Spurs have nothing in reserve but plenty going forward
Friday, June 12, 2009 at 2:02PM So no more reserve football for the Spurs. At least not during the course of the 2010 season. In its place, the club looks set to loan out players and have the rest competing in tournaments and privately organised friendly fixtures. Reasoning behind this is that the club believe it offers a better 'alternative in meeting the changing requirements of our players'.
This might just work out for the best.
Reserve team football can be a little bit of a cemetery of apologetic performances whereas if a player is out on loan, he has to be on top of his game and willing and able to impress at a far more competitive level. I'm probably being a little harsh on reserve team football because for some it’s the only way for them to prove their worth. But scoring a couple of belters in front of an empty ground isn't exactly proving much. Other than fitness and sharpness. There is no true gauge of development for a youngster because the result doesn't really matter that much and the tempo is far off being close to a proper football match.
La Liga have the right idea with their B team structure in their second division. None of the B teams gain promotion, but get to compete with other clubs.
We've enjoyed plenty of success with the kids and second eleven over the past few seasons. It's got relatively easy. So loaning some of them out is a positive step. It worked well for Adel who is a player that has to learn about composure and decision making, something that is unlikely in reserve team football. For QPR, he gets to test out the show-pony skills and learn a harsh lesson that it's not always possible to swan around thinking you are Zidane. Gunter had a successful time at Forest and Troy Archibale-Henville was immense for Exeter City.
More of these kids playing in the Championship and beyond helps them to grow in stature and us in understanding if they can ever make the grade in the Premier league. If they can't then they've spent time in the shop-window and we can move them along with relative ease.
The kids not loaned out and the players who sit on the fringe of the first team will benefit from the games organised by the club which should have more of that extra bite than a typical reserve team game played out at Orient. And please, no trips to Crawley and Stevenage.
The academy boys have already experienced plenty of success in tournaments the world over, although having them size up against other English academy sides was a good measure of progression that I'll actually miss seeing. And now they will have more time to travel.
More trips to Europe and South America rather than Watford and Southampton. Freedom to do as we see fit without the constraints of a fixture list.
Although the article doesn't reveal much at the moment about proposed schedule, I can't believe the club would ever consider pushing ahead with this without knowing that we won't have players sitting around listening to their i-pods and texting while they wait for an organised game or tournament. It will be interesting to see who makes the cut for the loans and the academy/first team fringe places.
So, in essence we are replacing the reserve team with our academy players (without the requirement of playing in the reserve league) and the older players (players on the fringe of the first team or returning from injury and academy players that are best kept close than on loan - like Obika) will play in organised games rather than die of boredom at Brisbane Road.
The up and coming players will be loaned out. The likes of Bostock, Parrett Mason and Rose.
It's a brave new world and makes complete sense. I'm sure David Pleat once upon a time suggested we do this. If so, it won't take long for him to mention how it was his idea.
Reader Comments (12)
About time we took this step. I think we do well at academy level with organisation and planning but we've come unstuck in that few ever make the grade. But I reckon we have several who may well usher a new era in at the Lane and its imperative we don't balls it up. Really excited about this, reckon it will streamline the whole squad for the good.
Well done Spurs.
Very visionary from us and I think it'll definitely stand us good stead for the coming season.
As pointed out, players on loan not only get used to competitive football on a regular basis they also have to impress their prospective loan managers and in turn Spurs. From competitive matches they'll learn vital decision making skills and in some cases realise (Ryan Mason - pure class BUT lightweight) they have to toughen up in order to compete.
In Harry Redknapp we have a manager who really values the academy system and seems to enjoy finding the stars of tomorrow. We have a really good bunch of players in the academy/reserve teams (townsend, bostock, parrett, rose, obika, cox, cualker, mason are just a few that stand out) I can really see this new system really benefitting not only Spurs but the players in the academy too.
As long as the right players go out on loan to the right club.
Anyone think Bostock would do well going to Boro or Newcastle? I think he's probably good enough for a team that will be competing for promotion.
Newcastle? Are you raving mad? We want to develop the kid not ruin him!
Excellent stuff from the club. Hopefully this will also result with all the deadwood being boxed, packaged and sold on.
this makes good sense, we have not had many young players actually live up to the promise, in fact the last one was Jamie O'Hara and he was sent to Milwall for his hard knocks footballing education. Players like Bostock, Townsend and Obiki need to play at a competitive level week in week out. Its time to stop calling them ''the next Zidane'' (Taarbatt) and ''the next Gerrard'' (Parrott) and let them work hard and learn the lessons the hard way. Harry has history of doing this and it works look at Defoe.
Let’s see if the lower leagues actually turn any of our rough diamonds into Superstars. COYS
Folkestone
Dean Parrett won't be happy with you calling him PARROTT. In fact he changed his name to PARRETT from PARROTT after being bullied at school.
Yes. That's right. He was an 'EX-PARROTT' (all credit to John Cleese and the rest of Monty Python)
Anyone not concerned that if they were really good enough they would be almost within touching distance of the first team? Look at some of the scums youth players as a comparison. If Bostock was going to be great would be not be in the first team already? Or am I jumping the gun?
Jamiespurs
I'll blame the spellcheck on this one!!! loving the Monty Python link
Folkestone
Can't beat a bit of Monty Python!
RR - You're jumping the gun mate. Arsenal can afford to stick their kids into the first team because they're relatively safe in 4th place. They're not good enough to challenge for the title but not shit enough to lose that 4th spot, they'll always get through the qualifiers for the Champs League (which they'll never win) and the money earned from that means they stay in 4th for another year. The comfor afforded to them means that Arsene can stick the kids in the first team every once and a while. Spurs haven't had that luxury because over the last few years we have (A) Not had a good enough bunch of kids and (B) Not been performing well enough to allow us to stick the kids in.
Now we've got Redknapp in charge things are definitely going to change. Look at the kids he developed at West Ham (Cole, Carrick, Ferdinand, Lampard) Hopefully he can add Bostock, Mason, Obika, Townsend, Parrett to that list too.
Not sure you can quite credit Harry developing the West Ham players. He did play a part but the youth team coach at the Hammers was the one responsible for their early development. But yes, I agree with your sentiment. The step up at Arsenal is different thanks to the luxury they have. We can't throw in these players, not with the way we struggle some seasons. We would kill them footballing wise. This new system is spot on IMO and really makes a statement to young players out there. Will be a major attraction I reckon in bringing in more youth. Imagine that, playing in compeitions home and abroad.
I like the idea of second elevens playing in a self contained Division three or even four.
There is no substitute for competative league matches as squash ladders, and League cricket testify.
Friendlies in whatever sport don't give that edge that you need to give of your best.
I have played both club and league cricket and the latter was much more keenly contested except for the odd 'needle' match.