Match Thread Spurs (H) - Coca Cola Cup Semi - Thursday 20:00
- Thread starter Squiggles
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The issue with this mentality (wanting to move on) is that it is greatly dependant on not only how involved you are in the first team (and Bradders is) but how much game time you are getting and if you are playing for a team that will make finals and win trophies. For many players there is little to no chance of winning medals so if you are at a team that can and will, even if you are not a first team regular, then for many being well paid and part of the squad (and winning medals) is enough.
Load of bollocks. Not only did VvD NOT use excessive force but that crying little cunt went down, rolling around, holding his face which wasn't touched ! He should have been booked for play acting.
I am triggered by "we got touched like a ring doorbell"
You don't touch these "FAM", they are motioned triggered with no need to press anything.
It will entirely down to what Bradley wants. Does he want 20 games a season and a few medals he may look at and think “did I really earn those” or is he a lad that wants to play a lot of footy and that could be in a side that gives him 40 games a season. Either way, his next contract will set him up for life.
I think it's quite complex too. Some people would accuse these sorts of being journeymen, but I've got huge respect for Tsimikas, he's always been completely second choice and had to wait in the wings sometimes for months (especially if we're knocked out of domestic cups). Yet he doesn't seem to be there for the money or the "medals without playing", I think his attitude is spot on and he gives his all every game, regardless of whether he's perceived to be good enough. I think he's one of the best signings we've made in recent years, for the sheer fact that he was bought as back up and he's played like his life depends on it whenever he's been picked. Those players are as important as the rest, and difficult to come by, cf Milner, Kelleher and a few others.
Bradley can be more than that, the thing going for him is his age and he clearly loves the club. A lot will hinge on his progression in the next season or two, but Trent has had a few niggles, his future is uncertain, and I think Slot has persevered while the contract situation has been ongoing, I doubt in the longterm he's one who will stand by and watch abject defensive performances repeatedly and let it slide, I think essentially the best situation for us is we keep both and we weigh up games and times during games where we need one or the other. With Bradley eventually easing his way to becoming the resounding choice in a few years, for sheer all round ability.
Has to be said too that Szobo has been fantastic in the last handful of games, his link up play and willingness to run from deep has been a real aspect of how we've played and he's now a real threat. I don't know if Slot has instructed him to get into goalscoring positions more, but there seems to have been a slight tweak to his game and it's paying dividends. I still think we can look a bit short of creativity at times, I know that's a big thing to say having just scored 4 goals, but I do think for how brilliant the midfield is, there's more to come from it in terms of direct threat. I think we saw that a bit more last night, particularly from Gravy and Szobo, we know what Macca is capable of defensively and offensively, but these two have it in their locker too at both ends of the pitch.
Szobo unlucky not to have two and Gravy hit the post. I think we'll get enough goals from midfield going forward ... however their primary job is clearly to facilitate the front 3 (5) and we're not lacking goals in the slightest.
He did, I think that's the best he's played in quite a while, he looked fitter and sharper (and quicker).
He was excellent against Bournemouth too imo.
been his biggest critic so wasn't sure he could still do it
I don't think he can play every game any more, but he's not finished as such, we have to be careful when thinking players are done. I mean, with Fabinho and Henderson it was obvious, but with Robbo I think he still looks athletic, even if he has made quite a few errors. Maybe it's taken longer for him to fully recover from his injury, maybe he's just at that age where he struggles to play every week (or twice a week), who knows. VVD took about two years to get back to what he was and many of us were questioning if he ever would. If Robbo can put in performances like yesterday, even when just called upon, then that's massively important to us. If we buy a left back, he can still be crucial to the squad if he's prepared to play that kind of role. The problem is not succession planning and being stuck with situations like what City had with Walker, where they were over playing him and he was pretty much finished.
He's certainly got it in him for the back half of the season, in rotation as needed with Tsimikas.
We do need to be acquiring his successor this summer, whether Kerkez or other, but I'm not disappointed we didn't tip into the transfer market this past window.
I think you’re collectively going a bit overboard about Robbo in the Spurs game…he had a good and energetic game but I remember a couple of moments at 2-0 and 3-0 where he did that stepping out thing against a 2vs1 situation that left him chasing shadows and us overloaded.
Don’t get me wrong, all things considered it looks like he’s recovered form and his legs - his performance against Bournemouth was excellent - but just seems to me that the Spurs game wasn’t one to dine out on. I really hope he holds his form and fitness through Feb and Tsimikas can be an inform rotational option as it’s unlikely Robbo can play x2 a week consistently.
I’m all in on Kerkez in the summer to compete for a starting spot.
In the longer term, just imagine a Kerkez ———Bradley full throttle full back fest next year. We’d be set for years.
Don’t get me wrong, all things considered it looks like he’s recovered form and his legs - his performance against Bournemouth was excellent - but just seems to me that the Spurs game wasn’t one to dine out on. I really hope he holds his form and fitness through Feb and Tsimikas can be an inform rotational option as it’s unlikely Robbo can play x2 a week consistently.
I’m all in on Kerkez in the summer to compete for a starting spot.
In the longer term, just imagine a Kerkez ———Bradley full throttle full back fest next year. We’d be set for years.
There is no such thing as excessive force when its Richarlison. Maybe if he pulled a shotgun out and gave him both bores in the chest, but it would still be arguable.
Yeah, but this isn't a klopp midfield, and it's not a klopp front three either. In average position, Szobo has been ahead of our false nine or just about the same in some games. That role should be getting a goal every 4 or 5 or so, regularly. He needs to keep scoring.
