The loneliness of the reserve striker

Since the Barnsley game I have seen a few people already having a pop at Llorente.

Granted he missed a chance he should have scored but he’s been out of action with a broken arm and had two very brief substitute appearances.

Harry had has usual barren August and created bagfuls of chances and is now on fire. This is by no means a dig at Harry – we all know it’s another of those Spurs curses that we seem to be suffering. But I’m making the point to illustrate the fact that he enjoyed a 3 or 4 game run to get his season going from a goal scoring perspective.

With the array of new formations in the modern game (they all tend to end in a one) 4-5-1, 4-2-3-1, it’s very difficult for your number 2 striker to enjoy a run of games. The odd 90 minutes in the league cup sandwiched between a couple of 82nd minute substitute appearances is no way to get any sort of fluency in your game.

Being a young, relatively inexperienced player I believe that Vincent Jansen really struggled with this scenario. I also feel that at times he maybe lacked the intensity in training demanded by Poch. Just a hunch but otherwise he may have had more opportunity when Harry was injured.

It will be interesting to see how he fares during his loan spell (already having scored on debut). I know it’s not the Premier league but he should start every week and there are easier places to ply your trade than the Turkish league.

I’d love to be able to give Soldado this excuse but the reality is he was signed as first choice and was poor despite extended runs in the side. We still loved him though.

Back to Llorente and I think Levy and Pochettino have played a blinder securing someone with his experience to largely act as back up. Any striker coming to Spurs will know that baring injury they will be on the bench for a number of games. It must be a hard sell.

I fully expect a decent return from him come the end of the season.