Left Winger.
Spurs’ missing piece of the puzzle. 🧩
(A thread 🧵)
Spurs’ missing piece of the puzzle. 🧩
(A thread 🧵)
For some time I’ve been banging on about the need for Spurs to have a 1 vs 1 specialist on either the right or left flank.
Although Spurs’ success on the pitch so far has been brilliant I still believe we go up a level with that profile in our starting 11.
Although Spurs’ success on the pitch so far has been brilliant I still believe we go up a level with that profile in our starting 11.
With Ange tending to use very narrow, double inverted full backs, the wingers are relied on to keep the width to create space for both the number 8s and the striker.
With the full backs inside, opposition wingers are often brought inside to follow them which creates a free passing lane to the winger who at times is likely to be isolated with their full back.
Here is where 1 vs 1 specialists thrive.
Beating their full back on either the inside or outside to create a shooting or crossing opportunity.
Beating their full back on either the inside or outside to create a shooting or crossing opportunity.
Whilst we have some decent 1 vs 1 players on our books we don’t have anyone outstanding who will relentlessly get to the byline and cause havoc.
This will be especially important the more we face low blocks, where the space is on our flanks and the wingers are required to create some magic.
This will be especially important the more we face low blocks, where the space is on our flanks and the wingers are required to create some magic.
I am a huge fan of Kulusevski and I think his ceiling is ridiculously high.
Which is why I’d look for this new winger to be a left sided one.
Which is why I’d look for this new winger to be a left sided one.
So what should the winger have in their skillset?
⁃ Acceleration and pace from a standing start.
⁃ Dribbling ability and flair.
⁃ The ability to go both on the outside and the inside.
⁃ Good end product both when cutting it back from the byline or when cutting in and shooting.
⁃ Acceleration and pace from a standing start.
⁃ Dribbling ability and flair.
⁃ The ability to go both on the outside and the inside.
⁃ Good end product both when cutting it back from the byline or when cutting in and shooting.
So who are my top 5 choices for Spurs? (In order)
5.Noa Lang 🇳🇱
Club: PSV
Age: 24
Expected price: £35m
Club: PSV
Age: 24
Expected price: £35m
Pro’s ✅
⁃ Dribbles with insane confidence and flair. Takes charge of 1 vs 1s and backs his ability which is vital.
⁃ Brilliant ball striking both from crosses and when shooting from range.
⁃ Two way winger making him unpredictable.
⁃ Dribbles with insane confidence and flair. Takes charge of 1 vs 1s and backs his ability which is vital.
⁃ Brilliant ball striking both from crosses and when shooting from range.
⁃ Two way winger making him unpredictable.
Con’s ❌
⁃ More of a free spirit than a touchline winger. Likes to roam around a bit more and may not suit being a “width keeper”.
⁃ Question marks over his volatile character?
⁃ More of a free spirit than a touchline winger. Likes to roam around a bit more and may not suit being a “width keeper”.
⁃ Question marks over his volatile character?
4.Antonio Nusa 🇳🇴
Club: Club Brugge
Age: 18
Expected price: £30m
Club: Club Brugge
Age: 18
Expected price: £30m
✅ Pro’s
⁃Rapid pace and acceleration.
⁃ Looks to go at his full back relentlessly.
⁃ Two way winger who has great crossing ability on both feet.
⁃ Only 18 so his ceiling is scary.
⁃Rapid pace and acceleration.
⁃ Looks to go at his full back relentlessly.
⁃ Two way winger who has great crossing ability on both feet.
⁃ Only 18 so his ceiling is scary.
❌ Con’s
⁃ Lack of experience at the top level.
⁃ Can play with his head down at times missing clever passing opportunities.
⁃ Lack of experience at the top level.
⁃ Can play with his head down at times missing clever passing opportunities.
3.Armand Lauriente 🇫🇷
Club: Sassuolo
Age: 24
Estimated price: £40m
Club: Sassuolo
Age: 24
Estimated price: £40m
✅ Pro’s
⁃ Pace and power from a standing start make him a full backs nightmare.
⁃ Ball striking from range. Able to get crazy movement on his shots.
⁃ Tight close control coupled with his physicality creates a pure 1 vs 1 specialist.
⁃ Pace and power from a standing start make him a full backs nightmare.
⁃ Ball striking from range. Able to get crazy movement on his shots.
⁃ Tight close control coupled with his physicality creates a pure 1 vs 1 specialist.
❌Con’s
⁃ Struggles with decision making at times.
⁃ Quite rash in front of goal.
⁃ Struggles with decision making at times.
⁃ Quite rash in front of goal.
2. Karou Mitoma 🇯🇵
Club: Brighton
Age: 26
Estimated price: £65m
Club: Brighton
Age: 26
Estimated price: £65m
Pro’s ✅
⁃ His tight control makes him one of the best 1 vs 1 players in the world.
⁃ Decision making is fantastic on when to dribble and when not to.
⁃ Calm and composed in front of goal.
⁃ Used to the league.
⁃ Contract up in 2025.
⁃ His tight control makes him one of the best 1 vs 1 players in the world.
⁃ Decision making is fantastic on when to dribble and when not to.
⁃ Calm and composed in front of goal.
⁃ Used to the league.
⁃ Contract up in 2025.
Con’s ❌
⁃ Age?? Will be 27 by the summer.
⁃ Does he want Spurs?
⁃ Age?? Will be 27 by the summer.
⁃ Does he want Spurs?
1. Nico Williams 🇪🇸
Club: Athletic Club
Age: 21
Estimated cost: £43m (release clause)
Club: Athletic Club
Age: 21
Estimated cost: £43m (release clause)
Pro’s ✅
⁃ Electric 1 vs 1 ability due to his pace and technical dribbling.
⁃ Ambidexterity means he is as cutting in as he is going down the line. This makes him ridiculously unpredictable and therefore allows him to consistently get separation.
⁃ Has a release clause making a transfer simple.
⁃ Electric 1 vs 1 ability due to his pace and technical dribbling.
⁃ Ambidexterity means he is as cutting in as he is going down the line. This makes him ridiculously unpredictable and therefore allows him to consistently get separation.
⁃ Has a release clause making a transfer simple.
Con’s ❌
⁃ Loyalty to Athletic may make him difficult to tempt.
⁃ Loyalty to Athletic may make him difficult to tempt.
Honourable mentions:
- Kamaldeen Sulemana 🇬🇭
- Ernest Nuamah 🇬🇭
- Jack Clarke 🏴 (yes you read that right)
- Kamaldeen Sulemana 🇬🇭
- Ernest Nuamah 🇬🇭
- Jack Clarke 🏴 (yes you read that right)
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