Spurs Blog On Our Loanees

[californiadreamin52 339]

http://windycoys.com/2015/08/loanee-update-august-2015/

Nathan Oduwa & Dominic Ball – Rangers (Scottish Championship)

Mark Warburton has used his relationship with Spurs to acquire two youngsters who are ready to make the next step. As a Spurs fan and co-founder of the NextGen Series (which Spurs participated in) Warburton has a real appreciation of Spurs’ academy, and worked wonders with Pritchard last season.

Oduwa and Ball both played League Two football last year and – whilst the quality of the Scottish Championship might not be substantially better – the experience of playing in front of 51,000 fans every other week will benefit them enormously.

Nathan Oduwa will get Rangers fans off their seats. He is a very tricky customer, possessing terrific close control and dribbling ability. He sometimes appears to not be in full control of the ball, but will then somehow emerge from the tightest of spaces with it still at his feet. His finishing certainly needs some honing, but there are not many 19-year olds that are complete players. Oduwa mostly plays on the left wing, but could do a job as a number 10 or even a number 9 if called upon.

Dominic Ball is a robust centre-back who is competent in possession. He undoubtedly has ability and reads the game well for a 20-year old. My concern is that he can be a little rash when defending – sometimes committing himself too early in an effort to be proactive. He will come across some wily players and if he can play a full season, it’ll do him the world of good.

It’s easy to turn your nose up at our players going to the Scottish Championship, but you must remember that matches are only one part of a loan move – players are training all week, and so the coaches that they are with must be of sufficient quality to have an impact. Mark Warburton is a fantastic coach for our young players to learn from (as we saw with Pritchard last year) and the Spurs hierarchy clearly have enormous faith in him.

Ball revealed in this interview that he trained with Warburton when he played for Watford between the ages of 11 and 15, and that will certainly make the transition easier for him.

[ritchieshearercaldow 22,302]

Time will tell with these players, if they can handle the pressure of playing for Rangers they will be well on their way.

[Turnberry18 3,204]

An interesting line about matches/training. With a coach like Warburton playing matches will only be a part of a player's learning of the game. I think these players will develop under his coaching as well, just like our young players will benefit as well. I think Ball will find it hard to get into the team, but hopefully a chance comes his way.

[Chineseboy 1,563]

Do you think Oduwa will walk straight into the team. If so , is that not detrimental to our youngsters Walsh and Mckay. Sorry, can't remember which side of the pitch Oduwa plays.

[LegendofCoop 17,718]

Nice read, thanks for sharing.

If Oduwa is being taken on to play left wing, I feel a bit sorry for Mckay. He's finally getting a chance with us and is showing some promise. Still, competition is never a bad thing, and perhaps Templeton is for the off. Also, maybe Oduwa can offer us more than Mckay. Either way...exciting times

[Skyson1872 2,923]

Do you think Oduwa will walk straight into the team. If so , is that not detrimental to our youngsters Walsh and Mckay. Sorry, can't remember which side of the pitch Oduwa plays.

Yes and no, Warburton has stated numerous times he likes a tight squad with plenty of competition. So while that stops Walsh or McKay walking into the team, it makes them try harder and improve in training so they can get a shot.

[TMB 14,167]

Do you think Oduwa will walk straight into the team. If so , is that not detrimental to our youngsters Walsh and Mckay. Sorry, can't remember which side of the pitch Oduwa plays.

I think Oduwa will stroll this league. He'll make the left-wing his own and become a fan favourite. This'll be the end of David Templeton as a Rangers player.

[Johnnyren 601]

The description of oduwa reminded me of ted mcminn

[Courtyard Bear 41,357]

It would appear we aren't only folk who think Mr Warburton is the real deal, which can only be good for the future of Rangers.

[trueblueal 2,117]

Oduwa is reminiscent of Gazza but faster.

[Heshootshescores 1,905]

Thanks OP, good read. Wide men can be inconsistent so increased competition has got to be good. Plus with the high tempo game we now play I expect the subs to be used most games for midfield and forward positions when possible.

[Bad Robot 21,513]

Competition for positions will improve the players it affects.

[Moody Blue Legend 62,832]

Looking forward to seeing the boy Oduwa.

[HG5 11,766]

An interesting line about matches/training. With a coach like Warburton playing matches will only be a part of a player's learning of the game. I think these players will develop under his coaching as well, just like our young players will benefit as well. I think Ball will find it hard to get into the team, but hopefully a chance comes his.

It will be exciting to see how players develop, rather than just tick along from one game to the next, as we've had for almost a decade, now.

[LeeWallaceRFC 3,920]

McKay is going nowhere. It's Templeton who should be worried, and for very good reason.

[THE_Ibrox_Preacher 2,812]

.

[MrMckee 3,442]

Come with high regards so looking forward to seeing them play especially that Oduwa

[centenarystand 2,229]

Do you think Oduwa will walk straight into the team. If so , is that not detrimental to our youngsters Walsh and Mckay. Sorry, can't remember which side of the pitch Oduwa plays.

If Oduwa is a better player and he certainly sounds it then of course others will make way.

[StuartM6 279]

Oduwa could be a very good player for us. From what I've seen of him he looks like he'll get the fans on their feet.

[Shuggy 1,308]

"He sometimes appears to not be in full control of the ball, but will then somehow emerge from the tightest of spaces with it still at his feet."

Sounds like Ted McMimm II

[JR 1,480]

Oduwa is reminiscent of Gazza but faster.

Reminds me more of Adebayor with that loping gait of his.

[SwordandShield 189]

Like the sound of the boy Oduwa. Him linking up with Wallace could be something special.

[islandblue 366]

I think Templeton will be for the off

[Ayrshire Blue 2,055]

Cheers OP - interesting read. Obviously Spurs think MW & DW can develop these guys.

[bombaybadboy08 15,660]

Apart from liking what's being said about the players we've taken on, it's a buzz reading how highly our manager is rated down south.

Can't remember the last time you could say that, exciting times ahead.