Tom Carroll's Days at Tottenham are Numbered

Tottenham Academy product Tom Carroll seems to have just been on the edge of the starting XI for years now, but he never escaped whispers that his future lied elsewhere.

Those whispers stand to get louder in 2017 as it seems that Carroll doesn’t have much of a chance of making it into Tottenham’s matchday squads, much less the starting XI.

Just over one year ago it seemed like Carroll was going to get his shot. Rather than sending him out on yet another loan, Mauricio Pochettino elected to retain the young England under-21 international.

It was a move that spoke to the confidence Pochettino had in Carroll, if only in his ability to act as cover for the his first choice midfield.

There were a couple of lackluster performances — including a 2-1 defeat against Arsenal in the Captial One Cup where both goals were conceded due to mistakes by Carroll. But there were also successes. Matches wherein the diminutive midfielder controlled the midfield or scored a memorable goal.

For the most part his performances leaned enough toward the latter that it seemed like he justified another chance in the 2016/17 season. Hence it was no surprise that he signed a new contract with the club that would, in theory, keep him in north London until 2019.

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Thus far, however, Carroll’s only played the most minimal of roles. His time on the pitch so far amounts to two EFL Cup starts and a single minute at the end of the 1-0 Premier League win over Crystal Palace in August. Otherwise he hasn’t even made it to Tottenham’s bench.

Perhaps there was an injury that never made it to the press. That he’s also only made one appearance with Tottenham’s under-21 squad in recent months hints at that possibility.

Regardless, it’s not as if there is a gaping hole waiting to be filled in Tottenham’s current matchday squad. The places where Carroll fit last year are now occupied by fellow Academy graduates, especially Harry Winks.

The 20-year-old midfielder has enjoyed 16 appearances in all competitions. Along the way he’s scored his first professional goal and suggested he might be Tottenham’s Next Big Thing — inheriting the title from Dele Alli.

On the whole it’s clear that Pochettino has more faith in Winks than he ever had in Carroll, and indeed that sentiment appears entirely justified.

Winks came into his own in an Academy system influenced by Pochettino’s football philosophy and therefore finds it much easier to slide into the senior side. Carroll, in contrast, barely graduated from the Academy before he began jumping around on loan to other clubs in England with mixed results.

All of which, considered together, calls into doubt Carroll’s future with Tottenham. In hindsight, it seems clear that September’s contract renewal was merely an attempt by the club to ensure they get top dollar for Carroll when he’s inevitably sold — perhaps as soon as January.

Embattled Swansea manager Bob Bradley recently expressed interest in Carroll, and with the Welsh club desperate for Premier League survival it wouldn’t be a surprise if Daniel Levy negotiated a favorable deal for Tottenham. That, after all, is an ongoing theme in recent years for the club. Deadweight gets cut, usually for above market prices.

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Offloading Carroll in January would be good business for Tottenham but likely also what’s best for the player. His usefulness for Pochettino might have been fleeting, but for a club like Swansea he could again find traction in the game. Like Aaron Lennon and Andros Townsend before him, Carroll could yet find greener pastures outside of the club he’s called home for the better part of his professional career.

Tom Carroll’s Days at Tottenham are Numbered

By Ryan Wrenn | Dec 23, 2016

Tottenham Academy product Tom Carroll seems to have just been on the edge of the starting XI for years now, but he never escaped whispers that his future lied elsewhere.