Modric who?

[TheGreenLily]

i agree at the moment we might be a better TEAM. But we don't have that same star quality. We've compensated one with the other. We now have some fantastic talent upon which to supplement our STAR. I still miss the little chap, think tottenham miss the little chap although with the current set-up would modders play? or are we playing this way to supplement the lack of modders?

I'll be saying 'Modric who' when Moutinho is doing the same role more effectively in a Spurs shirt.

Give it time and we will have that star quality, except this time we will actually have a team around them.

 

[Mr Pink]

It is about the team at the end of the day, and whilst we've seen some teething problems so far we've also seen some great stuff as well. I think we look far better balanced, and as time goes on we'll really reap the benefit of AVB's system and set up.

 

[StartingPrice]

No one is irreplaceable. Manure lost Ronaldo and the Arse have lost quite a few, and they are strong as ever. A good coach or manager can always devise ways around the loss of certain players.

 

[bomberH]

I haven't read through this thread so unsure if anyone agrees but we miss Modric so fucking much it's unreal. We're coping, just, but in my opinion he was missed badly against West Brom and QPR. Dembele looks a genuine class act but he's a slightly different kind of player and he's not in Modric's league yet & won't yet control a game like Modric did.

Hopefully we'll be back in for Moutinho in January. We'll be ok without Modric for sure, but to say Modric who? is way off. Soz.

 

[InOffMeLeftShin]

I haven't read through this thread so unsure if anyone agrees but we miss Modric so fucking much it's unreal. We're coping, just, but in my opinion he was missed badly against West Brom and QPR. Dembele looks a genuine class act but he's a slightly different kind of player and he's not in Modric's league yet & won't yet control a game like Modric did.

Hopefully we'll be back in for Moutinho in January. We'll be ok without Modric for sure, but to say Modric who? is way off. Soz.

I think we're doing a little better than just coping (considering that we are a side with a new coach, new ideas, new training facility, new players etc. I'd say we were 'progressing') but other than that this is spot on. Every team in the world would miss a player of Modric's quality if he left.

 

[Flashspur]

g

I'm with Spurs_Bear on this.

Modric is a big loss and if we still had him here he would be starting every game and helping us to retain possession even better than we are now.

I am impressed that we are doing as well as we are without him tbh and I do agree that as a team we are playing pretty well.

I also believe that this AVB better than Harry or vice versa stance is all crap. None of us can judge until much later on into the season and possibly only once a full season has been completed and quite frankly, probably a 2nd one too. Harry did some great things, those should not be forgotten. Whether you felt we underachieved or not, we still got 4th twice and a great run in the CL. Were mistakes made, you betcha, but one thing that was said was true, for a verrrrry long time we have not had it this good.

Credit were it is bloody due and can we stop with the looking over our past with disdain, because it reeks of pettiness. Like a previous girlfriend who deep down you know was great, but you're saying she was rubbish to make yourself feel better.

I know there are those on here who never liked HR, but I for one praise his efforts. I also praise DL for making what I felt was the right call at a difficult time, I felt it was time to move on and I am excited at our set-up. BUT that does not mean I cannot recognise what was achieved.

There are things regarding Modric and HR I liked less, of course, but I consider myself above all that in the end and simply thank them for their time and efforts at the club and wish them success. (I would say the same about Berbatov, though I draw the line at Sol... yes even I have my limits!)

So can we not simply agree that we are happy enough that Modric and Harry are gone because of what was going on, but also remember the good times? Is that so hard?

Look to the future, but don't be so quick to dismiss the good stuff because it got a little sour.

good post and a well balanced view

 

[StartingPrice]

In fairness to the OP, I do think he was being slightly tongue-in-cheek - immediately after doing something we never, ever did with Modric in the side (I'm kinda hoping we do lots of things we never did with Modric in the side - like win things).

Otherwise, I would agree with everyone else - Modric is such a classy player it is painful, and anyone would miss him (I mean, just look at United - they are missing him, and they never even bought him :giggle.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

We are missing Modric immensely. A midfield three of Modric, Sandro & Dembele would have been hard to better.

In Parker, VDV and Modric we are missing our best three ball retainers. And it shows.

 

[StartingPrice]

We are missing Modric immensely. A midfield three of Modric, Sandro & Dembele would have been hard to better.

In Parker, VDV and Modric we are missing our best three ball retainers. And it shows.

That's a load of balls!

 

[Ionman34]

We are missing Modric immensely. A midfield three of Modric, Sandro & Dembele would have been hard to better.

In Parker, VDV and Modric we are missing our best three ball retainers. And it shows.

Do the stats show that BC?

I thought the only game this season that we hasn't been top in possession was the last one.

 

[Spurs_Bear]

Do the stats show that BC?

I thought the only game this season that we hasn't been top in possession was the last one.

I'd be pretty shocked if we had more possession against QPR.

 

[Mr Pink]

I think a midfield three of Sandro, Dembele and VDV would of been gorgeous.

 

[Spurs_Bear]

I think a midfield three of Sandro, Dembele and VDV would of been gorgeous.

Nah, we don't miss VdV do we mate, apparently he only lasted 60 minutes in every game. Unfit. Glad he's gone innit.

 

[Ionman34]

I'd be pretty shocked if we had more possession against QPR.

Not sure Bear but thought I'd seen a Foxtel (SKY) stat showing we had at least edged it

 

[Spurs_Bear]

Not sure Bear but thought I'd seen a Foxtel (SKY) stat showing we had at least edged it

Fair enough mate, got a very different impression in the ground, although just checked bbc and it had it 52-48 in our favour. If I'm being honest I would expect more than that at home to a team as shite as QPR!

 

[Ionman34]

Fair enough mate, got a very different impression in the ground, although just checked bbc and it had it 52-48 in our favour. If I'm being honest I would expect more than that at home to a team as shite as QPR!

Can't argue with that in all honesty, but we dominated possession in just about every other game which would suggest that losing our best 'ball retainers' is off the mark. What I would say though is that it has been evident that we've lost our most creative players as our chances created, and I'm guessing this based on goal scoring opportunities created, appear to be fewer.

However, the lack of Ade may be contributing to this quite a bit too. What I will say though is that AVB's coaching may be addressing this somewhat as when have we ever seen Defoe putting defence splitting passes in previously?

 

[Bus-Conductor]

We had 43% possession against QPR, they absolutely pissed it.

We have had plenty of ball against Norwich, Reading and edged it against West Brom, but our use of it has been perfunctory at best in quite a few games this season.

I forgot to chuck in Adebayor. If people are wondering why we have looked less than convincing, just add these four players into the equation and you'll get a good idea why:

Modric, VDV, Parker, Adebayor. There's about 185-200 passes (and even more in terms of showing for a pass) a game right there. Against ManU we made a total all game of 240.

Mr P
I would never play VDV in midfield 3. Even more of a waste than playing Modric in a midfield 2. VDV needs to be ahead of the midfield where he can do what he does best.

Modric Sandro/Parker Dembele

VDV Adebayor Bale

The balance of skills in that front 6 is jismic.

 

[THOWIG]

He still needs replacing in my opinion.