Walker Deserves to Start for Tottenham Against City

Mauricio Pochettino has wisely allowed for some rotation in his Tottenham squad in recent weeks.

While Ben Davies and Danny Rose have been trading duties at left-back all season, only recently have Heung-min Son and Érik Lamela been exchanging duties in attack while Kieran Trippier has been coming on for Kyle Walker at right-back when circumstances allow for it.

None of these rotations should be taken as signs that any one of these players are unfit for permanent starting roles, of course. The realities of competing on multiple fronts have finally caught up with Tottenham in 2016, and Pochettino had few other options after a half season spent relying consistently on a rigid league XI.

The Trippier and Walker rotation has been one of particular interest. Like Davies and Rose earlier in the season, the decision on who plays when seems mostly to be circumstantial. If the side is especially vulnerable to width – say, Watford – then Trippier plays. If Tottenham need a more traditional full-back to play both robust defense and still get the ball forward, then Walker is your man.

After a difficult season marred by injury, Walker came back into this Tottenham side with a roar this season. At times leading up to December, he looked like the best right-back in England. He scored a fine goal against West Ham and set up Tottenham’s second with a great ball to Dele Alli against Southampton.

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Most importantly, he’s been borderline sensational in defense. When Tottenham went up against Swansea in early October, it was Walker’s duty to contain Jefferson Montero. The Ecuadorian winger was at his best on the day and constantly challenged Walker on his way to send crosses into Tottenham’s box. While he found a way in in the first half, he spent much of the second expertly marked out of the game.

That might have been one of Walker’s sternest tests this season, but it wasn’t the only one. In matches against Arsenal and Crystal Palace and elsewhere, Walker had answers for just about any questions asked of him by the opposition.

And he can do the same on Sunday.

Given Trippier’s match-winner against Watford last Saturday, it might be tempting to go with the hot hand. This would be a mistake. Walker’s style of play makes him uniquely suited to deal with City.

While he might not have Trippier’s menacing talents out wide in attack, Walker’s more narrow game will help against a City midfield due to be crowded with any and all of Yaya Touré, Fernandinho, Fernando and Fabian Delph. Over the season Eric Dier has developed a rapport with Walker, often distributing passes to the on-rushing full-back when Tottenham transition back into attack.

From a defensive standpoint, having Walker out wide on the right will help Tottenham cope with one of City’s primary advantages.

Despite the magnitude of the win back in September, Tottenham struggled with City’s exploitation of Walker’s flank. Raheem Sterling and Aleksander Kolarov managed a total of seven key passes from that flank per WhoScored.

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Kolarov attempts roughly the same number of crosses into the oppositions box as Trippier – about 5.6 times per match. City’s left-back will look to take advantage of the Tottenham’s lack of width and again in attack and press forward. Considering how many times before Tottenham have had difficulties with crosses, this could be a major threat. Even if Sterling is forced into a narrower role without David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne available, Lamela and Dier will have to drop back and wide when out of possession to help Walker as they have before.

With so much on the line Sunday, Pochettino needs to realize who his best option is and play Walker. He is a massive presence in defense even if he lacks Trippier’s attacking verve.

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