Harry is recognised by most supporters as the complete footballer. I don’t think anyone can logically dispute this. He is in the Tottenham Hotspur team to score goals and he has proved capable of scoring with his left foot, right foot, and his head, on a remarkably consistent basis. That is indisputable, too.
But part of being a ‘complete footballer’ means he has many other attributes, too. He can defend, he can spot key passes, he can hold up the ball, he remains cool in possession, rarely panics, and he can read the game extremely well. Like all top players, he has a football brain and his thinking is often ahead of his colleagues. He has the ability to know what is happening around him before he gets the ball, much like Modric had (I’m not comparing them beyond this).
Playing a more defensive style of football, as we currently are, means that Harry is often isolated in a forward position and sometimes far less involved in the match. This often sees him dropping back to find the ball and get more involved. By dropping back he takes up the space that midfielders use and leaves a gap going forward when Spurs make a break. Not always, but it happens.
There is continual discussion among Spurs supporters about the need for a back-up striker, mainly in the event that Harry gets injured. But what would happen if Spurs did not opt for a back-up, bench warming striker, but went for a recognised target striker instead (for a name we would need to refer to Jod).
What would the team look like with a new number nine, and Harry playing as a number ten. In other words (to clarify for older supporters) a new centre forward and Harry in an inside forward position. We already have a nice choice of fast, tricky players, to occupy other attacking positions.
Personally, I doubt that such a shift in position would affect Harry’s goal scoring feats as he would continue to find himself with goals scoring opportunities. And, with more freedom to roam, I would imagine that his reading of the game and passing ability would lead to many more goals from the assists he could make.
Harry is certainly not old, but he is getting older and it could well be that he will need to drop back in two or three years as part of the natural order of things. Maybe it would be beneficial to both the team, and him, if this happens sooner rather than later. And it would allow his all-round attributes to come into play.
Once again, I am not advocating this, just throwing it out for general discussion. Gotta love football!
It’s the story of the game, Greenwood trips over his own feet and wins a foul, resulting free kick taken from around 15 yards further up the pitch. OGS clearly coaching from the Fergie manual on how to con the referee.
Haha….love it when Manu get beaten, feels like Karma for all the decisions they get. 🙂
ND …. Sorry, I must have forgotten you saying Winks was a useful squad player (well it’s a long thread). To be honest, I would consider a 40m offer for him but it seems so unlikely (except from City in the media) that it’s irrelevant.
I do think it demeans us to make fun of a persons name because we don’t admire him …. especially when we don’t know him and he cannot defend himself. it’s just football, not personal, after all.
It’s generally accepted that the PL is one of the strongest leagues in Europe …. and yet all the top PL clubs are dropping like leaves in autumn in European competitions. It’s not in the script.
ND …. My last sentence was not directed at you, just a general comment.
No worries ND, my Grans couldn’t play fullback they were centre halves lol, good thought mate.
MU and MC results love em, one of my oppo’s is going too get shit off me later this morning, him being a mancunian. lol. COYS
PY …. That was another result to illustrate the point you made earlier …. playing defensively and making quick breaks can win games.
Geofspurs….yes, for me that is the way, make your defense sound/solid, play like a team, as in the musketeers, all for one and one for all, it is a team game, so if you for one reason or another you have to defend make sure you score at the other end when chances arise, for me the game is all about not conceding therefore the percentage chance of you winning increases a hell of a lot.
I know for some this is not what they want…entertainment! as such, but for me and many others I think…winning is the first and most important thing. COYS
Strong rumours of us signing Joe Hart on a free, would be underwhelming to say the least but understand the homegrown aspect of the deal.
Late to the party, but back to the original article/ question asked.
I see pros and cons to having different types of strikers at the club. Yes, we could easily argue that we could play with a recognised striker when Harry is available, and deploy a false 9 system when he isn’t. The pros are obviously having a plan B, and tactical flexibility.
The issue with that, however, is that we are asking as many as 6 players to show great tactical flexibility, which can be a lot to ask from some players. Some very good players excel in one system, but are wasted, or worse, struggle in another system.
Having a second striker who can play more or less in the same way as Harry would allow us to keep a certain fluency in our play, regardless of available personnel, and not ask too much of players who will do their best to manage one system, let alone 2 or 3.
I’d be happy with Hart on a free transfer. Another senior voice in the dressing room, PL winner, homegrown and still a decent option as a backup. If anything, he offers just as much (ie a flawed player in some aspects, but still an acceptable level of performance as a backup) as Gazzaniga, except he’s got more big-game experience.
No worries
Geoff as I said thought for a bench player 40 mil is good money.
Here M8 thought the Autumn leaves was very poetic m8. Lol.
However with British teams in Europe, Sorry guys but I get behind them.
If we aren’t there I want any British team to do well.
As it proves we are the best in Europe as a league.
BTW.
I’d Take Hart(excuse the 70s programme pun).
BS…. I have suggested Jay Rodrigues as a backup to Kane a number of times since he has recovered from his serious injury at Soton. His playing style is very similar to HK10 and has been used as a squad player just about everywhere he has been without creating a fuss, it’s only recently that he has played regularly for Burnley and that’s mostly due to a long term injury to one of their regular starters. Still think he could d a decent job and would of course ease our homegrown issue.
Is the “Autumn leaves” scenario because English Prem Lg teams are old n wrinkly, lol!
ND….Sorry mate I was chuffed to bits when the MC cheats, financially, got knocked out, and to cap it all the MU cheats, classic gold medal divers, with yet another penalty, get beat aswell, loved it. COYS
Amazing when you read some of this stuff. We’ve are signing Hart because we haven’t enough English qualified players yet people are happily saying sell Winks. Do they think the foreign players rule doesn’t apply to us or that Eufa and the Premier League just won’t notice if we keep quiet ?
I see rumours are linking us to Brighton CB Ben White who spent last season on loan at Leeds. Reports suggest he is a decent prospect but they are supposedly asking £50m for him which is ridiculous for a 22 year old with no top level experience. If he is as good as they say £20m-£25m would be nearer the mark if he currently has a long term contract or 15-20 if only 1 or 2 years.
TQ2Spurs – Doesn’t matter what anyone thinks he’s worth, Brighton aren’t obliged to sell and don’t want to. Its a bit like United getting upset because Dortmund won’t sell them Sancho on the cheap. Its simple economics, you only need to sell for whatever you can get when the player’s contract is running down or the club is in financial trouble. As far as I know neither applies with White.
It looks like Hart is to be a Spur then. (2 year deal?)
It also looks like the club are to offer Hugo a new and improved contract.
So with Hart, Hugo and Gazza, we are sorted for keepers…
So, no chance of my comeback then! Damn you Jose! Damn you Joe!
There was a time when Hart was “Head & Shoulders” above the rest of the PL No.1’s. Not anymore! But he’ll do…
Sorry PY as usual you’re right again re Man C. I totally forgot about the “fair play”.
Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa. Lol.
ND, no need to be sorry, love the comment “as usual your right again”, mmm! are you talking to the right person lol! as am normally wrong, well according to the missus I am lol! COYS
TQ2Spurs – I have always rated Rodriguez and agree that he’s the closest in terms of playing style. Sadly, at 31, I think it’s probably 2 or 3 years too late. The more time goes on, the less appealing it becomes.