Tottenham shall be happy with the enterprise they’ve performed since Ange Postecoglou took cost this summer time after a effective begin to the season. The north London outfit have loved a formidable first three months underneath the Australian, with signings corresponding to James Maddison, Micky van de Ven and Guglielmo Vicario thriving at their new membership. However after passing up the prospect to signal James Ward-Prowse, there shall be some on the membership questioning whether or not their selection was the appropriate one.
As Spurs suffered their second defeat within the house of six days with a 2-1 loss at Wolves, Ward-Prowse – a player they reportedly tracked for much of the summer – excelled within the capital with two assists to cap a effective total show in a 3-2 success over Nottingham Forest for West Ham.
The 29-year-old’s deliveries have been a menace for everything of the sport as Forest’s defenders did not know the way to deal with his corners and free-kicks. His whipped nook supply discovered Jarrod Bowen who made no mistake along with his header to make it 2-2.
West Ham boss David Moyes recognised that Ward-Prowse’s set items have been inflicting issues and despatched on Tomas Soucek in the direction of the top of the sport. That proved paid dividends late on when the Czech delivered the sport winner with a robust header from a Ward-Prowse supply once more.
On the peak of his powers, the midfielder is arguably the perfect set-piece specialist within the Premier League – and probably Europe too now that Lionel Messi has departed to america. For that purpose, he would have been a sensible addition for any squad within the Premier League after scoring 11 objectives final season, however Spurs determined to not pursue a deal after being postpone by Southampton’s £40million asking value.
As a substitute, the Hammers agreed a £30m package deal along with his membership Southampton late within the window, utilizing a number of the cash raised from Declan Rice’s £105m transfer to Arsenal. Since then, Ward-Prowse has scored two objectives and offered 10 assists in 17 appearances in all competitions and is already a followers’ favorite on the London Stadium.
Spurs may need felt they have been vindicated of their selection, having already spent £40m to signal Maddison from Leicester. Postecoglou additionally has Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Rodrigo Bentancur, Pape Matar Sarr and Yves Bissouma in his midfield, so it’s pure that the 59-year-old coach felt he was outfitted within the midfield areas.
However it’s going to harm Spurs extra understanding that Maddison now faces a number of weeks watching on from the sidelines. The playmaker injured his ankle within the 4-1 defeat by Chelsea and needed to be substituted, with Spurs studying afterwards that the problem could also be worse than first thought.
Postecoglou doesn’t have an apparent participant to fill the position through which Maddison has thrived, though Giovani Lo Celso and Bryan Gil might really feel they’re outfitted to play as a No 10. Nonetheless, each gamers are fringe choices at finest and usually are not wherever as efficient as Ward-Prowse.
He would have proved to be a perfect participant to step into the position – and now Postecoglou should look to discover a resolution within the coming weeks with out Maddison, as he’s compelled to dwell along with his selection, which can simply show to be the mistaken one.
