Could Lewis Holtby be the answer?

[Indacupfortottenham]

He reminded me of a young Steven Gerard last night. He grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck and kept driving his team forward, unlucky to be on the losing team.

Bags of potential and a future Spurs captain I think.

 

[fatpiranha]

For those who didn't watch last night's match ...

The Dutch team dominated the 1st half with Ola John and Wijnaldum constantly switching flanks and causing plenty of problems. Adam Maher (who we've been linked with) looked a real talent and scored the 1st goal. Wijnaldum got the 2nd after a powerful run although the German GK could have done better with both goals.

The 2nd half was a complete opposite of the 1st. The Dutch really didn't get going at all and it turned into the Lewis Holtby show. Like many of you I wasn't that impressed by Holtby's performances for Spurs last season and wondered what all the fuss was about. Last night in the 2nd half he showed what he could do. Constantly on the ball he made many ambitious passes and won the penalty for the German's 1st goal. He then made a brilliant run and shot to equalise. At that stage it looked like Germany would go on to win but a late corner resulted in a bullet header from Fer to snatch the points for the Dutch.

There is no question who was the best player on the pitch yesterday - Holtby. His performance reminded me a lot of when I first saw Kevin Prince Boateng play in the Toulon tournament. I was delighted when we bought him too but he never really adapted to the power and pace of the premiership. There is no doubt that Holtby has a career ahead of him, the only question is where. Hopefully he will adapt to the premiership but if not he'll do just fine in Spain or Italy.

 

[Riandor]

People need to remember also how much we paid for him, basically peanuts.
If he doesnt work out at spurs, and i really think he will, then we sel him and make a profit.

This was an excellent piece of business and to boot we potentially have a quality footballer.

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

For those who didn't watch last night's match ...

The Dutch team dominated the 1st half with Ola John and Wijnaldum constantly switching flanks and causing plenty of problems. Adam Maher (who we've been linked with) looked a real talent and scored the 1st goal. Wijnaldum got the 2nd after a powerful run although the German GK could have done better with both goals.

The 2nd half was a complete opposite of the 1st. The Dutch really didn't get going at all and it turned into the Lewis Holtby show. Like many of you I wasn't that impressed by Holtby's performances for Spurs last season and wondered what all the fuss was about. Last night in the 2nd half he showed what he could do. Constantly on the ball he made many ambitious passes and won the penalty for the German's 1st goal. He then made a brilliant run and shot to equalise. At that stage it looked like Germany would go on to win but a late corner resulted in a bullet header from Fer to snatch the points for the Dutch.

There is no question who was the best player on the pitch yesterday - Holtby. His performance reminded me a lot of when I first saw Kevin Prince Boateng play in the Toulon tournament. I was delighted when we bought him too but he never really adapted to the power and pace of the premiership. There is no doubt that Holtby has a career ahead of him, the only question is where. Hopefully he will adapt to the premiership but if not he'll do just fine in Spain or Italy.

What position did he play in?

 

[Blackcanary]

What position did he play in?

As a number 10, pretty much.

 

[fatpiranha]

What position did he play in?

Centre midfield just ahead of 2 holding midfielders. He wore no. 10 but played a bit deeper.

 

[Indacupfortottenham]

Centre midfield just ahead of 2 holding midfielders. He wore no. 10 but played a bit deeper.

Seen him play there with Shalke, looks a different player in that position and probably one of the reasons we are yet to see the best of him in a Spurs shirt yet.

 

[JayX2A]

When he played his first games for Spurs I almost felt like his was trying to hard. He was literally flying around like a headless chicken. If he can adapt to the PL and can control that energy, I think he will turn in to a superb PL player.

 

[Mouse!]

Van Ginkel said he had the job of keeping tabs on him but found it impossible in the second half as Holtby was everywhere and constantly moving between the lines. With Holtby and Carroll already in the squad (Carroll may be loaned out), i'd actually like to see us go for a more mature creative player who can perform well for a couple of seasons and give these two lads the chance to make the midfield spots their own in the future.

 

[Bobbins]

This whole thread is about whether Holtby can do the job of the ACM in a midfield three, of:

----- Sandro ----- Dembele ----

------------ Holtby -----------------

I think last night proved conclusively that he is more than capable of playing that position - it's his best position.

I haven't really liked the comments from people saying he could be a good holding midfielder - he likes to drop deep to pick up the ball occasionally but what he is is a combative, creative and all-action (like Teemu) No. 10, and that's where I want us to play him.

This is what I was talking about when I mentioned earlier that those of us who saw him play before he joined us can see what a good player he is - if AVB plays him regularly next season, and particularly if he plays in this position, then he will thrive in the PL I am sure of it.

You won't get a better midfield trio than Sandro, Dembele and Holtby in the league IMO - it's got everything: pace, strength, tackling, creativity, decent passing, and all three players can hit a cracking shot now and again (though they should all score more).

----------------- Lloris -------------------

Walker -- Kaboul -- Vertonghen -- BAE

---------------- Sandro (DM) -------------

---------------------- Dembele (B to B) --

-------- Holtby (ACM) ---------------------

Bale --------------------------- Townsend (or new LW)

-------------- New CF (or Ade) ----------

This would make me very happy next season.

 

[kitchen]

People need to remember also how much we paid for him, basically peanuts.
If he doesnt work out at spurs, and i really think he will, then we sel him and make a profit.

This was an excellent piece of business and to boot we potentially have a quality footballer.

I think we already have a quality footballer, we just need to work out how to use him...

I watched Holtby many times this season for Schalke and he looked class. Often the standout player on the pitch in a German league which isn't really any weaker than the PL.

Last night he carried a German team which had far less quality than the Dutch team and nearly got them a draw. All those people salivating over the prospects of signing players like Clasie and Maher need to remember that we have a player who is equally as good already in our squad, and at 22, his potential could be equal.

He's shown glimpses of his quality for us, but has yet to adapt to the physicality of the PL and is often put in his less favoured position(s). Give him a bit of time and I'm sure that he'll start to dominate opposition in the way that he has done with other teams. Getting him in in January and giving him time to adapt might yet prove to be a masterstroke by AVB/Levy/Freund.

 

[kitchen]

Van Ginkel said he had the job of keeping tabs on him but found it impossible in the second half as Holtby was everywhere and constantly moving between the lines. With Holtby and Carroll already in the squad (Carroll may be loaned out), i'd actually like to see us go for a more mature creative player who can perform well for a couple of seasons and give these two lads the chance to make the midfield spots their own in the future.

His movement really was great last night. He reminded me of Fabregas in the way he never stood still and was constantly jogging to find the next space available.

It makes him very hard to mark and mentally tiring to do so too...

 

[MEHSTG78]

Cracking little player who will only improve.

Yes he could be the answer but must play central.

 

[C0YS]

Time to stop messing about and Bring Modric back. He went away, won sod all and can't get in the team half the time. He made a mistake let's give him another chance.

Sandro
Modric Dembele

That's world domination right there.

Modric ain't coming back, he is now a regular starter and was considered one of Real's shinning lights from the Man utd game onwards.

 

[C0YS]

So exactly what position did Holtby play last night?

I am hearing he played well, "best player on the park" etc - have we been playing him in that same position?

He was playing as the number 10, every good move germany made went through him. He played a couple of really great balls, two of which should of resulted in goals really. He also won the pen as well as scoring. Really good game from him especially in the second half.

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

I feel he needs to play deeper in a 4-3-3 for us. I haven't been impressed when he has played as a number 10 as he often doesn't have the skill to beat his marker and deliver the ball. From what I have seen he needs to be facing the play and pick out clever passed from a deeper position.

 

[Yid-ol]

To me he needs to work on his fitness, as much as i would love to see him play, when he has he seems to run about so much in the first half, he is all out for the second!

a midfield 3 of Sandro, Holtby, Dembelle does sound good though!

 

[Bobbins]

I feel he needs to play deeper in a 4-3-3 for us. I haven't been impressed when he has played as a number 10 as he often doesn't have the skill to beat his marker and deliver the ball. From what I have seen he needs to be facing the play and pick out clever passed from a deeper position.

He plays as a mobile No.10, who often comes deep to receive the ball. He doesn't have to be sitting on the edge of the final third for the entire game to be a No.10.

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

He plays as a mobile No.10, who often comes deep to receive the ball. He doesn't have to be sitting on the edge of the final third for the entire game to be a No.10.

He does need runners and movement in front of him though and that's why a 4-3-3 will suit his game more.

 

[Bobbins]

He does need runners and movement in front of him though and that's why a 4-3-3 will suit his game more.

Totally agree - that's the formation I put up above. But with the likes of Dembele and Sandro supporting him, and Bale plus a new striker (Villa would be perfect with his clever movement) and hopefully a new winger, he would have that. Even Ade is pretty mobile but just doesn't seem to be able to finish anymore.