Tottenham could face life without Cristian Romero once more, suspension risk looms large
It feels as if Tottenham just got Cristian Romero back from a suspension and they are already being forced to think about the possibility of lining up without him once more following the win over Newcastle United.
Plenty of supporters in the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium were left with their heads in their hands on 6 November when Romero’s reckless tackle on international teammate Enzo Fernandez saw him sent off during the 4-1 defeat against Chelsea.
It led to a subsequent three-match suspension, throughout which Tottenham failed to win a single game, highlighting the World Cup winner’s importance to the team.
The central defender made a goalscoring return to action in a 2-1 defeat against West Ham United on Thursday 7 December, before starting in Spurs’ first win since October, a 4-1 victory over Newcastle on Sunday 10 December.
That is just two games that Romero has been back for, yet the 25-year-old is already at risk of missing another match for the club over the festive period, which would once again leave Tottenham with a back-two of Emerson Royal and Ben Davies.
This is because he picked up his fourth yellow card of the season during the match against Eddie Howe’s side for yet another reckless tackle, this time on Callum Wilson, which he was perhaps lucky not to see red for.
As per the Premier League’s official website (11 December), the rules state that “any player earning five bookings from his side’s first 19 Premier League matches will serve a one-match ban in the same competition”.
With three games left to play until that cutoff point, there is a serious possibility of Romero picking up a fifth yellow card in that time, which would see him sit out a meeting with either Everton, Brighton or Bournemouth.
As his displays in the games against Newcastle and West Ham demonstrate, Spurs cannot afford to go without Romero again.
Against the Magpies, the former Serie A defender made five tackles, and one clearance, while he won seven of his 11 ground duels and 100 per cent of his aerial duels (three out of three). In addition to this, he completed 88 per cent of his passes, played two accurate long balls forward and was successful with his one dribble attempt (Sofascore).
Meanwhile, in his previous outing against the Hammers, despite featuring on the losing side, he was dominant defensively, making two clearances, two tackles, blocking one shot and making one interception. In addition to this, he once again won 100 per cent of his aerial duels (two out of two) and two of his three ground duels.
Furthermore, his quality on the ball was there for all to see as he completed 94 per cent of his passes, with one of those being key, and of course, got himself on the scoresheet.
Tottenham will need all hands on deck over a busy few weeks and someone would be wise to pull Romero for a conversation at Hotspur Way to make sure he doesn’t get himself into any unnecessary trouble across the next three matches.
In other Tottenham news, Postecoglou has a selection dilemma on his hands after the performance of one 93 per cent ace against Newcastle.