Former Tottenham midfielder Michael Brown has drawn parallels between Japhet Tanganga’s early success after breaking into the first-team this season and former Everton defender Phil Jagielka.
He has suggested that the Spurs defender is likely to end up operating centre back, just like the ex-England star.
Tanganga has proven his versatility since making his Premier League debut against Liverpool in January with the having operated as a central defender, right-back, right wing-back and left-back.
Despite almost exclusively playing as a central defender while coming through the youth ranks, his competent displays across the backline have caused some to wonder what his best position is.
Brown feels that we will eventually see the youngster settling back into the heart of the defence and drew comparisons with Jagielka when he was first breaking through at Sheffield United.
When asked what Tangana’s best position was, Brown told Football Insider: “We don’t actually know, do we? He’s gone right-sided, he’s been in a three, he’s gone wing-back, he’s gone left-sided centre-half. It’s a wonderful position.
“You’re thinking would central defence be that one he’d mature in, to lead, to try and make that his own? I saw it with Phil Jagielka when I started playing with Sheffield United.
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“He was a midfield player who then dropped back, like many do, into a right-back situation and we knew he had pace. As that maturity came in he slotted inside and ended up playing 40-odd games for England.
“It could be as he matures more he becomes that leader at central defence.”
Spurs Web Opinion
While I believe Tanganga is good enough to play as a centre half in a back three, I am less convinced that he can play centrally as a part of a back four at this stage in his career. However, there is no doubt that we will see him learning and maturing as a player with more games under his belt.
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