There’s a great piece out just now from Press Association Sports’ Jonathan Veal which I heartily commend to you. When Tanguy Ndombele was overweight, sluggish and generally out of shape, there were some that believed that this was simply all down to Mourinho being dreadful. It was a view that fitted many narratives. After all, how dare a coach tell the truth. Tanguy was always injured and it was a pain, after all he was a record signing and being paid oodles each week.
Now the values in the relationship feel more balanced and it is clear that the Portuguese is itching to have the Frenchman back in the team again saying of the 24-year-old: “Thinking quick, thinking fast, moving the ball quick and fast, we missed him.” After the frankly impoverished midfield Mourinho fielded against Royal Antwerp, it has become clear who can be trusted and who cannot. Eric Dier is also though to be ready for Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday, José said: “I expect him to be fine for the next one.”
Perhaps the most pressing improvement to soothe Mou’s currently fevered brow might come from Gareth Bale. One cannot help but wonder how long it might take before the now 31-year-old brings some magic to the side. Sure, he’s not played competitively since the summer, but the pressure to demonstrate a willingness to slip out of the gears is definitely beginning to build within the gaffer. Make no mistake, this wasn’t a José buy, and whatever Daniel Levy’s strategy was, it is ambitious to believe that the Tottenham CEO is happy with just the current levels of shirt sales. Brighton must be put to the sword this weekend.
He’s vital at the minute.. Noone can head it back there. Dier is our best in the air.. And he gets beat too much. He’s not particularly tall is he… This is why we are so vulnerable at the back at set pieces. No aerial dominance. Van djk is a great example, but theres loads of big centre backs present and past who win all their headers.. We need a Ledley King, Sol Campbell type defender who wins it every time..
He is our only defender who can head the ball properly.. Still I preferred Super Jan back there.. Dier can head and tackle well, but have to agree with Tappa below.
One thing that Thursday night proved is how reliant we are on Ndombele now. Only he can bring that fast powerful surge aided by tricks to open up defences it seems, he makes Lo Celso look like Scotty Parker by comparison. The other player that is irreplaceable is Hojbjerg of course. It worries me how we would perform against quality opposition with these two out. I think we need cover for CDM in the January window because the poor lad can’t play every game and Winks is just not good enough for a top side.
We also have too many AM’s without much finishing result now too; Bergwijn, Lo Celso, Lucas and Lamela all work hard but have pretty lousy stats, they all need to improve or we need to replace some of them. Noticeably all came from foreign leagues. We know how different the pace and physicality of the PL league is, and how hard many foreign players find it to adapt.
Utility squad player. Not good enough to be first choice CB at Tottenham.
Sanchez is becoming last years Aurier.
I get Sanchez has slips, this selection aint going to help though
I’ve never been a huge fan of Dier but he’s definitely become a better player under Jose. Upon reflection there aren’t too many defenders from the top 6 sides I’d swap for Dier. Van Dyke is an obvious one but I can’t think of too many others where I’d take your hand off to swap for Dier. The other frustrating thing is LoCelso. His career hasn’t got going yet and I hope he’s not another Lamela. No sooner has Ndombele woken up and smelled the coffee LoCelso starts having fitness issues meaning Sissy is still in the team. A fully firing Hoijberg, Ndombele and LoCelso is a mouth watering prospect.
I’ve never been a huge fan of Dier but he’s definitely become a better player under Jose. Upon reflection there aren’t too many defenders from the top 6 sides I’d swap for Dier. Van Dyke is an obvious one but I can’t think of too many others where I’d take your hand off to swap for Dier. The other frustrating thing is LoCelso. His career hasn’t got going yet and I hope he’s not another Lamela. No sooner has Ndombele woken up and smelled the coffee LoCelso starts having fitness issues meaning Sissoko is still in the team. A fully firing Hoijberg, Ndombele and LoCelso is a mouth watering prospect.
I’ve never been a huge fan of Dier but he’s definitely become a better player under Jose. Upon reflection there aren’t too many defenders from the top 6 sides I’d swap for Dier. Van Dyke is an obvious one but I can’t think of too many others where I’d take your hand off to swap for Dier. The other frustrating thing is LoCelso. His career hasn’t got going yet and I hope he’s not another Lamela. No sooner has Ndombele woken up and smelled the coffee LoCelso starts having fitness issues meaning Sissy is still in the team. A fully firing Hoijberg, Ndombele and LoCelso is a mouth watering prospect.
In the next game what about playing three at the back like we did against Chelsea in the Carabeo cup only bringing in Rodon to play alongside Dier & Alderweirld.With Reguilon Lwb & Doherty rwb. Hojbjerg & N’dombele Son Kane & Vinicius up front.
The Sky Sports’ “Jones knows” prediction article states Brighton have the game to trouble us. Jones highlights last season we lost at the Amex and were fortuitous to win the return leg. He uses the xG statistic to add weight to his argument – a convincing advantage for Brighton in fact.
If this was last season, I’d agree with him. This season my theory is we have the perfect side to beat sides that like to play football and use a high line. We’ll match up really well to all the big guns and the sides we should have most joy against are the sides like Brighton who don’t do it quite as well as the very best. Southampton were in a similar bracket and they couldn’t cope with our breaks.
The sides we will find it toughest against are those that will sit back themselves and defend well, looking for the occasional potent break – like Burnley did last week. Palace will be awkward too.
I’m looking forward to this theory being tested. I think we should beat Brighton comfortably.
A sobering though that Dier is a vital cog. I don’t think he is a calamitous defender, not in comparison to Aurier and Sanchez, and when compared to the rest of the EPL he comes out favourably. He is no VVD, but who is? I think he would get in the current Utd, Chelsea, Liverpool and City teams, but I think there is a lot more to come from him. I am never assured when he is involved, not like the Vertonghen and Tobes days.
Great article – nothing to add
Dividing opinion on this blog and Spurs fans generally clearly having won Jose over the much maligned Eric Dier is a vital cog in the wheel!