Player Watch: Fernando Llorente

[hellava_tough]

Maybe they want to have a good look at Troy Parrott in pre season and see if he’s ready for the back up striker role. Still think it’s a season to soon imo he’s still only 17 turning 18 in February.

Highly unlikely they'll use him as back up given his age

If he goes go into the squad at 17 then that would indicate we've got a seriously talented kid on our hands

 

[13VanDerBale13]

What the hell is going on with this situation

 

[hughy]

What the hell is going on with this situation

Presumably he's a free agent at the moment. I think the fact that we haven't released a statement suggests that we're potentially negotiating a contract with him for next season, but he might be looking around to see what else is about.

I'd imagine if we can find a deal which suits both us and him he'll return. Only downside is it takes up a player space in our PL and CL squads.

 

[WePlayWednesday]

FWIW his Twitter still says he’s a Spurs player...

 

[isaac94]

Strange situation, no word from the player or club, doesn't seem to be training with us

 

[carmeldevil]

Strange situation, no word from the player or club, doesn't seem to be training with us

He’s at the training ground. Who you think takes pics?

 

[dtxspurs]

He needs to be replaced if he goes. I'd prefer him back over not having another recognized striker in the squad but we should look for a replacement.

 

['O Zio]

This makes me sad. The guy SAVED US multiple times, and I honestly believe he was starting to “get it” (if you catch my drift). Experienced, cerebral, cagey veteran Strikers who are willing to help the team in any way possible aren’t exactly growing on trees. As a 100% back-up to Kane I think Nando was perfect for us, and I think we’ll miss him in more ways than one. Plus, the guy either scored- or had a huge hand in- two of our most important goals of the season. Whatever one can say about his diminished skill set, fact is, dude was clutch.

Oh well...

I completely disagree that he was perfect for us. The guy is a class act, don't get me wrong, and has had a great career, but (through no fault of his own really) he just doesn't fit our system(s) at all. It was one of the most frustrating things about the past couple of years how we seem to just stick Llorente on but the team half the time seemed to have absolutely no idea how to play with him. He has been a top player in his career, but he's good at playing a very specific role, and our team just never played in that way .I don't know if we just never practised it in training or whatever but it just didn't work because we tried to get him to play a role that he just wasn't suited to at all. I would be all for him staying but on the condition that we practice some sort of alternative system to use with him that plays to his strengths. Sticking him up top and the rest of the team acting like Kane is there is just a complete waste of time.

 

['O Zio]

He needs to be replaced if he goes. I'd prefer him back over not having another recognized striker in the squad but we should look for a replacement.

It seems like we've come to the conclusion that when Kane isn't there, we're better off playing someone like Son or Moura up front so if that's the case I don't think Llorente needs replacing. At least not with a like-for-like player anyway.

 

[dtxspurs]

It seems like we've come to the conclusion that when Kane isn't there, we're better off playing someone like Son or Moura up front so if that's the case I don't think Llorente needs replacing. At least not with a like-for-like player anyway.

Maybe, but under Poch we've always had a backup striker. And seemingly made it a priority in the TW after brining in Janssen in a decently sized purchase at the time and Llorente immediately after that when it wasn't working out.

 

[Japhet]

I completely disagree that he was perfect for us. The guy is a class act, don't get me wrong, and has had a great career, but (through no fault of his own really) he just doesn't fit our system(s) at all. It was one of the most frustrating things about the past couple of years how we seem to just stick Llorente on but the team half the time seemed to have absolutely no idea how to play with him. He has been a top player in his career, but he's good at playing a very specific role, and our team just never played in that way .I don't know if we just never practised it in training or whatever but it just didn't work because we tried to get him to play a role that he just wasn't suited to at all. I would be all for him staying but on the condition that we practice some sort of alternative system to use with him that plays to his strengths. Sticking him up top and the rest of the team acting like Kane is there is just a complete waste of time.

I agree with everything you say except that he was/is perfect for us IMO. It's up to the rest of the team and the coaching staff to adapt the moment he comes on the pitch, so it's our methodology that's wrong. It was almost like we never expected he'd be needed so put zero planning into it.

 

['O Zio]

I agree with everything you say except that he was/is perfect for us IMO. It's up to the rest of the team and the coaching staff to adapt the moment he comes on the pitch, so it's our methodology that's wrong. It was almost like we never expected he'd be needed so put zero planning into it.

Yeah I suppose what I really mean is he's not perfect for us because we never even tried to play in a way that takes advantage of his strengths. Either we need to come up with (and practice!) a system that suits him, or we need a striker who naturally plays in a way that's more complimentary to our default system. Given that he's getting on a bit anyway, I think it's unlikely we're going to put enough effort into coming up with a system that suits him now, so therefore I think he's not perfect for us, if that makes sense.

For what it's worth I've always been really frustrated by our refusal to play to his strengths. I know he gets a hard time from a lot of our fans and is somewhat perceived as a "flop" but I reckon that's mostly down to Poch for not getting the players to play the right way with him IMO. We either played as if Kane was there instead or resorted to just lumping it up to him and he'd do his best to hold it up but then we wouldn't make enough overlapping runs etc. to give him anyone to feed it to, so instead he'd just hold it up for a while and eventually get dispossessed because he had not support. Like I say, it's not really his fault that he didn't work out.

 

['O Zio]

Maybe, but under Poch we've always had a backup striker. And seemingly made it a priority in the TW after brining in Janssen in a decently sized purchase at the time and Llorente immediately after that when it wasn't working out.

Right but I reckon our reluctance to adapt our system to suit that kind of striker means that whoever we bring in that role is unlikely to succeed. Maybe Poch has come to the same conclusion and decided we're better off using Son/Moura/Lamela even who can get minutes in other positions and fill in up front when necessary.

 

[Japhet]

Yeah I suppose what I really mean is he's not perfect for us because we never even tried to play in a way that takes advantage of his strengths. Either we need to come up with (and practice!) a system that suits him, or we need a striker who naturally plays in a way that's more complimentary to our default system. Given that he's getting on a bit anyway, I think it's unlikely we're going to put enough effort into coming up with a system that suits him now, so therefore I think he's not perfect for us, if that makes sense.

For what it's worth I've always been really frustrated by our refusal to play to his strengths. I know he gets a hard time from a lot of our fans and is somewhat perceived as a "flop" but I reckon that's mostly down to Poch for not getting the players to play the right way with him IMO. We either played as if Kane was there instead or resorted to just lumping it up to him and he'd do his best to hold it up but then we wouldn't make enough overlapping runs etc. to give him anyone to feed it to, so instead he'd just hold it up for a while and eventually get dispossessed because he had not support. Like I say, it's not really his fault that he didn't work out.

There's been talk of us playing a different formation this season and I personally think Llorente would benefit from any system that doesn't leave him isolated up top, and trying to hold the ball up which isn't his game. 433 with midfielders supporting the attack more would be right up his street IMO. His game is about support players running onto his flicks jus as much as getting onto the end of crosses into the box. Unfortunately though, I suspect we'll run out of non HG spaces if all of our dealings go to plan.

 

[littlemandefoe]

Was time for him to go. Yes he scored important goals for us and I will always love and respect him for that, but otherwise, he's not at our level and either youth or new blood is required. Good luck, Fernando, best wishes at Fiorentina.

 

[arunspurs]

@Dan_KP

Tottenham offer Llorente one-year contract to rejoin on reduced terms

https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/tottenham/tottenham-could-resign-fernando-llorente-after-striker-left-on-a-free-transfer-a4193521.html

 

[wrd]

I appreciate what Llorente did for the club, he was a big part of my favourite moments as a spurs fan but he's 34 and my concern is as a 34 year old not getting a full pre-season what kind of condition is he going to be in, it's always harder the older you get to be up to speed.

 

[yankspurs]

@Dan_KP

Tottenham offer Llorente one-year contract to rejoin on reduced terms

https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/tottenham/tottenham-could-resign-fernando-llorente-after-striker-left-on-a-free-transfer-a4193521.html

Good news. Bring him back.

 

[Shadydan]

I like

 

[yankspurs]

I appreciate what Llorente did for the club, he was a big part of my favourite moments as a spurs fan but he's 34 and my concern is as a 34 year old not getting a full pre-season what kind of condition is he going to be in, it's always harder the older you get to be up to speed.

He has a boat load of experience and we all saw how it came in handy last year. Experience cannot be taught. Whats the harm of a reduced contract for 1 year?