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Three Tottenham Hotspur players that need a fresh start

By Aaron Coe

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 19: Dele Alli (R) of Tottenham Hotspur applauds fans with team mate Son Heung-Min following the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on May 19, 2021 in London, England. A limited number of fans will be allowed into Premier League stadiums as Coronavirus restrictions begin to ease in the UK. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 19: Dele Alli (R) of Tottenham Hotspur applauds fans with team mate Son Heung-Min following the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on May 19, 2021 in London, England. A limited number of fans will be allowed into Premier League stadiums as Coronavirus restrictions begin to ease in the UK. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) /
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Tottenham, Matt Doherty
WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 27: Matt Doherty of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur at Molineux on December 27, 2020 in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom. The match will be played without fans, behind closed doors as a Covid-19 precaution. (Photo by Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images) /

Signing Matt Doherty did not work

Maybe the signing of Matt Doherty was a surprise to some, maybe not to others. There was and still is a clear need for Tottenham Hotspur at right back. Factor in that Jose Mourinho thought very highly of Doherty, as evidenced in All or Nothing, and suddenly the move seemed to make sense, on paper.

Doherty started the season relatively well, alternating with Serge Aurier on the right of the Tottenham back four. However, as the season wore on it became obvious that Matt Doherty is not a fullback, he is a winger.

Doherty did not play fullback for Nuno Espirito Santo at Wolves, he played on the outside of a four-man midfield. There is a major difference in the two roles and that gap was something neither the coaching staff, nor Doherty could overcome.

Matt Doherty had some moments, particularly early in the season in Europa League. However, overall as a player that was already 28 when he signed and is now 29, he did not and does not fit the ideal Tottenham transfer profile.

As multiple former Tottenham right-backs walk into the England National team, it is obvious, Spurs need more from the position and Doherty needs his old position back.