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Christian Eriksen

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/...ed-christian-eriksen-more-than-ever-cgq2qchrj
Tottenham need understated Christian Eriksen more than ever
The Denmark midfielder is an entertainer who shapes the biggest games – he deserves to be heralded, Henry Winter writes

The clattering was incoming. It was against PSV Eindhoven this season and Tottenham Hotspur were battling to stay in the Champions League. Christian Eriksen had his back to goal, and the Spurs playmaker knew he was about to be battered. He didn’t flinch. He would take the pain for the cause.

The PSV defender Nick Viergever was determined to intercept a ball coming in from Mousa Dembélé and if that meant going through the back of Eriksen, so be it. As the ball arrived, Eriksen instantly flicked it on to Harry Kane, and took the hit from Viergever.

Eriksen could have stayed down, winning an easy free kick in a promising position 20 yards out, but he immediately leapt up and rejoined the attack. Tottenham’s No 23 is respected for his accurate distribution, his range of passing, short and long, but he also delivers under pressure, and with studs heading towards his achilles.

In fact, this 27-year-old Denmark midfielder is not respected enough here. It’s time he was properly appreciated in England and also Europe. Spurs fans love him, of course. There’s praise elsewhere but not true appreciation of his fortitude as well as his flair. Eriksen is a special talent, creator, goalscorer and team player. A depleted Spurs will rely even more heavily on Eriksen against his old club Ajax in tonight’s first leg of the Champions League semi-finals at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Eriksen doesn’t chase the limelight. He prefers the quiet life in London, the rarefied heights of Hampstead Village rather than glitzy West End. He has even been spotted on the Tube. Mind the gap. He rarely opens up in interviews. Eriksen is perfectly pleasant to talk to, very polite, but shows little interest in celebrating or expanding on his footballing gifts.

It is “instinct” that Eriksen always replies with when asked about his style. It is so much more. It is a muscle memory honed from a young age by parents who coached locally. It is a skill accentuated at Odense, and then Ajax, that Amsterdam finessing school where the spirit of Johan Cruyff lives on.

Growing up, he admired and studied his great compatriots, Brian and particularly Michael Laudrup. He looked and learnt from Andrés Iniesta. He listened and learnt from Frank de Boer at Ajax and Morten Olsen with Denmark.

Eriksen’s education should be a route map for aspiring professionals, choosing clubs that encourage self-expression, Ajax from 16 and then Tottenham from 21. Maybe one day Eriksen will head to a European heavyweight, a Real Madrid, and it will not only be Spurs fans grieving. Eriksen’s loss will be felt keenly by all who cherish skill and sportsmanship. He doesn’t dive, doesn’t engage in some of the niggly skirmishing that once held back Dele Alli’s game. He just plays and brings joy. Eriksen is the understated entertainer.

Talk to Spurs fans and they will quickly and merrily list the technical flourishes in Eriksen’s game: the way he rolled Andrew Robertson, of Liverpool; the raking passes to release Harry Kane; the one-twos with Dele around Paul Pogba and Romelu Lukaku against Manchester United; the sudden changes of directions, wrongfooting markers, always on the move, gliding, always with his head up, assessing.

Regular match-goers also voice some frustrations: the free kicks occasionally going into the wall; the corners failing to clear the first defender; a rather diffident tackling technique — dangling a leg — and a modest approach to heading. There is a suspicion that Kane is susceptible to injuries because the captain feels a need to charge in on opponents to make up for the lack of physicality in those around him.

Also, Eriksen’s reluctance to play safe and clear, preferring to build from deep, almost led to Spurs being knocked out of the Champions League when his back-pass was intercepted by Emirates Marketing Project and only an offside flag against Sergio Agüero led to Raheem Sterling’s decisive “goal” being ruled out by VAR. Purist principles need sacrificing for the greater good at times.

Eriksen is so much more than the cameo king, so much more than the purveyor of fine passes on the run. He has the confidence to stop the flow, control the moment, build again. He really should be heralded more. When Eriksen’s match-defining influence is questioned, let us remember these decisive interventions this season: the winner against Inter Milan after 80 minutes at Wembley that, as against PSV, kept the Champions League dream alive; the winner against Burnley in stoppage time; the winner against Brighton & Hove Albion with two minutes left. Late and lethal.

The critics who claim Eriksen doesn’t shape the most exacting of occasions must have missed his stellar performance against Juventus in Turin last season, including a clever, low free kick that deceived Gianluigi Buffon. They must have forgotten his frequent prowess against Manchester United, pressing to win the ball back off Pogba, and his left-footed strike as Real were humbled at Wembley in 2017.

The non-believers must ignore Eriksen’s sumptuous strikes this season, from the edge of the box against Leicester City, from 25 yards against Brighton, a majestic effort against Everton and a shimmy and low finish against Cardiff City. Spurs fans pay handsomely to attend games home and away and Eriksen rewards their outlay and loyalty.

Those sceptical of Eriksen’s charms clearly cannot recall the dipping shot over Chelsea’s Willy Caballero that the pundit Jamie Redknapp hailed as a wondrous “rainbow” strike; the change of pace and touch that took him past Marko Arnautovic who could only pull him back; dummying Ander Herrera to send a pass soaring to Kane against United; and the pass to Kane against Bournemouth. So many passes to Kane. Left foot, right foot, a quick free kick from the deep to send Kane clear. To Dele, to Son Heung-min, to Lucas Moura. The targets change, the quality doesn’t. Eriksen is a variety show in possession.

And yet he is perceived to be having a poor season, ignoring that he works best when in harness with those with whom he has built an understanding. Spurs’ awesome foursome, Kane, Son, Eriksen and Dele, have started together only ten times this season. Eriksen has willingly accepted differing positions, dropping deeper, going wide, working for Mauricio Pochettino.

Speculation persists about his future, about Real being interested, and a contract expiring in 2020 certainly needs appropriate improvement by Spurs. But why should he leave? He now graces the best stadium in the country, working for an inspiring manager, living in a city where the famous are largely left alone — and good luck finding a quiet spot on the Castellana in Madrid. He is revered at Spurs — “our most creative player since Glenn Hoddle”, in the view of one diehard.

Given the way he strokes the ball around so elegantly, Eriksen can be simply enjoyed for the way he makes pulses race, but cold, hard numbers also underpin the visual and anecdotal evidence of a master at work. Whatever the modern obsession, stats should never be the starting point of an argument about a player’s qualities and influence but they certainly have their place in supporting Eriksen.

His numbers are relentlessly impressive. Since joining Spurs in 2013 for £12.5 million, Eriksen has scored 65 times and contributed 86 assists in 272 games. For assists in the Premier League this season, only Eden Hazard and Ryan Fraser, with 13, boast more than Eriksen’s 12.

For sheer endurance, game after Spurs game, in all competitions, Eriksen’s 3,499 minutes is eclipsed only by Toby Alderweireld’s 3,778. Of Spurs regulars, Eriksen runs the most, an average 12.28km a game in the Premier League; only Dele comes close with 12.02km. And yet the lazy impression of Eriksen is that he can be more adornment than athletic force. Nonsense.

It is actually possible to argue that Eriksen has no rival as running man in the Premier League; none of the four players ahead of him in the average distance stakes, Max Meyer (12.32), Dan Gosling (12.45), James Milner (12.61) and Morgan Gibbs-White (13.58), have covered anywhere near his total (353.43km from 2,591 minutes).

Ravaged by injury, Spurs have been showing signs of fatigue as the season grows more intense, and Eriksen had only a short summer break after the World Cup. Yet here he is tonight, playing his 52nd game of the season, utterly driven by the task of inspiring Spurs against Ajax. We should appreciate Eriksen more.
 
Glenda's Legs said:
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/...ed-christian-eriksen-more-than-ever-cgq2qchrj
Tottenham need understated Christian Eriksen more than ever
The Denmark midfielder is an entertainer who shapes the biggest games – he deserves to be heralded, Henry Winter writes

The clattering was incoming. It was against PSV Eindhoven this season and Tottenham Hotspur were battling to stay in the Champions League. Christian Eriksen had his back to goal, and the Spurs playmaker knew he was about to be battered. He didn’t flinch. He would take the pain for the cause.

The PSV defender Nick Viergever was determined to intercept a ball coming in from Mousa Dembélé and if that meant going through the back of Eriksen, so be it. As the ball arrived, Eriksen instantly flicked it on to Harry Kane, and took the hit from Viergever.

Eriksen could have stayed down, winning an easy free kick in a promising position 20 yards out, but he immediately leapt up and rejoined the attack. Tottenham’s No 23 is respected for his accurate distribution, his range of passing, short and long, but he also delivers under pressure, and with studs heading towards his achilles.

In fact, this 27-year-old Denmark midfielder is not respected enough here. It’s time he was properly appreciated in England and also Europe. Spurs fans love him, of course. There’s praise elsewhere but not true appreciation of his fortitude as well as his flair. Eriksen is a special talent, creator, goalscorer and team player. A depleted Spurs will rely even more heavily on Eriksen against his old club Ajax in tonight’s first leg of the Champions League semi-finals at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Eriksen doesn’t chase the limelight. He prefers the quiet life in London, the rarefied heights of Hampstead Village rather than glitzy West End. He has even been spotted on the Tube. Mind the gap. He rarely opens up in interviews. Eriksen is perfectly pleasant to talk to, very polite, but shows little interest in celebrating or expanding on his footballing gifts.

It is “instinct” that Eriksen always replies with when asked about his style. It is so much more. It is a muscle memory honed from a young age by parents who coached locally. It is a skill accentuated at Odense, and then Ajax, that Amsterdam finessing school where the spirit of Johan Cruyff lives on.

Growing up, he admired and studied his great compatriots, Brian and particularly Michael Laudrup. He looked and learnt from Andrés Iniesta. He listened and learnt from Frank de Boer at Ajax and Morten Olsen with Denmark.

Eriksen’s education should be a route map for aspiring professionals, choosing clubs that encourage self-expression, Ajax from 16 and then Tottenham from 21. Maybe one day Eriksen will head to a European heavyweight, a Real Madrid, and it will not only be Spurs fans grieving. Eriksen’s loss will be felt keenly by all who cherish skill and sportsmanship. He doesn’t dive, doesn’t engage in some of the niggly skirmishing that once held back Dele Alli’s game. He just plays and brings joy. Eriksen is the understated entertainer.

Talk to Spurs fans and they will quickly and merrily list the technical flourishes in Eriksen’s game: the way he rolled Andrew Robertson, of Liverpool; the raking passes to release Harry Kane; the one-twos with Dele around Paul Pogba and Romelu Lukaku against Manchester United; the sudden changes of directions, wrongfooting markers, always on the move, gliding, always with his head up, assessing.

Regular match-goers also voice some frustrations: the free kicks occasionally going into the wall; the corners failing to clear the first defender; a rather diffident tackling technique — dangling a leg — and a modest approach to heading. There is a suspicion that Kane is susceptible to injuries because the captain feels a need to charge in on opponents to make up for the lack of physicality in those around him.

Also, Eriksen’s reluctance to play safe and clear, preferring to build from deep, almost led to Spurs being knocked out of the Champions League when his back-pass was intercepted by Emirates Marketing Project and only an offside flag against Sergio Agüero led to Raheem Sterling’s decisive “goal” being ruled out by VAR. Purist principles need sacrificing for the greater good at times.

Eriksen is so much more than the cameo king, so much more than the purveyor of fine passes on the run. He has the confidence to stop the flow, control the moment, build again. He really should be heralded more. When Eriksen’s match-defining influence is questioned, let us remember these decisive interventions this season: the winner against Inter Milan after 80 minutes at Wembley that, as against PSV, kept the Champions League dream alive; the winner against Burnley in stoppage time; the winner against Brighton & Hove Albion with two minutes left. Late and lethal.

The critics who claim Eriksen doesn’t shape the most exacting of occasions must have missed his stellar performance against Juventus in Turin last season, including a clever, low free kick that deceived Gianluigi Buffon. They must have forgotten his frequent prowess against Manchester United, pressing to win the ball back off Pogba, and his left-footed strike as Real were humbled at Wembley in 2017.

The non-believers must ignore Eriksen’s sumptuous strikes this season, from the edge of the box against Leicester City, from 25 yards against Brighton, a majestic effort against Everton and a shimmy and low finish against Cardiff City. Spurs fans pay handsomely to attend games home and away and Eriksen rewards their outlay and loyalty.

Those sceptical of Eriksen’s charms clearly cannot recall the dipping shot over Chelsea’s Willy Caballero that the pundit Jamie Redknapp hailed as a wondrous “rainbow” strike; the change of pace and touch that took him past Marko Arnautovic who could only pull him back; dummying Ander Herrera to send a pass soaring to Kane against United; and the pass to Kane against Bournemouth. So many passes to Kane. Left foot, right foot, a quick free kick from the deep to send Kane clear. To Dele, to Son Heung-min, to Lucas Moura. The targets change, the quality doesn’t. Eriksen is a variety show in possession.

And yet he is perceived to be having a poor season, ignoring that he works best when in harness with those with whom he has built an understanding. Spurs’ awesome foursome, Kane, Son, Eriksen and Dele, have started together only ten times this season. Eriksen has willingly accepted differing positions, dropping deeper, going wide, working for Mauricio Pochettino.

Speculation persists about his future, about Real being interested, and a contract expiring in 2020 certainly needs appropriate improvement by Spurs. But why should he leave? He now graces the best stadium in the country, working for an inspiring manager, living in a city where the famous are largely left alone — and good luck finding a quiet spot on the Castellana in Madrid. He is revered at Spurs — “our most creative player since Glenn Hoddle”, in the view of one diehard.

Given the way he strokes the ball around so elegantly, Eriksen can be simply enjoyed for the way he makes pulses race, but cold, hard numbers also underpin the visual and anecdotal evidence of a master at work. Whatever the modern obsession, stats should never be the starting point of an argument about a player’s qualities and influence but they certainly have their place in supporting Eriksen.

His numbers are relentlessly impressive. Since joining Spurs in 2013 for £12.5 million, Eriksen has scored 65 times and contributed 86 assists in 272 games. For assists in the Premier League this season, only Eden Hazard and Ryan Fraser, with 13, boast more than Eriksen’s 12.

For sheer endurance, game after Spurs game, in all competitions, Eriksen’s 3,499 minutes is eclipsed only by Toby Alderweireld’s 3,778. Of Spurs regulars, Eriksen runs the most, an average 12.28km a game in the Premier League; only Dele comes close with 12.02km. And yet the lazy impression of Eriksen is that he can be more adornment than athletic force. Nonsense.

It is actually possible to argue that Eriksen has no rival as running man in the Premier League; none of the four players ahead of him in the average distance stakes, Max Meyer (12.32), Dan Gosling (12.45), James Milner (12.61) and Morgan Gibbs-White (13.58), have covered anywhere near his total (353.43km from 2,591 minutes).

Ravaged by injury, Spurs have been showing signs of fatigue as the season grows more intense, and Eriksen had only a short summer break after the World Cup. Yet here he is tonight, playing his 52nd game of the season, utterly driven by the task of inspiring Spurs against Ajax. We should appreciate Eriksen more.
Click to expand...

Can this really be the same player that @Jurgen the German claims has "gone missing for large chunks of the season"?
 
Spur of the moment said:
Can this really be the same player that @Jurgen the German claims has "gone missing for large chunks of the season"?
Click to expand...

Heres the problem with Eriksen, IMO.

Compared to other players, he stacks up without question.

Compared to himself/what he is capable of, I think he has let himself down this season.

That really is just a measure of how good he is (can be).

He has put the effort in running etc, he has good numbers, and even off form has been one of our key/best players.

But.... He really hasnt been anywhere near his best has he? Hasnt imposed himself on games or stepped up to run things on a number of occasions.

He always starts the season slow, but honestly I dont feel like he has got himself going all year really
 
Spur of the moment said:
Can this really be the same player that @Jurgen the German claims has "gone missing for large chunks of the season"?
Click to expand...

Yep he’s arguably our most important player and I’ve always been a big fan of his. I just feel his form dipped just after Xmas until a couple of weeks ago.

Seems some on here are only happy if you praise 100% of players 100% of the time and don’t praise any other clubs or their players.

Edit: wtf is going on with the auto correct on here?
 
Bedfordspurs said:
He would be if he was fit and we had better options due to injuries

People are quickly forgetting we had Lamela missing, son missing, Kane missing, winks kissing.... that’s 4 attacking options That could have given dele time to get back right
Click to expand...

It has an effect, but we can’t allow that to be the attitude of the club, we need to a plug in philosophy, a system embedded deeply enough that the next man up can come in and perform to a level that doesn’t negatively affect the whole.

You could argue that we have that this season as we’ve been languid and error prone whoever has played.
 
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