The system can't have helped. He's desperate to win the ball at every opportunity only for the rest of our team to give it away because of poor technique or strangle the game with sterile passing. He probably got bored
That was a given in my mind, but the added incentive of being fit for a December World Cup (Messi's last more than likely) had to have been on his mind. And that World Cup was probably on a lot of players' minds whether they want to admit it or not, how could it not be?
It's definitely possible, but he was the same pre- and post-WC, IIRC. We played some of the most passive football I've seen in the decade and a half I've followed Spurs, and he's one of the most front players I've seen in that time. If I was in his shoes at the time I'm fairly certain I'd become disinterested. My money is on his new responsibilities, the new play style as well as the improved vibe being the main reasons for his improvement.
I previously said (prior to last season, admittedly) that he's our most talented defender since Ledley King. A few dodgy appearances in amongst a sea of terrible collective and individual performances, in a season where we imploded, wasn't going to change my mind. Obviously, if his form continued into this year and beyond, serious questions would need to be asked.
you've written this like a poem that starts with a glimmer of hope, and ends in tragedy
Cuti is in One Piece?!All I care about is that he comes back in one piece
yea, but not in A one piece ..
Of course. He came back to a club in chaos after winning it. I'm not saying the World Cup was the SOLE reason. Just that it was possibly a factor for the first half of the season for him and many others.
Didn’t watch but apparently had an absolute blinder tonight against Ecuador. Highlights below, the tackle in the 59th min
Shows the virtue of patience and waiting for things to open up ahead of him.
He was absolutely brilliant last night, wasn't he? And it was a really entertaining game. For a defender to outshine Messi, even when Messi scores a free-kick winner, is pretty special. (if you have a spare ticket next time, give me a DM
Based on the clips, he seems to have stepped up his passing. He seems to be playing some lovely passes through the lines.
Don't know why people worry about international games so much when they could easily get injured in our matches or in training. He went off with a head injury in our game v Brentford. There's a risk every time players play a game of football.
