Modric in the middle

[mil1lion]

Well lets make this perfectly clear first. Malbranque is at the peak of his career with plenty of experience, including Premier League experience. Modric is a 23 year old with bags of potential and into his first season in a big League. So far he's adapting well. Its not really a fair comparison is it?

And those who dont think Modric is all that special, need to understand that he is one of our best players. Not to say he is world class (yet) but arguably our best midfielder (possibly 2nd to Palacios.) So i dont really understand the negativity towards him. But i also understand that some fans get carried away with what is potential and what is the completed product. Modric is what much of our squad is, a player with the potential to be world class, but currently a very good player. He could play for any club outside the top 4 in England and i for one am glad we have him. Unfortunately for us, chances are, if he does develop that potential into world class, he will probably join one of the top teams in Europe. So we should get behind him and hopefully enjoy watching another star in the making.

 

[gibbs131]

How were you right other than proving that you are, to put it mildly, an immature, reactionary, ignorant, naive, attention-seeking, pitiable and petty person?

Malbranque has had a good season. Good he is a good player but if you cannot even see the mitigating circumstances not to mention the class that Modric oozes when in his best position, then you don't deserve to be a spurs or football fan. Be a fucking boring data analyst or train spotter.

See? It wasn't hard to tell me I was right all along now was it?

 

[foresthillyid]

This thread is about Modric being a good option in the middle of midfield.

And me being light hearted about people saying he can boss the midfield with his presence and tackling ability.

I don't take myself that seriously.

But he isn't a winger, he is a central midfielder. So far the prospect of him and Palacios has not worked. The idea of those two protected by Jenas who also has the engine to get forward is preferable to sacrificing Modric who is our most talented player. To be fair to Rednapp, he didn't initiate this misplaced choice. Ramos too has moved Modric around as our form got worse and worse. If you think our form was directly proportionate to Modric being in the team, then I stand by what I say you are better suited to debate data than football, as there are so many caveats and mitigating factors that deny you the opportunity to unequivocally jump up and down and say 'I was right' like a little boy.

'Malbs beat Modric'. This isn't boxing.

'Malbs' has more assists than any midfielder. So is he better than Gerrard and Lampard too?

'Malbs was sold for peanuts'? Wasn't it 20 mil inc Chimbonda and Tainio?

'I said Malbs would be sold'. Wow you really put yourself out there. Is your family relieved such a gamble came off.

Do you have a 'Malbs' teddy bear and photoshopped pictures of you two in Paris?

 

[foresthillyid]

See? It wasn't hard to tell me I was right all along now was it?

So your whole point is just that Malbranque is a good player? Ok here goes and I may be wrong...Ledley King is a good player.

Yay I was right, I was right. I would like to thank my Mum...

 

[gibbs131]

Well lets make this perfectly clear first. Malbranque is at the peak of his career with plenty of experience, including Premier League experience. Modric is a 23 year old with bags of potential and into his first season in a big League. So far he's adapting well. Its not really a fair comparison is it?

And those who dont think Modric is all that special, need to understand that he is one of our best players. Not to say he is world class (yet) but arguably our best midfielder (possibly 2nd to Palacios.) So i dont really understand the negativity towards him. But i also understand that some fans get carried away with what is potential and what is the completed product. Modric is what much of our squad is, a player with the potential to be world class, but currently a very good player. He could play for any club outside the top 4 in England and i for one am glad we have him. Unfortunately for us, chances are, if he does develop that potential into world class, he will probably join one of the top teams in Europe. So we should get behind him and hopefully enjoy watching another star in the making.

What people are not getting, is that I am not, or have ever said, that Modric isnt a good player.

It was just the very..very last thing we needed when we bought him. We were already a team of faries, and we needed 2 or 3 palaciouses instead.

Now...a lot of time has passed since our WORST START IN THE HISTORY OF FOOTBALL which Modric was a key figure. And we have changed the team to adjust.

Now...Modric can work. Just pray...pray Palacious stays fit for our Prem campaign. And we get some more beasts in the off season and offload some of our players that make us unable to compete away from hom because of set peices etc etc.

 

[jurgen]

Doesnt Malbranque play off the right and through the centre now, i.e. his proper position, of course the different systems used by Sunderland, the different position he plays in and different type strikers up front mean as impressive as the assist rate he has this year is, its only really worth looking at his stats with us, which weren't great in comparison, though he brought a lot to our team.

So by throwing the stats at us, you're proving Malbranque has been liberated by being played in his proper position - how strange - Modric has, by your own argument, been switched all over the place by managers unsure of how to use him, again a problem, but he's proved to be best in the centre and has barely played there, so similar to Malbranque, not liberated yet for us. I am more than happy to play him left in a 4-4-2 at the moment, but suggesting switching him with a more combative player might allow his quick passing to work in the middle and get BAE motoring.

First half against Hull, he didnt see the game mainly because Palacios and Jenas were not moving the ball quickly enough and were being utterly dominated in the centre, despite being far stronger players (well Wilson), being less technical hindered them as we tried to keep it on the deck then gave up and hoofed it.

 

[gibbs131]

But he isn't a winger, he is a central midfielder. So far the prospect of him and Palacios has not worked. The idea of those two protected by Jenas who also has the engine to get forward is preferable to sacrificing Modric who is our most talented player. To be fair to Rednapp, he didn't initiate this misplaced choice. Ramos too has moved Modric around as our form got worse and worse. If you think our form was directly proportionate to Modric being in the team, then I stand by what I say you are better suited to debate data than football, as there are so many caveats and mitigating factors that deny you the opportunity to unequivocally jump up and down and say 'I was right' like a little boy.

'Malbs beat Modric'. This isn't boxing.

'Malbs' has more assists than any midfielder. So is he better than Gerrard and Lampard too?

'Malbs was sold for peanuts'? Wasn't it 20 mil inc Chimbonda and Tainio?

'I said Malbs would be sold'. Wow you really put yourself out there. Is your family relieved such a gamble came off.

Do you have a 'Malbs' teddy bear and photoshopped pictures of you two in Paris?

So you can say, that Modric is a more talented player than Palacious, Defoe, Keane, Lennon etc with absolute, 100% certainty?

You don't think that he may just have potential, and it hasn't really been uncovered yet because he is still adapting to a much harder league? You know...reality. And what is going on in reality?

So far, I would not say he is more talented than Bostock or Dos Santos, let alone the likes of Ledley King.

Modric is not our best player. He was a gamble, has had 2 good games in about 30, and one great game. These plaudits, are simply unfounded.

 

[gibbs131]

Doesnt Malbranque play off the right and through the centre now, i.e. his proper position, of course the different systems used by Sunderland, the different position he plays in and different type strikers up front mean as impressive as the assist rate he has this year is, its only really worth looking at his stats with us, which weren't great in comparison, though he brought a lot to our team.

So by throwing the stats at us, you're proving Malbranque has been liberated by being played in his proper position - how strange - Modric has, by your own argument, been switched all over the place by managers unsure of how to use him, again a problem, but he's proved to be best in the centre and has barely played there, so similar to Malbranque, not liberated yet for us. I am more than happy to play him left in a 4-4-2 at the moment, but suggesting switching him with a more combative player might allow his quick passing to work in the middle and get BAE motoring.

First half against Hull, he didnt see the game mainly because Palacios and Jenas were not moving the ball quickly enough and were being utterly dominated in the centre, despite being far stronger players (well Wilson), being less technical hindered them as we tried to keep it on the deck then gave up and hoofed it.

Even Palacious was struggling with the physicality of the first half. How do you think Modric would have done in there?

Modrics best game in the center was against a team that had not won a single game away from home. At WHL.

 

[mil1lion]

What people are not getting, is that I am not, or have ever said, that Modric isnt a good player.

It was just the very..very last thing we needed when we bought him. We were already a team of faries, and we needed 2 or 3 palaciouses instead.

Now...a lot of time has passed since our WORST START IN THE HISTORY OF FOOTBALL which Modric was a key figure. And we have changed the team to adjust.

Now...Modric can work. Just pray...pray Palacious stays fit for our Prem campaign. And we get some more beasts in the off season and offload some of our players that make us unable to compete away from hom because of set peices etc etc.

I agree that we needed to strengthen more in the summer in terms of physical attributes. But i dont think signing Modric was a bad move. Especially as we took away a lot of creativity by selling Keane and Berbatov. It was clear our midfield lacked creativity and Keane and Berbatov glossed over that fact.

It wasn't so much that we signed Modric that was a problem as it was us selling Tainio and Malbranque, and not bringing any gritty and physical players to replace them. If we had signed Modric and kept Tainio and Malbranque then there would be no problem. But the fact that we signed Modric, Giovani and Bentley to replace Tainio and Malbranque in midfield, was the big problem.

And thats clearly why we struggle so much against the more physical teams (and theres more of them this season than any other season i can remember.) Its also a reason why we struggle so much on the road too. So signing Modric is not a problem and it made a lot more sense to me than signing Giovani or Bentley. It has always been a lack of balance between the flair players and the gritty fighters (which is pretty much Harry has been saying.)

We need to compliment the likes of Lennon and Modric with stronger players like Palacios. With the midfield we have now i would say that a midfield of O'Hara--Modric--Palacios--Lennon would offer us the best mix of fight and flair. A physical left midfielder like Davids or Malbranque would probably be our best option in the summer.

 

[west indie]

gibbsy i think you were originally a wimbledon fan until they got relegated from the prem then switched to spurs... modric was not with us last season or the one before when we had identical starts as our current campaign? a side who also won 3 league games from 24th february up to the day arry arrived (relegation form since last season)?

i didnt see you heaping a proportion of responsibility towards the main stays at the time marlbranque? zokora? dawson? jenas? keane etc... but its all down to the arrival of modric and his lack of strength thats our hinderence in your eyes?
i bet your impressed with stoke's long throw antics...

 

[foresthillyid]

Well his talents are different to Ledley King just as they are Gomes and Levy. You know that so don't be silly. What sets him apart from the other players you mention is his intelligence and guile but as he is still young and playing in a new league and so hasn't provided as many basic assists as Malbranque or others, he is no better than a sixteen year old who has played for us once or a nineteen year old who has done very little through injury partly, is that what you are saying?

 

[gibbs131]

i didnt see you heaping a proportion of responsibility towards the main stays at the time marlbranque? zokora? dawson? jenas? keane etc... but its all down to the arrival of modric and his lack of strength thats our hinderence in your eyes?
i bet your impressed with stoke's long throw antics...

Back then I said Hughton and the majority of Jols other backroom staff (from fitness, diet etc etc) coaches was the problem. Then a few months later after an epic thread, Hughton was sacked.

I got racked over the coals on that one too. When Hughton got let go (after surving a dozen other managers) that thread got locked too. Mods hate it when I come up with a bold claim, then it comes true. Because I got so much shit during these threads, that I can't help but laugh about it. Long and hard.

 

[gibbs131]

Well his talents are different to Ledley King just as they are Gomes and Levy. You know that so don't be silly. What sets him apart from the other players you mention is his intelligence and guile but as he is still young and playing in a new league and so hasn't provided as many basic assists as Malbranque or others, he is no better than a sixteen year old who has played for us once or a nineteen year old who has done very little through injury partly, is that what you are saying?

I am not of the opinion that Modric is the most talented player at Spurs. Which, you claim.

Bentley can score from the halfway line against Arsenal. I doubt Modric can even reach the halfway line.

So far Modric looks more Dominguez than he does Ardiles.

 

[gibbs131]

Also, Palacious has come MUCH closer to scoring than Modric since he has been here.

You need some oomph in this league. It is no coincidence Malbs has huge legs. Because that is how you roll in the Prem.

Modric has to adapt and gain some muscle.

Haha....check out Ghalys last game for his new club:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2-p...ews_item.aspx?id=1432&feature=player_embedded

 

[west indie]

gibbsy my point is we have been in relegation form since the turn of 2008 with berba & keane upfront, but modric was'nt on the books and we were still fragile and light weight in midfield?(most of them guys are still at the club)...

modric was brought in to create, palacios was brought in to add the aggression & determination that 1st team members zokora/jenas plus other midfielders in our squad dont have..

 

[foresthillyid]

You are completely losing the plot, you are being childish. Palacios has come closer to scoring ergo he is better? They are not comparable, they are potentially complementary. So in three games, Palacios has come closer to scoring therefore he is more talented than Modric? You have no clue do you? And then you started lusting after Malbranque's legs...

 

[gibbs131]

gibbsy my point is we have been in relegation form since the turn of 2008 with berba & keane upfront, but modric was'nt on the books and we were still fragile and light weight in midfield?(most of them guys are still at the club)...

modric was brought in to create, palacios was brought in to add the aggression & determination that 1st team members zokora/jenas plus other midfielders in our squad dont have..

Wasnt Modric, Berbatov and Keane were all at Spurs during the start of the season? Can't remember but I think they all were.

Palacious was brought in because of lack of physicality, which Modric didn't exactly help with did he?

 

[leffe186]

I am not of the opinion that Modric is the most talented player at Spurs. Which, you claim.

Bentley can score from the halfway line against Arsenal. I doubt Modric can even reach the halfway line.

So far Modric looks more Dominguez than he does Ardiles.

Modric set up the last goal and really deserved to score it with a lovely move and flighted shot. I think that Modric has been better than Bentley this season and I suspect most would agree.

I don't understand why we have to lurch wildly from one extreme to another when considering players. Jenas is shit or he's brilliant. Modric is a liability or our best (football) player.

FWIW my opinion is that Modric alongside Palacios can work as long as Lennon and an intelligent, hard-working midfielder (Jenas, possibly O-Hara) are on the flanks. Our forwards have consistently shown they're not up to the task of playing as the lone forward through either inability to hold the ball up or lack of physicality. As a result 442 looks the best option and if Modric is on the left he ends up leaving BAE horribly exposed. It's the same when Bentley is on the left.

Modric alongside Jenas doesn't work. Modric alongside Zokora almost works. If Bentley was playing better I would have JJ & WP in the middle with Bentley & Lennon on the wings but Bentley just isn't doing it. Without Modric all the sustained attacking falls to Lennon and teams just double or triple-team him. Until Keano gets his act together or Defoe gets fit and makes what was looking a really interesting partnership with Pav I really think we need Modric on the pitch.

 

[gibbs131]

Modric set up the last goal and really deserved to score it with a lovely move and flighted shot. I think that Modric has been better than Bentley this season and I suspect most would agree.

I don't understand why we have to lurch wildly from one extreme to another when considering players. Jenas is shit or he's brilliant. Modric is a liability or our best (football) player.

FWIW my opinion is that Modric alongside Palacios can work as long as Lennon and an intelligent, hard-working midfielder (Jenas, possibly O-Hara) are on the flanks. Our forwards have consistently shown they're not up to the task of playing as the lone forward through either inability to hold the ball up or lack of physicality. As a result 442 looks the best option and if Modric is on the left he ends up leaving BAE horribly exposed. It's the same when Bentley is on the left.

Modric alongside Jenas doesn't work. Modric alongside Zokora almost works. If Bentley was playing better I would have JJ & WP in the middle with Bentley & Lennon on the wings but Bentley just isn't doing it. Without Modric all the sustained attacking falls to Lennon and teams just double or triple-team him. Until Keano gets his act together or Defoe gets fit and makes what was looking a really interesting partnership with Pav I really think we need Modric on the pitch.

We need to sign another player in order to play Modric in the middle.

 

[west indie]

gibbsy as us caribbeans would say "your playing the arse" what part dont you understand that league wise spurs have been in relegation form since the turn of 2008 with your boy wonder marlbranque in the side, it has not been because modric signed? more like other senior pros at the club have yet to come of age in the prem putting in consistant performances.

if arsenal injuries cleared up they have alot of light weight players rosicky, fabregas, walcott etc.. but there technical ability plus movement on/off the ball is second to none? for lennons size he attacks and helps corluka/chimbonda defensively? looking at palacios when he plays the ball he always makes himself available for a return pass which is the type of players modric loves so i see no reason why it couldnt work?