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Zokora out - Huddlestone in... MASTERSTROKE!!

worcestersauce

"I'm no optimist I'm just a prisoner of hope
Jan 23, 2006
26,894
45,042
Forgive me I was at White Hart Lane yesterday and so missed the game where Huddlestone replaced Zokora, in the game I watched Jenas replaced Zokora and Huddlestone filled the gap left by Jenas.

Jenas played in the centre of midfield effectively in front of the defense so comparrisons between Hud and zokora are a little wide of the mark.
 

InOffMeLeftShin

Night watchman
Admin
Jan 14, 2004
15,104
9,113
Forgive me I was at White Hart Lane yesterday and so missed the game where Huddlestone replaced Zokora, in the game I watched Jenas replaced Zokora and Huddlestone filled the gap left by Jenas.

Jenas played in the centre of midfield effectively in front of the defense so comparrisons between Hud and zokora are a little wide of the mark.

Spot on. Huddlestone came into the team and played an entirely different role to the one that Zokora was playing. I am not sure Huddlestone could come in and play defensively.

Zokora will certainly have a part to play this season and making him a scapegoat for Ramos' hugely ineffective tactics is very harsh.
 

yiddotilidie

Well-Known Member
Mar 23, 2005
4,002
60
Probably gave me one of my biggest smiles of the year seeing that clown start on th ebench.....and then not even get on.
 

markie

Active Member
Nov 17, 2004
1,416
1
But he replaced him in the lineup. Thats the point. Zoko was not in the squad and Hudd was... We played much better football and it was clear to see how much he holds the midfield back.
 

InOffMeLeftShin

Night watchman
Admin
Jan 14, 2004
15,104
9,113
But he replaced him in the lineup. Thats the point. Zoko was not in the squad and Hudd was... We played much better football and it was clear to see how much he holds the midfield back.

Sorry Markie, I think you are making too much of Zokora not being in the side. Yes he is a limited player but he has had some good games this season, Chelsea springs to mind, and he can have a role in our side.

Yesterday we closed down the space much better, we put pressure on the ball, we had more players getting forward and supporting the striker, our full backs were overlapping and putting pressure on the fullbacks allowing for more space for the wide men to get on the ball (as was evident for the first goal where Bentley was in acres of space while Hutton was at least 20 yards further up the pitch and being watched by the full back), the off the ball movements were simpler and more effective with more directness and we did a better job of moving the ball forward.

If you are claiming that all of that is due to Zokora not playing then I totally disagree. If you are claiming that Huddlestone is a more talented player than Zokora then you are correct.
 

worcestersauce

"I'm no optimist I'm just a prisoner of hope
Jan 23, 2006
26,894
45,042
But he replaced him in the lineup. Thats the point. Zoko was not in the squad and Hudd was... We played much better football and it was clear to see how much he holds the midfield back.

But was that more because Jenas played well in that role than the fact that Hud played.

I'm not saying anything bad about Huddlestone I'm a fan but there was an impotant change on Sunday that mustn't be missed. JJ played a role that no previous manager has given him so is that the future for a Redknappesque Spurs, although it appears that Clive Allen actually put him there; A few misplaced long passes and lostthe ball a couple of times when getting forward to Boltons box but otherwise I was quite impressed with him doing that job, anybody else have an opinion on it.
 

InOffMeLeftShin

Night watchman
Admin
Jan 14, 2004
15,104
9,113
But was that more because Jenas played well in that role than the fact that Hud played.

I'm not saying anything bad about Huddlestone I'm a fan but there was an impotant change on Sunday that mustn't be missed. JJ played a role that no previous manager has given him so is that the future for a Redknappesque Spurs, although it appears that Clive Allen actually put him there; A few misplaced long passes and lostthe ball a couple of times when getting forward to Boltons box but otherwise I was quite impressed with him doing that job, anybody else have an opinion on it.

Yes Jenas played deeper and did a good job for the team. People of course are claiming he did nothing, because they expect him to get forward and contribute offensively, but he worked hard for the other players. It is a job somebody needs to do and I thought he did it with little fuss. I don't think it is the ideal role for him, because I like it when he is breaking late into the box and being direct, but having said that he was a lot better yesterday than people are giving him credit for.
 

Stoof

THERE IS A PIGEON IN MY BANK ACCOUNT
Staff
Jun 5, 2004
32,219
64,273
I liked how Huddlestone, Modric and Jenas complemented each other yesterday. It just seemed to work, for me.
 

Bristol Coys

New Member
Aug 5, 2008
753
5
What is wrong with Spurs supporters? Is there any other team, whose supporters give their own players such a hard time. If we get on players backs, we can destroy the confidence of ANY player in a lilywhite shirt.

Why can't we appreciate Jenas as a good internatuonal player? OK He's not Steven Gerrard, but few in the world are that good. Jenas is a good player and has had some great games for Spurs.

THudd has loads of potential, but needs direction and time to grow. Look at Harry's record of developing yoiung players at Wet Spam. Tom's one of the best English youngsters in the country, but not the finished article yet.

Zokora can do a job for the team, as he proved against Chavski. We need midfield options and to accept that thee isn't a young Viera out there. Lets face it, if there was ManUre would have bought himby now.

I love the way Harry talked about the quality of the players, compared to other clubs he has taken over. He's a wise old man, lets listen to him ;-)
 

markie

Active Member
Nov 17, 2004
1,416
1
Sorry Markie, I think you are making too much of Zokora not being in the side. Yes he is a limited player but he has had some good games this season, Chelsea springs to mind, and he can have a role in our side.

Yesterday we closed down the space much better, we put pressure on the ball, we had more players getting forward and supporting the striker, our full backs were overlapping and putting pressure on the fullbacks allowing for more space for the wide men to get on the ball (as was evident for the first goal where Bentley was in acres of space while Hutton was at least 20 yards further up the pitch and being watched by the full back), the off the ball movements were simpler and more effective with more directness and we did a better job of moving the ball forward.

If you are claiming that all of that is due to Zokora not playing then I totally disagree. If you are claiming that Huddlestone is a more talented player than Zokora then you are correct.

I'm just happy to see the back of him for the time being and I love seeing Hudd back in the squad because he is a much better all round footballer..
 

ward1848

New Member
Mar 2, 2005
559
0
One game doesnt make a genius. Hudd played great for the first 20, died off a bit and only appeared for fleeting glimpses throughout. We did look more cohesive and fluid, I grant you that, but against a team who actually attacks with pace I am not sure if he will just be bypassed in the middle again. He played in the middle of 3 against villa and was just awful, he moved like an old man on crack.
 

worcestersauce

"I'm no optimist I'm just a prisoner of hope
Jan 23, 2006
26,894
45,042
One game doesnt make a genius. Hudd played great for the first 20, died off a bit and only appeared for fleeting glimpses throughout. We did look more cohesive and fluid, I grant you that, but against a team who actually attacks with pace I am not sure if he will just be bypassed in the middle again. He played in the middle of 3 against villa and was just awful, he moved like an old man on crack.


Trust me old men on crack can move pretty damn fast :grin:
 

joey55

Well-Known Member
May 20, 2005
9,675
3,091
But was that more because Jenas played well in that role than the fact that Hud played.

I'm not saying anything bad about Huddlestone I'm a fan but there was an impotant change on Sunday that mustn't be missed. JJ played a role that no previous manager has given him so is that the future for a Redknappesque Spurs, although it appears that Clive Allen actually put him there; A few misplaced long passes and lostthe ball a couple of times when getting forward to Boltons box but otherwise I was quite impressed with him doing that job, anybody else have an opinion on it.

JJ played the same role against Derby and Utd last season under Jol. He also played the same role against Chelsea away towards the end of ther 2006/7 season. I think it suits him best and having watched the game twice now, I think he has been harshly treated in the ratings thread. I actually think he was our MOTM. Modric was great and Hudd (my original choice) did some things that caught the eye, but JJ really kept everything together in midfield, but also got forward to support the attack when the time was right. He played a bit like Vieira. I'll probably have a lot of people disgreeing with me over JJ's performance, but I'd urge them to watch again.
 
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