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Tottenham Hotspur at right fullback for the 2021/22 season

By Aaron Coe

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 15: Japhet Tanganga of Tottenham Hotspur battles for possession with Benjamin Mendy of Manchester City during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on August 15, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 15: Japhet Tanganga of Tottenham Hotspur battles for possession with Benjamin Mendy of Manchester City during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on August 15, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) /
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Chelsea v Tottenham preseason
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 04: Timo Werner of Chelsea and Japhet Tanganga of Tottenham Hotspur during the Pre Season Friendly between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge on August 4, 2021, in London, England. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images) /

The rugid defender – Japhet Tanganga

Still only 22, for fans of the club it seems like Japhet Tanganga has been on the cusp of breaking out for a couple of years now. Having had his moments in both the preseason and regular season, Tanganga has been close for several seasons.

Often able to string a couple of solid matches together, finding a permanent position and staying out of the physio’s room have been Tanganga’s two biggest challenges. So far this season, it would appear that Tanganga has taken care of both issues and is ready to lock down a position.

Tanganga is one of the best one-on-one for Tottenham

In terms of defending, Japhet Tanganga is probably the best and most physical of all the fullbacks on the roster, left-side included. Tanganga is not huge but he has the kind of size players like Trippier or Kyle Walker-Peters could only dream of. Nor blazing fast, Tanganga is quick enough in space to stay with almost anyone – see weeks one and two of this season.

A physical defender who is as willing to tackle the ball as to swing in a cross, Tanganga is certainly top of the depth chart when defending is the number one goal for Tottenham. Able to cover in space or a crowd, Japhet is just a well-schooled defender.

Further, the young Englishman has shown a willingness to get forward this season as well as a presence on the ball that heretofore he had not displayed at this level. Without a doubt, this season is an opportunity for Tanganga to break out and the academy to show its stuff.

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