What to do with JJ..

[walworthyid]

Like I said. Top 5. Twice. And JJ played in almost all of those games as an attacking midfielder.

We only needed one more place to get 4th. JJ is not the problem.

JJ played much of our best season, his first, on the right of midfield. The line up was JJ (often replaced by Lennon) Tainio Carrick Davids.

2 seasons ago, yes he played centrally, and at times very well, but my argument is not that he is a poor player. I am not a poor player and I play Sunday football, it is that he does not perform a function within the team that can be properly defined. He is not a great tackler, he is not great in the air, he is not a great passer of the ball, he does not have great close control, he does not have much skill in terms of making space for himself of being able to get past an opposing player, he does not have vision, he does not create goals, he does not help us retain the ball, his positioning is not the best, he can run alot and scores 5-7 goals per season.

The bottom line, for me at least, is that I would rather see a steady player who can actually perform a defined role within the team unit, than one who does many things but none of them particularly well. For quite some time Zokora has performed to a higher level than JJ and for that reason I would pick him ahead of JJ.

 

[gibbs131]

I think he plays "box to box" as everyone calls it. He is more attack minded, but he certainly isn't just an attacking midfielder.

IMO he is exactly that. And should be used as such.

 

[DC_Boy]

I've been saying this for a week or more

4-4-2 - modric on the left

bentley jj Mr X modric
pav bent

 

[arthurgrimsdell]

JJ is arguably our best goalscoring midfielder though. Maybe Bentley but time will tell. But with a shortage of strikers, especially in Europe, he is going to prove to be very important for us this season. I think we'll play a 5 man midfield a lot too, and Modric is more of a creator than a scorer, so we'll need JJ to break into the box and get in on the goals. He's 1 of few midfielders we have who is capable of double figures. And i'll always remember his late equaliser against Arsenal when we drew 2-2 at home, and of course his display in the 5-1 thrashing.

That is essentially what I think. I'd say play 4-5-1 away, and 4-4-1-1 at home with JJ off the main striker (generally Pavlyuchenko I'd imagine). In my view JJ's greatest attributes are his ability to break with the ball, or get into good advanced positions to receive the ball, and score his share of goals, without ever having the ability to play as a main striker. He also has enough of an engine to get back and hustle after a move breaks down, which will make a pleasant change from the arms-in-the-air sulking we have recently become used to.

The DM role, or even second CM to Modric, requires positional discipline and the ability to move the ball quickly when in possession, something which both Jenas and Zokora lack in this role (Zokora fails to move the ball quickly because he likes to run with it in no particular direction). My preference for this position would be Huddlestone, who I believe has added a little bite to his game, and, who in my view, has improved our play and quickened its tempo each time he's been brought on this season, and has been the catalyst for improvements in Modric's play. As a back-up I'd have O'Hara, who I think would do a good job, though he lacks Huddlestone's presence. For the future, I'd consider Gunter, who I think would surprise a great many people with his ability in this role (I don't see him as quite big enough at CB, and he now has two quality RB's in front of him).

 

[Real_madyidd]

IMO he is exactly that. And should be used as such.

Are we agreeing?

 

[gibbs131]

Are we agreeing?

No. Twice in one year is too much.

 

[Bristol Coys]

I've been saying this for a week or more

4-4-2 - modric on the left

bentley jj Mr X modric
pav bent

Who is Mr X? Corluka, THudd Zokora?

JJ played well for England. Interestingly when I discuss him with supporters of other clubs (some people do you know), they alwys rate him much more than Spurs fans. He seems like the sort of player that worries opposition fans, but that we somehow, (with a few notable exception) do not fully appreciate.

2-4-6-8 Who do we appreciate JE-NAS @ @ @ JE-NAS

 

[southgatespur40]

play a 5 man midfield like this

zokora


bentley jenas modric bale

 

[gibbs131]

play a 5 man midfield like this

zokora


bentley jenas modric bale

I agree.

 

[yiddobrett]

I think he's done well in the more defensive roll so far. Just because he doesn't put a boot in doesn't make him bad in that area. He's much like Carrick, he nips in and gets the ball at the very last second. However, he still uses his natural gameplay to burst forward and help the attack.

 

[DC_Boy]

Who is Mr X? Corluka, THudd Zokora?

Hi BC - that is the multi-million pound question

I think JR will go Zoko - but I really haven't a clue on this one - any of the three you mention or O'Hara i'd like

as long as we play 3 proper mids that's what I want to see

 

[lukespurs7]

JJ should play a role for us similar to that of Barry for England, slightly deeper than the other central midfielder(Modric),like with Barry and Gerrard/Lampard, both can tackle,defend,attack etc but obv Gerrard and Lamps are mainly attacking midfielders like our own little Modric. So just simply play a midfield of:Bentley JJ Modric Gio with Pav and Bent up top. Switching in Lennon and others when tactically nesseccary

 

[DC_Boy]

So just simply play a midfield of:Bentley JJ Modric Gio with Pav and Bent up top. Switching in Lennon and others when tactically nesseccary

Hi Luke I just don't think we can aford GDS in the team ATM (maybe in UEFA) - for me it has to be 3 mids plus Bentley

 

[Rackybear]

Ideally this midfield has a perfect balance on paper.

------------Zokora-------------
------Jenas-------Modric-------

We have a midfielder who will (hopefully) sit back and do all he can to protect the back four in zokora, a player who will predominently help support the attack and be of great threat in the final third in Modric, and a player who will do a bit of both (box to box) in Jenas.

They just need to perfect the way they play together.

 

[mitch8the8spur]

i like your sig team racky
tho some would think gio and modric on the same side of the midfield would be abit light weight. i guess thats were DZ comes in..
Is that the team u want after january too?
or do u agree Another CM/DM will be on the cards and if so would u see DZ being dropped not jj..

 

[Rackybear]

i like your sig team racky
tho some would think gio and modric on the same side of the midfield would be abit light weight. i guess thats were DZ comes in..
Is that the team u want after january too?
or do u agree Another CM/DM will be on the cards and if so would u see DZ being dropped not jj..

Thanks.

Regarding the team in Jan, I think ideally we need someone who can replace zokora who has a vaster range of abilities. Zokora is ok for now, but his range of footballing skills are very limited, whilst he is half decent at nicking the ball of the opposition, he cant pass or shoot or even stay disciplined enough to stop himself from going on a mazy run forwards that will end up with spurs losing possession and left completely exposed. Someone who can do what zokora does, but also pass & shoot amongst other things, will give our midfield a more complete feel to it.

Corluka's signing was very good, but Hutton will in my mind no doubt take up his usual RB role when fit. That leaves our 8 million man as a sub, or Woodgate's defensive counterpart. Kings bit part role is one I do not like, its too disturbing for the team for him to come in and play whenever an important games comes around, as a result, I think we need a top Central Defender.

I think rightly so, our strikeforce really needs to be boosted. Pav, Bent and a loanee are not enough for a club chasing the top pack, would like to see a top striker, or someone who would compliment pav's skills nicely. I do think arshavin would be perfect for that role, but he would have to play much further forward then Ive seen him do, which is my only worry.

--------------Gomes-------------
--Corluka--Woodgate--
Hutton----------X------------Bale
--------Jenas-----Modric--------
Bentley-----Arshavin------------
----------Pavlyuchenko---------

Id like to see something along those lines, with arshavin dropping to LM when defending, but drifting in and helping pav up top when on the ball and allowing Bale to push forward, likewise for Hutton on the right.

Ramos likes attacking full-backs who can get forward and back, and I think this formation would do us wonders going forward.

 

[AngerManagement]

Ideally this midfield has a perfect balance on paper.

------------Zokora-------------
------Jenas-------Modric-------

We have a midfielder who will (hopefully) sit back and do all he can to protect the back four in zokora, a player who will predominently help support the attack and be of great threat in the final third in Modric, and a player who will do a bit of both (box to box) in Jenas.

They just need to perfect the way they play together.

Yea I like the look of your team in theory, lets just hope it can play as well in reality as one would assume it should based on paper potential etc.

Especially with potential match winners on the bench such as Bent, Lennon, Huddlestone

 

[Rackybear]

Yea I like the look of your team in theory, lets just hope it can play as well in reality as one would assume it should based on paper potential etc.

Especially with potential match winners on the bench such as Bent, Lennon, Huddlestone

Thats how we lined up against chelsea at the bridge, with bentley and gio on either side as in my sig. It seemed to work well defensively, zokora really stood out, and jenas went about his work quietly. Modric seemed pretty poor imo, people say he got better as the game went on, but that depends what you regard as better. Yeah he had more touches of the ball and made a few passes, but nothing that influenced the game too much.

He needed to get closer to bent the whole game as Bent's flick on's and headers were going straight back to terry / carvalho. When modric did get close enough, it led to lampard prodding the ball to bent and scoring. I believe it can work, it will just take time for everyone to understand what they have to do FOR IT to work.

 

[AngerManagement]

Thats how we lined up against chelsea at the bridge, with bentley and gio on either side as in my sig. It seemed to work well defensively, zokora really stood out, and jenas went about his work quietly. Modric seemed pretty poor imo, people say he got better as the game went on, but that depends what you regard as better. Yeah he had more touches of the ball and made a few passes, but nothing that influenced the game too much.

He needed to get closer to bent the whole game as Bent's flick on's and headers were going straight back to terry / carvalho. When modric did get close enough, it led to lampard prodding the ball to bent and scoring. I believe it can work, it will just take time for everyone to understand what they have to do FOR IT to work.

I was talking about the team in your sig rather then just the midfield in your post. Alot depends on how well the midfield and Pav... link up, hopefully he will be a world beater and Bentley/Modric etc will rack up double figure assists