The Gio Debate

[Flatters]

Like almost everyone else I was very excited by the signing of Gio from Barcelona two years ago. There was a lot of hype about him, the fact that he was coming from Barca, that he was half Brazilian, getting a hat-trick for Barca, not to mention that he even just looks like a good, exciting player. I'd never even seen anything more than clips on YouTube of him, but I was just sucked into the hype I suppose.

In that two years though, I feel he's completely failed to impress both on the pitch and supposedly off it (reports of his lack of training / failing to show up on time). The only glimpses he's shown to me of being a good footballer have been in pre-season and in the World Cup, and to me they were only glimpses. I don't think he was as good at the World Cup as many have made out.

For some reason though, a lot of the people on here seem to continue to back him in comparison to the kind of treatment most other players would receive in his position. He's constantly getting the benefit of the doubt after woeful performances when most other players would get shunned after just one or two. Just what exactly makes Gio so special? Are people still only remembering the hype of when we signed him, along with his pre-season form, rather than looking at his performances in a Tottenham shirt in competitive games?

I really hope he proves me wrong and I will be giving him my full support every time he plays in a Tottenham shirt as I do with every other Tottenham player, but I just don't think he's going to make it at this level, and I really can't understand the blinkered view many posters on here seem to have about his ability and potential.

 

[whitelightwhiteheat]

I pissed my pants when we signed him. He's done nothing since then! Big, big waste of talent. But it explains why Barca sold him for £4.7m - they must be pissing their pants, I guess!

I think he'll be gone to Spain in January, or maybe the summer.

 

[Kendall]

Thought he didn't deserve to be in the side last year but saw him during the world cup and was impressed. Then he was quality in pre season and showed that he was finally starting to make progress and settle here. But in the few appearances he's had this season he has really let himself down.

 

[guiltyparty]

A combination of hype, his Barcelona background and the fact that he's still young is why people are on his side. Think he very much comes from the Super Pav 'foreign, exotic-sounding player = good' stable.

He's done absolutely nothing in a Spurs shirt in a competitive game. Them the facts. He's young, though, so time is on his side, and I'm hoping he turns it around, but I'm not hopeful. Barca don't chuck away hot young prospects for £4m for fun. There was always going to be a catch.

 

[donny1013]

After watching him for Barca the previous season I was pretty non plussed to his signing. I just couldn't see him fitting in to the EPL as he regularly got pushed off the ball in La Liga. The hat trick he scored when he was rumoured to be joining, probably watched by more Spurs fans than usually watch Barca, definitely didn't help expectation levels. We could have got decent money for him after his good displays at the WC so I'm surprised we didn't get rid. I'm not saying he isn't good, there is a talent there, I just don't think he suits the EPL, both mentally and physically.

 

[NEVILLEB]

I still don't think he's been given a proper chance

Both games he's played in this season have been AWFUL team performances with makeshift teams.

 

[kaz Hirai]

A combination of hype, his Barcelona background and the fact that he's still young is why people are on his side. Think he very much comes from the Super Pav 'foreign, exotic-sounding player = good' stable.

He's done absolutely nothing in a Spurs shirt in a competitive game. Them the facts. He's young, though, so time is on his side, and I'm hoping he turns it around, but I'm not hopeful. Barca don't chuck away hot young prospects for £4m for fun. There was always going to be a catch.

apart from score :lol:

 

[brett.spurs]

He has talent but I'm not sure if he's suited to us, dare I say it but I think he'd have done well if he was playing for Arsenal last night.

 

[Flatters]

I still don't think he's been given a proper chance

Both games he's played in this season have been AWFUL team performances with makeshift teams.

But just how many more chances does he really deserve? As I said, other players in a similar position aren't backed like he is after the chances he's had, having not taken any of them.

You might say it's a catch 22 situation where a player will only be given more chances if he impresses on the few he has, but may only impress if he's given more chances... but most players would have been written off long before this, yet still people think Gio needs more chances to prove himself. Not only does it not make sense to keep playing him, but it's a risk we just can't take unless we're forced to due to many injuries.

 

[Krafty]

Dont know what was up last night - either Gio lost all positional discipline, or Harry gave him a free role and he went missing.

I didnt see the last two Mexico games in the world cup but the first couple, all he did was a lot of dribbling that ended up with nothing - not a shot worth talking about, nor a pass. Same with the clips from his spell at Galatasary - looks threatening but no actual end product.

I dont think he is helped by a lack of instruction. He has ability, but he should have simple, clear instructions, and when he has matured his game and has some more experience, then allow him more freedom.

 

[B0NZ0]

I find it hard to judge him on last night performance, personally i think he worked just as hard as anyone. What disappointed me was his inability to to keep the ball, reportedly one of his strengths.

I have the feeling the Spanish or Italian leagues are far better suited for him. He tried but ultimately failed.

 

[Breezer]

Too light weight for premiership football. Defo not a winger! I can only see him playing in a free role behind the striker. Either way i won't be shocked if he's sold in Jan!

 

[PT]

I believe that there is a rather large percentage of sale price due to Barca if / when we sell. It may determine who / when we sell, taking in to account his current stock decides his value and that barometer is looking rather alarming right now.

 

[Spurs_Bear]

He has talent but I'm not sure if he's suited to us, dare I say it but I think he'd have done well if he was playing for Arsenal last night.

Not sure about that, doesn't want the ball enough. Even the really young gooner kids last night were constantly showing a hunger to have the ball all the time. Giovani looked like him and the ball weren't friends last night.

He's a decent youngster with a good amount of talent as b.s says, and I hope he will develop into a good player. Problem is like Pav, he doesn't have as much ability as some people want him to have, and they end up seeing things that aren't there.

Was very disappointed in his time at Gala, used to get reports and sent articles from a fanatical supporter at work after every game. And there he couldn't use the excuse of not getting enough game time or playing for a coach that didn't believe in him, seeing as it was Rijkaard who gave him his break in the first place at Barca.

With his latest episode involving partying, being fined by the Mexican board, maybe he just doesn't have the hunger for being a top level pro.

 

[SpurSince57]

Come on, Mr Jol, give Reto a chance!

 

[tobi]

Does anyone know what his position was supposed to be last night? I'm still trying to figure it out.

He needs to play in a central position or in an advanced position on the right, playing him on the right of a 442 is a waste of time (Young Boys).

The stupid line up/formation or lack there of did him and others no favours last night and taking him off at HT was silly. He needs minutes/games, he should have stuck with him, changed his starting position and played someone in midfield that is capable of retaining possession and getting him the ball in good positions.

 

[rsmith]

so actually not much of a debate. Seems pretty unanimous to me that he's not gonna cut it in the prem. What's disappointed me most is that when he does get the ball, he immediately looks for the quick pass back/square. If he had the confidence to take players on, then we'd see what he's really capable of. But Stoke and Wolves quickly kick that confidence out of a player like Gio.

imho. swap him for Taarabt who is that bit more physical and combative.

 

[AngerManagement]

Personally I doubt his ability to ever make a real impact in our team.

He is a talented player no doubt, he has something about him but I feel he just doesn't have what it takes to break into our team with the quality of player we have infront of him.

I think he lacks the presence and ability to play on the right wing in our league as I believe he leaves our left side exposed with his lack of tracking back and covering.

So in my opinon the only viable option for us to play him would be directly off the striker, although seeing as we would probably favour VDV there or even prefer to play a second striker rather than GDS I don't see him breaking in there either (I think he likes end product and strength to be a success in this league there)

I understand the notion that he has not been given much of a chances and the games he has played have been in teams that have ill performed in general....but what I will say is players in his position need to show something from those types of chances regardless of the team around them and thus far Gio has shown nothing at all to suggest he warrents any more of a chance (not to mention the fact he has training every day with which to impress his manager and force his way in the team)

Frankly I think he is one of those players people expected to be great before they really new too much about him (similar to Taraabt in that respect) so certain fans hold on to this belief that he is soon to be the next big thing inspite of what their eyes tell them from the lack of impact he has ever actually made in a Spurs shirt.

I suspect he will be sold or loaned in Jan and he will be just another young signing with potential but never managing to break through.

I'd love for him to prove me from and set the Premier league alight, but since we have Lennon and VDV covering births he could potentially fill I simple do not see a viable route to success with us for him.

It may sound cold but a player in his shoes need to grab opportunities like last night with both hands and really make a statement to show they deserve more opportunities and both last night and against Young Boys Gio failed to do any of these things.

 

[DEFchenkOE]

Honestly I don't know why we didn't just sell him after the world cup when his price would have been a little inflated.

It's obvious that Harry prefers a 4-4-2 and Gio just can't play effectively in this system in the fast paced epl. Only with the signing of vdv does it seem we may change now and then. If anything why didn't we loan him to a Fulham/West Ham type epl team. Harry and Avram are best mates so im sure he could have made that happen if he wanted to.

I also think that one thing a lot of people don't take into consideration is the lack of confidence that he may feel Harry has in him. Confidence can make a huge difference to how you play and the reason he just lays it off easy is probably because he doesn't want to give the ball away or do the wrong thing. He knows he'll probably not get another chance for weeks/months when he does get the odd opportunity. Has he ever started 2 competitive games in a row for Harry? There has been many players that have had poor game after poor game but still continue to start.

I'm in no way excusing his performance yesterday which was poor but if it's on your mind all the time that the coach has no faith in you then I guess it's not so easy. Along with the fact that the whole team looked clueless he can't really be singled out as the worst performer on the night yesterday. Harry is comfortable playing a 4-4-2 and not much tactical tinkering is needed to just play a 4-4-1-1 as it's just replacing a striker for vdv and he does the rest.

Gio only really has a use in a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 and we've never really looked comfortable playing these formations, it's always the wrong types of players in the wrong positions and we generally have bad results so I can't see us playing this way too often. Therefore it's difficult to see him having any kind of future here under harry. May as well be sold.

 

[brett.spurs]

It may sound cold but a player in his shoes need to grab opportunities like last night with both hands

Mate, we barely got out of our own half in the time that Gio was on the pitch last night, judging him on 45 minutes where we hardly ever saw the ball whilst playing in a backup/inexperienced side is hardly fair. Stick him alongside hudd/luka/vdv/bale/lennon/defoe etc for a run of games then if he does fuck all in that time then fair enough.

I just think it's a bit ridiculous to say that he wasted his chance last night, unless he ran back to Pletikosa to receive the ball and dribbled past the entire Arsenal side then there was no way of him impressing at all yesterday. I don't think he was as poor as some are making out, that's not to say that I'm blindly backing him either, just a bit of perspective is needed imo.