Robbie Earle has claimed that Kieran Trippier would be the ideal player to thrive in Antonio Conte’s Tottenham Hotspur system.
Spurs are indeed still well and truly in the fight for the top four and perhaps an outside chance of making a late and unexpected title charge, however, they have done so by stuttering in several recent games having won just twice in their last five games.
Conte decide to switch things up on Saturday when Tottenham took on Brighton as he went for Ryan Sessegnon and Matt Doherty as his starting wing-backs, but they failed to impress with both of them racking up a combined total of 0.2 expected assists (FBRef).
Earle has said on The 2 Robbie’s podcast that former Spurs man Trippier, who has two assists and a goal this season for Newcastle United, would be perfect for Conte and his system.
(48:50) “I tell you what came back to me and it was as I was watching the Newcastle game and I thought to myself, Kieran Trippier would be the perfect player for Spurs in that system.
Would you want Trippier back at Spurs?
Yes!
No!
“He can defend when he has to, can get forward, has got a brilliant cross, a brilliant footballer and can play in the last third.”
TIF Thoughts on Trippier…
Interesingly, Christian Eriksen has been mooted for a move to Spurs, so Trippier isn’t the only one who could potentially return.
At the time, it appeared a bizarre decision for Spurs to move on from Trippier given he was still clearly good enough to perform at that level and was wanted by Atletico Madrid, so he must’ve still had something about him and to be honest, Spurs are probably still yet to replace him.
Now though, at 32 years of age, Trippier is indeed proving to people that he’s got a lot to give in the Premier League playing a hugely important role for a resurgent Newcastle side having had the most touches out of any player (FBRef).
Earle could be right that he has the ability to thrive under Conte given how well and often he’s played for Newcastle, although given he’s reportedly set for a new deal on Tyneside, it looks unlikely a reunion will be on the cards.