I like Poyet, only for being visually amusing though, i find it funny his apelike expressions and arm waving at bad decisions, also the side to side head movements that come with that and even the simplest instruction from the side. He checks both goals it seems 3 or 4 times, you would normally only see such head movements from people making sure no-one's looking or crossing a busy road.
The problem with holtby is that although he had a good game last night, it's likely he'll be non-existent now for a fair few games. (if the past is anything to go by) How many decent performances have we seen from him since he joined? He's been with us for nearly a year now! We moan about the new signings not living up to expectations, but the reason Holtby gets stick from fans IMO, is the fact that he's been here long enough and should have done more. We've seen barely a handful of decent prem games from him and most of those who rate him do it based on that Europa performance earlier this season. I've said for a while that I think with his tenacity and hunger, he's far better off playing alongside Sandro as a deep lying playmaker. Holtby could potentially be our answer to Modric, IMO. However, I doubt we'll see the day.
With the Modric comparison/ replacement idea aside, I've said pretty much what you've said before mate. You can see he's got the talent but he's just not productive nor consistent enough. I think fans take more of a sentimental view towards him which clouds judgement, as he's a great pro and shows great pride and enthusiasm when we score goals (plus the fact Spurs TV have **** fest over him like someone else has mentioned before) people tend to think he's better than what he is. I'm happy to have him in the squad but I don't see him as a regular starter I'm afraid.
He wasn't even the daftest hiring decision sat in the dugout at the time. Is it because Holtby once said hello to him in training, which is the most any of our players has said to Freund in training for the past year?
Perhaps Freund believed Holtby was saying "Sehr erfreut" when he was actually asking Walker if he had any him sour Fruit Pastilles...
I'm not saying we should be hailing him as a top player but just giving him his due, had it been Eriksen that came on people would be saying this is why he's got to be a regular starter. For me Holtby should be competing on an even ground with Eriksen for a starting spot, Paulinho too as he's playing further forward at times. Maybe Holtby would work further back in midfield but I don't see him having enough defensive ability to match up with what the likes of Sandro, Capoue and Dembele have to offer and I think Holtby does his best work in the final third.
When Holtby arrived, he had to be taken down a step or two as he wasn't fit enough and didn't seem too bothered at working on his fitness. AVB and him had a frank discussion and it was made clear to the player the standard of fitness and professionalism required. Since that conversation, Holtby has been the perfect pro and deserves credit for working as hard as any other player at the club. He is also a great positive influence around the training ground and as I have mentioned several times, is one of the few to stay behind and work at his game. That of course, doesn't mean he should get picked every week, but it does mean he deserves his moment in the limelight after his super strike last night.
Hasn't holtby been competing with eriksen? I'm pretty sure they were both playing 1 game a week each before eriksen got injured? - I'm sure that was the case as it kept screwing with my fantasy team. People probably say those things because eriksen has had about 10 games max and there's excitement as he's a new signing, holtby nearly a full year, doing very little in that time.
He's only started 8 league games to Eriksen's 5 so it's not like he's been getting loads of chances in the extra time that he's been here. I wasn't saying AVB has been overlooking him though this season, I know he has been giving him a fair chance with Eriksen, it's just that he just doesn't seem like a player in fashion with some fans.
It's because Holtby doesn't have a YouTube ****fest compilation from a foreign league. If you want excitement put any half decent player in the Dutch league and after half a season you can compile enough clips to make him look like Maradona in his peak. Not that I'm doubting Eriksen in any way, #teameriksen.....
Moving back to the game. We have to win this. Have to, have to, have to. With the guarantee of United/Newcastle and Soton/City dropping points this weekend it's important we take advantage and start establishing ourselves again in the league. It also would mean we can go into the Liverpool with a bit of the pressure off us. I don't dismiss Sunderland though, they caused City and Chelsea problems and can do the same to us.
"When Holtby arrived, he had to be taken down a step or two as he wasn't fit enough" AFAIK he wasn't injured or just returning from injury when he came to Spurs. Are you saying Bundesliga "fitness" is far lower than what PL/Spurs demands are ??
Some of us said the same thing on our board http://www.not606.com/showthread.ph...enham-Official-Sunderland-Not606-Match-Thread Alright lads, our match thread is up, feel free to pop by and comment. If any of you are making the long trip north you can find travel and parking information on the op. Have a safe journey fellas, all the best.
