Is visit to Rochdale last chance saloon for Tottenham’s Fernando Llorente?
By Gary Pearson
Fernando Llorente has another opportunity to prove his worth on Sunday, but does the visit to Rochdale represent the Spaniard’s last chance saloon with Spurs?
An integral part of Swansea’s Premier League salvation last season, Llorente has fallen on abject times in Lilywhite. Arguably Swansea’s most valuable asset, Llorente scored 15 goals to propel the Welsh side to safety.
He has, however, been a shadow of his vintage self this season with Spurs. Of course it doesn’t help that Llorente plays second fiddle to Harry Kane in a system with enough room for just one frontman.
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Having to admire England’s most prolific forward from his perch on the sideline, the Spaniard has never sat so consistently on the pine. At least the substitute’s chairs at Wembley are cozy and cushioned. Otherwise, I’d be concerned he’d never regain feeling in his numb buttocks.
It’s an unenviable role, one Llorente has handled with the utmost professionalism. Biding his time, waiting for a chance to make an indelible impression on his manager, Llorente is forced to sit idly by, sometimes for weeks at a time.
When Mauricio Pochettino, who had enough faith to give the aging target man one more crack at an élite team, finally called the big man’s number, Llorente was unable to pay his manager back in kind.
Llorente isn’t completely barren, though.
He has two goals, but even deserts see rainfall now and then. The 32-year-old scored his first Tottenham goal in the 3-0 Champions League win against APOEL while the other came against his former team in a 2-0 away win at Swansea.
That kind of production over a 25-appearance span – even as a bit-part contributor – simply isn’t good enough, even for a snake-bitten striker who hasn’t had a favourable run of the green.
Contrary to his on-field struggles, Llorente is adored and venerated in Spurs’ locker room, his teammates appreciative of their elder statesman’s affable demeanour. While he has a wealth of experience to impart on younger colleagues, Llorente is running out of time to save his job.
That is, if he hasn’t already played his way out of North London.
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The pleasant professional from Pamplona endured a miserable outing in Wales against Newport a few weeks ago. He backed that up with a stronger display in the Wembley replay. But for all the chances that fell his way, Llorente was once again unable to conjure the finish product.
A lot of his misfortunes barrel down to a palpable lack of confidence, which is often the fuel that drives a striker’s fire.
But if he can’t bag one against a dramatically inferior League Two side, what hope does he have of scoring a pivotal goal against top opposition?
Hopefully Llorente can bundle one home on Sunday to spark his Spurs’ revival. Because if he doesn’t, I can see him going the way of Vincent Janssen, Roberto Soldado and the dodo before them.