With the Premier League mired in a winter break and Spurs coming to the end of a 12-day break between games, now feels like as good a time as any to review the Spurs squad and take a look at how they’ve all performed based on their expectations at the start of the season.
For these ratings, I’ll only be looking at players who have played competitive minutes for Spurs, so players who have been loaned out, like Reguilon, or who haven’t/didn’t play, like Lloris, won’t be included.
My baseline for each score will be a 5/10. If players have exceeded expectations, they’ll be above the 5, if they’ve underperformed, I’ll lower their score. Most players with little game time will sit at a 5 given that we haven’t seen enough to appropriately assess their performance over the past 5 months.
Goalkeepers
Guglielmo Vicario
10/10 – It seems irrational to give a player 10/10, but there doesn’t seem to be any other rating you could give to Vicario. Nobody in England had heard of him, and most Spurs fans would have likely wanted Raya over him when both were being discussed during the summer.
Despite this, and the jump to the Premier League, Vicario is becoming regarded as either the first or second-best keeper in the league this season. He has kept Spurs in games time and again, and his performance against Chelsea was something remarkable.
Vicario has brought a sense of comfort in goal that Spurs were missing the last couple of seasons, especially last season. His value to this team can’t be overstated and as fans, we should feel grateful for his arrival and performances, which have never really wavered or dipped in quality.
Fraser Forster
5/10 – Did well enough in his lone appearance this season in the Carabao Cup loss to Fulham. He looked bad during the shootout but that’s not a big deal. He seems to be a good presence around the team and is a fine backup keeper. He likely won’t see any more minutes this season unless Vicario sees an injury or Spurs draw a lower-league side in a potential future FA Cup draw.
Right-backs
Pedro Porro
9/10 – Porro is the closest player to a 10/10 for Spurs besides Vicario and for my money has been their player of the season. His offensive output has been outstanding with 1 superb goal and 7 assists. Porro showed his offensive capabilities last season and has only continued to prove how good a striker of the ball he is.
However, even more impressive is his defensive improvements. The biggest concern of him was his potential defensive liabilities, yet, he continues to show an ability to catch wingers running in behind and has been a strong right back in every aspect you could want defensively.
Emerson Royal
7/10 – This rating might seem high for a player who doesn’t seem to be the first choice in any position. However, Emerson deserves some recognition for how he has handled himself this season, especially since the rash of injuries across Tottenham’s backline.
He has played left back, right back, and centre back and aside from some mistakes (that about every player makes sometimes), he has acquitted himself very well. There’s something to be said about squad players who don’t make a fuss when they aren’t playing and give their all when they do.
Not only does Emerson give his all, but he has also played an important role in a Tottenham backline that despite not having a single centre back for weeks at a time, has held up better than most would expect.
Centre-backs
Eric Dier
6/10 – After about 10 years, Eric Dier’s time at Spurs has come to an end as he heads to Bayern Munich to join Harry Kane. While he had some fantastic years for Spurs, this one was certainly one to forget. He played well enough when he came on, but the gulf between what he could provide and what the Postecoglou system needed from a centre-back was just too big.
The drop in quality and attacking intent just always seemed to take a massive hit when Dier came on this season. Through no fault of his own, Dier just doesn’t fit the team anymore and it’s best to wish him well and thank him for years of service to the club. He always, even this year, fought for the club and that merits some respect. However, it was always clear this year he just wasn’t going to be involved if Postecoglou could help it.
Cristian Romero
7/10 – When he’s played, Romero has seemed a lot closer to the Romero of 21/22, Conte’s first season in charge. He has been a solid defender and his aggressiveness has played a huge role in driving Spurs up the pitch, something Postecoglou loves. The only reason his rating isn’t higher is that Chelsea red card. He seemed to have reigned in his overaggressive streak but that moment showed he’s not quite there.
While he has been overly and unjustly maligned by most media, it is true that he needs to figure out the balance between when to draw back and when to let out his aggressive, front-footed nature. In spite of this, he has been a fantastic defender this season and should be recognized as Spurs’ best defender.
Micky Van de Ven
7/10 – If he had played more games for Spurs this rating would certainly be higher. However, as he’s missed more than half the season now, a 7 seems fair. He has been brilliant in the games he’s played. He has the recovery pace that makes him invaluable in the system Postecoglou plays, but more than that, he seems to have strong defensive instincts and a good ability to use his body to shield attackers away from the ball.
His passing range doesn’t seem as strong as Romero’s, but he does have an ability and willingness to stride forward with the ball, particularly when Spurs are in a lull attacking-wise. A strong addition to the team, Van de Ven, should he continue with his pre-injury form, will be a revelation to this Spurs side that has been crying out for new centre-backs.
Left-backs
Destiny Udogie
8/10 – While he has missed a few games this season due to suspension or minor injury, Udogie has been one of Spurs’ most available players this year. Beyond that, he has come into a new league and absolutely torn it up. It seems the general consensus among most is that he has been the best left-back in the league this season, if not then certainly one of the 2 or 3 best.
He clearly has the physicality to outmuscle most Premier League wingers, and has risen to the occasion whenever he’s played the best wingers in the league, be it Saka or Salah. He still makes errors defensively, but on the whole, he has been hugely important on the left.
Going forward, he has made so many positive runs and played good one-twos with players on the edge of the opponent’s box. With a strong start to the season, there’s no reason to think Udogie won’t settle in and get even better.
Ben Davies
8/10 – Although he missed some time due to injury early in the season and recently picked up a hamstring injury, his availability when Spurs were missing one or both of their starting centre backs was crucial. Playing out of position as a centre back in a back four, Davies managed to not look out of place and showed himself an able deputy for Romero and/or Van de Ven.
While Spurs missed the spark that their starting centre backs bring, it was largely due to Davies that Spurs’ defence didn’t collapse in their absence. He was able to track runners behind, and able to carry the ball forward and play the passes Postecoglou looks for from his centre backs. He’ll never be a flashy player but his time in the starting role was nothing other than solid.
Centre-midfielders
Oliver Skipp
5/10 – While I believe that with more games Skipp could be a great backup in the number 6 role, when he has played, it has often been as a number 8, which is clearly not his strong suit. He can play some nice balls and can get into good positions, but he just clearly lacks attacking instinct and the free-flowing mindset other players have in that role.
I’d like him to say and believe he is good enough to stay at Spurs, but through lack of minutes and being played out of position, as well as some faults of his own, he hasn’t done a lot so far to justify a larger role in the team. In spite of all this, his last performance, away at United was his best of the season and gives hope he could push on the rest of the season.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg
5/10 – Most Spurs fans would probably agree by now that Hojbjerg doesn’t fit Postecoglou’s system as well as some of the other midfielders. Notably, he often takes too long on the ball and feels more prone to give the ball away in his own half. He can certainly do a job and in a system that best utilizes his talents, something more akin to Conte’s, he is a great player.
But for Postecoglou, he just is missing that “it” that seems to be there for players who have thrived this year. He is reliable and he hasn’t played poorly by any means, but also hasn’t done a great deal to prove he should be starting more games. If the move is there he could move on in January, but we’ll see.
Yves Bissouma
6/10 – If this rating was done based on his first 7 games of the season, Bissouma would have been an 8 or a 9. However, since then, he has gotten 2 red cards, and another suspension for accumulation of yellow cards. Whatever good he has done on the pitch has been so overshadowed by his unavailability. At the beginning of the season, he looked undroppable and the perfect 6 for the system. He was confident, dribbling out of the press, and advancing the ball quickly.
However, in the games he has played since his first suspension due to his red card at Luton, he has failed to reach those levels. One thing notable to me is his poor decision-making, or at least poor execution of those decisions. He seems to dribbling more into pressure and his passing hasn’t seemed the same. There are a number of factors that would hurt this, including his stop-start game time and injuries to his midfield partners, but the fact remains his form and unavailability are an issue.
If he rediscovers his form from the beginning of the year this rating could certainly change, but now, his return to the starting lineup seems far from certain once he comes back from AFCON.
Rodrigo Bentancur
7/10 – If this rating was solely based on the respect his teammates and the fanbase seem to have for Bentancur it would be a 9 or a 10. However, as it is, based on his performances, Bentancur sits around a 7. He hasn’t had too many minutes but does deserve credit for how he has played those games, and his desire to make himself available for the team.
He has acquitted himself well when he played and although he still looks rusty, understandably so, it’s obvious he merits a starting place in Tottenham’s midfield when everyone is fit. He carries the ball and has shown to be adept at winning the ball back and helping out in defence, particularly when one or both fullbacks find themselves up the pitch. If he is able to get a good run of games now, Bentancur should really start to shine.
Pape Matar Sarr
9/10 – Another player that has vastly exceeded expectations, Sarr has been incredible all season long. He makes up ground so well and does a great job at covering for the fullbacks when they move forward into attack. In my mind, if everyone is fully fit, Sarr has to start in midfield. He has proven to be crucial to the team and the way they play, it also helps that he clearly has energy to last full games under Postecoglou.
Attacking Midfielders
James Maddison
9/10 – Although he’s only appeared in 11 games, during those games, Maddison was a revelation and was getting shouts as the Premier League’s best player of the season to that point. In those 11 games, Maddison registered 3 goals and 5 assists, along with 6 Big Chances Created.
His absence has been obvious and it was so clear to see that just about all of the good Tottenham did went through Maddison. Most Spurs fans would have been excited by the signing, but few would have expected his impact to be so meaningful.
That impact extends to his role as vice-captain as well, he has seemed to love the role and responsibility it brings. His return should be crucial for Spurs, even if he doesn’t reach the peaks of the first months of the season.
Giovani Lo Celso
7/10 – Lo Celso, when he has played, has largely played very well and has shown he could be an able deputy for Maddison. The only issue here is that he is constantly injured. Lo Celso has started only 4 Premier League games and made 6 appearances off the bench.
While he’s been productive in those games and provided an offensive spark, as the saying goes, the best ability is availability, something Lo Celso does not have in droves.
He deserves credit for reviving his Spurs career and carving out a space for him in the squad, but his frequent injuries remain a frustration, especially at a time when Spurs’ main creator, Maddison, has been out for over 2 months now.
Wingers
Heung-Min Son
8/10 – After last season, a lot of people would have been forgiven for thinking Son might be over the hill. He played poorly and never seemed to find a rhythm. However, he seems to have dispelled any doubt with 12 goals and 5 assists in 20 league games.
Beyond the goalscoring, his passing has really shown for me, as well as his ability to play the style Postecoglou wants. He has the ability to participate in intricate passing moves and create chances for others. It feels as if his all-around game has really improved and it just seems that he is really thriving whether he is playing through the middle or on the wing.
He also seems to be a very strong captain and someone the others are willing to follow. He, like any player, has had off games, but overall he has seemed remarkably consistent. This consistency already appears as if it will be a big loss for as long as he is out.
Bryan Gil
5/10 – Bryan Gil, is a difficult player to rate. He has had a couple of good moments, but, on the whole, he has seemed to still be unfit for Tottenham, if not the Premier League. Smaller players can succeed and be influential players, but Gil just doesn’t seem to be when he comes on.
He hasn’t seemed particularly fast and while he can dribble and retain the ball, it’s not as if he does that exceptionally well either. He can certainly be a very good and influential player, but it seems doubtful that that influence would come at Spurs, especially with the January arrival of Timo Werner, another forward who will certainly be ahead of him in the pecking order.
Ivan Perisic
5/10 – After a good start to the season, it seemed Perisic might have been becoming Spurs’ super sub. However, after 5 games, Perisic suffered an ACL injury and it looks as though his time at Spurs is over with a loan move until the end of the season completed with Hajduk Split.
It would have been nice to have seen Perisic in a Postecoglou system, particularly given the increase in game time he would have seen with other injuries and his excitement to play for the Australian. However, with Perisic out the door and unlikely to return, his time at Spurs with a ‘what could have been.’
Dejan Kulusevski
8/10 – This season Kulusevski has really seemed to rediscover his form from his opening months at Spurs. He rates highly in numerous metrics, from distance covered, to chances created.
There were understandably some doubts over Kulusevski at the start of the year given his, and the team’s, performances over the course of the 2022/23 season, however, he has adapted well to the Postecoglou system. This has even included switching roles to play in the midfield 3.
The only drawback, really, to his game this year has been moments of seeming indecisiveness. It seems as if sometimes he tries to play the perfect pass rather than shooting himself, which is most often the best option. Beyond that there’s not much more that could be asked of him and his endurance is clearly a benefit in the Postecoglou system.
Brennan Johnson
7/10 – It seems as if lately Spurs fans have begun to criticize Johnson and he has become a scapegoat of sorts, something Spurs fans always seem to need. In spite of this, and a couple of injuries early in the season, he has played well, and while it is clear there’s much room for improvement, he has started with 1 goal and 4 assists, especially for a 22-year-old with only one prior year of top-flight football.
There’ve been two drawbacks to his game this year, one is his stamina, he does often seem to falter late in games where his teammates may not, although, again, this is understandable and explainable given his injuries and being forced to play almost every game for the entire 90 minutes.
The second is the same as Kulusevski. He seems to lack the confidence to shoot or drive at defenders. If he can show more of his pace and dribbling ability, he could really start to live up to some of the potential he has shown.
Manor Solomon
5/10 – Solomon has been injured for the majority of the season but started well and showed some of his potential with a couple of assists against Burnley in Tottenham’s 5-2 win early in the season. He will certainly have to fight for minutes in the second half of the season when he returns, however, as players will be coming back and Timo Werner entering the fray.
Strikers
Richarlison
7/10 – Given his performances this year, Richarlison has toed the line between a 6 and a 7, but a 7 seems more appropriate given his output and how he was viewed at the start of the year. In 17 league appearances this year, Richarlison has 6 goals and 3 assists. 9 goal involvements over 17 games is certainly not a bad return, especially for the man who had all of 1 goal last season in the Premier League.
If we’re basing it solely off of expectations for Richarlison, he has overperformed this season, especially after his surgery. He has contributed regularly since his return and he also, along with the rest of the front 3, has shown a willingness to track back and press throughout the game.
He has missed big chances and fans would likely want more goals from their centre-forward, but given how much he has shown progress from last season, Richarlison deserves some credit.
Alejo Veliz
5/10 – It looks as though Veliz too has picked up a long-term injury, but the few minutes he played showed something of a spark. This spark included his first goal in England in Tottenham’s 2-4 loss to Brighton at the AmEx.
He looks like the pace of the game is a bit much for him at the moment, understandably, and never really got enough minutes to develop a rhythm. He certainly is one for the future and the fact he played at all is something he should be proud of given Postecoglou had said he likely wouldn’t see any minutes during the first half of the season.