Following the injury to Luka Modric, many Spurs fans were looking forward to seeing Gio Dos Santos at least occupying a place on the bench against Man Utd on Saturday. The young Mexican had impressed when drafted into the team that beat Doncaster in the League Cup. And Dos Santos has put in a string of eye catching performances for Mexico, winning most valuable player at the recent CONCACAF Gold Cup and a man of the match award in their last game against Chile.
Nonetheless, Harry Redknapp opted for Robbie Keane on the left of midfield against Utd, with Kranjcar and Bentley providing the wide options on the bench. Gio Dos Santos was left out of the squad completely, as he has been in all but one of Spurs’ league matches this season.
Redknapp has suggested that Keane on the left was an experiment that wont be repeated in the immediate future so there may be hope for Dos Santos yet.
But there was a hint in Harry’s recent comments about Dos Santos that he feels he needs to work harder to really make it in the Premiership. After praising Gio’s international form and his performance against Doncaster, Redknapp went on to say:
“If he continues in that form, if he dedicates himself to being a top player, then there’s no reason why he can’t have a role to play at Spurs. He’s got all the ability, but it’s up to him now.”
When you factor those comments in, along with the fact that Gio has featured in only one match day squad out of five so far in the Premiership, it looks as though we may have to wait a little longer to see the Mexican come through into the first eleven.
Do you want to see Dos Santos fast tracked into the first team? Do you think Kranjcar should get his chance first? Or can both of them play in the same side?
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Dos Santos and Wilson were playing on the other side of the world on Thursday morning. This I think is why Wilson had a relatively poor game by his standards and had to be substituted on Saturday. They certainly could not have been back in the UK until at least the Friday at the earliest.
Hoopspur, I reckon you’re spot on. Anyone who has ever travelled 6 or more time zones (especially going East) will know that for a couple of days, at least, you cannot even consider playing a Saturday game with a few mates, let alone a first class professional game against possibly one of the top 5 club sides in the world.
Yeah but does that explain the other games that he was left out of? I think that for whatever reason, Harry just doesn’t rate the lad. Don’t forget, he recently tried to flog him to portsmouth last season and he’s hardly ever picked him in his whole time at spurs. Shame as he’ll probably end up playing for another prem team and doing well for them.
exactly hoopsur. i’d like to see gio on sunday. hes earnt a chance surely? keane isnt a left winger, tho i’d like to see him or pav with jd against chelsea, with niko or jenas in the centre alongside wilson. not sure thudd will be a good choice against them. i feel crouch should be benched against the top teams.
Pompey fans hate kranjcar, they say he’s lazy, he was rubbish against man u and against england for croatia. surely dos santos deserves a chance but maybe we should try him centrally, could be amazing there, just behind the front two.
kranjcar was shit against utd but he had 1 days training, and i think he was probably the best of a shit bunch for croatia. he was great for pompey about a year ago, but he aint been great recently. i think weve definitely got a good squad player and maybe better competition at spurs will bring out the best. he aint no modric tho.
Who knows what is going through Harry’s mind….or his belly…at worst? He has certainly excelled so far…and he deserves our continued support….even if he makes the odd mistake. 1 defeat will not ruin or season, or should NOT ruin it! Dod Santos in the Concaf is one thing….and in the EPL is a harder stage to play on….but he has shown more than enough to warrant a longer, and more telling, test of what he is actually made of (besides flesh and bone!) COYS!
Gio was away on International duty for the first 3 games, and was therefor not in the squad. He played the cup-game against Doncaster and was on the bench when we faced Birm.
Then he was away on international for the two weeks after that game, and I bet thats the only reason he was not in the squad on saturday, due to him not being back in time. Don’t remeber seeing him in the stands with Modric either…
If he’s, as Harry says, dedicated in trainig, then surely he will be in the squad against Chelski or atleast for the next home and cup-games. I’m not sure Chelski is the best game to throw him back in, coz we might need some defensive cover on the left…
Bale is also back in training, and I’d rather see him if fit.
Dos Santos is lazy and does not turn up to training on time as he should he lacks commitment that’s why Harry won’t play him. Thats what Harry was referring to at the time…regards The PM
Gio Dos Santos, Roman Palyuchenko & Bentley are up for sale. When Spurs play rubbish the likes of Crouch, Kranjar, Hutton and even Robbie Keane out of place on the left, like last week-end there is no future for them at Spurs. Is this the self destruct button we have seen in Harry at his other clubs.
I really rate Dos Santos and to be fair the lad hasn’t had the best of times injuries manager changes but I think we should put him in against chelski Hudd alongside sgt wilson Lennon on the right Crouch and Defoe upfront Corluka Bassong Hutton and king at back with Carlo in Goal because in my humble opinion that is quite a balanced side and more than capable of dealing with Chelsea who for me were fortunate against Stoke on saturday and their previous two opponents there is goals available from anywhere in midfield the defence is as solid as we have at this time hopefully woody and Dawson be back soon but what we have is good. This would be a tough game to put Dos Santos in but I honestly believe he can shine our EPL is one of the toughest most physical of leagues he has to start showing his worth so why not now no good waiting til we’re injury ravaged and then throw him in and expect him to work miracles all that will do is put too much pressure on the lad and kill his confidence. Lilywhite til I die.
I do believe as we can chalk up Gio’s non-inclusion to the international travel. By the same token, Palacios should not have been on the bench either. I would have started Huddlestone in place of Palacios and would have started Bentley on the right with Lennon on the left. I would have also had Rose on the bench (if Bentley looked bad). Jenas should have started and Keane, IMHO, should really be used in the super sub category. He’s lost a step and complains about everything. Pavlyuchenko should have also gotten into this game in place of Defoe (the goal was wonderful, but what about the other 87 minutes) as you need variety against ManU, which Defoe just doesn’t provide. A unidimensional striker is just too easy to cover for the talent laden teams. You need guys running all over the pitch, like a Ronaldo, if you are going to walk away with points from the big 4. With a week of practice, Krajncar will be in place of Modric, Gomes will be in for Cuducini and the rest will basically be the same although I expect as Jenas will get in in place of Huddlestone, which I view as being a mistake, but I believe as that’s what Arry will do. COYS. A win against Chelsea and we’re right back in the thick of it. They are beatable and their defense is poor.
Lilywhite til i die ur a muppet. Corluka Bassong Hutton and King across the back. 2 rb’s 2cb’s great choice you idiot.
I was in Mexico on business a couple of weeks ago and talked to some locals about GDS. Apparently he is extremely talented (yeah, tell me something new!) but he does like the odd drink and is a party animal by all accounts. He also has a hot famous Mexican WAG, who is apparently seen out with lots of other men whilst GDS is busy training in Chigwell. Just passing on what I was told, make of it what you will….
so he shud ditch the slut and cut down on drinking if he wants to make it in the EPL. ‘arrys not a fan of that as i’m sure you know. his futures in his own hands.
ha. maybe he read my comment. he ditched the slut. now go to AA meetings and we’re onto a winner.
I felt we lost to Manure due to our lack of play on the wings. All the pressure was on lennon, if Dos santos was able to play rather than getting dragged half way around the world, it would have been a very different game!
He’s not a midfielder anymore that Keano is, end of!
WhiteHartDub – I think you apologise for being so rude above, as you’re clearly not very well informed! Bassong has played many a game at LB, just as Corluka plays CB for Croatia (and for us on occasion). There really is no need at all to be so rude or ignorant in your posts. Please grow up.
for me……redknapp fan so
hutton v corluka = not good enough in his real talent so changing corluka better player in man u game?
de santos may have been tired from travelling….
not on the sub bench?
keane in midfield is it totally natural? regardless of opponents ?
something was tried and didnt work in the tactics
against Man U?
de santos has flare and real high quality talent
redknapp seems unsure on how to use him…..
it looks like hes waiting for the cup games…
but our pursuit of top four may be stopping his doubt in selection……..
it seems odd de santos is not on the subs bench when he can do what he does……
at first i thought it was his fitness,then his attitude etc……i now think it is redknapp doesnt know how to fit his style in some way
Gio is a party boy who thinks hes as good as ronaldinho. Send the little shit back to Ipswich.
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I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again: DOS SANTOS HAS PLAYED AGAINT CRAP TEAMS in CONCACAF on the RIGHT; he looks good because nearly everyone on the pitch is average, maybe even below that. The only team that matters other than Mexico here, the US, played both Beasley and Spector against him who both don’t play regularly (Spector’s on West Ham’s bench and Beasley isn’t getting time with Rangers). Sure, he looked good, but he’s a bench player at best. AND he has no left foot – he plays strictly on the right or center for Mexico. You’ve got to remmeber that not only is he going up a level (or two when you consider Chelsea on Sunday), but he’s got to play his wrong side. Redknapp brought in Kranjar for a reason. Don’t delude yourself thinking anyone else but him will be starting. Kranjar will be permenantly on the left. Even when Modric comes back, he’ll play Kranjar now Redknapp can move Modric to his natural position in the center and play him behind Defoe.
With referance to Gio Dos Santos, Harry can only see his mates and cannot tell a Race Horse from a Donkey. Gio may be small but he has more skill than Crouch & Kranjar will ever have. The same goes for Roman Palyuchenko the pair should be playing, that’s Roman up front with Defoe and Gio in Modric’s position.
They may be party people, but they can play football, check their International records, watch TV and read the papers.
Minero sounds like Crouch’s girl friend.
As said, Wilson played late Thursday, etc…
Also, I believe ‘Arry was specifically going for experience for such a game – this is a very young squad, and I just think that ‘Arry wanted some older players on the pitch, is all.
Also, if ‘Arry’s aim is to ‘blood’ players like DOSSANT in cup games, for any number of reasons, before considering moving them up to first team contention, we will have to wait for the cup games to start in earnest.
It has to be said that the squad that was assmbled (by the much maligned Comolli) does have a lot of exciting young talent (look no further than ‘lurvely Luca’), but virtually the first issue that ‘Arry identified, and stated he would set about rectifying in the Summer, was a lack of experience. And, perhaps, the biggest problem that Ramos had was in trying to perform with so many young, inexpeienced players, when the chips were down.
Honestly, I wouldn’t read too much more into it.
wordcandy70 is right to say ..DOS SANTOS HAS PLAYED AGAINST CRAP TEAMS in CONCACAF.
But he failed to mention that those crap team include Honduras. Oh by the way. Wilson Palacios played for that Honduras team that lost to Mexico. We have two players playing against each other on international, and one for the crap team.
you have to be realistic about GDS. Spurs and its manager convinced the world he was nothing but a flop. Until June that was the general view. However, after the Gold Cup, and after WCQ recent games, everyone, except Spurs, is aware of the kid’s talent. If he is not playing by January, he will simply leave. There are plenty of top quality teams, both in EPL and in Europe which would simply take him for next to nothing. After South Africa in 2010, he will be already a world star. You want to know the difference between Spurs and Arsenal? look at the way Vela is developing under Wegner…
If the coach and fans don’t want gio in the team, the club have to sell it.. maybe is a player for another team, he deserves to play.. and the best solution is letting gio to go.. perhaps one day giovani plays against hotspur, and the coach will see what he cannot see right now..