Former Tottenham midfielder and pundit Jamie O’Hara has slammed Ange Postecoglou’s decision to play Mikey Moore against Palace.
Postecoglou decided to give the 17-year-old a start in the front three alongside Dominic Solanke and Brennan Johnson at Selhurst Park, but O’Hara believes the manager should have stuck gone with experience and stuck with Timo Werner.
He told Sky Sports:
“I think Ange [Postecoglou] got it wrong. I think he picked the wrong team. Starting a 17-year-old away from home against Crystal Palace is a big, big ask. He [Moore] did alright but it’s a big ask to come in for that game and make something happen.
“Use him for 20 or 25 minutes, but the damning indictment of that is that Timo Werner has been so poor he [Postecouglou] has had to start Mikey Moore. But, I would have stuck with Werner and given him another game, especially away from home as he’s experienced.”
Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta scored the only goal of the game just after the half hour mark to secure their first Premier League win of the season.
It was a poor performance from Tottenham, perhaps one of their worst since Ange took over. They failed to handle the intense pressing by Oliver Glasner’s men, and could have easily conceded a few more.
Vicario was one of the few Tottenham players who can come out of the game with their heads held high after putting in a solid performance. He kept Spurs into the game for as long as he could manage.
Mikey Moore in action for Tottenham vs Crystal Palace. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)
TBH Says: Ange Postecoglou was right to start Mikey Moore over Timo Werner
Timo Werner has been abysmal this season, in every game he has started. He has failed to make an impact upfront, missing numerous chances, including several simple one-on-one opportunities.
17-year-old Mikey Moore, on the other hand, has been impressing Ange with his performances since pre-season and has been tipped to play a significant role for the first-team this season.
It made perfect sense to give the teenager the change, especially given Werner’s poor form. It is a sentiment that was expressed by Spurs supporters as well against Manchester United when they started chanting Moore’s name right after the German missed a couple of easy chances.