Micah Richards slammed Emerson Royal on Match of the Day following the Brazilian’s latest performance for Tottenham Hotspur.
Emerson started on the right-hand side of Tottenham’s backline, however, he certainly didn’t cover himself in glory as he was singled out by Richards for playing a significant role in all three of the goals Spurs conceded last night.
Has Emerson flopped at Spurs?
Yes!
No!
The former Barcelona man has been a regular since arriving at Tottenham, featuring 25 times across all competitions, but last night could go a long way to him losing his place in Antonio Conte’s side as Richards pointed out he was often caught out of position or not concentrating.
Indeed, the defender lost possession a whopping 17 times, which was almost as much as Harry Kane did, who had a team-high (18) in that department.
Richards analysed Emerson’s poor Spurs display.
On the first Southampton goal, he said: “It starts with Emerson Royal, he doesn’t engage the ball. The ball comes back out to Emerson Royal and I don’t think he understands that someone’s behind him. He doesn’t stop the ball coming back in again.”
Richards was just as brutal on the Saints’ second: “Emerson Royal, I don’t know what game he was watching, he’s just ball-watching.
“He has to be inside, whether he’s playing wing-back or right-back, you have to be inside.”
Meanwhile, on the third goal, he ripped into his positioning, saying: “I’m not picking on him, but these are the basics of football.
“If you look at his body position, he’s on the front foot, he wants to go forward… the danger is inside the box, worry about what’s happening. When the ball is cleared, then you can get forward.”
TIF Thoughts on Emerson…
The Brazilian full-back was signed for a hefty price tag of £22.5 million on Deadline Day in the summer, but given that was done during Nuno Espirito Santo’s tenure and the other option at right-back, Matt Doherty, is also not a Conte signing, the Italian has very little choice other than to make do with what he’s got.
It was very clear during the January transfer window that Conte wanted to replace Emerson, as reports suggested Spurs were going all-in on signing Adama Traore with Conte wanting to convert him into a wing-back, only for the Spaniard to end up back at Barcelona.
In other news: ‘Turns and bellows in frustration’ – Gold reveals Conte furious at 26 y/o Spurs ace