Ex-Player Watch Player watch: Tom Carroll

[Gassin's finest]

I don't really understand the comments about stature or physicality. He's a premier league footballer, with all the fitness training that goes with it. You don't think that with all that daily training in the gym, on the pitch etc, that lad isn't ripped and very strong and fit for his size? I bet he can more than hold his own, and his agility will allow him to ride challenges from players far bigger than him.

According to google he's marginally taller than Modric, and a full 7 cm taller than Messi. I don't see those players having any trouble.

 

[keithtighe93]

an academy boy who cost nothing, playing well, coming good, gets hammered!

absolute joke, he's a great squad player, he's english & one of our own, sickening

 

[longtimespur]

I'm afraid people only see what they want to see.

 

[Borks]

According to google he's marginally taller than Modric, and a full 7 cm taller than Messi. I don't see those players having any trouble.

People are going on like he's Messi just because of some criticism over his physical presence in the DM2.

 

[Ribble]

According to google he's marginally taller than Modric, and a full 7 cm taller than Messi. I don't see those players having any trouble.

He's also the same height as Xavi, a guy who never had a problem spanking the best English teams raw with his talent.

 

[Jamturk]

No10 no10 no10 all day long.

 

[DaSpurs]

No10 no10 no10 all day long.

Why? His best skills are suited to creativity from deep. He may be of a size more suited to the No 10, but his skill set is very much suited to the No 8 spot, hence why he's being played there by Poch, and was by our academy, as well as the U-21's.

 

[EQP]

Why? His best skills are suited to creativity from deep. He may be of a size more suited to the No 10, but his skill set is very much suited to the No 8 spot, hence why he's being played there by Poch, and was by our academy, as well as the U-21's.

But we lose aggression and defensive physicality when he plays deeper. We've seen him be much more of an attacking threat when he plays much higher up the field. Remember he was a FWD in the youth team and scored like 40+ goals.

 

[Blake Griffin]

I don't really understand the comments about stature or physicality. He's a premier league footballer, with all the fitness training that goes with it. You don't think that with all that daily training in the gym, on the pitch etc, that lad isn't ripped and very strong and fit for his size? I bet he can more than hold his own, and his agility will allow him to ride challenges from players far bigger than him.

According to google he's marginally taller than Modric, and a full 7 cm taller than Messi. I don't see those players having any trouble.

He's also the same height as Xavi, a guy who never had a problem spanking the best English teams raw with his talent.

it's not about height, it's about build. modric, messi and xavi are all more built(read: weigh more relative to their height) than carroll.

 

[@Bobby__Lucky]

Why? His best skills are suited to creativity from deep. He may be of a size more suited to the No 10, but his skill set is very much suited to the No 8 spot, hence why he's being played there by Poch, and was by our academy, as well as the U-21's.

I do agree to some extent DaSpurs and I know you have always been very positive about Carroll as I have. I think he's strengths definately allow him to dictate tempo and rhythm which in itself is not easy. However I think he would really excell in the eriksen role of dropping deep into the midfield at times and pushing forward at times. I think he would be an assist machine given a bit more freedom and his quick feet and dribbles al la his goal on Saturday mean that he would have a higher ceiling with more freedom. I could see him getting goals there too. That being said I do love him deep too.

 

[rambu]

I was very surprised to find how resolute he was when given an opportunity to take a goal as I thought he would be more timid (base on purely my very limited impression on him).
Not to mention he took them well too.

 

[DaSpurs]

But we lose aggression and defensive physicality when he plays deeper. We've seen him be much more of an attacking threat when he plays much higher up the field. Remember he was a FWD in the youth team and scored like 40+ goals.

Many players perform a role well at youth level but change at pro level. Many things happen between those two time periods. For instance, I don't think anyone is arguing that he should be tried out at striker.

I can't argue that we lose a bit of aggression and physicality, but defense is not summed up by those two criteria. Possession, incision, and creativity are also extremely significant components of defense. Given this, for me, what Carroll offers in forward thrust, creativity, and quick incision is well worth any sacrifice in physicality.

 

[EQP]

Many players perform a role well at youth level but change at pro level. Many things happen between those two time periods. For instance, I don't think anyone is arguing that he should be tried out at striker.

I can't argue that we lose a bit of aggression and physicality, but defense is not summed up by those two criteria. Possession, incision, and creativity are also extremely significant components of defense. Given this, for me, what Carroll offers in forward thrust, creativity, and quick incision is well worth any sacrifice in physicality.

I agree, but i think we have players who offer defensive solidarity and healthy bits of those characteristics to take Tom's place as one of the 2 in the CM. I am all for Carroll playing but mainly as a AM because he looks more threatening in that position.

-----Carroll----------
--------------Mason --- Nabil/Dier-----------
​

That team setup for me has the makings of some beautiful and incisive football. I hope we see Poch pick this for EL or FA cup fixture.

 

[DaSpurs]

I agree, but i think we have players who offer defensive solidarity and healthy bits of those characteristics to take Tom's place as one of the 2 in the CM. I am all for Carroll playing but mainly as a AM because he looks more threatening in that position.

-----Carroll----------
--------------Mason --- Nabil/Dier-----------
​

That team setup for me has the makings of some beautiful and incisive football. I hope we see Poch pick this for EL or FA cup fixture.

If Carroll sits very deep (as Eriksen was before he was displaced out wide), then it could work, especially if they have some pace flanking that central group.

I don't disagree that Carroll could do some damage from the No 10, but I think folks take for granted his ability to get the ball forward quickly and incisively. We continue to allow that to develop, and I think we could once again have a good deep playmaker at Spurs. I like what Mason offers from there a lot, but he doesn't have the dribbling ability in tight spaces that Carroll does, and isn't quite as creative and vertical with his passing.

In truth though, I'd certainly be delighted with such a lineup.

 

[Sweech]

Tommy Carroll - Super sub

I've been critical of Carroll in the past based on the fact he can be very influential for a 45 minute period, but tends to not be able to maintain for a 90 minute, or even 75 minute, performance.

If he can come on and perform with the same kind of energy and enthusiasm he did in that Norwich game then he could have a crucial super sub role coming off the bench. His touch was fantastic and showed fantastic effort constantly running up and down the pitch for the last 30 or so minutes.

 

[Kiedis]

It's been a joyous season so far, and seeing Tom Carroll performing well enough to become a valuable member of our squad has been fudging sweet.

 

[sim0n]

TC has the perfect style for the game against fiorentina today and played a solid first half.... so why the heck did he get subbed at HT?

TBH he is not one of my favourite players, but he is tailormade to play a team like this.... I totally expected 90 minutes for him today.

does anyone know what happened? injury is the only logical guess from me, but I haven't seen that he was injured...

 

[thinktank]

Looking more and more assured is the lad.

Very pleased for him; he must be made-up being properly involved in what's happening with us now.

 

[Tucker]

TC has the perfect style for the game against fiorentina today and played a solid first half.... so why the heck did he get subbed at HT?

TBH he is not one of my favourite players, but he is tailormade to play a team like this.... I totally expected 90 minutes for him today.

does anyone know what happened? injury is the only logical guess from me, but I haven't seen that he was injured...

I wondered too. Maybe Poch decided he needed a bit more meat on the pitch after Alli was booked. Which begs the question of why not to sub Alli.

 

[greaves]

I wondered too. Maybe Poch decided he needed a bit more meat on the pitch after Alli was booked. Which begs the question of why not to sub Alli.

Alli to stay on and prove that he can be relied on not to get a second yellow...?