With Zokora Gone Wilson Needs Cover
Friday, 10 July 09, 08:40 AM · Comments(19)
*sigh*
Dare I say it?
I miss Zokora.
I’m sure it’s a feeling which will subside once the Bambi shaped exit-hole in the wall is plastered over and a worthy replacement is bought in. It’s a problem easily fixed. But fix it we must. Although the plucky Ivorian didn’t quite cut the Coleman’s as Davids' successor, as was intended, he did possess qualities which are spread pretty thinly among the remaining flock. Particularly thinly if you discount Sergeant Wilson who will no doubt pick up a few yellow cards next term. And possibly the odd restraining order. (In the interest of opposition safety)
‘Ref. My bones feel a touch…powdery’
Zokora, for all is faults, was a decent understudy. While not the most refined of sorts- erratic even- his engine was well serviced and in good nick. He could run all day and make great efforts to harass the opposition. (Exactly where he was running or who he was harassing was not always clear. I don’t think even he could tell you) With Didier gone, however, there seems to be no obvious deputy should Wilson be otherwise engaged. Jamie O’Hara? Gutsy- sure. A destructive midfielder? I’ve had a marshmallows with more bite. Huddlestone? He could run all day providing hammocks were installed in the dressing room at the end of the first-half. Don’t expect to see him in the second, though.
The point being- we need another ball winner. For every Modric, Lennon or Jenas (cough) we need a Palacios. The Honduran’s shoulders are broad but not broad enough to carry the weight of every defensive duty in the team’s mid-section. Zokora, although with a stumble, bared some of the load even if it was from the confines of the bench. We felt covered. He needs replacing. Soon.
What are the options, then? Cana looks terrifying- very much a good quality. Cattermole is young and highly rated in England U-21 circles. But…really?
My vote is for Giovani Dos Santos. Cultured left-winger turned downright cycle-path. Skip to 1:15 for all the action. There’s fire in that boy's belly. I wonder if he can tackle?
Chocks away!
COYS!
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WhoFramedRuelFox
GB
A hearty expedition into the mind of a troubled, easily swayed Tottenham fan.
19 Comments · Add yours
My opinion is that Huddlestone is good enough to cover for Palacios!!!
On reflection, I think I've been a bit unfair to J'OH. He has plenty of bite. That's not his problem...
Reply to Ants:
Huddlestone has plenty of qualities and is a player I'd certainly wish to keep. But a ball winner?
Bostock, Parrett? Do we need a massive squad. We don't need to replace everyone that leaves, certainly not every squad player.
Reply to COYS77:
Not every position, no. But a player of Wilson's ilk is integral to the success of our midfield. Bostock looks a great talent and perhaps is the answer.
I'm just saying it's position that needs covering. As important as a lofty centre-forward, I'd say.
For all his impressive size, THudd has all the physicality of graham Norton - he is in no way, shape or form cover for Srge Wilson!
By the way - love the comic scan, Mr Fox.
Reply to KayBee:
As I love your avatar Miss Bee
Reply to WhoFramedRuelFox:
Yeah, I was thinking about my own post and yeah we might need some back up as a holding midfielder. Its the creative ones we could trim the fat from.
I don't think we'd miss Jenas, Bentley too much. Could let both those go and wouldn't necessarily need replacing.
I'd like to see Parrot, Bostock and Rose for that matter get some blooding this year. We could probably lose either DosSantos or Taarbt as well.
Reply to COYS77:
i dont think we are very good at giving our younsters a chance!!!
Townsend is also someone ive seen play for the youth side as looks very impressive on the wing!!
Reply to COYS77:
Yep- the balance of silk and steel seems a touch uneven. But if Bostock is as good as we all hope then he could be a ready made replacement. I'd happily go along with that if Harry thinks he's up to it. I'm not in for 'buying for buying's sake'. But it seems a position we could do with padding out.
As you say, though- trim the fat not the meat.
Sorry but we dont have a Palacios style player at Spurs, that is why we have been crying out for a player like him for years, We need to find another player of his ability as cover.
By all accounts Bostock is not advancing as fast as some would like !!!!!
Sign Julian De Guzman, he's available on a free transfer.
Huddlestone could fill that role. He doesn't need to be like Palacios or Zokora. Carrick was neither and I see Hunderedstone in that vein. This is of course he puts in the required effort. He surely has to understand that it is in his best interest to weigh less going into each season. This will see him prolong his career in its latter stages.
With the Zok being gone and quality signings thin on the ground right now, I have to think the Thudd and JJ leaving rumors won't come true.
With the short space of time in which managers are now expected to provide results, there is even more pressure to get the an 'instant team' someone that can do a job, rather than spend time on someone and coach the ability into them.
I think you're being a little too hard on the Zok calling him 'an understudy'. He was a player in his own right, that just didn't fit well enough with the rest of our side. For the Ivory Coast, if Zok goes on one of hos mazy runs, then either Kone or Keita would fill in for him. At Spurs, JJ or THudd doing the same? Not a chance. This highlights the fact that we need more than one Wilson type, and not just as cover but as someone that could more than occasionally partner our great man mountain in the centre of midfield.
A strong physical ball winning player with a shot and with decent enough vision to simply lay of a pass when required would be ideal. A Muntari, a Diarra - both now out of our league unfortunately.
Cattermole would imo be very good for us. A relatively under the radar type signing, that would create a massive splash in our midfield. On thing that's outstandingly obvious is that he would not need time to forge a partnership with Wilson, and blooding-in and learning the lingo is not an issue.
For all the destructive abilities of a Lorik Cana, or other foreign type, we're always taking a gamble on communication.
Cattermole is a made-to-measure fit in our central midfield. The boy is ready and that's what we need.
As for the rest of the youngsters, I've said it before...blood them into a winning team when they've shown they're ready through their performances on loan to minnow PL sides and aspiring Championship frontrunners.
ps apologeez fur dem spellin mustakes
Reply to SeattleSpursGuy:
Probably right there, SSG. Can't imagine Harry off-loading anymore CM while signings aren't coming in. Despite his critics, Jenas is marginly better than the invisible man.
Reply to Trembly:
Yeah- probably a bit harsh to label Zokora an 'understudy' and I certainly don't think Seville have bought someone to sit on the bench and act as cover for the first team. But it's probably fair to say that would've been his role had he stayed here.
As ever, Trembly, a bloomin' interesting bit of work. The nail's head is starting bend at the edges from repeated use.
And wort speling misteaks?