The future of Gio Dos Santos?

[vasilli07]

Out of the 3 games Uncle Harry is in charge, he was only on the bench in his 1st game. Does Gio still have a future under Uncle Harry? :rolleyes:

[Mr Tips]

Ramos had left him out of a number of games before getting the boot. No doubt something is up, but it doesn't seem to be Harry's doing.

[Hauler]

I too was thinking why he wasn't on the bench. Maybe he felt that Ramos was gone and that was a major reason for him coming. I would like to see him show his stuff but Harry will be the judge.

[arak0r]

blah they better not let him just ********in go to waste, the kid has real talent, and hes a real creative player too.

[iDiveStevieG]

The kid has too much talent to rot in the reserves..Come on Harry, be reasonable. Give him a chance!

[juanca]

The kid has too much talent to rot in the reserves..Come on Harry, be reasonable. Give him a chance!

i agree.

i remember after they won the u17 WC, i tought he'd go onto great things with barca, but it just never worked out. i hope this kid can get his career sorted.

[LedleybetterthanSol]

People it's been 3 games that he hasn't played under Harry. This doesn't mean anything.... yet.


I'm sure he'll get his chances to impress, probably against Zagreb.

[mattie g]

I know it's frowned on to quote oneself, but I worte this on another thread

Exactly. I have a feeling Harry realizes that the UEFA Cup isn't so important anymore and he'll look to blood some players there and give our regulars an occasional rest.

We've taken seven points of our last nine, with two of those games against top 4 teams. I don't give a damn if Dos Santos isn't in the lineup - if we can keep getting results to get us out of the bottom of the table, then I'm happy.

I still think the UEFA Cup is of relative unimportance right now. If we ccan get a result on Thursday, I'll be thrilled, but we still have a lot of work to do to get us out of the bottom and put us in a relatively safe position. In that case, I'm hoping Harry gives the young players a chance to shine in Europe - including Dos Santos.

[jumhed]

I'd like to see him as a another striker. The lad has what it takes.

[Jensers]

Gio is a talent, but he is young and slight. I am not sure how, or where he fits into the system - not only at spurs, but also the EPL as a whole. He should go out on loan and get a few years experience under his belt at a club that lacks a creative player that wants to run at back lines.

He and Modric on the field at the same time = disaster.

[rbpierce]

He and Modric on the field at the same time = disaster.

for opponents or for spurs?

[Jensers]

Spurs.

I would be happy to be proven wrong...

Bottom line - he is no Keane. If you want a striker to play off of Pavlyuchenko then you need a Keane - or a Defoe. Gio is not that player - but perhaps in a few years.

Also - he is not going to hold down the center of the pitch for you. Modric cant do that either without an enforcer supporting him. So you put the two of them together... Disaster.

He is too creative and lacks the defensive strength to play as an outside mid.

So where is he going to play?

If you had to make a choice between Gio and Modric - I would take Modric every time... To me they are a 1 for 1 swap, but Modric has the experience and has shown in the last couple of matches that he also has some fight in him...

I will look forward to seeing what is done for the UEFA Cup matches.

[DigitalTron]

I know it's frowned on to quote oneself, but I worte this on another thread

I certainly don't mind as long as you're saying something worth reading ... and you always do Mattie, so go ahead with your bad self! Heck, I even applaud worte'ing about it, as my speelink eesnt two goot! That's not any attempt to mimic an accent of any kind ... I just can't spell or be bothered to check for typos. :eek: Yeah, I'm well spoken and at work well written, but here, it's all stream of conciousness for me baby!

-Digital

[DigitalTron]

As for Johnny Two Saints, it's like De Ja Vu ... all over again. I was similarly perplexed by Adel Taarabt's lack of playing time last season (and similarly made a foolish acquisition of him on my fantasy team as I did this year with JTS!). But before we relegate him to the transfer scrap heap, let's consider 'Arry's Auditions.

He knows he will have the greatest impact with the British players--particularly the English players--as they will fully understand his message and appreciate the feeling of being on the inside rather than the outside after the Ramos Reign. So, featured heavily have been Brits, including just about every English player on the first team roster. Given that Bentley and Lennon have played crucial roles (albeit Lennon's as a supersub), the wing position is kind of clogged for JTS, but eventually he should see time at left winger. There's simply not enough time-space to audition everyone at once, so he'll have to wait his turn there.

WARNING: Bale Tangent:
I'm a huge Bale fan, but he was given an audition at LW/LF and he didn't do so well. Coupled with the questionable red card he received, let's just say that he didn't take his chance with both hands. I'm certain he will prove to Harry that he's among the most talented players at Spurs eventually, but at the moment, I think Harry sees a little of the kid from the reserves that he knew from sort of coaching Bale years ago. The reality is that Gareth Bale was a decent kid with potential then, and is a supremely talented man now ... and eventually I think Harry will realize that.
END of Bale Tangent.

Up top Harry has rightly made the decision to feature Modric in his favored position in the hole just behind the striker(s). That's the role JTS was really excelling at in the pre-season, as a creative 2nd forward. Harry can only prop up the confidence of Modric/JTS one at a time. I think as Modric starts to feel more secure and less worried about his production and spot in the starting lineup, we'll probably see more of JTS.

Additionally, we're close to the transfer window and now is the time to line up your transfer targets. Harry wants to find out just what he's got in the striker department out of Bent and Pavyluvchenko, because one or both may not be good enough. So, he wants to see as much of them as he can to find out if he needs another center forward ... or two. That means the easier-to-fill support striker role that JTS plays can wait.

Ultimately, all of these kids will get a proper chance under Harry IMHO. That includes Dos Santos, Taarabt, O'Hara, Gunter, and Boateng. No decisions have been made yet. Harry needs to get us out of the relegation zone first, which means fielding players his sprinkle of confidence can affect most. Then he needs to prepare for the January transfer window, which means knowing what he has and what he needs in the very short term. Lastly, he will look at the ones for the future, and that's when our talented youth cadre will get their shots.

-Digital

[KHowe]

Good post, DT.

I'd also like to see GDS at a roaming striker position. Let him play a bit behind Bent or Pav with a bit more room to roam.

------------Bent/Pav--------
----GDS---------------------
-----------------------------
------------Modric-----------

[vasilli07]

Good post, DT.

I'd also like to see GDS at a roaming striker position. Let him play a bit behind Bent or Pav with a bit more room to roam.

------------Bent/Pav--------
----GDS---------------------
-----------------------------
------------Modric-----------

I am not too sure about this. We have seen how Modric perform when he was asked to play deep in midfield under Ramos. He was ineffective. When Uncle Harry played him just behind the strikers, he looked so different, much more involved in the play and of cause playing better.

[KHowe]

I am not too sure about this. We have seen how Modric perform when he was asked to play deep in midfield under Ramos. He was ineffective. When Uncle Harry played him just behind the strikers, he looked so different, much more involved in the play and of cause playing better.

I'd like to keep him in the same role he's been successful in, perhaps my diagram didnt really show that. I like seeing Spurs play a diamond midfield, with Modric at the top of that, outside the box. Gio would have roam of the entire left side in sort of a wing/striker role, while Bent would be more of a stay at home finisher. I'll try and draw it later but I'm at work now.

[jumhed]

I'd like to keep him in the same role he's been successful in, perhaps my diagram didnt really show that. I like seeing Spurs play a diamond midfield, with Modric at the top of that, outside the box. Gio would have roam of the entire left side in sort of a wing/striker role, while Bent would be more of a stay at home finisher. I'll try and draw it later but I'm at work now.

This team needs some serious water carriers!

[AudereEstFacere]

I'd like to keep him in the same role he's been successful in, perhaps my diagram didnt really show that. I like seeing Spurs play a diamond midfield, with Modric at the top of that, outside the box. Gio would have roam of the entire left side in sort of a wing/striker role, while Bent would be more of a stay at home finisher. I'll try and draw it later but I'm at work now.

This is my FIFA 09 formation. I know what you mean, but I just don't think that realistically Zokora, Huddlestone, or Corluka can handle the DM role in that formation.

[KHowe]

This team needs some serious water carriers!

Water carriers?