Who would we miss the most ?

[Rossi22]

For me, what Modric is the best at is as a deep playmaker. Like Xabi Alonso, like Pirlo, to some extent like Xavi. Neither of those players are great goalscorers, yet all are great players.

Exactly. Yet some are desperate to compare him to the likes of Silva, Nasri, Ozil etc who all play with great freedom and little defensive responsibility. I'm not saying Modric would suddenly become as productive as them in the final third if he was moved forward, he would improve but it's simply not his game yet he gets pigeonholed into the off the shelf continental little #10 type.

 

[braineclipse]

Would like to see his overall record against Man U, Man C, Arse and Chelsea. Does anyone have this stat?

Up until our loss away to Arsenal this season we were undefeated in 4 league games against them (3 draws, 1 win).

While we have lost our last two away league games to Chelsea (and haven't won since Napoleon was banished to St. Helena) we are undefeated at home to them in the league since we signed Modric I believe.

Can't be bothered checking the City and United results. We have turned out very good performances against both with Modric on the pitch though.

 

[Pirate55]

What does it mean to "take a game by the scruff of the neck"?

http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/premier-league/2011-2012/versus-top-half/full

This season against the top half, we're 4th.

http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/premier-league/2010-2011/versus-top-half/full

Last season against the top half, we were 2nd.

If anything Modric is one of the reasons we have been doing well against top teams. If my memory serves me right we have done quite well against "the big boys" under Harry (which has been with Modric in the centre most of the time).

V Utd lost 0-3 and lost 0-3
v City lost 1-5 and lost 2-3
v Scum lost 2-5 and won 2-1
v Chelski drew 0-0 and drew 1-1

I make that just one win against our main rivals this season

 

[Jurgen the German]

It's my belief that the main goalscorer of any team is the most important player. Goes back to the old cliche, the hardest thing to do is to stick the ball in the back of the net. That's why strikers/goalscoring midfielders get sold for obscene amounts of money like ?ú80m in Ronaldo's case. Teams generally don't win leagues without a player who scores 20 goals minimum a season. Modric is a fantastic player, but Bale's goal threat is what separates the two in my opinion.

 

[Mumorn]

I remember Modric scoring at OT too infact, so he does SCORE against the big clubs.

 

[thfcsteff]

Exactly. Yet some are desperate to compare him to the likes of Silva, Nasri, Ozil etc who all play with great freedom and little defensive responsibility. I'm not saying Modric would suddenly become as productive as them in the final third if he was moved forward, he would improve but it's simply not his game yet he gets pigeonholed into the off the shelf continental little #10 type.

Speaking for myself, absolutely no pigeonholing, he is a unique talent who runs games, however he is absolutely at his best when he has freedom, and he already gets into positions where he should be hitting the target more frequently. Personally I don't look at him as a goalscoring midfielder per se at all, but you have to admit, his goal-to-chance ratio is far lower than it should be given the positions he finds himself in. BTW, I would never compare Luka Modric to Samir Nasri. Neither, sadly, would Mancini, which is why if he remains we'll have to withstand their loadsamoney bid...

 

[Pirate55]

It's my belief that the main goalscorer of any team is the most important player. Goes back to the old cliche, the hardest thing to do is to stick the ball in the back of the net. That's why strikers/goalscoring midfielders get sold for obscene amounts of money like ?ú80m in Ronaldo's case. Teams generally don't win leagues without a player who scores 20 goals minimum a season. Modric is a fantastic player, but Bale's goal threat is what separates the two in my opinion.

Spot on Jurgen

 

[thfcsteff]

Would like to see his overall record against Man U, Man C, Arse and Chelsea. Does anyone have this stat?

But it's going to be an irrelevant stat which does not begin to explain how utterly, utterly effective and important he is to (and for) us.

Take Emirates Marketing Project away. Will the stats show a forearm smash to the face and a stamp on the head unpunished? Modric, in the second-half, was a key part of us dominating that second 45...as for arsenal away, he was let down by a horrific selection which negated his usefulness. Indeed, as much as I love to see Bale able to move inside sometimes, the fact remains that he should always spend at least 75% in his best position, not only because it helps HIS game, but because it leaves Luka with the room to do what he does best; control football matches. He really is vital...

 

[milo]

golly - did you just call me condescending?

Yeah. And it is that kind of post that gets people's back up and ends you up in constant arguments.

 

[braineclipse]

All the above are great players but also great playmakers, creators and scorers of vital goals.

Alonso has 11 assists and 4 goals for Real in 97 league games (Wiki).

Pirlo has 18 assists and 4 goals in his last 4 Serie A seasons (ESPN)

Xavi has 10 league goals this season, but 3, 3 and 6 in his 3 previous ones (Wiki). I think his stats for Barca are probably skewed a bit seeing as Barca are just ridiculously good. For the Spanish national side (another very good side mind) he has 5 assists and 11 goals in 107 appearances (imscouting).

Modric has 21 assists and 11 goals in 111 league games for Spurs (Wiki).

 

[Pirate55]

Speaking for myself, absolutely no pigeonholing, he is a unique talent who runs games, however he is absolutely at his best when he has freedom, and he already gets into positions where he should be hitting the target more frequently. Personally I don't look at him as a goalscoring midfielder per se at all, but you have to admit, his goal-to-chance ratio is far lower than it should be given the positions he finds himself in. BTW, I would never compare Luka Modric to Samir Nasri. Neither, sadly, would Mancini, which is why if he remains we'll have to withstand their loadsamoney bid...

Mancini likes two out and out defensive midfielders. Modric wouldnt replace a yaya, dejong or barry. Would he replace Silva or Nasri- no, doesnt create enough, would he replace milner, johnson - no not a wide player. Ergo, unlikely to fit into Citys way of playing. Chelski or Man Ure on the other hand quite possibly.

 

[nayimfromthehalfwayline]

Pirate55 = Gooner mole?

 

[Pirate55]

But it's going to be an irrelevant stat which does not begin to explain how utterly, utterly effective and important he is to (and for) us.

Take Emirates Marketing Project away. Will the stats show a forearm smash to the face and a stamp on the head unpunished? Modric, in the second-half, was a key part of us dominating that second 45...as for arsenal away, he was let down by a horrific selection which negated his usefulness. Indeed, as much as I love to see Bale able to move inside sometimes, the fact remains that he should always spend at least 75% in his best position, not only because it helps HIS game, but because it leaves Luka with the room to do what he does best; control football matches. He really is vital...

I am not saying he is a bad player, I am questioning his EFFECTIVENESS. My point remains that for the supposed heartbeat of our side he has only inspired us to one win against our main rivals this season. That is just not good enough. If he really is the dogs bolls as everyone here seems to think, then his stats arent good enough and he doesnt change games the way Bale does (and to a lesser extent Ade and VDV)

 

[Pirate55]

Pirate55 = Gooner mole?

Pathetic comment

 

[braineclipse]

V Utd lost 0-3 and lost 0-3
v City lost 1-5 and lost 2-3
v Scum lost 2-5 and won 2-1
v Chelski drew 0-0 and drew 1-1

I make that just one win against our main rivals this season

What is your point here? Bale played in all or most of those games as well...

Do you disagree that we have been doing better against the "big boys" under Harry than previously? Do you disagree that Modric has been a part of most of that?

Again I ask, what does it mean to "take a game by the scruff of the neck"?

 

[Park Lane James]

actually it was if they didn't agree with Nayims viewpoint.

Virtually all of the players in the team have an obvious stand in, and some are clearly better than others. You could say that Modric has any number of stand ins, including Bentley and Jenas etc etc

But the crux of the matter is that of all of the players, which one would be the hardest to replace, because of what he does for the team.

I made the condescending remark as a joke, simply because I don't really see anyone beyond Modric as the answer. He is so pivotal in the way the team works, his workrate, skill level, passing ability are just so much higher than everyone elses. Bale is a real talent, but he's played in games where he's been toss, and we've still got by. When Luka is missing or playing badly, the team goes down a notch.

ergo - I share the opinion that its a no brainer, his influence is so great, in terms of team output (when he's playing and on form) - that the question of who is the hardest to replace, because they will be missed the most, is wee big nose himself.

The condescention was deliberate, because I cannot see why everyone can't see it, and why the discussion has to exist. To me its blindingly obvious.

However, I meant no offence, it was a jokey method of getting my opinion across, not a comment to be taken literally. So if anyone was genuinely put out, I apologise without reservation.

I really value your feedback and your opinions will be taken into consideration.......................
O

Oh Mick, I was expecting you to give me a clip around the ear! haha

He is certainly a pivotal figure in our style of play, and our effectiveness. If Huddlestone was fit to play when Modric gets injured, then I don't think that he would be the most sorely missed of all our players should he get injured for a lengthy period of time. We all saw how well he played in 09/10 in the centre with Palacios, and we played some great football that year. But alas, he is injured! So the only players that can step into the mix would be Sandro and Livermore. Neither have anywhere near the creative abilities of Modric, and beside Parker we would be incredibly slow at getting the ball into our most potent attacking threats. And what is the point of having such great players if you can't get the ball to them as much as possible, with the most space available? That's what Modric does, he provides a platform for everyone else in front of him to perform to the best of their abilities. That's what a great team needs.

Elsewhere, both Lennon and Walker do not have direct replacements available to them. This is one of the reasons why Walker has been such a valuable player for us this season - because he hasn't been injured (touch wood)! We all saw how unbalanced we were without Lennon, but obviously we can shift VDV out there to fill in the gap - although not to the required level.

I'm a firm believer that the most important player in the team is the goalkeeper. Although i love to see brilliant, flowing attacking football - how can a side focus on attacking when they don't have the solidity behind them? Friedel's consistency this season has meant that Kaboul has flourished as a central defender. Having someone who he can trust behind him has meant that he has become one of the best defenders in the league, who looks like he could be a mainstay for years to come. Credit to Big Brad, I don't think Cudicini could do half the job that he does if he came in - Friedel just looks ice cool all of the time. He couldn't drop a wet bar of soap if you threw it towards him!

In previous seasons King would be up there as a player that would be sorely missed. He is, but the likes of Gallas and Kaboul have shown that they are more than capable to fill in for Mr.Tottenham.

Anyway, my take on the issue. There are a number of players that we can't afford to get injured, but Modric is probably the most important for our team with the likes of Huddlestone (his most comparable replacement) out injured.

 

[nayimfromthehalfwayline]

Pathetic comment

Please re-read your contribution to the thread then try saying that again

 

[mick cooper]

Yeah. And it is that kind of post that gets people's back up and ends you up in constant arguments.

OK - I will never win this without proving your last point. Trust me though, its a trait we both suffer from.

read my post in answer to PLJ, hopefully it will put things into context.

 

[Rossi22]

We actually lost 1-3 to United, GG's own JD with a nice consolation.

 

[Jurgen the German]

People are quick to point out that we finished 4th two seasons ago when Bale only came good in the second half of the season, but we also did fine without Modric that season whilst he was out with a broken leg for four months.