An awkward piece of the Tottenham jigsaw?
In the grand scheme of things, Tom Huddlestone will probably be disappointed with how things went for him last season. He may well have captained his side against Inter at the San Siro, but injuries kept him out of facing further and arguably more important Champions League opponents. His being sidelined also must have had an effect on Tottenham ’s Premier League campaign, with him hardly featuring as a goalscorer on http://www.footballscores.com. Had he been more available Spurs may have been able to carry the fight for longer and may well have secured a Champions League slot for next season.
Tom Huddlestone adds something to Tottenham that the likes of Luka Modric , Jermaine Jenas and Rafael Van der Vaart just can’t offer. At an impressively stocky 6’3, Huddlestone’s sheer physicality, strength and competitive nature makes him a wonderful addition to the Spurs midfield. Of course, it’s important not to underplay the other aspects of Thudd’s game. He is also a passer of great vision and ability and, as we all know, he has a real firecracker of a shot.
The prospect of Huddlestone playing alongside Luka Modric next season may well have fans salivating. The mixture of grit, determination and vision is sure to strike a chord in the centre of Tottenham’s midfield and may well propel them to success of one sort or another. But that raises another question. Would a fully fit Tom Huddlestone earn a starting birth in this Spurs side? What’s more, surely he’s too good to be a mere squad player?
The problem for Tottenham is that Sandro has made it nigh on impossible for Harry to drop him, given a number of impressive displays against top opponents. Sandro is another Tottenham player who seems to have it all: he’s strong in defence and attack and this versatility only increases his worth. Then there’s Luka Modric, who after last season simply won’t be bumped out of the centre of Tottenham’s midfield. Such was the form of Modric and Sandro that ex-Real Madrid man Rafael van der Vaart found himself pushed out onto the wings, despite an impressive showing of his own last season. If Van der Vaart is struggling to get game time in his favoured position it’s pretty likely that Huddlestone will suffer in the same regard. The crowded nature of Tottenham’s midfield makes Spurs’ reported interest in Scott Parker even more bemusing. Whilst it’s always useful to have squad players that are talented and capable, having too much competition for places can often breed malcontent and lead to players not receiving a fair amount of game time. For this reason I hope that Harry Redknapp doesn’t sign Scott Parker. He may be a good player, but I rate Tom Huddlestone higher and want to see him receive his fair share of games next season.
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Got to agree with you here Henry. Huddlestone is a difficult puzzle piece to fit in side with the current members of a talented midfield. I’ve despaired over last couple of weeks at the Modric to leave stories. But, then I remember big Tom. Modric has been a revelation since coming to England but when you break it down, we struggled to find cohesion in the middle of the park due to Harry trying to mix it and keep everyone happy. For me, if Sandro is fit then things are not so bad. This boy is excellent, and with his energy and work ethic, I see no reason why big Tom couldn’t step up to lessen the pain should Modric leave. Sandro and Huddlestone make a formidable central midfield pairing, ability and strength with no lack vision. Put bale on left and find an equally exciting right sided midfielder, with VDV playing behind a striker of class and you really are looking at champions league capability. We don’t need to panic over our midfield, it’s class and just needs some solid back up. With a little luck on the injury front spurs could challenge for the title for sure and big Tom is a key to that.
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Mikey137865 Reply:
July 10th, 2011 at 12:38 am
Put bale on left and find an equally exciting right sided midfielder.
Lennon?
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Is it just me or if modric is sold than the tottenham midfield would be a lot more balanced. Playing in a 4-2-3-1 formation, like Germany, and a midfield of: Hudd-Sandro
Lennon-Van Der Vaart-Bale
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What a ridiculously pointless and inaccurate article. First of all Sandro’s first start was in January so how you can describe him as a fixture of the team is beyond me. Apparently all it takes these days, for football fans with a distinct lack of knowledge, is to play well for 15 games and you are impossible to drop. He played against a distinctly average Inter team and then went missing against Real Madrid. Who are the other ‘top’ opponents. And the fact you are suggesting Scott Parker is below the level of Huddlestone and Sandro is flummoxing. Parker has been a consistent performer over a long time now, (including more than 15 game bursts)so this is a ridiculous comment. Sandro and Huddlestone is a joke midfield partnership, which will end with spurs nowhere near the top 4. Modric is gone and Bale will follow, just a trumped up feeder club with the best part of their team being sold off. But what more can you expect from the Spurs fans? And for the record I am a Sunderland fan not an Arsenal fan.
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Devonshirespur Reply:
July 11th, 2011 at 4:26 pm
If a midfield including Wilson Palacios being a regular starter can get us to the Top 4 then one of Sandro & Huddlestone stand a good chance. Both lack the guile and agility that Modric offer, but if both in the same team they would be an excellent selection in a 4231 formation.
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‘Had he been more available Spurs may have been able to carry the fight for longer and may well have secured a Champions League slot for next season’
‘ But that raises another question. Would a fully fit Tom Huddlestone earn a starting birth in this Spurs side? What’s more, surely he’s too good to be a mere squad player?’
Is anyone else actually reading this rubbish????
I can’t beleive these two quotes are from the same article – i really can’t.
They contradict each other. Is he commanding a first team place that one minute will push Spur’s closer to their Champs League Dream – and it is a dream. Or is he a fringe player at a 6th placed team at best???
This guy must have been a spur’s fan because we know how much s*** they like to talk!!!!
Gary B you are clearly not fit to comment on footbal with your pathetic amount of knowledge. The only reason you got into 4th was because Liverpool were poor and City were not ready to take the step up. Now Liverpool are back with some very good signings – except one overrated Geordie.
And City who are clearly gonna challenge for the title!!!
HOW DO SPUR’S REALLY THINK THEY ARE EVER GONNA SEE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FOOTBALL AGAIN WITHOUT WATCHING IT ON SKY LIKE THE REST OF US!!!!
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Huddlestone is the most over rated player I’ve ever seen at Spurs. he’s got a beautiful strike, but he’s lazy, can’t head the ball and constantly gives away needless free-kicks. The plus side is, we have a fantastic squad (with or without Modric) and I’m certain we’ll be top 4 next season.
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Devonshirespur Reply:
July 11th, 2011 at 4:31 pm
Have to strongly disagree with you. Hudd has attributes that others do not. Not everyone can be the perfect complete midfielder, Hudd contributes in his own way which is different to the way Modric contributes, Its like trying to compare Carrick with Fabregas. Both CM, but both fulfilling different roles.
As for Hudd being a central midfielder that “cannot head the ball”??? SO what! I haven’t seen Lennon, VDV or Modric win too many headers too!
Huddlestone is far from lazy. There is a reason why he features in almost every Spurs game when fit
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Hey remember that time where we finished 4th, with a modric-huddlestone partnership.. uno that season where tom huddlestone made more appearances than any other spurs player.. uno that time we beat top 4 3man midfields with just “immobile” huddlestone and modric.
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King26 Reply:
July 10th, 2011 at 1:15 am
At least someone is talking sense on here
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Yeah that time where there were no other decent teams up there d***head, are you lot gonna live on finishing 4th 1 year forever? Why didn’t you last year? Your ‘certain’ your gonna finish top 4? You have not ONE chance to finish top FIVE, the other teams above are clearly better and have signed better players. Who are you going to finish above to get there? So deluded it’s laughable. Spursus80, you typify Spurs armchair fans. Know nothing about football and talk s***
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BobbydaB Reply:
July 10th, 2011 at 8:09 am
For me part of the reason that we didn’t finish top 4 was the fact that Thudd was injured for a large part of the season. On top of that we had major injury problems at the back and rarely had the luxury of playing the same back four in successive games (King and Woodgate hardly featured at all – OK no surprise there), Defoe was out for over three months and Bale missed a big chunk of 2011.
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Devonshirespur Reply:
July 11th, 2011 at 4:39 pm
I’d agree.
Last season we lost Defoe & Dawson from September to December
Huddlestone injured from November to March
Bale injured from January to April
Woodgate and King out all season
Ekotto injured for April and May
Kaboul also missed 3 months of the season.
And they are just the long term injuries. Like every team we had players out for a few weeks, missing a few games.
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Sisenor what a ridiculous contribution to this article you have made, your comments are simply pot shots at a club you clearly hate in order to provoke a reaction, shouldn’t you be going on Stoke/Blackburn/west brom blogs arguing about who will achieve that 10th place finish, you don’t have a player on your books fit to tie huddlestones boots! Also so your suggesting that 15 top flight games is not enough to judge if a player has performed to a certain standard? Don’t become a scout anytime soon ay! what a twat
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Hmmm, it seems that supporters of real clubs are not allowed to comment anywhere else in the world? Only glory hunting supporters who never go to live games are? Huddlestone is overated as discussed by YOUR OWN FANS. And 15 games IS CLEARLY not enough to judge someones career on is it dickhead? So Michael Ricketts is a great player? Amir Zaki? Chimbonda? All had FULL seasons that were great but weren’t class were they? Just a bit of form, so i would suggest YOU do not become a scout soon as you have just demonstrated exactly what myself and every other fan on here accuses you Spurs fans on. And my main point anyway was what a poorly constructed and mundane article, as some others have pointed out. But then again Poorson your grammar or general English isn’t good enough to understand what a well written article looks like.
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Aarongodlikelennon Reply:
July 10th, 2011 at 4:25 pm
No offense intended, but you could do a little research yourself. Not sure why all the name-calling is needed either – it makes you seem childish and detracts from any points you make.
Sandro was the captain of a Libertadores winning team before he came to England. The lad’s quality has never been in doubt, either by Spurs supporters or anyone who’s ever watched the Brasilieirao. He has a fantastic future in the game. I just hope we can hang on to him for a few more seasons.
I appreciate you didn’t agree with the article above, but any Spurs fan who does go to games can and will tell you, Huddlestone was hugely missed last season for his ability to switch the play from one side of the pitch to the other, his vision and his super range of passing. While the point raised as to where he would fit into a midfield containing VDV, Modric + Sandro is certainly a valid one. Some supporterd point to his lack of quickness and its implications and as such are not huge fans, which I do understand, but they are the type who will point out any player’s imprefections instead of enjoying their attributes. All clubs have negative supporter groups. They act as devvil’s advocate and add something to the discussion imo.
If you want to critique English, I’d find a literature blog instead of a football one. Someone there might actually care.
Have a nice day.
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Hmmm, it seems that supporters of real clubs are not allowed to comment anywhere else in the world? Only glory hunting supporters who never go to live games are? Huddlestone is overated as discussed by YOUR OWN FANS. And 15 games IS CLEARLY not enough to judge someones career on is it d***head? So Michael Ricketts is a great player? Amir Zaki? Chimbonda? All had FULL seasons that were great but weren’t class were they? Just a bit of form, so i would suggest YOU do not become a scout soon as you have just demonstrated exactly what myself and every other fan on here accuses you Spurs fans of. And my main point anyway was what a poorly constructed and mundane article, as some others have pointed out. But then again Poorson your grammar or general English isn’t good enough to understand what a well written article looks like.
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Devonshirespur Reply:
July 11th, 2011 at 4:43 pm
I would leave it to Spurs fans to judge whether a player looks like he has potential or not.
I have seen alsmost every one of Sandro’s games, live, in the flesh, in the stands. I am massively impressed with him. The guy has the physical presence opf Huddlestone, but unlike Hudd (a gentle giant) he knows how to put himself about. Strong and committed in the challenge, determined, driven and useful on the ball….and as we saw vs Chelsea, a pretty decent shot too.
he has also shown the ability to learn quickly after making a less than impress start to his career, he now looks like he has all the attributes to be a top class defensive midfielder in the EPL……his performance vs AC Milan, at teh San Siro was outstanding.
The guy cost £6m, he’s 21…..that will prove to be an absolute bargain.
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