Tom Huddlestone deserves everything he gets
Football FanCast columnist Matt Wright feels that Tom Huddlestone deserves everything that he gets.
While Wilson Palacios is widely revered by Tottenham supporters and most neutrals in general, it is Big Tom Huddlestone that for me has been the star turn this season and his displays have been of the highest order; it is he, rather than the Honduran that finishes most games and he is becoming such a key player for Harry Redknapp.
Tom Huddlestone deserves everything he gets and all the plaudits are more than justified for a player who I have always felt was typecast as someone who could pass the ball a bit, but lacked everything else or had any real presence on the pitch. This season he has proved them all wrong and has dominated the proceedings in central midfield on many occasions in what has been his first sustained period in the first team.
Let’s be honest it could have been different had JJ not been injured in pre-season, given that Huddlestone was hinting in the media that he may look to leave if he wasn’t going to get first team football. Tom was given the chance and he hasn’t looked back and in many ways it is now JJ whose career is at a crossroads and is perhaps thinking of moving on. Huddlestone is maturing and developing into the kind of player that his potential suggested he would be and he is more than silencing his doubters at White Hart Lane and most neutrals.
One person who never questioned his talents is Fabio Capello who not only spoke highly of him earlier on this year, but called him up for the recent friendly against Brazil. Although to some a call-up to the squad for South Africa maybe somewhat premature, I honestly believe that if he maintains his excellent form here on in until the end of the season, then I reckon he could be one of Fabio’s surprise packages for June. I hope so, after all it will be no more than his performances deserved.
I could not disagree with you more.
I think he has definately been the weak link in our midfield, particularly away from home.
The sooner Harry drops him the better.
I agree with Ton.
Awful article.
Tom Huddlestone has only been playing for want of a better option.
The guy has been given chance after chance, against good teams and bad, and proven that he doesn’t have that creative flair we all thought he did. He is immobile and slow.
Sandro will take his place in Jan.
I don’t think you’ve actually seen a game this season. He can’t tackle, he can’t head the ball and is about as mobile as a Steven hawking without his wheels. Fair enough he can pass the ball better than most but i certainly don’t think he justifies the blind euphoria that you spew out.
I was quite shocked when I read this article – I thought you were going to say exactly the opposite!
Hudd is improved, no question, but he’s still seriously lacking the important qualities to be a central midfielder.
He’s an outstanding passer, we know that. But he’s still so sluggish, and loses the ball on countless occasions – it’s infuriating.
I wasn’t his greatest fan but it was interesting to see the impact JJ made as substitute recently. Made some great runs and passes, and looked so sharp and full of energy. I think the competition for places has done him good.
He looks the better midfielder than Hudd at the moment, I wouldn’t be surprised if he starts alongside Palacios in the next game.
I like Tom, I really do. But his performance hasn’t lived up to the standard that we expect, especially in recent weeks. I like him more than Jenas, but I feel Jenas will do better for our club in the fight for the top 4. Although, Sandro is who I really want to see in that position!
I assume you never saw Glenn Hoddle when he was a young lad and broke into the first team. OK Hudd can pick out a long pass and has a fierce shot (although in recent matches they’ve had to hand out hard hats to the people in the directors’ box) but he is still a million miles from being in the Hoddle mould. As for playing in South Africa, you’re having a laugh.
Good article. Unfortunately a player who for whatever reason never receives the praise he deserves. Who else passes the ball in a game (V City) and gets 48 out of 52 passes on target. Who else has the range of passing and who else is such a considerable physical presence. He is exactly the type of player Tottenham need.
i think you needn to put the crack pipe down….he is not that good and put him up agianst any of the top 4 side and he would maybe get on the bench and thats about as far as it goes…ok he can pass got no pace no guts no idea cant head and is not the player we need to drive the middle of the park
i think hes decent unlike the lot (bellow or above dont no) ,he can pass sticks to the edge of the box and scores important goals (sunderland)but when modric gets back he will lose his spot ,modric does the same job as huddlestone just a bit better
Haha….is this April Fools?
The Hud is a squad player – nothing more.
Sure, he has a good 40 yard pass – but it’s always crossfield in a harmless position. You rarely see him a delive a pass that splits the defence. And for someone who’s got a terrific shot – we hardly ever see it.
AND PLEASE DON’T TOUT HIM AS THE NEXT GLEN HODDLE –
He’s 20% the player Hoddle was.
20% Hoddle, Mark? You must see something in him I’ve missed.
As ever our supporters are going for the glass half empty option and ignoring the obvious. Someone turned the table upside down from this time last season and we are still moaning. Huddlestone has started/played in every EPL game we have played and is a big part of our success. Ask Harry who out key central midfielder is and he will answer Huddlestone…..his actions prove it. Tom will go to South Africa and the doubters will claim that he is ‘improved’ just like they are Jermain Defoe. Both these players have always been the business it is just that some people hate to be proven wrong…….yes Tom Huddlestone deserves everything he gets!
stevenqoz: No “glass half empty” here. We’ve had a great start. And I can’t see any moaning on here. Just genuine responses to an article about Tom Huddlestone.
Interesting that you say everyone is “ignoring the obvious”. If it was obvious, why would we all deny it?
It’s NOT obvious that Hudd has been a big part of our success. What HAS obviously been a big part of our success so far has been the form of Modders, Defoe, Crouch, Kranjcar, Dawson, Bassong…
Honestly, I think Hudd is the weakest link in the entire team. Don’t get me wrong, I like the guy. But he just has too many failings. Right now, at any rate – I hope he continues to improve.
Of all the players you attribute our success to….only Defoe has been a constant this season…..the rest would have registered no more than 60% of the time Huddlestone has put in. No time does not necessarily mean success but do you not feel you are underestimating the role that Huddlestone has played? We all have our favourites and players we like less but as a Spurs of supporter of 48 years and 600 matches , a coach 26 years and a player of 900 games I feel qualified to make the comments I have made. How about you?
Hey Ronny, take a look at this Hod video on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuCIExuMTe0 Makes me wanna cry when I see Beckham has twice as many caps
Hey RonnyCoys……I saw Hoddle from start to finish…..if you did you also remember that he too struggled at Spurs with the fans and even at times to convince the manager….you would remember that he was actually pushed up front for a few games when not delivering in the midfield….he was trul apprectiated by our fans eventually but the British preference for blood and thunder made Bryan Robson the England ‘star’ with Glenn always having to prove himself. Criticism of Hoddle included the conviction from some pundits that he did not know how to receive the ball in Division one…..Huddlestone will never be a Hoddle and Harry has set out very particular parameters for Tom to play within….he has the support of the coach and that shows in his willingness to shoot from outside the box….he is under orders and doesn’t get rucked for having a shot….his timing has been off of late, especially in the cold harsh north but his technique is difficult to question…….much of our dominance in the past few months has stemmed from ball retention….Huddlestone has improved in both the area of shielding the ball and passing to retain the ball
Huddlestone passes
Blackburn 50 43 7
Citeh 40 33 7
Wolves 52 48 4
Everton 27 21 6
Villa 72 65 7
Wigan 47 42 5
Sunderland54 43 11
Arsenal 26 21 5
Stoke 35 0 0
Pompey 28 21 7
Bolton 18 15 3
Burnley 37 30 6 1 assist
Chelsea 37 29 8
Utd 55 46 9
Brum 50 42 7 1 assist
West Ham 35 29 6
Hull 38 7 1 1 assist
Liverpool 39 31 8
I’d say he is doing the job Harry wants him to do on a regular basis
Who is the guy who wrote this!..He must be 12 years old. What a plonker!….did you watch the last game….he just constantly gives away the ball, misses tackles and shoots at bad times when he should be looking at putting it in at someones feet…you can see the strikers getting peeded of with him as well.
dude you must be blind i bet you never seen a full match
stevenqoz: I don’t understand your defensiveness. I’ve been watching Spurs for 34 years, and I do take notice of the finer aspects of a game. But that’s irrelevant. There’s no need for anyone here to justify an opinion with credentials.
If you’re appreciating something I’m not – great – I’m all ears. Because my eyes tell me that Hudd is too sluggish, often gives the ball away cheaply and is too easy to get past.
As I say, I like the guy and I hope he improves but right now I think we can do a lot better than Hudd in the middle of the park. And I’ve a suspicion that will be the area we strengthen – if any – in January.
Totally disagree. If Tottenham want to kick on to top four and challenge for the title, we need to get a much better midfielder than Huddlestone. He never delivers against the big team, regularly goes missing away from home and does not dominate against weak opposition. For every ‘glory’ pass that succeeds there are 2 or 3 that don’t. He has improved a lot, but is not mobile enough, not strong enough, doesn’t score enough. Good squad player.
Like most of you guys, I like Tommy Hud but just haven’t seen enough of an improvement on the field from a player who obviously has much talent. If you compare him to Fabregas, the one thing that immediately stands out is the number of defence splitting passes this guy puts in, 4 or 5 every game. Before I can give regular plaudits to The Hud, I would like to see some of this stuff on a regular basis:
* Slide rule passes
* Reverse passing
* More & better shots
* More assists (he has very few)
* Freekicks that test the goalkeeper (we are terrible in this area)
* The occasional dribble
His passing completion rate might be high, then why is his assist rate so low? Which points to the obvious; he passes to team mates who are in non dangerous areas, and thus the markers are far away.
He needs to take things by the scruff by the neck and perhaps watch a few Hoddle Videos. Or better still get Hoddle in once a week to work with him. This is perhaps the one area in Harry’s coaching set up that he hasn’t got covered.
cant believe the author wrote this. Apart from some long range pass to lennon or modric and 1 or 2 tackles he puts in, he cant shot, cant dribble, no pace. He is like a diamond, apart from makes u stand out in a posh banquet, no real usage otherwise. I appreciated what he did for us, but going to WorldCup??? hahahaha.
You can say many things about Hudd – but cannot say that he can’t shoot! Come on. You lose all credibility with that statement. If there is a chance outside the box, he is the one in the team that you would want on the end of it – ahead of all strikers.
Also, someone asked why is his assist rate low. Firstly, it isn’t low – 3 is a decent number of assists for half a season. Gerrard only has 5 – and there are only 4 central midfielders with more than Hudd – Fabregas, Lampard, Gerrard and Barry. Who are all internationals and more experienced. Besides, Hudd starts attacks – he assists the assists. I wouldn’t want him trying that ‘Hollywood’ ball every time, sometimes a steady attack is best. And please don’t forget that the guy is still inexperienced – he is 23 and only has 65 full appearances. Fabregas has well over twice that. He is not the greatest, but he will get better. People are too harsh on him – we are having one of the best seasons I can remember – and he has been ever present in centre midfield beside Palacios who is not at his best – Hudd must be doing something right.
Ton your comments are fairly lame….according to you he is our weak link, especially away from home, but our away form has been very good. much better than recent years….so that is down to everyone but Huddlestone is it? Although many love palacios, many will also acknowledge that he has not hit the heights he hit last year and is sloppy in possession.
Huddlestone adds a creativity that neither JJ or Palacios get near to. His work rate now is much better and although he lacks their agility & energy, he adds creativity & vision.
So many typical miserable Spurs fans responding on this. We are 5th, having the best season for a while. We are scoring for fun and as a defence we are much much better….where’s the positivity FFS!? Huddlestone has played a big part in this…Keep it up Tommy!
No one on here is being pessimistic, miserable or complaining about Spurs. I think everyone agrees that the team is playing well. So please don’t deflect away from the meat of the discussion; namely The Hud. 3 assists from 40 goals is not good from a creative type midfielder who is “known” for his passing. 1 Goal is also not good from a creative type player who has a “great” shot. For someone who supposedly has “a great range of passing”…..he should be taking every freekick around the box and every corner, which would result in more goals …but he doesn’t because he doesn’t take good freekicks & corners
The Hud has no range of passing, apart from crossfield to someone hugging the touchline – That’s IT! And whilst that doesn’t create much from an attacking perspective – It does keep the ball away from teams attacking us, which does fulfil a role.
Can I repeat what I just said? ONLY Fabregas, Lampard, Gerrard and Barry have more assists from central midfield. Do you expect him to be as good as them? If 3 is not an acceptable return, ALL other central midfielders have a poor number of assists. Besides – it is widely known that Spurs get their goals from the wings – that’s why Lennon has many assists and Kranjcar has overtaken Hudd. I know one thing, if we had played with Jenas / Palacios, we would be doing much worse – and Jenas is vastly more experienced.
He’s made the third highest amount of tackles in the entire Prem and our fans claim he doesn’t tackle enough. He’s also made the 3rd highest amount of passes in the entire Prem and our fans claim he disappears in games. As for his passing not being to dangerous areas, then how come he’s created 30 chances and it amongst the highest midfielders in the Prem for creating chances. But his job isn’t so much to create chances, but to get the ball to the wide players as quickly as possible. As ahrry said the other day, he wants us to get the ball to Lennon whenever we can.
Why does Harry pick him every week? Maybe it’s because he’s so important ot us and is the ultimate unsung hero. He’s had a fantastic season and some of the comments in this thread are embarrassing. Most of our play goes through him and he sets the tempo for the team. He’ll be one of the first names on the team sheet for the rest of the season and I wouldn’t be at all suprised if Cappello takes him to the WC. It seems Capello rates him far more than most of our fans!
I’m surprised by the lack of support for Huddlestone evident here.
Personally i think he’s still developing and is showing more signs now of turning into a fine player – I’d rate him now as good as Carrick and everyone moaned when we sold him!
He has his faults but agree the potential is there for all to see. He retains possession brilliantly, even if not all passes are defence splitting ones he carries out a vital role for the team which I think is the basis of our success so far.
Our defence is settling down now but has actually been shaky for the first part of the season, and the forwards have worked off the solid platform that Hudd & Palacios have built.
Spurs work down the wings, but you need a solid midfield duo to do that which is what we’ve had.