Tottenham Full-Backs: 2014-15 Squad Preview
By Logan Holmes
The number of Tottenham full-backs in the Spurs squad for 2014-15 will provide experience and a depth of cover which will avoid having to use players out of position as has happened during the past two seasons.
Tottenham Full-backs
Right-back:
Kyle Walker: he has made the right-back his own over the past three years since displacing the Croatian international, Vedran Couluka at the start of the 2011-12 season. Seeing little opportunity of getting back into the team, Corluka went out on loan and then agreed a permanent move to Lokomotiv Moscow.
Having joined Tottenham from Sheffield United the summer of 2009, Walker went back to Bramall Lane on loan. On returning to White Hart Lane he had a further season on loan at QPR and Aston Villa to gain League experience. In 2011, having claimed the right-back position at Tottenham, Walker was called into the England squad and made his debut the following November.
An outstanding season saw him named as the Young Footballer of the Year in May, 2012. His form dipped the following year but last season he showed greater consistency in his defending while maintaining his attacking threat with his pace wide on the right. Having played 126 games for Spurs, it has taken its toll on Walker and the pelvic injury which has troubled him since last March, looks like keeping Walker out of the opening games of the season.
Tottenham will be hoping that Walker’s recovery is swift and that the troublesome injury doesn’t keep him out for a lengthy period. With Mauricio Pochettino in charge, fans will be looking to see an improvement in Walker’s defensive play as he builds on his experiences of the past seasons.
Kyle Naughton: he joined Tottenham from Sheffield United at the same time as Walker. He had a season-long loan at Norwich but until last March, most of his opportunities for Spurs were as cover at left-back. With Walker’s consistency, Naughton had limited chances to play in his preferred right-back position. Walker’s injury has presented Naughton with a regular run in the team which looks as if it will continue into the new season.
Naughton had been linked with a possible move to Swansea but looks set to remain with Spurs as cover for Walker. While lacking the pace and attacking threat of Walker, Naughton uses his passing to create chances for others. He has worked hard in pre-season.
Ryan Fredericks: the 21-year-old has progressed through the Tottenham Academy. He made it into the Spurs team for the 2011 Europa League games where he impressed with his pace. Having been out on loan, he appeared in a Europa League game last season. A young player, like Walker, he can use his speed to recover in defence and going forward. He is a squad player but is at an age where he needs regular football to develop fully as a player.
Left-back:
Ben Davies: signed from Swansea City in the summer to resolve the problem of Tottenham’s troublesome left-back position. The 21-year-old Welsh international has had two outstanding and consistent seasons at the Liberty Stadium with 10 international caps. Expected to claim the left-back position from Danny Rose, the former Leeds player has just signed a 5-year contract at Spurs. It will be interesting to see who Pochettino selects for Saturday’s opening game at Upton Park.
Danny Rose: signed from Leeds United as a midfield player, Rose has progressed through the Tottenham Academy to the first team and England Under-21 level, having been converted to a left-back.
After a successful season on loan at Sunderland in 2012, Rose was given the opportunity as first choice left-back at White Hart Lane. Injury and disappointing form brought the expectation that he would leave Spurs this season. The new contract and an improved performance on Saturday suggests he might start the season at left-back, ahead of Davies.
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Zeki Fryers: another young player who has had a few opportunities in the team at left-back and also in central defence. He was signed from Standard Liege in January, 2013 after Spurs failed to reach agreement with Manchester United the previous summer.
He has grown in confidence with each appearance and provides useful cover on the left and in the centre of defence. At 21 years of age he needs regular football for the development of his career and may have to go out on loan.
Benoit Assou-Ekottto: is still a Tottenham player but after a season on loan with Queen’s Park Rangers, he is very much on the outside. Training on his own he doesn’t appear to have been included in Spurs pre-season preparations. There are fans who would like to see BAE as part of the squad and retained to provide experienced cover but that appears an unlikely scenario in the current circumstances.
New Signing?
Jul 19, 2014; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Sounders FC defender DeAndre Yedlin (17) dribbles the ball while being defended by Tottenham Hotspur defender Ezekiel Fryers (35) during the game at CenturyLink Field. The game was a 3-3 draw. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports
DeAndre Yeldin: Tottenham are thought to be close to sealing a deal for DeAndre Yedlin from Seattle Sounders. The USA right-back would initially return to play for Seattle through the remainder of the MLS season and join up with Spurs in December.
At the weekend, Mauricio Pochettino spoke of the size of the Spurs squad and of the need to reduce the number of players at the club. Decisions will have to be taken which could see some of the Tottenham full-backs leaving White Hart Lane. Walker’s injury may cause a postponement on any decision at right-back but Assou-Ekotto and some of the younger players could be transferred either on loan or in permanent deals before the end of the transfer window.
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