{"id":564087,"date":"2020-08-30T05:53:33","date_gmt":"2020-08-30T09:53:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonfootball.com\/?p=564087"},"modified":"2020-08-30T05:53:33","modified_gmt":"2020-08-30T09:53:33","slug":"tottenham-hotspur-bolster-defence-with-matt-doherty-signing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2020\/08\/30\/tottenham-hotspur-bolster-defence-with-matt-doherty-signing\/","title":{"rendered":"Tottenham Hotspur Bolster Defence With Matt Doherty Signing"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tottenham Hotspur<\/a> have confirmed the signing of right-back Matt Doherty<\/a>. The player departs Wolves after 10 years on the club’s books. He has signed a four-year deal at the club and will wear the number two shirt, as per the club website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Tottenham Hotspur Complete Signing of Matt Doherty<\/h2>\n

Spurs Bolster Right-Back Position<\/h3>\n

Matt Doherty is a very useful signing for Spurs. They have lacked depth in both their full-back positions. Currently, Serge Aurier<\/a> is the first-choice right-back. But, with the arrival of Doherty comes a source of competition as well as support for Aurier.<\/p>\n

The Republic of Ireland defender has made 75 Premier League appearances, with eight goals and eight assists. He has played a part in keeping 19 clean sheets in these matches.<\/p>\n

At 28 years old, he is a player that is reaching his peak. Indeed, he has plenty of experience which will allow him to slot into Mourinho’s system. Nevertheless, he has a four-year deal which will provide Spurs with a good right-back in the short term.<\/p>\n

Pragmatic Signings Continue<\/h3>\n

The club have now made three senior signings this summer. This includes Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Joe Hart<\/a>. Hojbjerg was a much-needed source of steel in the centre of the park. Meanwhile, Hart provides experience as well as contributing the number of homegrown players in the squad.<\/p>\n

Doherty comes in as another solid signing for Spurs. It is not a groundbreaking transfer but it addresses a key area of concern. Moreover, he is able to play as a wing-back, capable at defending but also going forward.<\/p>\n

Mourinho has already shown his desire to use Aurier in this role, allowing him to press high up the field to provide a vital source of width.<\/p>\n

Youth and Experience<\/h3>\n

Spurs sold Kyle Walker-Peters<\/a> to Southampton after he impressed on loan. Walker-Peters had graduated from the Tottenham youth academy after spending seven years at the club. He made a Man of the Match debut against Newcastle United<\/a>, but never really got a full run of matches to invest in his potential.<\/p>\n

When the club were being linked with the likes of Max Aarons<\/a>, it seemed to make little sense. This is because Walker-Peters is arguably a more experienced and better player than Aarons. By bringing Doherty in, Spurs have swapped out a young academy graduate for an older player.<\/p>\n

Similarly, the club have also added an ageing goalkeeper in Joe Hart (33). This poses an issue of ensuring that the younger players have enough opportunity to break into the first-team in order to fully develop into senior players.<\/p>\n

Arguably, this is an issue that started in the latter stages of Mauricio Pochettino<\/a>‘s tenure, after early signs of giving opportunities to promising young players. Mourinho seems to prefer older, more experienced personnel. As a result, this promotes short-termism and risks creating an old squad that has gone past their best years.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, during pre-season Mourinho has been keen to blood his young players. This includes Dennis Cirkin, Alfie Devine, Jack Clarke<\/a>, Cameron Carter-Vickers et al.<\/p>\n

It is unlikely that some of these younger stars will feature regularly in the Premier League. They may, however, get some minutes in the Europa League.<\/p>\n

Mourinho has spoken of his desire<\/a> to “do something beautiful” in the Europa League. Perhaps this will be a perfect opportunity to blend youth and experience with Dennis Cirkin on one wing and Matt Doherty on the other.<\/p>\n

Main Photo<\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>