“My goodness”- Alasdair Gold amazed after watching 19 y/o Tottenham loanee’s display, ‘he was that good’
Tottenham Hotspur journalist Alasdair Gold has been left thoroughly impressed by one of the club’s loanees after seeing him in action for his temporary team during a midweek match.
In recent years, Tottenham Hotspur’s transfer strategy has shifted towards investing in younger talent, a policy that was on full display this summer with the arrivals of Wilson Odobert, Archie Gray, and Lucas Bergvall. These signings highlight the club’s focus on building for the future, and their performances already suggest they could be key figures in years to come. Gray and Bergvall, in particular, stood out in Spurs’ recent Carabao Cup clash against Coventry City, catching the eye of head coach Ange Postecoglou, who praised their performances as ‘very good.’ This reflects the club’s growing pool of young talents, with the likes of Mikey Moore, Will Lankshear, and Alfie Devine also making waves at Spurs.
Interestingly, Devine was even linked with a loan move to the Saudi Pro League during the summer transfer window, a sign of how highly regarded he is by clubs outside of the Premier League. However, it seems another young star is making a name for himself on loan, and he has captured the attention of Alasdair Gold in particular.
**Alasdair Gold Left Amazed by 19-Year-Old Tottenham Loanee’s Performance**
Ange Postecoglou has frequently spoken about how much he enjoys working with young players like Gray, Odobert, Bergvall, Lankshear, and Moore, and he’s never hesitated to give them a chance when the opportunity arises. But while these players are making waves at the club, one of Tottenham’s loanees is making a serious impact at his temporary club, Leyton Orient. Alasdair Gold had the chance to watch 19-year-old Jamie Donley in action, and it’s safe to say he was blown away by what he saw.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Gold shared his thoughts on Donley’s performance in Leyton Orient’s midweek Carabao Cup match against Premier League side Brentford. He was left astonished by the youngster’s composure and quality on the ball.
“I was watching Jamie Donley play for Leyton Orient against Brentford, and a lot of what he did really caught my eye,” Gold explained. “He was playing these fast, progressive passes, threading creative balls through the lines, and really setting people away. You look at that and think, ‘Wow, he’s only 19, and he’s playing with such maturity.’ Had he started that game, I honestly believe Spurs would have had fewer problems against Coventry. And yes, that’s a lot of pressure to put on such a young player, but I genuinely believe he was that good against Premier League opposition in Brentford.”
Gold went on to say that despite his belief Donley could have made an immediate impact for Spurs, it’s likely better for his development that he’s getting regular minutes on loan at Leyton Orient. He added, “It’s probably better that he’s out on loan, playing regularly and getting that experience, but watching him, you can’t help but think he’s going to be something special.”
**Jamie Donley’s Standout Stats vs Brentford**
Donley played 72 minutes in Leyton Orient’s 3-1 Carabao Cup defeat to Brentford, but his individual performance was a real positive. He won four duels, completed his only long ball, registered an impressive passing accuracy of 87%, and had 48 touches of the ball. He also made two key passes that helped drive his team forward, further underscoring his ability to influence the game.
As a left-footed creative midfielder, Donley has already shown he’s capable of holding his own against top-tier opposition, and his future looks incredibly bright. Gold’s high praise comes at a time when Spurs have struggled to link up play effectively in the midfield, especially against Coventry, where they frequently went backwards until the introduction of James Maddison. In this context, it’s easy to see why Gold was eager to see someone like Donley involved, given his ability to play those incisive, midfield-splitting passes that could unlock opposition defenses.
With performances like these, Donley’s loan spell at Leyton Orient could prove to be a pivotal stepping stone in his development, and he may well return to Spurs as a far more polished player, ready to make his mark on the Premier League stage.