Huddlestone the new Carrick??

[ShelfSide18]

True, but he's put in more successful tackles than Essien, Lampard and Ballack (individually, not put together) over the past few seasons. I suspect that the reason he's got this non-tackling reputation is that he tends to win the ball without sending opposition players flying into the air.

Back to Hudd (because Carrick ain't coming back, and I'm not sure labelling a player as the 'new' whoever is any help at all) we need to persist. There are weaknesses in his game which have been gone over ad infinitum, but we seem to forget he's not quite 23 yet. I think we need to give him what's left of this season and next before we start to pass judgement, and take a leaf out of Wenger and Ferguson's book. A lot of people (not least Gooners) were writing off Song a couple of years ago—now he's turning into a very capable DM. A couple of seasons ago, when he was Hudd's age, Fletcher looked a bit of a donkey. You wouldn't say that now.

That's a massively unexpected statistic, it probably is the fact that he doesn't send players on their arses like you say, can't honestly explain that one.

I think you're absolutely spot on when you say that he's still young, it's something we tend to forget as he's been around for a while now but I think it's fair to say he hasn't made a hugely marked improvement in his play since he broke into the first team. But as you say, the best managers put their faith in their players abilities when others write them off, time after time, season after season. Lets face it, after 07/08 a lot of guys on here were in favour of ditching Lennon. Many of my Man Utd 'fans' were calling Fletcher shit not so long ago, now they love him. He's still a grade A tosser though!

 

[gibbs131]

I don't even think he has a great shot. Yeah he scores now and then, but he tends to ruin set pieces and waste a lot of shooting chances by sending the ball into orbit.

His shot is OK.

 

[ShelfSide18]

Not that unexpected i dont think. Its because players like Essien, Lampard, and Ballack play for a team that dominate games and have the majority of the possession - there is no need to make that many tackles. We on the other hand are just as good as loosing the ball as we are recovering it. Whcih is why there is more need for our midfield to make the necessary tackles.

I think SS57s statistic was based on the last couple of seasons when Carrick was at Man Utd.

 

[tony_parkes]

Hudd is a good player and will become a very good player. He is improving and has age on his side. Jol rated him, Harry rates him and so does Capello.

3 good judges of a player in my book. If he can toughen up mentally and get that edge all very good players have then he can become a mainstay of our side for many years to come.

 

[SpurSince57]

I think SS57s statistic was based on the last couple of seasons when Carrick was at Man Utd.

It was, but also applies to 2005-2006, although stats for that season are no longer easily accessible.

 

[Spurger King]

I don't even think he has a great shot. Yeah he scores now and then, but he tends to ruin set pieces and waste a lot of shooting chances by sending the ball into orbit.

His shot is OK.

He definitely has a great shot on him. Most players simply aren't capable of the sort of strikes Hudd can produce. Thats not to say he's gonna do it 5 in 10 shots. How many players do? But he has those shots in his locker, and I'd guess he produces those sort of goals regularly in training. Agree about the set-peices though.

New Carrick? Only insofar as we will wish we'd appreciated him as much as we should have, when he eventually leaves (though it will probably be someone like Villa or Everton instead of Man U).

 

[ShelfSide18]

Would it be fair to say that he hasn't improved steadily each season he's been with us? It seems to me we have roughly the same player now we had in 06/07, a good talent with time on his side?

I think these great goals he has a habit of producing should be crowning great performances rather than redeeming them, like the last 2 goals against Everton and Sunderland - a bit like that Man City away game in 06/07, he dominated the game, he dominated the ball and hit a thunderbolt which relied on great technique as well as power to top off a sensational performance. It just seems we have the same player now as we did then. Not writing him off though, just wish he'd shown the same level of improvement that Lennon has done, who still has a long way to go but has come a long way too since he broke into the team in 05/06.

 

[Spurger King]

Would it be fair to say that he hasn't improved steadily each season he's been with us? It seems to me we have roughly the same player now we had in 06/07, a good talent with time on his side?

I think these great goals he has a habit of producing should be crowning great performances rather than redeeming them, like the last 2 goals against Everton and Sunderland - a bit like that Man City away game in 06/07, he dominated the game, he dominated the ball and hit a thunderbolt which relied on great technique as well as power to top off a sensational performance. It just seems we have the same player now as we did then. Not writing him off though, just wish he'd shown the same level of improvement that Lennon has done, who still has a long way to go but has come a long way too since he broke into the team in 05/06.

Good comments, but I believe he has definitely improved, albeit slowly but surely. His level of fitness is improving, he seems to be more willing to tackle and get stuck in (though not as much as I'd like) and generally his confidence in his (very real) ability is on the up, which is key to him reaching his full potential.

As you may have guessed, I'm a Hudd fan. I can see his faults, and understand the criticism levelled at him, but I really hope we can keep hold of him, as there are plenty of players that are merely above average in every department but few that have exceptional qualities in particular areas such as his passing skills.

Might be worth remembering that his game is clearly not built around speed either, so I'm sure that as he ages he will just improve in the things that he does best.

 

[ShelfSide18]

Good comments, but I believe he has definitely improved, albeit slowly but surely. His level of fitness is improving, he seems to be more willing to tackle and get stuck in (though not as much as I'd like) and generally his confidence in his (very real) ability is on the up, which is key to him reaching his full potential.

As you may have guessed, I'm a Hudd fan. I can see his faults, and understand the criticism levelled at him, but I really hope we can keep hold of him, as there are plenty of players that are merely above average in every department but few that have exceptional qualities in particular areas such as his passing skills.

Might be worth remembering that his game is clearly not built around speed either, so I'm sure that as he ages he will just improve in the things that he does best.

Good comments yourself Spurger, nothing wrong with being a fan of the Hudd! At least you don't plaster who you're a fan of all over you're sig like a overgrown baby!

I hope we keep hold of him, he's still young and I don't think players should just be discarded like we see so many fans wish for. With Hudd it's a difficult one, for me he is the definition of enigma but his exceptional qualities he posesses, as you rightly point out, demand we should persevere with him because players with his passing skills don't grow on trees.

I just remember that game at Man City and thinking WOW, it was almost like watching 2 games going on - 21 of them were playing on 1 wavelength (including Berbatov!) and there was one 19 year old kid on another planet, playing at his own pace and holding up our midfield on his own. I still believe it is finest game for us, I hope we start seeing performances similar to that for us now, because then we will have no complaints about him.

 

[southlondonyiddo]

In my opinion he'll never be as good as Carrick but I pray he proves me wrong. He has improved slowly but:

• Doesn't pass with both feet as well or as consistantly as Carrick
• Not as much time on the ball as Carrick
• Doesn't break up play as much as Carrick
• His general awareness is not as good as Carrick
• He's nowhere near as good a screen defencively as Carrick
• He doesnt defend corners nearly as well as Carrick
• Not as mobile as Carrick
• Doesn't show for the ball as much as Carrick

Apart from that he's a top player!

Unless Thudd were to improve 25% Fergy would never consider buying him for United

 

[markie]

and the fact that huddlestone has been ever present this season shows that it is more down to him, than anything else. There have been options to play instead of him, but harry knows he offers something others don't. He, alongside modric, palacios and lennon are our best midfield.

i cant wait to have this midfield back!!

 

[spursman85]

Yeah Thudd doesn't deserve disparaging comparisons with Carrick, who was probably our best midfielder of the decade. Huddlestone is his own player, and he is a very good one. At 22, a lot of central midfielders haven't hit peak form, but the fact he has the talent and potential to be a "great" player is obviously fantastic. International experience will be the best developer for him. If a manager like Capello can motivate him, then he'll have the best chance possible of becoming a real star of the future.

 

[NEVILLEB]

Huddlestone doesn't have Carrick's quick feet or positional sense.

You can knock the ball into Carrick's feet with two players on him and he'll still get a good pass off. Hudd just loses possession.

 

[teddy_sheringham_125]

Huddlestone doesn't have Carrick's quick feet or positional sense.

You can knock the ball into Carrick's feet with two players on him and he'll still get a good pass off. Hudd just loses possession.

I agree entirely mate, but as good as Carrick is he's never been able to step up to that next level. He struggles to hold down a place in the Utd team and has played rarely for England considering his talent. At 22, lets see where Thudd can take it to.

 

[C0YS]

comparing Hudd to Carrick is unfair on Hudd, for starters Hudd is not really a holding midfielder, don't let his size foul you its just not his role, Carrick is.

To say Hudd hasn't improved is a little bit silly just look at the past videos of him playing and compare it to now, for starters he makes a lot less mistakes and his decision making is much improved, as well as his ball control, but he has a lot of room for improvment. Firstly he needs to find his position. We must remember that we hold one of the most talented english centeral midfielders of his age group, if not the best midfielder of his age group, who else is there? Mark Noble? all the other players his age trying to break into the england team are almost all Wingers

 

[C0YS]

I agree entirely mate, but as good as Carrick is he's never been able to step up to that next level. He struggles to hold down a place in the Utd team and has played rarely for England considering his talent. At 22, lets see where Thudd can take it to.

I think you will find a large section of the Man utd support think Carrick has been one of the major reasons for Man utd winning the PL twice in a row. Admitedly he has started this season poorley

 

[teddy_sheringham_125]

I think you will find a large section of the Man utd support think Carrick has been on of the major reasons for Man utd winning the PL twice in a row. Admitedly he has started this season poorley

Then I'd call a large section of the Man Utd support wrong, which is something I've long suspected. Oh, and I think Ronaldo would probably disagree too.

 

[Bulletspur]

Awesome analysis Phil.

Spot on!!:clap:

 

[StartingPrice]

Then I'd call a large section of the Man Utd support wrong, which is something I've long suspected. Oh, and I think Ronaldo would probably disagree too.

A lot of United fans are MUGS but I know some who are very knowledgeable on the game who hold the same estimation as many Spurs fans as to the excellent contribution and quality of Michael Carrick.

You are right, however, that attributing 2 Premiership titles largely to him are erroneous. A valueable team member in a team game, yes, but a remarkable contribution like Ronaldo, no:roll:

 

[C0YS]

I'm all for giving players time and experience but Huddlestone has not impressed me recently. The amount of misplaced passes against Sunderland was disgraceful.

He is improving but there's a long way to go.

It wasnt disgraceful well 43 successfull passes to 11 failed ones, he had more successfull passes then any other player in our team, okay maybe not great success ratio.

But Andy Ried who apparently had a great game has almost identical states with 45 successfull passes 12 failed ones.

and against stoke he held an amazing statistic 35 passes all successfull