I've only watched one game that he has played in but he was making the opposition look like school boys with his passing.
He was by no means great today but he was 100 times better than his midfield partner. I think an attacking 4-5-1 or a diamon midfield would suit Tom better, he's never going to bomb from box to box to play people through on goal and he's never going to really control a midfield. Better off sitting deep breaking up play and setting off quick counter attacks, but to do that he need people giving him options ahead of him rather than next to him or behind him. He's a poor fit for such a negative and dour long ball team. I'd rather he stay and Bruce go to be replaced by someone who might actually use these good players to their strengths.
Maybe he is bringing down the other midfielders by being so ponderous making them work harder to compensate and the midfield is over-run because of it? Bruce has picked Huddlestone regardless and you can't say he hasn't tried to play to his strengths, at some point you have to look at the player himself despite how highly you rate him, I used to be the same now I just think he is a liability and Meyler and the rest will improve for him not being there
We have rarely played to his strengths. Our 'style' is atrocious and about as attractive as steve Bruce's nose. We could have Theo Walcott in this team and everyone would bang on about how **** he is because we'd never give him a single sodding ball to run on to. A stat from the 13/14 season, we played less through balls in the entire season (7 was the number I believe) than any other team managed in a single match. I never saw those passing stats last season but I doubt it corrected itself. We haven't played one in four games yet this season which, for a team expected to be challenging for the title, is piss poor. Huddlestone is a technical player to play in a side that attacks in a more fluid pass and move style, he's a pointless inclusion in a team that just gives the ball to the wide men to run as far up the pitch as they can before launching aimless ball after aimless ball into the box in the hope we get a lucky bounce. Steve Bruce is the problem, not the players. I am genuinely shocked he has managed a career in football management, let alone so long at such high levels of the game. He's ****ing useless.
Huddlestone is far too damn slow, we knock the ball about alot quicker when he isnt there. Livermore plays better without him aswell and I've noticed Hayden does too I believe this is because there is more movement in midfield. Huddlestones passing doesnt cut it for me, Cute passing over dedication and effort will not win you promotion or keep you up. by the time Huddlestone has picked out his pass, the oppostion have marked up our strikers and wingers. and we are on the back foot again. You can't give the oppostion time to think especially in this league. I'm not saying Huddlestone is a bad player but I'm sure he's not what we need.
Why is it Trevor Hundredstone? Nothing to do with a play on words with the name of the anti -apartheid priest Trevor Huddlestone is it?
Window is closed I am afraid. It opens up again in Febuary right after the season ends. If I was in our management I'd start the conversation with a few clubs now if Hudds was interested including the new LA team which will need a few DPs anyway.
Based on yesterday, I'd have both Huddlestone and Jelavic top of the out list, in driving to Charlton, I put in more effort than either of them.
He does sit deep, but doesnt break up the attacks. The idea of sitting deep is for him to hit long passes not long balls. Something e doesnt do. Jelavic has always been willing to work the channels. I assume Chubby does too. Thasts what Hernandez wants, I'm told, this kid has the ability to hit great through balls but never does. Again thats Huddlestones role isnt it?? I'd hate to play alongside him in CM because he's always behind you, you hunt the ball down together. It makes the other player cover miles more ground. Everyone partnered with him do the most running in the team. Thats fine if what he's doing is soo good it benefits the whole team but its not there now. No great skill, no vision, no quality.
Agreed. Chubby did nowt too. Did you go? Was the whole team just lethargic? No fight? Its different when you're there to Tv
Aye, I went. It was an all round piss poor performance, Huddlestone stepped out of everything, Jelavic did **** all, Robertson and Odubajo made more errors than normal(both kept slipping and losing their man). The opinion at half time was pretty much universal, that we should start the second half with Hayden and Hernandez on for Huddlestone and Jelavic. Akpom hadn't been as effective as in the previous games, but he was still worrying the defenders far more than Jelavic, who might as well have spent the first half sat in the centre circle. Charlton are a thoroughly mediocre team, the pikey up front had no talent at all other than winning headers and clattering people, yet they were more up for it than us and we made them look good. Worst performance since Burnley away.
very true this. we know our players havent got two games in a week in them.this game needed wholesale changes.but we havent the squad.still we could easily have won it.so we move on.we will do ok.its really not so bad
Thought i would wait before the away support gave their opinion before offering mine again but I've thought for a while now the whole team would improve without Huddlestone especially the midfield area, he's too slow and doesn't contribute enough to make up for that and it rubs off on the rest of the team no wonder Meyler and co are terrible carrying the big git
I've banged this thudd and meyler drum for ages as you all know. I accept meyler for what he is an average championship midfielder. Thudd however is technically very good, he just doesn't fit our style of play (if we have one) I carnt believe phelan hasn't seen that since he came in. I honestly don't think bruce knows what to do with him so it's easier to let him lumber around in midfield and do little sideways passes. It would be best for all parties if thudd moved on, unfortunately I carnt see any pl teams come for him
I think it was exactly the opposite against Charlton. We wasted our possession with backwards and sideways passes which enabled Charlton to organise themselves. It was only when we were 1-0 down that we showed any determination and urgency.
