Who will start at left back for Tottenham next season?
Ben Davies has kicked into gears that many didn’t know he possessed this campaign, but with far from subtle whispers about comings and goings regarding Tottenham’s left back position, who will start come next season?
Ben Davies
Kicking off the campaign with deputy Ben as the club’s only fit left back roused about as much optimism as Alan Pardew’s current manager of the year credentials. But much acclaim must be given to Davies, who has added a number of facets to his offensive game. A new boldness and directness have resulted in a couple of goals and four assists to his name.
After both scoring and making one against Huddersfield back in September, Ben spoke frankly on the challenges of adopting a more buccaneering role:
"“In that wing-back position you’re going to get into situations where you’re going to create chances and in the last few games it’s come off. I don’t think a strong part of my game is running at people one v one, but you’ve got to try your best every time you get in. You’ve got to try to get past your man, or even just create half a yard to be able to put a decent ball in. Overall it’s something I’m always looking to improve.”"
The Welshman has also been assured and consistent in his own half, with a torrid opening in Turin the only real moment that gave fans flashbacks of last season’s trip to Anfield.
Danny Rose
Danny finally returned from a seemingly eternal knee injury in October but was not accompanied by the audacious swagger that Spurs fans had become used to.
Although that interview with The Sun seems to have been swept under the rug, Spurs’ longest serving player’s heart doesn’t seem to be in it anymore.
Tottenham fans live in crippling nostalgia of days when Danny would dance up and down the wing like a yearling in a sun-kissed meadow; but sadly it seems Rose’s future is destined for different pastures.
Someone else
Luke Shaw has persistently been linked with a move to Spurs for obvious reasons. Luke came to prominence under the tutelage of Mauricio Pochettino at Southampton, tempting Manchester United into signing the teenager for £30 million.
But Shaw has endured a nightmarish time at Old Trafford. Last weekend José Mourinho seemed to aim a scathing post-match harangue at Shaw who would no doubt jump at the chance of a reunion with Poch.
Another omnipresent rumor concerns Fulham sensation Ryan Sessegnon. The 17-year-old has netted a remarkable 14 times in 35 appearances in the Championship this season.
In an interview with FourFourTwo earlier this month, Sessengnon spoke of idolizing Luke Shaw growing up; succeeding in making everybody feel ridiculously old and alluding that he would relish an opportunity to working under Shaw’s original mentor.
"“I’ve always been an attacking left-back so I really admired Luke Shaw when he was at Southampton. He’s got a lot of attacking qualities and creates chances, which is something I like to do myself. His ability to get up and down the pitch is incredible.”"
Verdict
An ideal scenario would see Davies and Sessegnon battling it out for a starting place at Spurs’ new stadium.
It seems a healthy duel. Multiple factors such as Ryan’s age, his likelihood to push into a more advanced role, and the arduous workload synonymous with the position would means that Davies, still only 24 himself, would be far from unduly frozen out.
While the prodigiously talented youngster would force Mr. Levy to break the club’s transfer record, missing out on such a highly coveted signature could prove even more costly.