‘Maybe his last start for a while’ – Ex-Spurs Scout: Three things I learned from Tottenham win against Fulham
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.
Tottenham beat Fulham 2-0 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Monday 23 October to return to the top of the Premier League.
Goals from Son Heung-min and James Maddison were the difference on the evening as Ange Postecoglou’s men created a two-point cushion at the top of the Premier League.
With the win, Postecoglou set the record for the most points accumulated (23) after a Premier League manager’s first nine games in charge.
Ex-Spurs scout Bryan King was watching on for Tottenham News and detailed three things he learned from the result.
Guglielmo Vicario still showing signs of vulnerability
There were two important moments where Vicario made some big saves. The first one in particular where he stopped Jao Palhinha’s header was especially important because it seemed to sort out the way Spurs were playing, they steadied and they got back at it. However, I do worry about dead-ball situations. Tottenham were giving away needless free-kicks and Vicario had a couple of dodgy moments.
Although he did very well in some moments, there were some occasions where he almost got Spurs in trouble, so I feel like he still needs to tighten his game up.
Why are Son Heung-min and James Maddison coming off early?
It surprises me that in every game these two seem to come off early. He took them both off with seven or eight minutes to go, and with the amount of added time there is these days, you’re looking at about 15/16 minutes without these two players who are central to everything Tottenham do.
If Fulham had scored late, all of a sudden there would have been a game on, and you have got Maddison, who is one of the best passers in the league, and Son, who is always a danger even when he is tired, on the bench. I am not sure whether their legs are tightening up, or if they have a bit of muscle cramp, but it seems like Postecoglou is taking a chance.
When you have got two quality players like they are sitting on the bench for the final part of the game, I just find it a little bit strange. I am afraid Spurs might get caught out if they keep taking the two of them off.
From watching the games, I am thinking it is going to be very hard work if one of these two picks up an injury, Tottenham would be a different team without them, that’s for sure. Therefore that might be what Postecoglou is thinking by bringing them off early, he might just be keeping them fresh for the next game.
Richarlison remains a worry
I don’t understand how Richarlison stays on for as long as he does. I saw that he has been credited with an assist, but all he did was toe-poke the ball forward, Son still had an awful lot to do to score the goal. People have suggested Richarlison needs a goal, but he had two or three chances and he didn’t even hit the target.
I am surprised Bryan Gil didn’t come on in his place, I would have certainly given him 20 minutes. Richarlison isn’t a wide player, he always looks to come inside, and when he remains out wide he looks lost.
If he plays like he did against Fulham against Crystal Palace, that might be his last start for a while. I wasn’t impressed by him at all.
In other Tottenham news, John Wenham believes two Spurs players are on their “final chance” at the club.