Danny Rose Winning Over His Doubters At Tottenham

It’s early days but with his displays at left back in the opening matches of the season, Danny Rose is going a long way to winning over this doubters among Tottenham fans.

Danny Rose – an encouraging start to the season [Photo: Jav The_DoC_66]

The decision to permit Benoit Assou-Ekotto to join QPR on loan at the end of the transfer window, without signing a replacement left back, appeared a strange decision at the time but should have given us an indication that manager Andre Villas-Boas was confident that Danny Rose could make the position his own this season.

Highs and Lows for Danny Rose

Rose was signed as a young left-sided midfield player from Leeds United in 2006. He developed through the Spurs Academy and made a few substitute appearances before bursting onto the scene with a memorable goal on his full debut in the Premier League against Arsenal in April, 2010. The derby game at White Hart Lane came on the back of a terrible performance by Spurs in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley, losing to Portsmouth. Spurs needed a lift to revive their flagging challenge for a top 4 finish and Champions League football. Rose provided that vital spark with the opening goal against Arsenal, volleying the ball high past the goalkeeper from 35 yards after it had been punched clear following a corner. Rose went off injured at the interval and didn’t play again that season. The goal which won ‘Goal of the Season’ started Spurs on a run which ended in the Champions League.

Opportunities were limited for Rose in midfield with Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon the players in possession. Harry Redknapp talked of him as a left back and he made occasional appearances when BAE was out injured. In April, 2012 injury created the chance for Rose to play the final matches of the season as Spurs again tried to close down a place in the top 4. The vital penultimate match at Aston Villa saw Spurs a goal down and early in the second half a rash challenge by Rose led to his dismissal. Spurs drew the match but Rose (and the manager) came in for much criticism as Spurs missed finishing ahead of Arsenal and fourth proved insufficient for the Champions League.

On Loan at Sunderland

By the start of the next season Redknapp had gone to be replaced by Andre Villas-Boas and it was decided that Rose could go out on loan with Sunderland to gain experience in the Premier League. His performances at the Stadium of Light received high praise and he was regarded as one of Sunderland’s better players in a difficult season for the club which included a change of manager and a fight against relegation. Rose also had difficulties with the Under-21 team in the game in Serbia where he was sent off after the final whistle for kicking the ball into the crowd as he and the young England players were subjected to abuse from spectators and attacked by the opposing players.

After the season’s end he played in the European U-21 Championships unsure of what the future held for him at White Hart Lane. Having had a season of regular football Rose was not prepared to sit on the bench and make only an occasional appearance. He knew that he needed to be playing and if it wasn’t going to happen with Spurs then he was quite prepared to move on to a club which could guarantee him first team football.

Through the transfer window it was unclear what the future held – there was talk of Assou-Ekotto leaving and of Spurs being interested in a number of left backs. Time passed and although Spurs signed a number of players, none of them played at left back.

In preseason Rose played regularly while BAE took little part suggesting that Rose’s prospects were improving. AVB said that he wanted to keep Rose and that he wouldn’t be going out on loan. He has been true to his word and recently in an interview with the London Evening Standard reported by SkySports, Rose said that he had received assurances from the manager.

"I spoke to the manager about the left-back situation and he assured me that if he still wanted a change, he’d come to speak to me first which is great. I wasn’t looking to go anywhere just yet. I’m enjoying the run in the team and long may it continue."

Impressive Start

In the opening matches for Spurs Rose has played as well as anyone in the back four. He has grown in confidence and is much stronger defensively while still posing a threat going forward. Against Norwich he was strong and determined in defence with a crucial first half challenge which prevented an equalising goal from one of Norwich’s rare attacks.

He has linked well with Nacre Chadli and in the early stages of the game at the Emirates they caused Arsenal considerable problems. He still possesses the ability to score as he demonstrated with his strike in Georgia against Tbilisi in the Europa League.

There are still areas of his play to work on as he is still learning the full back’s role. He needs to be aware of his positioning as well as finding the balance between defence and attack. He wants to avoid rash challenges to concede unnecessary free-kicks in dangerous positions and also needs to remain calm when put under pressure.

It has been an encouraging start for Rose and with continued progress he could fill a position which has been troublesome for Spurs over recent years but he will meet sterner tests in the coming weeks.