Tottenham 2013-14 Squad Preview – Midfield

Andre Villas-Boas is overseeing a complete overhaul of the Tottenham midfield for the coming season. By the end of the transfer window, Aaron Lennon and Mousa Dembele could well be the only regulars from last season left at the club. Sandro will still be at White Hart Lane but missed the second half of the season with injury.

Sandro’s return from injury, a bonus for Spurs [Photo: Jav The_DoC_66]

Midfield

Creating a new, more dynamic and creative midfield which doesn’t rely on Gareth Bale for inspiration, has been at the forefront of Andre Villas-Boas’ planning for the new season. If Bale is still with Spurs – that’s even better but if his move to Real Madrid is completed by the end of the transfer period, then Tottenham have taken very positive steps to compensate for his absence. The departure of Tom Huddlestone to Hull City with Jake Livermore going on loan plus the imminent departure of Scott Parker for QPR, suggests that there could be more arrivals in the coming weeks with Etienne Capoue’s transfer awaiting completion.

‘Old Boys’

Gareth Bale is still a Tottenham player and his presence in a team with the midfield players available to AVB, would make it a very exciting side with pace all across midfield. If he is able to perform as he did last season, Spurs could have a very interesting season. While over the past two seasons, Tottenham have been totally reliant on him, this season with the quality around him that burden would be greatly reduced. Bale wanted to see ambition from Tottenham – they have done their part in the quality that has been brought into the squad = and time will tell if Bale will do his part or take off to Spain. Most recent reports suggest Carlo Ancelotti and the Real Madrid players aren’t all that interested in him joining them at the Bernabeu but that might just be the lull before a final storm from Real Madrid to try and push the transfer through in the next two weeks.

Mousa Dembele arrived twelve months ago from Fulham and made an immediate impact with a goal on his debut against Norwich City when coming on as a second half substitute. Playing alongside Sandro, the Tottenham central midfield had a presence and a power that it had hitherto lacked. Dembele and Sandro complimented each other and prevented Spurs being over-run in the centre of the pitch. A tall, athletic player, Dembele brought height, strength and control to the Spurs game with the ability to shoot from distance. He covered the ground easily and proved to be a quality signing, always comfortable on thew ball. With Sandro’s return to fitness it will be good to see the pair re-united again along with the new signings.

Sandro was a powerhouse for Tottenham from August through to January last season and he was badly missed when forced out by serious injury for the remainder of the season. Now returning to fitness, it is hoped that he will soon be ready for first team football. It was a difficult time for Sandro and he appreciated his return to football as he expressed in recent comments as tweeted by @SpursOfficial.

His return to the team will be a bonus  for AVB and Spurs as he provides such energy and commitment in midfield, constantly driving the team forward. He covers immense distances in each match from box to box and with the quality players around him he will be able to play at his best.

Aaron Lennon has been providing width on the right for Spurs since his arrival from Leeds in 2005. He brings pace and attacking threat when he gets on the ball and troubles defenders with his trickery and they often resort to bringing him down before he can cause any damage. He links well with Kyle Walker and supports his full back by working hard and covering back to cut out any danger. He has scored 29 goals for Spurs in all competitions, many of them crucial late match-changing strikes, and has the enviable record that Spurs have never lost when he has scored.

As I write this, I’ve just read a tweet suggesting that Cardiff City have made enquiries about Lennon, something I hope to be unfounded. There is no better sight for Spurs fans than to see Aaron Lennon and Bale attacking at pace from one end of the pitch to the other. To lose one would be bad enough but to lose both would be very disappointing. While the focus has always been on the threat of Bale, the absence of Lennon has on occasions been very costly to Spurs as we saw in the latter part of last season. The Tottenham threat in recent seasons has always come from the wings and Lennon has played his part on the right and without him Spurs play would become very narrow.

Gylfi Sigurdsson took time to adjust to life at Tottenham last season. He was often asked to play a wide role which doesn’t come naturally to him and so we didn’t see the best of him until late on in the season when he contributed a number of goals. AVB insists that Sigurdsson is part of his plans and playing in the centre of midfield he was much more effective last weekend against Espanyol when he displayed his creativity with passes to release Roberto Soldado. He could prove an important member of the squad in case of injury and to allow for rotation during the season while his delivery at set-pieces will be very useful with so many tall players to aim for in the penalty area.

Lewis Holtby joined Spurs last January and looks an exciting prospect. He brings energy to midfield but was used in a variety of positions last season. With the number of midfield signings Spurs have made this summer, he may have difficulty establishing himself in the team. Injured while playing for Germany in the Under-21 championships during June, it will take him time to return to fitness.

‘Newbies’

Paulinho was AVB’s first signing of the summer. A powerful Brazilian, he’ll add strength to midfield with an added threat of goals. He showed that in Saturday’s friendly against Espanyol when ‘scoring’ from a free-kick, only to have it disallowed for off-side. He has pace and is an established member of the Brazil national team. As they did last summer, Tottenham have again tried to sign quality players and a midfield of Paulinho, Sandro and Dembele could become one of Tottenham’s strongest, most powerful and effective midfield partnerships ever. He’ll need time to adjust to the pace of the Premier League but with quality players around him, it should be much easier.

Nacer Chadli showed excellent touches last weekend and like Paulinho will need support and time to cope with the pace and power of football in England. His experience of the Champions League will stand him in good stead in the coming weeks. Another top signing, the Belgian international will provide a goal threat and creativity from the wings with the task of supplying Soldado with goalscoring opportunities.

Etienne Capoue has completed his transfer from Toulouse and it was announced today which could make him available for the opening match at Crystal Palace. A strong central midfield player who can play from box to box, Capoue can also provide cover in central defence. The following comments by Capoue were reported on Twitter by a French football journalist who spoke to him.

Young Players

Tom Carroll [Photo: Jav The_DoC_66]Tom Carroll has shown remarkable control and confidence when called upon to play in a creative midfield role for Tottenham. He obviously ranks highly in AVB’s thoughts as the coach has turned to him in top matches when the team have been in need of a goal, believing that he had the creative ability to unlock a difficult defence. For a player of slight build, Carrollis not intimidated by more experienced players and will challenge with the best of them. His limited game time with Spurs is a drawback for his development and with all the additional signings in midfield he could well spend a lot of time on the bench. It may, however, be decided that he should go out on loan if the Tottenham can find a suitable Premier League club where he would be able to play regularly.

Andros Townsend is eager for regular football. He demonstrated in his loan period with QPR that he could deliver in the Premier League and is anxious to build on that. When given the opportunity with Spurs, Townsend who has progressed from the Academy, has usually shown a directness and pace to trouble defences. He needs to bring consistency and control to his play so that he and his team mates know what he’s planning to do. An exciting young player, it may be difficult for him to get regular playing time at White Hart Lane and his future at the club may depend on what happens with other players in the next fortnight. Like Danny Rose, it’s a crucial season for Townsend.

Yago Falque has had little opportunity to impress at Spurs. Out on loan last season from January, he’s returned and played well for the Under-21 team as an over-age player, scoring twice against Chelsea last weekend. He’s an exciting player but at 23 years of age, he needs to get experience at League level to further his career.

Departing?

Scott Parker is expected to join the list of departed when he moves to QPR. Harry Redknapp has again spoken of signing Parker who had an excellent first season at White Hart Lane. His endeavours that season followed by his exertions for England at the Euros seem to have totally drained him. He played for England when not fully fit and then missed the start of last season as a result of this. On his return he was never able to regain his previous strength or effectiveness.

The changes that AVB has made to the midfield are in line with his decision to play 4 – 3 – 3. It is a tall, powerful, athletic midfield that Tottenham will be sending out with quality players who if they gel into a working unit will be capable of competing with any team in the Premier League.

Related Articles:

Tottenham 2013-14 Squad Preview – Central Defenders

Tottenham 2013-14 Squad Preview – Full Backs

Tottenham 2013-14 Squad Preview – Goalkeepers