Everlasting Seconds
Well-Known Member
- Jan 9, 2014
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Maybe if it was the odd FB that wasn’t appreciated. But when it’s every single FB under 4 managers in a row, I’m thinking the issue is elsewhere.
Matt Doherty @ Atletico Madrid
- Thread starter Archibald&Crooks
- Start date
Spurs 1961
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- Aug 31, 2012
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Good thought. Maybe over reliance on full backs because of lack of midfield creativity? I thought people were very harsh on Walker, then Tippier, Kyle Walker- Peters is I think a decent player ... all have hardly failed since moving on. I am critical of Doherty but I guess because I don’t see why we made him a top target, but time will tell. Aurier for Me remains a much more complete player.
Timberwolf
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- Jan 17, 2008
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He's good at attacking when he's allowed to bomb forward as a wing back.
He's not quick so the positional shift has a massive effect on his attacking output. As a wingback he can make runs into the box, safe in the knowledge that there's a third CB to cover his arse. When he's played as a fullback if he overcommits he's far to slow to recover - so guess what? He never commits.
We've signed a guy who is a specialist at one particular thing. We aren't allowing him do to do that thing and now we're wondering why he looks bad. You take away his late runs into the box and interplay with the forwards and you're left with a championship quality RB. So that's what we have now: a championship quality RB.
The problem isn't Doherty, it's the role we're expecting him to play.
Johnny J
Not the Kiwi you need but the one you deserve
- Aug 18, 2012
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I mean, you're right, but he sort of is the problem too when he plays badly lol.
Timberwolf
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- Jan 17, 2008
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True, but it's like playing Aurier as a winger or Sissoko as a CB: you can't expect a player to be great when they aren't in their best position.
Admittedly Doherty has played as a fullback for many a year, but that was always in Championship. It was only when Nuno moved him to WB that he truly excelled. Ask any Wolves fan and they'll tell you that Doherty is a great WB and a bang average fullback.
I mean, he could definitely play better than he's playing right now. But the ceiling is never gonna be very high and I think we'd be far better off playing Aurier regardless of Doherty's form unless we change system.
Mornstar
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- Jun 2, 2005
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If the title of this thread was 'Player Watch - Messi', I'd imagine most of us and Mourinho would entertain the idea of changing the whole team system to accommodate him.
Unfortunately, its 'Player Watch - Matt Doherty' so we need to get real.
Rout-Ledge
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- Jul 29, 2005
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To be fair I think almost everyone would agree that Aurier has been fantastic and much improved this season.
TheTanguy
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- Sep 30, 2020
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Leo Messi?! Not a Mourinho player!
spids
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- Jul 19, 2015
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Doherty's main strength is diagonal runs from the wing into the box to get on the end of moves to score or assist. His best moment as a Spurs player came in the first half of his debut against Everton when Kane played him in, and if he'd squared it Dele would have had a tap in (but also understandable that he shot from 8 yards as it was a great chance). In that game he was also repeatedly caught out by Richarlison who took advantage of the space Doherty left on their left wing as Doherty pushed on so much. Since then he has slowly been getting used to being a more conventional RB in a flat back 4 / low block. Aurier is much better offensively in such a system due to his pace and athleticism, but Doherty is better defending the back post in tough away games against teams who are an aerial threat. What has not helped Doherty is that he has been in and out of the team, has played alongside other players out of form (i.e. Sanchez) and has played with Bale in front of him (who offers a lot less protection than Moura, Lamela or Bergwijn do). Let's not judge him yet, but personally I hope Aurier is in the team today!
Mark_147
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- Aug 24, 2011
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Aurier has been in and out of the team, he's also had to play with Bale in front of him and he's also had to play alongside Sanchez (@man utd) , yet he's been outstanding this season.
spids
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- Jul 19, 2015
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Aurier has been here a few years - how was he in his first few months?
Mark_147
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- Aug 24, 2011
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Doherty is an experienced premier league player, Aurier was coming from another country adjusting to the league.
AnotherSpursFan
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- Dec 4, 2006
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You can be this you can be that, but when you don't even make an effort to chase the ball, it doesn't matter what the manager tells you to do, what you are suppose to be, you're just a lazy ass who is not committed to the cause.
Stop creating excuses for Doherty, he needs a hard look in the mirror and man up.
Stop creating excuses for Doherty, he needs a hard look in the mirror and man up.
Hakkz
Svensk hetsporre
- Jul 6, 2012
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BringBack_leGin
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- Jul 28, 2004
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Sarcasm at the expense of one of our players? Surely not, nobody on SC would be that much of a tut.
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