Player Watcher - Luka 'The Midget' Modric

[miles_64]

Coming a little later than expected is his week’s Player-Watcher thread. As per last week, we’re looking for a little more analytical discussion based on today’s performance. The aim is to focus on this player a little more than the others, watching him off the ball as well as on it.

Today's Player: Luka Modric

Reason for picking him: Stemark44 nipped in there on the last thread and asked for Luka to be the star of Player Watcher this week.

Look out for: For an ever-diminishing number of SCers doubt still remains over the physical side of Modric’s game. Look for the challenges that he wins, including the occasional header. Look for him popping up all over the pitch – where is he most effective? How exposed does he leave the left back? Which players does he link up best with?

If Modric doesn’t play, Rabbi Keane will be the focus of player watcher.

 

[freeeki]

Overall in the first half, its not been a great performance from Luka, but not a terrible one either.

Pros: Good movement, some good defensive and attacking runs.
Cons: Given the ball away a few times, passes into empty space, out-run by Reo-Coker.

 

[spurs mental]

Could have set up a chance for Keane after great link play with JJ, but chose to shoot. If we keep the ball Modric will be better in the second half.

 

[spurdownunder]

Very disappointing effort when he shot instead of passing to Keane or Bent for an easy tap in. Still, as Freeki said not great, not terrible.

Most effective just outside the box while we're pushing forward. He always looks dangerous and you can see that the Villa defenders aren't comfortable when he's in possession.

If he can push some balls through into the on running Bent, Keano or Lennon, we're a great shout for 3 points.

 

[garyhopkins]

I felt Luka had a good match. He could have passed to Robbie but he didn't (had he scored we wouldn't be complaining). Some of his other passes were wayward, however, for the goal it was a great pass to Lennon. He linked up well, popped up all over the pitch, hassled and harried and was always a threat. I got the feeling Villa were looking to close him down as much as possible; they understood his threat. He is the heartbeat of the team and as soon as he went off we went to sleep for 5 minutes. We need to build the team around him.

 

[freeeki]

Yeah the opportunity when he took a shot when he should have passed was a little selfish, but the ball to Lennon which set up the opening goal was incredible.

 

[miles_64]

I think freeeki's comments at half-time sum up Luka's performance - a very disciplined performance that demonstrated a clear understanding of his responsibilities. He did very little special but tracked back well and closed down the spaces - exactly what was required when faced by a potent team like Villa. He gave the ball away a little too much for my liking and the choice to shoot was a horrendous one but on the whole I was pleased with this performance. PS - corners could be improved.

4 - Great ball from centre to Lennon - Lennon provides assist for goal!! (Cheers of Champions League you're having a laugh)
6 - Slows ball down - allows players to catch up with our counter attack when there weren't many options available.
7 - Loses out on edge of Villa box.
8 - Loses header in centre of pitch.
10 - Picks ball up at half way line, dribbles diagonally and loses it needlessly (this occurs a few times throughout the rest of the match)
12 - Jazzy backheel
15 - Would like to see Modric supporting Bent better down the left wing.
20 - Mod tries to counter from AV corner - Heskey chases him down and wins ball.
28 - Counter-Attack through Modric - had options, poor ball.
42 - Chants of You're a Shit Aaron Lennon directed towards Ashley Young. COYS!!
43 - My notes read: "Shit Modric decision -WhyTF doesn't he pass?" - enough said.
48 - Tracks back, picks up ball. Average/poor pass though.
53 - Fairly nice corner.
53:47 - Tasty through ball for Bent who gets his opposite man booked.
61 - Poor corner.
61 - Mod is roaming - playing centre-right now.
62 - Good hit, forces save from Friedel. Could have placed it a wee bit better.
63 - Good tracking back.
76 - Average corner.
81 - Off. Robbie Earle says "tucked in, been responsible" - fair comments.

 

[Chaplain]

He had a decent game, but I'm starting to wonder about his shooting. He had two good chances today, but he didn't seem to pick a spot, he just belted it "at goal", so to speak. He keeps the ball down, but he doesn't seem to have that oomph that certain players have when they shoot. Friedel made two quite normal saves to keep him out. I agree with his decision to shoot though, the first one would've made him an absolute genius if he had time to think fast enough to pick out keane tbh.

 

[Kendall]

I'm very very content to keep him on the left.

 

[nicdic]

I think he played OK, our whole midfield played a level below the one I'd expect really. bags and bags of effort and determination, just a bit sloppy in possession. For now, he's made that left side his own. Still would love to see him in the middle, giving us more balance and utilising him even more.

 

[stemark44]

I thought he had a very average game today and lost the ball on numerous occasions.He was out-muscled and outpaced at times and I still think he would be a liability in the middle against teams as good as Villa.

 

[Rackybear]

I'm very very content to keep him on the left.

:stupid:

Prefer him on the left then in the middle. We dont lose out on his creativity and it means we can stick someone with more grit and physical aspects to his game alongside Palacios (aka Jenas)!

 

[senseispab]

I'm a big fan of the little fella.

I like him on the left, with license to roam, of a powerful two man midfield.

 

[jurgen]

The midfield weren't as good as they have been, but I think the disciplined nature they went about it bodes well, and that goes for Luka too. Wasn't a great performance by a long shot but he worked for the team, and simply put we couldn't have been TOO bad through the middle to have had periods of sustained pressure that could have given us a couple more goals (Villa had such periods too though).

Think hes being told he needs to be getting goals and he seems to still be thinking about it a bit too much, if he was as composed as our defence were under pressure then Keane/Bent would have got an easy finish from his square.

 

[Rackybear]

Fact is, since Harry implemented the midfield four of Modric, JJ, Palacios and Lennon we have been unbeaten and on our best run all season.

0-0 vs Arsenal
2-1 away to Hull
0-0 vs United (CC final)
4-0 vs Boro
1-1 away to Sunderland
2-1 win away to Villa.

Its not a co-incedence. We have the balance in the middle, and the creativity on either flank. I woudlnt even say its because Palacios and JJ compliment each other so well, moreso that Palacios has bought a shape to our midfield, he protects the back four and fights for every ball (a bit like carrick) and it is doing wonders for the balance of our whole team. Modric hasn't exactly looked out of sorts on the left either, much the opposite infact with some terrific games.

Lets keep this going for as long as we can.

 

[don1]

love him but would like to see him play more in the middle espically at home

 

[spurslenny]

with the ball - good, was always in support of keane and bent

without the ball - not so good, left BAE exposed at times

 

[leffe186]

He had a decent game, but I'm starting to wonder about his shooting. He had two good chances today, but he didn't seem to pick a spot, he just belted it "at goal", so to speak. He keeps the ball down, but he doesn't seem to have that oomph that certain players have when they shoot. Friedel made two quite normal saves to keep him out. I agree with his decision to shoot though, the first one would've made him an absolute genius if he had time to think fast enough to pick out keane tbh.

Actually thought both shots were decent and good saves. The second one (I presume we're thinking about the same one) was with his left as well and very cleanly hit. The first - the Keane one - my initial reaction was that he had two equally valid options and I stand by that. It was a good save.

Off-topic - how good was that Lennon effort that just went over?

 

[leffe186]

Weirdly too, I think today was the first time I really thought Modric would not be ideal at CM. He always works hard and wants the ball but he is lacking in pace and against one of the strongest and most intelligent CMs in the league (Barry & Petrov) he would have struggled. Jenas played very well and WP harried very well - their distribution was, as usual, rough around the edges but they did the right "away" job.

 

[sim0n]

with the ball - good, was always in support of keane and bent

without the ball - not so good, left BAE exposed at times

True, I like Modric. He looks to be much more comfortable in the middle, but doing a job on the left.

Just taking this opportunity to say how great BAE looked today even when "exposed" at times by Modric. Fuq PSG son, you've got a contract at WHL!! :clap: