Tottenham Rejects Offer to Play in EFL Trophy

Tottenham is just one of many top Premier League clubs to have recently pulled out of the EFL Trophy in recent days.

Yesterday, Tottenham’s youth academy side had been invited to participate in the upcoming English Football League Trophy starting this upcoming season. Along with 15 other Under-21 teams and 48 clubs from Leagues One and Two.

Then hours later, it appeared that Spurs rejected the offer. According to the Mirror, Tottenham’s reason for pulling out was about scheduling conflicts that the EFL Trophy group stage fixtures would have with international breaks.

“Spurs fear the scheduling of the EFL Trophy group stage fixtures will clash with international breaks when many of their full-time academy players are set to be away representing their countries.” Darren Lewis wrote.

On top of that, because of Mauricio Pochettino’s penchant for giving his youth players a chance to prove themselves with the first-team, there’s no need to actually participate in this kind of tournament.

That, and loaning players out is another option that’s available, if need be.

"“Spurs will instead continue with their commitment to their young players having an established pathway to the first team under Mauricio Pochettino,” Lewis continued.“They will also continue sending players out on loan to play senior competitive football.”“The likes of England stars Harry Kane, Andros Townsend, and Danny Rose all had loan spells elsewhere before making it into Tottenham’s first-team picture. So too the likes of Tom Carroll and Ryan Mason.”"

LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 11: Harry Winks of Tottenham Hotspur holds off Martin Smith of Sunderland during the Barclays U21 Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur U21 and Sunderland U21 at White Hart Lane on April 11, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images) /

The unfortunate thing about Tottenham rejecting an invitation to let their Under-21 team partake in a unique tournament, such as the EFL Trophy, is that not every one of their academy players will get valuable experience in the Under-21 Premier League.

Nor will they get to face professional clubs in a situation where silverware and prize money is on the line.

While loaning players out helps give them first-team experience, it’s hit or miss. It largely depends on the club who takes one of Spurs’ players in and if said player performs consistently enough to be named in the starting XI week-in, week-out.

This is why it’s shocking, to say the least, that Tottenham have declined a golden opportunity in front of them.

Getting valuable experience for reserve sides between the ages of 18 through 21 is difficult — especially against competition that won’t exactly challenge them.

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However, facing League One sides such as AFC Wimbledon, MK Dons, Charlton Athletic and Bolton Wanderers. As well as League Two clubs: Blackpool, Colchester United and even Portsmouth, in a major tournament, would help get Tottenham’s youth side ready when they’ll eventually be called up to the first-team.

Look at it this way, for as talented as Tottenham’s youth players are, the last one to make an impact with the first-team and get consistent playing time is Harry Kane.

A part of Kane’s rise to becoming a starter was him doing well in the Europa League and cup games. That, and Pochettino having a lack of strikers with Roberto Soldado and Emmanuel Adebayor not cutting it.

For as much as Harry Winks has been praised by the team and supporters alike for his potential, he can’t find any playing time whatsoever. A loan doesn’t even seem possible because Pochettino rejects them.

And getting minutes with the second-team in the Under-21 Premier League, against other youth teams hasn’t really help Winks either. Josh Onomah, on the other hand, got more playing time but disappeared due to Tottenham’s title chase.

Had Spurs not pulled out in participating in the EFL Trophy this upcoming season, players like Onomah and Winks — Cameron Carter-Vickers and Kyle Walker-Peters too — would gain more experience against top level teams, even if they’re in the third and fourth division, respectively.

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Playing against other academy teams won’t get Tottenham’s youth players ready to take that next step forward which they desperately need. This makes a loan move, or getting called up to the first-team, harder when kids are only showing their talent against other kids on reserve sides.

A tournament against teams from League One and League Two is the kind of competition that doesn’t come around very often for players between the ages of 18 through 21. With Tottenham pulling out, this seems like a missed opportunity for a club who prides themselves on giving their youth players chances.

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