Player Watch Player Watch: Oliver Skipp

[Nebby]

He definitely won’t, he just is simply not good enough for any position in the system. He offers next to nothing.

You should probably tell Ange. He obviously doesn’t realise.

 

[McFlash]

Clarke is an interesting one. Unsuccessful on loan, far from outstanding in PL2, written off by most Spurs fans, offloaded aged 21.
Situation is different to Skipp’s, perhaps closer to someone like Parrott or Scarlett, but shows you never can tell. Anyway, hope he smashes it in the Premiership next season. Cirkin too if Sunderland go up, in which case there could even be a golden swan song for Pritchard, who is currently credited with setting up the most goal scoring opportunities in the Championship. That could I suppose bear out the point about the gulf in class, but I always thought he was slumming it down there.

When we signed Clarke, a Leeds mate of mine said we'd need to be patient because although the lad was talented, he was far from ready for the PL.
I was gutted when we moved him on because he did look to have something about him, he just needed time and that's one thing he was never going to get under the management of the time.

It's what also pisses me off when I see so many people expecting so much from our academy players, only to turn on them if they haven't become amazing by the age of 21.
And to be honest, it's not just academy players. Over the past few weeks I've seen people writing off Johnson, Kulusevski and several others.

It wasn't that long ago that players weren't considered to hit their peak until their late twenties and while the game has changed somewhat, we've all become so impatient it seems.

 

[djhotspur]

You should probably tell Ange. He obviously doesn’t realise.

Or is ange at the beginning of the project with countless injuries?

 

[Westmorlandspur]

Clarke is an interesting one. Unsuccessful on loan, far from outstanding in PL2, written off by most Spurs fans, offloaded aged 21.
Situation is different to Skipp’s, perhaps closer to someone like Parrott or Scarlett, but shows you never can tell. Anyway, hope he smashes it in the Premiership next season. Cirkin too if Sunderland go up, in which case there could even be a golden swan song for Pritchard, who is currently credited with setting up the most goal scoring opportunities in the Championship. That could I suppose bear out the point about the gulf in class, but I always thought he was slumming it down there.

Burnley apparently bid 10m in the summer for Clarke. Turned down obviously , prob because we have a big sell on clause .

 

[TheHodFather]

I like Skipp. He seems like a great lad and he always puts a shift in. The problem is I'm just not sure what to do with him. Is he good enough to be a starter? Not in my opinion. Is he somebody you bring on when you're chasing a game and need a goal? No, that's not really what his game is about. He's certainly a player you could bring on to protect a lead, but is subbing on defensive players to protect a lead really Ange's style? Not sure it is personally.

So aside from emergency cover for injuries/suspensions I'm just not sure what role there is for him in the squad. And I don't think that's enough of a role for a guy of his age. I think a guy his age needs to be playing regularly in order to establish himself.

 

[Nebby]

Another young player likely to improve under Ange. Apparently like Davies; a student of the game who’s willing to listen and learn. I hope he takes the chance that Bissouma’s absence will give him.

 

[Wheeler Dealer]

Another young player likely to improve under Ange. Apparently like Davies; a student of the game who’s willing to listen and learn. I hope he takes the chance that Bissouma’s absence will give him.

He’s had plenty of chances. The Forest game was his 50th first team appearance. He maybe a great trainer and student of the game but unfortunately he’s not at the level we require.

 

[Johno1470]

Early days under Ange but I just don’t see how he ticks the boxes for a midfielder required to perform to a high standard in this system.

I can’t fault his effort or determination and he is a great midfielder in a system that plays to his strengths, but like many have said, he isn’t good enough in ours.

He doesn’t possess the attacking qualities to play in the Maddison/Deki role. His passing isn’t expansive or dynamic enough for the Sarr/Bentancur role either.

Whilst he is predominantly a defensive or middle third based player, Ange’s system clearly demands that the #6 is not only strong in possession, but can receive under pressure, turn a man and make a pass that breaks the lines. For me, Skipp can’t do this and I would imagine he will be sold/loaned eventually.

Our injury crisis and need to shift others means that he will likely stay with us and stagnate for a season or two, which will be unfortunate for him. He will however get minutes over the coming months and it will be down to him to show that he has a place in this system.

As others have said, some ex-players weren’t afforded the opportunity to show what they can do e.g., Clarke, Cirkin, Foyth, KWP.

If we do decide to sell Skipp down the line, I can tell you that it won’t be for his lack of opportunities or minutes.

 

[Frank Blank]

Early days under Ange but I just don’t see how he ticks the boxes for a midfielder required to perform to a high standard in this system.

I can’t fault his effort or determination and he is a great midfielder in a system that plays to his strengths, but like many have said, he isn’t good enough in ours.

He doesn’t possess the attacking qualities to play in the Maddison/Deki role. His passing isn’t expansive or dynamic enough for the Sarr/Bentancur role either.

Whilst he is predominantly a defensive or middle third based player, Ange’s system clearly demands that the #6 is not only strong in possession, but can receive under pressure, turn a man and make a pass that breaks the lines. For me, Skipp can’t do this and I would imagine he will be sold/loaned eventually.

Our injury crisis and need to shift others means that he will likely stay with us and stagnate for a season or two, which will be unfortunate for him. He will however get minutes over the coming months and it will be down to him to show that he has a place in this system.

As others have said, some ex-players weren’t afforded the opportunity to show what they can do e.g., Clarke, Cirkin, Foyth, KWP.

If we do decide to sell Skipp down the line, I can tell you that it won’t be for his lack of opportunities or minutes.

I agree with absolutely everything in the above post.
I will add that for me, the writing was on the wall after Mourinho bigged him up. A Mourinho recommendation is like the kiss of death.

P.S. He rated Scarlett too. Just sayin'.

 

[EQP]

He's more effective as a 6 in this system. He had some good moments where he beat the press and progressed the ball well and looked like he's getting to grips with what he's being asked to do.

We're going to need him while Sarr and Bissouma are at AFCON, so it's good to see perform a lot better this time around.

 

[FinnYid]

Not flawless, but one of better players tonight. Should start as 6 for a stint with Bissouma and Bentancur out.

 

[kernowspurscoach1977]

I think today really highlighted how much we miss biss as the 6 - yes he loses
It sometimes but I have so much more faith in biss playing and retaining possession whilst under pressure

 

[talkshowhost86]

Better than Hojberg at the 6 role but that's a low bar.

He isn't good enough but probably bottom of that list to get rid of right now.

 

[Zippy1980]

Not good enough in my opinion

 

[robotsonic]

Not his best performance, but not his worst. What I will say though, while it's not really in his skillset to break the press by getting out of a tight spot dribbling, I do feel like he was a lot more reliable today in not giving away a lot of stupid bad passes as Biss has done of late. At least keeps it simple and reliable.

Unpopular opinion I would imagine, but we'd be better off at the moment with Winks as an option in midfield over Hojbjerg or Skipp.

 

[theShiznit]

Not his best performance, but not his worst. What I will say though, while it's not really in his skillset to break the press by getting out of a tight spot dribbling, I do feel like he was a lot more reliable today in not giving away a lot of stupid bad passes as Biss has done of late. At least keeps it simple and reliable.

Unpopular opinion I would imagine, but we'd be better off at the moment with Winks as an option in midfield over Hojbjerg or Skipp.

Oh all day.
Winks' technique is miles better than both.

Skipp and PEH just lack the mobility, agility and touch to play effectively in a pass and move side, our movement today was as un dynamic as we've seen this season and need to loads of turnovers from passes that were never really on.

Hopefully it he gets a run of games his mobility and touch will improve a bit as he always looks like he has a second touch tackle in him. (Like PEH)

 

[stevespurs]

I heard Modric wasn’t re-signing for Real. He probably could still cut it in the prem.

Press resistant, can pass, he’d be great whilst our midfield is without Bents, Biss, Sarr, Maddison etc

 

[Krafty]

Skippy did well, probably a mid/lower mid Biss performance. So much better as the 6 - when PEH came on as the six initially and it just didn’t work.

some nice passes, a couple of sloppy ones. I reckon there is a chance that Skipp has the ability to play some more incisive passes than Biss but he does lack the agility and once turned does take a little longer to get back into the play.

but a good game and fewer concerns about him playing as the 6 for the rest of the festive period

 

[Stamford]

He's tries really hard but he doesn't have the football intelligence to play in there. He gave the ball away in an insane position on the 92/93 minute. Just can't do that

 

[McFlash]

He's tries really hard but he doesn't have the football intelligence to play in there. He gave the ball away in an insane position on the 92/93 minute. Just can't do that

You did notice that pretty much everyone else in the team was giving the ball away left, tight and centre but yet you're pulling Skipp up on one of the few times he did?

He didn't set the world alight but it was a solid performance overall and pretty much what you want from a squad player. I thought he performed well in a position that suits him.
It was his first full game in god knows how long, he was probably pretty knackered by the 92nd minute.