Luka Modric’s ‘avin a party, bring your Kranjcar and your Charlie!

Massive result today, and a wonderful first half performance – possibly our best half of football in 2010.

At the heart of that was Modric – he has struggled to get back to his earlier form since returning from the broken leg inflicted by Lee Bowyer, but today he was magical at times. What I like about him most is that he seems to make the right decisions 90% of the time – whether it’s to pass early, to wriggle out of a tight situation, or to go on a mazy dribble.

And that goal. Wow. I think that was probably the only way that he could have scored from there, and he executed it perfectly.

One thing that will certainly help Modric get back to his best is Gareth Bale’s incredible form. I don’t think there’s another player in England that has his pace and power when pushing on from left-back, and his final ball is consistently dangerous. Modric and Bale are starting to form a great little partnership there – the one thing we need to watch, however, is who fills in at left-back when Modric is drifting, and Bale is caught upfield.

I was delighted to see Kaboul dropping in there on 91 minutes today, and making a vital challenge to win the ball. We need more of this type of responsibility from our regular midfield players.

All in all, we rode our luck today (the Donovan chance was a one in a hundred miss), but it makes up for the points that we were denied at Goodison Park.

Analysis of the goal conceded to follow later.

Edit: Luka’s goal, for anyone who hasn’t seen it.

Join the conversation

  1. I thought that Kranjaer and Dawson were terrific. We are still struggling to get the right balance in midfield and look a bit too open. We are great going forword though. Wilson did lots of work but his passing today was really bad. Kaboul I thought was not too bad in midfield. One thought is that if King is fit, we should play him in midfield and keep the Dawson/Bassong partnership.
  2. Well done the boys. Everton are no mugs which they proved in the second half today and unlike a typical Tottenham side we dug deep and held on. Dawson so deserves a place in the England side for the World Cup, Palacios has bite even if his passing does need more concentration. Bale has been a joy since his return to the side. In possession Pav is like a ghost who doesn't miss and he even tried a couple of tackles today! Modric is an absolute stunner and I’m not talking looks!! Bassong is moving forward in every game and with Kaboul’s versatility and added experience during his Pompey loan (ha, ha) the future looks bright.
    Why someone would want to play King in midfield without an ongoing emergency is ludicrous. Save his knees for Christ sake have you look at April’s fixtures! King (and Woody, one day again hopefully) should be used only until we have centrebacks with experience in pressurised top games. Maybe in two years time that will be Bassong and Kaboul battling it out to partner Dawson
    Seeing as we had a close look at relegation last year Harry deserves credit big-time. I honestly think the squad has more depth than the two 5th place finishes under Jol and if we can start turning over the traditional top 4th (like Everton did recently) it is indeed happy days.

    PS: See ya at Wembley in May… ha, ha, ha.

    bazmundo.
  3. ok... emergency it is! Huddlestone out, Jenas needs surgery, King thigh problem, Bentley out... Does that leave only Kaboul for midfield role alongside Wilson?

    Apologies to post above I was still buzzing from the win and failed to suss the emergency!

    bazmundo
  4. Windy as you mentioned Luka's goal, a gem, how about Pavlyuchenko's opener?
    Some dispute on the forums as to whether Defoe's assist was a shot or a pass.
    No dispute in my mind as Defoe has never been known to pass when in a shooting position in his life.
    Any opinions?
  5. Hi Jimmy

    I'm surprised anyone's disputing it! You're absolutely right, it was a shot.

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