Tottenham struggled for cover in the left back position during much of last season after Benoit Assou-Ekotto’s early injury and subsequent loss of form. With Danny Rose on loan at Sunderland, Gareth Bale, Jan Vertonghen and Kyle Naughton all covered on the left but the club struggled to find an effective solution.
In 2013-14, history has repeated itself a little with Danny sidelined and left footed Naughton deputising. Zeki Fryers has been used sparingly but with a repeat scenario, Head Coach Andre Villas-Boas may well head back in to the transfer market to strengthen on the left.
Luke Shaw is a name that appeared in the gossip columns over the summer and the Southampton left back is being touted for a switch to White Hart Lane once again. Still only 18, Shaw has impressed since breaking into the Saints side and a transfer away could be his next move in a bid to break into the full England set up.
The stories suggest that Spurs will go in with a £15m bid in January with a view to loaning Shaw back for the rest of the season but do we need more cover in this position and is this the player we need?
I questions Shaw’s ability on the ball at the moment. He’s lacking basic ball control and positional sense that you would hope someone has if you are going to develop them into a top class player.
He’s someone you have to keep an eye on but not go throw cash at in such early stage of his career.
SPURES NEED LUKE SHAW- BERNARD – PATO- HULK – PAUL POGBA OR XABI ALONSO – CORCHIA TO IMPROVE AVB NEW 4-4-2 & 4-2-3-1 SYSTEAM——- LLORIS- WALKER- VER- DAW- FABIO CONTRAO- LAMELA- POGBA- PAULINHO- HULK- ERIKSON- SOLDADO SUB- FRIEDEL- CORCHIA- SANDRO- TOWNSED- PATO- BERNARD- CAPOUE
I’ve missed you 🙂
Yes we need to strengthen both full backs in my opinion.
Rose has impressed, but needs someone to compete against as Naughton is no left back and Vertonghen is wasted there.
Walker’s defensive (or lack there of) capabilities have already been bought into question this season, and I think we need someone to give him a kick up the backside.
It’s not like he’s young anymore, he should be much better than he is.
Seriously? Walker’s not “young anymore”? Please tell me that’s sarcasm.
Couldnt agree more. I’m not at all convinced that Danny Rose is the man for the job at left back although he is clearly getting better at it. Naughton is not a left back and I feel sorry for him being palyed out of position and put under pressure as a result, like at Cardiff. Walker still makes plenty of mistakes but his pace often ends up helping him out when he gets things wrong. Spurs have almost got a squad that can challenge for the premiership. It would be a shame to miss out for the lack of some cover at full back.
We should have gotten Fabio Contero with the Bale Trade. I’m shocked Levy could not pull that off. I’m sure AVB will find a solution.
Rose is getting his shot this season. The only left back we will grab, if any, is someone to cover in case of injury and for rotation. If at the end of the season Rose was more liability than reliability he will be replaced. That said, he has been our best crosser so far this season, is only 23, and is getting his second season of EPL football. Also, Zeki is only 21.
Keep calm and COYS.
I said it many times before that Naughten & Fryers are no left-backs even if it bites them.
Avb should look at someone to compete with Rose,because so far he has done an excellent job,but injuries will halt our chances if there’s no back up.
There’s a Serbian called Lukas Tesak whose a natural lefty and also look at Leighton Baines or the youngster at Lyon.
If all else fails,then play Jan Vertoghen at left-back and bring in the centre back combination of Dawson/Kaboul or Kaboul/Vlad or Vlad/Dawson.We will still have a quality back 4.
Rose is good enough and can develop further against mid table teams. Against the bigger teams, it would be better imo to play Vertonghen at left back until we have a better option. Good full backs who can attack and defend properly are really a rare blend and even more at LB. Ours can attack really well (Walker is really influential and often has most touches of the whole team) but are positionally rather poor. It would be nice to find the new Ashley Cole or Ivanovic, but it will not be easy…