If this happens, I think it's a deal in the right direction. I watched him a fair amount last year; he's young, clever, tough, hard-working, neat with the ball and enterprising. I think with him, Sidwell and Parker, we'd be competitive in the midfield with all but the top teams, which is something we've lacked.
I'm not sure he and Sidwell could play together, they have similar tendencies and would leave us short in the middle too often. I'd go for Parker, Kara/Kvist/Boateng (depending on the game) and Holtby.
Am I right in thinking that Holtby can also play as a wide man? Parker, Sidwell, Kara/Kvist/Boateng if he's still here behind Holtby, Dejagah and (please) Mitroglou could be another option if that's the case.
I can't find the fan article I read on him recently which gave an analysis of his performances in different positions at Spurs. He has played wide but the writer concluded he was most effective in the middle. I suspect he wouldn't hold his wing all that well and I quite like us having two genuine wingers, playing on their right side, stretching the opposition and making space in the middle. I think Holtby will play at the top of the midfield triangle. He would be the only person in our squad who plays that position naturally- Kasami and Dempsey are more second strikers.
Yes, I've seen him on the left and right - mostly the left. I'm not sure he ever got a fair shake over at Spurs when he was brought over in 2012/23. With a midfield of Dempsey, Dembele, Parker and Bale, there wasn't much room for him. I'm not sure why he hasn't been playing much this year.
Just posted this in the other thread http://www.itv.com/sport/football/update/2014-01-31/lewis-holtby-joins-fulham-on-loan/ - think he will only be played centrally wouldn't be surprised if it was key factor in the move.
Quality player you've got yourselves there. Plenty of Spurs fans hold him in high regard and you're right to say he didn't get a fair crack at Spurs. My opinion is that his best position is as an attacking midfielder, behind the striker, but the game he made his debut coming on as a sub was the game we first started playing Bale in a free role behind the striker. Bale was devastating in that role so Holtby had to fit in elsewhere. The rest of the season he spent being used as a utility man fitting in here and there to do a job without really ever standing out. In this season, to begin with, he was only playing in the Europa League games as an attacking midfielder and he linked up with Defoe really well assisting pretty much all of his goals and getting a couple for himself too. When he got his chance in the league he only impressed in fits and starts, like his game against you guys. Strangely enough, Holtby has said he likes playing in a deeper midfield position but he's a bit rash in the tackle and his best performances for us and in Germany all came from playing in a more attacking role. Overall he's a fans' player, he's got plenty of skill but no one tries harder than Holtby, he puts in extra hours at the training pitch and he just loves playing football and you can see that when he plays. There's a great video online somewhere of us playing a mid season friendly with a mix of youngsters and first team players coming back from injury, we won it 10-4 and not one of our players celebrated a goal(it was a friendly all about getting fitness)... not one, except Holtby who scored a tap in for our 7th or 8th and proceeded to wheel away with his arms in the air like a kid in a playground. I think that about sums him up, I think he'll do well for you guys particularly if you get a pacey striker that can find space like Defoe did as they were excellent together. Here's one of my favourite clips of Holtby, just a ridiculous pass to make. please log in to view this image
YV beat me to my comment, and said it better. Played anywhere other than CM or behind the striker he's wasted: a lot of frantic running around to not much effect--though he was effective leading the pressing against Everton. But if you play him centrally, you'll find that while he's short and slow, he has a rare sense of the game, an ability to see things in advance and a love of sending defenders the wrong way. He should get the time to build an understanding with other attacking players at Fulham, so I'm glad he's gone to you on loan. If I'm right, he'll become a star and we'll get him back. Of course, I'm not right very often. You have to consider the track records of Germany U-21 captains. It's pretty good, I think, and Holtby will keep it going. He had some ridiculous number of assists in the Europa league, five or six in about as many games, along with a couple of goals. I really think he'll get a goal/assist per two games if you play him steadily.
