Tottenham Hotspur at right fullback for the 2021/22 season
By Aaron Coe
After a summer that saw some change and some growth at the position, Tottenham Hotspur has gone from concerned to content at right fullback.
Coming into the summer transfer window it was assumed that there would be big changes at right-back for Tottenham Hotspur. However, despite being linked with several clubs for both selling a back and bringing in a new one or even two, t was not until deadline day that we saw any activity at the position. Now right-back might be one position where the Spurs are glad the window did not close until after the season started because it turns out Tottenham may have had their future at the position all along.
Where is Tottenham at right fullback?
The right fullback position has been an area of consternation for the last couple of seasons. Since selling Kyle Walker and then later Kieran Trippier the consistency Spurs were getting has disappeared. Last season Serge Aurier was hit or miss, with his mistakes making his misses especially painful. Additionally, Matt Doherty was brought in to help balance the position and after a solid start, like the rest of the squad Doherty tailed off.
With the inconsistent play from last season contributing to the failures of the overall Tottenham defense it was assumed right fullback was high on the list of priorities for the Spurs in the window. While Tottenham was long linked with a solid, defensive right-back in Takehiro Tomiyasu a few things changed over the course of the summer causing Tottenham to move in a different direction.
There were three main factors at play that led to Tottenham zigging at right-back when everyone assumed they would zag. First, Japhet Tanganga has found both his fitness and form working to make the position his own. Second, finding a suitor for Serge Aurier proved far more difficult than anyone would have imagined and third, Barcelona fell apart financially creating an opportunity for Tottenham that was too good to pass up.
Now the Spurs have three right-backs, with two of three being 22-year olds who could potentially leave the club set at the position for the next decade.