Tottenham loanee Djed Spence proves Ange Postecoglou right with underwhelming debut for Genoa
If Djed Spence’s debut for Serie A outfit Genoa is anything to go by then it looks as if Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou made the correct call to send the right-back out on loan for the remainder of the 2023/24 campaign.
Things have been tough for Spence ever since he joined Spurs off the back of his brilliant 2021/22 season in the Championship with Nottingham Forest while he was on loan from Middlesbrough.
Spence’s eye-catching performances at right-back helped the Reds earn promotion to the Premier League that year.
As per fbref, the Englishman was in the top one per cent of his positional peers in the division that season for the number of progressive carries he made (4.35 per 90). In addition to this, Spence was in the top five per cent for carries into the final third (2.54 per 90) and the top four per cent for successful take-ons (1.89 per 90).
It was that form that saw Daniel Levy open up the chequebook and splash the cash on the full-back in a deal worth up to £20million (Sky Sports News, 19 July 2022).
Nonetheless, then-Spurs boss Antonio Conte was clearly not a fan of the player, with Spence seeing just three minutes of Premier League action across four substitute appearances throughout the first half of the 2022/23 campaign, before spending the second half of the season on loan with Ligue 1 outfit Rennes.
When Postecoglou arrived at Hotspur Way ahead of the 2023/24 season getting underway, there were suggestions that Spence might be a better fit for the Australian than his Italian predecessor.
However, he was used just once as a substitute throughout pre-season before being sent out on loan to Championship side Leeds United, with Postecoglou clearly not a fan of the player.
When his loan with the Whites was cut short, the 58-year-old once again decided Spence was surplus to requirements, and he was sent to Genoa for his third loan spell in one and a half years at Spurs (Tottenham Hotspur Official Website, 11 January).
This is perhaps a final opportunity for the 23-year-old to show those back in North London what he is capable of and save his career at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. However, he did not make the best start toward achieving that goal.
Spence was named in the starting lineup for Genoa’s 2-1 win away against Salernitana (21 January), where he completed the full 90 minutes playing as a left wing-back.
While he did help the Italian side end a run of three matches without a win, his performance on a personal level was nothing noteworthy. As per Sofascore, he completed 83 per cent of his passes, with none of those being key, played two accurate long balls forward, and failed to complete any dribbles or register any shots at goal.
He won just one of his three ground duels while also losing both of his aerial duels and made one clearance, one interception and one tackle while also blocking one shot.
Although it was by no means a disastrous debut, it was nothing that will have Postecoglou regretting his decision to send the player out on loan.
The former Celtic manager requires his full-backs to offer an attacking presence, something Spence struggled with in his debut for Genoa, and Postecoglou will feel as if he is well set for the rest of the season with Pedro Porro and Emerson Royal as his two options in that position.
In other Tottenham news, there was some relief for Postecoglou as one Spurs ace looked back to his best while on international duty.
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