Spurs and the NextGen Series
by Paul Smith and Ray Lo

News was released recently of a new exciting tournament for under-19 players from 16 of Europe's top clubs. What we do know is that Spurs are one of those 16 clubs who have entered along with other prestigious names such as:-

Group One -
FC Barcelona – Manchester City – Celtic – Marseille

Group Two -
Liverpool F.C. – Sporting Lisbon – Molde – Wolfsburg

Group Three -
FC Basel – Tottenham – P.S.V Eindhoven – Inter Milan

Group Four -
Ajax – Rosenborg – Aston Villa – Fenerbahce

We also know that the tournament is a "football tournament like no other. It heralds an exciting new era in football, designed to enable players to develop and showcase their talent in a challenging 6-month international knock out competition, with the chance to win the coveted NextGen Cup."

The top two teams in each group of four will progress to a knock out phase to be held early in the New Year in the Middle East.

We also know the Spurs fixtures, which are as follows:-

Wed Aug 17 Basle (A)
Wed Aug 31 Inter (H)
Tue Sep 27 PSV (A)
Wed Oct 19 PSV (H)
Wed Nov 02 Inter (A)
Wed Nov 23 Basle (H)

Some venues have been announced this week (Monday 11th July, 2011), but we don't yet know where Spurs will play their games. For example, Barcelona will play their games at their "Ministadi" (the club training ground, which does hold a decent sized crowd), and Celtic will use their home stadium - Celtic Park. One of Spurs' problems will be their probable commitment to the Europa League, and four of the NextGen games precede a Europa League date by just one day. The venues being announced so far suggest that Spurs Lodge will not be suitable for the prestige being attached to this competition, but any visiting team for a Europa League match usually has the "right to roam" over the home side's turf, so that as well as worries about wear must surely enter into the club's decision-making process over where to play NextGen games. Spurs will possibly use another lower league stadium, or even a non-league venue for NextGen games.

Indeed, the person who devised this competition - former Watford Academy manager Mark Warburton - was recently interviewed and suggested that major venues would not be used.

Spurs Odyssey would love to provide its usual detailed reports on games involving our young players, but the Europa League might mean that both your regular correspondents are out of the country!

The next issue to contend with is who will represent Spurs in the series? Those eligible appear to be those under 19 at the start of the season. The club has not run an official reserve side over the last two years, and has had a firm policy to loan out many of their promising youngsters. Perhaps the most promising of these players has been 19 year old Steven Caulker, who made one first team appearance for Spurs last season (against a very strong Arsenal side in the Carling Cup). Caulker has plenty of league experience at League One and Championship level with Yeovil, then Bristol City, and next season will be with Swansea. So here is one future star you won't see in the NextGen Cup!

Even John Bostock has passed the 19 years old barrier, so he probably will not be involved, although it is possible two or three over-age players would be eligible, wich leaves a door open for England Under-20 squad members Dean Parrett, Adam Smith and Ryan Mason.

Those eligible do include midfielders Callum Tapping, Ryan Fredericks, and strikers Harry Kane and Cameron Lancaster. Harry Kane is only 17, but appeared in 18 league games for Leyton Orient last season (scoring five goals). The chances are he will be out on loan again.. Other promising youngsters are now over-age for this competition.

Those likely to play a part are the following Academy players recently awarded first year professional contracts. They are goalkeepers Jordan Archer and Jonathan Miles; Jesse Waller-Lassen, who can play at right back or right wing; and midfielders Ryan Fredericks and Tapping. The other new recipients of professional contracts are Alex Pritchard and Paul McBride, both of whom like to get forward, with 18 year old striker Kudus Oyenuga the last new recipient. Oyenuga would be exciting to see in the nextGen, but he has already spent some time out on loan to Finnish club MyPa.

Spurs have a policy of playing players ahead of their "stream", and there are plenty of other names that will feature in the Spurs squads.

Spurs Odyssey has consistently reported in detail on Youth games over the last 10 years or so, and last season my good friend and associate Ray Lo saw 25 games in person. His reports can be found here (Spurs Odyssey Youth Fixtures 2010-11), and a full picture can be gained of the attributes of the players named above, and others who played plenty of games, but have not been mentioned so far here, such as Jack Barthram, Jack Munns, Ramil Sheriff, Kevin Stewart, Shaquille Coulthirst and Laste Dombaxe.

Barthram is a right back who likes to get forward. Munns is a central midfielder who played 20 games for the Academy side. Sheriff and Stewart play in the back four, whilst Dombaxe has often captained the young Spurs from centraal midfield, but he also has an eye for goal. Coulthirst is one of the younger strikers.

The NextGen Tournament sounds exciting, and will without a doubt be a great developmental tool for the players involved, especially if they get the opportunity to play in some of the bigger stadia in front of a good-sized crowd. Youth team coach Alex Inglethorpe has bags of experience, having managed Exeter 7 years ago, since when he has been guiding the Spurs Under-18 Academy side. Last year's "class" made a tentative start to their programme, but made great progress to finish fourth in their group.

One of the issues for Spurs will be to maintain their Academy Group progress, whilst playing in the midweek NextGen games. In addition to Inglethorpe, those taking part in decision-making and coaching are likely to include former players Tim Sherwood (who oversees the Development squad) and Clive Allen (who usually manages Spurs XI sides).

The main message I would give to those perhaps following the progress of our younger players for the first time is that the development of individual players and team experience is the priority, rather than the result. Mind you, it's always good for team morale to win!

STOP PRESS! The club have announced the acquisition of former Barcelona junior Cristian Ceballos, aged 18, who would appear be eligible for NextGen. Ceballos used to be the Captain of Barcelona's under-17 side but was released, and had trials for Chelsea earlier this year. Tim Sherwood has confirmed that Ceballos will go straight into the Spurs development squad.