Ratings v Jam Tarts

[The Apprentice]

Harry Kane is not the future.

Tom Carroll might make it.

HUddlestone was terrible.

 

[eddiebailey]

Hearts are the third best team in Scotland, which means they are of a lower Championship, higher League One standard. Stronger Spurs teams have fared a lot worse against this standard of opposition. Hearts were never going to roll over for us like they did at Tynecastle, and certainly not once they saw our starting line up.

Our senior players were never going to be up for this game and the only ones to take responsibility were Cudicini, who demonstrated he still has it, and Corluka.

Dawson and Bassong made the case for buying a new centre-back, but we have seen them play better than this, and let’s remember Bassong is our fifth choice.

Huddlestone’s physique means he needs a run of games to become match sharp; if the ankle holds he will come good – in the meantime we need to get him as much playing time as possible. Pav as usual contributed very little but got into scoring positions; unfortunately he lacked the technique to exploit them.

Of the youngsters, as someone observed Livermore played like he thinks he has made it, and toward the end he got sloppy. As someone else has said, he is a bit of everything and nothing in particular – the new Jenas. Townsend impressed with his work rate but his decision making in the final third was not always good – though not Adel Taarabt bad, and, let’s be honest does Lennon offer much more end-product? Worth keeping in the squad this season.

Hopefully Kane’s performance will dispel the hype, but it is certainly too early to write him off. He is not fast, so he will need to develop a quick mind to compensate – he would definitely benefit from more time out on loan. Carroll was impressive, his development needs are physical rather than footballing – Harry might well decide to keep him this season for the Cup competitions and Next gen rather than loan him out.

Fredericks looked out of his depth, but it was his senior debut at any level, and Harry obviously fancies him to have taken the risk. He needs to go out on loan, and when he comes back we will be in a better position to tell if has it. Nicholson looked very confident and tidy.

 

[Mr Pink]

Agree re Carroll - he looks 12 but he's intelligent, always on the move looking for the ball, plays a nice pass and then moves again into space - even pointing where he wanted it. If he can grow a bit physically and sharpen his movement up (instead of constantly moving, a bit more slow, slow, quick) he'll be a player. But he seemed a lot more intelligent than the rest and one to look out for.

Andros won't make it at Spurs IMO. I watched him last year for Millwall against the Swans and he lacks intelligence, doesn't like doing the dirty stuff (i.e. tracking back) and runs down blind alleys too often with no end result. He'll play at a decent level, maybe even the Prem but not for us I think. He promises a lot but delivers not enough - the fans will like him as he's a tricky winger who can be exciting but I don't think there's enough substance there.

The other 2 I wouldn't pass judgement on just yet but the odds are against them.

Livermore is curious. He's neat and tidy on the ball, his passing is decent if unspectacular, he has good physicality and a seemingly good attitude, and is happy to receive the ball. I just wonder if he has any oustanding attribute that will see him make it at Spurs? A little bit jack of all trades master of none in a way. I hope this doesn't sound too negative and I'm certainly not writing him off for us but I think he has a limited time to grab his chance with Spurs and I hope he makes it. 20 years ago he would've done, now I'm not sure he'll get the time.

Pav woeful mostly. Too inconsistent and if we can add to Ade (see what I did there?) then he be the one I'd shove out the door if it were possible.

Huddlestone also poor, if I was mitigating him he looks lacking in fitness even more than normal but I'd also flog him and keep the dynamo that is Palacios. Won't happen though.

The rest just a bit whatever - not a game that will live long in the memory...

Totally agree with that, and last night he dissappointed IMO, for the amount he saw the ball he didn't do much with it. Tricky and direct but limited in end product.

 

[agrdavidsfan]

Carroll - reminded me of wilshire and luka molded into one if he doesn't make it we need to sack our youth dev

 

[yido_number1]

I'm a big TH fan but last night he looked over weight dissinterested and made the wrong choice too many times... the guy next to me said he should of been running that game but for whatever reason wasn't interested...

I imagine the lay off from injury has affected him but he needs to get moving or he will be off in the not too distant ... Sandro Diarra and Modric will squeeze him out...

 

[brasil_spur]

Cudicini: 6 - some good saves but nothing spectacularly hard to trouble him with.

Corluka: 5 - some pretty poor mistakes given the level of the competition, would have been punished more against a prem team with those.

Dawson: 5 - not sure what has happened with Dawson but he's not looking assured at the moment and is a close call between him and Bassong for me right now.

Bassong: 6 - fairly solid display from Bassong.

Kaboul: 7 - solid display and pushed on a bit into the opposition half.

Townsend: 8 - not a LB, but a very assured LM, struggled a bit with getting passed his man in the 2nd half, but was played out of position.

Carroll: 9 - didn't put a foot wrong all game, got stuck in and kept the midfield together.

Huddlestone: 5 - maybe he's injured still but looked poor by his standards last night.

Livermore: 6 - pretty assured but a few minor errors.

Fredricks: 6 - some good moments but not quite there yet.

Kranjcar: 7 - decent display with some good attacking emphasis.

Pav: 4 - piss poor performance.

Kane: 6 - some good moments but nothing spectacular.

 

[mpickard2087]

Cudicini: 6 - some good saves but nothing spectacularly hard to trouble him with.

Corluka: 5 - some pretty poor mistakes given the level of the competition, would have been punished more against a prem team with those.

Dawson: 5 - not sure what has happened with Dawson but he's not looking assured at the moment and is a close call between him and Bassong for me right now.

Bassong: 6 - fairly solid display from Bassong.

Kaboul: 7 - solid display and pushed on a bit into the opposition half.

Townsend: 8 - not a LB, but a very assured LM, struggled a bit with getting passed his man in the 2nd half, but was played out of position.

Carroll: 9 - didn't put a foot wrong all game, got stuck in and kept the midfield together.

Huddlestone: 5 - maybe he's injured still but looked poor by his standards last night.

Livermore: 6 - pretty assured but a few minor errors.

Fredricks: 6 - some good moments but not quite there yet.

Kranjcar: 7 - decent display with some good attacking emphasis.

Pav: 4 - piss poor performance.

Kane: 6 - some good moments but nothing spectacular.

I think this is harsh, he strolled through the game at ease and towards the end thought he was looking one of our better players. Also saved us at least once (and possibly a second time) when our centrebacks were dawdling and he had to come across from fullback because he is was only defender who reads the game.

 

[Marty]

Corluka was the best of the "old guard" IMO, don't see where that rating has come from.

 

[Wheeler Dealer]

Harry Kane is the new Lee Barnard, I'm afraid to say

 

[beats1]

Like I said in the chatroom, Kane can only play a poacher role in the team atm as he still needs to work on his all round game, that said he did have some very good control and actually made some good runs,

Kane atm is a striker who will only do well if he has the service which yesterday was given all to pav and when he did get a chance he won a penalty

 

[beats1]

Carroll - reminded me of wilshire and luka molded into one if he doesn't make it we need to sack our youth dev

I agree but he will take longer to get in to the first team as his size makes people think he is too weak for CM, he will do better in CM when played again and will be on the fringes of the squad if he is kept here

 

[JimmyG2]

Thought Kranjcar looked a class above everyone when he came on.

Wouldn't mind Kane as 4th striker if we get rid of Crouch or Pav.

Walker and Livermore seemed to have made the squad

The rest need to go on loan to get experience.

 

[ShelfSide18]

It was a forgettable 90 minutes football, but certainly has given me food for thought, and firmed up a few opinions of mine.

Agree completely about Carroll, he passed and moved well, played some intelligent and well weighted passes and I loved that he always wanted the ball in tight spaces, but instead of the Huddlestone pass and stand still, he passed, pointed where he wanted it and moved. Raw, will need to bulk up a bit, but certainly talented.

Kane did some occasionally nice things, the movement for the penalty, seemed like he had a decent touch - nothing to get the juices flowing, but by no means written off.

Not quite sure what you saw, BC, in Fredericks? He only touched the ball a handful of times and when he did he didn't exactly look brimming with ideas or composure. Again, not writing the kid off, but I didn't see much to get overly excited with.

Townsend is a mixed bag, but I think supremely talented - but the next stage in his development will be crucial to determine whether he wants to be Nani or Wayne Routledge. He's got skills, 2 good feet and he's a much cleaner striker of the ball than say Aaron Lennon. This is all about coaching now, and whether he wants to be receptive to that. He needs to get his head up, play the team game with pass and move not just his own up and down the wing game, but all the attributes are there, I think.

Cudicini - 7 Did what he had too.
Corluka - 6 Training game for Charlie, miles ahead of Walker at the moment.
Dawson - 5 Struggled for 45 minutes.
Bassong - 6 Some good moments, some poor moments like when he got bamboozled by an aimless punt forward.
Townsend - 6 Mixed bag, seen enough promise from him to think he might make it.
Fredericks - 5 Didn't get involved, good experience that he will learn from.
Hudd - 5 Unable to control the midfield against a poor side, passed and stood still, a few standard 70 yard passes which got the guys behind me spunking everywhere, but firmed up the opinion that he has the best technique in the squad, but not much vision, or dynamic qualities.
Livermore - 6.5 He pressed the ball quite well, is neat on the ball and shows signs of passing and moving, but is there that extra spark? Be interesting to see how he progresses.
Carroll - 8 Very good to see. Passed, moved, always wanted the ball, a few incisive moments too. Want to see more of him in the CC, and Europe, and maybe even a few Prem cameos.
Pavs 5 - Losing patience to be honest, which is a shame because the guy has talent, just not sure he's got the mentality or the heart sometimes. Last night was one of those nights where if he did that run round the deckchair half time thing we did a few years back he'd have got tackled by every one then had his shot saved by Chirpy.
Kane - 6 Want to see more of him, a couple of moments of promise.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Not quite sure what you saw, BC, in Fredericks? He only touched the ball a handful of times and when he did he didn't exactly look brimming with ideas or composure. Again, not writing the kid off, but I didn't see much to get overly excited with.

I didn't see a lot in Fredericks either. I thought I only said "he looks nippy and got to the byline a couple of times". Which is what I thought he did ?

To be honest, if you had to force a yes or no out of me, I'd say of all those last night only Carroll looked like he had the ability and brain to potentially be of any use to an EPL side.

Jack Livermore could also earn a living in the EPL I'm sure, he's got a reasonable skill set without looking a master of any.

Townsend we've all seen a bit of now and it's obvious he's no Bale. He's more Etherington.

Kane looked ok, but nothing special, didn't look technically brilliant but competent, didn't look particularly clever but didn't look stupid either, his movement was ok. He could be anything from a reasonably good lower league striker to an ok EPL striker based on last nights game. I wouldn't right him off on that one game though.

The thing to remember is he was playing in a very weak side. Put him up front in our first string with people like Modric, Bale, Adebayor, all of a sudden he could look every bit as good as Defoe ? But I don't think he's the next Clive Allen based on last night.

 

[ShelfSide18]

I didn't see a lot in Fredericks either. I thought I only said "he looks nippy and got to the byline a couple of times". Which is what I thought he did ?

To be honest, if you had to force a yes or no out of me, I'd say of all those last night only Carroll looked like he had the ability and brain to potentially be of any use to an EPL side.

Jack Livermore could also earn a living in the EPL I'm sure, he's got a reasonable skill set without looking a master of any.

Townsend we've all seen a bit of now and it's obvious he's no Bale. He's more Etherington.

Kane looked ok, but nothing special, didn't look technically brilliant but competent, didn't look particularly clever but didn't look stupid either, his movement was ok. He could be anything from a reasonably good lower league striker to an ok EPL striker based on last nights game. I wouldn't right him off on that one game though.

The thing to remember is he was playing in a very weak side. Put him up front in our first string with people like Modric, Bale, Adebayor, all of a sudden he could look every bit as good as Defoe ? But I don't think he's the next Clive Allen based on last night.

I was reading something that wasn't there re Fredericks, ignore that.

I agree with your assessments other than for Townsend, I think there's a lot more potential there than you might think. It's fine lines though, I remember Wenger saying that there are plenty of non league players who could have become Thierry Henry, and it's players like Townsend which can go either way, it's so much more than raw talent. Townsend has got talent, can play from both wings, 2 good feet and is a confident fucker to go with it - I certainly think when Lennon was his age he didn't have the same variety as he is showing. It's obviously raw, but with your favourite thing, coaching, then I think he could be a real player. He could also end up playing for Doncaster. Fine lines.

 

[WhiteHart4Ever]

I was reading something that wasn't there re Fredericks, ignore that.

I agree with your assessments other than for Townsend, I think there's a lot more potential there than you might think. It's fine lines though, I remember Wenger saying that there are plenty of non league players who could have become Thierry Henry, and it's players like Townsend which can go either way, it's so much more than raw talent. Townsend has got talent, can play from both wings, 2 good feet and is a confident fucker to go with it - I certainly think when Lennon was his age he didn't have the same variety as he is showing. It's obviously raw, but with your favourite thing, coaching, then I think he could be a real player. He could also end up playing for Doncaster. Fine lines.

Thought Townsend showed some great spot. Needs to work on his decisions and final ball a bit, but the most talented of the lot I think. The one that really didnt do much for me was Fredericks - he really didnt look anywhere near anything at all. Carroll was ok/good, but Livermore looked the better player even though he had a worse game. He just looks like he`s ready a bit more than the others. Kane - who knows. Got the penalty at least.

Dawson I thought was ok, tHudd and Pav though shocking. And Kranjcar head and shoulders above everyone else combined when he came on - the only player with the combination of vision and ability from the whole lot.

Oh, and it was a terrible, terrible game...

 

[double0]

Expected more from Townsend but to be fair his not a left back.

Dawson is again starting to worry me.

Carroll from the bunch looks the most promising, impressed with Kane's physic bottle to take the pen and willingness to work...won a pen missed a pen had a shot saved good signs for a striker obviously would have been better to score.

Huddlestone I will be watching closely.

Livermore looked comfortable.

Pavluychenko is no more than a sub.