...and I'm sure that had he had more pitch time, some of the draws could just as easily have turned into a defeat with his poor workrate. Thats the flipside I'm afraid. If a team is going to accomodate a player with no defensive qualities, the rest have to up their pressing and be willing to do this players work. Clearly, if you had Ronaldo for example, the team wouldn't mind running round for him....Krancjar?, sorry but the player needs to bring abit more to the table than he does, and more often.
Is his work rate as bad as people think though, Notso? As others have pointed out, we finished 4th with him in the side. He played 24 league games that season, starting 19 of them. When he's used on the left, then I'd say that his lack of defensive qualities are an issue. If he's played in the hole, then it's far less damaging. You don't hear much about strikers who can't defend. He would still have to improve on a couple of things and make a point to the manager to demand a first XI place, but maybe the Europa League is the place to do that?
Is his work rate as bad as people think though, Notso? ---------------------------------------------------- Yes I think it is, if you remember PNP, that was when we got him from Pompey, he seemed less bulky and much fitter for them, that was followed by the summer you have referred to previously, and so have I, citing this close season training regime (Croatia not at WC) that Niko took no notice of, and turned up for pre season all lardy and Harry was well pissed off. You don't hear much about strikers who can't defend. ------------------------------------------------------ No, perhaps you don't, but I'd rather have a willing Tevez type who does, the term 'defend from the front' comes from somewhere. I'm happy to keep him in role he's in, back up and cups, just not to any regular PL berth over one of the others.
True, I'd rather have a Tevez or a Rooney than a Darren Bent (£24m?! ), but I was referring more to Kranjcar's lack of defensive ability, rather than his work rate. You can't necessarily teach somebody how to tackle well, but you can teach them to cover more ground, stand in the right place and harry the opposition. He needs to work harder when he's selected, but I think that the damage that he could do in advanced role would compensate for it while he improves. The other factor, of course, is how his presence and state of mind could/can impact on our other Croatians. If we have two of them in the team, enjoying being at Spurs and improving their games, then the third might not find a move to Chelsea so attractive. Not a deciding factor, by any means, but an additional little incentive. To be honest, it's nice to be able to leave a player that's as good as him out of the side. It shows how far we've come.
Spot on with that PNP, totally agree, with just one thing to add. He's not the only one who you'd think would be busting a gut to impress when they get a chance though, the almost half hearted approach by some on Saturday was quite surprising I thought, I know its pre season, but for fringe players that should make no difference at all.
Very true, Notso. The first half display was appalling, frankly. Those that are out of the picture entirely are the players that are earmarked for sale, in my opinion, so those in the squad that day should've been looking to make an impact.
