Taarabt - a missed opportunity?

[spursollie]

With rumours over the last few days about Taarabt possibly handing in a transfer request, with an eye to possibly moving back to France, I was just wondering how many others felt that he should have been given a run in the team during the closing games of the season?

http://www.spurs.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=506184

I personally would have loved to see him play more, he brings the sort of excitement that Lennon used to provide when he was first emerging. With nothing really to play for surely Taarabt should have been given an opportunity in the last 8 or so games, just to see what he can do...

 

[Kendall]

He played a couple of times didn't he? and well, he was woeful.

By all accounts he has been woeful in the reserves too, so on what grounds should he be gracing the hallowed WHL turf? because he can stepover?

He did show what he can do and that's not very much at the moment. He has bags of potential, but he needs to ply his trade either on loan or in the reserves before making the step up. Lennon already had 30+ games for Leeds under his belt when he came to us and could link up, Taarabts vision & passing is atrocious and selfish.

 

[spursollie]

Admittedly he is no-where near the finished article, however he has only played in 6 games the whole season, often coming on with 5 minutes to go or so. Throughout the year also Clive Allen has raved about him in the Reserves so surely with nothing left to play for he should have been given a run?

 

[Kendall]

I think Allen has praised him once or twice, but the likes of BOF in here who attend reserve games regularaly have suggested that he still suffers the same problems at that level (plays with his head down, runs into trouble, crap passing).

I'm all for giving players a go when there's nothing to play for, but I believe you should be doing it at reserve level to even warrant a place. Going by the reserve reports Archibald-Henville, Danny Rose & Simon Dawkins have been the top players this season - not the likes of taarabt and Pekhart who many see as warrenting a place on the subs bench?

I know people love a bit of hype and a bit of flair, but I have seen and heard very little in Taarabt to suggest that he should be anywhere near the first team.

 

[eddiebailey]

Clive Allen has raved about him in the Reserves

Clive may have emphasised the positives on ocassion, but his touchline body language, and indeed language, suggest he also recognises the negatives.

I agree with Kendall, I want to see a player turning it on for the reserves before he gets a chance with the first team. As much as for what it tells you about attitude as anything.

 

[spursollie]

I went to 2 pre-season friendlies at the start of the season and in both games Taarabt played very well, in particular the game against Orient, when he came on and was beating players with ease, Now admittedly the opposition wasnt the best, but still he looked everybit like he could do it for us in the first team. Im not saying he should be starting everygame, far from it, i just think that with the indifferent end to the season we have had we could have gained more from seeing the likes of Taarabt and Rose seeing as we had nothing to lose

 

[Kendall]

But he did come on recently if I recall and he was terrible, I mean really bad & that's his allround game, just playing with his head down.

I think too many people get taken in by the tricks and the flair, he beats a guy, but then does nothing with it. Practicality prevails really. I'd sooner have seen Rose and Bent starting, but there you go.

 

[spursollie]

Totally agree that Rose should be given a go and Bent should play more, he was our best player against Reading, no question.

 

[AngerManagement]

In my opinion any player who is going to go on to be an excellent premiership player would look amazing from the off in the reserves even before they are the 'finished artical'

Id expect a 17 year old wonderkid to shine at that level even if they are not ready for first team action. So in my opinion Taarbat is not too young to be outstanding in the reserves so if he is not then I would suggest that means he may not be the biggest loss if we dont see him in our first team long term.

 

[Banny]

I think he should be given more of a first team chance. Look at wallcott. Pretty woeful when he first broke into the gooners 1st team. now he rips teams apart for fun and he's only getting better. That is down to the fact wenger took a gamble on him. And the best way for a player to develop in this day and age is to throw them in at the deep end to see if they sink or swim.

Taarabt hasnt looked totally out of sorts when he has come on. yea he has made some outrageous goal attempts and loves a step over, but he's 18!! thats what most of them do lol. He'll be 19 this month ans i for one think he need alot more time before a raw talent like his is let out into the wild.

 

[dynamoSpurs]

Taarabt is a one-in-a-million find and we'll be sorely disappointed if we let him go, as he will flourish somewhere else.

 

[Bill_Oddie]

Thats a very bold statement dynamo. What are basing that on? And I have to ask if you saw any of the Newcastle game? We may have already been condemned when he came on, but rarely have I seen such a dire impact performance. I couldn't in any honesty swear that the positives (and there have been some) that he has shown has convinced me that he is ever going to eradicate the sloppiness and dangerous aspects of his game.

Still, fingers crossed, eh?

 

[stemark44]

Taarabt has learned nothing from Jol,Allen or Ramos because he still does exactly the same things that he always did and his last appearance against Newcastle was shocking!He does'nt mix up his game with short and long passes,he justs wants to take on opponents and beat them.Seasoned hard nosed professionals in the EPL will eat him up and spit him out because they know exactly what he will try to do!
The lad may have skill but he is not a Ronaldo or a Messi and unless he changes his game very quickly - he will not make it in this league!

 

[Kendall]

I think he should be given more of a first team chance. Look at wallcott. Pretty woeful when he first broke into the gooners 1st team. now he rips teams apart for fun and he's only getting better. That is down to the fact wenger took a gamble on him. And the best way for a player to develop in this day and age is to throw them in at the deep end to see if they sink or swim.

Taarabt hasnt looked totally out of sorts when he has come on. yea he has made some outrageous goal attempts and loves a step over, but he's 18!! thats what most of them do lol. He'll be 19 this month ans i for one think he need alot more time before a raw talent like his is let out into the wild.

Walcott shone in the reserves.

 

[Blurgh]

Ramos couldnt play a gamble on him, because his top prioirty was gettign us back into a reasonable and safe league position.. you could argue he could play him in the recent 'dont matter' games but I think hes using them to truely judge the players that are 'first' teamers

 

[P-Dogg]

He reminds me of Sinama Pongolle, ie; shit.

 

[thetallaghttiger]

In an ideal world, I think we should loan Taarabt out for a year. Maybe even back to France, but preferably to an English team (probably in the Championship so as to make sure he'd get 1st team football)

 

[the_king]

A preseason under Ramos will do everyone the world of good, especially our younger players who will get a decent run out.

 

[dynamoSpurs]

Thats a very bold statement dynamo. What are basing that on? And I have to ask if you saw any of the Newcastle game? We may have already been condemned when he came on, but rarely have I seen such a dire impact performance. I couldn't in any honesty swear that the positives (and there have been some) that he has shown has convinced me that he is ever going to eradicate the sloppiness and dangerous aspects of his game.

Still, fingers crossed, eh?

Wow, one bad "substitute performance"???

What happened his debut Vs. West Ham? He save us from the jaws of a draw and won us the game. Sure Berby had to convert, but still.

Watch him on YT and you'll see how gifted he is. Don't deny
how rare that is. To Come to a new country at 17 and change a game away from home, on his debut, in the "hardest league in the world". He is gifted.

And I blame management for not unravelling this gem.

And yes, YT, for once, does provide a 100% accurate account, because it documents pretty much all his playing time, from the St Patricks game to the Newcash game. - Which is a sign of something - It shows how little we've actually played him - and you guys wanna axe him?

The reason why he's so contreversial is everyone knows he has talent, but no one has seen enough of him.

Forget the reserves, a loan spell with WBA or any other low league team is all he needs. You'll see.

 

[Krafty]

I think he still has a future, but I'm not sure if he is a left winger, as he seems to come on everytime he plays. I think he is much more a AM/FC, but he defiantely needs games.

I would send him out on loan, I know why they want to send him to an English team because he needs to adapt to the pace of the game, and the reserves and abroad are not fast tempo arenas.