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McGarry: Spurs Need a Defensive Midfielder

By Jaymes Marsh

Respected sportswriter, Ian McGarry, stated last night on the BBC that Spurs have needed a centre back, but more importantly, a defensive midfielder since the beginning of the 2006/2007 season. McGarry gave his views on a discussion relating to Tottenham's current plight.

"Martin Jol has wanted a centre back as cover to the injured but excellent Ledley King since last season when it became apparent that King would be sidelined for quite a while. Adding to that, Martin has desperately wanted a defensive midfielder to replace Michael Carrick, but for some strange reason, the club keeps buying strikers?" said McGarry.

McGarry did mention the signing of Kaboul, but said that Jol was after a centre back a season before the French under-21 international joined the club.

Was McGarry's comment's directed at our board? A board who allow another individual, other than Martin Jol, to sign players?

It's extremely evident that we have substantial defensive issues at the club. Tom Huddlestone is a superb midfielder, but he's no defensive midfielder. If anything, Huddlestone should be playing with a defensive midfielder. This will allow him to get forward and express himself more.

Is the signing of a defensive midfielder the solution to our troubles at the back? Do you think that the side will get better defensively once King (who will likely be out till November) and Dawson are paired up together at the heart of our defence?

Maybe the Tottenham Hotspur board are waiting to see if the results on the pitch will change once the injured players return. I see a bleak future for Jol if the results continue as they are once all the players return. Do you?

42 comments

  1. We've got to get rid of him now. I can't believe that I am saying this as only last week on here, I was so angry at Levy.

    I am ashamed to say that he was right to look for another manager that isn't tactically clueless.
  2. Martin keeps using the same tactics as last season.

    For those that say that we should be holding onto this guy, think back to last seasons games against Chel$ea (FA CUP) and Arsenal.

    Do you remember what he did in those games???

    To refresh your memories, watch the Fulham game again.

    Josh
  3. We've needed a defensive midfielder for ages.

    We bought Zokora as cover for Carrick, but he was rubbish, and continues to be.
  4. Zokora isn't that bad. He needs a season to settle in. He is the defensive midfielder we need.
  5. We don't need a defensive midfielder Jaymes.

    Get your facts right! Huddlestone is one of the best defensive midfielders in Europe.
  6. I've said it before, I'll say it again, you play Jenas you lose. He is yellow, lazy and couldn't read a game if spelled out for him....He is the biggest prima donna and for the life of me, I can't see what ANYONE see's in him..therein lies the problem...
  7. I heard the discussion on last nights BBC monday night club.

    He definitely wanted the panel and the fans to know that Comolli is signing players without Jol wanting them.
  8. Since when is Tom Huddlestone a defensive midfielder?

    Please elaborate your theory.
  9. Here we go again....Everyone is getting on JJ's back.

    I bet your an armchair supporter. When you see how much running he does during the game and the work he puts in, I am sure your wouldnt be calling JJ lazy.

    Maybe your the lazy one. Get off your backside and come down to the lane and watch him play for a change.
  10. Huddlestone is a defensive midfielder!! He sits in front of the back four and protects them.
  11. Huddlstone is one of the best defensive midfielders in Europe. Don't make me laugh. He's a very good player, but he's a luxury player who will only be fully effective in a three man midfield. He is not mobile enough to be an effective attacking or defensive midfield player.

    Off the top of my head I can name at least 20 defensive midfield players who are more effective in their role that Hud and at least three of them play a few miles down the road (Diaby, Diarra, Gilberto.)

    We'd have more luck cultivating the Kaboul Dawson partnership at the back and grooming Leadly into a defensive midfielder.
  12. 2:55 - If Huddlestone is the best defensive midfielder in Europe as you stated, he can't be doing a very good job as we do have a defensive problem.
  13. Great point 2:56.

    I think that Ledly, when fit, would be a great defensive midfielder.

    Kaboul and Dawson would remain at the back forming a great partnership (hopefully).
  14. "Since when is Tom Huddlestone a defensive midfielder?

    Please elaborate your theory."

    ------------------------
    Huddlestone is what I call a holding midfielder, not a defensive one (as he can't defend!)

    He holds the midfield by staying deep and then spreading passes down the wings, this helps Jenas as he can push forward as Zokora couldn't pass so Jenas had to stay deep to make all the passes.

    Huddlestone and Jenas will work, Zokora won't work with either Jenas or Huddlestone. To play Zokora, we would probably need a Paul Scholes type player...

    Oh ye, this is why Jenas is good enough: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fchNqV8yvlU
  15. 2:47 Zokora without a doubt is not the answer to our defensive midfield. He has been nothing short of awful and has had more than enough time to settle. He can't pass, he can't shoot, he can't tackle, he can't read the game, all he does is occasionally going on a run the length of the pitch but as he can doing else there is no end product. This Comolli signing may have been one of the worst in our recent history, I just hope Jol or whoever replaces him has to courage to continually drop him as I can only assume it has been from pressure from Comolli that he has had so much time to date.
  16. HELLO MY MAN… IT’S MARTIN HERE. I am a THBN virgin poster so be patient with me I’ve been a passionate follower over the last few months anyway my man here are my views on Saturdays performance

    I CAN STILL hardly believe that we left Craven Cottage without three points to our name on Saturday.

    We dictated the game, everybody saw that, and it was probably our best away performance for a long time. The first problem, once again, came from a corner kick and I keep on saying it, but you have to be strong. They attacked the ball, we didn't and Fulham got a free header from which they scored.

    It gave them a leg-up before half-time, but after the break we got our passing going again and created chances - Dimitar had a great chance cleared off the line, Steed hit the post and Jermaine was through one on one with the keeper.

    We got a third, but if we had got the fourth we wouldn't have had to change anything and it would have been an easier game for us. Then there was the deflected goal…
  17. We are desperate for a defensive midfielder. I've said it since Davids left. I cant stand Zokora, I think he's bloody awful actually and have said that also for a long time. Huddlestones a great player but not what we needin DM. What we need is a leader, someone who tackles all day long and protects the defence, and who has the experience to pull the team together when we are looking to protect a lead. All summer all I read was left wing this left wing that, I couldn't understand it when what we so blatantly need to actually set the team off and to make the team take off as reaql title challegers ids an experienced defensive midfielder of the highest quality. Zokora is a clown, and I'm not fooled by a few little surging runs, when he cant tackle, shoot, time his tackles, position himself correctly or pass the ball in any direction but sideways.
  18. Yau have to remember that in the 2005/6 season we had Carrick & Davids and let in considerably less goals than we do now as the pair of them were quality together and protected the back 4 really well whilst allowing Lennon, Keane, Mido & Defoe to be able to get forward & do the business without having to worry about being caught on the break. Im sorry but we have no one in the same class as these 2 in our midfield now, and yes the guy is right, why did we spend 16.6 million on Darren Bent when we need a new pit bull in the middle of the part.
  19. I agree with you 3:04.

    We need a grafter that will take the team by the scruff of the neck if needed.

    The problem with that is these players i.e. R Keane, Gerrard, etc, don't grow on trees.

    It takes a good manager to find a player like that, but a great manager to mold a player of that calibre.

    PS. Welcome to THBN Martin Jol.
  20. We need alot of things at the moment but first the removal of Chris Hughton as number 2 is vitally important. BMJ doen't have a clue tactically when under pressure let alone most of the time & this is where a good number 2 who isn't a yes man & with good tatical knollege would help....also this would remove Chris Hughton from coaching the defence. Enough said on our defence again we have to look at CH. I am not saying buying Curtis Davis for £10Mil would help but a seasoned defender with experience is need what with King out. It is brilliant we are buying the best young talent but we need some old heads like in the Fulham game who can take the game by the scruff of the neck like a midfield general. We missed out on so many & don't seem to be addressing the problem. We need the next Roy Keane, we need a good number 2 we need a manager with great tactical ability. We are not top 4 material yet with so many other teams improving we would struggle for the top 8 at …
  21. I agree, JJ needs to do more...he gets about, but ineffectively.He has been touted for ages as being the next major star..far from it. Our problem is definately midfield. We always defend so deep, sitting on our own box and awaiting the shots...a deflected shot is not unlucky, it's bad defense from the midfield, we need to push up from midfield to control a game. We have no problem scoring goals, we just panic and let the opposition come onto us.....
  22. Jenas is shit Get over it Jenas is shit Get over it - hows that for a song for you??????

    Six minutes of highlights and with around four and a half minutes of them replays says it all
  23. "Jermaine was through one on one with the keeper".....EVEN BMJ NOW NOWS JENAS IS SHIT SURELY HE WILL NOW BE DROPPED - CAN'T EVEN SCORE WHEN HE IS ONE ON ONE WITH THE KEEPER
  24. Since Spurs cannot get hold of Ramos perhaps they should consider beefing up their defence by securing the services of Sevilla's keeper, Palop!
  25. Having reasd though Martins post I am just woundering your views on the following line
    “The first problem, once again, came from a corner kick and I keep on saying it, but you have to be strong”
    Take note of the bit KEEP ON SAYING IT - well if the message is not sinking in maybe its time for someone else to have a go and making it stick. Jol seems to be saying he has tried they just don’t listen to him or he does not get it over well enough!!!!
  26. I think Gareth Barry would be an ideal buy. he can fill in on the left side allowing bale to advance, he can fill in central defence where we have quality already but exposed with injuries. he can do a job as a defensive midfielder, and he even knocks in a few goals here and there. 3 players in one.
  27. I think Kaka would be an ideal buy, he can fill in on the left allowing bale to advance, he can fill in off the front two as he is clearly better than Jenas, he can do a job upfront as if we don’t have enough of them already and he even knocks in a few goals here and there. 3 players in one.

    Has anyone got his number?
  28. You're dreaming if you think Kaka would come to our mess of a club. One reason for firing Jol? Playing Jenas every game. It is true he runs his rear end off, but he would be better off in track and field. Running a lot and trying does not mean he is a good footballer. And he is not. He plays the most important position on the field and only produces against teams that give him space. He does not create it on his own. Why Jol can't see this is beyond me.
    Jol's team selection, player substitutions and tactical nous are lower division quality. He has succeeded because we have spent a ton of money and have a major amount of talent in the squad. A proven manager would get far more out of these players.
    Sure he's a nice guy but that doesn't win trophies. Until he is replaced we will fight for 5th.
  29. nooooooo Kaka won't come to our club really i mean i have been saving money in my biggy bank for the last 3 weeks to try and help fund a campagin to get him down the lane. knowitall you have hurt my feelings
  30. oh well there goes that idea!!! What was i thinking
  31. What idiot said that Jabba-The-Hud was a defensive midfielder??

    I support Derby and can tell you that he's no defensive midfielder.
  32. has'nt ledley king played def mid field before for england, if i remember rightly he looked really good as well. perhaps theres the solution.
  33. I think everybody is being very hard on jol. He has created an excellent side at spurs and commands the sort of respect that few other managers can. people seem to forget that 4th spot in the prem is'nt ours by default, there are still 4 great teams vying for their place and, judging by the start the season so far, a handful of others in the picture. Tactically he might not be the greatest but how many prem managers truely are? People are only talking about us finishing fourth because of the team he has built and people should remember that, not fly off on some knee jerk reaction. wheres the gratitude?
  34. I think you lot who constantly criticise J.J. & Anthony Gardner should read this:

    Tottenham youngster Gareth Bale has been named in the Team of the Week for the Actim Index, the official player ratings system of the Barclays Premier League.

    Bale, who arrived at White Hart Lane from Southampton this summer, earned 27 points for his performance against Fulham at the weekend to take his place in the weekly line-up and average 18 points per appearance since the start of his Spurs career.

    Team-mate Jermaine Jenas is the club’s top-ranked player, sitting in 13th position overall and is joined in the top 100 by Steed Malbranque (21st), Anthony Gardner (53rd) and Pascal Chimbonda (66th).
  35. We need to play Kaboul as are holding midfielder. He is quick and can play the ball well and doesnt mind the odd shot. If King was fit im sure Jol would be doing this already. Boateng also needs to be looked at as he is better than Jenas from wat ive seen of him.
  36. King should do the job for us as a defensive midfielder, pair him with big Hudd. It also depends on the team we are playing against. We can't have a defensive midfielder against team like Birmingham, Sunderland etc.. at home, only to certain big games.
  37. If we are really aiming to top4, not one (1) from our current midfielders should be where they r now. Playing.
    Steed is one noskilled wannabe dribbler whos got no idea wot to do next?. Tainio is hardworkin' sicknote in the wrong place. (He should be in the center you know!). Thudd is slow, soooooo slow I can smoke a cigarrette while he's passing. JJ runs fine, an runs, an he runs, an he runs. But nuthin else happens. He cant pass, he cant deliver, he cant Dfens. Wots left? 5 yrs deal, of coors. Sure hope we get atleast Aaron back soon. He's got somethin' aniwei. He's fast! But he does not understand a crap about playing zat game of futball. So lets just lay back and wait for some decent midfield and that CL for another, lets say 7 yrs?
  38. Can't believ all this crap. Getting rid of jol now would be a disaster and leave us in the luch yet again. As for the players - there may be a lack of balance but the pathetic sniping et individuals like Jenas - doesn't do anything? 8 goals last season for a midfielder ? The real problen is thta we let physicalteams like Sunderland & Everton get in our face and get the points. When Spurs ar on song we are quite capable of beating such teams. The problem maybe tactics and focus but I think Spurs will do well again thji season with the exiting squad and manager so I prefer to save any condemnation in the event of failure at the end of the season.
  39. should have signed Diarra :( - a wasted talent
  40. He was Wenger bound as soon as he entered the UK
  41. i agree with annonomous
  42. The Goonersaurus wanted King as a DM, Hoddle wanted King as a DM, even Eriksson wanted him as a DM......King does not want to play that position something he's stated time after time despite everyone stating the obvious that he's defintely cut out for it.