The Spurs backline got another shake-up against Aston Villa yesterday as Mourinho rested 32-year-old Toby Alderweireld, and dumped Eric Dier again.
In came Japhet Tanganga who offered refreshing intelligence. Here are a couple of examples of the lad operating under pressure, whilst retaining sufficiently high concentration levels.
The 21-year-old operated well at right-back and one wouldn’t have known he had been plunged in after a crisis.
Whilst Japhet isn’t the finished article, but he has plenty of talent and his heart is in the right place, Mourinho needs to focus on this kid.
I wonder what Aurier and Doherty are thinking when they see that you can actually put in a decent performance at RB without the fans having to hide behind the couch whenever the opposition goes down our right.
Looked assured. Villa didn’t offer much and there will be tougher opponents, but the performance was very promising. I hope he keeps his spot!
Needs to start regularly at RB now we are effectively playing a game a week. He just looks better and more reliable than Doherty and Aurier.
Might as well keep playing him, and also he looked at least as comfortable, in fact probably more comfortable, at right back than central defence – so keep him going in that problem position unless the lad really sees himself as a central defender.
Agreed. I remember his debut against Liverpool at home and he was immense, He has suffered from injuries but the lad looks like has the necessary physical and mental capabilities. He needs a run in the first eleven to make him feel like he is able to play at that level and to get some understanding going across the backline.