Ange must ruthlessly axe “future £100m” Spurs star

Issues haven’t gone remotely to plan for Tottenham Hotspur this season.

Ange Postecoglou’s facet have been totally ravaged by a seemingly unending listing of accidents which have seen them fall down the Premier League desk, however on the weekend, one thing lastly went their manner.

The Lilywhites made the brief journey to free-scoring Brentford and ran out 2-0 winners due to an uncharacteristically strong defensive show, after which to additional bolster morale, the membership secured the services of centre-back Kevin Danso and attacker Mathys Tel before the switch window slammed shut.

Consideration now turns to the second leg of the membership’s League Cup semi-final away to Liverpool tonight, and whereas the crew who gained on the Gtech had been glorious, Postecoglou should be daring and drop one of many crew’s stand-out performers this season for Danso.

Why Danso should begin towards Liverpool

So, it’s no secret that tonight’s conflict at Anfield is Spurs’ most vital recreation of the marketing campaign so far, as a win, or perhaps a draw, will see them make it into the League Cup ultimate and stand a critical likelihood of ending their trophy drought.

So, with that mentioned, Postecoglou must play his greatest crew, and with Radu Dragusin now out and each Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven trying unlikely to function, there might be an actual lack of expertise on the again, until, after all, he does what he must do and provides new boy Danso his first begin.

In a perfect world, the loanee could be eased into the crew, however given the supervisor’s lack of choices and the unimaginable significance of the sport, there isn’t a different good choice, and primarily based on this season, the Voitsberg-born star seems greater than able to stepping up.

For instance, he is already made 14 appearances for Lens this season, who’re sixth in Ligue 1, and on prime of that, he has loads of worldwide expertise, profitable 24 caps for Austria and playing 211 minutes for the team ultimately yr’s European Championships.

On prime of his expertise and know-how, the 24-year-old may convey his spectacular bodily traits to the backline, as he stands at 6 foot 3, and based on respected football analyst Ben Mattinson, he is blessed with “speedy restoration tempo”, which is “good for groups with a excessive line.”

There’s undoubtedly a component of danger in handing a participant their first begin in such a high-pressure recreation, however Danso seems to be simply the kind of defender Postecoglou desperately wants in the meanwhile, though to create space for him, he’ll must take one in every of his younger stars out of the crew.

The Spurs star Postecoglou ought to drop

So, with every little thing we’ve mentioned above, it needs to be no shock that the participant we predict Postecoglou needs to be taking out of the backline tonight is Archie Gray.

Now, earlier than the pitchforks come out, that’s under no circumstances a slight on how the teen has performed this season, however contemplating the magnitude of tonight’s recreation and the stress he’d be below, it appears like it could be ill-advised to start out him in an unnatural place when the membership now has somebody to come back in a play there.

Furthermore, whereas the 18-year-old prospect has been sensible since turning into an everyday within the first crew and is enjoying properly past his years, there’s additionally a accountability from the membership and supervisor to not overplay him, and there’s a danger of that now.

Grey’s 24/24
Competitors	Appearances	Minutes
Premier League	17	957′
Europa League	8	720′
League Cup	4	360′
FA Cup	1	120′
All Stats via Transfermarkt

For instance, the Durham-born gem has already made 30 first-team appearances this season, and extra vital than that, he is performed a whopping 2157 minutes, and it is solely February.

The previous Leeds United ace has an extremely vibrant future forward of him, and from what we’ve seen of him up to now, it seems like he may fulfil Mattinson’s claim that he’s a “future £100m cm,” however for that to occur, he wants to have the ability to relaxation every so often.

Furthermore, if the supervisor feels he’s wanted in tonight’s recreation, he’d be higher off bringing him on in midfield later within the match, the place he may affect proceedings extra.

Finally, Postecoglou ought to look to drop Grey tonight for 3 causes: he now has one other recognised centre-back in Danso, he should not be performed into the bottom, and the sport can be unbelievably intense.