Huddlestone

[gibbs131]

I think their keeper won it for them. We outplayed them in most positions. Hud was better than his opposite number. Which is not saying much at all.

 

[Black]

Were disappointed with him because we know he can do better, hes the best passer in the team he is one player i expect Ramos to improve

 

[Darrkespur]

I think Alvarez and Ramos could really help Huddlestone turn the corner - Jol's training scheme was far too lax for a player like Tom (or Mido for that matter). Hudd looks tired 60 minutes in and this isn't good enough. A few weeks training all day rather than a couple of hours in the morning may make a huge difference - An extra layer of fitness can add a couple of seconds to the time a player has to think.

Huddlestone has far too many good qualities to throw away. He's not complete yet and he goes missing/makes mistakes. However we don't have anyone that threads a ball in like he does. Of all our younger players he's the one I wouldn't trade for anything. In a few years time with good coaching and better fitness he could be the complete player.

 

[talkshowhost86]

TSH you say you want Steed and Zokora in central midfield the only problem is the lack of height to win any headers(Zokora's worst part of his game is actually heading the ball) and Steed is good going forward but has tendencies to go missing for long parts of games and i couldn't even start to imagine Steed tackling back by the edge of our area,
He chases alot but how anyone can say he was fucking awesome against a poor Blackburn side need there head sorting
He put in a good performance on sunday a few were average to good at most,
An awesome one would be scoring and setting up at least one more after that not running around chasing people all game.

I think Malbranque's tackling back is actually one of the better parts of his game, and if you put him in the middle there's far more chance that he'll set up chances (as he did for Lennon when he came into the middle). Steed is far from the complete player and I think we can do better in January, but for now he's our most creative midfielder and having him shunted out on the left isn't making the most of his talent.

If Zokora can actually sit behind him and be a defensive midfielder, then I reckon the partnership would work pretty well.

 

[Flatters]

I still think Hudd was awesome bar his passing. :snooty:

 

[gregga]

I don't know why people are bitching about Hudd's mobility or lack of work against blackeye.

What stood out like a flashing neon sign was the utter abysmalness of his passing. I honestly could not believe how much he gave the ball away - it was embarrassing frankly. Hudd is simply not ready for the premiership - he has only ever played well against bad teams.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

I think it is fair to say that there is a difference btween U20 football, the championship and the premiership. The premiership is possibly/probably the fastest and most physical major european league. There is no doubting Huddlestone's ability to pass when allowed to do to so but when pressured his game becomes erratic and moribund to a degree. It is not just about pace or lack of. It is about mobility, awareness and positioning. I think in many ways he was an almost cloned replacement for Carrick - which is why I'm sure they were happy to cash in on Carrick - but his deficeincies have hampered his development. I don't think he is overweight at all and I don't think he is to broad round the middle, it is his upper body that hampers his movement quite alot.

I think it is highly unlikeley that he will miraculously become more mobile. You don't get more mobile with age. And to play in a midfield 4 in this league you certainly have to be mobile. To play good football teams must be mobile all over the park let alone midfield.

The only solution that I can see is that he either plays in a midfield 5 or we buy an uber midfielder to play next to him. One that covers every blade of Grass, winning the ball constantly. (To be honest we need one of those anyway, regardless of who plays next to him as none of our cm's can do this). Even then Huddlestone would still not be ideal in tough games where you really need all hands on deck. Which is probably why Jol picked Zokora ahead of him away from home.

He's a likeable lad and has a great passing range, but todays game lends itself more to the Ardiles and less to the Hoddle I think.

 

[Stoof]

I think it is fair to say that there is a difference btween U20 football, the championship and the premiership. The premiership is possibly/probably the fastest and most physical major european league. There is no doubting Huddlestone's ability to pass when allowed to do to so but when pressured his game becomes erratic and moribund to a degree. It is not just about pace or lack of. It is about mobility, awareness and positioning. I think in many ways he was an almost cloned replacement for Carrick - which is why I'm sure they were happy to cash in on Carrick - but his deficeincies have hampered his development. I don't think he is overweight at all and I don't think he is to broad round the middle, it is his upper body that hampers his movement quite alot.

I think it is highly unlikeley that he will miraculously become more mobile. You don't get more mobile with age. And to play in a midfield 4 in this league you certainly have to be mobile. To play good football teams must be mobile all over the park let alone midfield.

The only solution that I can see is that he either plays in a midfield 5 or we buy an uber midfielder to play next to him. One that covers every blade of Grass, winning the ball constantly. (To be honest we need one of those anyway, regardless of who plays next to him as none of our cm's can do this). Even then Huddlestone would still not be ideal in tough games where you really need all hands on deck. Which is probably why Jol picked Zokora ahead of him away from home.

He's a likeable lad and has a great passing range, but todays game lends itself more to the Ardiles and less to the Hoddle I think.

I totally agree with that. Glad to see you've calmed down a bit, BC. Top post. :up:

 

[markie]

Zokora is out most important central midfielder, and hopefully Ramos will get the best out of him.....

:stupid::stupid::stupid::stupid::stupid:

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

is this because he does the best impersonation of a headless chicken and keeps the boys spirits up...

I cant believe how blinkered you are about zokora it s hilarious...

 

[markie]

Don't be surprised if Ramos builds the team around Huddlestone. He took fearful stick from supposed supporters today but showed his character by continually probing forwards. He was often played into trouble by receiving passes at varying heights and at varying pace, but more often than not often played himself out of trouble, by his skill and agility, which of course went quite unnoticed by his critics, who feel he has neither. A lot of his passing didn't come off, but some of it was quite superb, two or three delicious through balls and a glorious centre from the right begging to be finished by two on rushing forwards who both missed it, come to mind. Others of his passes were cut out at full stretch by defenders just managing to stop him putting strikers clear and of course when this happened he was criticised. In fact on any number of occasions he was being loudly criticised when closed down, when lo and behold he came away with the ball. It was noticeable to me, that when he became less involved towards the end, after Malbranque had been replaced by Bent, and the team resorted to nothing other than long hoofs forward, whether by Cerny or the back four, cutting out the midfield, this was the time when we lost our momentum. But I recognise I am in a minority of one and saw a different game to the rest of you.
So be it.

I agree wholeheartedly and wish all these stupid zokora loving fans would take thier zokora tinted glasses off and realise who is the stronger player.

Zokora constantly causes problems for hudd when they play together and puts him under endless pressure with awful passing and terrible positioning sense..

:bowdown::bowdown::bowdown:

 

[markie]

If Zokora can actually sit behind him and be a defensive midfielder, then I reckon the partnership would work pretty well.

Once again :stupid: :rofl::rofl::rofl:

Zokora cannot do this as he has a constant tendency to run like a loonatic around the pitch doing absolutley no good for the team. You cannot be serious in thinking he could do a good job behind malbranque, this would leave the area in front of the defence completely open and with kaboul running forward and dawson being generally shi* we would conceed even more goals....

 

[Kendall]

Zokora came here as a defensive midfielder but I guess Jol maybe got carried away with his sprints forward and neglected to use him like that? fuck knows but that's what he's touted as and that's what he was when Arsenal wanted him.

When I watched him in the World Cup he looked a very capable & discaplined midfielder indeed. Perhaps it just takes the right coach?

I'm not really going to write anybody off except maybe Malwank and Tainio before Ramos gets their hands on them.....you never know.

 

[gibbs131]

A few people on here don't realize that all of Huds passes were not astray. They simply were not read by the players he expected to run into space. We have the players. Zok and Hud are great players. They just have ZERO idea what they are supposed to be doing.

That goes for midfield and defense.

 

[Teemu]

How does that work? Is that like saying someone's utter bollocks at football, but they're actually a great player because they're great at being bollocks?

That's slightly exaggerated and I don't think Huddlestone is bollocks, but what you said doesn't really make sense, in order to be a great player you have to be able to read the game and adapt to the players around you, not play passes that would be fantastic if we had players who could read what you were thinking and run faster than the speed of light...

 

[tommyt]

Where would you get it? This site is great with thoughtful posters. Rep goes out to Joey, SS57, bus-condutor, stoof and others for spending the time writing thoughtful posts.

Cheers. :beer:

 

[muffwah]

I agree wholeheartedly and wish all these stupid zokora loving fans would take thier zokora tinted glasses off and realise who is the stronger player.

Zokora constantly causes problems for hudd when they play together and puts him under endless pressure with awful passing and terrible positioning sense..

:bowdown::bowdown::bowdown:

are you mental?

 

[ravo]

I just got back from the game, and I've heard many fans talking about how awful he was this afternoon, and I agree that his passing was very poor most of the time, but everything else about his game was fantastic. I've never seen him win the ball as much as he did today. He used his strength brilliantly, and kept the ball brilliantly as well. Just a shame his passing was so poor, but I think Huddlestone showed so much promise in today's game. We all know how good his passing can be, and if he implements that with the rest of the way he played today, he could become the midfielder we've been lacking for so long.

Oh, and Malbranque was fucking awesome for us today as well.

I was also at the game and can agree that Steed was our best by a good way.

Judging by Ramos' reported shock of how unfit the team is, guys like The Hudd may do well being run into the ground.

COYS

 

[muffwah]

I am really quite stunned at some of the anti Steed and Zok posts I read. mg: Golden balls Huddlestone had one of the worst matches I have EVER seen in a spurs shirt on Sunday, he is not athletic, mobile or fit enough for the Premiership (which the new coach will hopefully be able to change) and it is reaching the point in his career when he needs to start producing the goods more consistently or he will end up discarded.

Zokora has been much improved this year, for anyone to suggest he puts Huddlestone under pressure is ridiculous as his passing success rate is MUCH superior and he covers far more ground. He has obviously never been given the strict role that many fans wish he had been or seem to believe he has been and as such he has never played that kind of role. When he plays with Jenas and Hudd they tend to cover for each other when one goes forward. It may not be the most popular system on this board but that is how it has been.

Malbranque has been our best midfielder this season, despite appalling stamina and he showed in the first half that even when playing out of position he will be creative and link with the front two. It is painfully obvious he is a central midfielder and should be feeding the strikers much as it is painfully obvious that Lennon should be on the right so it is a bit much to write him off.

I struggle to see what Kaboul and Zokora get the stick they do when Dawson and Huddlestone have not been any better, in my opinion much worse, this season. I can't help but think it is because of the Comolli link that these players get a hard time. :shrug:

 

[gibbs131]

How does that work? Is that like saying someone's utter bollocks at football, but they're actually a great player because they're great at being bollocks?

That's slightly exaggerated and I don't think Huddlestone is bollocks, but what you said doesn't really make sense, in order to be a great player you have to be able to read the game and adapt to the players around you, not play passes that would be fantastic if we had players who could read what you were thinking and run faster than the speed of light...

There are many coaching manuals for small girls. You should get one. Give and go (home)

 

[paxtonyiddo]

Huddlestone needs to be taken under Ramos wing and I think the new gaffer will do just that.