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Player Watch Player Watch: Oliver Skipp

IGSpur

Well-Known Member
Jan 11, 2013
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13,758


Love this. Right at the top of the page I said the thing that stood out for me was his ability ot turn on the ball and relieve pressure, as he has great spatial awareness. DMs are typically known for their tackling and energy and that is what catch most people's eye as Skipp has plenty of ability there and that's why when he could do the additional stuff I realised he was a top class player and glad to see the Dutch players recognise the same.

Skipp would make an excellent DM, just because he can also go forward it doesn't make him unreliable, he is able to follow instructions, however regardless I don't see the concern in having a strict DM who is also able to make ambitious passes forward or look forward to help spring attacks.
 

Cochise

Well-Known Member
Aug 8, 2019
4,762
12,519
I'm more impressed with his passing through the lines than anything else. When I first started to hear the noise about the lad I was expecting a good tackler/reader of the game. It was his passing however that really suprised me, he's got a really good way of weighting his pass to be just that place between over and underhit.

He makes it easy for those receiving the ball to turn or take a touch without worrying about being pressed immediately or having to take a second touch to control the ball.
 

SpursSince1980

Well-Known Member
Jan 23, 2011
4,731
14,439
If we replenish our midfield next season. If Ndombele suddenly switches on. If Jose persists with a two man midfield, then objectively speaking the best outcome for Skipp and the club is a one to two year loan to either a championship team on the verge or a newly promoted PL team. I keep forgetting he's only 19. And he plays a position that tends to depend on players that excel at reading the game. And that requires experience. Making occasional spot starts or sub appearances for us isn't helpful at this stage of his growth. He needs one or two years of playing that position nearly every game. That won't happen with us right now.

I've seen enough in him to suggest he has as much upside as Winks, Mason, Bentaleb... And perhaps he could end up better than all three. But its clear to me, that he will definitely reach the aforementioned levels. So, we either have a player worth having in the squad, as they offer quality depth. Or, he is surplus to requirements, but has proven he has enough value to be sold for 10-15m. But to reach that point, he needs at least 30-40 starts in midfield, playing at a competitive level.

Personally, i like the looks of him. He seems unflappable, determined and willing to learn and work hard. All wonderful attributes. Whether with us, or someone else, he has a long career ahead of him, playing in the highest level leagues.
 

mark87

Well-Known Member
Nov 29, 2004
36,031
114,061
I really hope he’s given the chance to develop

could be an international

I think if Winks can become an international then Skipp can, that's not a sly on Winks either.
Skipp needs to be given his chances, but then he'll need to take those chances.
 

Wig

Well-Known Member
May 23, 2018
2,812
11,078
I think if Winks can become an international then Skipp can, that's not a sly on Winks either.
Skipp needs to be given his chances, but then he'll need to take those chances.
It will be interesting to see who gets Jose's nod of approval to start in the DM position... you have 3 English guys Skipp, Winks and Dier all fighting for the same spot. I would like to see Skipp given the chance
 

king26

Well-Known Member
Feb 28, 2008
1,103
1,490
Agree could be the answer and save club money to spend on right back or striker we need
 

Locotoro

Prince of Zamunda
Sep 2, 2004
9,326
13,915
I think he will be our DM very soon. Only thing lacking at the moment in my opinion is being physically dominant over his peers. Technically, very good and very capable of recycling the ball. In this new world where we can't spend too much i think with another year he'll be our first choice DM.
 

Timberwolf

Well-Known Member
Jan 17, 2008
10,328
50,217
I think he will be our DM very soon. Only thing lacking at the moment in my opinion is being physically dominant over his peers. Technically, very good and very capable of recycling the ball. In this new world where we can't spend too much i think with another year he'll be our first choice DM.
I really hope so.

In one of his starts prior to the lockdown (can't remember who it was against) he looked like exactly the player we'd been missing in the middle of the park. He was energetically harrying players, blocking the passing lanes, putting in tackles and then making quick, intelligent passes. I don't think the opposition was much cop, so am trying not to get too carried away and proclaim he's the next Kante or whoever, but he looked twice as good as Dier and Winks have in any recent game in that deeper role.

Given our current position in the league and the gaping hole in DM, we should just give Skipp a run in the team and see what he can do when he's played week in, week out. Kane made his proper breakthrough under Sherwood in a similar situation: Tim gave him a run of 10 games at the end of a dead season and that was when he really started to prove himself, laying the groundwork for the following season under Poch.

We don't really have anything to lose. We need to take risks if we want CL football and he honestly can't be any worse than Dier/Winks/Sissoko in that role. If he doesn't cut it then it won't make much difference. And if he does make it then we've properly blooded another young, homegrown player into the first 11 in an essential position.

Since we probably won't have much (or even any) money to spend this summer, it makes even more sense to give him a run in the side now, as we're going to be very light indeed at DM next season if no-one else comes in.
 

Dirtysanchez6

Well-Known Member
May 15, 2018
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Skipp need a loan he has potential but is a Long way off being our starting dm! Needs a loan to develop and prove himself in the championship then possibly the prem! Few games he has played lately have passed him by
 

Locotoro

Prince of Zamunda
Sep 2, 2004
9,326
13,915
Skipp need a loan he has potential but is a Long way off being our starting dm! Needs a loan to develop and prove himself in the championship then possibly the prem! Few games he has played lately have passed him by
I don't see how he is a long way off being DM when you compare our current options.
For me, Dier should be considered a CB. That leaves Winks as the alternative. Whilst I am a fan of Winks, Skipp shows far more defensive awareness and is stronger in the tackle than Winks. If you view the alternative as buying an Ndidi or Luis that negates the point we're making.
 

Dirtysanchez6

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May 15, 2018
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I don't see how he is a long way off being DM when you compare our current options.
For me, Dier should be considered a CB. That leaves Winks as the alternative. Whilst I am a fan of Winks, Skipp shows far more defensive awareness and is stronger in the tackle than Winks. If you view the alternative as buying an Ndidi or Luis that negates the point we're making.
Skipp is no we’re near ready to be a starting dm for a club with top 4 ambitions it’s as simple as that! He looked like a wee boy against Burnley he was awful, like I said needs a loan. If you think Jose is planning on using skipp as the starting dm within the next year your very wrong! Plans will be made to sign a new one! Skipp is about 3 years away from a main starter and that’s with a loan
 

dontcallme

SC Supporter
Mar 18, 2005
33,985
81,905
Skipp is no we’re near ready to be a starting dm for a club with top 4 ambitions it’s as simple as that! He looked like a wee boy against Burnley he was awful, like I said needs a loan. If you think Jose is planning on using skipp as the starting dm within the next year your very wrong! Plans will be made to sign a new one! Skipp is about 3 years away from a main starter and that’s with a loan
Agree. I think a lot of fans make the mistake of thinking because the experienced players aren’t up to quality we should just throw in the youngsters.

But playing players before they’re ready can be detrimental to their development.

Skipp has shown some potential. Some Championship experience could be perfect for him.
 

spurs9

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
11,840
34,012
I don't see how he is a long way off being DM when you compare our current options.
For me, Dier should be considered a CB. That leaves Winks as the alternative. Whilst I am a fan of Winks, Skipp shows far more defensive awareness and is stronger in the tackle than Winks. If you view the alternative as buying an Ndidi or Luis that negates the point we're making.
Considering we have been desperate for a DM all season and he has played a total of 57 mins all season in the PL under 2 different managers would suggest to me he is some way off being our starting DM.

Personally, I hope we keep him as a rotation DM and bring in someone like Florentino Luis.
 

punkisback

Well-Known Member
Apr 10, 2004
4,410
7,278
Skipp need a loan he has potential but is a Long way off being our starting dm! Needs a loan to develop and prove himself in the championship then possibly the prem! Few games he has played lately have passed him by
I Don't think he technically good. You need to be technically superb at youth level to play CM to a good standard in the PL; the game is so much faster and superb technicians at youth look average at PL level due to this. Skip looks very much in the mark noble mould in relation to technique; Mason and Winks were superb technicians at youth level but became more average technicians in PL.
 

thekneaf

Well-Known Member
Jan 18, 2011
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3,878
Skipp is no we’re near ready to be a starting dm for a club with top 4 ambitions it’s as simple as that! He looked like a wee boy against Burnley he was awful, like I said needs a loan. If you think Jose is planning on using skipp as the starting dm within the next year your very wrong! Plans will be made to sign a new one! Skipp is about 3 years away from a main starter and that’s with a loan
While I agree he hasn't shown that he can be the DM in a team with title aspirations just jet, I think highlighting the Burnley game is a little unfair. He was a double pivot in that game and the other player completely gave up playing that system.

I hope he's spent the lockdown digesting loads of videos about positional play and transitions. He's got the awareness and the tackling ability, the passing vision. He's raw, may need a loan, but if a few positional things click and he has confidence in himself I don't think he's 3 years off.
 

Dirtysanchez6

Well-Known Member
May 15, 2018
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While I agree he hasn't shown that he can be the DM in a team with title aspirations just jet, I think highlighting the Burnley game is a little unfair. He was a double pivot in that game and the other player completely gave up playing that system.

I hope he's spent the lockdown digesting loads of videos about positional play and transitions. He's got the awareness and the tackling ability, the passing vision. He's raw, may need a loan, but if a few positional things click and he has confidence in himself I don't think he's 3 years off.
Thing is what your saying about that Burnley game ... does ndombele get highlighted as much if he has a top dm next to him ? A top dm wipes up a lot of the chasing work ndombele had to do it works both way he wouldn’t have been as bad in that game with a top dm either!
 

Timberwolf

Well-Known Member
Jan 17, 2008
10,328
50,217
I don't reckon the Burnley game is enough to go on. He was our best player in the previous game in the cup against Norwich.

I might get egg on my face but I honestly think this kid has everything to make it in this Spurs team, especially in its current state.

Reckon the lad will be in the England squad within the next 2 years.
 

thekneaf

Well-Known Member
Jan 18, 2011
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3,878
Thing is what your saying about that Burnley game ... does ndombele get highlighted as much if he has a top dm next to him ? A top dm wipes up a lot of the chasing work ndombele had to do it works both way he wouldn’t have been as bad in that game with a top dm either!
No a world class might manage, but you're talking about very few who could cope. Maybe only the top 5. For all but the very best it's about team work and sticking to a plan. You need your teammates to do the work they're meant to do.

Now experience allows a player to decide, do I cover for the insane positioning of my other pivot? Or do I stick to my job?... and to that i don't have an answer.
 
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