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Over the last few days a Spurs U18 squad has been participating in the Eurofoot tournament in Belgium. We were drawn in Group B with Feyenoord Ghana, AA Gent, FC Copenhagen, Standard Liege and SV Zulte-Waregem.

The squad list for this tournament is as follows:

1 Archer, Jordan 12/04/1993
2 Barthram, Jack 13/10/1993
3 McQueen, Alexander 24/03/1995
4 Dombaxe, Laste 14/05/1994
5 Yeboah, James 05/01/1994
6 Stewart, Kevin 07/09/1993
7 Veljkovic, Milos 26/09/1995
8 Munns, Jack 18/11/1993
9 Coulthirst, Shaquile 02/11/1994
10 Pritchard, Alex 03/05/1993
11 Oyenuga, Kudus 18/03/1993
12 Angol, Lee 04/08/1994
13 Miles, Jonathan 29/03/1993
14 Hawkins, Ronnie 04/03/1994
15 Gomelt, Tomislav 07/01/1995
16 Day, Daniel 08/12/1993
17 Bush, Mason 20/01/1995
18 Tapping, Callum 05/06/1993

A couple of points from the squad list – it looks like Veljkovic (who, according to this, is only 15) may be a full time signing, as he has been involved in a number of these tournaments for us now.

Tomislav Gomelt is one of the young players that we had on trial from Zagreb some time ago – whether he has been invited back, or we have signed him, I am unsure.

Lads in Eurofoot semi-finals

Spurs have so far managed three wins and two defeats in the tournament, losing to tournament favourites Feyenoord Academy (based in Ghana), and Standard Liege, who have a very strong academy set-up. We have had wins against FC Copenhagen, Zulte Waregem, and AA Gent – convincing wins in the final two in particular.

Goals have come from:

Pritchard 3
Oyenuga 2
Coulthirst 2
Munns
Tapping

We are currently playing Club Brugge in the semi-final, and are leading 1-0 at half time. Good luck to our young side! If we are to win this, we will play either Shakhtar Donetsk or Feyenoord Aademy (Ghana) in the final.

Details of the games so far are below, with best estimates of how the players may have lined up.

Eurofoot, Belgium
Fri 05 Aug Tottenham Hotspur U18s 2-0 FC Copenhagen U18s
Scorers: Munns, Oyenuga

Subs:

Coulthirst for Angol, 35
Tapping for Hawkins, 36

Spurs site report

Eurofoot, Belgium
Fri 05 Aug Tottenham Hotspur U18s 0-2 Feyenoord Academy (Ghana) U18s

Subs:

Munns for Dombaxe, 26.
Pritchard for Coulthirst

Spurs site report

Eurofoot, Belgium
Sat 06 Aug Tottenham Hotspur U18s 0-1 Standard Liege U18s

Subs:

McQueen for Veljkovicm 25,
Coulthirst for Dombaxe, 25.
Angol for Munns, 43.

Spurs site report

Eurofoot, Belgium
Sat 06 Aug Tottenham Hotspur U18s 3-0 AA Gent U18s
Scorers: Pritchard (2), Tapping

Subs:
Barthram for McQueen, 25.
Day f or Hawkins, 38.
Angol for Oyenuga, 47.

Spurs site report

Eurofoot, Belgium
Sat 06 Aug Zulte Waregem 0-4 Tottenham Hotspur U18s U18s
Scorers: Coulthirst (2), Pritchard, Oyenuga

Subs:

Hawkins for Oyenuga, 35.
A McQueen for Barthram, 40.

Spurs site report

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I was really impressed by Brighton’s new “AMEX” stadium, which is designed nicely to fit into the valley, and seems the perfect size for a club of Brighton’s stature. Getting there was easy too – free train travel from the main Brighton station for those with a match ticket, and a 10 minute run up the line to Falmer. I could also have got a bus from the city centre (again free).

Spurs sent out a strong side, lining up in the standard 4-4-1-1/4-2-3-1 (depending on how you look at it!).

The home side, managed by Gus Poyet, played a 4-4-2:

My thoughts on the game:

• A very good work-out against a technically decent and well organised Brighton team. Most of our players now have a full 90 minutes behind them.
• A real shame that Modric wasn’t involved – supposedly he has been ill. I’m sure many people are reading a lot more into it than I care to!
• Also a shame that van der Vaart went off injured in the first half; it did look like he just took a heavy knock when challenging for the ball, so I don’t think it’s too much to worry about.
• There were not really any particularly stunning performances, but it was the best I have seen Livermore play, and he nearly scored with a lovely strike from distance that beat the keeper easily and rattled the bar.
• In the first half, nearly all of our good moments came when Pavlyuchenko made a trademark run into the channel to drag a centre back out – he did this well at times, and his lay-offs were decent (setting up a couple of players for efforts on goal). In the second half he didn’t do this nearly as much – whether he was tired, lazy, or instructed otherwise, I’m not sure.
• Defoe may as well not have been on the pitch – he certainly didn’t seem to me to be a striker trying to play himself back into form.
• Bale and Lennon both had their moments, but Bale often had two or three players to contend with, and got some very rough treatment at times (one tackle in particular was really nasty). Lennon didn’t seem to want to go on the outside of the full-back – I often notice that Lennon is like this when not playing at full intensity.
• Our wingers occasionally swapped sides – our first goal came from Bale dancing down the right and crossing with the outside of his left foot, having found himself there from a corner. He then fed in Corluka from the right moments later for our second.
• Kaboul didn’t cover himself in glory for the first goal – he was easily beaten by a dummy when he had come out quite a way with his man. This left us stretched – Dawson couldn’t stop Mackail-Smith getting the ball across, and Corluka was left with two men and didn’t have a chance to get across. Otherwise Kaboul and Dawson generally did well, and to me complement one another better than Dawson/Gallas.
• The full backs were solid, calm and reliable – having said that, LuaLua was Brighton’s best player. Corluka generally sent him inside (which seemed logical) but, unfortunately, that was where he scored the equaliser from! Gomes will be disappointed to have been beaten at his near post, and was slow to get down to the shot.
• Corluka should have had a penalty – he went over a challenge in the corner of the Brighton box, having beaten the Brighton player to the ball. The referee bottled it and gave a corner.
• Both teams had some long spells of keep-ball, and we were very compact during Brighton’s periods of possession – this was a useful exercise in itself.
• We at times played some neat one-touch football, with Jenas often involved; this is one of his main strengths. Jenas played a restricted, deeper-lying role and did OK.
• Having been unable to get a ticket in the Spurs end, I sat in Brighton’s North Stand. It is always interesting to hear what opposition fans think of our players – general comments seemed to be that we had quality all over the pitch (for example, a few fans seemed surprised at how calm Assou-Ekotto was under pressure). Gomes was seen as a figure of fun and got lots of shouts of “dodgy keeper”, etc etc. Defoe seemed to be respected as a top player and they were surprised that he was only on the bench.
• In my opinion it was absolutely ridiculous that our promising young players (Townsend, Carroll, Kane) were left sat on the bench and not used. Surely this is partly what friendlies are for?

My “in-game” tweets in chronological order in case they are of interest:

Early corners for Brighton culminate in an effort from Lua Lua (I think!). Saved and scrambled away.
Another half chance for the home side – ball cleared to edge of box but fired wide.
1-0, deserved. Tap in after good cross. Ashley Barnes the scorer.
Lennon shoots wide after smart one-two with Pav. Lennon probably our brightest player so far.
Livermore smashes one off the bar after link up with Pav, who has moved well so far. Livermore growing into the game after nervy start.
Spurs were starting to dominate but Brighton have just played nearly five minutes of solid keep-ball, culminating in two corners.
Friedel palms Lua Lua effort out and Assou-Ekotto tidies up.
VDV off injured.
VDV picked up a knock from a heavy fall early on. Seemed like he’d run it off but Defoe has just replaced him.
Bale danced down the right, beyond two players & crossed with the outside of his left. Not sure if Kaboul or a defender got the vital touch.
It looped up beyond the keeper either way. Corluka makes it 2-1 getting forward and slotting inside near post.
Not a great half from Spurs – fairly compact but not much cutting edge. Lennon doesn’t want to go down the outside. Jenas/Livermore not got enough creativity between them. VDV injury hopefully not too serious. On the plus side, a terrific work out.
For Brighton, Lua Lua very lively and Mackail-Smith causing a few probs when taking up position between Dawson & Corluka.
Corluka did very well for his goal – beat Greer easily and tucked inside near post. Keeper should really have done better.
Tempting fate to say I backed 3-1 at 14.5 on Betfair?
Gomes getting the treatment from the home crowd…
Nice one touch move from Spurs – Jenas & Pav setting up Bale, but it goes wide. Massive pen shout – Corluka fouled by Lua Lua. Not given.
2-2, Lua Lua fires low into near post from distance. Gomes slow down but a great hit.
Bale has just been absolutely scythed down. Shocker.
He’s up and OK but I can see Townsend replacing him.
Nightmare at the back for Brighton and Livermore tucks it into an empty net.
Not the most exciting second half! Livermore prob stand out player, best I’ve seen him play.

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Last week a Tottenham Hotspur U17 squad participated in the Milk Cup, a yearly tournament held in Northern Ireland. The tournament finished on Friday, with Spurs finishing in fifth place – a respectable position for such a young side.

Mon 25 Jul (at Showgrounds, Limavaday) Otago (New Zealand) U17s 0-4 Tottenham Hotspur U17s
Scorers: Ball 2, Oduwa, OG

Subs:

Sonupe for Michael-Precil
Ogilvie for Ward
Akindayini for Zapata-Caidedo
Oduwa for McEvoy

Spurs site report
Highlights – 5:39 in

Tue 26 Jul (at Riada Stadium, Ballymoney) Co. Farmanagh U17s 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur U17s
Scorer: McEvoy 2

Subs

Michel-Precil for Lyons-Foster, 36,
McEvoy for Maguraushe, 36.
Smith for Sanoupe, 36.
Lameiras for Oduwa, 54.
Akindayini for Zapata-Caidedo, 68.

Spurs site report
Highlights – 5:41 in

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Follow me on Twitter – @WindyCOYS.

A Tottenham Hotspur U17 squad is currently participating in the Milk Cup, a yearly tournament held in Northern Ireland.

Squad (“Premier” section rules stipulate that you can only include players born on or after 1 January 1994):

1 Billy Granger
2 Grant Ward
3 Ruben Lameiras
4 Dominic Ball
5 Kodi Lyons-Foster
6 Oliver Modeste
7 Frederick Champion
8 Emmanuel Sonupe
9 Victor Zapata-Caidedo
10 Leeroy Maguraushe
11 Kenneth McEvoy
12 Daniel Akindayiuni
13 Liam Priestly
14 Samuel Smith
15 Thomas Gardiner
16 Roman Percil
17 Kolade Nathan Oduwa
18 Connor Ogilvie

Champion is the only second year player involved, although a few of the other players have played for our U18 side. Kenneth McEvoy is one of the players to watch out for – a pacy striker who can also play on the wing. He should get plenty of matches for our U18s in the coming year.

Fixtures/results:

Mon 25 Jul (at Showgrounds, Limavaday) Otago (New Zealand) U17s 0-4 Tottenham Hotspur U17s
Scorers: Ball 2, Oduwa, OG

NB: The formation is a best guess.

Subs:
Sonupe for Michael-Precil
Ogilvie for Ward
Akindayini for Zapata-Caicedo
Oduwa for McEvoy

Spurs site report
Highlights – 5:39 in

Tue 26 Jul (at Riada Stadium, Ballymoney) Co. Farmanagh U17s 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur U17s
Scorer: McEvoy 2

Highlights – 5:41 in

Wed 27 Jul (at Showgrounds, Ballymena) South Coast Strikers U17s vs Tottenham Hotspur U17s