When it comes to Tottenham, there’s one player who I believe doesn’t get his due. Injury problems aside, Tom Huddlestone has been an absolute rock for Spurs over the last few years and I’m a little surprised that he isn’t held in higher regard by fans. Why, for instance is there never any discussion about Huddlestone joining up with the England side? Is he underrated or am I overrating him? Either way I feel that Tottenham have missed him this season.
He was progressing extremely well before he picked up his injury. Tottenham used his size well, allowing him to dominate the midfield and start spraying passes all over the pitch. He’s known for his power on the ball and when it comes to shooting and he hasn’t disappointed in these areas.
He has a bit of a reputation for slowing things down, but he offers Spurs something totally different to anything else they’ve got.
I’m not claiming that he’d have started every week, but I think Tottenham’s midfield could have used a bit more competition. Having Thudd on the bench would have allowed Harry Redknapp to mix it up a bit. He provides a completely different style of play from the likes of Scott Parker and Sandro and may have been just the man Tottenham needed when facing teams who were content to park the bus (like Everton a couple of weeks ago).
Just think about Thudd’s remarkable performance against Inter Milan two November’s ago, as he captained Tottenham to a 3-1 win. He was absolutely imperious that night, spraying out balls to the wings and asserting his dominance over a top Inter Milan midfield.
Too often this season Tottenham have been forced to rely on Luka Modric for their midfield inspiration. Huddlestone could have provided some more creativity in the centre-of-the-park.
In recent times Luka Modric’s influence has been waning and so too has Tottenham’s form. The truth is Spurs are a little short of options.
Instead, we’ve seen the rise to prominence of Jake Livermore. Whilst Jake hasn’t exactly disappointed he’s still very much in the ‘one for the future’ category and Spurs could desperately use a little more experience as this season winds down.
I’d argue that he’s Spurs’ most underrated player and I personally can’t wait for him to be back in the fold. Tottenham need a little inspiration and he’s capable of providing it.
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Harry Cloke, cool name, why havent we seen more of you in the squad lately, i think we could also have done better if we played Peter Crouch more, he should get more praise, yeah, and what about Berbatov, he is certainly due a run-out again soon, must be getting back from that injury soon..??
What, what, as David Letterman usually puts it..
Massive Thudd fan.
Left foot, right foot, short, long. We’ve seriously missed him. Was hoping he’d get back to fitness for this part of the season, would loved to have seen him sitting deep with Modders, spraying the ball to Bale, Lennon, Rafa and Ade.
Can’t wait till he comes back to fitness. You’re right, there is a massive Tommy H shaped hole in our squad at the moment. Extremely underrated.
Oh tommy tommy. Cant wait to see the hud back in the side. Coys
Great player, very much missed this season. Can’t see how he’s underrated though. All the fellow fans I know rate him as a top notch distributor of the ball. Shame he isn’t a bit quicker, but most players have their strengths and weaknesses. As far as I’m concerned, Tommy’s strengths would get him into any Premier League side and I’m sure we’d have seen plenty of him had he been fit.
Very much disagree. Has little impact on games really. He doesn’t want to be fit again because he knows he wouldn’t get close to the first team. Decent squad player but not much more. Would he get into any other top 4 team? Not a chance.
My favorite player a gifted left and right foot passer someone who can turn defense into attack in a flash of his big boots. I was gutted when his season was ended by this Ankle problem kneading two operations and still not right our season would have been a lot easier if he was on board. We miss his defending at Corners and free kicks his defense splitting passes his thunderous goals and no one can hit a 50 yard pass in a flash with back spin like Hudds , I have been a Spurs fan 50 years this April 15 and we could be at Wembley if we win on my double celebration could become three if Hudds was to make it with a miracle recovery it would make my year complete and third place a given. Get well soon Big Man.
This is a misconception about Hudds being slow he looks slow because he never panics and always has the next passing his head before he receives the ball. I have also heard he is fast and one of the quickest in training when he opens them big legs with all his hair now he would be handicapped.
Good player, but realistically he would only have played all the minutes that Livermore has been given, so I don’t think he’d have made a huge difference.
I could see him playing a role as one of 3 in the middle along with Modric & one of Parker/Sandro – that would be a very nicely balanced midfield – but its not a formation ‘Arry likes.
As for people hearing rumours he’s fastest in training, you need to switch sources mate. Pace definitely not an asset, but it wasn’t for Hoddle either.
No not a chance.He is slow and lazy and when he has a bad day its a real mare.The player we are missing most is Lennon.He gives the balance to the team.When he is not there players are forced to play wide who would normally play in the middle.The dump truck will find it very hard to get back in the team if at all with Livermore now ahead of him and Sandro.I think he might be sold on.Bye Tom.
I agree with you one hundred percent.
Hahah Livermore my arse can he pass from onside to the other no is he 6ft3 no can he shoot hit free kicks hold the record playing center half never being on the losing team no. He has more skill in his bad ankle than Parker Sandro and Livermore
I love the way Huddlestone plays. I think what he would also have brought us this season is added question marks in the mind of the opposing manager. If our play has been easy to work out then like you say big Tom gives us a totally different dynamic which, as illustrated against Inter works. I think he would have had to raise his game this season and I reckon he would have. Shame to have missed the whole season.
So when you say “he would only have played all the minutes that Livermore has been given” you mean 29 appearences over the course of the season?
i miss him. hes a great player especially at home. hes so much bettter than parker. doesn’t slow down our play and always passes well, find parker doesn’t have that touch.
c’mon man parkers been a great signing and influenced the others around him so positively. Hudd doesnt bring that, Parkers a roy keane without the nasty streak, a leader and gets the other players going. Make Parker Captain, sorry ledley, love ya but Parkers everywhere on the pitch at the right time
Your spot on mate we need ten passe before we go forward and then there is a posse waiting in the box to block our shots. How many defense splitting passes has he hit how many winning goals has he scored in tight games from 25 30 yards.
Agree with practically all the comments made here about big Tom.
For me he’s an integral part of our squad. Lets not forget its not only this season that we have been missing him, he was out most of last season too when we missed out on a CL place.
I agree he’s never gonna be a Gerrard,a Lampard,a Fabregas,a Modric or a Silva but he is a very good PL midfielder.
Every top side past or present has their world class players but they also almost always have players like Big Tom in there too.
Not having the option to utilise his qualities this past month or two when we have really hit ‘the wall’ has underlined just how important he is to our side.
Very good player, sadly missed!
hudd, good for european games when his lack of pace is not exploited, not so good for prem games…he may have 2 great feet and a crackin shot (when on target) but his size appears not to be an asset for a player of his style but a hindrance…but it’d be nice to have had him as an option, hope he returns fitter & faster
How have we missed him?
Thudd’s a great player but for 6 or 7 months of the season we were challenging for the title!!
How many more of these articles are going to be published by fickle “journos” (loosely used) just because we’ve had a bit of a bad run recently.
He could certainly help to break down the likes of Stoke at home.
ForEngland I’d like to see him alongside Wilshere. I think they could be similar to Hudds/Modric partnership and help us control the ball better st international level. Maybe with Gerrard playing ahead of them.
i’m irish but i can’t ever see hudd in that role for england, too low profile for u lot and whatever manager england has they always play who the media / skysports want, thats the reason u flop all the time
whats with all the parker bashing??? the guys a rock, has all the traits hudd doesnt for the cm position. this is nonsense, hudd ahead of parker? u must be watching huddlestone highlites vids and not the rest. utter rubbish
The one thing Spurs have lacked over the years is a sense of urgency. Players like Hudd (and Carrick before him, and even Jenas before everyone turned on him) are always rated highly by the fans, but ultimately only serve to put the brakes on our attacks. Not strong enough defensively to make a difference there either, so they just sit in a no mans land doing nothing.
I’d bring him on for any half time competitions that involve kicking the ball a long way at a small target, but nothing else.
To those talking about Hodd been slow. How fast was Glen Hoddle gents? Hodd is not underrated. He’s missed badly. He’s just unlucky with injuries. To make comparisons with completely differnt types of players is unfair . Everyone needs to be measured in respect to his contribution to the team (when he’s given a chance to play). Democracy is a good thing sometimes. Everybody can say everything like an expert (aren’t we all?)