Vincent Janssen’s nine lives are up at Tottenham
By Gary Pearson
Mauricio Pochettino gave Vincent Janssen the benefit of the doubt against Burnley, starting the out-of-sorts striker despite his interminable inability to contribute offensively.
There is a limit to the gaffer’s patience. There must be.
Like a mother trying to refrain from going mad while waiting for her wailing baby to stop crying, Pochettino, bemused and miffed, paces back and forth on the sideline, staring with eyes glazed, consigned to the fact his first-year Premier League striker won’t redeem himself in a Spurs shirt.
Janssen has become Pochettino’s underdeveloped, immature adolescent. The kid at school who fell behind in class, he doesn’t have the wherewithal, killer instinct or the adaptability to catch up.
But it’s not like Janssen isn’t trying.
Regardless of what people are saying about the 22-year-old, the Dutchman puts in a workmanlike shift on the rare occasion he gets the chance to play. He expertly holds the ball up and is equipped with the rugged physical prowess to outmuscle most top flight defenders.
His confidence, however, is shattered and sheer will alone won’t bring it back. Nor will a single goal from open play. If you don’t remember Janssen’s solitary goal from open play, here’s a bit of a reminder.
Janssen made his 32nd appearance in the 2-0 win over Burnley on Saturday, in which he’s managed five goals and three assists.
They are jaw-dropping totals, but not in the intended way.
Is Janssen another Roberto Soldado?
Is it too harsh to draw comparisons to the much-maligned Roberto Soldado, another costly Spurs flop. Purchased for £26 million in 2013, Soldado was, at the time, a Spurs record transfer.
He scored 16 goals in 76 Spurs appearances, about a goal every five games. Compare that to Janssen, whose ratio is even lower – about a goal per six games. Both strikers scored large proportions of their goals in lesser games against inferior opponents.
And both have an infuriating propensity to inexplicably disappear from games.
Soldado was given more time to try and make amends for his scoring deficiencies, but it’s highly unlikely Janssen will be afforded the same wide berth.
With Soldado, Spurs weren’t challenging for the title and had less influence on the worldwide stage, especially in terms of bringing top players to White Hart Lane.
Next: Tottenham make statement with 2-0 win at Burnley
Spurs, now bona-fide title contenders, have the kind of clout required to entice the world’s best players. In a perfect world Pochettino would nurture Janssen, hoping the young forward would eventually live up to his lofty expectations.
But this is a results-now business, and with Spurs on the verge of something special, Pochettino has no time to waste in finding a replacement who is worthy of an £18.5 million transfer fee.