Tom carroll the assistants asistant

A very interesting quote from Tim Sherwood about Tom Carroll demonstrated why some supporters don't like a player like Nabil Bentaleb, they simply don't understand the roles in football.



If you trawl forums and blog comments you see quoting stats and saying Tom Carroll has not had a good season because he only has two assists, oblivious to the fact that that is not his role. As Sherwood confirms he is the assistants assistant.

I have heard the same accusations levelled at Bentaleb yet in the one game he did play further forward was instrumental in three of the four goals against Newcastle.

“Sometimes you want to bring someone on to make a difference, a different type and I just think that the blend’s not fantastic here.

“But that takes time to work with and it’s also in the recruitment process of the club.

“Sandro and (Etienne) Capoue are similar in stature and in the way they break up the game. I think Paulinho’s a little bit different , he likes to break forward into the box.

“But we miss that player – I’m not saying (Mousa) Dembele can’t do it because he can pick it up and dribble – but we miss who moves that ball and passes it between the lines very quickly and assists the assister.

“Gareth Bale needed that ball very quickly and I think Luka Modric got it to him quickly. I think Tom Carroll was that player – he can do that absolutely. I tried to bring back Tom in January, but it just wasn’t possible.”

Sherwood revealed to reporters he tried to bring Carroll back to Spurs in January but that it just wasn't possible. With a seasons football under his belt he now has pressure games to play with QPR in the Championship play-offs.

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