Tottenham’s issues at centre-back were clear on Sunday as the inexperienced Eric Dier struggled to contain Marouane Fellaini as Manchester United ran out 3-0 winners.
After the match it was suggested that Dier and partner Jan Vertonghen were perhaps too similar and lack the physicality to deal with players like Fellaini. The club have Federico Fazio on their books and better suited to the task, but he has his own flaws, often looking painfully slow and consistently error-prone.
With neither Vlad Chiriches or Younes Kaboul seeming likely to have much of a future at Spurs, new blood is needed in central defence. According to German-based newspaper Express, that player could be Koln’s Kevin Wimmer, who they claim has agreed a deal to join Tottenham this summer.
The 22-year old Austrian is a left-footed central defender who can also play at left-back. He’s made strides in improving his weaknesses this season – he has been accused of being poor in the air in the past – and is rated as one of the Bundesliga’s emerging talents.
It sounds like a typical Spurs signing – a young, talented player, who has much to prove. Is it what the side needs right now?
Some would prefer a more experienced player. Espanyol’s Hector Moreno has been long linked with a move to Tottenham and as a former player of Mauricio Pochettino, he’s someone the management know all about.
The 27-year old Moreno was fancied to join Spurs this summer until a broken leg at the World Cup scuppered any plans. Now fit again, he’s played 20 games for Espanyol this season and is now firmly re-established as a first-choice pick. His form has been good enough to see Arsenal and Manchester United linked with the player.
So who do you see as the ideal combination of central defenders at Tottenham next season? Eric Dier will certainly stay but it would be no surprise if any of the other four central defenders currently in the first-team squad were sold. Would you prefer to see young talent like Wimmer, or an older head like Moreno at White Hart Lane? Here’s the latter in action.
Spurs need someone with experience at centre back who can organise his fellow defenders & control things on the pitch. Vertonghen doesn’t appear to be that man, Walker & Rose are both defensively poor & Dier is still learning. An experienced centre back is a must. Just look at our competitors. Terry Kompany Skirtel etc.. We don’t have that person. Over the years we have been defensively poor & our goals against column has made awful viewing. A team cannot expect to concede goals at will & still challenge for top honours.
On the coaching front, season after season this problem has been evident, but no one seems to be getting a grip of it. We appear just as frail as we were years ago. Even our under 18 s conceded 5 tonight!
A successful side is surely built from the back, so come on Spurs, we have a great keeper, if we can keep him, how about getting him some help for next season.
SPOT ON !!!!
Absolutely bang on the mark. For ages now I have asking whether we have a coach for the defence because as Oldjdub so rightly says, we have not improved one jot over the last few years. I had hoped Fazio, who looks about 9’6″ would make a difference but his positioning is awful. There is little point in spending money on classy forwards and skillful midfielders if we can’t stop leaking goals at the other end. We look vulnerable every time ANY team gets near our 18 yard area and are especially susceptible to corners and free kicks into the box. None of our defenders get hold of the opposition or is physical in the same way as Skirtel and Terry. So yes, the priority must be to get some experience in there to stop the goals pouring in and to help the likes of Dier to improve.
Look no further than the Monaco no.5.
Spurs STOP messing around we need Top Center Half = Morgan / Hector that will seal up our weak defense! Chirches / Caponnie / Kuboul / Pauhinio / Fazio / Chadi must be SOLD, with Soldado / Lemela / Lennon / Townsend / Ade & use money to help Kane!
BUY Javier / Depray or Top another winger? / Jay if fully recovered or Austin!
OUT: My Wine & Dine Baldini who has been waste of time & money! Levi on thin ice?
New Owner would be great!
Put Moreno and Wimmer together,. Keep Fazio and Dier as backup and get rid of the rest, including Vertonghen cos Wimmer is younger, more forceful, left footed and doesn’t sulk when playing left back. Vertonghen flatters to deceive and is certainly far from commanding.
Totally agree, although that said, I haven’t seen much of either Moreno or Wimmer. I was impressed with the Monaco No 5 though so grab him too!
I would jump for joy if hector joined. He would be perfect
Agree what Derek Herchmann said , sell d few others as mentioned.
Couldn’t we try Capoue at centre and put dier at right ,fazio would have been better suited for the Man U game thou he he’s suspect as well,still the Spurs fans have got what they deserve as none off them wanted Dawson at the club whose better then any centre half they’ve got there,