How good can Tom Carroll become?

[markiespurs]

Early days I know, but just how good can Tom Carroll become over the next couple of years?

Looking at him play last night, I was quite impressed, his distribution was good, always wanted the ball, got stuck in and for his size showed decent strength on the ball against quite a physical Maribor Side.

Personally, I think the lad has the ability to become an important player for us, watching him last night at times reminded me of how Modric used to play for us before his head was turned by Chelsea and Madrid.

 

[AW?]

Fuck knows.

 

[bubble07]

the watford messi

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

He needs to hit the gym HARD before we really find out.

There were times last night when the Maribor players simply strugged him off the ball.

 

[Hoopspur]

Little Tom and not big Tom. I thought he was excellent last night. Pass and move and want the ball back is his game.

I think he could develop into a very good player, if he is allowed to by AVB. Will he get the chances? I hope so.

Maybe suit Rodgers style of football better - triangles and all that.

 

[Misfit]

Joe Allenish in the medium term (3/4 yrs). As he gains experience and strength etc, who knows? I'm just waiting for someone to try and compare him to Modric. You know it'll happen.

 

[Syn_13]

He needs to hit the gym HARD before we really find out.

There were times last night when the Maribor players simply strugged him off the ball.

This. Although some slight players have done well in the Premiership like Britton, Allen, Modric etc., he certainly needs to bulk up a little.

Otherwise he looks composed on the ball, great movement and passing range and is very much in the mould of the players I mentioned above.

Still early days. Livermore was shining like he did at one point and now looks to be struggling. I think both players need Premiership experience through a loan to a decent bottom/mid level club.

 

[Hoopspur]

Joe Allenish in the medium term (3/4 yrs). As he gains experience and strength etc, who knows? I'm just waiting for someone to try and compare him to Modric. You know it'll happen.

eerrrhhhhhhmmmm, the first post?

Oh and yours, and now post 7 also!

 

[$hoguN]

Joe Allenish in the medium term (3/4 yrs). As he gains experience and strength etc, who knows? I'm just waiting for someone to try and compare him to Modric. You know it'll happen.

I think this is a fair assumption. Rather than hitting the gym, which I think he has said didn't work for him previously, he should work at building his core strength, so he is harder to shrug off the ball, much like Modric

 

[Sp3akerboxxx]

Joe Allen 2.0

 

[thePessimist]

very impressed with his movement and passing, constantly making himself available (huddelstone could learn a lot from the way he moves into new space after a pass btw).

yesterday was also the first time i've seen him contributing with intelligent passes offensively. some long range passes to bale and defoe that were impressive.

still needs time but hopefully he can be a part of the team this season and gradually get more experience under his belt.

 

[brasil_spur]

He was excellent on the whole yesterday, reminded me quite a bit of Modric in the way he plays - creative when in possession and tenacious enough in his defensive game to be an asset in that CM role.

He has a way to go, but personally i think we should look to play him more in the PL with Dembele in front and Sandro behind.

 

[Paolo10]

He's a good footballer, he looked it last season in the Europa too. Let's not start the hype machine going quite yet, although I do think he's a good chance of ending up a full international if he continues to improve and stays injury-free. Need to see how he develops, he's still very slight...half the time I see him I want to feed the wee waif a sandwich or something.

 

[talkshowhost86]

He's got the passing game to be a very good player in the mould of Wilshere or Cleverley, but it's still very early days. He'll need to add to the defensive area of his game and a lot of that will depend on how he bulks up, but the raw ingredients are certainly there.

 

[$hoguN]

He was excellent on the whole yesterday, reminded me quite a bit of Modric in the way he plays - creative when in possession and tenacious enough in his defensive game to be an asset in that CM role.

He has a way to go, but personally i think we should look to play him more in the PL with Dembele in front and Sandro behind.

I'd like to see this, but only if we play Ade upfront to give him an out ball.

 

[brasil_spur]

He's got the passing game to be a very good player in the mould of Wilshere or Cleverley, but it's still very early days. He'll need to add to the defensive area of his game and a lot of that will depend on how he bulks up, but the raw ingredients are certainly there.

Not sure that's the case, he looked strong enough in the tackle yesterday and certainly players like Modric were tenacious enough in the tackle that their strength isn't so relevant, assuming there is a player like Sandro alongside them.

Defoe and Lennon are both players who use their pace and precision when tackling to be far better tacklers than their size and positions dictate what you think they would be like.

 

[SonicSarr]

Joe Allen 2.0

I recall getting a bit of stick in the transfer window Joe Allen thread for saying that Allen was overrated and overpriced and that we had a better player already at the club in Tom Carroll. Is there a smug face smiley?? That'll do.

 

[Bobbins]

I recall getting a bit of stick in the transfer window Joe Allen thread for saying that Allen was overrated and overpriced and that we had a better player already at the club in Tom Carroll. Is there a smug face smiley?? That'll do.

To be fair he isn't yet even as good as Joe Allen, let alone better. He's just starting to look very similar.

I'd be over the moon if he continues to develop in that mould though. Every good team needs a CM who can keep the ball moving and passes ticking over, and that's what he does best. He's still got plenty of time to add to other areas of his game too.

 

[SonicSarr]

To be fair he isn't yet even as good as Joe Allen, let alone better. He's just starting to look very similar.

I'd be over the moon if he continues to develop in that mould though. Every good team needs a CM who can keep the ball moving and passes ticking over, and that's what he does best. He's still got plenty of time to add to other areas of his game too.

Matter of opinion I suppose but for me he already looks better than Allen and has the potential to be miles better. It was like watching a young English Modric at times last night.

 

[talkshowhost86]

Not sure that's the case, he looked strong enough in the tackle yesterday and certainly players like Modric were tenacious enough in the tackle that their strength isn't so relevant, assuming there is a player like Sandro alongside them.

Defoe and Lennon are both players who use their pace and precision when tackling to be far better tacklers than their size and positions dictate what you think they would be like.

Obviously it's not a pre-requisite to have to beef up to play in central midfield, but a bit of strength would certainly help him.

But what I really meant is that he's still developing generally, and that may dictate what sort of player he can become.