Tom Huddlestone

[stemark44]

According to the Guardian Chalkboard feature (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/chalkboards/create - it's class)

Interceptions
Hudd 5
Jenas 4

Tackles attempted/won
Hudd 7/4
Jenas 4/3

Passes Attemped / Completed / Incomplete / Assists
Hudd 60 / 55 / 4 / 1
Jenas 28 / 25 / 3

So in terms of statistics, Hudd was a lot more valuable yesterday than Jenas, I'm not saying that he's a better player, but Hudd was pretty good yesterday and people getting on his back should realise that he was doing a lot of work, allowing Jenas to get forward as well.

Jenas was injured/unwell at the start of the 2nd half and was taken off around the 60th minute.
Are those stats for the full game or just the 1st half?

 

[simyid]

Hudd should look at the way Alonso plays because the way them two play is extremely similair and when Hudd does play he should be given the role Alonso is given to try and spray the ball about and put a tackle in when needed to (not to run around like a headless chicken which is Wilson's job).

 

[DC_Boy]

I think JJ was literally physically sick at the start of the 2nd half - an event seemingly confirmed by spursgirl in another thread IIRC (poor girl must have had a better view of it than I did)

therefore JJ's stats won't be so good for yesterday - for whatever reason Harry kept him on for about ten minutes till they equalised

this is not to take away from Hudd BTW who I thought very good

re the Wilson running around role- I haven't seen the ProZone stats but I would bet all my virtual cash that JJ covers more ground than WP on average, and I think JJ is probably as good/if not better a partner for Hudd than WP

I think the win stats for when Hudd and JJ start would be very good, better than our 'normal stats'

 

[JollyHappy]

Hud has temendous ability and can hit a better pass than anyone I've seen at WHL since Hoddle. Mobility is an issue but need not be the be all and end all. The issue with Hud, just like Hoddle all those years ago, is either you build your team round him or not.

So question is, whether is is good enough to build the team around especially when you also have Modric.

The only current midfield that I can see working that incorporates Hud and Modric is Lennon, Hud, Palacios and Modric with 2 up front.

It's a decent midfield but is it a top 4 challenging midfield? I don't think it is but I'd love to see it given a run of games.

 

[Kyras]

Jenas was injured/unwell at the start of the 2nd half and was taken off around the 60th minute.
Are those stats for the full game or just the 1st half?

The whole game, I understand that it makes it not truely accurate, and wasn't having a dig at JJ, just wanted to compare the two with stats, for what it's worth.

 

[stemark44]

The whole game, I understand that it makes it not truely accurate, and wasn't having a dig at JJ, just wanted to compare the two with stats, for what it's worth.

No problem.:up:
So you would agree then that Jenas' performance was as good as Huddlestone's and they both had good games?:grin:

Personally I think we lost the midfield battle in the second half because Jenas was not fit to play and was taken off.

 

[SpurSince57]

Just on the matter of Huddlestone's supposed lack of pace, Kompany gave up on chasing him on at least one occasion yesterday—the Hudd clearly had the legs on him—and left it to Richards, who's seriously quick. I think we need to be a little more precise about what we mean by 'lack of mobility'.

 

[stemark44]

Just on the matter of Huddlestone's supposed lack of pace, Kompany gave up on chasing him on at least one occasion yesterday—the Hudd clearly had the legs on him—and left it to Richards, who's seriously quick. I think we need to be a little more precise about what we mean by 'lack of mobility'.

The Hudd can get up a head of steam when he gets going alright but that Kompany guy is bloody useless.

 

[Goldman]

I like the Hudd, i dont think there are many better passers in the league. His range of passing is supreme, and his vision is fantastic.

But he just seems to play the game at his own pace, and seems very laid back. I would like him to stay, and perhaps show some more passion.

But im not sure he will want to hang around as a bit part player, which he will continue to be under the current regime.

 

[SpurSince57]

The Hudd can get up a head of steam when he gets going alright but that Kompany guy is bloody useless.

I wouldn't go that far, but he has a much-exaggerated reputation, that's for sure. I think the pont's still good, though—the Hudd left him for dead.

 

[Coyboy]

The thing I didn't like about Hudd was that he was playing too deep I thought until Zokora came on. At times it was like a diamond with Jenas fifteen yards ahead of him. As much as we wanted Hudd to replace Carrick, it is not his best role and indeed he is best when he is further forward as the goal showed. Also, when he is further forward he doesn't have to or cannot attempt the 'Hollywood' balls. As awesome as they are when they come off, and sitting behind the Shaktar pass was fantastic- they should be used sparingly.

I am not sure why Huddlestone played so deep, he did quite well nonetheless but we could have been better served playing Jenas further back. His tackling was quite good but I think he lacks that ruthlessness and toughness- a deffeciency which belies his size. If he used his strength, fairly, to exert himself more he could be one hell of a player. He also needs to move more off the ball. I watched Carrick and Alonso at the weekend and when they don't have the ball, they occupy savvy positions and are always in place to receive the ball in space. Huddlestone needs to learn this.

I think Saturday showed why we should stick with him.

 

[thetallaghttiger]

Hudd has gone in for a knee operation today according the OS.

Hope it's nothing too major as we need to keep faith with the Hudd IMO

 

[DC_Boy]

Hudd has gone in for a knee operation today according the OS.

Hope it's nothing too major as we need to keep faith with the Hudd IMO

bad news about that as he was playing so well-

good luck with the op and recovery TH

looks like JJ DZ LM for pool then - maybe RK/GB on the left ? maybe wing backs again?

interesting calls for Harry

 

[Kushal]

Surely him having a surgery now suggests he's in our long term plans? Or are we only repairing him so we can sell him for more?

 

[There's always next year]

bad news about that as he was playing so well-

good luck with the op and recovery TH

looks like JJ DZ LM for pool then - maybe RK/GB on the left ? maybe wing backs again?

interesting calls for Harry

There's no maybe, but an absolute guarantee R.K will feature some where. if not left side, then maybe goalkeeper.

 

[DC_Boy]

There's no maybe, but an absolute guarantee R.K will feature some where. if not left side, then maybe goalkeeper.

TANY - I've been following your posts and get what you're saying

I think actually we might see the dreaded 'little combo' up front again

 

[joey55]

Surely him having a surgery now suggests he's in our long term plans? Or are we only repairing him so we can sell him for more?

It also suggests that we've concluded we are unlikley to get anything from Anfield, which is a disappointing attitude. Accoring to Sky he's had the injury for a while and we've been putting it off. The fact we didn't deem it worthy to wait for another 5 days, until after the Liverpool game suggests we've pretty much decided our season is over. He'd have surely started against Liverpool, so the fact he's been allowed to have the operation now, seems to indicate harry isn't that bothered about the result. Unless of couse it's to give him chance of being fit for the U21's in the summer and we'd delayed it as long as possible.

 

[Coyboy]

I don't think you can make that assessment if you don't know his condition. I wouldn't use Sky as a barometer of truth or reliability.

 

[simyid]

It also suggests that we've concluded we are unlikley to get anything from Anfield, which is a disappointing attitude. Accoring to Sky he's had the injury for a while and we've been putting it off. The fact we didn't deem it worthy to wait for another 5 days, until after the Liverpool game suggests we've pretty much decided our season is over. He'd have surely started against Liverpool, so the fact he's been allowed to have the operation now, seems to indicate harry isn't that bothered about the result. Unless of couse it's to give him chance of being fit for the U21's in the summer and we'd delayed it as long as possible.

that is the most amount of bollcks ive ever read. how can u say as hudd is having an op it means are season is over surly arry see's we have good cover in zoko or ohara and there is no need to put off hudd's op any longer.

 

[ydspurs]

that is the most amount of bollcks ive ever read. how can u say as hudd is having an op it means are season is over surly arry see's we have good cover in zoko or ohara and there is no need to put off hudd's op any longer.

Isn't O'hara out with an injury as well which too required an op;

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_5298882,00.html

Zoks will probably come in alongside Jenas although I wouldn't mind seeing Modric through the middle with Bale/Benny on the left of midfield. You would have to think Keano and Defoe will start up front - there is no way Keano would want to miss this one.

Thudd is an important player to the U21 set up and as such I think the decision of taking the surgery now has probably been made to appease both parties - we get a fit Thudd back in July and England get a fit Thudd for the tournament.