Wilson Palacios is a legend
Tuesday, May 26, 2009 at 4:17PM DML Awards
With a couple of months to go before pre-season kicks off, I thought it best to spread the season review and 'awards' across several blog articles. Keep things short and snappy (for a change).
So first up the first batch of player awards.
Best Summer Signing
Lickle Luka Modric. The impish looking lad that was written off before he even kicked a ball in the EPL. Not strong enough cited old man Wenger from the depths of his swamp. He'd be blown away like a crisp packet in a storm if you cared to believe some of the punditry dished out early season. And there were moments when we almost believed it to be true as we held our heads in our hands watching Spurs slump from one game to the next. Luka, looking lost and struggling. And then in came saviour Harry and with each passing game the Croatian began to find his feet and dink about with confidence. All thanks to a little bit of balance and team structure. From the left, cutting in with purpose, there was plenty of crafting and clever balls and the odd goal too. There is absolutely no doubting this blokes ability and he has conducted play from midfield with freedom and much glee giving us a spark that most thought had gone with Berbatov's departure to United. He took time to settle, as expected, and has proven he has a touch of the world class about him. Lovely player, proper Tottenham sort, who will no doubt improve further next season and grab a few more goals. Luka Moddle indeed.
Worst Player
Difficult one this. Should the accolade be awarded to someone who has played few games based on the fact they are woeful or someone who has been selected time and time again regardless of the fact they are woeful? Or perhaps it should be given to the player who played several games whilst being woeful and then hardly figured after that. Such was the woefulness.
Step forward, Mr David Bentley. Personal problems have been cited along with the pressures of a massive transfer fee as the main excuses for his non-existent form. Others would suggest being played out on the left-hand side destroyed him. So what exactly happened to Beckham MkII? Where did it all go wrong?
Much like most of the side in those opening eight games, there was no cohesion or belief. But where others clawed their way back up from mediocrity, Bentley was left behind with his head buried in the sand. He was devoid of all the basics. Simple passes and crosses were an impossible tasks for the lad. Everything had to be Hollywood and came off looking a ITV. That Goal against Arsenal could have been and should have been the opportunity to reclaim some of the hype, but alas, it wasn’t to be. He got worse with each game. The worst of them, a depressingly bad display against Burnley in the home leg of the semi-final.
For the money spent on a player that was not a necessity in the first place who then found himself pushed out of the right side to make way for a blistering Aaron Lennon, you feel his dream move turning into a nightmare was possibly the reason his fragile ego collapsed with no apparent sign of recovery. It's looking highly likely that Bentley will be sold on - for a loss - in the summer, allowing Harry to sign another right-back (probably).
It's been shambloic.
Best Comeback Player
According to Alan Hansen, Gomes was the worst Premier League goal keeper he had ever seen. This coming from a man who played in a side with Bruce Grobelaar in goal. There is no doubting the fact that our Brazilian lank was the very definition of calamity during the period of time that we took backwards steps away from the upper regions of the table. He likes punching the ball. And he likes running out, jumping, and claiming it. In a winning side that defends well, you can do this sort of clean-up work with that extra buzz of confidence instilled by the fact that all is well and you're protected. When the team is crap and you make a mistake or two then the mistakes keep on rolling, especially when you start thinking too much instead of reacting instinctively.
It gets even worse when you try even harder to do your job - all eyes on you, the slightest normal run of the mill error suddenly becomes yet another joke piece of goalkeeping. The media are relentless with the jokes and comedy commentary. But rather apologetically implode like Paul Robinson did, Gomes knowing and believing he is a player of quality, dug deep. And even when the media ignored his improvement and concentrated on any little thing ('oh look he came for the ball and didn't quite make contact no other keeper ever does that') he continued to work hard until it was impossible for anyone to ignore his assured confidence and superb smart saves. With several clean sheets and a big smile, Gomes has been outstanding for us.
His spirit should be commended.
Best Winter Signing
When Wilson Palacios was signed, various sound bites did the rounds.
"£14M? It's madness!"
"He looked great at Wigan because he's a good player in an average team"
The usual 'OMG what have we gone and done?' reactions followed thanks to the countless inflated transfer fees spent on players not worth even a quarter of the price.
Yet it wasn't long before Wilson marshalled the midfield like a general. He displayed qualities that we had only ever seen in those rare blink and you'll miss 'em moments. But now we were being spoilt by the bite and tenacity on show. With all the money that has been at our disposal over the years and the incriminating evidence in the way of weak performances proving our backbone was softer than a teddy bear sleeping on a sea of feathers, why had it taken so long to sign a player of his ilk? Palacios has brought composure and discipline allowing others to blossom offensively while he bosses the park, crunching tackle here and block there and clever professional foul over there. Staggering that we have failed to fill this gap time and time again. It was a risk to spend the money that we did on The Panther, but then having spent an abundance on players in the past the risk was only ever going to be more egg on an already egg covered face.
Palacios has been undoubtedly one of the signings of the season. You wonder how the likes of Arsenal, desperate for a defensive/holding midfielder, didn't smart their way to his signature. Spurs finally have a tough hard working warrior who constantly puts himself about for the team. Selfless and proud. A proper player that has given us an air of authenticity in the way of fight and that we can now handle ourselves against teams that would usually brush us aside. Bring in another player with this type of winning mentality and slot him by the side of Wilson and our midfield might just explode with challenging class.
Next up - Player of the Year, Goal of the Season and more.
Reader Comments (16)
I agree with most of what you've said. Two points though:
1) Worst player of the season is definitely Alan Hutton. Bentley has generally been dreadful but at least he belted in one against Arsenal. In that same game, Hutton was responsible for two of their goals. Not only that but he's a thug off the field too.
2) Don't you think everyone is hyping Palicios up a little too much? Yes, he's a talented player and, yes, he's exactly what we've been crying out for since the dawn of time. However, isn't it the fact that we haven't seen his like since Egdar Davids that makes him look so brilliant?
Gomes is also a legend.
Got to agree with your choices, great article.
Leads me on to another point, we need a song for general Wilson. And not a "we love you Wilson we do" or something crap like that, we need something original to show our love for the new Edgar Davids.
Aaron
Edgar Davids was on his way out as a pro-footballer. Palacios is on the way up. I put it to you that Davids never showed the heart and desire that Wilson has shown in his short spell at Spurs.
We were fooled by David's past and his reputation. Wilson's building his from the ground up and he's building it at Spurs.
Jol to Ajax isnt a bad couple of moves either. Go on the Jol. You epitomise everything that is Spurs.
If he would come back, do you recon Jol would come back as manager when 'Arry decides to retire?
I'd love to have him back!
That's not a bad idea. As long as he proves he no longer chokes at the big games.
please please do not sign cisse. he is a plonk plonk plonker.
gomes rules.
I agree with virtually everything said but would just like to mention a couple of things that may have already been said.
Wilson Palacios
I was ecstatic to hear that we were interested in signing him, but also felt the price was high but worth paying as since Carrick left, there has been a widening hole in midfield, which only then makes our defence look poor. Palacios is worth his weight in gold and more and will become one of the Premiership's leading players. He is our midfield General and takes out the opposition one by one. If only we had 2 of Palacios! Imagine 2 Generals in midfield and then finally we would have our Tottenham army!
Gomes
From the start of the season, Gomes was under pressure for 2 reasons:-
1) Our midfield was extremely weak allowing for a knock-on effect with the defence and goalkeeper. I honestly believe our defence is strong in the EPL, but with no midfield they don't stand a chance.
2) Clearly Gomes has a problem with the ball being crossed into the area. Something that Tony Parks is working on and remains work in progress.
Other than that, I believe that he will do exceptionally well for Tottenham and you never know but he could easily be the one who wins us the match that brings us silverware. Remember Gomes is used to winning, he did it alot at PSV.
Staff signing of the season? 'Arry? Nah, Tony Parks. He's turned around the form of Gomes.
Miguel Veloso would be a great signing i recon.
I sit around wondering who would be the perfect signings for the squad and after some time, I come up with Carrick and shake my head with disappointment. A midfield of Modric, Carrick, Palacios, Lennon would be awesome.
Totally agree with your choices. Bentley has been awful and is a must to leave in the summer. For my sins, I have joined the 'David Bentley hate club' on facebook. I just cannot stand the bloke.
Gomes I have backed all season I'm glad he has really come good later on in the season. Nobody conceded less at home, least in our history, can't be half bloody bad. And hes a character and that's what we like at Spurs so I'm all for him and hope he stays on for a long time yet.
Wilson is the void that has been filled. Not since Carrick/Davids have we had a midfield of force but hopefully one more signing in the summer, or one of the younger ones will come on to support Wilson in the middle of the park.
I hope we will see more from Luka next season but have been very impressed with some of his performances.
Come on Harry! Lets have a good crack at the league without the distraction of Europe and lets get behind the boys!
Palacious is great. Personally I think he would fit better in to a 433/451 type of formation rather than a 442, esepcially when we have the likes of Modric and Huddlestone, neither of which can really hold down a CM position next to Wilson - one too lightweight the other too immobile
A midfield of Modric (LM) Wilson (DM) Huddlestone (RM) would be fantastic. WP holding, Modirc and Huddlestone creating and breaking forward.
For that, in a 433/451 we need a target man and a left attacking midfielder. Unfortunately that would render all four of our current strikers useless as none fit the bill as a single striker (Bent could do it but cannot hold the ball up or win headers).
What we need alongside Wilson is someone with the energy of JJ, the passing of Huddlestone and the strength Palacious. As we don't have this sort, that is why i feel a 3 man centre midfield is best, to hide the shortcomings of some of our midfielders while making the most of their assests.
Why do fans give Hutton such a bad time. One mistake and people are saying 'sell him! '. Hutton was superb when we signed him, ok he had a few problems - personal & injury - and unfortunately we found another extremely good right back when he was on the treatment table. He came back from a really bad injury and people expect him to be the same player. With Charlie having the right back spot, anyone feel Hutton should get a go in midfield?
Surely turn around of the season would go to Beniot Assou Ecotto (or whatever his name is) He was supposed to be good when we signed him 3 years ago and now he is. I didn't think he play for us ever again, so it is surprising that he doesn't get the shout.