Harry Kane might have taken all the headlines with his debut goal for England but another Spurs player also shone while on international duty.
Tom Carroll scored the winning goal for the England U21 side against the Czech Republic. Carroll captained the side and looks set to feature this summer at the U21 European Championships, where he could play alongside Kane, who is expected to drop back down to the junior side to gain some tournament experience.
On-loan at Swansea this season, Carroll has impressed the management of the Welsh club even if he has only played sporadically. They’d surely be keen to sign him to a permanent deal, leaving Tottenham with a decision to make on the diminutive playmaker.
Ryan Mason has established himself as a first-team player this season, after Nabil Bentaleb did likewise last term. Can Carroll do likewise in 2015-16?
Our opinion is that he should be given a shot. Still only 22, the rapid progress made by Spurs’ batch of homegrown youngsters demonstrates the rewards of showing patience with academy products.
What’s more, it looks likely that a number of midfielders will leave the club this summer, leaving a gap in the squad for Carroll to fill. The likes of Etienne Capoue and Paulinho will surely leave, while it would be no surprise if one of Mousa Dembele or Benjamin Stambouli were shipped out.
It will surely be less disruptive to restrict purchases to three or four in the close-season, allowing the likes of Carroll and other on-loan talents such as Alex Pritchard a chance to stake their claim in the squad. Here’s highlights of England’s victory, featuring Carroll’s winner.
Way I see it it is between TC and RM as I believe we deffo need to buy an experienced talented playmaker and so only one of the above can really be kept I think and RM is established. I have not seen anything of Tc this season but he just looks to lightweight. We need a Modric.
Ryan Mason is a good lad, plays with his heart on his sleeve, but he doesn’t really do much for Spurs midfield.
We have seen that sometimes he offers good passing, but the quality is no the same level as Carroll, and way of Modric.
Benaleb is on par with the rest of our holding midfielders, but again, never did as good for us as Sandro ever did! He has made quite a few mistakes that allows people passed him and either led to goals or serious threats, and with the likes of Walker often behind him in the final third, its a real risk!
If Carroll can show more bite to his game, lots of closing down and tackling he can be our new Modric. We really need to sort out the anchor man who sits infront of our defence though. I don’t believe Bentaleb is good enough.
I believe we already have the answer to our 3 attacking midfielders who will play behind Kane. Eriksen is an obvious choice the other two will come through our loanee’s and youth.
Similar physique to Modric and Scotty Parker. I say give him a chance and protect him until he fills out, it won’t be much longer. Besides Rymar isn’t exactly a beast…
I would certainly give Tom a chance. He is another ‘one of our own’ that has quality in his game. COYS!!
As a Swansea fan, this guy could be top notch. I doubt Spurs would let him leave and I see him slotting into your midfield with ease next season. Wish him all the best, it’ll be nice to say he played for my club in a couple of years! Top player
Definitely worth a shot. Our current starting midfield is doing well, but don’t have anyone behind them that MoPo trusts. So keeping Tom and Pritchard as backup, and allowing them chances when needed would be a great way to blood them, and allow us to focus funds on much more important areas like defence and forward depth. Looks like Dembele, Paulinho and Capoue are on their way out, and possibly Stambouli too, so even keeping Tom and Alex, we’ll need at least one more midfielder to give us reasonable depth (ideal is around 5 DMs, to account for injuries).
It’s always nice to talk up homegrown talent.I have never seen Prichard,but no doubt Poch will have his reports on the boy.However it is a big step up from Lg.1 to the Prem.Perhaps a good pre-season along with Carroll will benefit both.Carroll’s style of play would compliment Eriksen,but I always see him as a bit lightweight.Maybe a period on the weights this summer would benefit.
I would keep Stambouli,I think he has not had much opportunity.The axis of Benteleb and Mason,whilst promising needs to be rested as enthusiasm and endeavour only get you so far.Experience in those positions is so important if the team has CL ambitions.I would love to see someone like Verratti but sadly we couldn’t get him.
There are a number of positions that need strengthening and they include a gk (if Lloris were to be prised away),rb,2cbs,2wide men and at least one striker.Of course this means unloading a number of squad members and it looks to be a busy summer.
Pritchard is playing for Brentford in the championship.
And he’s been one of if not the best player in the league!
I’m super excited about Pritch!!
What about the kid from mk dons
And what’s happened to coulibally
Pritchard is easily in the top 5 players in the championship .. maybe higher.
Carroll will be Carrick’s replacement in the England team I a few years time… I saw him a couple of seasons back when spurs reserves were playing Chelsea’s & he was definitely the stand out player… wow!! what an exciting few seasons to come with Carroll, Pritchard, Ali & of course Kane… COYS!!