It is easy to have an overreaction after shipping five goals as Tottenham did last night against Everton, however, it is also fair to say that the Spurs defence has been very questionable in quite a few games this season.
The game last night was a culmination of a sustained period of mediocrity and after a good night sleep and some reflection, I hope that I have come up with a balanced judgement on the players that are supposed to keep the opposition out.
Hugo Lloris – sell
Not a defender of course but he is part of the rear guard and truth be told, he is no longer an elite keeper. Even in his heyday he was always susceptible to the odd error and he has gradually got worse. His time is up and a younger more agile and commanding keeper is now required.
Sergio Reguilon – keep
Not been with us that long but we have seen enough to know that he is a quality player and certainly a lot more consistent and productive than anything else we have at left-back.
Ben Davies – sell
Simply not good enough at the level that Tottenham aspire, a poor crosser of the ball, rarely dangerous with runs and not the best tackler. Put it this way, Danny Rose would be a better option and he needs to be sold as well, that tells you the level that Davies is at.
Toby Alderweireld – sell
Been a great servant and at 31 should be at his peak but sadly he is too slow, not great at bringing the ball out and gives the ball away too often.
Davinson Sanchez – sell
There were high hopes when the Colombian signed but has he ever really delivered on a consistent basis? I would say no and have to think we can do a lot better.
Eric Dier – sell
Poor defender, not sure why Jose Mourinho persists with him and he is clearly not to the standard a club like Tottenham should have on their books.
Joe Rodon – keep
Not seen enough of him and it would be unfair to discard him so soon but he does need to get up to Premier League level sooner rather than later.
Japhet Tanganga – keep
The youngster has raw talent and while he is unlikely to be ready as a regular starter he could be one for the future and we should not be too eager to offload him.
Matt Doherty – keep
This will be controversial because Doherty has not produced anything near what he gave to Wolves but I believe that is because he still needs time to adapt to a whole new way of playing under Mourinho. I know he was woeful last night and in some previous games but I reckon that by next season we will see the player we thought we had purchased from Wolves. However, I do accept that my opinion on the Irishman will probably be in the minority.
Serge Aurier – keep
Another one that I am sure will not be a popular opinion but he has improved this season, he has responded well to competition, he does show heart, he is attack-minded and if he can cut his errors out he would be a much better defender. Aurier is slowly getting there and I am of the opinion that he will improve further under Jose as the season progresses.
Conclusion
Football is a subjective game and everyone and their uncle has an opinion and no doubt many of you will disagree with my judgement, which is absolutely fine and very much welcomed, so be kind in your comments below and let us know who you would sell or keep.
😆
Mind the gap… The prem is the promised land, still that suprises me too man. Alot of those championship clubs spend a fair bit trying to make it.
Keep Hugo all day long.
Apart from city who else could afford him? Not many clubs I’m guessing. 150 mil plus Levy would want. He wanted that for Tintin.
A whole lot of media and pundits who aren’t spurs are saying this.
Shearer, LeTissier.. Sheringham only left because of Sugar. He wanted to stay.
😂 Kane has carried our team for years now… He is the only true world class player we got! He’s about to break Thierry Henrys assist record in a bang average spurs squad! Players don’t win golden boots and break records in the toughest league in the world if they don’t have ‘it’…. Love requires loyalty mate… Stop waffling horseshit about our best player, you’re embarrassing yourself man.
THIS
I really, really, really, really hope that comes true!!!!
I endorse wholeheartedly the article 100% of who to keep and who to sell Levy do this ffs.
The simple fact is: Mourinho is not the saviour many thought him to be.
Tactically, behind the times and very suspect. Levy, once again has shown his football naivety in appointing a manager who is proving to be past his best. Under his watch we have regressed alarmingly. Defence has gone from bad to awful We now have to face another long term rebuild starting with getting shot of the deadwood and purchasing talent that is Premier League standard. Lloris, Sanches, Aurier, Davies, Winks, Alli, Lamela Dier, Docherty must be replaced. Vinicius not Premiership standard, again another poor Harry sub choice. Cannot see any big money takers for majority of those players. WE need to take a good look at our scouting set up. Poor may be an understatement.We have signed more duds and wasted so much money on wannabes or no hopers than almost any other Premier side. Obviously with little or no major revenue streams incoming replacing players may be increasingly difficult for all but teams like Man City or Chelsea with extremely deep pocketed owners.
Who are these clubs then? Maybe Kane don’t wanna move up north let alone fkin Spain. How longs ole got? Klopp won’t be at pool for long, neither will pep at city. He won’t go Chelsea. PSG? Nope. Bayern? Nope. Juve? Nope. The Kane family are fine here in the south. Money? I think Harry is well happy with his wage. Harry staying and will win stuff here in tottenham. Not everybody is “champagne Charlie.
“No one ain’t telling me”
In fact, a whole hell of a lot of people are telling you he won’t win jack s#% if he doesn’t get out of Levy-land while he’s still in his prime, and go to a club who’s ambition is winining things, not property development profit margins.
The guy was 3rd choice at….Burnley. He played for one of the worst teams in Italy’s top flight, and even they had no interest in retaining him (Torino…nice place to vacation for a year I suppose, especially if you’re being paid a stack of money to cosplay as a professional footballer.
I’d be looking at one of the standout english keepers to replace Lloris. Johnstone, Henderson, even Pope or Darlow. Get rid of Hart at the same time, since the only reason he’s in the club is being english, free, and on easy wages.
Toby needs to go, simply as an economic matter. His value drops by the day, sell him while we can still get a decent fee. Nothing about his quality here, just the reality of an aging CB’s contract running down. He’s easily still the best CB in the squad, by a distance.
The rest, aside from Reggie (who I’d be shocked if Real don’t bring him back), I don’t feel strongly about either way. Depends on who would be the replacement, doesn’t it? Since Levy’s transfer acumen leaves much to be desired, I’m not confident we’d be any better off.
Realistically two or three out and the same number in – we won’t change five defenders in the one window.
Order of preference to sell would be:
Incoming we’ll need a first choice central defender, back up left back/utility defender, first choice right back
Fck sake!
Winners need teams around them to be help them be winners. Kane would be a winner anywhere else as would Son. They can’t do it on their own. Kane and Son have been shining lights in a team of dim lightbulbs. Messi, Ronaldo etc wouldn’t be successful in Spurs teams of recent years. That’s a fact.
Ledley king has no regrets re staying at tottenham. why will Harry be any different? They both love the club. How longs Harry got at top top level? 4-5 years? No one ain’t telling me we won’t win stuff in that time. Keep knowing Harry mate. Rondon and japh are the future. Loris Ain’t “finished.
I don’t dispute he could walk into a team, much like Son could walk into any team, but they aren’t ‘winners’.
Kane has played in multiple finals and semi finals and performed poorly in just about all of them.
Facts are facts.
Jake. Kanes not a winner because he’s playing for us consumate loosers. Would love to think that he could win something with us, but its a pipe dream.
Are you a Spurs supporter or a plant?
That’s about as crazy and funny a statement as I’ve read on this blog for a number of years.
Kane could walk into ANY higher echelon club and they would buy him on the spot, LITERALLY. He’s that good.
For minute there I thought you said playing Wednesday…
Quite often I see him deliberately dribble up to an opponent so that he can “beat” him, rather than play a simple pass, or even dribble away from the opponent. Dele used to do that too.
Good Comments Bruce…Hopefully after another good night’s sleep, we can hear your similar reflections/comments on the Midfield Players. //ssl.gstatic.com/mail/emoji/v7/png48/emoji_u1f914.png //ssl.gstatic.com/mail/emoji/v7/png48/emoji_u1f600.png
Lloris is a good reaction shot stopper. As you say, his positioning is not quite right when setting himself for a shot he can anticipate.
He is reluctant to come out and claim crosses and corners; I was brought up on big Patbwho bosser the 6yd area.
And his distribution is woeful in accuracy and generally pedestrian. If we are to be a counter attacking team, a goalie who can kick orvthroe out accurately and fast had got to be beneficial.
Someone maybe like Aaron Ramsdale from Sheffield United (Bournemouth) who has had some good performances lately even with a poor defence in front of him.
I’d love those types of players at our club,who wouldn’t,but you’re missing my point.Levy would never go in for those guys knowing he would have to bid against the big hitters in the transfer market.
The first two are valued at 80M? and Kounde will be involved in a bidding war I suspect.No way Levy pays that.
Yes he paid £52M for N’Dombele aparrently,but was anyone else in for him?I don’t think so,why was that, which suggests he may have got him for less.
Sorry Al I should have mentioned that I agree with your comment, but “The Problem etc……..
The Problem Al is I don’t think they will sell these Garden Gnomes as somebody (no names mentioned) still thinks they can get above the “Sell by Date” rates which can be 50% and more of the original price, and that ain’t going to happen.
You don’t need Messi or Ronaldo to improve the squad.
Start bidding for Koulibaly, Milenkovic, or Kounde.
Look at how poor Rodon looks. Mistakes in how many games now?
If you want to be taken seriously as a big club, then act like a big club.
“I don’t know if Joe Hart would be a better option in the short term”
I’ll answer this one.
he wouldn’t.
I love Lloris but if you’re looking to replace him, it’s Pope or someone from Europe.
Fully agree with your assessment of Lloris. He seemed to have rerurned to something close to his best last season (after the Covid break). He should have done better with 3 of the goals yesterday, and he was arguably culpable for all three against Liverpool. He doesnt seem to be able to read his angles any more, partly because he seems permanently stuck to his goal line. He also seems to be caught with his weight on his back foot far too often. I don’t know if Joe Hart would be a better option in the short term but i wouldn’t shed any tears if Hugo had a reunion with MoPo at PSG.
Kane is part of the problem to be honest.
He’s not a winner. At some point he needs to stop pointing the finger at others and start delivering. Had multiple opportunities, including last night in extra time.
I love Kane but I’ve started to accept that he doesn’t have “it”.
I made those suggestions on the basis of what Levy might be prepared to spend and the sort of price likely to be quoted for them.After all Levy has previous for keeping his hand in his pocket.
Dunk has performed consistantly well over a number of years now for Brighton in the PL and his attitude is what is missing in most of our current defenders.The fact he plays for Brighton is probably the reason he has not made the England squad.
From what I have seen of Andersson,he is a cultured addition to Fulham’s struggling team.
Why don’t you offer your own thoughts bearing in mind Levy shops in Poundland.Also bear in mind Rodon came from the Championship.Anyway can wish for Messi,Ronaldo and Lewandovski.
We had better get used to playing without kane as he is gone in the summer. He has stayed too long already and he deserves to win trophies which aint going to happen playing for us. As for the defense we only have ruggion who is worth keeping, with perhaps Rodon who looks ok but needs more time. Both current RB not good enough so need to find a replacement. Lloris is finished, shame we didnt sell him in the window to psg if they wanted him and got some money as he will be worthless in the summer. Dont get me on winks, took a shot from 18yrds in final minute and got closer to the corner flag than the goal. Says it all. Another wasted season.
should have gone to Specsavers.
He let Bernard run past him for the 5th (and was also initially playing him onside). I do agree that it is too early to form a proper opinion of him and really there are other areas of the defence that need addressing as a priority.
Lewis Dunk and Andersson?
Have some standards man. You’re like my father.
We are Spurs. Go buy proper players. Not players from 2 teams fighting relegation lmao
We conceded 5 goals.
I would still keep Toby he was so great I think next to a good partner he would be fine (I remember Naybet fondly)
Dougherty was okay in my eyes last night.
You know that mate’s girlfriend who keeps cheating on him but he keeps having her back? That is Aurier. People soon forget what he has done and is still capable of and done this season (\West Ham anyone?). “But he’s improved’ is not good enough for me. He is a liability and he will let us down again?
The key to the question BG has asked is do these players enhance our team. Reggie does and then we are struggling. Japhet and Rodon need regular football to improve, whether we can offer them it while competing for top 4 determines whether they might be better off loaned or we will spend a few seasons in the wilderness getting them better.
JMc is right, we can’t get rid of all of them. It scares me who we will keep.
Spot on. He’s done sweet fanny adams.
Was just saying. I was a bit surprised.
His next blog will be about the midfield! I am still not convinced by Ndombele either. He is better than last year, but coming from being the worst player in the Premier League he simply had to improve. He holds the ball too long and is defensively inept. I know he was fouled for their goal, but he wasn’t hurt and he stayed on the floor. If he’d got up and run he might have stopped the goal. People shouting ‘baller’ all the time about the lad. 2 fancy turns a game isn’t good enough for me.
Our value means nothing unless it is reflected in quality on the pitch. Even if we make a mint from the shopping centre Levy has shown he has no idea how to spend it effectively.
Just to add to that laughable assessment, and in giving those defensive players a bit of a breather from the continuous onslaught, it seems only fair to point out the amount of defending that group has been forced to endure during this season. Mainly due to the extraordinary tactical system enforced by our leader, which has not been proved a success overall, except for the citeh game that undoubtedly was.
I would be looking at midfield players first and foremost that urgently require changing, namely Sissoko, Winks, Lamela, Dele and even NDombele who is still unconvincing in playing a full match regularly through a whole season, he just doesn’t look up to it, of course all wont go but most should.
It might do us some good. West Spam and Everton are benefitting from it. 19 games to get in the Ch Lg via the Europa League is too much of a gamble. It is Ch Lg or bust. We don’t offer massive wages so our only bargaining chip is regular Ch Lg football which we will struggle to get anyway near this season.
Tottenham is valued at more than all the championship clubs put together.
Lloris should probably go.Get in Pope or Sam Johnstone or Areola if PSG want Hugo.Lewis Dunk as a CB replacement,perhaps with Andersson from Fulham.I would have said Godfrey before he went to Everton.These are considering the likely cost.
Sessi will be back in the summer,11 games and 2 goals so far with Hoffenheim.RB replacements are a problem.Toney as backup for Kane assuming he doesn’t go in the summer.
We desperately need a ball player who can also take free kicks,someone like Bruno Fernandes.Oh wait he’s gone to Utd.
The big problem is shifting the deadwood to free up some funds and paying what is necessary.
Two people who should definitely go are Hitchens and Levy if won’t stay out of the football side of things.
As soon as a new manager comes in, Dier is gone.
He is abhorrently poor.
Sell them all.
They’re all shit.
Possibly. It’s such a mixed up season anything can happen.
At this rate Spurs may be sitting at home on Wednesday and Thursdays, next year.
Fair assessment. I agree with all of your choices but am on the fence about Aurier. He lacks consistency.
Since Dier and Alderweireld lack speed to get back and defend, after pushing into the other half, maybe they need to stay in back half.
Very Good Bruce, and when we have these Garden Gnomes sold who do you suggest we purchase with the 25 million quid?
Some serious money or better scouting needs to be made available our defence is in need of major surgery..
Its neglect in not refreshing the squad again and or poor recruitment as is the case with Sanchez.
Fair assessment Bruce, that would be five sold. But it won’t happen, we won’t spend on upgrades. They gave Dier a new four year contract, I wouldn’t be surprised if Toby and Hugo got new contracts simply because they don’t want to invest in quality.
Most of that five will still be here next season but they will add a new centre back. Will that be enough? The longer they postpone the rebuild the more the cost goes up and the more failures like last night.
Anybody confident we will win the League Cup and Europa League on this form? I’m not. Groundhog day. Same old same old.
Agreed, not too controversial choices. The real test will be who Cheech and Chong get to replace the outgoing defenders this summer, champions League or championship quality players