Could Lewis Holtby be the answer?

[whitelightwhiteheat]

If the question is "What's the name of that chap we signed from Schalke?" then Lewis Holtby is definitely the answer.

In all seriousness - I think we'll start seeing the best of Lew in August after a full pre-season with the lads.

I thought his movement was absolutely superb when he did get his chances. In fact it was so good the rest of the team couldn't pick a pass out to him, and that was part of the problem.

 

[voxy28]

I think it also depends on the players around him, running into good position and playing off him to continue their run.

So far this season, it looks more like possession rather than the quick 1-2 passes and run to unlock defence. No matter what formation, the accurate passing and control makes the difference between UCL or not. We got to work this out and I hope AVB gets a new coach to work on penetrating runs into the penalty box.

The only positive I get from this season is strong mentally, good consistent defending and...... Bale's shooting.

 

[Gbspurs]

I think a full pre season will help him massively. Also Sandro must be great to play with as he is so disciplined so this will help too.

Definitely think there is a future for him in our game, and it's great that he came 6 months early.

 

[JohanTheYid]

Not good enough for to be a first teamer for me. Too fragile to be defensive mid, too slow to be attacking mid. Not a winger, and doesnt have an eye for goal to be further forward.

Subs bench.

He's 21, been in the country less than 5 months, and not played a massive amount of football. When he has its been here there and everywhere dependent on the situation. Lets give the lad some time before writing him off shall we..............

 

[Sandro30]

As an avid watcher of Bundesliga, his performances have left me questioning where the player we saw at Schalke is.

I think personally its a number of things that are affecting his performances. New league, country and team-mates are obvious ones but I also think its the players he's playing with. He often looks reckless and a bit of a ball chaser but personally that's because the rest of the team aren't doing their job. We seem to press with individuals rather than as a team nowadays. Bale and Holtby are really the only ones who put pressure on the opposite team and push them back. As a centre midfielder, that makes you look poor because you're massively out of position and a premiership footballer should have zero issues passing around 1 man.

If the rest of the team know how to press and back one another up, he will look better already. I understand that he hasn't got rapid pace but he has good stamina and natural fitness. That shouldn't be forgotten as its a vital trait in a CM.

I agree with all of you that we haven't seen the best out of Holtby yet but with a full pre-season and hopefully a change of system from Andre will see Lewis be the player we all thought he was and could be.

 

[$hoguN]

If we want to play 4-3-3 next season, then Holtby has a big role to play in CM along side Dembele and Sandro

 

[JimmyG2]

Like the boy's attitude and pre-season will tell us what AVB has in mind for him.
Didn't quite make the impact we hoped for and AVB didn't select him at all for the final games.
But that was the point in getting him in early to 'acclimatise'
not to be the answer to all our problems.
Has he the quality to be the answer to whatever the question was?
The truth is that I am not quite sure at this stage.
Think he deserves a chance but so does Siggy who would prosper
in a more central position.
We may have landed ourselves with another clutch of not quite good enoughs
to take us forward.
But Lewis and Gylfi have shown signs that they will make the grade.

 

[UncleBuck]

It will be interesting to see which formation we play on the upcoming trip to the Bahamas, if we are going to switch to a 4-3-3 then we might as well try it as soon as possible. I'd imagine the players would already know about any plans to change formation and might have talked about it at training. I'd like to see it but would that mean Bale plays on the right?.

4-3-3 excites me, especially if we get someone like David Villa to interchange with bale!

 

[DEFchenkOE]

If we do move to a 433 then I think Sig deserves a chance at rcm or lcm as he adds something that none of our other current cms add.... Regular goal threat

 

[Flightrisker]

I think I'd prefer

------------sandro--Dembele
-------------------sig
new/lennon---------------bale
---------------new/Ade

 

[IGSpur]

Good post. Funnily enough watching him this season I felt that he could eventually succeed Parker. He has a good engine, and is a solid tackler. He's clearly an enthusiastic galvanizer too. Yeah, I can see the playmaker potential too... but something about him smacks of a DM. I'd consider having him work close with Scotty to see what he might develop into. Less we forget, Parker was once considered as a playmaker, AM like Holtby. He changed his game at Newcastle to become the DM lynchpin from the last five years.

*shudders*

 

[Wardy]

I've said that he needs a bit of time to settle in and I think he will be a big asset for us next season

 

[ohwhenthespurs]

Steady eddie for me. Not particularly outstanding at anything. Regrettably, as I really like him as a bloke and he has a fantastic attitude.

 

[talkshowhost86]

I think a lot depends on the players we bring in this summer.

If we bring in someone like Moutinho then that would suggest that Holtby isn't being considered for the playmaking midfielder role and he'd then be competing for the more attacking role in the midfield three. Currently we have Holtby and Sigurdsson who can play that role, but I also expect AVB to try and bring someone in to improve in that area.

I really like Holtby and I think he's done okay in his first few months. It's clear his passing is good and he looks technically very gifted so given a bit of a time I think he can influence our midfield.

It'll just be interesting to see whether he's given the chance.

 

[stormfly]

Time to stop messing about and Bring Modric back. He went away, won sod all and can't get in the team half the time. He made a mistake let's give him another chance.

Sandro
Modric Dembele

That's world domination right there.

 

[PeeEyeEmPee]

I would like a true #10, and Holtby isn't that.

 

[HotspurFC1950]

No.

 

[Sarsipius]

By his own admission Lewis would prefer to play DM or at least in a deeper midfield role. His energy allows him to play box to box and harry for the ball anywhere on the pitch which is something you're not going to get with Huddlestone.

Physically he reminds me a lot of Parker but so much more technically proficient (attributable to time playing futsal and German clubs' emphasis on ball skills) and judging by his goals record, he knows where the back of the net is.

I'd guess his role next season will be that of supporting mid, ie next to Sandro and our ACM but most likely sacrificed at the expense of more attacking or creative players when needs must (Sig etc). I imagine we'll see him play more when we're looking to keep it tight or facing tougher opposition.

I'm not sure he's 'the answer' so much as part of the solution.

A short interview (in German) and some futsal skills from the man himself.

 

[Sarsipius]

And one for the ladies...

 

[E17yid]

He'll get a lot more time on the pith next year. I reckon he'll be a big player for us next season.

In a couple of years when Munich and others and circling around him we'll be on here appluading Levy for signing a talent of Lewis's stature for 900k.

The kid has a lot about him. Great movement, can pick a pass. Knows when to hold onto the ball and keep possession but also is not scared of quick one touch football and 1-2s.

Ideally he needs to play in Dembele's position but we'll be 4 3 3 next year and I can see him occupying any of those 3 MF positions and doing an excellent job.