Spurs_Bear
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Only within 2m2 of Huddlestone, when he pulled wide and what have you there was little difference.
Tom Huddlestone
- Thread starter Joeyboey
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Only within 2m2 of Huddlestone, when he pulled wide and what have you there was little difference.
Spurs_Bear
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I think it works both ways though, everyone was pumped because of the result, and I think we're in danger of going all 'Hudd is Glenn Hoddle reincarnated' again.
We're all lauding over his incisive pass, which was nothing different than Sigurdsson or Parker's against Arsenal. But we're all going a bit wet pants over it being Huddlestone.
ShelfSide18
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I would still say that makes a difference, granted I'd prefer Sandro to be patrolling that particular patch, but at least it was a body which was stood in the area they were getting far, far too much joy in the first half.
JUSTINSIGNAL
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A high pressure situation? Man City were pretty much cruising to victory when he came on he was under no pressure to win the match for us. He played his part in an excellent come back but was no better than Holtby. Hudd is useful if your team wants to play ping-pong football - you have a shot, we have a shot - but he is never going to help you dominate the ball as he simply can not press effectively enough. I watched him numerous times this season and in previous seasons hide from the ball because he was struggling with the pace of the game after 50 minutes. For a player who wants to be a deep lying playmaker he needs to be constantly available not hiding! Unfortunately for him he just doesn't have the stamina or intelligence to find space and keep up with play for the full 90minutes that is why he shouldn't start games. I will actually go as far as to say I think Tom Carroll has more use to the side and AVB's philosophy moving forward. I know everyone is having a wankfest over his 30 minutes but lets try and keep it in context.
Spurs_Bear
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Again, absolutely agree. And to be honest I thought Holtby was the more match changing substitution, because Sigurdsson hadn't been in the game at all, and Holtby injected the pace and industry.
Spurs_Bear
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Nah.
BringBack_leGin
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Agreed that Sig and Parkers passes v Arsenal were just as good. Also agree that we shouldn't go overboard. But the people reluctant to give praise are also going overboard. It wasn't just one pass, it was a composed, assured and controlling performance which improved our play dramatically.
I agree that Holtby was more instrumental, he is the reason why we started moving the ball quickly and with purpose, but it doesn't lessen Huddlestone's effect, merely complements it.
So it's not a high pressure situation to be half an hour away from having almost no chance of getting into the Champions League, in front of 36,000 emotionally charged fans who are getting more and more desperate having not seen a win at home for quite a while? My mistake. Also, where did I say he was better than Holtby? Where did I speak of any other performance of his this season? Where did I talk about his stamina, pace, or play over 90 minutes? Where did I mention his use to AVB's philosophy in comparison with Carroll? You've addressed many points which I haven't made. I hope you can see the irony in you complaining about keeping it in context in a post where you have done nothing of the sort. I am merely saying that you, and others, are not attributing him with much deserved credit on the basis of this one, very good, performance.
I haven't said anything other than 'he was very good, he deserves recognition for it'.
ShelfSide18
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What I loved about Holtby when he came on was his absolute refusal to be intimidated by Toure - it took Dembele about 60 mins to get the courage to take him on, but Holtby came out and got amongst them straight away which also got Dembele going too - hence space and time were worked for Hudd to do his thing.
Hoddle_Ledge
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Well is Spurs go 1-0 down to Wigan after 5 minutes AVB might think about putting Hudd on for Parker straight away this time. 
StartingPrice
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Regardless of what people think about Tommy, the bigger picture is that AVB will hopefully realise he can be more flexible with a style of player within his desired midfield. Hopefully playing a guy like Hudd will broaden (Hudd, Broaden, see what i did there
Sadly, referring back to my original post in this thread, THudd has never shown any inclination to be a squad player. No-one (apart from, maybe, BeeCee
) is denying that THudd has had a few nice little cameos, including the one against Citeh. Just trying to contextualise it, by pointing to the fact that he came on two-thirds of the way through a tough encounter, with space opening up and legs getting tired, allowing him time to maximise his passing. Just in case anyone was in doubt, he has already, since the game, stated that he either wants to be playing (read: starting) or he will move. He doesn't sound so truculent about it as he has in the past, more resigned about the situation, but the point still remains - unless he is capable of performing to the required level from the start of games, when denied time and space, he is likely to be off. So the question is, accepting that he won't replace Sandro and Dembélé, even in a 4-3-3, can he fulfill the role AVB has earmarked for a Moutinho, who is far more mobile?
Here is the article:
http://www.football365.com/tottenham-hotspur/8666582/Huddlestone-wants-more-game-time
"Huddlestone wants more game-time
Tom Huddlestone admits his eight-year spell at Tottenham may have to end this summer if he does not start playing more first-team football.
Huddlestone enjoyed a rapid rise to stardom when he joined Spurs in 2005, quickly winning himself a first-team place - and comparisons with Glenn Hoddle - thanks to his superb passing ability.
The midfielder was instrumental in helping Tottenham qualify for the Champions League three seasons ago, but since then his progress has been severely hampered by an ankle injury.
Huddlestone has started just six Barclays Premier League games over the last two seasons and he has struggled to break in to Andre Villas-Boas' side, with most of his appearances this term coming from the substitutes' bench.
He came close to joining Stoke last summer and an injury to rival Sandro scuppered hopes of a transfer to Fulham in January, but the 26-year-old concedes he may have to look elsewhere if he does not get more game-time.
"I am 26 now. I missed a year to 18 months through injury," he said. "You just want to play every game and if that opportunity is not at Tottenham then I will have to look elsewhere."
There was an air of sadness in Huddlestone's voice as he talked about the possibility of leaving White Hart Lane, where he has developed a strong bond with the home fans thanks to a number of impressive displays and thumping strikes.
Having been included in the England squad that took on Sweden in November, however, he knows that with a run of first-team action he could come into Roy Hodgson's thinking for next summer's World Cup.
Huddlestone has come off the bench for Tottenham's last three games, but that may not be enough to make him stay at the club.
"I can't really judge it over the last five games or whatever," he said.
"You've got to see the bigger picture throughout the whole season and speak to the manager and see if I am in his plans or not.
"You speak to the manager every day and if you are not playing for a sustained period then you do wonder what's going on, but the manager has reassured me that I am in his plans even though time-wise on the pitch it hasn't always been shown that way.
"I'm not sure what happened (regarding Fulham). I just read about it and saw it on the TV."
Huddlestone showed signs that his form is returning on Sunday as he came off the bench to play a big part in Tottenham's stunning 3-1 win over Manchester City.
The England international commanded a reshaped three-man midfield and sliced open the City back four to allow Gareth Bale to seal a vital win which gave Spurs' Champions League dreams a huge boost.
Huddlestone now hopes his disappointing spell on the fringes will come to an end.
He added: "It has been a frustrating few months. Scotty (Parker) has been back and fit. He has played a few games.
"Mousa (Dembele) has been excellent since he has come in so it's just a case of biding your time and, if you are given a slight opportunity towards the end of games like I was against City, you to have to try to prove to the manager that you should be in the starting XI."
An extended run in the team would also give Huddlestone a better chance of cutting the huge afro which has been growing at a rapid rate for over a year.
As part of a bet to raise money for charity, the midfielder has vowed to keep the scissors away from his hair until he scores his next Premier League goal.
"I could do with it being cut before the summer, but I would rather us finish in the top four than see the barbers," said Huddlestone, who has so far raised over £11,000 for Cancer Research.
"If I had known it would go on for this long, I wouldn't have made the bet."
JUSTINSIGNAL
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I do not agree that Hudd was under 'high pressure' personally. We were underdogs in the game and he was not expected to do anything special to turn it around. If we ended up losing the game 1-0 I don't think anyone would have been blaming Hudd for not turning it around, do you?
The reason I have put Hudds 30 minute cameo in context with his overall spurs career is to remind people of what he is as a player. The post wasn't necessarily all directed at you. I don't think I failed to give him credit for his performance, I just don't think a cameo against a tiring a team warrants him a start.
Mr Pink
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Absolutely this. The praise will always, always come with a caveat - which in itself diminishes the praise anyway.
JUSTINSIGNAL
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Is this directed at me?
As I have said - my main bug bear is people calling him for to start the next match based on a 30minute cameo. I haven't failed to give him credit for his contribution to our victory.
- Oct 2, 2004
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The issue for me with Huddlestone is that his best position is one which is very rare in football and which very very few players can pull off properly.
He obviously prefers to sit deep and play from there, which is fine, but if you're going to do that then you also have to be the defensive element of the team, otherwise you end up with two deep midfielders which is quite limiting. Hudd sadly doesn't contribute a great deal defensively and although he has slightly improved in that department, for me he isn't good enough to do that role for us.
So if we assume that we are going to play a 4-3-3 then I'm not sure where he fits in. In the midfield three, we'd probably be looking at (if everyone was fit), Sandro - Dembele - Holtby/Siggy. For me Hudd doesn't necessarily fit any of those roles.
He isn't suited to being in the Sandro role as he's not good enough defensively, and I don't think he can play the Dembele or Holtby role as he's not mobile enough, isn't likely to create chances on a regular basis, and again lacks the defensive side of the game that is sometimes required.
None of that is to say that we can't change our system to suit him, or that he can't change his game to try and fit one of those roles, but at the moment I just don't quite see where he fits in if AVB's plan is to go to a 4-3-3.
He obviously prefers to sit deep and play from there, which is fine, but if you're going to do that then you also have to be the defensive element of the team, otherwise you end up with two deep midfielders which is quite limiting. Hudd sadly doesn't contribute a great deal defensively and although he has slightly improved in that department, for me he isn't good enough to do that role for us.
So if we assume that we are going to play a 4-3-3 then I'm not sure where he fits in. In the midfield three, we'd probably be looking at (if everyone was fit), Sandro - Dembele - Holtby/Siggy. For me Hudd doesn't necessarily fit any of those roles.
He isn't suited to being in the Sandro role as he's not good enough defensively, and I don't think he can play the Dembele or Holtby role as he's not mobile enough, isn't likely to create chances on a regular basis, and again lacks the defensive side of the game that is sometimes required.
None of that is to say that we can't change our system to suit him, or that he can't change his game to try and fit one of those roles, but at the moment I just don't quite see where he fits in if AVB's plan is to go to a 4-3-3.
dagraham
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Sadly, referring back to my original post in this thread, THudd has never shown any inclination to be a squad player. No-one (apart from, maybe, BeeCee
Just in case anyone was in doubt, he has already, since the game, stated that he either wants to be playing (read: starting) or he will move. He doesn't sound so truculent about it as he has in the past, more resigned about the situation, but the point still remains - unless he is capable of performing to the required level from the start of games, when denied time and space, he is likely to be off. So the question is, accepting that he won't replace Sandro and Dembélé, even in a 4-3-3, can he fulfill the role AVB has earmarked for a Moutinho, who is far more mobile?
Here is the article:
http://www.football365.com/tottenham-hotspur/8666582/Huddlestone-wants-more-game-time
"Huddlestone wants more game-time
Tom Huddlestone admits his eight-year spell at Tottenham may have to end this summer if he does not start playing more first-team football.
Huddlestone enjoyed a rapid rise to stardom when he joined Spurs in 2005, quickly winning himself a first-team place - and comparisons with Glenn Hoddle - thanks to his superb passing ability.
The midfielder was instrumental in helping Tottenham qualify for the Champions League three seasons ago, but since then his progress has been severely hampered by an ankle injury.
Huddlestone has started just six Barclays Premier League games over the last two seasons and he has struggled to break in to Andre Villas-Boas' side, with most of his appearances this term coming from the substitutes' bench.
He came close to joining Stoke last summer and an injury to rival Sandro scuppered hopes of a transfer to Fulham in January, but the 26-year-old concedes he may have to look elsewhere if he does not get more game-time.
"I am 26 now. I missed a year to 18 months through injury," he said. "You just want to play every game and if that opportunity is not at Tottenham then I will have to look elsewhere."
There was an air of sadness in Huddlestone's voice as he talked about the possibility of leaving White Hart Lane, where he has developed a strong bond with the home fans thanks to a number of impressive displays and thumping strikes.
Having been included in the England squad that took on Sweden in November, however, he knows that with a run of first-team action he could come into Roy Hodgson's thinking for next summer's World Cup.
Huddlestone has come off the bench for Tottenham's last three games, but that may not be enough to make him stay at the club.
"I can't really judge it over the last five games or whatever," he said.
"You've got to see the bigger picture throughout the whole season and speak to the manager and see if I am in his plans or not.
"You speak to the manager every day and if you are not playing for a sustained period then you do wonder what's going on, but the manager has reassured me that I am in his plans even though time-wise on the pitch it hasn't always been shown that way.
"I'm not sure what happened (regarding Fulham). I just read about it and saw it on the TV."
Huddlestone showed signs that his form is returning on Sunday as he came off the bench to play a big part in Tottenham's stunning 3-1 win over Manchester City.
The England international commanded a reshaped three-man midfield and sliced open the City back four to allow Gareth Bale to seal a vital win which gave Spurs' Champions League dreams a huge boost.
Huddlestone now hopes his disappointing spell on the fringes will come to an end.
He added: "It has been a frustrating few months. Scotty (Parker) has been back and fit. He has played a few games.
"Mousa (Dembele) has been excellent since he has come in so it's just a case of biding your time and, if you are given a slight opportunity towards the end of games like I was against City, you to have to try to prove to the manager that you should be in the starting XI."
An extended run in the team would also give Huddlestone a better chance of cutting the huge afro which has been growing at a rapid rate for over a year.
As part of a bet to raise money for charity, the midfielder has vowed to keep the scissors away from his hair until he scores his next Premier League goal.
"I could do with it being cut before the summer, but I would rather us finish in the top four than see the barbers," said Huddlestone, who has so far raised over £11,000 for Cancer Research.
"If I had known it would go on for this long, I wouldn't have made the bet."
I wouldn't blame Hud for wanting to be a regular starter but I hope AVB can persuade Hud that he'll play his part next season and get game time.
Like alot of people have said, in a midfield two in the PL the game often passes him by and he's just too slow both in body and in mind (not to mention he's also a complete pussy). Put him as the spare man in a midfiled three however, and he can make a difference. Currently there is no one in our squad with his passing range. We have quite alot of similar players such as Holtby/Sig/Dempsey but no one like Hud.
I'd like to see us keep him and use our limited resources to improve our strike force and full backs.
west indie
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I totally agree, this was the first time in 16 months city have lost after going a goal up and us coming away with 3pts a some what unimaginable feat after watching 60 minutes of pure ponderous toilet stuff served up with top 4 hanging in the balance the hudd in a 4-3-3 had a big shout in turning our fortunes around as did holtby & defoe and deserve due credit.
Mr Pink
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Hoddle_Ledge
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Recent interview with the man himself.
http://www.tottenhamjournal.co.uk/t...rustrations_his_future_and_his_hair_1_2163555
“I don’t feel I’m back in the team properly but obviously if you come on as a sub you are brought on to make an impact, and I feel in the last few games I have managed to do that,” said Huddlestone. “It was nice to come in when we were losing and to win the game.
“It’s been difficult [this season] but probably not as difficult as last year, when I was injured for most of the season. This year I had a run in the team and we were doing fairly well, but it has been a frustrating few months.
“Scotty [Parker] has been back and fit – he’s played a few games - and Mousa [Dembele] has been excellent so it’s just a case of biding your time.
“Like the last few games, if you are given a slight opportunity towards the end of matches you have to try and prove to the manager that you should be in the starting XI as well.”
Former Spurs boss Martin Jol was keen to take Huddlestone to Fulham in the January transfer window. And, although Huddlestone has had assurances from Andre Villas-Boas about his future, he admits he will have to weigh up his options in the summer.
“I’m not sure what happened [with Fulham], I was reading it and seeing it on Sky Sports,” he said. “Nothing was that close to happening where I thought it would be possible. I have been fully focused on getting us into the top four and staying there.
“Have I thought I might need a move? Yes, at times - especially if you don’t play for a few months. I’m 26 now and I missed a year to 18 months through injury. You just want to play every game and if that opportunity is not at Tottenham then I will have to look elsewhere.
“You can’t really judge it over the last five games, you’ve got to see the bigger picture throughout the whole season and speak to the manager and see if I am in his plans or not.
“You speak to the manager every day and if you are not playing for a sustained period then you do wonder what’s going on, but the manager has reassured me that I am in his plans, even though time-wise on the pitch it hasn’t always been shown that way.”
Huddlestone and Lewis Holtby were both introduced into a 4-3-3 formation against City on Sunday as Villas-Boas changed tactics effectively – and Huddlestone concedes he would have more opportunities in that system.
“It does open up another spot for a central midfielder but it depends if the manager sees me as a deeper one because then that isolates that position,” he said. “I’m happy to play in a 4-4-2 or a 4-3-3 system, in any one of the three roles.”
Huddlestone would also be very happy to get that elusive goal in the final five games of the season.
“I could do with it [the hair] being cut before the summer but I would rather us finish in the top four than see the barbers,” he said.
And was that the reason he was so keen to take the first penalty in the shoot-out against FC Basel?
“No, I wouldn’t have counted that, I don’t think,” he said. “We had a few days off after the Basel game so it was nice to stay away from the place and clear your head.
“I’ve taken penalties before and scored in that position so I would be more disappointed if I had tried something else and it didn’t come off.
“I haven’t seen the replay but I thought I hit the penalty quite well at the time and I was just surprised the keeper was already over there.”
http://www.tottenhamjournal.co.uk/t...rustrations_his_future_and_his_hair_1_2163555
“I don’t feel I’m back in the team properly but obviously if you come on as a sub you are brought on to make an impact, and I feel in the last few games I have managed to do that,” said Huddlestone. “It was nice to come in when we were losing and to win the game.
“It’s been difficult [this season] but probably not as difficult as last year, when I was injured for most of the season. This year I had a run in the team and we were doing fairly well, but it has been a frustrating few months.
“Scotty [Parker] has been back and fit – he’s played a few games - and Mousa [Dembele] has been excellent so it’s just a case of biding your time.
“Like the last few games, if you are given a slight opportunity towards the end of matches you have to try and prove to the manager that you should be in the starting XI as well.”
Former Spurs boss Martin Jol was keen to take Huddlestone to Fulham in the January transfer window. And, although Huddlestone has had assurances from Andre Villas-Boas about his future, he admits he will have to weigh up his options in the summer.
“I’m not sure what happened [with Fulham], I was reading it and seeing it on Sky Sports,” he said. “Nothing was that close to happening where I thought it would be possible. I have been fully focused on getting us into the top four and staying there.
“Have I thought I might need a move? Yes, at times - especially if you don’t play for a few months. I’m 26 now and I missed a year to 18 months through injury. You just want to play every game and if that opportunity is not at Tottenham then I will have to look elsewhere.
“You can’t really judge it over the last five games, you’ve got to see the bigger picture throughout the whole season and speak to the manager and see if I am in his plans or not.
“You speak to the manager every day and if you are not playing for a sustained period then you do wonder what’s going on, but the manager has reassured me that I am in his plans, even though time-wise on the pitch it hasn’t always been shown that way.”
Huddlestone and Lewis Holtby were both introduced into a 4-3-3 formation against City on Sunday as Villas-Boas changed tactics effectively – and Huddlestone concedes he would have more opportunities in that system.
“It does open up another spot for a central midfielder but it depends if the manager sees me as a deeper one because then that isolates that position,” he said. “I’m happy to play in a 4-4-2 or a 4-3-3 system, in any one of the three roles.”
Huddlestone would also be very happy to get that elusive goal in the final five games of the season.
“I could do with it [the hair] being cut before the summer but I would rather us finish in the top four than see the barbers,” he said.
And was that the reason he was so keen to take the first penalty in the shoot-out against FC Basel?
“No, I wouldn’t have counted that, I don’t think,” he said. “We had a few days off after the Basel game so it was nice to stay away from the place and clear your head.
“I’ve taken penalties before and scored in that position so I would be more disappointed if I had tried something else and it didn’t come off.
“I haven’t seen the replay but I thought I hit the penalty quite well at the time and I was just surprised the keeper was already over there.”
Bobbins
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Just a quick point - I don't think Huddlestone is at all limited to only playing the 'deep-lying playmaker' role in a 4-3-3 - he's perfectly capable of playing in one of the other two positions as well.
The point about him is that he's not very good at pressing (not 'incapable' as some have suggested), so he needs to busy guys in there with him (Dembele, Sandro, Holtby, Parker etc) to do that job. But just because he can pass the ball and occassionally looks like he likes lots of time on it, doesn't limit him to the deep role. He's got the physicality to play in any of the three (and I would suggest would do better alongside Dembele with Sandro operating behind them both).
The point about him is that he's not very good at pressing (not 'incapable' as some have suggested), so he needs to busy guys in there with him (Dembele, Sandro, Holtby, Parker etc) to do that job. But just because he can pass the ball and occassionally looks like he likes lots of time on it, doesn't limit him to the deep role. He's got the physicality to play in any of the three (and I would suggest would do better alongside Dembele with Sandro operating behind them both).
