Huddlestone dropped to the Ressies!!??

[SpursManChris]

Like Dangerous_Clive and myself have said, it would be achievable. And still growing? At 21 and at 6' 3" I'd say he's stopped growing. This is my age and height too and I sure as hell hope that I have stopped!!!!

 

[Andy]

Haven't read too much in this thread but what has ol fatty tom tom done now?

I jest,
I have heard from a few people that he likes his late nights out with Lennon and knocks back drinks and food aplenty,
Still he's not fat though,
Just immobile.

 

[kremlyn]

I wonder if Thudd couldn't be converted into a Centre Back?

Sure, he hasn't got the pace of Carvalho, Gallas or Ferdinand but neither does Terry. Also with so many teams employing the lone striker it becomes even more important that a CB can step up into midfield. I can't help but think of LeBoef (?) for Chelsea. Not a great defender but paid his way with fantastic distribution from the back.

Just speculation I know but it's interesting to note that Poulson has no pace either and would definately feature in a Ramos side. It's probably just his positioning and aggression which are being questioned - both of which should improve as he gets older.

Either way, it'd be a terrible shame if possibly the best passer in the league were allowed to slip away.

 

[BoringOldFan]

Daily Mail says he's off back to Derby for £4 million. Tidy profit there for two years.

 

[Legend10]

Daily Mail says he's off back to Derby for £4 million. Tidy profit there for two years.

Probably another story made up on the spot because he played for the stiffs yesterday.

However if we sign 1 or 2 CM's in January it wouldn't surprise me to see him move on.

Blackburn as has been mooted might well be suitors, personally I can see Hughes seeing him taking on a similar role to Tugay.

 

[SpurSince57]

This is what a couple of Blackburn supporters who have visited have said they'd like.

For me it's not the lack of pace that's important, it's the lack of mobility/agility. He really does seem to have the turning circle of a small oil tanker. He is never in a million years going to have King's (or Gardner's) pace, but maybe some specialist coaching could make him a bit nimbler. And a lot, as has been said before, is down to experience, his learning to read the game to compensate for his lack of quickness on his feet. We had some ITK last season suggesting that Jol thought it would be another two years before we started to see the best of him, and whilst you can only set so much store by ITKs that's something I can well believe.

I'm not sure Ramos and Comolli will be offloading any midfielders before the summer, because we are likely to have to make do with what we've got until then unless we get a job lot like 'arry did from us two years ago.

 

[Legend10]

This is what a couple of Blackburn supporters who have visited have said they'd like.

For me it's not the lack of pace that's important, it's the lack of mobility/agility. He really does seem to have the turning circle of a small oil tanker. He is never in a million years going to have King's (or Gardner's) pace, but maybe some specialist coaching could make him a bit nimbler. And a lot, as has been said before, is down to experience, his learning to read the game to compensate for his lack of quickness on his feet. We had some ITK last season suggesting that Jol thought it would be another two years before we started to see the best of him, and whilst you can only set so much store by ITKs that's something I can well believe.

I'm not sure Ramos and Comolli will be offloading any midfielders before the summer, because we are likely to have to make do with what we've got until then unless we get a job lot like 'arry did from us two years ago.

Poulsen is a genuine possibility in January because according to reports he has a buy out clause in his contract.

A lot would depend on Poulsen's ambition if Sevilla are still in the CL which is likely.

But when you look at how much faith JR had in him at Sevilla a move for him is a genuine possibility, if we get him and JR likes Boateng which a lot points to him doing then I could well see Hudd being surplus to requirements as early as January.

 

[jimtheyid]

Hud is technically a fantastic player.

He just has the turning circle of a tank.

 

[SpurSince57]

If such a clause existed I'm sure JR has already told Levy to write the cheque, but we only have the authority of a couple of English newspaper reports that it does. There's certainly been nothing about Poulsen in Marca. And hasn't Ramos already said he has no intention of raiding Sevilla? (Not that del Nido is going to be falling over himself to do any business with us.)

Zokora is also likely to be away for the best part of a month, and Ramos will surely be aware of Tainio's injury-proneness.

 

[Barmy_in_Palmy]

You can be broad as well as mobile, Jason Robinson is broad and very mobile, Lomu as well to use another example. Huddlestone is a big lad, naturally, his size is not because he is fat and it's not why he isn't mobile either. It may just be that he isn't as fit as he should or perhaps could be and that's why he's getting a game in the ressies. Or it could simply be that he doesn't fit the Ramos bill. Whatever the reason it's not because he's too fat or muscular.

Lomu is mobile going in one direction, so is Huddlestone. If you kicked the ball past Lomu it would take him a day to turn around, just like Huddlestone.

He can lose all the weight in the world, it's not going to make him fast. He lacks pace and agility but being fat or not won't make a difference to that.

 

[Darrkespur]

I still think Jol's fitness training wasn't up to players like hudd, robbo and mido that need more than a morning session to stay in shape. Hudd has too many positives to give up now, for me and I'd be disappointed if we sold him. If he still wasn't delivering in three years, fine. But there's still a good chance he'll turn into a fantastic midfielder.

 

[karsten_finkle]

Hud is technically a fantastic player.

He just has the turning circle of a tank.

tanks actually have a very good turning circle. :grin:


"Tracked vehicles have better mobility than pneumatic tires over rough terrain. They smooth out the bumps and glide over small obstacles; riding in a fast tracked vehicle feels like riding in a boat over heavy swells. Tracks are tougher than tires since they cannot be punctured or torn. Tracks are much less likely to get stuck in soft ground, mud, or snow, since they distribute the weight of the vehicle over a larger contact area, decreasing its ground pressure. Bulldozers, which are most often tracked, use this attribute to rescue other vehicles (such as wheel loaders) which have become stuck in or sunk into the ground. Tracks as well give higher maneuverability, as a tracked vehicle can turn on the spot."

 

[yanno]

For me it's not the lack of pace that's important, it's the lack of mobility/agility. He really does seem to have the turning circle of a small oil tanker. He is never in a million years going to have King's (or Gardner's) pace, but maybe some specialist coaching could make him a bit nimbler. And a lot, as has been said before, is down to experience, his learning to read the game to compensate for his lack of quickness on his feet. We had some ITK last season suggesting that Jol thought it would be another two years before we started to see the best of him, and whilst you can only set so much store by ITKs that's something I can well believe.

I agree. So why don't we do something truly radical and LOAN him to Derby or Reading for a season or two? This is what the top Italian and Spanish clubs often do with their good young players. They send them out to get top-flight experience and then as soon as they think they're ready, they bring them back.

Arteta is a great example. Barca had Guardiola in the first team, Xavi breaking thru, and Iniesta in the youth team. They sent Arteta out on season-long loans to PSG and Rangers, and if he'd made fast enough progress, they'd have stuck him in. But at least he was still a Barca player, and they could make the judgement at 21 rather than 19.

So, if Ramos doesn't think the Hud is good enough now, send him out on loan to a top club. (And if there are regulations preventing it being a Premiership club, send him to Scotland or France.) SELLING the Hud now would be much stupider than loaning him out and making a final decision in a season or two.

 

[truespur]

I agree. So why don't we do something truly radical and LOAN him to Derby or Reading for a season or two? This is what the top Italian and Spanish clubs often do with their good young players. They send them out to get top-flight experience and then as soon as they think they're ready, they bring them back.

Arteta is a great example. Barca had Guardiola in the first team, Xavi breaking thru, and Iniesta in the youth team. They sent Arteta out on season-long loans to PSG and Rangers, and if he'd made fast enough progress, they'd have stuck him in. But at least he was still a Barca player, and they could make the judgement at 21 rather than 19.

So, if Ramos doesn't think the Hud is good enough now, send him out on loan to a top club. (And if there are regulations preventing it being a Premiership club, send him to Scotland or France.) SELLING the Hud now would be much stupider than loaning him out and making a final decision in a season or two.

the equivelent of league 1

 

[yanno]

the equivelent of league 1

Ideally we'd loan him out to another Premier League side. But if it was Scotland, then only to Rangers or Celtic, where he'd be playing in the Champions League...

My fundamental point though is that if it is a question of experience and increased maturity in reading the game, then let him get that experience at another club as long as it's a high enough level.

 

[jimbo]

Lomu is mobile going in one direction, so is Huddlestone. If you kicked the ball past Lomu it would take him a day to turn around, just like Huddlestone.

He can lose all the weight in the world, it's not going to make him fast. He lacks pace and agility but being fat or not won't make a difference to that.

True enough, though there are plenty of rugby players of large build who are mobile. That was my point really, that his muscularity isn't a cause of his immobility, it just compounds it.

 

[Barmy_in_Palmy]

True enough, though there are plenty of rugby players of large build who are mobile. That was my point really, that his muscularity isn't a cause of his immobility, it just compounds it.

I know.

 

[yiddotilidie]

Fat or thin, he aint good enough.

Its not about him getting fitter or leaner, its that his style dont suit Ramos'.

He'll be offloaded im sure.

 

[eddiebailey]

According to Spursodyssey Thudd had a stinker last night. No way to impress the new boss.

 

[SouthLondonSpur]

I still think Jol's fitness training wasn't up to players like hudd, robbo and mido that need more than a morning session to stay in shape. Hudd has too many positives to give up now, for me and I'd be disappointed if we sold him. If he still wasn't delivering in three years, fine. But there's still a good chance he'll turn into a fantastic midfielder.

Good thoughts, I agree. His passing is second to none at times (more good than bad I think). His fitness HAS improved this year, but I admt he does need more work.

I understand he is 21 next month so lets not be too rash eh?