According to journalist Tim Spiers, Tottenham Hotspur need to utilise right wing-back, Matt Doherty, more this season as current starter Emerson Royal has failed to impress so far.
The Lilywhites have built a formidable team under Antonio Conte’s vision with the likes of Harry Kane, Son Heung-min, Dejan Kulusevski, Richarlison, Ivan Perisic, Cristian Romero, Rodrigo Betancur, and Yves Bissouma all running out for the team this season.
However, one player who was bought in recently but has not gotten much time on the pitch this season is Doherty, who despite ending last season well before his season-ending injury, has had to sit behind Emerson Royal so far.
The Brazilian has not impressed either since he arrived and Spiers believes Conte needs to bring in Doherty because his crossing ability is far superior to Royal’s and could capitalise on chances greater than Royal.
Spiers told the View from the Lane podcast, “People just going to say oh you’re a Wolves fan and former Wolves reporter Tim because you’re going to say Matt Doherty should be in the team but when you talk about end product and you’re talking about a front five as it is with the ball in the final third with the two wing backs then Emerson Royal’s end product it just isn’t there.
“I mean that header that he had right at the start of the second half from Kane’s excellent cross. I’ve seen Matt Doherty time and again come in at the back post and stick a header in the net. I mean he had 30 goals and assists in two seasons”. (15:38)
TIF Thoughts on Spiers’ comments…
Considering his recent form it is egregious that Royal continues to start in the Spurs side while Doherty has not been given a sniff in either the Premier League or the Champions League so far this season.
Royal has played in all eight games for Spurs for a total of 679 minutes and has picked up just one assist. Whereas Doherty has played just eight minutes across two appearances in all competitions.
It gets even worse when you look at last season’s stats as well, Royal managed just one goal and one assist in 44 games across all competitions while Doherty picked up two goals and four assists in just 26 games in all competitions.
Royal is significantly younger than Doherty at just 23 while the former Wolves man has now entered his 30s, but there is no doubt Royal is not doing the job the club needs and history tells us it is not going to get better. Conte needs to get Doherty into the side as soon as possible and give him the chance to show what this Spurs team can be with his attack prowess.
Should Doherty start over Emerson Royal?Yes
No
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