Spurs have been linked to both Premier League
forwards this summer, and could do with at least one if they are to
challenge for the Champions League
Tottenham Hotspur have been heavily linked with moves for West Bromwich Albion’s Saido Berahino and Crystal Palace’s Yannick Bolasie during the summer transfer window; but would either of these two be worthwhile additions to Mauricio Pochettino's side?
Spurs' opening-day defeat to Manchester United was simultaneously both very un-Tottenham and very typically Tottenham.
On the one hand, Spurs fans might have had reason to question whether they were truly watching their beloved Lilywhites in action at Old Trafford. What was remarkable was the North London giants’ defensive prowess. For once…perhaps for the first time in living memory…Tottenham actually looked defensively competent.
Admittedly, they were breached, but their poise at the back was a marked departure for a side who had the fifth-worst defence in the Premier League last term.
Tottenham conceded 15 more than any of the sides that secured Champions League qualification, while even relegated Hull City enjoyed a better defensive record than Pochettino’s outfit.
If Spurs were to realise their league ambitions, it was imperative that they sorted out their backline. The reality was acknowledged during the summer as, to date, the entirety of the club’s transfer business has been geared towards improving their defence.
Kieran Tripper has been brought in to provide competition at right-back, while the departures of Younes Kaboul (somewhat mourned by fans) and Vlad Chiriches (not mourned at all) have been offset by the arrival of Kevin Wimmer.
The key arrival to date has been Atletico Madrid defender Toby Alderweireld, who was snared for £11.4 million in the face of reported interest from Chelsea and his former club Southampton.
The centre-back pairing of Alderweireld and his international teammate Jan Vertonghen gave Spurs an unfamiliar resiliency in the heart of the defence, while there were signs that Ben Davies at left-back can overcome his tricky first season at White Hart Lane.
While he was responsible for United’s goal, and while his passing was somewhat sloppy, Kyle Walker deserves credit for his tackling, interceptions, clearances, and all-round defensive play. If fit, he can be an asset once again.
Even with Michel Vorm deputising for the imperious Hugo Lloris (who may or may not depart), Spurs looked almost watertight.
It was all very un-Tottenham-like.
Alderweireld | Can he clear Spurs' long-term defensive headaches?
However, a wholly familiar narrative for Spurs fans over the years,
one which reared its ugly head again against United, was that of
frustration.For much of the first half, Pochettino’s boys dominated the contest, were encamped in the Red Devils’ half, appeared impervious to the noise of the Old Trafford crowd, and came close to beating Sergio Romero on a handful of occasions.
While Harry Kane didn’t trouble the keeper all too much, Christian Eriksen was glowing and Nacer Chadli—who remains underrated by some portions of the fanbase—demonstrated his intelligence with a litany of smart off-the-ball runs.
It was another glittering Spurs performance lost to the ether, a radiant 45-minute display which resulted in a grand total of zero points. How many of those have there been over the years?
During the second period, Spurs were staid, and beyond a late rally, did little to truly unsettle the unconvincing Romero.
It was telling that while Pochettino had Roberto Soldado on the bench, he instead opted to bring on Anglo-Nigerian teenager Dele Alli, who featured in League One for Milton Keynes Dons last season, to influence the contest.
It was almost a Jose Mourinho-esque plea to the club’s board, “I need more attackers, buy me more attackers!”
Despite Emmanuel Adebayor’s social media protestations that he is committed to the club and prepped for the new season, he and his £100,000-per-week contract may soon be cut loose…at least if anyone foolhardy enough to take them on can be found. Are you reading this, Tim?
If you believe the rumours, Spurs may just be on the brink of acquiescing to Pochettino’s tacit wishes.
The Lilywhites have been linked notably to two Premier League forwards this summer, with a deal expected imminently.
One of these is the Albion’s Anglo-Burundian forward Berahino, who would reportedly cost £25m according to the Telegraph. The other is Palace’s Bolasie, who carries a £25m price tag, at least if his manager Alan Pardew is to be believed?
Immediately, it’s fair that Spurs fans may be somewhat disenchanted by the rumoured buys, particularly considering the big-money high-profile additions of the aforementioned Soldado, Erik Lamela and Paulinho.
Certainly, neither of the pair have experience of European competition, let alone Champions League football. In their careers to date, realistically, a top-half finish in the Premier League has represented a successful season—it’s far below what Spurs would expect. Lyon and Cameroon youngster Clinton N'Jjie, another Spurs target, falls into a similar category; the talent is undoubted, but would he be the player to take the Lilywhites to the next level?
However, the pair have both hinted that they are destined for greater things.
Berahino scored 14 goals for the Albion last term; it’s an impressive figure in its own right for a 21-year-old, but when you consider that the Baggies lacked both consistency and creativity last term—who was really on hand to supply the England U21 striker? Certainly there was no one who could provide the kind of service that, say, Christian Eriksen would.
While Bolasie would likely operate in a wider role than Berahino, he could be an equally effective offensive threat, and arguably an even better foil for Kane than the Throstles forward.
Either way, perhaps it’s time for Spurs to ‘go back to basics’ when it comes to recruitment, and return to the approach that worked for them under the likes of Martin Jol and Harry Redknapp.
During the middle of the last decade, Tottenham turned to the English leagues—both those beneath them in the EPL and the lower divisions—to recruit some of the finest domestic talent around. While there are questions about how many of the likes of Jermain Jenas, Jermain Defoe, Tommy Huddlestone, Michael Dawson, Aaron Lennon, Paul Robinson, the aforementioned Walker, Kyle Naughton, Michael Carrick and Andy Reid actually realised their potential, many of these players helped Spurs enjoy some heady days domestically and in Europe—or at least paid for them to get there!
The signings of Tripper and Ali are perhaps evidence of a return to this trend, while Bolasie and Berahino—both born overseas, of African origin, but having played their entire senior careers in England—would represent a return to the transfer policy that served Spurs well in the past.
It would at least mean that Spurs fans didn’t have to go through the misery of watching Soldado and Adebayor again!
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