Post match slate hbic, post match, read properly please...hope you enjoyed your cut n paste sesh anyway!
I have taken Naughtons incompetence at LB as a given now - hardly worth a mention. No sympathy for him whatsoever. He is at best a 3rd choice RB for us (behind Walker and Fredericks - and would have been 4th if we had kept Adam Smith. As regards him not whingeing about playing LB - I reckon he knows his limitations and is only too grateful to get any game time - and continue to be paid handsomely for the privilege. The comparison with Verts alleged unhappiness playing there doesn't bear any resemblance: a proven international CB would have some status to complain..... The fact that we are still relying on Naughton as a 2nd choice LB behind Rose - who frankly wouldn't get a game in that position in any PL side above low/mid table - is a sad indictment of our transfer policy. But if you'd like me to say exactly what I think........
I like Naughton. He does a good job in his preferred position and we normally do ok when he's played on the wrong side with inappropriate players around him, too. Wednesday's game was a prime example. Not only did we stick him in at left-back, but we started another defender that's barely had a game and put Lennon in front of him. 4-0 away win. Don't get me wrong, he's never a left-back, can't use his left foot at all and looks completely uncomfortable in that position, both defensively and going forward. He stomachs it without a peep though, clearly gets on brilliantly with the competition for his real place in our other Kyle and seems to have a very positive attitude generally. It's not his fault that we ballsed up replacing Assou-Ekotto in the summer and that both of our actual left-backs have had repeated injury problems, as has our 3rd choice for that role. He shouldn't have to get stick because other people ****ed up in their jobs.
I have nothing personal against the lad, PNP. But the bottom line is that he isn't good enough to be a regular top half PL full back - left or right. That's not his fault at all. But to acquiesce to his continued presence by not highlighting his failings is equally self-defeating. If the club never intends/intended to replace Benny, then not bringing in a replacement was an omission of startling stupidity.
I was hoping this season would see Naughton getting an exclusive run-out at RB in the cup games prior to the new year, so an objective judgement could be made over at least 8 games.
I don't think that we've seen enough of him at right-back to be able to judge, but he seems to do pretty well there, IIRC. Our win against Stoke this season was easily one of our better performances and he seemed to bring the best out of Lennon, rather than crowding his space as Walker does. Agree completely. Fryers would benefit from playing regularly on loan and Rose could do with the competition, even when he's available.
Nobody likes Naughton at LB really but fair play to him for getting on with it there, but I think he's a pretty decent reserve RB to be honest. I'm assuming that he's not on too big (for a footballer) a wage packet so if he's happy to be constant second (or even 3rd) choice and play the occasional game then I don't really mind him being here as long as he keeps his head down. At RB he looks assured enough from what I've seen. And as others have said it can't have helped him playing LB with someone who is also right footed/naturally not a left-sided player ahead of him.
We could try putting Ekotto at Right back and then we could comment on his performances ...I'm no fan of naughton, not even in the slightest but defenders more then most need to play in their natural position. As soon as you shift defenders to a side that isn't natural it changes their entire outlook on the game, unless they are highly adaptable. For example could you imagine Baines and Cole playing centre back? all it is, is two steps to the right but they would be out of their depth. Kyle Walker at left back? that worries me just saying it! Even Ledley King would struggle playing at full back. This won't go down well, but Judas started off as a left back in the team (and was decent), thats where he made his debut before becoming a centre back, yet when at centre back he couldn't return to Left back, as once he settled into a new position he couldn't revert. So Naughton may well be a crap LB, but he is naturally a RB and he should move, not sit around waiting for a chance, move to a club like Norwich (where he was on loan) as right now hes wasting his career.
Well I may have got it wrong but he was an attacking left back, was at the game agaisnt the goons, long time ago mind (so may not have been his debut) and at that time he was playing left back, but I know as a youth player him and ashley cole both played as a striker.
Oooh - and I nearly agreed with all that. But come on - we both know full well that Ledley would be a very fine right-back. Back four of Ledleys, Ledley as DM and all the rest of the positions taken up by Robbie Keanes. Top four no problem.
By the way did anyone else notice the absolute lack of joy on the players' faces when Ade scored the opener? Paulinho just sort of gave him a hug, a couple of others came over and sort of patted him but it was all very dour. Same with his second too apart from Kaboul jumping on him. Am I being overly-analytical or am I right to suspect that maybe Ade isn't that popular with the rest of the team? Even last season we seemed to have a great team spirit and it was good to see.
Adebayor always seems to choreograph his celebrations with us. It used to be his dance with Bale and now it's the salute. I get the feeling that he's asked the other players not to jump on him when he's doing it, as they all congratulate him once he's finished. Lots of noise from them being picked up at the mics at St James', as the crowd were understandably muted.
Taken from Spurs website. That will explain why I thought it was his debut as his actual debut against Chelsea was him coming on as a sub but not featuring again that season until he returned as a full back. But enough of Judas as we're not 'allowed' to remember him for being a great defender.
