Ex-Spurs Scout: Tottenham player ratings v Chelsea – Vicario brilliant, Maddison ‘disappointing’
Tottenham News is delighted to welcome aboard our brilliant new columnist Bryan King, the former goalkeeper who spent six years as a senior scout at Spurs and 28 years in total in first-team scouting roles. Bryan also spent eight years on Everton’s recruitment team and 11 years scouting at Aston Villa across two different spells.
Ange Postecoglou’s unbeaten start to life in England’s top flight came to an end in dramatic fashion as nine-man Tottenham lost 4-1 to Chelsea in a Premier League classic at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Monday 6 November.
When Dejan Kulusevski put the hosts ahead inside the sixth minute it looked as if it could be a long evening for Chelsea.
However, a series of disallowed goals, two red cards, VAR drama and key injuries left Spurs rattled, and while they worked hard to hold on and even had some chances to score themselves, Chelsea’s numerical advantage eventually paid off as they scored three late goals to seal a big win.
Ex-Spurs scout Bryan King watched on for Tottenham News and has provided his player ratings for Postecoglou’s side.
Guglielmo Vicario – 8
“Man of the match. His sweeping play, the reactions and the saves he made were very impressive. When you’re playing behind nine men, it is never going to be easy and you can’t fault him for any of the Chelsea goals. He was also very unlucky not to save the penalty. I can’t believe he doesn’t start for Italy.”
Pedro Porro – 6
“He worked hard and tried to push on but at times he did get caught out. However, you can’t fault his commitment on the night, he was one of the few who stayed on the pitch.”
Micky van de Ven – 6
“Up until his injury, he was his usual confident self, played it simple and showed good pace.”
Cristian Romero – 4
“He didn’t look as assured as usual, it seemed like a mistake was coming and then of course he got sent off. The first incident he got drawn into, when he kicked out at Levi Colwill, he was lucky not to get in trouble then. His challenge which led to the red card followed a poor clearance by him. He did win the ball, but in today’s game that isn’t relevant, it was about where his foot ended up.”
Destiny Udogie – 4
“Made a bright start, he and Brennan Johnson were giving Reece James big problems. However, he is still just 20 years old and he has got to learn from this. He was lucky not to get sent off for his first challenge, and then when he was on a yellow card he flew in on Raheem Sterling who was going nowhere, it was really poor discipline.”
Yves Bissouma – 7
“He did relatively well, worked tirelessly in midfield.”
Pape Matar Sarr – 7
“He set the Tottenham goal up and just like Bissouma he worked really hard.”
James Maddison – 6
“He was disappointing. A lot of build-up play but nothing in the final third and then of course he went off injured.”
Dejan Kulusevski – 7
“He ran until he couldn’t run anymore. He got the goal and he was offering Spurs great width, he was causing big problems for Chelsea.”
Son Heung-min – 6
“He worked so hard. When the chance fell to him at the end he looked too tired to take it on. He was constantly charging people down and putting them under pressure, he never stopped running.”
Brennan Johnson – 6
“I was disappointed for Johnson. He looked as if he was really up for the game and he was showing great pace. His link-up play with Maddison and Udogie was outstanding. Unfortunately, after the red card, he was the one to be sacrificed.”
Subsitutes
Eric Dier – 7
“He impressed me. He made a great interception after he had just come on, and from that point, I thought he defended well.”
Pirre-Emile Hojbjerg – 7
“Made a fantastic clearance off the line. Another player who worked really hard after coming on.”
Emerson Royal – 6
“He had to play left-back again which is not his best position but he does the job, and he is disciplined.”
Oliver Skipp – 5
“He worked hard when he came on.”
Rodrigo Bentancur – 5
“He got himself into goalscoring positions and what a chance he had to level the game towards the end.”
In other Tottenham news, Jamie Carragher was blown away by one Spurs star during the defeat against Chelsea.