Tottenham Hotspur boss Jose Mourinho has been speaking about Troy Parrot in his latest press conference.
The 17-year-old has been tipped to have a bright future ahead of him in the past and in response to a question regarding whether or not he’ll be making the step up to the first-team squad, the Portuguese coach spoke frankly and openly.
Mourinho said: “I had a long conversation with him today so I am ready to share with you. I think he has potential. I think he has to work very hard. Can he have minutes? Yes, but to put pressure on his shoulders in this time I don’t think he’s ready.”
What did the supporters make of the boss’ comments?
Absolutely spot on. Pinning all of our hopes for goals on a 17 year old kid’s shoulders for 3 months is absolutely ludicrous.
— Joe Hunt (@JoeyWinkle) January 21, 2020
— SB (@browniespurs) January 21, 2020
I wonder how many Spurs fans still think they know better.
— BornAsTheKingOfWHL (@BornAsTheKing61) January 21, 2020
He’s right
— Harry C (@HazSpur92) January 21, 2020
Who is ready for him, Jose is here to kill our team
— Scofield (@Scofiel93563770) January 21, 2020
Spot on! He’s 17 with little to no experience at this level – would do more harm than good throwing him in now. Time and patience….
— Taff4Ever #COYS (@taff4ever) January 21, 2020
That’s pretty clear, which is all we ask. Also, fair.
He should get minutes here and there, but there shouldn’t be pressur eon him to carry a team ‘theoretically’ pushing for Europe
— Carl Collen (@carl_collen) January 21, 2020
What do we think?
Deputising for Harry Kane is a tall order for even the most-experienced of strikers, let-alone somebody as young as Parrot. The pressure could do more harm than good and credit to Mourinho for being straight up about the whole situation.
Kane has scored 181 goals in 278 appearances for Spurs making him irreplaceable and arguably the club’s greatest ever striker, but as far as the possibility of turning to an internal solution goes, Parrot would be a too greater risk at the present moment – especially with just five Premier League minutes to his name at this point of his career.