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.
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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.
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20% Hoddle, Mark? You must see something in him I’ve missed.
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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!
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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.
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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?
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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
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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
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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.
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dude you must be blind i bet you never seen a full match
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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.
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