Huddlestone

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

I've said it many times but Hudd has great technique but no brain. It's one thing being able to hit a 50 yard raking pass but knowing when to do it is the real skill.

 

[Mr Pink]

I've said it many times but Hudd has great technique but no brain. It's one thing being able to hit a 50 yard raking pass but knowing when to do it is the real skill.

Don't agree, I've seen him release the ball very quickly first time, where you do need to have a relatively quick speed of thought to do, on many occasion. Where another player would have to take a touch and a look up etc...

His biggest problem has always been getting the ball out from under his feet quick enough in congested areas of the pitch. If he could do that better he would be a hell of a player IMO. That's why he looks so good with time and space - if he was doing that in a more competitive battle centrally he would be a very good midfielder in my book.

 

[bookhouseboy]

Against weaker teams, if we do the CB-split and FB-pushup in possession, Thudd should be a good option for the CM that drops deep - using Sandro and whoever (Modric-light) ahead of him; that will usually give him more space and time on the ball.

But fitness may be the problem atm, so loaning him out for the first half and keeping Carroll for LC, EC and backup - and then maybe switch those two in january (unless Carroll has really impressed and Thudd has underperformed the first half of the season).

 

[The Apprentice]

Don't agree, I've seen him release the ball very quickly first time, where you do need to have a relatively quick speed of thought to do to, on many occasion. Where another player would have to take a touch and a look up etc...

His biggest problem has always been getting the ball out from under his feet quick enough in congested areas of the pitch. If he could do that better he would be a hell of a player IMO. That's why he looks so good with time and space - if he was doing that in a more competitive battle centrally he would be a very good midfielder in my book.

Nearly as much as I hate the "if" argument. If my Aunt had bollocks she'd be my Uncle.

The fact is he doesn't or can't.

 

[Mr Pink]

Nearly as much as I hate the "if" argument. If my Aunt had bollocks she'd be my Uncle.

The fact is he doesn't or can't.

I've seen him do it, so the fact is I couldn't give a feck on what you think is fact or not, alright dear

 

[sim0n]

stone cold money - this is THudd that I want to see:

 

[double0]

Huddletone for me is a pivitol player. Played in a correct system he has the abilities to direct games, he has a range of passing on par with the best in the EPL, he has the ability to win games too but there is a flaw (yes), his mobility is questionable-but not as bad as people make out, playing against quick players ie Arsenal 2 against 3 he can look lost but most will.

In the right system I'd be happy with Huddlestone being our playmaker this season.

 

[felmani26]

Huddletone for me is a pivitol player. Played in a correct system he has the abilities to direct games, he has a range of passing on par with the best in the EPL, he has the ability to win games too but there is a flaw (yes), his mobility is questionable-but not as bad as people make out, playing against quick players ie Arsenal 2 against 3 he can look lost but most will.

In the right system I'd be happy with Huddlestone being our playmaker this season.

Huddlestone has never dictated the middle of the park and the only times he has been able to get on the ball consistently are games whereby the opposition has backed off into their own half and failed to press adequately our midfield whereby Huddlestone can spray the ball left and right looking purposeful without ever really being penetrating or creating great chances for our forward thinking players.

Modric at his best is the closest we've had to a midfield maestro for many a year and to suggest Huddlestone can dominate proceedings in the heart of midfield is supremely optimistic!

 

[Mr Pink]

Huddlestone has never dictated the middle of the park and the only times he has been able to get on the ball consistently are games whereby the opposition has backed off into their own half and failed to press adequately our midfield whereby Huddlestone can spray the ball left and right looking purposeful without ever really being penetrating or creating great chances for our forward thinking players.

Modric at his best is the closest we've had to a midfield maestro for many a year and to suggest Huddlestone can dominate proceedings in the heart of midfield is supremely optimistic!

But he has, with Palacios - who were very good together in the 09/10 season. Its about having a balance that enables you to get the better of the opposition and their midfield - it worked that season. As Roy Keane said the other night, its were games are won. We didn't achieve that 70 point haul that season with having a liability in the middle of the park. One thing is for sure he did a lot more right than wrong during that campaign.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Huddletone for me is a pivitol player. Played in a correct system he has the abilities to direct games, he has a range of passing on par with the best in the EPL, he has the ability to win games too but there is a flaw (yes), his mobility is questionable-but not as bad as people make out, playing against quick players ie Arsenal 2 against 3 he can look lost but most will.

In the right system I'd be happy with Huddlestone being our playmaker this season.

You use words like Pivotal and Playmaker but in 7 years Huddelstone has never been either. To the extent that last season we didn't even notice he'd gone. You talk as if he has demonstrated Pirlo type qualities that somehow compensate for a lack of mobility and dynamism. If he did it would compensate for his lack of dynamism, Pirlo isn't exactly the most dynamic player you'll ever see (he's more dynamic than Hudd though). But he has never been pivotal and never been a playmaker of anything close to that quality, so there really is no payoff for what he lacks. I don't want us to be a long ball team, it's over rated as a virtue. But even then his passing is hit and miss for a player with so called "passing on par with the best". he consistently gives the ball away, more than any other CM we have, and it's not just because of the long passes he attempts (as we have seen frequently lately including the other day in the US).

Pirlo, in his twighlight years (age 33), is still turning out 3 goals/13 assists and a completion rate of 86%, playing from deep. He is pivotal, and he is a playmaker. He has wit and vision and incision . Hudd has never come close. In fact I'd take Pirlo aged 40 over Hudd.

 

[Azazello]

stone cold money - this is THudd that I want to see:

Nice assist from an in-form Ghaly too.

 

[sim0n]

Nice assist from an in-form Ghaly too.

indeed, he was in form Bruv!!

 

[THOWIG]

I'd like to see him as part of a back 3 ahead of the 2 central defenders. 343 style. It's the future!

 

[yanno]

I'd like to see him as part of a back 3 ahead of the 2 central defenders. 343 style. It's the future!

Reminds me of this Ode to Tom "Der Kaiser" Hud in the Super Soaraway.

BMJ's comments about the 19-year-old Hud are a provocative read several years on:

-------------------

MARTIN JOL believes whizkid Tom Huddlestone can be Spurs’ answer to Franz Beckenbauer.
Huddlestone is just 19 and still growing — despite standing 6ft 2in tall and with thighs the size of oak-tree trunks.
But, despite his bulk, Jol claims the England Under-21 midfield star is possibly the best passer he has ever seen.
Huddlestone made his first Premiership start in last weekend’s 1-0 win over West Ham.
And Jol reckons that if Huddlestone had played in the days of sweepers, he would have been as good as The Kaiser.
The Tottenham boss said: “Tom has played in defence but he’s a typical midfield player.
“At the back, he would be a sort of Franz Beckenbauer.
“As a sweeper he would be the best player in the world — but who plays with a sweeper nowadays?
“Tom is 19, he’s big. It can be an advantage, it can be a disadvantage but the boy is great.
"I would almost say that I have never seen a player like him, when he’s got the ball.
"Now we have to work on his game when he hasn’t got the ball.”"
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepag.../Boy-Huddlestone-is-our-Kaiser.html?print=yes

 

[THOWIG]

Beckenbauer might be a bit far, but I think he'd be excellent in that role.

 

[felmani26]

But he has, with Palacios - who were very good together in the 09/10 season. Its about having a balance that enables you to get the better of the opposition and their midfield - it worked that season. As Roy Keane said the other night, its were games are won. We didn't achieve that 70 point haul that season with having a liability in the middle of the park. One thing is for sure he did a lot more right than wrong during that campaign.

It would be churlish of me to say he played no role for us in obtaining our highest position for many a year and Champions League football to boot but he wasn't integral to us succeeding and IIRC, Palacios was much more influential in the middle even just looking from a passing point of view, let alone what he was employed best at which was breaking up play and playing the simple pass to the likes of Modric and a resurging Gareth Bale.

 

[Mr Pink]

It would be churlish of me to say he played no role for us in obtaining our highest position for many a year and Champions League football to boot but he wasn't integral to us succeeding and IIRC, Palacios was much more influential in the middle even just looking from a passing point of view, let alone what he was employed best at which was breaking up play and playing the simple pass to the likes of Modric and a resurging Gareth Bale.

Huddlestone played the most minutes out of any out field player that season. Palacios partnered him for a good share of the season and then Modric came back in centrally in the business end of the season.

I just can't agree with you at all, its not what I saw - Palacios looked much better from a passing point of view? Not a chance, you're making Palacios sound like Steven Gerrard in his pomp (slight exaggeration )

It was a good balance, and the two of them were controlling games with the ball winning abilities of Palacios combined with the good passing from Huddlestone, spraying the ball about, switching the play etc - things you would never of seen Palacios do, albeit he made the odd great pass a long the deck. A good balance doesn't include one player carrying the other (metaphorically speaking of course, in this case ) , it means it works for the good of the team.

So basically Huddlestone played the full season, partnered by others throughout and yet he's viewed the weak link (that season) in our best points tally in the Premiership to date, in the most important area of the pitch. Right

I'm not saying he's fantastic, but he was bloody good that season and deserves credit for it IMO.

 

[felmani26]

Huddlestone played the most minutes out of any out field player that season. Palacios partnered him for a good share of the season and then Modric came back in centrally in the business end of the season.

I just can't agree with you at all, its not what I saw - Palacios looked much better from a passing point of view? Not a chance, you're making Palacios sound like Steven Gerrard in his pomp (slight exaggeration )

It was a good balance, and the two of them were controlling games with the ball winning abilities of Palacios combined with the good passing from Huddlestone, spraying the ball about, switching the play etc - things you would never of seen Palacios do, albeit he made the odd great pass a long the deck. A good balance doesn't include one player carrying the other, it means it works for the good of the team.

So basically Huddlestone played the full season, partnered by others throughout and yet he's viewed the weak link (that season) in our best points tally in the Premiership to date, in the most important area of the pitch. Right

I'm not saying he's fantastic, but he was bloody good that season and deserves credit for it IMO.

I did say 'more influential' in which Palacios would regain possession, keep things simple whilst starting our attacking forays and a key cog in the heart of our midfield.

Huddlestone played his part I'm not questioning that, but I do think his passing effectiveness has been overplayed along with the fact that whilst he could look comfortable in home games where we dominate proceedings and little in way of opposition pressing but against top class teams and away from home, his frailties were far too visible and it took a large part of Palacios's game to mop up Huddlestone's sloppiness and lack of work ethic.

 

[hybridsoldier]

I have to disagree I think Huddlestone was pivotal in our forward play that season, Palacios was also essential because it was the since probably Steffen Freund that we had a ball winner

 

[Mr Pink]

I did say 'more influential' in which Palacios would regain possession, keep things simple whilst starting our attacking forays and a key cog in the heart of our midfield.

Huddlestone played his part I'm not questioning that, but I do think his passing effectiveness has been overplayed along with the fact that whilst he could look comfortable in home games where we dominate proceedings and little in way of opposition pressing but against top class teams and away from home, his frailties were far too visible and it took a large part of Palacios's game to mop up Huddlestone's sloppiness and lack of work ethic.

He certainly has his limitations, which we all know to well. But that's what I mean in terms of a good balance, Palacios was there to do more of the mopping up and breaking up the play, to press and regain possession. Hudd was more about offering a bit more quality on the ball, keeping us ticking over and helping us to retain possession which is a defensive aspect as well, when needed.

It was a partnership that worked for a number of reasons and it was integral to us achieving what we did that season. This bit about his passing effectiveness being overplayed I just don't agree with. Nobody is saying that he was Pirlo etc, all I'm doing is addressing the notion that somehow Huddlestone deserves less credit than others who played in midfield that season when in fact he was the main stay, and was every bit as important - (to reiterate) in that season.