On the latest episode of the Extra Inch podcast, Chris Miller, Nathan Clark and Bardi have been discussing the latest goings-on at the north London club, reacting to the win against Arsenal last weekend, and previewing Wednesday night’s game against Newcastle United.
One topic of conversation on the recent episode, which was titled ‘Mourinho Gonna Mourinho: Winning The NLD‘, was some of the young talent at Spurs who perhaps haven’t been given an opportunity to impress. There was a focus on Kyle Walker-Peters, who has spent the second half of the season on loan at Southampton.
Here’s what Bardi had to say about some of the younger players at Spurs who perhaps could have been used more by Mauricio Pochettino during his time with the Lilywhites:
“I think Pochettino could have done this had he had more faith in the youth players later on in his career; had he pushed through [Josh] Onomah properly; had he pushed through Kyle Walker-Peters properly; had he looked after, nurtured Edwards and [Oliver] Skipp a little bit more; maybe there might have been something that could have been created and there could have been a clear way of playing and this is your way from the youth team into the first team.
“Instead of using [Moussa] Sissoko instead of using Onomah, and using [Serge] Aurier instead of giving Kyle Walker-Peters minutes, perhaps there was an opportunity missed there to really embed a culture which then the next manager could take on, but yeah, he missed that opportunity.”
TIF Thoughts…
Although Walker-Peters has impressed in his recent games with Southampton, against Manchester City and Everton in particular, it has been reported that Jose Mourinho would not prevent him from leaving this summer, which doesn’t really back up Bardi’s suggestion that the young right-back perhaps should have been used ahead of Serge Aurier; who has averaged an impressive 7.11 rating for his performances in the Premier League this season, prior to Wednesday’s game with Newcastle.
Would you give Walker-Peters more of a chance next season?
Yes
No
Bardi clearly feels that some young players were not given enough opportunities under Pochettino and now the hope will be that the same thing doesn’t happen to someone like Ryan Sessegnon; with the 20-year-old having found game-time hard to come by since joining the North London club from Fulham last summer.