Harry Brooks is a football coach/analyst for professional/academy players. He has put together an overview of the Spurs' squad for the coming season (written prior to signing Rodon)
JOSE MOURINHO:
Still elite. Infectious charisma, you hang onto every word. Not the defensive manager people label him with and certainly not a dinosaur. Can adapt to his players and will do what requires to win. Hes getting the team to win in a variety of ways which is excellent
HUGO LLORIS:
Since return from injury, back to world class self. Always been an outstanding shot stopper who commands his box, but seems to have cut out the errors that came into his game last few years. Loops passes too much which puts team under pressure when he plays out
JOE HART:
For home grown quota/ professionalism/mentality for the squad, a great choice. However I think Gazzaniga is a better keeper. Very vocal and decisive in goal and good athleticism. It’s individual errors that are the concern and that can also come with being too intense
PAULO GAZZANIGA:
Proven himself to be a more than able deputy. His issue is he doesn’t command the same authority or presence that Lloris and even Hart do and that’s a huge part of being a keeper. Best with his feet out the lot and good shot stopper
MATT DOHERTY:
He won’t dominate the entire flank, but he will contribute in defensive and attacking third in phases of play. Superb at passing and moving with combination play and great awareness to attack the box with off ball runs. Doesn’t excel at a particular cross
SERGE AURIER:
Three right backs in the league are capable of dominating their entire flank and Aurier is one. Has mastered the whip from deep cross when he has time to set his body. When he plays safe defensively and doesn’t swing aimless crosses, he’s a top RB
TOBY ALDERWEIRELD:
Still world class at timing tackles and reading game but appears to have lost yard of pace. Doesn’t carry the ball and lacks suppleness to move body and shift the ball either side so needs to play RCB to make use of his long driven passes
DAVINSON SANCHEZ:
On his day he’s completely dominant. Outstanding last ditch and recovery defender. Pinched in shoulders/lack of core/power in legs, means he can get rolled when he tries to use his body against players. Uncomfortable clearing crosses when LCB
APHET TANGANGA:
Imposing in chaos. Best CB in squad at blocks. Makes himself big and imposing but remains calm and vastly narrows down angle/space available to attacker. Superb defending 1 v 1, excellent leap. Needs more guile and class on ball, but as a defender, commanding
ERIC DIER:
Only CB in squad who can play out as an LCB. Happy to shift the ball and carry it towards left, and even pass with left. Powerful straight line runner. Reads game well and closes down/shepherds players into areas expertly. Momentary lapses in decisions at times
BEN DAVIES:
Perfected the wrapped pass infield. Also gets excellent shape on deep crosses. Very clean technically, best passing FB buy has to become more imposing and assertive as he has the technique, understanding and fitness to effect games. Passing style suits LCB in a back 3
SERGIO REGUILLON:
Greyhound. Charges around at 100mph and 9/10 under control. That 1/10 it’s because he’s literally too aggressive and needs to slow down. Can drive the ball infield/outside, can dribble, can produce variety of crosses/passes, aggressive defender, great fitness
PIERRE-EMILE HØJBJERG:
Ideal DM. Glue to connect a supremely talented midfield collection that had no balance but needed an assertive, controlled, positionally disciplined leader. That’s him. Reads game, covers space, can also press and takes care over passes
HARRY WINKS:
Best in the squad at passing and receiving at angles which helps retain possession and dictate tempo/flow. But too aggressive when pressing, and small legs/lack of physicality makes it easy to bypass him. Clean technician, can also drive with the ball. Best in a 3
MOUSSA SISSOKO:
World class at transitions. Incredible athleticism and ability to drive with the ball. Dominating when tracking his man on defensive transitions to retrieve the ball. Lacks ball manipulation an technique on final pass but so important to the squad. Great mentality
GEDSON:
Very underrated. People dont understand him as he doesnt fill a specific role. A good footballer. Creative dribbler and passer. Can play behind and ahead of the ball, versatile. Lacks final pass/shot. Can progress the ball in a variety of creative ways. Good technically
TANGUY NDOMBELE:
Most creative midfielder in world football in terms of variety and playing off the cuff. So many ways to bypass pressure, and finds amazing angles on forward passes. Unique. Fair play to him to get his body/mind up to Prem League intensity after those doubts
GIOVANI LO CELSO:
Tenacious, technical and intelligent. Not Eriksen replacement as can only play one tempo and in sharp, straight lines. Excellent at threading passes. Plays on the edge. Will have far more goal contributions this season. Contributes in all phases of play
DELE ALLI:
Capable of things no one else in squad is. Too loos on the ball to be heavily involved in build up, but his creativity, risk taking and flair can completely open sides up at the end of build up. His off the ball movement is elite. Struggles with long passes/drives etc
ERIK LAMELA:
Important squad member. Extremely tenacious, which is great when pressing high, annoying when giving away dangerous free kicks. Thrives in chaos and in tight areas with skill, footwork, ability to thread passes but cant gallop or get away completely from opponents
STEVEN BERGWIJN:
Very good at retaining the ball in final third, but can also shift through the gears individually and explode directly to attack. Lovely combination play, technical and good ball striker. Powerful, can attack both sides on both wings and centrally. Smart player
HEUNG-MIN SON:
Fast, direct, superb runner on and off the ball and a great ball striker. Has lots of variety to his finishing off both feet and can attack down both wings. Can lack composure at times as plays so intensely but world class who you can rely on for goal contributions
LUCAS MOURA:
Always 100% engaged intensely physically and mentally. Powerful and direct and best when he doesn’t have a decision to make. Has mastered the whipped shot across goal finish. Superb in air and his positivity alongside power and ball striking ability is a huge plus
GARETH BALE:
Still a top 5 ball striker in world football. Can score/assist goals in many ways from anywhere in the final third and deeper. Has remodelled his game, so now picks and chooses when to make driving runs on and off the ball. Quality, experience, mindset brings so much
HARRY KANE:
Best striker in the world. His form right now and since lockdown is incredible. Decision making, timing of decisions, ball striking, vision, variety of goals, physicality, touch, awareness, can drop to link/create and of course get on the end too and more. Incredible
CARLOS VINICIUS:
Limited viewing but appears to have good movement in the box, an ability to get shots away and can link play as well as his obviously physicality and strength. Not sure about his co-ordination and balance so can sometimes look ugly, but if its effective who cares
