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The Daily ITK Discussion Thread - 24th June 2013

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Nanky_1988

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May 19, 2012
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Just went for a drink with my mate who works at Spurs. I've mentioned his job role before but maybe it's best if I don't from now on. Anyway a few interesting bits to tell you guys.

Starting with the youngsters. He said we have some fantastic young players coming through but are still 3-4 years away from breaking through. Singled out Joshua Onomah as the best player we have in our academy. In fact he said he's the best player he's seen at that age group.

Rates Carrol very highly for technical ability but said he's too light weight and needs to build himself up.

My mate watches the first team train 3 times per week. I asked if AVB takes full control and he said he's a very motivational manager/coach. He's famous for saying Tik Tik Tik Tik. Basically keep the ball moving

They've been abroad with the academy quite a few times and again he rates the German teams as the best! Technically very good and their system is always spot on at all age groups.

Steve Mclaren (yes that idiot) was invited to our training ground for a 2 day course. He explained how the German teams train and how they are more tactical and advanced with training methods.

Spurs spent 200k on equipment that players wear during training and matches which monitors all their levels. As soon as AVB arrived that was all taken away! He believes in watching and judging every player by the eye not using computers. However Scott Parker insists on wearing the monitoring equipment and is the hardest working player at training.

He mentioned that Holtby is a bastard to the youth players. When they play a training match holtby will smash through all the youngsters simply because they're playing in his position! Personally I love that :)

All the players don't like ADE. They think he's an absolute clown and players are always annoyed with him in training because he gives the ball away and doesn't try.

He did mention a couple more shocking things but i can't really share but have passed on to the mods.

Anyway not amazing info but interesting.
He's invited me to go watch a training session with them in the next few weeks. Pre season starts July 1st. He said he'll get me security clearance and show me around the training centre. Obviously ill try and take as many pics as possible.
Holtby doesn't seem the type to be an arsehole to the youth players? He seems like a pretty decent guy to me but oh well! Him smashing the youth players just means hes showing them whos boss though is it really that bad?
 

Breezer

Position??? Magician!!!!
Aug 27, 2004
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Holtby doesn't seem the type to be an arsehole to the youth players? He seems like a pretty decent guy to me but oh well! Him smashing the youth players just means hes showing them whos boss though is it really that bad?
That's exactly what it means and personally I see nothing wrong with it. I'd like to see the academy players give it back.
 

ChristianBaler

Well-Known Member
Aug 13, 2010
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Yes possibly. I don't know. Just talking about the monitoring equipment they use during training.

so no more heart rate monitors that we saw on a regular basis under Harry....although, almost every club in the league uses those things
 

Nanky_1988

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May 19, 2012
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so no more heart rate monitors that we saw on a regular basis under Harry....although, almost every club in the league uses those things
They arent necessary though are they? AVB prefers to judge by his eye and to be honest its probably just as good! Ade's monitor would probably read that he doesnt work that hard anyway!
 

Gedson100

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Feb 13, 2012
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Holtby doesn't seem the type to be an arsehole to the youth players? He seems like a pretty decent guy to me but oh well! Him smashing the youth players just means hes showing them whos boss though is it really that bad?

It's pretty dickish really.
Every time you see him interviewed/quoted he seems too het up and overeggs the 'so happy to be here' stuff & he looked a bit psyched up when he came on a couple of times too. Maybe he needs to calm it down a bit and stop trying to prove himself all the time.

People mistake this overeagerness for passion but essentially it's a lack of control & probably stems from insecurity. It's like the kid at school who tries too hard to be liked.

It's quite possible that this was noted by AVB & that's why despite what seemed a promising start, Holtby hasn't been able to cement a place in the team or graduate beyond substitute appearances.

Hopefully, he can settle down given a full pre-season & integration to the squad. I empathise that it must've been hard for him to land in a squad of internationals & have to try and stand out & after all he's just a young man still; I have every hope that we'll see his true form once he's calmed it down a bit.
 

Ghost Hardware

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Aug 31, 2012
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It's pretty dickish really.
Every time you see him interviewed/quoted he seems too het up and overeggs the 'so happy to be here' stuff & he looked a bit psyched up when he came on a couple of times too. Maybe he needs to calm it down a bit and stop trying to prove himself all the time.

People mistake this overeagerness for passion but essentially it's a lack of control & probably stems from insecurity. It's like the kid at school who tries too hard to be liked.

It's quite possible that this was noted by AVB & that's why despite what seemed a promising start, Holtby hasn't been able to cement a place in the team or graduate beyond substitute appearances.

Hopefully, he can settle down given a full pre-season & integration to the squad. I empathise that it must've been hard for him to land in a squad of internationals & have to try and stand out & after all he's just a young man still; I have every hope that we'll see his true form once he's calmed it down a bit.
I agree with this completely, if he pushes too hard to be liked he could end up anoying some of the core members of the team. It's odd, but I remember going to see the Newcastle game quite soon after he joined and him and Bale where doing all these fancy one twos in the warm up, and generally looked like they where gelling together. But since that game I really felt the body language between the two players, especially from Bale, has been quite cold during and before kick off. I just worry that he could alienate himself from the group and end up left out in the cold... The same thing I feel happened to Dos Santos and Taarabt.
 

EnfieldYiddo

Silence
Aug 6, 2012
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I find Holtby one of the most likeable players in our squad at the moment; weird how people's opinions differ. I can't pinpoint why but I really want him to succeed for us, more so than other players we've brought in.
 

Gedson100

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Feb 13, 2012
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I agree with this completely, if he pushes too hard to be liked he could end up anoying some of the core members of the team. It's odd, but I remember going to see the Newcastle game quite soon after he joined and him and Bale where doing all these fancy one twos in the warm up. But since that game I really felt the body language between the two players, especially from Bale, has been quite cold during and before kick off. I just worry that he could alienate himself from the group and end up left out in the cold... The same thing I feel happened to Dos Santos and Taarabt.

People forget that a football squad is frequently a group of oversized undereducated schoolboys that often lack emotional awareness, maturity & have been cosseted since early childhood. It's school friendship dynamics.
It amuses me that people revere players that play to a senior age (Friedel excluded; he seems well rounded) when players like Giggs or Sheringham (esp. in light of this week's partying allegations aged 47) often seem more like immature man-boys.
 

Gedson100

Well-Known Member
Feb 13, 2012
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I find Holtby one of the most likeable players in our squad at the moment; weird how people's opinions differ. I can't pinpoint why but I really want him to succeed for us, more so than other players we've brought in.
I like him, I just sense that he's struggled to fit in & adapt fully.
 

HappySpur

You Can't Unfry Things Jerri
Jan 7, 2012
7,666
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Hey awesome. Let's have a pop at Holtby for no fucking reason whatsoever. Why have one Jenas, which is officially Dempsey at the moment, when you can have two.
 

Snarfalicious

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Jul 15, 2012
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Holtby was the exact same way at Schalke. Incredibly upbeat, always smiling, always wanting to be involved in everything. I hope he doesn't change a thing. I am who I am and all that good shit.

If people don't like him because he's constantly downing Red Bulls and acting like it, so be it. I'd never tell a person to change who they are when their biggest detriment is appearing to care too much.
 

Gedson100

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Feb 13, 2012
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Holtby was the exact same way at Schalke. Incredibly upbeat, always smiling, always wanting to be involved in everything. I hope he doesn't change a thing. I am who I am and all that good shit.

If people don't like him because he's constantly downing Red Bulls and acting like it, so be it. I'd never tell a person to change who they are when their biggest detriment is appearing to care too much.
Fair enough.

He is one of your favourites though Snarf, I have noticed ;)

I REALLY WANT HIM TO DO WELL TOO
 

Snarfalicious

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Jul 15, 2012
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Fair enough.

He is one of your favourites though Snarf, I have noticed ;)

I REALLY WANT HIM TO DO WELL TOO


I'm sure you do. I didn't mean to come off that way. I'm sure all of us, one way or another, want the best out of our players.

I just think it's a bit premature is all. He's always been this way and if his teammates think it's too much, then maybe they should look at themselves. When there's this huge game of football and there's so many players that just go out there to pick up a paycheck, we've got a guy in Holtby who genuinely enjoys his time on the pitch and it shines through in the way he behaves.

Even when other players were scoring, it was as though he scored himself. I love that.

He's a captain for the German U21s for a reason. You can't fake that.
 

EnfieldYiddo

Silence
Aug 6, 2012
15,505
26,871
Worried Holtby may get a bit disillusioned when Paulinho comes in. Hope AVB recognises Holtby's potential as a creative force and deploys him in games where perhaps the emphasis is less on a combative midfield dynamic and more so on attempting to unlock defences.

For instance Hull at home I would like to see something like Carroll - Holtby - Sandro.

I'm sure this is what AVB is working towards, having the squad to match the opposition and exploit their weaknesses.
 

Lilbaz

Just call me Baz
Apr 1, 2005
41,363
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No, I want him miserable! I want him growling at people as they walk past and crying in the shower when he gets home! I want him as close to suicidal as can be without killing himself. No-one should be allowed to smile, we're fucking Spurs! ;)

I like Holtby, he'll get a good pre-season and do well.
 
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