Tom Carroll

[Reece]

A measured passer, and the ball he played through to Bale against Lazio for the dis-allowed goal was class. He has also been quite inventive when he's come on in previous games. He definitely has vision and an awareness of space, it's just the 90 minute slog of a PL paced game he needs to acclimatise to.

 

[yojambo]

I dont think he needs to bulk up at all.

It was him who said he tried to before but it had a negative effect.

Not saying he's as good but look at Iniesta - he has the frame of a 12 year old.

The player Tom reminds me most of is Leon Britton, keeps the game ticking over, simple but controlled passing.

I also dont think loaning will help that much unless its to either swansea of wigan.

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

I dont think he needs to bulk up at all.

It was him who said he tried to before but it had a negative effect.

Not saying he's as good but look at Iniesta - he has the frame of a 12 year old.

The player Tom reminds me most of is Leon Britton, keeps the game ticking over, simple but controlled passing.

I also dont think loaning will help that much unless its to either swansea of wigan.

I agree with this. He does need to bulk up though as he will easily just be muscled off the ball.

I think Carroll as a future at spurs but I would like us sign Will Hughes as well to give us more options moving forward.

 

[Roynie]

Good, I'm sure as he passed it to Bale I heard him say go on Gareth shift left and have a crack the keepers wrong footed.

Christ, with hearing like that you must be a policeman! Takes one to know one!

 

[txspurs]

I think we need to find some highlights of the EL game in Greece! He and Jake worked so well together so I thought it was fantastic to see him in vs WHam. He's made some great appearances in the EL this year and even got a start. I got the impression, from a Sherwood interview, that he was trying to bring him along very carefully and that he was never going to be loaned out this year.

 

[Roynie]

I think we need to find some highlights of the EL game in Greece! He and Jake worked so well together so I thought it was fantastic to see him in vs WHam. He's made some great appearances in the EL this year and even got a start. I got the impression, from a Sherwood interview, that he was trying to bring him along very carefully and that he was never going to be loaned out this year.

Presumably he and Jake have played alongside each other quite a bit in the junior teams. I have no knowledge really, but if they have they should be well used to each others play and should be able to complement each other well.

 

[AnotherSpursFan]

Notice he's two footed as well.

 

[Huddlestone22]

I think a lot of people underestimate the value of a player that can keep the ball moving regardless of whether it's over short distances. This is why Britton is so effective for Swansea, he constantly allows the team to keep hold of the ball and press higher up. What I hope for Tom Carroll is for him to develop his range in passing just like Britton has in that he's not afraid to hit a 30 yard pass if he feels it's the right option. Find it strange that people are hoping he develops his dribbling, obviously another Modric type of player would be fantastic but so would a Xabi Alonso type of player and he isn't really much of a dribbler.

 

[gregga]

I dont think he needs to bulk up at all.

It was him who said he tried to before but it had a negative effect.

Not saying he's as good but look at Iniesta - he has the frame of a 12 year old.

The player Tom reminds me most of is Leon Britton, keeps the game ticking over, simple but controlled passing.

I also dont think loaning will help that much unless its to either swansea of wigan.

I don't buy this.

It seems implausible and non-sensical to me to suggest that putting on a bit of muscle can affect one's ability to move around a football pitch. If he's grown to the size of a WWE wrestler perhaps but a little extra strength should improve his overall athleticism and manouverability.

 

[ultimateloner]

He is a decent link-up player but not a game-changer. He doesnt look like he has the physical attributes (speed/strength) to become a goal threat. Still nice though just don't expect too much.

 

[polo_mf]

Notice he's two footed as well.

Really?? everytime I have watched him he has been VERY one footed.

 

[beats1]

He needs to bulk up.

Obviously he'll never have the physique of Bale/Sandro but if he can get a bit tougher and stockier like Modders we could have a player on our hands.

Problem is he is still growing and bulking is normally recommended when you have grown in to your body, unfortunately that is the way his body was, he did bulk up at Derby but his he didnt find he was slower, though he wasnt playing as a CM, he was playing out of position on the wing

Presumably he and Jake have played alongside each other quite a bit in the junior teams. I have no knowledge really, but if they have they should be well used to each others play and should be able to complement each other well.

They have recently but they have been playing more so in a midfield 3 with Parrett or Luongo instead of Livermore

Has anyone seen alot of the lad? I would like to know a little bit more about him and wether or not people think he will make it in the prem.

as I live in Australia it makes it hard to watch regular games but sounds like the kids well on his way to being some player

He isnt the most talented CM in our academy but the kid always looked like he wasnt going to make it with us, he basically was a bit of late bloomer. He had a great season 2 years ago for our academy and then in the second half of the season he went to Leyton and this was a big challenge for him. He was playing as a CM in a 2 man CM and surprisingly looked a great player, he managed to control the games by staying on move and made the big lumps look like fools whilst he ran around them tbh

He has got a good range of passing and does likes release the ball quickly and making himself available quickly, he isnt just sidewards passer and got a decent eye for ball. Tbh in the first team imo he is still suffering from a lack of confidence and there not taking the game by the scruff of the neck, i.e. he is just doing enough and I dont think he feels his teammates trust him yet. As for going forward he can score a few as well, he got something like 17 goals in one season for youth teams which is pretty good tbh. Like alot of the spurs kid he has got good technique can chip the keeper consistently when one on one. He is predominately left footed but when his confidence is high he has been 2 footed tbh.

In his last loan I think he did well in his education but he was pushed to the wing and it didnt work well and wasnt being played later on because of a clause saying if he plays longer than 60mins they would pay his wages and this was apparently the reason he would come on later in the game.

 

[RuskyM]

Yeah, he's got the body of a 13 year old.

If he gets some confidence and a bit more bite about him I think we'll have a very good player in Tom Carroll.

He has the voice of one too.

 

[yojambo]

I don't buy this.

It seems implausible and non-sensical to me to suggest that putting on a bit of muscle can affect one's ability to move around a football pitch. If he's grown to the size of a WWE wrestler perhaps but a little extra strength should improve his overall athleticism and manouverability.

Yeah you could be right i suppose.

Im no expert but everyone is different. Tom obviously has a slight frame, perhaps its difficult for him to increase the amount of calories in his diet required to build extra muscle, who knows.

I dont think its much of an issue right now, he's only 20 and probably not finished growing yet.

As long he has the ability it shouldn't matter what size he is.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

His passing and appreciation of space is very good, but I haven't seen yet is whether he has that little burst of pace over 5-10 yards that will let him go past his marker and open the midfield up. As he is never going to be a powerful midfield general, that burst of pace is something he is going to need, otherwise he will be a little one dimensional.

I think this sums it up nicely. He's a tidy player, good technique, doesn't flap much, always looks to receive and pass so he should earn a living, if he can add that other dimension (even if not in immense proportions) then he could be a real asset.

 

[ultimateloner]

I think this sums it up nicely. He's a tidy player, good technique, doesn't flap much, always looks to receive and pass so he should earn a living, if he can add that other dimension (even if not in immense proportions) then he could be a real asset.

You can't train that acceleration though, its a gift. Modric has it, but Carrick doesn't for example.
He could still be a good squad player.

 

[danielneeds]

You can't train that acceleration though, its a gift. Modric has it, but Carrick doesn't for example.
He could still be a good squad player.

Slight players like Carroll generally have quick feet and decent pace though. It's whether he has the confidence and skill to use it, and also develops a little upper body strength to hold off the challenges.

 

[ultimateloner]

Slight players like Carroll generally have quick feet and decent pace though. It's whether he has the confidence and skill to use it, and also develops a little upper body strength to hold off the challenges.

But does he? I don't notice any change of pace/quick feet..at least not stood out immediately.

 

[RussJames]

Presumably he and Jake have played alongside each other quite a bit in the junior teams. I have no knowledge really, but if they have they should be well used to each others play and should be able to complement each other well.

Jake played with the U18 from the 2006-2008. Tommy, being three years younger, played from 2009-2011. So they never really had time to play together while in the academy.. Here's a list of our central midfielders in the Academy (U18) since the 05/06 season (in order from the most appearances in CM first, to least appearances in CM last)...

05/06 - Wells, Lewis, Livermore

06/07 - Livermore, Kasim, Wells, Parrett ... (Jake made 39 apppearances, scoring 9 goals)

07/08 - Kasim, Parrett, Cox, Livermore

08/09 - Kasim, Parrrett, Bostock, Cox

09/10 - Nicholson, Parrett, Carroll, M'poku ... (Tom made 23 appearances, scoring 10 goals - playing at LB,CM, and CAM)

10/11 - Dombaxe, Tapping, Carroll, Luongo

And this year in the U21s they've only played in CM together once being as Livermore has mostly been played at CB. Carroll has played most of his youth career alongside players like Parrett, Nicholson, and Luongo...

 

[RussJames]

But does he? I don't notice any change of pace/quick feet..at least not stood out immediately.

In Carroll's first year with the U18s he was known as more of a pacy LB. It remained that way until the coaches discovered his innate ability to pick a pass and moved him into the center of midfield. He's never going to be as pacy as Lennon and Bale, but he does have a quick burst of acceleration and that's really all you need when playing in central midfield.