Player Watch Player Watch: Oliver Skipp
- Thread starter Dharmabum
- Start date
McFlash
In the corner, eating crayons.
- Oct 19, 2005
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Oh come on, "a Sunday league player"?!
Do me a favour, he's actually been one of our better players this season, although granted that doesn't mean much with how we've played.
I just don't understand what people expect from a 22 year old, defensive midfielder, or what I'm seeing in him that they aren't?
He's been lauded by many in the game since he was 17 and has shown plenty to prove that he's got the ability.
He reads the game well, has a good range of passing, tackles well, picks up good positions and is deceptively quick.
Honestly, what more do people want?
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Johnny J
Not the Kiwi you need but the one you deserve
- Aug 18, 2012
- 18,791
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I think Skipp falls into a group of players where it's impossible to properly judge them given the chaos of the last few seasons.
We've had three managers who've instilled a static, negative style of play with zero fluidity or attacking prowess (save on the counter, sometimes). And who seemingly didn't care much about young players.
Skipp and a few other players will look a hell of a lot better with a coach who actually wants to improve our youngsters and get them playing as a proper team, with a more fluid, attacking style.
Skipp is clearly talented - he's been fantastic in some games (or parts of some games).
Who knows whether he'll push on and become a mainstay for us or whether he'll fall away like so many others. He doesn't need to be a superstar to have a good career with us or elsewhere.
But let's see what he can do under a manager that actually wants to be here and improve players first.
We've had three managers who've instilled a static, negative style of play with zero fluidity or attacking prowess (save on the counter, sometimes). And who seemingly didn't care much about young players.
Skipp and a few other players will look a hell of a lot better with a coach who actually wants to improve our youngsters and get them playing as a proper team, with a more fluid, attacking style.
Skipp is clearly talented - he's been fantastic in some games (or parts of some games).
Who knows whether he'll push on and become a mainstay for us or whether he'll fall away like so many others. He doesn't need to be a superstar to have a good career with us or elsewhere.
But let's see what he can do under a manager that actually wants to be here and improve players first.
Dunc2610
Well-Known Member
- Aug 7, 2008
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A creative attacking midfielder?
PLTuck
Eternal Optimist
- Aug 22, 2006
- 16,042
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In football terms to me he's a kid who was playing in a team full of seasoned internationals. No one that couldn't wait to lay in to him mentioned that he was instrumental in our only goal.
But I guess the new scapegoat has been found. I have no doubt that if Sarr isn't absolutely ripping it up in the next couple of seasons people will be writing him off too. I also have no doubt that if he has a storming season next year and decides to fuck off to Utd or Chelsea, those same people calling him sunday league will be bemoaning his lack of loyalty.
PL football fans. Wanting your cake and eating it since 1992.
McFlash
In the corner, eating crayons.
- Oct 19, 2005
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You joke but it honestly feels a bit like that, like he's getting criticised because of what he's not, rather than what he is.A creative attacking midfielder?
Apparently, if you come through the academy and aren't a hybrid of Kante and Ronaldinho by the age of 22, you must therefore be shit.
Johnny J
Not the Kiwi you need but the one you deserve
- Aug 18, 2012
- 18,791
- 49,438
This is way off. His positioning is excellent and we've heard from inside the club that everyone's been impressed by his tactical intelligence. He and Sarr were incredible against Milan.
Hojbjerg has more experience but opponents literally just play around him with ease, while he stands around in the middle pointing and shouting. I would play Skipp every day ahead of Hojbjerg.
McFlash
In the corner, eating crayons.
- Oct 19, 2005
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This.
Absolutely no patience or understanding in here and it's so bloody annoying.
PLTuck
Eternal Optimist
- Aug 22, 2006
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Poor Destiny needs to immediately be the reincarnation of prime Danny Rose and keep that level up forever or our fans will turn on him too.
I'm sure Skippy has enough good people around him to be able to drown out the ridiculous noise. Here's hoping.
I'm sure Skippy has enough good people around him to be able to drown out the ridiculous noise. Here's hoping.
TEESSIDE1
Married, new job and Spurs on the up!
- Jul 3, 2006
- 15,308
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From reading the comments there’s only a few saying he’s not good enough, most see him as a squad player which is exactly what he is. Compare him to when Winks played… there’s no comparison between the two in terms of quality, Winks was a disaster whereas Skipp is a decent player he’s just not in the league of Bentancur and previous players such as Dembele and co. If we’ve any ‘aspirations’ to compete in the top 4 or 6 then Skipp isn’t good enough to be first choice. That doesn’t mean he’s a bad player though. For me in a midfield 2 he would be 4th or possibly even 5th choice. I would never class him as 3rd choice as say we get one injury then there’s a significant drop from Bentancur to Skipp.
dontcallme
SC Supporter
- Mar 18, 2005
- 34,477
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You’ve been here almost 20 years. Was it once over 200?
dontcallme
SC Supporter
- Mar 18, 2005
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I think it’s hard to judge him. He did very well in the Championship but that is no guarantee of genuine top quality potential.
I think he’s still in the stage of his development where it’s hard to definitively judge. He certainly gets to stay next season to judge further in my view.
I think he’s still in the stage of his development where it’s hard to definitively judge. He certainly gets to stay next season to judge further in my view.
fishhhandaricecake
Well-Known Member
- Nov 15, 2018
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Each to their own mate, I don’t see it with skipp. Yesterdays 3rd goal with him bumbling to control the ball and not release it quick enough is exactly what I mean.
Good character and works hard and he had an ok game against Milan but don’t see the potential, should be 5th choice CM at best. He’d get absolutely nowhere near any of the current top 6 midfields imo
13VanDerBale13
Well-Known Member
- Jul 12, 2011
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He’s fine as a squad option, but the drop off without Bissouma & Bentancur is large.
We’ll need to sign another CM given their injuries / Sarr’s lack of game time.
We’ll need to sign another CM given their injuries / Sarr’s lack of game time.
fishhhandaricecake
Well-Known Member
- Nov 15, 2018
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Exactly this
Flobadob
Well-Known Member
- Jul 22, 2014
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I definitely want to see academy players/young English players succeed more than others and I won’t apologise for that, just how I feel about it as I follow England youths sides just as much as the Spurs ones, I want to see these players do well and I therefore am willing to give them more time to prove themselves and also have likely seen more of their potential as a player than someone that hasn’t followed their career closely from a younger age. With Skipp he is 100% not suited to play as a CM in a 2, he’s the anchor of a 3 man midfield, that’s what he is. You let him have multiple passing options around him so he can keep things simple and you let him defend and he excels in that role. Whether he’ll get to do that here or not depends on the next manager and the system they play but if he goes elsewhere and gets to do that he’ll make fools of the people calling him a championship player, that’s for certain
McFlash
In the corner, eating crayons.
- Oct 19, 2005
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Mate, you've ignored all the good parts of his game yesterday and instead picked the one moment where he was put under unnecessary pressure with a daft and unexpected throw in.
Plus, he's still young and won't be flawless every game.
That moment aside, he was one of the better players yesterday.
People are deluding themselves in to thinking he's good enough at this level. He's below average in basically every possible metric. Even compared to someone like Hojbjerg who's had a poor season and gets a ton of criticism in here he comes out behind in ever area. I think the new manager needs to be ruthless here and decide he's not good enough, even if it won't be too popular with this fans (fully expecting downvotes here).
The saving grace is that he's 22 and can improve but IMO doesn't have the base level technique to play at the highest levels.
The saving grace is that he's 22 and can improve but IMO doesn't have the base level technique to play at the highest levels.
