Following on from yesterday’s blog in which I gave a brief ‘shout out’ to Jordan Spence, I thought I’d give a mention to another young player who I have watched make great strides this season – Steven Caulker of Tottenham.
At 6’3” Caulker already has the legs he needs to make great strides of course, but it was his all round ability that caught my eye.
Feltham-born Caulker, 19, is a central defender who I have seen quite a few times while on loan at Bristol City and I would have to say he’s the best young player I’ve seen this season. The lad came through the youth set up at Spurs and has already represented England at both under-19 and under-21 levels.
He spent last season on loan at Yeovil and played 44 games for them before making the step up to the Championship this time round and figured in 29 fixtures, scoring his first two professional goals.
His positioning is spot on when defending and he is a brave lad too – he certainly wasn’t afraid to mix it with some of the old lags in the Championship!
At his age he is hardly going to be the finished article of course, but I wouldn’t be surprised if ‘Arry decides to keep him closer to home next season.
Former England keeper David James is seeing out his career at Bristol City and described Caulker as one of the club’s best players. However, I remember one game in particular when Caulker kept rampaging through the middle of the field in support of the strikers - not something you often see from a centre half - and James let him know in no uncertain terms that he didn’t expect to see it from one of his defenders. He appears to be one of those lads who you can see learning steadily as each game goes by and, in my one and only conversation with him, he also came across as a level headed young man
Caulker suffered a cartilage injury in March that ruled him out for the end of the season, but if I were a Spurs fan I’d certainly be chuffed to know that players of his quality are coming through the ranks.
Fellow Spurs defender Danny Rose joined Caulker on loan at Ashton Gate and I know that Rose has made a big impression at the Lane, but for me Caulker is the better prospect.
Harry Redknapp has already made noises about bringing in more quality this summer to help Spurs back into the Champions League by the end of next season, but Chairman Daniel Levy will be delighted to know that, in Caulker, he might just be able to save a few quid in the defensive department.
I've set up this blog (Monday-Friday) to give extra coverage to teams I cover for the national press. Any views and opinions are all my own. Best wishes, Jeff. Follow me on Twitter and I'll update you each time I blog. http://twitter.com/JeffTaplin P.S. During the summer break I reserve the right to ramble on about anything and everything!
great article! im a spurs fan and havent had much of a chance to see Caulker play, he played in our defeat to Arsenal in the CC earlier in the season and i was impressed with his calmness on the ball aswell as his positional play and thats before you even take into account his obvious Physical attributes. its good to get an outsiders view because i think us spurs fans can be a little biased and see what we want to see in our youngsters. i obviously have no idea what Harrys plans are for him but i would like to think he could either loaned out to a premier league club, maybe a promoted team or a mid to bottom half of table team, or we could keep him and use the cup games (Carling, FA & Europa if we qualify)to give him a feel of playing for the club and get him used to playing with the players we hope to see him playing with week in week out! it would be good to hear from someone whos seen him play a bit more as to whether you think he would be ready for the step up to the premier league or whether he would be better of playing another season for a club in the Championship? if he has half the ability and half of the loyalty of the last CB to come through our ranks to play for us (ledley King!!) we will have a real gem on our hands!
ReplyDeleteOne of the plus points to covering games in the Championship and Leagues One and Two is that every now and again you see someone play - a real gem - and know that in a few years time you'll be able to tell a mate in a pub somewhere: "Yeah, of course I saw him as a raw kid at Hereford, Cheltenham, etc. Always knew he'd make it!" Sometimes though you'll see a kid who has all the ability in the world, but his attitude holds him back. I'd put money on this NOT being the case with Steven though. Best, Jeff
ReplyDeleteStill early days. I remember similar comments on young Spurs defenders such as Gardner,Doherty and Dervite, who excelled in the lower leagues but were disappointing (to say the least) in the Premier League. Unfortunately for Steven, we currently have four top quality centre backs, not including the perpetually injured Woodgate - King, Dawson, Kaboul and Bassong - and cover in the form of Corluka. I do hope he gets a chance though...
ReplyDeleteMatt I am a massive Spurs fan but through work have been to see Bristol City on many occasions, He is a better player NOW than the three you mentioned in their pomp!! Caulker is the best prospect to come out the lane sinse a certain Ledley King. I personally hope we qualify in the Europa and give him the op to play, if not loan again but this time in the Prem.....A gem..spot on!!
ReplyDeleteI understand your reluctance to get too carried away Matt. I just think it'll be interesting to see how the lad does if Harry gives him the nod. I know the Bristol City and Yeovil fans would have him back on loan in a shot. Best, Jeff
ReplyDeletei watched this lad some three years ago and thought I had just witnessed a future England Captain, talk about getting ahead of myself! one of my friends is an avid Bristol city fan and he has said he is a star, and has been a stand out player on many occasions this year, as mentioned previously it would be good to see him feature in a number of competitions this year or loaned out to a top Championship side or newly promoted Premiership side. The future is very bright for this young man, and I think he will go on and eclipse ledley king if he stays with spurs.
ReplyDeleteHe would surely have made the under 21 if he had not bean injured Centre Forward when he was playing at Yeovil he was told to to play emergency Centre Forward he got the ball in Defence flicked it over the Leeds player and set like a Forward he nearly scored but the goalkeeper saved it and from the corner he nearly scored again and at 6ft3 i would love to see him and Hudds and Wickham all 6ft3. DAVSPURS
ReplyDeleteMaybe you're all right - I sincerely hope you are. It looks like Bassong might be doing the offskis anyway, so his chance may come sooner than expected next season. Although I also forgot to include Bongani Khumalo, who hasn't yet featured for Spurs and who was one of South Africa's best performers at the WC...
ReplyDelete...and I'd add to that by saying another season at Bristol City, where he'll be playing regularly, would be far better than playing the odd Carling Cup or Europa League game for Spurs.
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