Do Spurs need a defensive overhaul? In 29 Premier League matches, only six clean sheets have been kept. Add to that three red cards, as well as 45 goals conceded and the question starts to answer itself, or does it?
Often in football, the defenders are blamed for letting in the goals; at Tottenham, this is very much the same. Whilst the defence may be the final factor in whether or not a player scores, the entire team has a responsibility defensively. A set piece is a prime example. Most recently, Wes Morgan strolled freely into the six-yard box to head home a corner, unopposed; it was shoddy defending from a school boy error. Every single player on the pitch must contribute to defending the goal. It’s not just at set pieces, either.
However, it’s hard to pick apart the midfield which, on its day, does work very hard to support the defence. Ryan Mason is perpetual in his play, omnipresent all over the pitch. Nabil Bentaleb perhaps doesn’t appear as helpful as Mason, but he certainly puts in a shift, too. Iff the midfield isn’t the problem, then perhaps the defence is, especially considering Spurs conceded three goals to Leicester. The lack of solid defending for all three goals was shocking. This isn’t just a blip; it has been a common theme throughout the season.
Centre-back pairings have been quite variable this season for Spurs. Jan Vertonghen has been the backbone of the defence constantly, whilst Federico Fazio and Eric Dier have slotted beside him. No pairing has proven to be perfect; far from it. This again hints towards the arrival of new centre-backs, but all depends on how Vertonghen feels at the end of the season. Without him at the back, Spurs will unquestionably need to purchase a quality, experienced replacement. Perhaps that is what Spurs need—experience at the back. Resolute defences always contain a bit of age; don’t forget that Dier is only 21. For a while, it seemed Fazio would be an ideal partner for Vertonghen, but a few mistakes seem to have sidelined him for the time being.
What about the full-backs? Kyle Walker has had a tough season, overcoming a long term injury, and then kicking back into some good form, which was rewarded with an England senior squad call-up. However, many Spurs fans place a question mark on his ability. It’s plain to see that Walker is astonishingly fast, but his defending has been questioned lately. Is this just a rough patch? Walker has otherwise been a valuable asset on the right flank. Perhaps he could utilise a backup to compete with, like the success story of Ben Davies and Danny Rose. Davies has done Rose a world of good by just making him play that little bit harder to impress; it has worked splendidly well. Rose, too, has been called up to the England senior squad. Just like the rest of the team, the full-backs are quite young indeed and nobody is even close to 30 years of age. This allows for a more athletic and pacey backline, which may have its advantages over an aged, plodding one.
Overall, Spurs do not have the best defence in the league. Is it an acceptable standard? Not really. Do Spurs need a defensive overhaul? No. One quality centre-back is a must, as well as backup for Kyle Walker. However, Mauricio Pochettino doesn’t need to chuck away the entire defence only to replace it with a similar performing backline. Patience is key. Oh, and keeping Hugo Lloris between those sticks too. That’s pretty important.
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