Player watch: Christian Eriksen

[rossdapep]

Not that it changes your point, if anything it enhances it, but he'd already made two appearances in the World Cup before that England match.

As I was typing I did question whether I was right but like Donald Trump and Tim Sherwood before me I totally discarded fact checking!

 

[Duck]

Or a box to box midfielder upgrade to Sissoko and Winks

Neither of them are box-to-box midfielders though?

 

[C0YS]

I think he's (playing well) the missing piece to be honest. We miss a genuine creative and attacking 10. Gio and Nmdombele are fantastic midfielders but neither seem capable of relentlessly picking the right pass. I love watching Kane playing deep and taking up that role, but I would much prefer him playing as true centre forward.

We had Modric in that role, then Erikson and I still feel we need that spark of genius behind Kane.

I know I'm very much in the minority. And if it's not Erikson, I still feel this is the one area where we're missing something.

Modric played as an attacking n.10 (or, normally, out wide) for about a season and a half. His best position is much deeper, and more like an all action midfielder who can do a bit of everything. Like if Eriksen could do that, then yes he'd be great for us. But he can't really, he is much more effective in the hole, and he hasn't really been given the chance in that position at Inter.

Right now we don't play with a number 10, we could do so, but we don't. I don't think we plan to return to that, right now getting in someone like Eriksen wouldn't fit in that team, and we already have one or two too many attacking midfield options. If we need creativity (which I'm not sure we really do, I think our stop startyness is more of a coaching thing, tactical thing not a personnel thing) it has to come from deeper.

I don't think we are currently desperate for any players, but I suspect we could do with another CM, but another combative CM who could both fill in for PEH and play alongside him, particularly as Sissoko is turning 32.

 

[C0YS]

Neither of them are box-to-box midfielders though?

Not really, no, though both have box to box elements.

I think Lo Celso could be a fantastic box to box midfielder. and I fully believe we will see Lo Cleso - PEH - Ndombele midfield three at some point in the future. I always believed that we signed Lo Celso and Ndombele to play together in a midfield three and I see Lo Celso as a midfielder who is much better playing as a n.8 more than a n.10.

 

[Sarsipius]

Neither of them are box-to-box midfielders though?

I would say Sissoko is. His main attribute is carrying the ball forward with his driving runs.

 

[hellava_tough]

You know I have thought that professional central midfielders should really be able to play each of the 3 common roles; DCM, box to box and number 10.

I know most don't play every role, but the skill sets aren't totally different for these positions.

It's a shame that someone like Eriksen couldn't slot into a DCM role. He's got vision and passing range, and he reads the game well. But his tacking and aggression probably aren't good enough.

Which probably isn't a valid excuse when you're playing an elite level contact sport.

 

[FibreOpticJesus]

I would say Sissoko is. His main attribute is carrying the ball forward with his driving runs.

Yep and then losing possession of the ball, passing to nobody, shooting wide, hanging on to the ball too long, passing to the opposition, passing backwards, etc

 

[C0YS]

I would say Sissoko is. His main attribute is carrying the ball forward with his driving runs.

I wouldn't say that is his main attribute. I think it's his general physicality and flexibility. I think his best role is definitely a kind of mezzala (not what is meant in football manager, but essentially not a holding midfielder or a playmaker) and does preform both defensive and offensive functions, but largely is supportive to other things. People don't like him on here, but he's actually been playing pretty well this season so far.

We don't really see that powerful running all that much anymore, and that is probably one of the aspects that made him very good for us in 18-19. He's ageing though and is nearing the end of his career. So any sort of explosiveness to his game isn't really there anymore, but he is way more disciplined than what he was, and apparently is a very important character for the team.

 

[Gingernut]

Saw this interview today....He doesn't seem happy and he is definitely looking to move on

Eriksen gives clearest hint yet he regrets leaving Tottenham for Inter

Christian Eriksen has admitted that his move from Tottenham to Inter Milan in January has not been what he dreamed of, after failing to complete 90 minutes this season so far.

www.teamtalk.com

 

[Saoirse]

Turns out that when you throw your toys out the pram and down tools for 18 months, you can't just switch it all back on again once you get your way. Nobody to blame but yourself Christian. Enjoy the Chinese Super League! You'll have every chance at trophies there I'm sure

 

[hellava_tough]

In that Amazon documentary, both Levy and Mourinho were pretty keen on him staying.

It would have been interesting to see how Mourinho would have used Eriksen in his squad; what position he would have played, etc.

 

[Shadydan]

In that Amazon documentary, both Levy and Mourinho were pretty keen on him staying.

It would have been interesting to see how Mourinho would have used Eriksen in his squad; what position he would have played, etc.

Levy wanted him to stay so he could maximise the profit he'd make on him.

 

[Gingernut]

In that Amazon documentary, both Levy and Mourinho were pretty keen on him staying.

It would have been interesting to see how Mourinho would have used Eriksen in his squad; what position he would have played, etc.

Just my personal opinion but I wouldn't be surprised if we tried to get him back. Not sure where he would fit into the plans but could give another option.

 

[RikkiRocket]

In that Amazon documentary, both Levy and Mourinho were pretty keen on him staying.

It would have been interesting to see how Mourinho would have used Eriksen in his squad; what position he would have played, etc.

I wouldn’t read too much into that clearly manufactured meeting on the doc. You could also say that Ericksen either looks like a right mood Hoover or in fact is one. To me it looks like he’s out of love with football, emotionally and physically tired, and he thought moving location would fix that. It won’t and hasn’t.

 

[bubble07]

Absence makes the heart grow fonder. I want him back

An 18 month swap deal with Dele makes perfect sense for all parties (assuming Conte wants dele)

 

[bubble07]

rather us going for brozovic

Brozovic, Skrinier and Eriksen for Dele

 

[yido_number1]

I wouldn’t read too much into that clearly manufactured meeting on the doc. You could also say that Ericksen either looks like a right mood Hoover or in fact is one. To me it looks like he’s out of love with football, emotionally and physically tired, and he thought moving location would fix that. It won’t and hasn’t.

I think he genuinely wanted a new environment and probably had been talked to about Madrid for a couple of seasons. He also had that groin/stomach injury he was playing through that has probably contributed. Either way he's not the kind of player that is always smiling like Sunny but he was incredibly effective for us.

 

[yankspurs]

Just my personal opinion but I wouldn't be surprised if we tried to get him back. Not sure where he would fit into the plans but could give another option.

There is no chance we could even if all 3 parties wanted it to happen. We dont have the squad space. We need to sell like 4 non HG players now. The summer window is going to be tragic again if Levy doesnt come off his stubborn ways and shift more than a few for anything.

 

[ardiles]

Buy him for half the fee we sold to Inter, in the winter TW.

Then sell him to Spam / United / whoever’s desperate, for 5 times the fee in the summer.

 

[kaz Hirai]

Buy him for half the fee we sold to Inter, in the winter TW.

Then sell him to Spam / United / whoever’s desperate, for 5 times the fee in the summer.

Why would he come back to sit on the bench here instead of there