According to journalist Paul Brown, Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte is still not convinced by Matt Doherty and Djed Spence.
The pair have made just two appearances together this season, with Emerson Royal the Spurs manager’s preferred option at right wing-back.
With Doherty a regular in the team before his injury and Spence a £20 million signing from Middlesbrough, both must have thought they had a good chance of becoming first choice on the right. However, for the time being, the duo has been forced to watch from the bench, with Royal starting every Premier League game and missing only 13 minutes.
Royal has been part of a defence that has allowed only five goals in five games this season, but his offensive output has come under question.
And Brown believes Royal’s success is due to Doherty and Spence not contributing enough, rather than the Brazilian performing exceptionally well.
He told GIVEMESPORT:
“Conte clearly wants to rotate those positions, he always has done over the years, it’s been an area he regards in all of his teams.
“He likes to have two really good players in those positions that he can change without a drop off in quality, but he’s a ruthless manager and if you’re not doing it in training, you won’t get a look in.
“So, I can only imagine he doesn’t see enough at the moment from Doherty or Spence to put them in there.”
Perhaps once Doherty is back fully fit and firing, he is the most likely candidate to give Royal a run for the right wing-back position because of his ability going forward.
Well that falls flat straight away.
No way is he rotating m/f. As long as they have 2 legs to run with PEH & Rod will be the go to pair.
Now then the WBs…….2 good players at LWB. Really?
RWB – I have a hands up moment to declare. Having watched Emerson the past handful of games I have to admit he is a very decent defender but he will never be a decent WB.
So that leaves 1 from Spence or Doc.
I dont believe half the drivel that coaches say I recall Conte himself at a presser telling us how some players (Winks?) train hard & play their best but are just not good enough.
What playing Emerson is doing to us is making us defence heavy (work it out for yourself).
I do have one observation to make from watching 2/3 training clips though.
Sarr is an athlete and a baller (skills) but he is very juvenile he mucks around more than any other player he needs to buckle down. A shout out to Bis. & Spence nowhere near as bad as Sarr but need to concentrate more instead of joking around especially with the bosses looking on.
Matthew (as Conte calls him) is still coming back from injury. He’s in the plans otherwise we’d have sold him.
Spence- see post below for Conte’s view.
So, nothing to see here. More rubbish from an alleged “journalist.”
He used Doherty v Marseille ..completely untrustworthy..
On Djed Spence, less than 2 weeks ago, Antonio Conte said,
“I was very clear at the start when I said this signing is a really good prospect,” Conte said. “He’s a young player and the club wanted to invest in this player.
(To which he confirmed he gave the ‘green light’ to)
“The difference is clear. To play in the Championship with Nottingham Forest and then with Tottenham, he needs time to adapt himself in many aspects, in the physical aspect and the tactical aspect because now he is working with another coach.
“I’m seeing a lot of desire, a lot of will from this player to try to reduce this gap and to be ready. With a young player, it’s important to have patience, to work and then to improve. I’m sure Djed for the future will be an important player for Tottenham.”
Paul Brown’s interpretation of the matter (why report truth when lies will do) is all too typical of todays journalist’s, the words ‘if you’re not doing it in training,’ ‘not convinced,’ & ‘continue to snub’ are clearly not Antonio Conte’s belief.
In Doherty’s case this seems strange as he appeared to be buying into Conte’s system before his injury towards the end of last season.Spense has already been declared a club buy.
On the subject of substitutions,Conte seems to be reluctant to use all of his five allowed.Perhaps he doesn’t see the squad depth as that much improved.And he is leaving them late generally.