No fluidity, guile and creativity

[Wheeler Dealer]

This time last year, we were a team who the media pundits were waxing lyrical about our pace, creativity and attacking style. I for one really looked forward to watching us play. Fast forward 12 months and we're a team that has no fludity, shape, creativity and guile and not that pleasing on the eye.

Yes, i know we have sold Modric and VDV, who were by far the creative hub. The frustration is that we have not replaced them with any form of creative spark and we look bereft of ideas

We look afraid, even scared to express any creative spark and show any sign of innovation and today is not a isolated incident, we have been like this all year with excpection of the first half v Utd.

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

We just don't have the players to play like we did last season.

I think alot of fans are underestimating the influence VDV and Modric had on the side.

 

[thePessimist]

actually turned off my stream at 55mins today knowing it would be absolute hell watching the rest of the 2nd half

Breath of fresh air with dembele and parker returning!

 

[vonn]

At the end of the window I posted a couple of stats provided by EPL Index :

At the end of the day though to lose your best creator (Modric, 162 chances created last two seasons) and not replace him is careless, but to also lose your second best creator (VdV, 142 cc over the same period) and not replace him as well is unforgivable.

From what I've seen of us so far losing both Modric and VdV and nowhere near adequately replacing them is killing us.

 

[vonn]

This time last year, we were a team who the media pundits were waxing lyrical about our pace, creativity and attacking style. I for one really looked forward to watching us play. Fast forward 12 months and we're a team that has no fludity, shape, creativity and guile and not that pleasing on the eye.

Yes, i know we have sold Modric and VDV, who were by far the creative hub. The frustration is that we have not replaced them with any form of creative spark and we look bereft of ideas

We look afraid, even scared to express any creative spark and show any sign of innovation and today is not a isolated incident, we have been like this all year with excpection of the first half v Utd.

Yeah, this was my worry back at the end of the window. Posted this on September 1st :

I like who we've bought but we haven't replaced what we've lost. Where is the guile and know-how in midfield without Modric and VdV? It just isn't there. We looked lost to be honest and devoid of ideas. A little worrying to say the least.

Btw, according to transfermarkt we were one of only 4 PL teams to make a profit this window. Remember a few weeks/months ago when there was talk of investment and good old Joe loosening the purse strings ......

 

[Dan Ashcroft]

Thought it was a good performance today tbh against a much better team than us. Silva was the difference between the sides.

 

[Beni]

Yep, I agree Levy was helpless to prevent Modric leaving and maybe VDV. But to not replace them has/is costing us.

 

[Beni]

Thought it was a good performance today tbh against a much better team than us. Silva was the difference between the sides.

He was, and thats what makes teams champions, top 4 contenders etc. We sold our Silva's (Modric / VDV) and replaced them with nobody.

 

[Wheeler Dealer]

Thought it was a good performance today tbh against a much better team than us. Silva was the difference between the sides.

Silva, Tevez and Aguero were the difference along with Toure, Clichy and Dzeko.. The list could go on.

 

[Wheeler Dealer]

He was, and thats what makes teams champions, top 4 contenders etc. We sold our Silva's (Modric / VDV) and replaced them with nobody.

Super Clint Dempsey

 

[tobi]

We look like AC Milan after they sold Zlatan, he made everyone look better than they actually are and now that he (VDV, Modric) aren't here any more and weren't suitably replaced the shit has hit the fan.

 

[Beni]

Super Clint Dempsey

Oh yeah, my mistake...

 

[Dan Ashcroft]

Remember City tonked us 5-1 last season.

 

[werty]

Sure the players are worse, but I think the main problem isn't the lack of quality of the players but the lack of movement and work rate. That comes from the man/men coaching the team.

Besides, it's not as if we've replaced the players with League 1 players. As I've mentioned in previous threads, the year we finished 4th with 70 points we had no VDV and no Modric for half a season and still played good football. If AVB and the team were that good it wouldn't be as big a problem as it has been.

 

[eViL]

My god.

Did you see the dross we played in the final third of last season?

Who was manger? Redknapp.

What formation did we play? 4-2-3-1

Who was our star midfielder? Modric.

Who was our star forward? Van Der Vaart.

Seriously, open your eyes.

 

[werty]

Remember City tonked us 5-1 last season.

Remember when we spanked Wigan 9-1 without VDV and Modric?

 

[shelfboy68]

This time last year, we were a team who the media pundits were waxing lyrical about our pace, creativity and attacking style. I for one really looked forward to watching us play. Fast forward 12 months and we're a team that has no fludity, shape, creativity and guile and not that pleasing on the eye.

Yes, i know we have sold Modric and VDV, who were by far the creative hub. The frustration is that we have not replaced them with any form of creative spark and we look bereft of ideas

We look afraid, even scared to express any creative spark and show any sign of innovation and today is not a isolated incident, we have been like this all year with excpection of the first half v Utd.

We just can't keep the ball for more than a couple of passes then we give it away but I thought that was what a TOP coach was for but anyway.........

 

[AnotherSpursFan]

Besides guile and creaativity, i note three players who lack basic football common sense

Huddlestone: First goal due to his usual sloppy foward pass to the opposition. He should have passed to Sandro who is open.
Walker : He tried many of the above. Every throw in goes back to the opposition, wtf?
Bale: Sloppy pass aplenty + ball hog, one dimensional

Special mention:
Assou Ekoto: he didn't play he's one who likes to give it away.

For all our supposed culture of playing attractive football. i've seen us since Ginola's time, and truth be told, most of the time we were never an attractive side. Wigan under Roberto Martinez plays a better brand of football.

Is it players, is it the manager, seriously no idea. We have quite a few quality players like VErtgh, he knows where to run, makes good decision and takes care of possesion, my worry is when Vertgh starts to play like Bale and co.

 

[Misfit]

Yes. Modric and VDV are huge losses. The depth we also had was simply taking the piss. Peanut and Kranky spent months drumming their fingers.

Kerist what a squad we had. Last season, for all kinds of reasons was such a massive opportunity lost and we'll be feeling this for yrs I fear.

 

[kaz Hirai]

you're not going to get any kind of creative play and ball retention when huddlestone is the centrepeice of the team with responibility of making things gel and keeping the ball with dempsey or siggurdson providing the creativity and chipping in with goals.

I'm certain we will look alot better with dembele and parker back in the team but there is zero depth. if dembele is out we are back to looking to huddlestone for creativity.

transfer dealing was a shambles to honest