Purple rain, purple rain

I went to Hotspur Way to watch the FA Youth Cup tie between Spurs and Middlesbrough

Photos; Tottenham Hotspur

Highlights (12’) can be watched here, for the plays broken down after

https://www.mfc.co.uk/news/2024/december/09/match-review–tottenham-hotpur-u18s-3-boro-u18s-2/

1. Dylan Thomson

Goalkeeper

2. Miracle Adewole

Quick fullback with a good first touch, having found the balance to be ready to jump on winger and not being split by passes between him and his CB. Was active in second half to bring the ball up

3. Harry Byrne

4. Jun’ai Byfield:

a few carries that brought him inside the penalty area where he stayed until the end of the play

You know you’re watching an academy game when one of the technically adept CB plays a give and go and ends up in finishing position

5. Malachi Hardy:

Good reading of the game in front of him to intercept,

6. Jamel Beggs

industrious in front of the defence, with a healthy balance between lateral movements and filling in gaps when CBs were stepping up. Good first time passes around the corner (backwards) to keep it ticking

Pouncing on a second ball first

7. Ronny Moncur:

Industrious out and out winger, got a few chances between the 6yd box and the corners of the box, which makes you appreciate Brennan Johnson more

8. Callum Olulesi:

would catch the attention, for his box to box game coupled with sharp separation movement to get on the ball. Scored a great goal with quick flicks exhanges to get in the box

I liked the way he was always between three players, and identifying quickly when to attack space in front to drag opponents out of position or make it to the box.

Six yard box on a cross

Almost through, struggling to control the bar of soap

Joining final third on a counter

Composure in final third, most midfielders shoot first time and get blocked

Delay, square it and crash the six yard box

Definition of : “separation movement”

Joining the counter

A couple of shorter steps to delay and stay in the middle of the triangle

Delaying and getting away from the carier instead of clogging the space, making sure he keeps space in front

Rewarded as he’s the one scrambling the ball in

Some more separation movement:

However let down by his straight first touch (as opposed to diagonally)

Planted foot too close to swing a cross

Intelligently retains, delays and finds anothe player ready to attack the box diagonally

which is the play that lead to the pen

More Olulesi separation

“split he triangle”, keep space in front

9. Reiss Elliot-Parris:

brought team mates into play when receiveing back to goal, and keen on a run between the CBs

Finesse to backheel that needle pass for his midfielder, with Luca Williams-Barret (1) making a diagonal run in behind

10. Luca Williams-Barnett:

standout and evasive n°10 drifting on the left channel a lot, with smart separation moves to get away from defenders

with dynamism to maintain his speed on the half turn to carry diagonally, a nightmare for defences

creating the equaliser

Drive until the defender is drawn out, slide it for the striker.

Excellent reading of the situation

Led a few promising counter attacks in second half. Lashing out shots towards the corners of the goal, had one disallowed (nice volley from inside the box) for a handball

Hashtag baller, the knee is bent when carrying (it’s aesthetics, it’s still better to see than a stick man)

Creating the equaliser with a diagonal carry, and some flicks I now understand better

worth noting how Olulesi followed up every attacking move as a second striker

Williams-Barnett also won the penalty, exceeding his duty as CM to enter the box

There’s only one way a diagonal drive with intent ends up

11. Tynan Thompson:

quick feet and dynamic, therefore difficult to defend from close. Eye for a pass when cutting inside with a good timing of release to connect with his striker.

Good diagonal first touch receiving from his midfielder

Quick separation, good balance to have an effort kissing the post

For Middlesbrough, I liked Anton Palmer (10) just as I like any player who gets you the ball from there to there

Substitute Lucas Harrison (17) was the kind of powerdrink attacker that can create danger against tired legs, I was surprised at his dynamism

Spurs 3-2 Middlesbrough (FA Youth Cup)

Spurs: D Thompson, Adewole, Byrne, Byfield, Hardy, Beggs (Tye Hall 90+2), Moncur (Orr 70), Olusesi (c) (Feeney 90+2), Elliott-Parris (Lehane 74), Williams-Barnett, T Thompson. Substitutes (not used): B Irow, Egan-Riley, Oliver.

Middlesbrough: Lloyd, Parker, Smith, Acheampong (Scott 76), Martin, Hunt, Coulson (c), Greenup (Elliot 87), O’Gorman (James 54), Palmer (Hamelberg 90+5), Cartwright (Harrison 65). Substitutes (not used): Givenson, Palmer.