Garth Crooks has said he “couldn’t believe” Juan Foyth started for Tottenham against Crystal Palace on Saturday after the Argentinian gave away two penalties at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Foyth scored the winner at Selhurst Park in only his second Premier League appearance for Spurs. It was somewhat surprising to see the centre-back start following his nightmare of a league debut a week earlier.
In Tottenham’s 3-2 win at Wolves, Foyth gave away two spot-kicks that almost saw the hosts complete an unlikely comeback. But Pochettino kept faith in the 20-year-old and included him in the starting line-up at Palace after Davinson Sanchez was ruled out with a hamstring injury.
Not only did he score the winning goal, Foyth was excellent on the ball and defensively, repaying the faith put in him by Pochettino. As a result, former Spurs man Crooks included the youngster in his BBC Sport team of the week.
“I couldn’t believe Mauricio Pochettino decided to start the game with this lad after he gave away two penalties against Wolves,” Crooks wrote.
“What faith the manager must have had in him and what belief the player must have had in himself. After a shaky start, Foyth was brilliant, showing vision, composure and foresight and he got the winning goal his courage deserved.”
If Davinson Sanchez is still injured after the international break, it will be interesting to see if Foyth keeps his place for the Chelsea game or if Eric Dier comes in at centre-back to partner Toby Alderweireld.
Give the lad a chance. I think he will be an exceptional player and all those who doubted him will eat their words. I am glad that Sissoko had a good game. I was one of the greatest critics but if he stays playing like this I will eat my words and will be glad to do so. The team comes first. I am hoping that the next three games we will give out a message to all the front runners that we are still hard contenders for silverware this year. The league is not impossible but it’s a great uphill struggle with City being there. All you Spurs fans keep faith and we will give everyone an answer. COYS
Foyth, Is definitely one for our future. Rather than one to two years, I am hoping that the future is nigh. Toby if you want out, then please just go. I understand you only have a limited amount of time to conclude your career and ambitions. The trouble is your ambitions appear to be you ant to play at a club to think is more elite than ours! So please go and thank you for your endeavours, then don`t cry when Juan, Sanchez and others more committed than you step up and enjoy the upward performance of our team. We just need a few upgrades to cement the development, perhaps an enhanced left back, another world class centre midfielder with the icing on the cake another truly good forward/striker to support our Harry so he can have less game time, thus recharge properly. See you Toby, enjoy your future, but just watch us grow!