With Spurs about to take on Swansea on New Year’s Eve, media attention has focussed on Steven Caulker, Tottenham’s on loan centre half who has contributed to the mean defence that has done much to stabilise the Swans’ first Premiership campaign.
Caulker is unavailable for the match due to Premier League rules but yesterday Harry Redknapp indicated that he believes the player can have a big future at the Lane,
“I’ve got big plans for this boy when he returns from his loan spell at Swansea in the summer,” Harry said.
“We’re not short of central defenders at the moment but Steven doesn’t turn 20 until next week and we’ve had great reports on his progress.
“He injured a knee a month after moving to Wales and that kept him out for the best part of three months.
“But it’s no coincidence that Swansea have not conceded a goal in three games since his return.”
The player himself has predictably said that his focus is on Swansea for now but admitted that he has one eye on a regular first team place.
“Obviously there are a lot of teams that play direct football, but Swansea mirror Spurs in the sense that they look to pass the ball, so if I can come here and prove myself then in Harry Redknapp’s eyes I could be ready for a place in the Spurs team,” Caulker said in the Daily Mail.
While other Spurs youngsters have been contributing to the Europa League campaign, Caulker has followed the route taken by Kyle Walker last season with a loan spell at a Premiership club.
Some Spurs fans would also argue that Harry is wrong and that we are short of central defenders so could Caulker mirror Walker’s career and take the same step to becoming a White Hart Lane regular in 2012-13?
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Well Harry himself said only the other day that he has big plans for Caulker. And when you consider that over at the end of this season and next both Ledders and Gallas’s contracts will expire it will give Caulker two seasons to gain Premier League experience whilst phasing him into the first team which will help him cope with being at a top club and relieving pressure.
But Caulker has been a shining light for Spurs’ academy since he signed his first pro contract four years ago. I just hope Harry stays at the club so that we dont see him go to waste.
But to answer the question of the article it maybe a season too early and it may be 2013-14 where we really see the boy blossom for us.
From what i’ve seen of him I’d say he’s more likely to be the new Jamie O’Hara – Goes out on loan to a premier league club but never quite good enough to break into the spurs team
He is quality though, ohara was average at best.
Also, trying to break in to Spurs (center) midfield is harder than at CB.
In midfield the non-starting players (competition) would be Hudd, Kranjcar, Sandro… at CB it would be Bassong, and Gallas (better, but older, so a problem that would solve itself).
Long-term we can’t look to Gallas or King (get the best we can out of them while they’re here) so we have (best first): Kaboul, Dawson, and Caulker.
We need a 4th, and SHOULD get Vertonghen, to start with Kaboul. Caulker, though, will walk in to the side — but not as a starter, I’d guess.
Kaboul, (
This boy is going to be outstanding and a regular fixture in our team, he is the future.
Swans season ticket holder here, this kid has got a very bright future – kept our club captain out of the side. As good as any central defender i’ve seen this season.