: Thu Mar 26, 2009 8:17 pm  

Stirlingshire Saint wrote:

This is where you go wrong you see. You have a different opinion on Spurs players than myself. However you also tie yourself in knots by one minute saying the likes of Palacios cannot do this and that and then state they are a factor in our improvement.

I'm happy to debate the merits of any Spurs player you like, however the chances of agreement are slim as I don't happen to agree that they are all garbage.

Palacios serves a purpose. He gets in the way and adds physicality and an athleticism in midfield, and he has freshened up the midfield. It allows Lennon and Modric to get forward a bit more. Now I don't particularly rate Modric. He's not a bad player but to me he is simply too physically weak, and just doesn't do enough. He's overrated. If I had a choice of 5 Spurs players I would not choose him. I would much rather have Corluka, King, Keane, Lennon and Woodgate.

I think as teams suss out the Spurs' midfield that includes Palacios, Spurs wil find games a tad more difficult.

Regarding our previous on King, I never once said that King is not a very good defender. I have always rated King. However, I don't think he is anywhere near as good a Ferdinand. Camel Gob is IMO the best centre-half in the world. Quite why you think I hold this view because I am anti-Spurs, I don't know. After all, I rate Ferdinand very highly yet he plays for a club I don't particularly like.

: Thu Mar 26, 2009 8:23 pm  

i certainly don't rate king as a centre back, terry, ferdinand and carragher are streets ahead of him and then there are the foriegners...vidic, carvallho, agger, toure, gallas, skirtl, johnny evans, etc etc etc etc.

: Thu Mar 26, 2009 8:37 pm  

Robbie Rotten wrote: David Silva to Liverpool? Yes please! Seems like they're getting the rumours in early, a top player but I'm not sure how he'd do as a consistent wide player. Yes please indeed! If we can get him below £20mill I'd be well impressed. A good attacking outlet and will provide us with a few more options. Plus another striker.

Robbie Rotten wrote: David Silva to Liverpool? Yes please! Seems like they're getting the rumours in early, a top player but I'm not sure how he'd do as a consistent wide player. Yes please indeed! If we can get him below £20mill I'd be well impressed. A good attacking outlet and will provide us with a few more options. Plus another striker.

: Thu Mar 26, 2009 8:42 pm  

Enfield Exile wrote:

Palacios serves a purpose. He gets in the way and adds physicality and an athleticism in midfield, and he has freshened up the midfield. It allows Lennon and Modric to get forward a bit more. Now I don't particularly rate Modric. He's not a bad player but to me he is simply too physically weak, and just doesn't do enough. He's overrated. If I had a choice of 5 Spurs players I would not choose him. I would much rather have Corluka, King, Keane, Lennon and Woodgate.

Palacios provides Spurs with something they have needed for 10 years and more. He stiffens the midfield up hugely. He is a good ball winner and offers the simple pass to the more creative players. Simple it may sound but there are numerous players who cannot do this. He is the single biggest reason for our upturn for me and I am delighted we got him. He also looks like he likes having a go at goal as well which can only be a bonus once he gets settled. Lennon has improved through his basic skills being improved, not because of Palacios; Lennon went forward equally as much before his arrival.

I cannot take you seriously over Modric at all. The bloke can do everything with the ball. He is only slight but once he is put in the hole behind the front next season I see no reason why he cannot succeed. His improvement has been huge since Redknapp came and I see him scoring a few goals as well. His 'weakness' hasn't hindered him very often this year, which coincidentally is his first year in what is a very tough league. To suggest you 'dont rate him at all' when his performances on the International stage and at his club sides show otherwise is madness, apparently Juventus are chasing him for next season as well. It also wouldn't surprise me if we see Chelsea make an attempt to freshen up their side.

Enfield Exile wrote:

I think as teams suss out the Spurs' midfield that includes Palacios, Spurs wil find games a tad more difficult.

Maybe so but that works for all teams. Spurs have the makings of a very good side. They have a strong spine through the middle of the side and with an option down the left brought in for next year hopefully we look like we can defend and score goals.

Enfield Exile wrote:

Regarding our previous on King, I never once said that King is not a very good defender. I have always rated King. However, I don't think he is anywhere near as good a Ferdinand. Camel Gob is IMO the best centre-half in the world. Quite why you think I hold this view because I am anti-Spurs, I don't know. After all, I rate Ferdinand very highly yet he plays for a club I don't particularly like.

Ferdinand is obviously a fine defender, however I rate King very highly also and so do most football folk. His injuries have limited him, I genuinely believe without them he would right now represent the pinnacle of defending in this country.

: Thu Mar 26, 2009 10:58 pm  

Enfield Exile wrote:

I am many things, whether I am the internet alias 'Enfield Exile' or just my normal self. Being deluded is not one of them. I'm far too pessimistic and critical of City to be regarded as 'deluded'.

Collectively; maybe not. On an individual player basis; totally deluded.

: Thu Mar 26, 2009 11:04 pm  

Stirlingshire Saint wrote:

Lots, then;

I cannot take you seriously over Modric at all. The bloke can do everything with the ball. He is only slight but once he is put in the hole behind the front next season I see no reason why he cannot succeed. His improvement has been huge since Redknapp came and I see him scoring a few goals as well. His 'weakness' hasn't hindered him very often this year, which coincidentally is his first year in what is a very tough league. To suggest you 'dont rate him at all' when his performances on the International stage and at his club sides show otherwise is madness, apparently Juventus are chasing him for next season as well. It also wouldn't surprise me if we see Chelsea make an attempt to freshen up their side.

.

Modric will never cut it playing in the Premiership as a midfielder. he is too easily overrun. Play him in a position where it isn't that easy to pick up and he can pick out a pass and run at defenders, then he will shine.

: Fri Mar 27, 2009 1:48 am  

getdownmonkeyman wrote:

Modric will never cut it playing in the Premiership as a midfielder. he is too easily overrun. Play him in a position where it isn't that easy to pick up and he can pick out a pass and run at defenders, then he will shine.

He'd be good in Gerrard's role, behind Torres...

: Fri Mar 27, 2009 2:40 am  

Robbie Rotten wrote:

He'd be good in Gerrard's role, behind Torres...

well liverpool can take modric then and liverpool can give gerrard to man utd

: Fri Mar 27, 2009 8:49 am  

Stirlingshire Saint wrote:

Palacios provides Spurs with something they have needed for 10 years and more. He stiffens the midfield up hugely. He is a good ball winner and offers the simple pass to the more creative players.

TBH he rarely tackles an opposition player without a giving away a free-kick. Sometimes just getting in the way and being goal-side is enough.

Simple it may sound but there are numerous players who cannot do this. He is the single biggest reason for our upturn for me and I am delighted we got him. He also looks like he likes having a go at goal as well which can only be a bonus once he gets settled. Lennon has improved through his basic skills being improved, not because of Palacios; Lennon went forward equally as much before his arrival.

Lennon has had a good three or four months. I have always liked him, although his final ball has worsened as he has got older. The main reason why he is playing well is because Redknapp is getting him to play to his strengths. Previously Jol (in his last season) and Ramos were encouraging him to go inside the full-back (probably because his final ball wasn’t great), and he was nowhere near as effective.

When his upturn in good form started, he was playing against weaker teams. However, since he now has an insurance in midfield, he is performing well against the better teams. He was a bit disappointing on Saturday but at least his ‘form’ put off Cashley from going forward. TBH apart from the collective defensive unit of Spurs, and Gomes, no-one played particularly well.

The sooner Lennon stops hanging around with Huddletsone, the better he will get.

I cannot take you seriously over Modric at all. The bloke can do everything with the ball. He is only slight but once he is put in the hole behind the front next season I see no reason why he cannot succeed. His improvement has been huge since Redknapp came and I see him scoring a few goals as well. His 'weakness' hasn't hindered him very often this year, which coincidentally is his first year in what is a very tough league. To suggest you 'dont rate him at all' when his performances on the International stage and at his club sides show otherwise is madness, apparently Juventus are chasing him for next season as well. It also wouldn't surprise me if we see Chelsea make an attempt to freshen up their side.

Juventus are interested? Is this the club who have Camronesi (sp?), possibly the worst player to ever get an Italian cap?

Regarding Modric’s form for club sides: Are you talking about his performances in the not too respectable Croatian league? He also hasn’t broken many pots at international level either, and he hardly set alight the Champs League. He would be better suited to a less physical and slower-paced league.

Like I said before, Billic built him up, but Modric has yet to back it up, for me. If I think someone is a good footballer, I will admit. e.g. Ferdinand.

Maybe so but that works for all teams. Spurs have the makings of a very good side. They have a strong spine through the middle of the side and with an option down the left brought in for next year hopefully we look like we can defend and score goals.

I think Spurs are helped at the moment by the fact that they have had plenty of luck with injuries (full squad, bar two players available for the last month or so). Hutton hasn’t been avalable but then I think Corluka is far better. The Croation can defend, has great technique and has an end product. The other missing player is Defoe. That may be a blessing in disguise for Spurs as I don’t think he could fit into the same as Modric and Keane.

I think they have a solid spine (they have spent enough money on it over the years – 4th highest spenders in Prem history?). However,

Ferdinand is obviously a fine defender, however I rate King very highly also and so do most football folk. His injuries have limited him, I genuinely believe without them he would right now represent the pinnacle of defending in this country.

I think that the very best defenders are great footballers too, that’s why I won’t regard him as world class.

: Fri Mar 27, 2009 8:55 am  

getdownmonkeyman wrote:

Modric will never cut it playing in the Premiership as a midfielder. he is too easily overrun. Play him in a position where it isn't that easy to pick up and he can pick out a pass and run at defenders, then he will shine.

IMO he can only play as a trequartista. If he is going to play the No10 position next season, then who will play upfront. Can Keane or Defoe play as the striker in that formation? Can Redknapp afford to have Keane and Defoe on at the same time?

If Defoe and/or keane are not going to start games, they are going to be brassed off as they both disliked the fact that they were often (Keane) or occasionally (Defoe) a substitute.