Our current setup is crying out for a player player like Carroll but Carroll can't put his case forward unless the manager believes in him and gives him a chance, then we will see how he copes. Slightly off topic but remember Wayne Routledge, regarded as a top prospect, deemed not good enough, seems to have lost his way then Swansea give him a chance in a system which suits him and he shows he does have talent. This is why players like Carroll need to be selected in a system which suits his game, as he makes an impact each time he's called upon and if we don't sign a creative midfielder, I'm 99.9 percent certain each time Carroll plays, fans will be thinking '' this is what the team needs''. Townsend is another who can make it as an important squad player. Although we also have to remember we have had many highly rated youngster's like luke young, Tony gardener, Lee Barnard, Rory Allen, and etc, also remember Kevin Gallen at QPR, it's difficult knowing who will make it unless they are great talents like rooney or bale.
Carroll is in that limbo situation at the moment. Not good enough yet to be a starter for PL games, and given the importance of CM to lesser PL clubs, probably too much of a risk for such clubs to take him on a loan. We have a fair number of Europa/League Cup fixtures for 2013. As well as the U21 league. If he can step up in those akin to Townsend last season, there is a good chance we can get him out on loan to a PL club in January and he'll get 20 odd PL starts.
The problem with a loan move after January is that these rarely work as clubs won't risk young loan players in giving them a proper chance, one bad game and they are dropped. Townsend worked as Arry knew the player and QPR had nothing to lose. If Carroll goes on loan, it has to similar to Cleverley who went to wigan under Martinez but unfortunately there are less managers in that mould who can see the passing qualities and allow these type of players the chance to shine. This season with all our power, strength and pace, it will become even more apparent how desperate the team is for a quality passer, unless we make a late signing so I expect Carroll will get his chance but it be down to Tom to really impress.
"The problem with a loan move after January is that these rarely work as clubs won't risk young loan players in giving them a proper chance, one bad game and they are dropped" With the counter being the business end of the PL for Spurs and little chance of being risked as a starter unless there is an injury plague. "so I expect Carroll will get his chance but it be down to Tom to really impress." Impress enough to get much more PL football. Either at Spurs, or on loan. He knows what he has to do.
From what I have seen of Tom Carroll this pre-season, he appears to be in fine form. Certainly on Friday evening he made a major contribution in our 4-2 win. I have seen some players in this under 21 squad approach games with a bit of disdain about being asked to play at this level, but this could never be said about Carroll. At 4-1 on Friday, in no way did the score flatter us. That Chelsea scored another, was mainly down to a few Spurs players easing off in the later stages. Not Tom Carroll. At 4-2 we still had 3 one-on-ones against their keeper and all of these were created by young Tom. If he continues with this fine attitude and form, then a first team call up can't be far away.
Yeah he knows what he has to produce, no excuses if he doesn't but remember he has already produced in the Europa league, North London derby away, impressed last year at home against Fulham, just a few games off the top of my head. he actually does show what he's capable of in short spells, so even if he doesn't start, we should be using him more from the bench and that way he has more chance of gaining a loan move if that is to benefit his career.
Swindon Hotspurs : http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b038mxpw/The_Football_League_Show_2013_2014_10_08_2013/ Go to 41:42.
Nice link. Just like youtube, you can get it start at 41:42 by adding ?t=41m42s to the end: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episod...ll_League_Show_2013_2014_10_08_2013/?t=41m42s
" Head cold apparently." Hmm. Is he outgoing, or will he get his chance in the Europa/League Cup games this year ??
Charlton want him, but he's on higher wages since he was last there and so there is an issue over how much loan fee they are willing to pay. As of last Thursday, talks were still ongoing.
Luongo's parents came over from Australia to watch him play in the UK for the first time on the weekend. Scored the only goal and was MOTM. Maybe they should come over more often? http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/special-day-for-massimo-130813/
[video=youtube;x6OgKd6rx-4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6OgKd6rx-4[/video] He seems really enthusiastic, doesn't he? Hope he does well there and gives us a decision to make about his future at the end of the season.
Clean sheet for Khumalo tonight. Maybe we should bring him back http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23628246
"They continued to pile the pressure before the hour mark, with two efforts from England Under-21 midfielder Jason Lowe being blocked by Bongani Khumalo". Two clean sheets and a winning goal in the last two games. Good for him. Hope he has a good season.
