Where are they now? The Spurs Under 18 side who played in the first ever game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium:

Posted on by superhotspur

Back in the March of 2019 a Spurs Under 18 side became the first ever Spurs side to walk out at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, as they played a Premier League South match against Southampton. That was over three years ago that that match was played, on a nice spring day in north London. For many of those Spurs players who played in that game that day, it would have been at that point in their footballing careers, their best ever footballing experience. Played in front of over 28,000 spectators, Spurs won the match 3-1. Spurs’ goals were scored by J’Neil Bennett, Harvey White and Dilan Markanday. A number of regular starters from the excellent Spurs Under 18 side that Spurs had that season, were unavailable for that game. John McDermott and Ryan Mason’s side were missing Paris Maghoma, Luis Binks and Troy Parrott, to name just some of the players who were either away on international duty or injured for that match. It was a fairly routine win for Spurs against Southampton (they were unbeaten in the league that season, going into the Southampton game) and they really deserved to win the game, on what was a historic day in the history of Spurs. That Spurs Under 18 side were outstanding, and it was great to see them play the first ever match at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. 

The squad for the match against Southampton:

Joshua Oluwayemi: The goalkeeper who started the match against Southampton, was the first choice goalkeeper for the Spurs Under 18 side during the 2018/19 season, and he hardly missed a match. Oluwayemi was excellent throughout the 2018/19 season, and he also saved a really good number of penalty kicks during the season. The goalkeeper who has since gone on to become a regular for the Spurs Under 18 side, be called-up to represent the senior Nigeria national team, and also play some matches on loan for non-League side Maidenhead United, continues to do well at Spurs, over three years after that Southampton match. The now 21 year old has made 18 competitive appearances for the Spurs Under 18 side this season. He also made the bench for the Spurs first team in pre-season, in a friendly match with Colchester United. He is a goalkeeper who I am sure will go on to have a very good career in the game.

Jubril Okedina: Starting the Premier League South match with Southampton at right-back, the versatile centre-half would often start matches at right-back during the 2018/19 season, for the Spurs Under 18 side. Okedina had a good game for the Spurs Under 18 side at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium against Southampton, and he really made that right-back spot his own in the side for the second half of the 2018/19 season. A great reader of the game who has good ability on the ball, Jubril would later become an important player for the Spurs Under 23 side, in the following seasons, doing well at both centre-half and right-back. He would also become the captain of the Spurs Under 23 side for the first half of the 2020/21 season, before joining then League Two side Cambridge United for the remainder of that season. After helping Cambridge United win promotion to League One, Okedina signed for them on a permanent basis last summer, and overall he has made over 50 appearances for them, and has become an important player for the side.

Malachi Fagan-Walcott: Centre-half Malachi Fagan-Walcott started the first ever match at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, alongside Brooklyn Lyons-Foster in central-defence. Fagan-Walcott started the match on the right side of central-defence, and I remember the then first year scholar having a solid game against Southampton. The now 20 year old, would often represent the Spurs Under 23 side as well as the Spurs Under 18 side during the following season, a season in which he also made his first team debut as a substitute, in a UEFA Champions League game against RB Leipzig. Apart from spending a short time on loan with Scottish side Dundee FC (he had to return to Spurs early on in the loan because of injury), Fagan-Walcott has been a regular starter for the Spurs Under 23 side in the last couple of seasons. He has made 13 competitive appearances for the Spurs Under 23 side so far this season, and it will be interesting to see whether he goes out on another loan move during the 2022/23 season. 

Brooklyn Lyons-Foster: Still at Spurs, and doing really well in his new defensive-midfield role for the Spurs Under 23 side, up until going off injured in a Premier League 2 match with Blackburn Rovers in January of this year. The now 21 year old player who started the first ever game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on the left side of central-defence, is a player with excellent ability on the ball, but someone who also reads the game really well. Lyons-Foster was a second year scholar during that Southampton game, and the versatile player who only recently signed a new contract with Spurs, has been a mainstay of the Spurs Under 23 side during the 2019/20, 2020/21 and also much of this season. Lyons-Foster has made 17 appearances for the Spurs Under 23 side this season, and he is a player who I think has real potential.

Dennis Cirkin: A highly skilful left-back who really likes to get forward with the ball and take players on for skill down the left flank. Dennis Cirkin was another member of the Spurs Under 18 side of 2018/19, who was in outstanding form throughout that season. Cirkin was a mainstay of the side in 2018/19, and he was so influential from his left-back role, as he showed in that Southampton game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Dennis would later move up to the Spurs Under 23 side, and he even featured for the Spurs first team in the pre-season of 2020, but he would leave Spurs to join League One side Sunderland last summer. During his time at Sunderland so far, Dennis Cirkin has so far made 38 competitive first team appearances for them, and the now 20 year old seems to have made real strides this season.

Oliver Skipp: The match against Southampton in the March of 2019, was actually Oliver Skipp’s only appearance for the Spurs Under 18 side during the 2018/19 season, as although he was still only a second year scholar, Skipp was mostly training with the first team during the 2018/19 season. A player who doesn’t need much introducing, Oliver is a hardworking, highly skilled and tenacious midfielder. The footballer who only yesterday signed a new long term contract with Spurs, has unfortunately been out injured for a while now. However, the 21 year old who has so far made 51 competitive first team appearances for Spurs, was always excellent at Academy level for the club, as he showed in that Southampton game, in his defensive-midfield role. The player who only last season helped Norwich City (on loan) to win the Championship, is a player who I really believe is capable of becoming a Spurs legend.

Harvey White: A midfielder and set-piece specialist, with the ability to make a decisive pass. Harvey White started the Southampton match just ahead of Oliver Skipp in central-midfield. Harvey scored a first half penalty kick in that match, and throughout the 2018/19 season, the midfielder from County Kent provided a great number of assists from midfield, and he also scored a good number of goals as well. The now 20 year old who during the second half of this season has often been on the bench for the Spurs first team, has so far made two competitive first team appearances for the Spurs first team. A regular for the Spurs Under 23 side over the last couple of seasons, Harvey White also spent the second half of last season (2020/21) on loan with League One side Portsmouth. 

Dilan Markanday: His skilful runs, excellent close ball control and ability to ride challenges, made Barnet born winger Dilan Markanday one of the most influential players in the Premier League South during the 2018/19 season. The player who I actually named man of the match in the game against Southampton in my match report, started that match on the right flank, as a winger. Markanday later went on to become a regular starter for the Spurs Under 23 side in the seasons that followed 2018/19, and the very skilful player was in exceptional form for the Spurs Under 23 side during the first half of this season, scoring 12 goals and providing eight assists, as well as making his first team debut for the Spurs first team. However, Markanday left Spurs to join Blackburn Rovers in the January of this year, but very unfortunately picked up a long term injury in his debut for the Championship club, in a league game with Hull City. Markanday is an excellent player with real potential, and I am sure that he will return stronger than ever from his injury.

Armando Shashoua: The inspirational captain (he was the first ever captain to lead a Spurs team out at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium) of the Spurs Under 18 side during the 2018/19 season, midfielder Armando Shashoua provided a great number of assists from his usual CAM role, as well as scoring a good number of goals. The younger brother of former Spurs player Samuel Shashoua, Armando’s all-round ability and excellent work off the ball, made him such an important player for the Spurs Under 18 side in 2018/19. Armando led by example throughout that season, and he was a player who I’d never seen have a bad game for Spurs at any levels. He would later play for the Spurs Under 23 side during the first half of the following 2019/20 season, before joining Spanish third tier side Atlético Baleares for the second half of that season. Armando left Spurs to join Atlético Baleares on a permanent transfer for the start of the 2020/21 season, and although he is currently out injured, Armando has established himself as a very important player for Atlético, since joining them, as they look to win promotion to the second tier of Spanish football.

J’Neil Bennett: The first ever scorer of goal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, unpredictable and skilful winger J’Neil Bennett opened the scoring with a fine goal, and he had a good game against Southampton on that day. Bennett started the match out on the left wing and he was often a starter for the Spurs Under 18 side during that 2018/19 season, as well as playing some matches for the Spurs Under 23 side during the same season. The 20 year old, who at the time of the 2018/19 season was a first year scholar, made a number of appearances for the Spurs Under 18 side during the following season, and has since gone on to become a regular for the Spurs Under 23 side. Bennett joined League One side Crewe Alexandra for the first half of the 2021/22 season, but since returned to Spurs because of injury. The player who made his competitive first team debut for Spurs earlier on in the season, has so far scored two goals for the Spurs Under 23 side this season.

Rayan Clarke: Although Rayan Clarke was a winger during his time at Spurs, he actually led the line for the Spurs Under 18 side in that game against Southampton, in the absence of a centre-forward. Clarke was having a good season for the Spurs Under 18 side during the 2018/19 season. The skilful and direct winger who would score a good number of goals for the side in 2018/19, had been at Spurs for a long time up until being released at the end of the following 2019/20 season, when he was with the Spurs Under 23 side. Clarke since went on trial with Sunderland, where he scored a goal for their Under 23 side from one Premier League 2 appearance during the 2020/21 season. However, since leaving Spurs in the summer of 2020, Rayan has unfortunately been without a club.

Kacper Kurylowicz: The substitute goalkeeper for the Southampton match, Kacper Kurylowicz was a first year scholar with the club during the 2018/19 season. The talented and brave goalkeeper only made a couple of appearances for the Spurs Under 18 side during his first season with the club, but he would make a good number of appearances for the Spurs Under 18 side during the following 2020/21 season. Currently on loan from Spurs with non-League side Potters Bar Town, the 20 year old is also with the Spurs Under 23 side.

Maxwell Statham: A solid, brave and reliable all-round defender, Maxwell Statham came on in the 79th minute of the Premier League South match with Southampton. The son of former Spurs player Brian Statham, Maxwell became an important member of the Spurs Under 18 side that came so close to winning the 2018/19 Premier League South. Maxwell was with the Spurs Under 23 side for the following 2019/20 season, before being released by the club at the end of that season. He has since represented Watford at Under 23 level, Hornchurch and now National League South side Welling United, where he is a very important player, and one who has done really well for them during this season, as they look to avoid relegation from that league.

Chay Cooper: A very clever winger with an eye for goal, former Spurs player Chay Cooper came on as a 71st minute substitute at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, in the game against Southampton. Cooper would establish himself as an important member of the Spurs Under 18 side during the following 2019/20 season, when he scored a number of goals and provided a good amount of assists. Following his release from Spurs at the end of the 2020/21 season, Chay signed for League Two side Colchester United, and he has been a mainstay of their Under 23 side this season, impressively scoring ten goals for them, as well as making four competitive appearances for the Colchester first team.

Elliot Thorpe: A skilful and direct midfield player, Wales Under 21 international Elliot Thorpe is a player who I’m a big fan of. He plays the game with a smile on his face, but he is a determined midfield player who loves to go on surging forward runs with the ball from deep. Thorpe was an unused substitute for John McDermott and Ryan Mason’s side in the game against Southampton. Elliot would make a good number of appearances for the Spurs Under 23 side over the next two seasons (he even scored a brace in an Under 23 game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium), before signing for Luton Town earlier on this season. The 21 year old has so far made one competitive appearance for the Championship side (in the FA Cup), and he even provided an assist in that game.

Maurizio Pochettino: A hardworking and direct winger, Maurizio Pochettino made a good amount of appearances for the Spurs Under 18 side during his two seasons as a scholar at the club. The son of former Spurs head coach Mauricio Pochettino, Maurizio came on as a 79th minute substitute to replace J’Neil Bennett in the game against Southampton. After spending a season and a half with the Spurs Under 23 side, Pochettino signed for Watford in the January of 2021. He has since made one competitive appearance for their first team, and this season he has scored three goals for Watford’s Under 23 side.

A piece on Spurs’ promising Academy goalkeeper Thimothée Lo-Tutala:

Posted on by superhotspur

Goalkeeper Thimothée Lo-Tutala has established himself as the first choice goalkeeper for France’s Under 19 side during this season. The former Brentford Academy player, who has been at Spurs for a good number of years, joined Spurs full-time in the summer of 2019, for the start of the 2019/20 season. Lo-Tutala was born in Paris, in France, but brought up in Hainault, Essex. While with Brentford, he would have been with future Spurs Academy players Dermi Lusala and Eddie Carrington, who were in the same age group as him at the west London club. First making the Spurs Under 18 squad as a substitute in a Premier League South game away to Brighton & Hove Albion during the 2017/18 season, Lo-Tutala made a decent number of appearances for the Spurs Under 18 side during his first season full-time with the club, in 2019/20. He also started both of the FA Youth Cup games that Spurs played in that season. However, it was during the following 2020/21 season that Thimothée Lo-Tutala really became the first choice goalkeeper for the Spurs Under 18 side. 

During the 2020/21 season, Lo-Tutala was a regular for then Spurs Under 18’s head-coach Matt Taylor’s side, and was named captain of the side on all but one occasion during that season. He also kept seven clean-sheets for the Spurs Under 18 side during that season, and would go onto make his debut for the Spurs Under 23 side in the Premier League 2, in a 6-1 home loss to Manchester City, in the final league game of that season. After featuring for the Spurs Under 23 side during pre-season, Thimothée made his first competitive start of the season for the Spurs Under 23 side in a 3-1 away win against Manchester City in the Premier League 2, and has since gone onto make a further seven appearances for Wayne Burnett’s side in all competitions, plus an additional two for the Spurs Under 18 side, during the early part of this season. Lo-Tutala has done really well in my opinion this season, in the games that he has started. There has also obviously been a lot of competition for a goalkeeping place in the Spurs Under 23 side, with Joshua Oluwayemi, Kacper Kurylowicz and Isak Solberg also all part of the Spurs Under 23 squad.

Really impressing in Premier League 2 games against the likes of Manchester City (at home) and Manchester United (at home), Thimothée was first selected to represent the country that he was born in (France) at Under 19 level for the September international break, of 2021. The goalkeeper has since made 10 appearances for a very talented France Under 19 side, and the goalkeeper who speaks fluent French has kept three clean-sheets so far for the French Under 19 side. So what kind of goalkeeper is Thimothée? Well he is a tall and very commanding goalkeeper, and one who doesn’t let physical centre-forward’s get the better of him from crosses and set-pieces. He is a reliable goalkeeper and I’ve always noticed in matches that he is very alert. Always talking the defenders through the game, and giving them instructions, Thimothée has good distribution, and he doesn’t take unnecessary risks with the ball at his feet. He is capable of rushing out of his goal at a good pace to clear the ball if needed, but he is also a very good shot stopper, and one who is capable of making excellent reflex saves, especially from close range (for example – the great late save that he made against AFC Wimbledon in the FA Youth Cup, last season).

Good at saving penalties, as he has shown on occasions since joining the club full-time in 2019, Lo-Tutala is in my opinion just a very good all-round goalkeeper, and someone who has got better and better over the past couple of seasons, continuing to make really good strides. At Spurs, the Academy goalkeepers who are at the club, are all very talented ones, and so Thimothée and also the very talented Joshua Oluwayemi have both had good opportunities of game time for the Spurs Under 23 side this season, which is great to see. I would like to wish Thimothée all the very best of luck for the remainder of the season. A season which he has done really well in, so far.

Spurs Under 18’s 2-3 Chelsea: (match report)

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Spurs’ Under 18 side traveled to Surrey on Tuesday, to face Chelsea at their Cobham training ground, in a Premier League South fixture. Spurs lost the match 3-2, but it was a game that they deserved at least a draw from. Adam Hayton started in goal for Spurs, while a back four of George Abbott, Alfie Dorrington, Charlie Sayers and Jordan Hackett started in front of him. Rio Kyerematen and Jez Davies started in central midfield, and Maxwell McKnight and Billy Heaps started out on the flanks, either side of captain Jamie Donley. Jaden Williams led the line for Spurs. It was Spurs who got the game underway, but it didn’t start how they would have wanted it to, with Chelsea taking the lead inside the first minute of the match. After Rio Kyerematen slipped, the ball was taken off of him by Chelsea player Louis Flower, who then passed the ball to Ronnie Stutter inside the Spurs box, and he then finished past Adam Hayton in the Spurs goal, 0-1. Adam Hayton then saved Edwin Andersson’s effort from the left side of the Spurs box shortly after, after he had received a pass from Zain Silcott.

Jamie Donley had an effort well blocked inside the Spurs box, before Spurs got an equaliser through Maxwell McKnight. After Chelsea goalkeeper Max Merrick had accidentally passed the ball to McKnight on the edge of the Chelsea box, the Spurs player powerfully finished into the empty goal, 1-1. Charlie Sayers blocked Ronnie Stutter’s effort on goal, and then a couple of minutes later a good Spurs move came to an end with Maxwell McKnight receiving the ball on the right side of the Chelsea box. He then passed the ball to Rio Kyerematen, who was in the centre of the box. However Kyerematen’s effort was saved by Max Merrick. Kyerematen had a good effort saved by Merrick, a couple of minutes afterwards. At the other end of the pitch Adam Hayton saved Ronnie Stutter’s effort, before then saving Louis Flower’s headed effort from a cross. Chelsea regained their lead in the 22nd minute of the match. After Sam Rak-Sakyi passed the ball to Edwin Andersson down the left flank, Andersson brought the ball into the Spurs box, where he finished into the bottom right hand corner of the goal, 1-2.

Charlie Sayers received a yellow card shortly after the game got started again, before Brodi Hughes hit an effort wide of the Spurs goal. Jamie Donley had an effort blocked inside the Chelsea box by Luke Badley-Morgan, and then Chelsea goalkeeper Max Merrick made a really good save to stop Billy Heaps’ powerful dipping effort from distance, before Jaden Williams could tap the ball into the goal. Jez Davies received a yellow card, and then after Jamie Donley received a pass from Davies, the Spurs forward hit an effort over the Chelsea goal. Spurs managed to draw level soon after, as from a Billy Heaps corner-kick, the ball was headed over goalkeeper Max Merrick by a Chelsea player and into the path of Jamie Donley at the back post, and the England youth international was able to find the back of the goal from his first time effort, 2-2. Billy Heaps hit an effort wide from the edge of the Chelsea box, before a good defensive intervention was made by Jordan Hackett to stop a good Chelsea cross from being met at the far post. The referee sounded his whistle for half-time a couple of minutes later.

Chelsea got the second half underway. After Donley managed to find Rio Kyerematen down the left side of the Chelsea box, the Spurs midfielder hit an effort wide of the goal. Harrison Murray-Campbell then blocked an effort from Kyerematen inside the Chelsea box, before the unmarked Jaden Williams just missed connecting with a Jamie Donley cross at the back post of the Chelsea box. After the impressive Malik Mothersille received a pass from Jimi Tauriainen on the right side of the Spurs box, Adam Hayton made an impressive save with his feet to stop Tauriainen’s low effort from going in. Alfie Dorrington glanced a Billy Heaps free-kick wide, before Adam Hayton saved a low effort from Ronnie Stutter inside the Spurs box. Jaden Williams then curled an effort wide from the edge of the Chelsea box, as the game continued to see chances missed at both ends of the pitch. Chelsea substitute Leo Castledine then hit an effort wide from inside the Spurs box, after getting onto a loose ball. 

After being unable to volley a cross how he would have hoped to, Jaden Williams saw his effort from inside the Chelsea box go to Rio Kyerematen, and with only the goalkeeper to beat, he looked likely to score from close range. However, Chelsea goalkeeper Max Merrick somehow managed to save Kyerematen’s effort. The impressive Jez Davies had a deflected effort saved by the Chelsea goalkeeper, after going past a player with ease. Then Leo Castledine hit an effort over from the edge of the Spurs box, in what was a good chance for the home side. Riley Owen replaced Billy Heaps, before the Spurs substitute delivered a corner kick into the Chelsea box, which was nodded just wide of the goal by Charlie Sayers. Sayers then impressively blocked an effort from Ronnie Stutter inside the Spurs box. However, Chelsea took the lead again not long after, in what turned out to be the wining goal. Leo Castledine heading home Edwin Andersson’s corner kick into the centre of the Spurs goal, 2-3.

Late substitutes for Spurs saw Will Andiyapan and Leo Black replace Jordan Hackett and Rio Kyerematen respectively. Unable to create any further chances before the referee sounded his final whistle, Spurs’ winning league run came to an end. Their next Premier League South game is at home to West Bromwich Albion on Saturday. 

Player reviews:

  • Adam Hayton: The Spurs goalkeeper had another good game in goal for Spurs. He commanded his box really well again today and he made some impressive saves as well. 
  • George Abbott: From looking at the result and the fact that Spurs let in three goals, some might think that this couldn’t have been the greatest defensive performance from Spurs, but the Spurs back four did do well today. And midfielder George Abbott had a good game at right-back, making some good decisions and also bringing the ball forward well at times.
  • Alfie Dorrington: The right sided centre-half again showed a good understanding with left sided centre-half Charlie Sayers, and he made some good defensive interventions during the match.
  • Charlie Sayers: The left sided centre-half got better and better as the match went on, and his decision making and reading of the game was at times excellent. Sayers was also good in the air. He does at times remind me of former Spurs Academy player and defender Luis Binks.
  • Jordan Hackett: The left-back got up and down the left flank well, and he made some good blocks and clearances during his time on the pitch. 
  • Rio Kyerematen: Unlucky not to score a goal today, central midfielder Rio Kyerematen got forward well and into some good goalscoring positions.
  • Jez Davies: My man of the match, see below.
  • Maxwell McKnight: The right-back started the match as a winger and he scored an early well taken goal. McKnight was always looking to receive the ball out on the right flank.
  • Jamie Donley: The Spurs captain again showed his class this afternoon, as he worked really well off the ball, dropping deep to receive it and looking to create chances for teammates. Scoring his 15th goal of the season for Spurs’ Under 18 side against Chelsea in the first half, Donley worked really hard for the team.
  • Billy Heaps: This was another strong performance from the versatile midfielder. Heaps started the match on the left flank as a winger, where he showed some good skill on the ball. He got another assist, this time from a corner-kick, and his all-round performance was a good one.
  • Jaden Williams: The Spurs centre-forward worked really hard once again today, even though he didn’t have any real chances to score from.
  • Riley Owen: The second half substitute went out to the left flank where he played as a winger.
  • Will Andiyapan: The late substitute went to left-back following his introduction tothe game.
  • Leo Black: The late substitute went into central-midfield for the final minutes of the game.

My man of the match: Jez Davies. The central midfielder was really classy on the ball against Chelsea today, and he was always looking to receive the ball, bring it forward and try and go past Chelsea players for skill. Davies was really good on the ball and his many very good surging forward runs from midfield really helped Spurs out against Chelsea.

Spurs Under 18’s versus Chelsea: (match preview)

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Spurs’ Under 18 side are in good league form of late. They have won their last three Premier League South matches, going into this Tuesdays league fixture with Chelsea, at their Cobham training centre. Spurs won 2-1 against Norwich City at the weekend, and they were without three of their regular starters, in Jaden Williams, Alfie Dorrington and Jordan Hackett, for that match. Chelsea are in sixth place in the Premier League South, after picking up 39 points from 21 matches. They are three places and 12 points above Stuart Lewis’ Spurs side, in the league. The reverse fixture earlier on in the season saw Spurs lose 7-2 at home to Chelsea, but it was a red card that was shown to Jamie Donley on that day, which really allowed Chelsea to control the game, and score so many goals. Just like in all of the previous seasons that I have watched Spurs face Chelsea, this Chelsea side are a very talented team, regardless of where they are in the league this season. And Spurs will have to be at their best to get a good result at Cobham on Tuesday. I would like to wish the Spurs side all the very best of luck for the match.

My predicted lineup: (4-2-3-1) Maguire, Bryan-Waugh, Dorrington, Sayers, Hackett,   Abbott, Kyerematen, McKnight, Donley (c), Bloxham, Williams.

Subs from: Hayton, Linton, Davies, Heaps, Owen.

Injured/unavailable: N/A.

Doubtful: N/A.

Previous meeting: Spurs 2-7.

My score prediction: Spurs 2-1.

My one to watch: Malik Mothersille. The second year scholar was impressive in the reverse fixture last year, after he came on fairly late in the game. The forward scored a well taken goal during that match, and he has scored seven league goals and provided two assists from 15 appearances for the Chelsea Under 18 side this season.

Some notes on Spurs Academy goalkeepers, Adam Hayton, Luca Gunter and Aaron Maguire:

Posted on by superhotspur

Still all scholars at the club, Spurs Academy goalkeepers Adam Hayton, Luca Gunter and Aaron Maguire all play for Spurs’ Under 18 side. All three goalkeepers have featured for the Spurs Under 18 side this season. Adam Hayton and Aaron Maguire are second year scholars with the club, while England youth international Luca Gunter is in his first year of scholarship with the club. The following short piece includes some notes on all three goalkeepers and their time at Spurs so far, since joining the club on a full-time basis. All very talented goalkeepers, this season just like in all of the others seasons that I have been watching Spurs’ Academy sides, Spurs have always had such talented goalkeepers.

Adam Hayton: Luton born goalkeeper Adam Hayton has made ten competitive appearances for Spurs’ Under 18 side this season. He joined Spurs full-time in the summer of 2020, and last season (2020/21) Adam Hayton made six appearances for the Spurs Under 18 side in all competitions, in his debut season with the club on a full-time basis, and he captained them on one occasion last season. For the start of this season Hayton started the first two Premier League South matches, and has so far made an additional eight appearances for the Spurs Under 18 side, as well as making the bench for the Spurs Under 23 side on occasions. Impressing greatly in the two games with Reading in the league, by making a number of match winning saves, Adam Hayton has been reliable throughout the season in the games that he has started, in my opinion. Still eligible to play for the side next season, as Thimothée Lo-Tutala has been this season (he has mainly been with the Spurs Under 23 side), the 17 year old goalkeeper is a very good shot stopper. He has shown that he is capable of making some very good saves, and he commands his box well as he showed as recently as the Norwich City game, on Friday.

A brave goalkeeper and one who I really think has been solid this season whenever he has been given the chance, Adam Hayton is clearly a very talented goalkeeper and one who will be hoping to get more starts for Stuart Lewis’ side during the remainder of the season. I also wouldn’t be surprised if Adam made the Spurs Under 19 squad that travels to The Netherlands for the end of season Terborg Tournament, as a second year scholar.

Aaron Maguire: A player who has represented the Republic of Ireland and also England at youth international level, second year scholar and Londoner Aaron Maguire has so far made four appearances for the Spurs Under 18 side in the Premier League South this season. Maguire made five Premier League South appearances for the Spurs Under 18 side last season, in his first season full-time with the club. Aaron is a calm goalkeeper who also shows great composure in matches, and who also impresses with his distribution. The goalkeeper who only this season was called-up to the Republic of Ireland Under 19 squad, reminds me in some ways of Academy goalkeeper Kacper Kurylowicz, when he was a second year scholar at the club. As like Kurylowicz, Maguire is good at rushing off his line and at making good saves when making his body big, to close down the angles. Aaron has kept one clean sheet this season, in a 7-0 league win over Birmingham City, and he has impressed every time that I have seen him play, including in the Under 17 Premier League Cup final with Manchester City, earlier this month.

The second year scholar like Adam Hayton, will still be eligible to play matches for the Spurs Under 18 side next season. Maguire is yet another one of the promising Academy goalkeepers at Spurs who has good potential in my opinion, and one who I’m looking forward to seeing more of over the next couple of seasons.

Luca Gunter: First year scholar Luca Gunter is a local lad from Enfield, who was previously with Queen’s Park Rangers. A tall goalkeeper with very good reflexes, Luca Gunter impressed greatly in his debut for Spurs’ Under 18 side last October, in a 0-0 Under 18 Premier League Cup game with Stoke City, at Hotspur Way. Gunter made a good number of impressive saves during that match for Spurs. A goalkeeper with very good positioning inside his box, and one who is also quick on his feet, and capable of making really fine saves. Luca has made an additional ten competitive appearances for Stuart Lewis’ side this season, and I think that just like Adam Hayton and Aaron Maguire, Luca has done well in a very talented Spurs Under 18 side. Possibly his finest game so far this season came in the FA Youth Cup fifth round tie with Wolverhampton Wanderers, earlier in the year. After doing well in the previous two rounds, where he made some really good saves, Luca Gunter made a great number of really fine saves in the FA Youth Cup match against Wolves, and his positioning throughout that 3-0 loss, was very good. Having already made the Spurs Under 23’s squad on two occasions this season, I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see the goalkeeper who recently signed his first professional contract with the club, make his debut for the Spurs Under 23 side next season.

Some notes on Spurs loanee Troy Parrott’s performance against Sheffield Wednesday:

Posted on by superhotspur

Troy Parrott completed the whole of MK Dons’ 3-2 loss to Sheffield Wednesday, in a home League One fixture on Saturday night. Once again impressing during the match, Parrott started the game to the right side of MK Dons centre-forward Mohamed Eisa, but the Spurs player would often appear in different positions in the final third throughout the match. Fairly early on in the match and after starting an MK Dons move, Troy received the ball before hitting a low effort wide of the Sheffield Wednesday goal, from the edge of the penalty area. The Dubliner was involved in two more good moves during the remainder of the first half. The first one would see him receive the ball before then going forward with it down the left side of the Sheffield Wednesday box, before passing it to Scott Twine, whose resulting effort went wide of the goal. Then not long before half-time, Parrott received a pass from Scott Twine down the left, and he then took the ball into the Sheffield Wednesday box. Parrott then lifted the ball over the outrushing goalkeeper, with Sheffield Wednesday defender Liam Palmer unable to stop the ball from going in on the line.

Early on in the second half Troy would make a good run in behind the Sheffield Wednesday defence, to try and get on a long pass. However, his resulting cross into the box was gathered by the goalkeeper. After Mohamed Eisa picked up an injury and had to be substituted, Troy went to the centre-forward position. A good pass with pace from substitute Hiram Boateng to Parrott inside the Sheffield Wednesday box, was unluckily not controlled as Troy would have wished, otherwise he would have had a great chance to score a goal. As the game went on Troy continued to work hard and also show good skill on the ball when it came his way. A good pass to Scott Twine down the left side of the Sheffield Wednesday box ended up with Twine having an effort saved. And then very late on in the game Parrott came inside with the ball into the left side of the Sheffield Wednesday box, before having an effort saved by the goalkeeper.

Spurs Under 18’s 2-1 Norwich City: (match report)

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Spurs’ Under 18 side welcomed Norwich City to Hotspur Way on Saturday, for a Premier League South match. Spurs head-coach Stuart Lewis saw his side win the match 2-1, but Norwich made Spurs work hard to get the win, especially in the second half. Spurs lined-up with Adam Hayton in goal, while a back four of Brandon Bryan-Waugh, Archie Chaplin, Charlie Sayers and Jahziah Linton started in front of him. George Abbott and Jez Davies started in central-midfield, while Billy Heaps and Riley Owen started out on the flanks, either side of CAM Rio Kyerematen. Spurs captain Jamie Donley led the line. Norwich got the game underway on a warm day in Enfield. An early chance for the away team followed, after Dubem Eze passed the ball to Oscar Thorn on the right side of the Spurs penalty area. However, Thorn’s low effort went across and wide of goalkeeper Adam Hayton’s goal. Rio Kyerematen had an effort saved from the edge of the Norwich box, before centre-half Charlie Sayers headed an effort wide from a Rio Kyerematen free-kick. Kyerematen then had an effort blocked by a defender inside the Norwich box, a couple of minutes later.

Spurs took the lead in the 30th minute of the game through the impressive Rio Kyerematen. After receiving a pass from Jez Davies just outside the Norwich box, Kyerematen hit an effort towards the centre of the goal. However, Norwich goalkeeper David Aziaya got his angles wrong, and ended up being unable to gather the effort which went through his hands and into the goal, 1-0. Rio Kyerematen headed over a cross from Jahziah Linton, before Spurs doubled their lead. The Norwich goalkeeper took slightly too long on the ball inside his box, and he was closed down by Jamie Donley, who ended up scoring after David Aziaya’s clearance rebounded into the goal off of Donley, 2-0. Norwich responded well to Spurs scoring their second goal of the game. After receiving Oscar Thorn’s pass on the right side of the Spurs box, Ken Aboh had an effort saved by Adam Hayton, before the ball was then cleared. Dubem Eze saw his deflected effort go wide of the Spurs goal, before Norwich finally did get a goal, a couple of minutes after Rio Kyerematen was shown a yellow card. A free-kick into the Spurs box ended up coming to Brad Hills, whose headed effort went into the right corner of the goal, 2-1. The referee sounded his whistle for half-time shortly after.

Spurs got the second half underway. Charlie Sayers volleyed an effort over the Norwich goal from a Rio Kyerematen corner-kick, before Brandon Bryan-Waugh was shown a yellow card for making a foul. After showing good skill on the ball Riley Owen had a blocked effort saved by David Aziaya. Spurs’ first change of the game saw Maxwell McKnight replace Brandon Bryan-Waugh, and a couple of minutes after that substitution was made Adam Hayton unfortunately gave the ball away to Finley Welch. The Norwich substitute continued with the ball into the Spurs box before hitting the ball off of Hayton’s near post, with the ball then going behind for a goal kick. Thomas Bloxham replaced Riley Owen, and then after picking up an injury Archie Chaplin was replaced by Leo Black. Rio Kyerematen volleyed a good effort wide of the Norwich goal, before Oscar Thorn hit an effort across Adam Hayton’s goal, at the other end of the pitch. Spurs substitute Leo Black volleyed wide an effort from a Thomas Bloxham cross, as Spurs looked for that important third goal.

Joe Duffy headed a free-kick into the arms of Adam Hayton, before a late Spurs move almost ended in them scoring another goal. After Leo Black managed to win the ball off of Norwich defender Lewis Shipley, the midfielder passed the ball to Rio Kyerematen who then gave the ball to Maxwell McKnight, whose effort inside the Norwich box was tipped over the goal by goalkeeper David Aziaya. The referee sounded his whistle for full-time a couple of minutes later. Spurs’ next league game is on Tuesday, when they face Chelsea at their Cobham training ground.

Player reviews:

  • Adam Hayton: The Spurs goalkeeper and second year scholar didn’t have a lot of saves to make today. He made one good save during the first half, but he dealt really well with crosses and set-pieces into the Spurs box.
  • Brandon Bryan-Waugh: The right-back kept good positioning during his time on the pitch, and he also got forward well on occasions.
  • Archie Chaplin: Defending solidly during his time on the pitch, the centre-half started on the right side of central-defence. Chaplin later had to be substituted after picking up an injury in the second half.
  • Charlie Sayers: The left sided centre-half had a good game for Spurs. The second year scholar was good in the air, and also solid in defence.
  • Jahziah Linton: The left-back like all of the Spurs defence, had a good game. Linton went on one particularly impressive run with the ball down the left flank during the second half.
  • George Abbott: The defensive-midfielder started the match in midfield, where he worked hard and covered a lot of ground, before later going to right-back.
  • Jez Davies: Carrying on from his impressive performance against West Ham last week, central-midfielder Jez Davies was impressive on the ball and he shielded it well in midfield. After setting-up Rio Kyerematen’s first half goal, Davies went into central-defence in the second half, after Archie Chaplin left the field.
  • Billy Heaps: Starting the match out on the right flank as a winger, midfielder Billy Heaps was efficient in what he did today, against Norwich. Heaps would later go into central-midfield, where he continued to quietly impress.
  • Rio Kyerematen: My man of the match, see below.
  • Riley Owen: The winger started the match out on the left flank, and he started the game well. Owen went on some good runs with the ball during his time on the pitch.
  • Jamie Donley: The centre-forward was always looking to drop deep to receive the ball and create chances for his teammates. Donley scored a slightly fortunate first half goal, but his all-round game was good once again.
  • Maxwell McKnight: After replacing Brandon Bryan-Waugh and going out to the right flank as a winger during the second half, Maxwell McKnight often found himself in quite a bit of space out on the right flank. He was very direct both with and without the ball.
  • Thomas Bloxham: The Republic of Ireland Under 17 international was like Maxwell McKnight, with how direct he was with the ball out wide.
  • Leo Black: This was a good cameo from the midfield player. Leo Black worked well of the ball and was involved in the final third quite a bit during the second half.

My man of the match: Rio Kyerematen. The midfielder and first year scholar started the match against Norwich as a CAM. Kyerematen brought the ball forward really well from midfield, and he used the ball very well today. After scoring a slightly fortunate first half goal, Rio impressed with his delivery from set-pieces, and he showed good skill on the ball throughout the match.

A piece on Spurs Under 23’s talented goalkeeper Joshua Oluwayemi and his Spurs journey so far:

Posted on by superhotspur

Joshua Oluwayemi (known by his teammates as Josh) is now in his third year as a professional with Spurs. The goalkeeper who was born in Waltham Forest, and brought up in Harold Hill, joined the Spurs Academy full-time in the summer of 2017/18, and during the previous season he made the bench for Spurs’ Under 18 side in a Premier League South game, on one occasion. Joshua’s younger brother Tobi (ex-Spurs Academy player) is also a goalkeeper, and he is currently with Scottish side Celtic. However, Joshua made his competitive Spurs Under 18’s debut as a second half substitute in an Under 18 Premier League South game away to Leicester City in the early stages of the 2017/18 season, and he would make a stunning late save in that game. Often the second/third choice goalkeeper for the Spurs Under 18 side during the 2017/18 season (Jonathan De Bie was the first choice goalkeeper), Oluwayemi made an additional competitive appearance for then head-coach Scott Parker’s side in the league, in an away match to Aston Villa, which Spurs won 5-0, with Joshua making some impressive saves in that game. 

During the 2018/19 season, this was to be the season that Oluwayemi made the number one goalkeeping spot his own in the Spurs Under 18 side. The former England youth international was a key member of the Spurs Under 18 side that came so close to winning the Premier League South during that season. Making some incredible and very important saves, I’ll always remember Oluwayemi making an outstanding save to stop what looked like a certain goal that seemed destined to go into the top left hand corner of the goal, in a north London derby with Arsenal.  During that season the penalty kick saving specialist saved an impressive five penalties for the Spurs Under 18 side. The 2018/19 season was definitely a season of very good progress for Joshua at that stage of his career, and he was absolutely brilliant during that season. Vocal and encouraging to his teammates in matches during the 2018/19 season, Joshua would spend the start of the next pre-season (2019/20) with the Spurs Development side. After making some appearances in pre-season friendlies, Oluwayemi impressed greatly for the Spurs Development side in the Tournoi Européen in France.

At the Tournoi Européen Joshua was outstanding in all of the games that he started in, and I actually thought that he was Spurs’ best player in that tournament, that pre-season against some very good sides. Having to wait until the November of 2019 to make his competitive debut for the Spurs Under 23 side. The then first year professional would make an additional four appearances for the Spurs Under 23 side before the end of that season, as well as featuring for the Spurs Under 19 side in the UEFA Youth League. Later making 12 Premier League 2 appearances for the Spurs Under 23 side during the following 2020/21 season, Oluwayemi would go out on his first loan move during the first half of that season (to National League side Maidenhead United), where he would make two competitive appearances. After returning to Spurs and starting a good number of games for their Under 23 side, Oluwayemi has gone onto become a regular starter for Wayne Burnett’s Spurs Under 23 side during the following 2021/22 season. He has so far made 18 appearances in all competitions for the Spurs Under 23 side this season, and he is doing well for them.

The goalkeeper who was called-up to the senior Nigeria national team for a friendly with Mexico last year and who turned 21 last month, is a goalkeeper who has tremendous reflexes and is capable of making some spectacular saves, as he has shown for Spurs over the years at Academy level. However, although he isn’t very tall for a goalkeeper, Oluwayemi has a really good jumping reach, and he commands his penalty area with a real assuredness. He is good at dealing with crosses and set-pieces, but is also calm and composed with the ball at his feet, such is his fine distribution. Always vocal and encouraging to his teammates on the pitch, Joshua’s positioning inside his penalty area is some of the best that I’ve seen from a Spurs Academy goalkeeper over the years. He also rarely makes mistakes, and is a reliable all-round goalkeeper, who is quick out of his box and very brave in his goalkeeping. It will be interesting to see what the future holds for Joshua at Spurs, but he is someone who should be very proud of all that he has achieved so far in his time at the club. Goalkeeping places in the various Academy sides in Academy football is very strong, and so to go on and become a regular starter for both the Spurs Under 18 and 23’s side is very impressive.

I would like to wish Joshua all the very best for the remainder of this season with the Spurs Under 23 side. The next Spurs Under 23’s game is a Premier League 2 fixture with Derby County, on the 25th of this month.

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

Posted on by superhotspur

Spurs’ Under 18 side will welcome Norwich City to Hotspur Way on Friday afternoon (the game starts at 12:00pm) for a Premier League South fixture. Spurs impressively won 5-3 away to West Ham United last Saturday, and that win was made particularly impressive by the fact that West Ham hadn’t lost a league game since last September (also against Spurs) going into that game. Norwich City are currently in 14th place in the Premier League South, after picking up seven points from 22 league matches this season. Norwich have yet to win an away league game this season. This game on Friday is actually the first league meeting between the two sides this season, with the away fixture against Norwich scheduled for later this month (Saturday the 30th of April). This will be an interesting game and hopefully Spurs can get another league win, after showing great character against West Ham last Saturday. I would like to wish the Spurs team all the very best of luck for the game on Friday. 

My predicted lineup: (4-2-3-1) Maguire, Bryan-Waugh, Dorrington, Sayers, Hackett, Hall, Kyerematen, McKnight, Donley (c), Bloxham, Williams.

Subs from: Hayton, Chaplin, Linton, Davies, Owen, 

Injured/unavailable: N/A.

Doubtful: N/A.

Previous meeting: Spurs 5-2.

My score prediction: Spurs 3-1.

My one to watch: Kenneth Aboh. The Norwich City player has scored seven goals from 20 appearances for Norwich’s Under 18 side this season, in the Premier League South.

A season of fine progress – A piece on Spurs Under 23’s mainstay Alfie Devine, and his season so far:

Posted on by superhotspur

Second year scholar Alfie Devine has been in excellent form for Spurs’ Under 23 side this season. The former Wigan Athletic player, who joined Spurs from Wigan in the summer of 2020, has scored nine goals and provided four assists for Wayne Burnett’s side, so far this season (he has also scored an additional two goals for the Spurs Under 18 side this season). The footballer from Warrington has undoubtedly been one of the most important players for the Spurs Development side this season, regardless of his impressive stats in regards to goals and assists. Devine, who was recently nominated for the Premier League 2 player of the month award for March, has shown real leadership and maturity for a second year scholar this season. He has mainly played for the Spurs Under 23 side throughout the season so far, apart from the odd game for the Spurs Under 18 side, mainly in the FA Youth Cup. Devine has been a regular starter for the Spurs Under 23 side, apart from missing some games in the autumn of 2021, because of injury.

After regularly starting games for the Spurs Under 18 side during the 2020/21 season, and becoming an important player for them as a first year scholar, Devine also played for the Spurs Under 23 side, particularly during the second half of the 2020/21 season. However, this season and after spending much of pre-season with the Spurs Development side, Devine has gone on to become a really important player for Wayne Burnett’s side. Often starting matches in the CAM role for the Spurs Under 23 side this season, Alfie has also done well whenever he has started matches out-wide, or in central-midfield. Starting the season really well, and putting in impressive performances against the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Derby County. Devine was in really good form before getting injured in the October of 2021. He returned as a second half substitute in a Premier League 2 home game against Manchester City in the December of 2021, and after that match he soon started scoring goals and providing assists again.

Very impressive performances against Crystal Palace and Arsenal followed, and the very consistent midfield player who has made the bench for the Spurs first team on two occasions this season, has also impressed when representing his country, England. A regular for the England Under 19 side, Devine recently scored a goal in a Euro Under 19’s 2022 qualifier against Armenia, during the recent international break. The Spurs player who only last season scored in his one and only appearance so far for the Spurs first team (in an FA Cup match against Marine), will be hoping to be included in the England Under 19 squad which will compete in this June’s UEFA European Under 19 Championships, in Slovakia. However, going back to Spurs, the 17 year old midfielder has shown throughout this season so far his ability to make the difference in matches when given the ball. He is a brave player, but one whose determination and impressive skill level has made him in my opinion one of the most impressive players in the Premier League 2 this season for Spurs, along with former Spurs player Dilan Markanday.

I have noticed this season when starting matches as a CAM or out on the wing, that Devine is always looking to make runs in behind the defence, at every opportunity. A very skilful player with good reactions, Devine is a midfield player who after receiving the ball will look to bring it forward at pace, taking players on by going on a surging forward run. With his good pace and physicality on the ball he is difficult to get the ball off, but he is someone whose fine movement off the ball always allows him to create that extra bit of space to receive it in a good area of the pitch. He is unpredictable and capable of creating wow moments in matches, but his tremendous work off the ball (he often likes to drop deep to receive the ball) certainly doesn’t go unnoticed. Devine is good in the air, and really likes to make a surging run from the centre of the penalty area to the near post at corner-kicks, providing the Spurs Under 23 side with a real outlet from corners. His weight of pass is good, as is his link-up play, and in one versus one situations in matches, he is often successful.

A player with many great attributes, it is possibly his ability to score goals and also play anywhere in forward areas, that makes him such an important player with real potential. He has shown time and time again this season, his clinical ability in front of of goal, and he has scored a real variety of goals so far this season. Devine has done so well this season for the Spurs Under 23 side, and his consistently impressive performances are from that from a player who has real potential for the future. I’m already looking forward to seeing what next season (2022/23) holds for Devine, who has adapted really well since joining Spurs, and it would be great if he got a good run of games for the Spurs first team in pre-season.