Is Tottenham marquee summer signing part of solution or problem?

Is Romero part of the solution or problem for Tottenham?

Romero came to Tottenham this past summer on loan from Atalanta in Serie A. The previous season he was named the best defender in that league. Unfortunately, Romero’s start at Tottenham has not been a smooth one.

Romero only played 1 minute in Spurs 3-0 start and then, along with Giovani Lo Celso, left the team short on players due to Covid quarantine requirements.

Once back from the quarantine, Romero played all but seven minutes in five of Nuno Espirito Santo’s final six games in league play. Romero also started Conte’s first game, the 0-0 draw at Everton.

However, Romero sustained an injury during international duty with Argentina following that match. Romero misses nine league games during his three months out. Since his return, Romero has played every minute of five different league matches, with Spurs losing three and conceding eight goals. Tottenham conceded nine in the nine games Romero missed as a reference point.

Romero is a gifted defender

On the surface, it is obvious Romero is a gifted and talented defender, and his size and athleticism are precisely the characteristics you look for in a centre-half. Further, his instincts for the game are strong, which allows him to read opponents and intercept more than his share of passes.

Breaking up play and recovering possession are two areas in which Romero excels, in addition to his excellent on-the-ball defensive skills. Nevertheless, the results are what they are, and Romero has tendencies that bind his team.

Structure and discipline are lacking

Because of his tremendous instincts and nose for the ball, Romero is prone to leave his position. His propensity to wander around the field can have a chain reaction across the pitch, and it is hiring Spurs defence.

Although he usually plays right back in a three-person defence, Romero drifts all over the field. Romero can be found on the left and in the attacking third, just as likely as on the right supporting the wing-back.

In the game against Middlesbrough, Romero was ahead of the entire midfield, wing-backs included, at different times. If this happened once or twice per match, it would all be part of the scheme, but it happens far too much, leaving players chasing in defence.

Sure, Emerson Royal held the goalscorer onside for the winning goal; however, the young defender had little choice when the rest of the defence had abandoned their positions, leaving him alone to cover the entire penalty box.

There were similar instances with the goals against both Wolves and Southampton, where Romero moving too far to the left, exposed the right and left Spurs defence outnumbered at the back post.

Regarding the back post, Romero was beaten at the back post by Ben Mee at Burnley, costing Spurs the match. In that instance, Romero was in position and just got beat, which is frankly easier to accept than Romero out of place, leaving others to be scapegoated, time and again.

Interestingly enough, Antonio Conte prefers Ryan Sessegnon and Matt Doherty as his wing-backs as they better understand the requirements. It is unclear why that does not apply to Romero, who consistently leaves his team in difficult positions, costing Spurs vital points.

Likely Romero has a bright future but for Spurs’ sake, let’s hope it includes some positional discipline.