Four players who’ve performed admirably despite Tottenham’s slump
By Gary Pearson
These four players have performed admirably despite Tottenham’s recent slump, giving supporters something to be cheerful about.
There’s enough negativity surrounding the club right to last a lifetime, but there are positives to take away from an otherwise dour stretch. A few diamonds in the rough are providing hope as Spurs enter the business end of the 2019-20 campaign.
1. Giovani Lo Celso
The Argentinian has come of age in Tottenham’s midfield. He is one of the shining lights, offering tempo, innovation, tenacity and a tireless work rate. He also made HQ’s list of top five Tottenham performers. Since that article was published over three weeks ago, Lo Celso, in Son Heung-Min’s absence, has ascended to the peak of that list. You know what to expect when the diminutive Argentine patrols the centre of the park. He provides an unerring consistency his colleagues can only dream of. He’s the type of creative presence Jose Mourinho should be compelled to build his team around.
2. Erik Lamela
Erik Lamela’s presence is sorely missed when he’s not in the lineup. Lo Celso’s compatriot plays an influential role every time he’s on the pitch, spearheading Tottenham’s otherwise anemic attack. A nagging groin injury has made it difficult to play each week, hampering both Lamela and his team’s progression. The 28-year-old has endured a mixed bag since joining Tottenham in 2013, but his irrepressible spirit has been a joy to watch this season. He plays fearlessly, always looking to put the opposition on the back foot. While he doesn’t score nearly enough goals, Lamela’s contribution to the side, especially in comparison to his teammates, is considerable. However, his proneness to injury puts in doubt his long-term future. He needs to play consistently to have an optimal impact on club proceedings.
3. Harry Winks
Tottenham’s workhorse in midfield is absolutely indispensable to the club. Jose Mourinho has placed a disproportionate amount of pressure on the Englishman, who has done his best to take it in stride. He hasn’t performed flawlessly but the 24-year-old has worked his socks off for the cause. With other midfielders struggling to play at a high level, Winks has been forced to compensate for their mediocre play. He is a role player with a specific job. He can’t be expected to pull the creative strings from the centre of the park, but the lack of help from colleagues is overextending Winks, making him perform tasks he wouldn’t ordinarily be responsible for. Fatigue is most certainly starting to hamper Winks’ performances. Noticeably run off his feet, Winks needs a rest to ensure any chance of injury is prevented.
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4. Steven Bergwijn
Steven Bergwijn entered the scene in less than ideal circumstances. Undo pressure has been placed on the youngster’s shoulders, which he’s handled admirably. The 22-year-old scored a massive goal in his début against Manchester City and followed that up with another home goal against Wolves in his second match at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. His performances are even more impressive when you consider how isolated a figure he is. Dele Alli and Lucas Moura haven’t supported Bergwijn the way everyone expected since his arrival from PSV. Again, Bergwijn hasn’t been lights out every week, but he has shown enough to warrant a solid report card from his first couple of months in north London.