Tottenham Hotspur journalist Charlie Eccleshare has expressed his view on a major problem that may be playing a part in the club’s inconsistent form.
The last few games for Tottenham have been a case of one step forward, one step back as they haven’t been able to put together back-to-back wins since December, which is hurting them on multiple fronts.
Not only has it meant that their chances of finishing in a European spot are in serious jeopardy, but their chances of winning a trophy are now over, and ending their long drought will have to wait for another year.
Writing in an article for The Athletic in the aftermath of their defeat to Middlesbrough which saw them crash out of the FA Cup, Eccleshare explained that one thing holding the club back is a lack of success from their full-backs in attack – something that is key in a Conte team – and that was obvious to see during their loss at the Riverside.
He wrote: “Part of the issue is that the wing-backs remain a way off the Conte ideal, meaning that so many attacks fizzle out on the flanks. This is especially the case on the right where neither Matt Doherty nor Emerson Royal has fully convinced, and are only playing because of the failure to land Adama Traore in January.
“On so many occasions on Tuesday, Doherty failed to connect properly with a pass or was too indecisive and a Tottenham attack broke down. On others, and this is something that also happens to Royal constantly, an opposition defender could stand him up knowing he wasn’t going to beat them.”
TIF Thoughts on Charlie Eccleshare’s comments about Tottenham Hotspur under Antonio Conte…
Did you want Adama Traore at Spurs?
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Eccleshare’s point is best backed up by the fact that both Doherty and Royal completed just one dribble between them against Boro (via WhoScored). And whilst Adama Traore is not a wing-back by trade, it was reported that Conte and Fabio Paratici wanted to turn him into one if they were able to bring him to the club during the January transfer window.
Traore does lack some defensive capabilities, best demonstrated by the fact he only averaged 0.4 tackles and 0.1 interceptions per game in the Premier League this season, but he more than made up for it in attack, with 4.2 dribbles and 1.2 shots per game (via WhoScored). And as a wing-back under Conte, it’s arguably the latter stats that matter more.
So hopefully Doherty and Royal will be able to bring that to their game going forward. Otherwise, they could find themselves out of the side, or even out of the club whilst Conte brings in someone that is more capable of playing in his system, whether it be Traore or someone else.
In other news: ‘Really good’ – BBC pundit impressed by £13.5m-rated Spurs ace