Tottenham Hotspur Links: Claudio Ranieri: It is a Penalty

Here’s today’s Tottenham Hotspur Links following today’s FA Cup third round tie.

Let’s get into the stories for the day. First up, Claudio Ranieri thought that Leicester City deserved a victory but didn’t see anything wrong with the referee’s decision to award Tottenham a penalty kick which now forces a third round replay in 10 days.

Next up, Josh Onomah continues to impress when given playing time. And the 18-year-old’s performance against Leicester City proves that he will most likely get more opportunities when the Europa League returns in February as well as more FA Cup games coming up depending on how far Spurs can go. And finally, one author feels that Onomah and Tom Carroll have a long way to go to be future Tottenham starters after this game. To the links.

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• Leicester deserved to win but it was a penalty according to Claudio Ranieri
  • [via Goal]

It’s easy to look back at today’s 2-2 draw between Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City and think that Spurs got away with a penalty kick. And although a good majority of those who think that Nathan Dyer got the short end of the stick due to a hand ball are Leicester fans, just know that at the end of the day, it was the referee’s decision to call it as a penalty because he saw it that way.

Had it not been a penalty, Spurs fans would be incensed that it didn’t get called. So honestly speaking, one team and their fanbase would feel that they were screwed out.

Now here’s Leicester manager Claudio Ranieir on his reaction:

“I didn’t see the penalty, there were two players in front of me,” Ranieri said. “But the more important thing is that the referee gave the penalty, so it is a penalty.”

Although the Italian manager did think that the Foxes deserved to win after today’s performances. But in 10 days, we’ll see who comes out on top. Right now, Leicester City have home field advantage when the third round replay switches to the King Power Stadium.

“I thought we deserved to win,” Claudio Ranieri added.

“I’m very pleased with our performance. We had eight players who had not been playing for some time, but now they played and they deserved a positive result – and 2-2 is a positive result.”

“Priority remains the Premier League, but we want to progress in the FA Cup. I’m pleased we have another chance.”

• Josh Onomah continues to impress when given playing time
  • [via Daily Mail]

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Three youth players featured in today’s FA Cup third round cup tie between Tottenham and Leicester: Ben Chilwell, Demarai Gray and Josh Onomah.

For Josh Onomah, the 18-year-old was making his ninth appearance this season and could find himself earning more starts when Mauricio Pochettino rotates his starting eleven some more this season once the Europa League and FA Cup continues.

With more mid-week games coming up and little rest prior to Premier League fixtures on the weekends, Josh Onomah’s performance today can help pencil him in as one of the Argentine’s first players to rotate in.

What this could potentially do to a returning Alex Pritchard is unknown. But it’s safe to say that Pritchard won’t be forced to return right away if Onomah continues improving with each start and/or appearance made.

• A couple of negative points aimed at Tottenham’s 2-2 draw vs Leicester
  • [via Mirror]

Author, Dave Kidd, of the Mirror had two points that stood out in his five talking points following today’s 2-2 draw against the Foxes. But it could be perceived as negatives. Let’s take a look below.

Carroll, Onomah come up short; Bentaleb low in pecking order:

Apparently Josh Onomah and Tom Carroll didn’t produce today according to Dave Kidd. Instead they came up short in perhaps helping Spurs win this game and might be far away from being future starters.

It’s difficult to understand that reasoning since both Onomah and Carroll were involved with a majority, if not all, of Tottenham’s attacks that led to them earning two goals to draw level with Leicester.

However, saying Nabil Bentaleb has fallen down the pecking order is true. Although it’s not the Algerian’s fault entirely. That has to do with Eric Dier outperforming him for one, and two, most importantly is getting injured and then re-injured when Algeria’s national team manager, Christian Gourcuff, decided to bring a non-cleared player recovering from injury and playing in World Cup qualifiers.

And finally, here’s the last negative point by Dave Kidd.

Spurs need a backup striker:

Yes this is clearly obvious that Tottenham need a backup striker. But Son Heung-min hasn’t gotten many opportunities to settle back into the club — for some odd reason — after recovering from a foot injury.

In fact, Son getting a start today is his first start since the 0-0 draw against Chelsea back at the end of November. Ever since then, the South Korean international has been a recurring substitute player.

Next: Tottenham are Still Alive in the FA Cup

When a former starter gets injured and gets consistent playing time as a substitute player, where minutes will fluctuate depending on the flow of the game, then it’s obvious that Son Heung-min would look like he’s not performing well.

Son Heung-min needs more playing time again as a starter now that he’s healthy. Only then can everyone decide if the 23-year-old is worthy as a starter, or just a backup player only. That and to help quell talks of signing a backup striker this season.