News

Tottenham Hotspur: Adrian Clarke discusses Spurs’ ‘missing piece in the jigsaw’

|
Image for Tottenham Hotspur: Adrian Clarke discusses Spurs’ ‘missing piece in the jigsaw’

Speaking recently on the Football Writers Podcast, Adrian Clarke discussed what he believed the current Tottenham Hotspur side are missing.

Following Spurs’ unconvincing 1-0 defeat of Everton on Monday evening – during which Hugo Lloris and Son Heung-min had to be separated at half time – Tottenham sat in a disappointing eighth place in the Premier League table.

1 of 12
Heung-min Son at Tottenham Hotspur

How well do you remember Heung-Min Son's time with Spurs? - The Lilywhites signed Son from which Bundesliga side?

Aside from their poor league form, relationships between some of the players and Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho have been tense, in particular with the club’s record signing, Tanguy Ndombele, who has reportedly stated that he does not want to play under Mourinho at Spurs.

And, when discussing Spurs’ struggles so far this season on the Football Writers Podcast, Adrian Clarke suggested what he thought was the club’s ‘missing piece of the jigsaw’.

He said: “I’m glad Mike [Calvin] mentioned Bruno Fernandes. You’ve seen what can happen when you get that link player – a really good player that links the midfield to the attack with quality and with speed.

“Spurs have good forwards, they’re very quick forwards. Harry Kane – that’s not his key strength, but he’s a brilliant finisher. Everyone else is very quick and direct. What they need is that conduit – someone to split the defences on those counters, someone to pick the right pass. And I think Christian Eriksen used to be that guy, to some degree, and he was by some distance their best creator.

“And I look around now and think, ‘who is going to be that person?’ You just wonder what the club were thinking in not effectively replacing Eriksen – that is the missing piece in the jigsaw.”

TIF Thoughts…

Considering Spurs finished fourth in the Premier League last season, as well as reaching the final of the Champions League, it would certainly seem that the club are worse off this time around.

Do Spurs need to replace Eriksen?

Yes

Yes

No

No

And, with Christian Eriksen being one of the first-team midfielders to leave the club this season, if Clarke is to be believed, the fact that the club have not ‘effectively replaced’ Eriksen could be the reason for Spurs’ struggles.

Share this article

Football Writer for Snack Media