What’s wrong with Luka Modric?
Before Tottenham Hotspur fans cry out ‘blasphemy’ at the article’s headline, it is prudent to state that Luka Modric is an excellent player. In fact, he is probably the best player currently playing at the Spurs. What this article is really concerned with then, is why Tottenham feel it unnecessary to actually use the 24 year old Croatian maestro.
There are perhaps excuses for Modric’s recent run of poor form. Modric is arguably still returning to full fitness after spending 4 months on the treatment table with a broken leg, having only returned to Tottenham’s starting line up on 28th December. Further, the Tottenham side has lacked consistency in the time since Modric returned, with Lennon and Assou-Ekotto injured, and Kranjcar, Jenas and Bentley coming in and out of favour.
Most notably, when Kranjcar and Modric play together, there is an air of congestion about Tottenham’s attacking play. The Croats both look to occupy space in central positions and although the pair are capable of finding space in the hole, Tottenham desperately lack width. However, Kranjcar has been replaced by David Bentley in recent weeks, and the Englishman is a more orthodox right winger, restoring some semblance of shape to the Tottenham midfield. This should have allowed Modric more space to dictate play, but to no avail.
A criticism that can be levelled at Tottenham currently, is that Peter Crouch is the focal point of the Tottenham attack, rather than a facet. Against Bolton, the team often appeared happier to take the easy, lazier option, and hit long balls or crosses to Peter Crouch. This totally takes Modric out of the game, and renders him useless. Say what you like about a certain Irishman now at Celtic, but his height meant long balls were not an option. With Keane in the side, Tottenham passed to each other on the floor. Since Modric returned to fitness, Crouch has taken the mantle as Defoe’s partner, and the result is that Modric is often left a peripheral figure. Long balls hit Crouch, Defoe feeds off scraps, but Modric will not run on to a Crouch flick-on, it’s not his game. Tottenham need to utilise Modric better, or just sell the boy and buy an out and out left winger who can supply Crouch with crosses, if thats the way Tottenham want to play.
Obviously, Tottenham fans do not want to see Modric leave the club. Therefore, against sides that tend to sit back and defend with 10 men behind the ball, it could be argued that Palacios’s role for example, becomes unnecessary. Against Aston Villa at White Hart Lane a few weeks ago, with Tottenham in total control, Redknapp did not make one change throughout the 90 minutes. With Tottenham simply probing to find a way through, Modric could have been taken off the left side of midfield, and allowed to dictate play from central midfield, as two deep sitting central midfielders (Huddlestone and Palacios) was over cautious.
Aside from putting Modric in more central positions, Redknapp might even consider changing the formation in the latter stages of games if Tottenham are searching for a goal. For example, Spurs could try a 4-3-3, with Crouch making way for Modric in attack alongside Defoe and Palyuchenko or Gudjohnsen. If Tottenham gave Modric more freedom, and Tottenham looked towards a more passing game, then Modric might benefit, and if Modric benefits, so will Tottenham.
Whatever way you look at it, Modric is currently below par. If Tottenham want to be known as an attractive side again, and a winning side, it’s about time they started utilising their best player. Because at the moment, games are simply passing the Croatian by.
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I think a lot of it is to do with Lennon’s absence the past month or so, he strectches teams with his pace and his ability to get to the byline, he’s Spurs most important player when on form. Whilst Bentley has performed ably in Lennon’s place he crosses from deep a lot more and lofts his crosses more to hit Crouch’s head which slows down the play and makes Spurs as a side a lot easier to play against as without Lennon there is a distinct lack of pace in midfield. To drop Palacios would be criminal and i’d much rather see Huddlestone leave the pitch and bring Modric or Krancjar inside if Spurs are chasing a result which they were against Villa.
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This long ball leveled at crouch is wrong because the real reason is teams closing down .This is Making our back line hit long balls and even the midfield is hitting 15 to 20 yard passes to Defoe or crouch and the defense move up, and put crouch or Defoe offside. This happens when Moderic is Playing and Lennon’s his Missing he tracks back and helps to win the ball from midfield and gives Huddlestone another option to attack. Moderic gets the ball bullied of him and Kranjcar is more physical at six foot and 12 st.This energy was not on show at Wigan and Bolton on wednesday . But this will be on show on Sunday you can bet
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It’s just the injury, nothing more. He was fantastic the other week. Yeah, he’s been miss more than hit lately but he was a slow starter when he first arrived and I think the injury has put him back a bit. He’ll come good. Class is permanent form is only temporary.
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I couldnt agree more with the first 2 3rd of your article! However to plat lucka in a three up top wouldn’t work. I fell we have to revert to the game that started our season so brightly and play everything through Modric. The Pav situation is terrible. Instead of starting with a quality player who has better touch and movement then bringing on Crouch as an option ( a very good one) we a ruining a player that showed a lot of promise. I think the side using modric as a focal point – lennon as pace and width and defoe and Pav to stick it in the bsck of the net would be seen as a much greater threat. As it is sides n that if they get to more than 50% of crouches knock downs and win a fair few in the air we we struggle to score. Spurs were the original push and run side we need to get back to that not by pass our most talented player!
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yes i agree modric is world class and Redknapp has no idea how to use him why not let him play the way he plays for his country then maybe this would benefit crouch and defoe
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I agree. If we are struggling to score late on (and this has happened many many times lately) I think the move is to push Modric just behind front two. I think it will re-ignite him. If the formation-change is working, but Modders still not playing well, then sub him like-for-like with Gudjohnsen.
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I agree with most of your post in that we need to find a way of getting the best out of Luka again. We all know Lennon and Luka are the key to our champions league chances.I would also say that to take Palacios off would be Spurs doing what we always used to do and think we can win games without having a structure to our team. coys
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I think we should employ a formaton that was very very succesful with Jose at Chelsea when they romped the league and were unbeatable at home. They played a 4-3-3 with drogba as the big target man to hold it up and play then 2 advanced wingers that were fast and could score goals Robben and jcole/kalou with 2 fierce midfielders in ballack and essien winning the midfield battles and lampard in front of them protected and allowed to play (modric) with a solid back 4 (which we have) and the full backs got forward (bale corluka ) perfect. So I say way stick in crouch or pav as the front 1 play Defoe and Lennon a little deeper as they both have pace and can play off and finish. Modric in the middle supplying the creative spark with palacios and another tackler wether it be hudd or maybe muntari, veloso or sandro. This will allow modric to focus on attack (gudjonsrn could be used in this position too) and also allow bale and corluka to get fwd. I really believe this is the way forward. Let’s face it worked for mr mourinho and it’s not rigid and predictable and allows quick brakes with plenty of defensive cover. What do u think spurs fans?? Coys
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I like 4-3-3 suggestion very much in theory. Not sure our current leader could get his head round it
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I think the taxman has got Harry so worried he can’t think straight.No sense in what he has been doing of late.I´m sick and tired of hoofing the ball up to Crouch’s head so much though Harry doesn´t think it’s so much.Yeah maybe the right thing for everyone to do is to point out to him how often the ball is being hoofed over Luka’s head and reminding him of his own words that this is our world class player.Need to remind him to of his reputation for a man/manager , Pav seems to be getting the wrong end of his stick badly,how he can deserve this treatment I don´t know and I say it’s time for Harry to explain clearly why he is not using him and why he is keeping him like a prisoner in most peoples eye’s.
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