Samuel Shashoua – The young artist:

After his superb performance against West Ham’s development side on the opening weekend of the PL2 season. I thought I’d write a piece on one of Wayne Burnett’s and Tottenham’s most promising youngsters, Samuel Shashoua. The teenager from Chelsea in west London who is the older brother of our under 18 midfielder Armando, is one of my favourite ever Spurs youth players. He remains to this day the most technically gifted Spurs academy player that I’ve ever had the pleasure of watching. A tricky right winger who is adept at playing on either flank or through the middle, the 19 year old made the permanent step up to the development side during the 2017/18 campaign. However, it wasn’t all plain sailing for the former England under 18 international who had been the jewel in the crown of our talented under 18 side the previous season. Shashoua had been scoring and assisting goals for fun during the 2016/17 season, during his second year of scholarship at the club he was unplayable. A pivotal part of the Spurs side which reached the semifinals of the FA youth cup that same season, Samuel was tearing it up in the under 18 league. He was ripping defences apart with his trademark weaving runs, searing pace and excellent balance. By the midpoint of that season under 18 football was essentially a stroll in the park for the 17 year old Spurs starlet. If he wasn’t scoring in one game he was laying off a couple of assists for his teammates in another, he was quite simply unstoppable. I can remember watching one game that season at Hotspur Way, it was a league game against Swansea on an incredibly windy winters afternoon. Shashoua was unplayable during our comprehensive 5-0 victory over the Swans, at times mesmeric. The teenager attacked the Swansea defence with a real ferocity, driving at them with real skill and agility. He was menacing both on and off the ball as he tracked back down the right wing throughout the match and though he was fouled on so many occasions not once did he react.

There were two scouts stood next to me on that day and one of them was waxing lyrical about Samuel the whole game. ” That kids absolutely incredible ” he said as Samuel went onto score two goals against the Welsh side. Hugely admiring of his skill and great balance he was also surprised at how strong Samuel was for such a small and slight player. There was one moment in the game when he cut inside from the right flank before taking on and beating two Swansea defenders with great ease, before smashing the ball against the frame of the goal, it was like watching a young Lionel Messi in full flow. Samuel got into double figures for both goals and assists that season and would end the campaign as our under 18’s second top scorer, whilst going onto make a string of appearances for the under 23’s before the end of that season. His rich vein of form was even rewarded with a place on the bench for our first teams penultimate premier league game of the season away to Leicester City. Although he never came on, it what was an incredible experience for the 17 year old to endure. It was a move from Pochettino which clearly showed how highly him and his coaching staff rated the skilful playmaker. However, the following season wasn’t as fruitful for the teenager who made the permanent step up to the development squad. It was an injury disrupted campaign for Shashoua who featured on 19 occasions for Burnett’s side. Unable to force his way into the side until the end of September, Shashoua picked up an injury just as he was getting into a good patch of form in the autumn time. This was one of a series of frustrating injury lay offs which halted Shashoua’s progress that season.

An artist in the mould of somebody such as Christian Eriksen or David Silva, Shashoua is a typical playmaker. Somebody who can initiate chances out of nothing, he is sharp and unpredictable. With his many twists and turns and well worked manoeuvres, the midfield craftsman enjoyed his best vein of form on the European stage, for our under 19’s last season. Directly involved in five of our goals in the UEFA youth league, Shashoua played a big part in Spurs reaching the quarter finals of the competition. And young Samuel was able to end the campaign on a positive note as he won the player of the tournament in the post season Volksbank cup in Stemwede, Germany. He even got to have his photograph taken with the tournament mascot, a giant mouse! As he received the prestigious award. After a good pre-season away with the development squad I have a really good feeling about this campaign for Samuel. He put in an excellent performance in our opening league game of the season against West Ham where he played as a central attacking midfielder. His sharp twists and turns, and strength whilst traveling with the ball at his feet caused great problems for the West Ham defence. His superb goal inside the opening 15 minutes drew gasps from the crowd, as the young playmaker continued to be Spurs’ most dangerous player throughout that half. With his tricky runs and incisive moves through the middle and his great vision for a pass, he was the shining light in what was a very flat Tottenham performance. However, he was forced off early on in the second half after picking up a knock which resulted in him missing our game against Liverpool later on in the week. With a bit of luck he can avoid those injuries this season and get a good run of games for the development side, something which will undoubtedly boost his confidence and strengthen his chances of being promoted to the first team. As stated earlier on in my article, Samuel is the most technically gifted youth player that I’ve ever seen at Spurs.

Many will be surprised that I haven’t said Marcus Edwards, and whilst both players are immensely talented and in someways very similar types of players, Samuel has always been the one who I’ve felt has the highest ceiling. With excellent close ball control, balance and pace over short distance. Shashoua is an exciting playmaker, I’ve long nicknamed him our very own David Silva due to his creativity. But the former England youth international who has represented the three lions up to under 18 level, is in my eyes the complete cam. He is incredibly skilful and quick, he is strong on the ball and has that rare ability of being able to ride challenges so very well. He has a real footballing brain and is such an unselfish team player who works incredibly hard for the team, tracking back and covering for other players who are out of position. And whilst he is a good finisher who scores an impressive number of goals, Shashoua is a real creative force as he has demonstrated so effectively at u18 and u23 level. He reads the game exceptionally well and has the vision and the intelligence needed to pick out forwards with deceptive Lamela-esque through balls. All of those qualities combined make him an extremely useful player for Pochettino. Apart from the superb Christian Eriksen we don’t really have that type of creative player who can open up a defence with a single pass or a clever jinking run. I’m not suggesting that Samuel is ready to make the step up to the first team at this moment in time however, if somebody like the talented Phil Foden can get significant game time off the bench for Man City, then so should Samuel. For anybody who saw him play during that 2016/17 season you’ll all know what I’m talking about. As with a lot of young players who play in a similar position to Samuel the fear amongst fans is that they won’t have the physicality to deal with men’s football due to being so small and slight.

Yet Shashoua’s small stature is deceptive and believe it or not he is actually one of the strongest players in the development side (on the ball). The 19 year old is a player who possesses great technique and skill. Like Edwards he has that flair about his game, that unpredictable almost Messi like ability to embarrass a defender with a single turn/trick. His high pressing and tracking back after him is a quality that Pochettino will greatly admire, and in so many ways he strikes me as the perfect Pochettino player. He has a long road ahead of him but if he can get a good run of games for Burnett’s side this season and make a positive contribution to the team then it will really help his development, and possibly even result in him making the bench for the first team in a domestic cup game. Last season there were strong rumours around January time linking Samuel with a loan move to Brad Friedel’s New England Revolution. And back in May a rumour from Turkey suggested that Turkish giants Fenerbache were looking to sign the 19 year old. A certain Damien Commoli is the footballing director at the Turkish club. Samuel is also eligible to represent a selection of national teams such as America, Spain and Venezuela. The teenager even has a forum dedicated to him on an American footballing site by fans who would no doubt love to see him in the red, white and blue of the United States National team. An exciting season is in the offing for the older of the two Shashoua brothers and I for one am really looking forward to seeing him get a lot of game time for the development side. His quality is as good as that of any young English player and with a with a bit of luck and a good run of form for the under 23’s this season, it could well be a breakthrough season for the young artist. I wish Samuel all the very best of luck for the remainder of the season. He is such a special talent who we are all so lucky to have at Spurs.

The continued rise of Oliver Skipp:

I’ve been meaning to write a piece on Spurs academy hopeful Oliver Skipp throughout the close season. In fact I did start a long in-depth article on the midfielder whilst on holiday in Ireland back in June, but anyhow here it is now and hopefully it does the immensely talented youngster justice. After the teenagers recent exploits away with the first team on our pre-season tour of the United States I think it’s quite an appropriate time to write a piece on Skipp, and one inwhich reflects on his extraordinary contribution to the development side last season whilst still a first year scholar. The Hertfordshire born midfielder played an incredible 61 games for Spurs’ various youth teams last season whilst in his first year of scholarship at the club. Young Oliver has always been ahead of his years at least since I first became aware of him. As an under 15 he was already a full England under 16 international and an integral part of of Tottenham’s under 16 side. The following season (2016/17) the lifelong Spurs supporter was quickly integrated into John McDermott’s under 18 side despite only being a schoolboy. It didn’t take Skippy (as he is known by teammates) long before he made his mark on that talented side. He became an important part of the side which made the 2017 FA youth cup semifinals that same season, he also made a string of appearances for the under 19 side in Europe. On top of that he featured prominently for McDermott’s side in the under 18 league after adapting so seamlessly to under 18 football, he also regularly played at centre half. The tenacious midfielder would reach a feat few youth players had achieved for Spurs. When in February of 2017 he was given his debut for the development side by the late Ugo Ehiogu in a PL2 game against Sunderland. Oliver was still a schoolboy. A domineering defensive midfielder Skipp shows all the qualities of an old school ball winning anchor man, combined with the qualities of so many of the top central midfielders of the modern day.

Combining brains with brawn Skipp is incomparable with any of the midfielders of his age group in England. He draws likeness with a wide ranging set of players, from our very own legendary midfielder Steve Perryman to the likes of Frank Lampard, Toni Kroos and a certain Michael Carrick. He is the complete defensive midfielder, he has that ability to control games from the centre of the park. He is both domineering and decisive, he recycles possession effectively and is able to read the game to perfection. He presses relentlessly and keeps good positioning, often covering for defenders who are higher up the pitch and out of position. He carries the ball well and is able to glide past players twice his size in the centre of midfield, showing great guile as he does so. However, the lad from Hertford is much more than a combative defensive midfielder and fine centre half. He is also an extremely creative player who uses the ball resourcefully to initiate attacking moves from deep. His range of passing is impressive as is his skilfulness, something which isn’t mentioned a lot about his game. The teenager is also a good dribbler and he often poses a threat going forward, with his trademark lung bursting forwards runs from deep inside in his own half. A little over a year ago I watched in amazement as Oliver started our under 23’s first league game of the season against Sunderland, up in County Durham. Skipp singlehandedly embarrassed Sunderland’s Jack Rodwell in the middle of the park that day, he controlled the midfield from start to finish, even going onto assist Kazaiah Sterling’s goal. It was at that precise moment that I realised how incredibly special a talent the teenager was.

After our encounter with the black cats development side Skippy never seemed to look back, he would go onto cement his place in Burnett’s under 23 side. Keeping out his older and more experienced teammates such as Jack Roles and Dylan Duncan in the process. His ability to dictate games is one of his greatest qualities, his composure under pressure and ability to create little pockets of space for himself is so effective, and useful for his teammates as it helps to alleviate the pressure off of others. That remarkable maturity makes him a natural born leader. He constantly plays with his arm flailing and can often be seen giving out advice to other members of the team throughout games. Having watched Skipp play extensively over the past couple of seasons I’ve grown to admire his style of play. There’s no big I am about the teenager from Hertford. No pretentious skills or over the top showboating in the centre of the park (not that there’s anything wrong with that!) like Winks he doesn’t take unnecessary chances during games. He keeps things ticking like the 22 year old midfielder, but unlike Winks he is far more effective at breaking up play and recycling possession, it seems to come more naturally to him. Throughout my many reports from last season you’ll spot a consistent theme whenever I reviewed Skipp’s performances, not once did he have a bad game. He was consistent throughout the campaign and whilst he did tire towards the end of the season due to the ridiculous amount of games he had been involved in, he always managed to hold his own and find a way to impact games. Whether that be throwing himself right in front of an attempt on goal or making defence splitting passes through the middle. He always managed to find a way to effect the game in a positive way. It didn’t surprise me in the slightest to see him impress fans with his performances for the first team this summer. His most impressive showing came during our showdown with AC Milan in Minneapolis.

During that game Skipp managed to hold his own in the middle of the park whilst competing with house hold names such as Franck Kessié and Manuel Locattelli. He fitted in so seamlessly to Pochettino’s young side, he was assertive and energetic all over the pitch. With his typically aggressive pressing and hounding down of the opposition players, Skipp also managed to make some important interceptions and recoveries. His pass completion rate was impressive as was the way in which he carried the ball in the centre of the pitch. He even drew praise from Tottenham star Christian Eriksen who was impressed by Skipp’s courage and all round ability. During my end of season round up of our development side last season, I lauded Skipp as the best English midfielder of his age group in the country, and I strongly stand by that statement. I’m not expecting him to get much game time for Pochettino’s side this season other then in the odd cup game. However, I’m expecting him to go down the same path of development as Walker-Peters and Winks have done in recent seasons. That consistent involvement with the first team in training combined with regular involvement in the PL2 with the development side, and the UEFA youth league with the under 19’s. Young Oliver is an exceptional talent and I know for a fact that all of the premier leagues top clubs have been tracking him for a long, long time. But like Winks and Onomah and Kane he is a Tottenham fan just like you and me, and sometimes that is all that matters. The masterful midfielder has already proved to Pochettino that he is able to step up and perform on the big stage. The next step for young Oliver and the Tottenham coaching staff is about nurturing that talent and ever so slowly easing him into the first team fold. And I have no doubts whatsoever that he’ll go onto make his mark on the first team in the future, after all he is still only 17!

Why I’m hoping that Anthony Georgiou can follow Danny Rose’s path into the first team:

After an impressive time away with Spurs’ first team in America last month, academy graduate Anthony Georgiou is continuing to show signs of improvement to his game ahead of the start of the domestic season. Over a year has past since he made his explosive debut for the first team during the 2017 tour of the states, with a terrific performance against AS Roma. A fruitful season followed for the Londoner, who would later go onto make his competitive debut for the Lilywhites during our champions league game with APOEL Nicosia, in Anthony’s native Cyprus. If that wasn’t already enough Georgiou also went onto win two international caps for Cyprus that same season. Dividing his time training with the first team and the development side, Georgiou also made 13 appearances for the under 23’s last season. Scoring on one occasion. A stark contrast to the injury hit 2016/17 season that he endured. It was so refreshing to see so many of our academy players involved with the first team on our tour of America. Anthony was joined by the likes of Oliver Skipp, Luke Amos, George Marsh and TJ Eyoma, all of whom were excellent for Pochettino’s side when called upon. Georgiou played in all three of our ICC games featuring prominently in our encounters with Barcelona and AC Milan, and he won many plaudits off of Spurs supporters in the process. With his explosive pace and good awareness Georgiou proved effective down the right wing after coming on as a second half substitute against Barcelona in game two. Eager to run at the Barcelona defence Georgiou’s tricky attacking forays asked questions of the Spanish sides fullback Marc Cucurella and he would go onto create Nkoudou’s equaliser during the latter stages of the game (even though he should have been awarded the goal!).

In his next outing Georgiou would be played at left back as Spurs took on Italian giants AC Milan in Minneapolis. This is where I thought Georgiou had his best game of the tour. Not only did he read the game well and defend to a good standard, Anthony was exceptionally bright going forwards. His rapid pace left him in good stead as he galloped down the left wing linking up well with and overlapping Nkouodu. He is no stranger to playing at wing back, he featured prominently in that position for Burnett’s development side last season putting in some strong defensive performances. He looked incredibly assured whilst up against Milan’s tricky forward Suso, I thought he tracked him well and prevented him from enjoying too much space out on the right wing. He also carried the ball extremely well, his fine skill and balance helping him to get away from Milan players whilst in tight spaces. However, Georgiou was very much an attacking fullback throughout the entirety of his time on the pitch he would surge forwards whenever he had the opportunity, and was always looking to take players on. Something which is so typical of his game, he is such a direct and forward thinking winger a traditional wide man in many respects. Having watched Anthony play at youth level for so long I’ve no doubts whatsoever that he could become a Pochettino style wingback much like Danny Rose has managed to become. Rose once a winger himself was converted to fullback in his early 20’s and whilst it took him a fair while and a couple of loan moves before he learnt his trade and adapted his game. He managed to defy the odds. And it wasn’t too long ago that he was regarded as one of the finest left backs in the world something which few Spurs fans would have predicted only a couple of seasons earlier.

On each of his seven appearances for the first team Georgiou has only ever drawn positive feedback from fans. However, as great as it is to see the likes of Georgiou, Amos and Skipp playing pre-season friendlies it is crucial that they get to play competitive games for the first team as well. As the old saying goes it’s a fine dividing line. In my opinion Anthony shows all the hallmarks of being a top class wingback he has speed, skill, agility and good awareness. He also has an absolute wand of a left foot, he is a good crosser of the ball and he can certainly test the goalkeeper as well. As shown on the tour he also has good vision and has the ability to pick out key passes to the forwards. The Lewisham born winger is courageous and has a ridiculously high work rate and loves to press the opposing teams defenders. I’ll never forget that time I was watching our under 23’s take on Manchester United back in 2016. Georgiou who was our best player that day suffered a nasty gash to the side of his head. Despite dripping with blood he was up and down that flank like nobody else, even though he was quite clearly in some discomfort. In some respects he reminds me of my fellow countryman James McClean, a marauding left winger who is also adept at playing at wingback I have watched him play extensively over the years. McClean who is a star for the Irish national team is lightening quick like Georgiou, he is also strong and has a wand of a left foot. Although Georgiou is far more skilful than the Stoke player the thing that is so strikingly similar about them is their relentless chasing down of the opposition. Like McClean, Georgiou has the most exceptional work rate it doesn’t matter if he’s playing as a wingback or as an out and out winger. The youngster is nonstop, he tracks back at every opportunity and unlike other players on the pitch he’ll make those lung bursting runs to commit himself defensively.

When Pochettino’s side face Girona tomorrow in their final game of pre-season Georgiou will likely be given more game ahead of the start of our premier league campaign the following Saturday. In my eyes he has proven himself at this level both as a winger and as a wingback, he is also far too good to be playing at youth level. He is a player capable of offering so much more to the first team whether that be as an impact sub playing on the wing or as a youthful wingback, he would also undoubtedly save Pochettino money. Georgiou is a special talent and one who thoroughly deserves to be fully integrated into the first team squad this season. Like Rose was at the same age Georgiou is a natural attack minded winger whose first thoughts are to beat his man down the left wing. That is something which we have lacked since the days of Lennon and Bale and something which is so key to the way Pochettino’s likes his side to play football. Rose was once that kind of player but he was able to use his speed and skill to his advantage so as to better his defensive game. I have a great feeling about this season for Georgiou and I think that he can go a step further than he did last season by getting more game time. Whether that will be for the first team or for another club out on loan we’ll have to wait and see. However, if somebody was to ask me which youth player most deserves to have a sustained run in the first team this season I would say Anthony without any hesitation. For me he has the all attributes of a top wingback/winger and I and many other Spurs fans are looking forward to seeing how he progresses this season. I just thoroughly hope that Pochettino will give the fearless wideman more game time to prove his worth.

A piece on Tottenham’s promising young goalkeeper Brandon Austin:

I started writing this piece on Spurs academy goalkeeper Brandon Austin (18) yesterday, I’d been meaning to write something on the highly rated USA youth international for some time now following the many heroic performances his pulled off for our youth teams over the past year. Unbeknownst to me Austin today signed a new contract which was announced today by the club. The new deal which will take him up until 2019 is a great reward for a player who has developed into one of the finest goalkeepers in the PL2. I don’t write articles on our goalkeepers too often, especially those within our academy. Amongst a plethora of talent at Hotspur way, we have a number of brilliant young goalkeepers that are rising through the ranks. Tom Glover, Alfie Whiteman, Jonathan De Bie, Charlie Freeman and Joshua Oluwayemi are but a few to name. However, since the beginning of last season no other keeper than that of Brandon Austin has impressed me more. With his cat like reflexes and ability to collapse his body at the vital moment to make a stunning save, Austin’s all round game has come on leaps and bounds. The teenager from Hemel Hempstead was a pupil at the same school as fellow Spurs starlet Harry Winks. Joining Spurs from Chelsea’s famous youth academy, Austin was a talented basketball player whilst at school, his family ties to sport come from his father, a one time professional basketball player. However, it’s the promising youngsters expertise in between the sticks which is what I’m focusing on, having watched him play extensively over the last year and a half, I’ve been able to see Austin develop rapidly from a first year scholar having to battle for a spot between Alfie Whiteman and Tom McDermott.

To becoming a mainstay with in the development squad as well as having travelled with Pochettino’s senior side on a number of occasions. It comes as no surprise to me that the USA youth international has been awarded a new deal for his performances over the course of the last season, of which have been nothing short of magnificent. In many ways being a goalkeeper is almost like a sport of its own, isolated and cut off from the flow of the outfield game it’s easy to under appreciate their all round ability. Austin is a keeper of immense potential his all round game is very good for that of a young man, he’s so confident and assured, dominant in the air and commanding of the defenders in front of him. But it’s Austin’s shot stopping ability and positioning that are so impressive. His reflex saves such as the ones he made during his man of the match performance against Chelsea in the youth cup last season, are very special indeed. A recent game in which he won plaudits for was the under 19 game away to Real Madrid, where Austin produced no fewer than 8 crucial saves to keep Spurs in the game, of which half of them were outstanding saves. It’s one of the youngsters footballing heroes that he reminds me of, a certain Petr Cech. It’s hard to compare goalkeeping traits but Austin’s sheer focus and overall play remind me of the world class goalkeeper. Brandon has been first class all season and I’m delighted for him on his new contract, under the tutelage of the fantastic Toni Jimenez and the coaches at Hotspur Way, the young Spurs man is a player of huge potential, and one in which I look forward to seeing develop further.

Keanan Bennetts: One to watch

In the next part of my next generation series of articles where I focus on some of our academy’s brightest youngsters, I’ll be taking a look at a player who I’ve watched extensively over the past two seasons, for both the under 18’s and under 23’s. 18 year old winger Keanan Bennetts is an exciting prospect who enjoyed a fruitful 2016/17 campaign, scoring four goals and claiming eight assists for John McDermott’s side in their league campaign. Bennetts was also a vital part of the under 18 side that made it to the semi finals of the FA youth cup. The Edgware born player, who has represented England as high up as under 17 level, had at one stage divided his time playing for both England and Germany’s youth teams whilst below the age of 16, whilst he is also eligible to represent Nigeria through his father. A winger who can operate on both sides of the pitch, Bennetts can also play at wing back as he has already demonstrated so impressively during pre season. Throughout my time watching our under 18’s and 23’s play last season, there were few players more involved and more potent than the young winger. With lightening quick pace and a delicious left footed cross, Bennetts menaced many defences that he came up against, providing a spark with in a side rich with talent. Whilst predominantly featuring on the left wing, Bennetts is equally adept on the right, good with both feet he is an agile and skilful player.

The winger capped off an excellent pre season campaign by playing a vital part of the Spurs development squad which won the Euro under 21 tournament in France, for which Bennetts was named the player of the tournament, for his performances at left back. A raw talent with an unpredictability about his game, he reminds me to an extent of a young Wilfried Zaha. He has that flair about his game, that ability to beat a couple of players with his searing pace and to then cap it off with a top cross/shot on goal. That individual quality of his, was best summed up in the FA Youth cup quarter final last season, when out of seemingly nothing Bennetts cut inside on to his left on the edge of the area, before emphatically firing the ball into the back of the net in what was a quite superb solo goal. Even on his not so good games, he leaves an impression on the game, he’s a trier both on and off the ball. One of his greatest assets is his crossing, he has an excellent whipped cross, which causes such an attacking threat. In addition, he has that rare ability to just power his way past players down both flanks with his blistering pace. You don’t quite know what he will do next, such is the exciting and unpredictable nature of his game. Whilst it’s unknown whether Wayne Burnett will be converting him into a full back (which he looks so comfortable in doing) it boosts his chances of breaking into Pochettino’s senior team in the future.

Pochettino has long craved that pacy winger who can cause a spark to a game when most needed, he is still to find that exact player with in his side. I hope that Bennetts can be that type of player in the team over the coming seasons, yes he is by no means the finished article. He has a lot of developing to do with in his game, with wingers taking longer to learn their trade and mature. But he is an improving and striving player who really pushed on last season for the under 18’s and 23’s, he’s a player who I’m a big fan of. He hasn’t recently received that big hype around him as much as other prospects have, but in this current climate of inflated transfer prices. I feel as if this gem of a player can break through to the seniors over the coming seasons, it’s a big season for Bennetts who’s season kicks off this evening with the under 23’s game against Sunderland up in County Durham, but he is a name for Spurs fans to keep an eye on over the coming season. I for one, certainly wouldn’t rule out the 18 year old making his debut for Spurs in one of the early rounds of the domestic cup competitions. COYS

Jack Roles: Spurs’ young goal machine

Some quick facts: – Roles represents Cyprus’ at youth team level, appearing most recently in their under 19’s side.
– The midfielder scored 20 goals in just 29 appearances last season.
– Roles signed a professional contract with the Lilywhites last month.
– Jack has been a part of Spurs’ academy set up since the age of six.
– Although Roles plays as a midfielder he actually started off as a centre back.

I haven’t done an article on one of our talented academy players for some time now, and with the season just weeks away there’s no better time for me to do an article on one of the under 18’s star performers during the 2016/17 season, Jack Roles. The 18 year old local lad who grew up in Enfield, scored a phenomenal 20 goals in 29 appearances across all competitions last term. What makes this goal scoring feat even more impressive is the fact that Roles is a central midfielder. The under 18’s top scorer with 19 goals, Roles perfectly timed runs from the midfield, and his prolificness in front of goal made him one of John McDermott’s most consistent and important players throughout the campaign. After starting out as a centre half for which he operated as, as an under 16, Roles has mastered his central midfield position over the past two seasons. It’s not his skill, pace or panache that catches the eye, it’s his off the ball movement which is his greatest attribute. The tall 18 year old has shown time and time again, his ability to ghost in to the penalty area and poach the ball home, in a way that even Frank Lampard would be proud of. Whilst in a similar mould to the former Chelsea and England midfielder, Roles is more versatile with in the centre of the park. Tenacious and willing to get stuck in, Roles is an old fashioned midfielder, composed and simple he never overplays his game. The midfielder who represents Cyprus at youth level, is such a wonderful player to watch. He’s tidy in his passing and overall play but above all it’s he’s decisiveness that wins him his plaudits.

The way he just appears out of nowhere to tap home a loose ball, he has that awareness about his game just like Dele Alli and Harry Kane did at the same age. Roles scores all kind of goals, tap ins, curlers and Tom Huddlestone like thunder bolts, but it’s his key runs that makes him so prolific a scorer. Oddly enough despite his impressive two seasons with the under 18’s, the midfielder is still yet to make his debut for the under 23’s, with Roles being limited only to appearances on the bench. That will all change this season with Roles no longer eligible to play for the under 18’s, the youngster will enjoy plenty of opportunities throughout a wide range of competitions. A bright talent, Roles is never afraid to have a go from range and his driving long shots are another of his key attributes. I was so impressed with him during last season and I’m very optimistic for his future with Spurs, having signed professional terms with Spurs last month, Roles is highly rated by the club and next season will provide him with an even greater challenge. I look forward to seeing this special talent in our development squad over the coming season, and I’m sure his first team debut won’t be too far away!

A Spurs X1 side will face National league side Ebbsfleet United in a pre season friendly at the clubs Stonebridge road stadium next Saturday, I will be reporting on the game which will be Wayne Burnett’s first in charge of our development squad. COYS

Oliver Skipp: The diligent 16 year old midfielder who has shone for our under 18’s during this season:

“Oliver Skipp, as well, showed guile and quality in possession but also a real desire and toughness out of possession.“ (John McDermott, speaking after Saturday’s defeat to Aston Villa.)

16 year old Spurs midfielder Oliver Skipp is a player who has shone for our under 18’s during the current campaign. He may still be a schoolboy but that hasn’t stopped the highly rated defensive midfielder from making the step up to John McDermott’s side. Skipp has been capped as high up as an under 17 international for England, the 16 year old is a brilliant young player who I have watched throughout the season. Skipp, who primarily operates as a deep lying defensive midfielder but is also adept at playing at centre half, has glowed with quality on the pitch. He was propelled up to last seasons under 16 side whilst still an under 15, in addition he was also a key member of England’s under 16 side during the same season. The 16 year old is a player in the mould of Michael Carrick, a technician with in the centre of the park, Skipp’s intelligence and anticipation of the game is quite special, so too is his ability to pick out a tremendous pass. In fact, if you were to watch Skipp play for our under 18’s you’d think he was a second year scholar, such is his maturity and impressive decision making on the ball. He is a tidy and efficient player, he’s a bit like Harry Winks in some ways, he doesn’t over complicate anything with a flashy bit of skill or an unnecessary trick, he deals with danger like Winks in that respect. Skipp shows guile in his style of play, you can tell just by watching him play that he has a real footballing brain.

Not once have I seen Skipp have a bad game this season whether it be for our under 18, 19’s or under 23’s for who he made his debut for earlier in the year. He’s not as commanding in the midfield in the same way that under 18 captain George Marsh is, but he is a calming presence with in the team, he never overplays a situation. Watching Skipp play is exactly like watching a young Michael Carrick, everything from his awareness to his decisive interceptions remind me of the Manchester United star. In addition, his movement off the ball is also a key quality of his game, the youngster never shies away from a challenge, he is a team player who is never selfish on the ball, his got a tremendous attitude and work ethic on the pitch. I have seen Skipp play many times this season and I predict great things for him during his career with Spurs, he has all the hallmarks of a top defensive midfielder who I believe will continue to flourish at youth level. Next season Skipp will sign a two year scholarship with Spurs and he will be one of the under 18’s most experienced players. Whilst I’m expecting him to play the majority of the season for the under 18’s, I have a feeling that he’ll be integrated into the under 23’s squad by the midpoint of the season. I predict a great future for Skipp and feel that he will have a long and successful career for Spurs. COYS
Some footage of Skipp in action for England under 16’s in 2016: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_BBcjHlngMs