Typically when a season does not turn out as a team or fans would hope you go looking for silver linings. One such silver lining is often the outstanding contribution from some young up-and-comers, which leaves the fans jubilant with expectation. While many of the teams’ Spurs are competing with can say that, Tottenham can not, as the Lilywhites are a bit behind in the youth development department.
Tottenham is an older team
When looking at players who actually play, Tottenham has a rather old team. According to transfermarkt.com Tottenham has played the fifth oldest team in the Premier League this season, at an average age of 27.
Three of the four teams older than Tottenham are in the bottom half in Newcastle (27.1), Burnley (28.3), and Crystal Palace (28.8). All three teams flirted with the drop at some point during the season. Interestingly, the other team – West Ham (27.7) is likely to finish above Tottenham.
Looking younger than Tottenham, Liverpool is the sixth oldest team at 26.8, then comes West Brom (26.6) and Sheffield (26.5). That means five of the oldest teams have also been the worst this season, with two being relegated already.
Liverpool, West Ham, and Tottenham seem to be the exceptions and as we have seen, the Reds have had serious cracks in their armor this season. And we all know the Hammers have been playing above their weight. The point is, most often older teams struggle in the Premier League, especially late in games.
Youth does not mean you are guaranteed to win, as Fulham is the second youngest team at 25.3 and is likely going to be relegated. However, the entire top four is all younger than Tottenham and more importantly, they have very young players making major contributions, something the Spurs are lacking.
We may hear lip service from Daniel Levy and the board about building the proper way from the ground up, but in truth, all of the Spurs competition have more young players contributing.
Tottenham not getting first-team contributions from youth
Yes, one day Jose Mourinho will read off the names of the kids he gave a chance to at Tottenham to show he plays youth. The truth, however, is that the Spurs are not playing the kids. It is true, Jose Mourinho gave minutes to six different players 20-years-old or younger. However at 235 total minutes an average of 40 per person, that time is quite limited.
In truth, if take away Harvey Whites 98 minutes, that leaves only 135 minutes or 27.4 minutes per player. While it was nice to see Alfie Devine and Dane Scarlett it is hard to say that they, or Jack Clarke, or Marcel Lavinier, or Nile John contributed in any way this season. Outside the 1 goal for Devine and surely some good practice competition, none are really making a difference. Juxtapose Tottenham’s lack of impact youth with the teams around them. ‘
In fact, all the teams competing with Tottenham have contributing players younger than any player the Spurs played against Leeds on Sunday. Further, as we looked across the rest of the top half, Tottenham is one of only two teams not getting a big lift from someone 21 or younger. Here we look at the youth for the top half, starting with the Champions elect.
Manchester City contributors
Manchester City has Phil Foden already making the English National Team at 20 and clearly providing an impact player. the Cityzens also have Ferran Torres contributing upfront at just 21, and some guy name Ruben Dias who at just 23 is likely to be leading that backline for some time.
Beyond their young stars, Guardiola and company have given minutes to eight other players 20 years old or younger. Sure some are spot minutes like the 18 for 20-year-old defender Claudio Gomes. However, Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Eric Garcia – both 20-year-old center-backs combined for almost 900 minutes. Two other teenagers – Liam Delap (18) and Tommy Doyle (19) have been in the squad a combined 24 times and have made seven appearances for 316 minutes, which is 31 more than all of the Tottenham players 20 and under combined.
Manchester United has some kids
United is not loaded with ultra young talent, as their 24-year-olds really carry a lot of weight with Marcus Rashford, Dean Henderson, Scott McTominay, and Donny van de Beek all 24. Of course, Mason Greenwood is only 19 and is closing in on 3,000 minutes for the season with more than 2800 already. Add in 20-year-old Brandon Williams who has nearly 500 minutes subbing for Luke Shaw.
Besides Williams and Greenwood, United has not played a lot of youth. Only two other players under 20 have played this season, Shola Shoretire (17) has played 16 minutes in two appearances, and Amad Diallo (18) has played 96 minutes in five appearances. Six other teenagers have made the bench at one point or another this season but have not appeared.
Chelsea has several younger stars
Chelsea is certainly a team on the rise as you look at the youth they have. Only two teenagers have seen minutes for Chelsea – Billy Gilmour (19) 651 minutes and Faustino Anjorin (19) 111 minutes. Of course, Gilmour and Anjorin’s combined 762 dwarfs the contributions from the Tottenham teenagers. However, it is not the teenagers where Chelsea makes hay, it is with the young twenty-somethings.
Chelsea has five major contributors from this season who are 22 or younger. Callum Hudson-Odoi (20), Kai Havertz (21), and Christian Pulisic (22) have all managed around 2,000 minutes +/- this season. Reece James (21) is closer to 3,000 minutes and Mason Mount (22) is getting closer to 4,000 minutes at over 3,800 already this season. At nearly 13,000 minutes and 29 goals from the group, the Blues have a good young core.
Leicester old leaders, young contributors
Leicester City is clearly led by experience with Kasper Schmeichel and Jamie Vardy both 34 years old. However, Leicester is still getting major contributions from some young players, especially in the back.
Luke Thomas is only 19 and the left-back has made 21 appearances for the Foxes, accumulating more than 1500 minutes. Even more impressive and important for the Foxes defense is 20-year-old Wesley Fofana, who has played 34 times for nearly 2800 minutes. Leicester has had five total players 21 or younger play but Thomas and Fofana are the two big contributors.
West Ham a little youth hammered in
West Ham has given minutes to six players 21 or younger this season for nearly 1300 minutes. However, most of the minutes ~1,000 have come from Ben Johnson, the young right back. The five other players have accumulated about 250 minutes, which is again more than Spurs youth have gotten.
West Ham also has a major 22-year-old cog in their team in English international Declan Rice. Rice is the kind of young leader a defense needs and his box to box contributions across nearly 3,000 minutes have been impressive this season.
Liverpool forced to bleed the young
The injuries this season have forced Liverpool into giving some minutes to some young players that otherwise may not have gotten them. Rhys Williams (20) in particular has benefitted from the injury to Virgil Van Dijk. The 15 matches and nearly 1,000 minutes Williams has received would likely not have happened had Van Dijk not been injured. Additionally, Ozan Kabak, only 21, has played more than 1100 minutes.
However, the kids covering for Van Dijk are not the only young players getting big minutes. Curtis Jones has played more than 1800 minutes in the Liverpool midfield and Neco Williams has played more than 700 minutes at right-back – both are only 20. Additionally, three other teenagers, Harvey Elliott, Billy Koumetio, and Leighton Clarkson have seen minutes this season.
Everton, a little seasoning
Everton has played seven played 21 or younger this season. Three teenagers, Thierry Small, Jarrad Branthwaite, and Tyler Onyango have played a combined 4 minutes. However, Niels Nkoukou and Anthony Gordon are both only 20 and have combined for more than 600 minutes on the left side for Everton. Additionally, Joao Virginia and Moise Kean are both only 21 with about 350 minutes between them.
Of course, Everton also has 22-year-old Tom Davies who has played over 1600 minutes this season and center-back Ben Godfrey is only 23 and has played almost 3,000 minutes. Add in Richarlison and Dominic Calvery-Lewin – both only 24 – and Everton has a rather young team themselves.
Arsenal, Arteta leaning in on youth
Maybe the one thing that has helped Mikel Arteta keep his job amid a terrible season at Arsenal has been the bleeding of the kids. Arsenal have played nine players 21 or younger and six of the nine have at least three digits worth of minutes and a few have a ton.
Bukayo Saka has almost 3500 minutes and is only 19, while Emile Smith Rowe – who Saka assisted on a goal Sunday – has played nearly 2000 minutes. Left-winger Gabriel Martinelli is only 19 and has almost 800 minutes and Eddie Nketiah is 21 with over 1200 minutes. Heck Arsenal even has kids on loan getting big minutes with Joe Willock earning nearly 900 minutes since a January loan.
Leeds likes youth too
This season Marcelo Bielsa has managed to give a full dozen players 21 or younger minutes in the league. Those minutes range greatly of course, with Robbie Gotts only earning 12 minutes and Illan Meslier – both 21-years-old – playing more than 3,000. As Tottenham learned Sunday the young keeper continues to grow.
21 must be a magic number Bielsa, as he has given a lot of them minutes. Pascal Struijk is 21 and has played more than 2000 minutes at center-back and Ian Poveda – also 21, has 480 minutes. Add in Jamie Shackleton – 21- who has over 600 minutes and that is some serious experience for some very young players.
The rest of the minutes are low but with four of the 12 players having at least 480 minutes, Bielsa is getting contributions from the kids.
Back to Tottenham
Tottenham and Everton are the only two teams without a least one player 21 or younger earning at least 1,000 minutes. If you look at Tottenham this past Sunday against Leeds, the youngest player for Spurs was 24, Sergio Reguilon.
Of the first team players for Tottenham, only Japhet Tanganga is under 23 and saw any significant minutes. At 22, with only 11 appearances for less than 70 minutes, Tanganga is not earning a whole lot of time. Only Tanganga, Steven Bergwijn, and Joe Rodon and under 24 and have seen any real-time this season.
As a fan and you look at a team like Chelsea or even Arsenal, it is difficult not to be a bit envious. Sure Tottenham will have Oliver Skipp coming into the side next season but he has been playing in the Championship and he is just one player.
The bottom line is Tottenham needs to do more to promote and play some youth in the first team just like all the other top teams in the league.