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http://thetottenhamway.com/article/youth-spurs-development-squad-in-strong-shape-ahead-of-new-season
With the new campaign drawing closer, here’s an analysis of what Spurs’ Development Squad will look like over the next 12 months
With a significant number of extra games this season after qualifying for the UEFA Youth League and (possibly) entering the EFL Trophy, this year’s group is unusually large.
Goalkeepers
Tom Glover will continue as no.1 goalkeeper The Australian stopper endured a difficult first season at Under-21 level but is still a talented 'keeper and will fare better with a year's experience at this level. Tom McDermott will act as deputy after signing an extension to his two-year scholarship. The highly-rated Alfie Whiteman, an England youth international, will look to push Glover and McDermott and should see more playing time towards the end of the campaign, when Glover should be a candidate for a loan.
Harry Voss has long-term injury and will do well to impress sufficiently to stay at the club after Christmas, while Luke McGee, currently third choice behind Hugo Lloris and Michel Vorm, will expect to be playing first-team football.
Defenders
Central defenders Cameron Carter-Vickers and Dominic Ball, who spent last season on loan at Rengers, will hope to be involved in the first-team or loaned out for the season; neither will see much Under-21 action after the opening weeks of the campaign.
Christian Maghoma, making the permanent step-up to Tottenham’s second string this year, and Anton Walkes, who featured in five or six positions last season, will begin the campaign as central defensive partners. Scholar Japhet Tanganga, impressive in his first term of Under-18 football, is more than capable of filling in at the heart of defence when needed.
We’re a little short in wide defensive areas: Kyle Walker-Peters and Connor Ogilvie have outgrown youth football, and both should see League One loans. Joe Muscatt, a limited player with an excellent work ethic, is capable on either flank and will attempt to make one of the full-back positions his own. Anthony Georgiou switched between a left sided full-back and winger last campaign; it’s unclear where the club see him playing long-term. Shilow Tracey lacks the flair required to play as a winger, expect him to mostly feature at right-back, where his physical approach can be most effective.
Jaden Brown and Nick Tsaroulla both impressed on the left side of defence for the U18s last term, and they should nail down places in the U21 starling lineup after decisions are made on the aforementioned older players.
Midfielders
It’s expected Luke Amos and Filip Lesniak will continue in central midfield -- both are talented but had mixed success at U21 level last season. They will be expected to improve this campaign.
Zenon Stylianides and Charlie Owens have had an inconsistent past 12 months -- both will need to produce something unforeseen to oust Amos and Lesniak from the central midfield berths. The former, however, has played in a variety of positions and can do a job at full-back or as a wide midfielder.
Despite making a handful of appearances at U21 level last season, Harry Winks needs to be playing men’s football.
Attackers
Will Miller was superb in the closing weeks of 2015-16, he’ll look to pick up where he left off in the no.10 role.
The remaining two attacking midfield places could be filled by a number of players; Joe Pritchard is now one of the more senior players in the group but is limited technically. The exceptionally-talented Cy Goddard is also a natural no.10 but has so far been unable to cope with the physicality of the U21 league. Nathan Oduwa’s contract situation means the club will prefer to invest game time in others. Anthony Georgiou and Shilow Tracey look likely to be used at full-back. Second year scholars Marcus Edwards and Sam Shashoua were excellent for the U18s last year but both are still very slight and it remains to be seen if they will be fully trusted to make the step up.
Shayon Harrison will lead the line, prolific throughout his youth career, he’ll hope to earn a loan move by January. Ryan Loft had his scholarship extended into a third year, but despite a decent goal record, his overall game still needs work. The exciting Kazaiah Sterling is more than capable of leapfrogging Loft to earn the no.9 jersey but will have to produce better displays for the U18s than he has in the last six months.
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