Christian Eriksen: I was the black sheep at Spurs

[mpickard2087]

It's obvious why fans reacted how they did, as he'd mentally checked out.

I can understand though why he feels how he does, in the last couple of months he's been booed for just about very misplaced pass/shot/corner/tackle not won. I think that was over the top, quite nasty, and the overall atmosphere at matches cannot be great if one player is constantly getting stick from his own fans.

If I was him I'd also be asking why no one else got that treatment. There are several others whose form has dipped and haven't been giving 100% as they did two or three years ago. In fact, basically all of them I'd say. And then you have people like Alderweireld who I think has taken the piss more than any player I can recall at Spurs - basically refused to sign a new contract for 3 years thinking he'd surely be able to get a bigger club and payday, then when his form goes downhill, he's on the decline, and clearly the massive offers aren't there he eventually re-signs at the 11th hour claiming he's never wanted to play anywhere else. Yet not a murmur from fans. Same goes for someone like Rose, all his outbursts and talk of leaving and he's not really copped anything. So I can see why Eriksen might be miffed about being the whipping boy.

 

[rupsmith]

No issues with him. Generally a loyal professional player. Unfortunately his honesty worked against him. I don’t put his loss of form down to a lack of effort. The whole team has failed to perform for about an year. The Champions League papered over a lot of cracks.

He’s a very good player but not world class

 

[JonnySpurs]

Nail on head, people thought he stopped trying in his final year, he didn't. His playing style was exactly the same as before but people started to notice it and look for faults when he wouldn't sign a contract. His form did dip but so did many other players but he was painted the bad guy just because he was open about leaving which many fans didn't like.

Not sure I agree with this but equally, like it or not, he was the key man in our team. Our play went through him and his performances were vital to us playing well. If he played poorly, we played poorly so he has to accept some responsibility for his part in all this. I also can't recall too many other players standing out as being as bad as he was, at least in terms of drop off in performance. Maybe Dele but his issues were more injury related.

Also, what did he expect was going to happen as soon as he said he wanted out? Most fans will agree that you don't have to be the best player in the world as long as you work hard and you show that you want to play for the club. I don't care if you're Messi or Ronaldo, once you say you want out then I don't want you at my club.

I'm all for honesty but Eriksen said what he did and has to own it, much like Danny Rose had to do.

 

[Shadydan]

Not sure I agree with this but equally, like it or not, he was the key man in our team. Our play went through him and his performances were vital to us playing well. If he played poorly, we played poorly so he has to accept some responsibility for his part in all this. I also can't recall too many other players standing out as being as bad as he was, at least in terms of drop off in performance. Maybe Dele but his issues were more injury related.

Also, what did he expect was going to happen as soon as he said he wanted out? Most fans will agree that you don't have to be the best player in the world as long as you work hard and you show that you want to play for the club. I don't care if you're Messi or Ronaldo, once you say you want out then I don't want you at my club.

I'm all for honesty but Eriksen said what he did and has to own it, much like Danny Rose had to do.

That's hardly his fault though is it? Not his fault that the club didn't provide any competition for his place nor is it his fault for being so good in the first place. The club should have found solutions for when he wasn't on form so that the team could cope, they didn't.

Last season alone: Dele, Toby, Rose, Tripper, Lloris, Lucas all had periods of poor form or were not playing up to their previous standards. Only Sissoko came out with any credit that season which suggests to me that there was possible burn out physically and mentally for most players.

I feel that fans were to quick to jump on him, at least he was honest unlike some players who are happy to string the club along.

 

[Thenewcat]

But this thread is about Eriksen? There are plenty of factors - from the top down - as to why the team has struggled over the last 12 months. My initial reply was solely based on his lazy, disinterested approach to life at Spurs during that time. Poor form can be excused, laziness less so.

My point was in comparison to Modric, who settled back down in a happy side playing with confidence. That wasn’t the case here

 

[Dougal]

Nail on head, people thought he stopped trying in his final year, he didn't. His playing style was exactly the same as before but people started to notice it and look for faults when he wouldn't sign a contract. His form did dip but so did many other players but he was painted the bad guy just because he was open about leaving which many fans didn't like.

I can be quite objective when watching Spurs, separating off the pitch chatter to on the pitch performances. The intent had almost completely disappeared from his game. Eriksen always played a high risk game where he would make mistakes because he was given the freedom to do what other players weren’t allowed to do because he was the best at finding that magic ball and unlocking defences. You’d see him attempting the impossible and reaping the rewards. But in the last year he couldn’t even manage the simple pass on far too many occasions for the gifted footballer that he is. That’s not form. Form is when you try and it doesn’t come off. This guy’s head was elsewhere as he didn’t appear to be in the moment on the pitch.

 

[teok]

I just think it was such a long drawn out process that both parties (fans and player) got frustrated. It wasn't really his fault just one of those things.

Let's just move on. He was a great player and a really nice guy. Wish him all the best.

 

[SpursD22]

Imo the most interesting thing he said was this: “People were still sad from the Champions League final when the season started. After you get a few bad results, then you go into a spiral you are not used to and it was difficult to come back up.”

You guys pick on the wrong stuff of all the things he said

 

[14/04/91]

For me it was a management thing from Poch to Levy, still getting pick when he was clearly out of form but also not getting a replacement in over the last few years.
I liked how Jose used him, only when needed.
All being said I have no ill feeling towards him and thank him for what he has given us over all the years and wish him well.

In Poch’s defence, he had no other options during the whole of last season.
It’s been easier for Mourinho to try and progress without him as he has a few extra bodies around.

 

[Ronwol196061]

Eriksen is weak on self esteem I think. Victim mentality. He gets confidence from outside of himself and I guess didn't really feel a part of anything. When playing for Denmark he was their best player,heralded in that situation. He says he felt like the black sheep at Tottenham. That's self imposed. Its less of a black sheep than a chicken and the egg. Was he more of a chicken or more of an egg? He should look into himself a bit more for the answers otherwise he will be a victim or a hero according to circumstances outside of himself not coming from within. Thats why when he has any time to think his performance goes down drastically

 

[Shadydan]

I can be quite objective when watching Spurs, separating off the pitch chatter to on the pitch performances. The intent had almost completely disappeared from his game. Eriksen always played a high risk game where he would make mistakes because he was given the freedom to do what other players weren’t allowed to do because he was the best at finding that magic ball and unlocking defences. You’d see him attempting the impossible and reaping the rewards. But in the last year he couldn’t even manage the simple pass on far too many occasions for the gifted footballer that he is. That’s not form. Form is when you try and it doesn’t come off. This guy’s head was elsewhere as he didn’t appear to be in the moment on the pitch.

Yet last season he was covering similar distances across the pitch compared to previous seasons...work that one out.

Again this doesn't come down to laziness it comes down to form, you can attribute this is the players I mentioned before, for example they stopped running as much as they used to, Toby didn't engage the attacking players as much as he used to when he defended. Trippier' crossing went down hill as did his defensive awareness, Dele stopped making trademark runs etc...it's all relitave isn't it?

So why is Eriksen getting singled out for special treatment whilst many times fans have complained about loss in form to other players?

 

[Dougal]

Yet last season he was covering similar distances across the pitch compared to previous seasons...work that one out.

Again this doesn't come down to laziness it comes down to form, you can attribute this is the players I mentioned before, for example they stopped running as much as they used to, Toby didn't engage the attacking players as much as he used to when he defended. Trippier' crossing went down hill as did his defensive awareness, Dele stopped making trademark runs etc...it's all relitave isn't it?

So why is Eriksen getting singled out for special treatment whilst many times fans have complained about loss in form to other players?

I didn’t call him lazy. But he became less effective. The very point of his being there was blunted. There is some credence that can be given to injuries to Dele and Kane affecting his end game but it was the simple stuff he stopped doing which irked me most.

And how can he be singled out yet people complain about the others lack of form? He’s singling himself out as the black sheep. He knows he let us down in the last year.

 

[Shadydan]

I didn’t call him lazy. But he became less effective. The very point of his being there was blunted. There is some credence that can be given to injuries to Dele and Kane affecting his end game but it was the simple stuff he stopped doing which irked me most.

And how can he be singled out yet people complain about the others lack of form? He’s singling himself out as the black sheep. He knows he let us down in the last year.

I know you didn't I'm making a point

The point was that I pointed out the simple stuff that other players weren't doing either yet Eriksen became the fall guy and the reason why that was is because he refused to sign on and was honest and open about it.

People complained about other players form on separate occasions many times in match threads, player threads in the stands on social media etc...yet for the reasons stated Eriksen would receive the most vitriol and it got worse as the season wore on and into this season. The reason why he's bringing it up now is because he was no worse than many others yet he was singled out for it and there was a narrative hanging over him that he ws the bad guy...like @mpickard2087 said why don't Toby kop as much flak when what he did was effectively worse than what Eriksen did?

 

[Dougal]

I know you didn't I'm making a point

The point was that I pointed out the simple stuff that other players weren't doing either yet Eriksen became the fall guy and the reason why that was is because he refused to sign on and was honest and open about it.

People complained about other players form on separate occasions many times in match threads, player threads in the stands on social media etc...yet for the reasons stated Eriksen would receive the most vitriol and it got worse as the season wore on and into this season. The reason why he's bringing it up now is because he was no worse than many others yet he was singled out for it and there was a narrative hanging over him that he ws the bad guy...like @mpickard2087 said why don't Toby kop as much flak when what he did was effectively worse than what Eriksen did?

I can’t answer that one as I didn’t give Toby as much flak as I didn’t think his performances warranted it. While not at his best he still seemed to be trying. Eriksen was the orchestrator. He was the last person in the team we could afford to let ‘down tools’. Although not to the same degree as Sol Campbell the following still rings true. ‘We only hate you so much because we loved you so much’. Not that I hate Eriksen. I’m just disappointed in how things went.

I hate Campbell.

 

[vuzp]

In Poch’s defence, he had no other options during the whole of last season.
It’s been easier for Mourinho to try and progress without him as he has a few extra bodies around.

agree, that why it was also Levy's fault for not getting a replacement.

 

[Shadydan]

agree, that why it was also Levy's fault for not getting a replacement.

Poch turned down Maddison and Tielemans...lets not play this game again.

 

[Trix]

Firstly I love Luka but let’s not forget he tried to force a move to Chelsea

Secondly would Luka perform as well if he had a surgery, was tired, played in a different position, lost some of his confidence, the whole team playing poor?

Maybe not, but I'm damn sure he'd of put a tackle in every now and again.

 

[vuzp]

Poch turned down Maddison and Tielemans...lets not play this game again.

fair point. i think more people should be getting the blame for our poor form over the last year or so just not Eriksen.

 

[Ronwol196061]

fair point. i think more people should be getting the blame for our poor form over the last year or so just not Eriksen.

So you think instead of Eriksen taking responsibility he should blame the others?

 

[southlondonyiddo]

And this all boils down to Poch not being backed by Levy imo

Eriksen, Rose, Toby etc etc should have been sold ages and ages ago

As soon as Poch knew these guys weren’t onboard 100% or weren’t signing new contracts he’d have wanted them out