the Spurs Under 18’s 7-0 win against Kerala Blasters, in the Premier League Next Generation Cup, at Hotspur Way. Abbott did well when he came on to the pitch during the second half, in midfield. He also scored a good goal after going forward with the ball at pace, before passing the ball to Damola Ajayi on the left side of the pitch, before then receiving the ball again in the centre of the penalty area, and then scoring a goal with a nice composed finish. I would like to wish George all the very best of luck for the 2022/23 season with Spurs, and I personally believe that he will be a very important player for the Spurs Under 18 side this season. 

My preview of the Spurs Under 21 sides’ participation in the 2022 Tournoi Européen:

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Spurs’ Under 21 side will travel to Brittany, in France, this week to compete in the annual Tournoi Européen. The prestigious annual pre-season tournament which Spurs won in 2017, is a great and very competitive pre-season tournament. Unfortunately this pre-season I am unable to attend the tournament, despite my best efforts, as it is just too difficult to get there, this time. I have attended the previous two editions of the tournament that Spurs have been involved in, and it’s a really enjoyable tournament, which is just so competitive. Spurs did well in the last tournament that they entered a team into, but in this tournament you have to win your respective group (there are two groups of four teams) to get to the final. In Spurs’ group this time (Spurs are in group A) are AS Saint-Étienne, Paris FC and AS Monaco. In the other group are OGC Nice, Standard de Liège, Stade Rennais and En Avant Guingamp. The only other side that isn’t based in France that is competing in the 2022 edition of the pre-season tournament, is Belgian side Standard de Liège. In Spurs’ group are AS Monaco, who really impressed me in the 2018 edition of the tournament, and I’m sure that they will be a very difficult team to play against, in this edition of the tournament.

The tournament starts on Friday, but I haven’t been able to find a list of fixtures or a schedule for this edition of the tournament. Spurs usually include close to 20 players who travel as part of the squad, to European tournaments, at Academy level. It will be interesting to see who is part of the squad for this particular tournament. It will also be interesting to see whether or not Alfie Devine travels with the squad to France, as he hasn’t played for the Spurs first team this pre-season, as he would likely have returned late to pre-season, after being with the England Under 19 side at the UEFA European Under-19 Championship. Devine hasn’t been to a European tournament with any of the Spurs Academy sides, since joining the club in the summer of 2020. This will be a very interesting tournament involving eight very good under 21 sides. I will try my very best to keep people updated with how Spurs get on at the tournament. I would like to wish the Spurs Under 21 squad all the very best of luck for the 2022 edition of the Tournoi Européen.

Spurs’ group: 

AS Saint-Étienne

Paris FC

Spurs 

AS Monaco

My predicted Spurs Under 21 squad: Keeley, Gunter, Dorrington, Sayers, Muir, Paskotši, Fagan-Walcott, Cesay, Lavinier, Bowden, Lyons-Foster, John, Robson, Devine, Mundle, Santiago Mathurin, Donley.