We’ve reached the halfway point of the season, and Spurs are sitting in a respectable 5th place at the time of writing this, certainly better than many people predicted at the start of the season.
As we look towards the second half of the season, it’s a good time to take a breather, assess the squad going into the business end, and find out what pieces we have to play with for the summer.
Tottenham Hotspur Squad Review
Guglielmo Vicario – Hugo Lloris was quoted in 2022 saying (FootballLondon) “Obviously, for the next two years, I will make sure I find another person for the next 10 years.” Lloris staying for those extra 6 months to ensure that Vicario is that man and to impart his wisdom speaks volumes about what a great servant Lloris has been to the club. The transition has been seamless, and Vicario is fast becoming one of the top three goalkeepers in the league already, which is very good for a signing most of us had to google. He’s not going anywhere.
Fraser Forster – Forster, as he approaches retirement age, has been a solid and dependable backup the entire time he’s been here and has been a great fit in the dressing room.
Pedro Porro – Has shown everyone (especially Tim Sherwood) how good he is this season. The Spanish baller will have surely played his way into Spain’s Euros squad and will be here for many summers to come.
Emerson Royal – Emerson’s versatility has been a great asset, as this traditional fullback has been asked about so much since he signed. With different managers and philosophies, he’s been asked to play as a wing-back, a right centre-back in a back 3, an inverted wing-back for both flanks, and a ball-playing centre half too. He’s a great asset to the squad and should only be moved in if we’re getting Walker money for him.
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Radu Dragusin – The mentality to reject Bayern for Spurs speaks volumes about how much he values his development and shows that he’s got a level head at 21 years of age. Dominant in the air during his time in Serie A, this former Juventus player (we certainly love a bit of them) recently made his debut, coming off the bench against Manchester United. Should develop into a very solid backup who can push both Micky and Romero for a starting berth.
Cristian Romero – The more responsibility we give Cuti, the better I think he’ll develop. He has the potential to be a top-tier centre-back; he just needs to channel his aggression wisely, and nothing can stop him but himself. I will be here for many years to come.
Micky Van de Ven – We’ve sorely missed him since his injury, as before he was having an amazing debut season. Now that he’s back, I expect him to continue his great form and be at Spurs for many years to come.
Ashley Phillips – Young Phillips will need to perform well on his loan at Plymouth to stake his claim for the 4th centre-back spot at Spurs, competing with Dorrington, Davies, and Royal, who can all be that 4th choice too. I expect him to stay this summer and be a squad player, filling in when needed.
Destiny Udogie – Undroppable and untouchable, will take stupid money to take him away from us.
Ben Davies – Davies hasn’t always had many fans during his time at Spurs, but I feel that his popularity amongst the fanbase has turned a corner in recent times after successfully deputizing for Van de Ven’s absence. Always consistent and always a good head in the dressing room, we’re lucky to have gotten so much service from a solid utility player.
Ryan Sessegnon – His body is failing him, and it pains me. It’s time we moved Sessegnon on for the benefit of all parties, gave him a chance to rebuild his confidence in a less pressured environment, and allowed us to make a little bit of money back. Although I doubt anyone pays a fee for Ryan, he will probably walk on a free path in 2025.
Yves Bissouma – Started the season red hot but has simmered out since then, hoping a successful AFCON campaign can revive his form when he returns for business at the end of the season. He will be a good squad player for years to come, but I can’t see how he gets over Sarr or Bentancur at the moment.
Pape Matar Sarr – He seems to be able to cover the entire length of the pitch with just a few strides and is energetic and athletic while finding an eye for goal in the process. Sarr has significant potential, and we still don’t know exactly what he’ll develop into. All that’s certain is that it’s sure to be something great. I was tied down to a long-term contract recently, and I’m very happy about that.
Pierre Emile Hojbjerg – A great servant to this club who’s played well under multiple managers and has a top attitude on and off the pitch, it won’t be difficult to fetch a healthy fee for the Danish international. Ultimately, Ange needs more dynamism from his midfielders, and as solid as Pierre is, we could certainly use the funds to buy a more suitable player for the system. We have a lot of respect for Hojbjerg, though.
Giovani Lo Celso – He’s shown glimpses of just how talented he is, but whenever he puts a string of good games together, he’s hit with another injury. With his contract expiring soon, it’s genuinely time to try and move him on for cheap in the summer, despite my knowing and all of us knowing he’ll do very well wherever he lands. It’s just that his Spurs career has been marred by unlucky injuries under five permanent managers. It’s time to sell in the summer.
Rodrigo Bentancur – He has slotted right back into the team after a lengthy injury, and it’s like he never left a proper baller. We should be renewing his contract this summer to take it to 2029 at least.
Oliver Skipp – It’s hard to judge Skipp; sometimes it looks like he needs another loan spell of regular football, and other times we’re all just content for him to be a backup when necessary. I feel we should keep him a bit longer, as not only is he a hard-working professional willing to play a squad role, but he’s also very important to our home-grown squad registration quota.
Bryan Gil – As much as I want to believe in the talent of Bryan Gil, a lot of times his football ability in the English game leaves much to be desired when compared to his amazing stints in Spain. I think it’s, unfortunately, time to sell him, but only with a decent sell-on clause.
Brennan Johnson – People need to be patient with Brennan. There’s far too much criticism against a 22-year-old who’s already matched Son’s first-season contribution. We can all see that Brennan just needs that little bit more to be special, and when he finds it, he will be.
James Maddison – Was on track for a unanimous PFA Player of the Season campaign; if not for that unlucky injury, his return will spark joy for Spurs fans and send shivers of fear to every other club in the country.
Dejan Kulusevski – I think Deki is finally getting the recognition he deserves from neutrals, rival fans, and even Spurs fans! He’s been right up there with chance creation and distance covered, so no matter what form he’s in, he’s at the very least trying his best. He has all the tools to be a modern Spurs legend, and I hope he’ll hit those hits he can reach.
Manor Solomon – He has played decently in his brief cameos, even notching some assists. Should be able to get an okay fee for him and move him on in the summer for younger talent to come through.
Richarlison – I wrote an article before the season began about Richarlison being a great Postecoglou striker and how he’d be replacing Kane, just not directly. Richy allows us to play a whole new system that replaces Kane, rather than just one player. I still believe he will be a very important Spurs player for years to come, and even if you don’t like him, you have to admit he’s a battler.
Alejo Veliz – It’s unfortunate to get injured just as he scored his first goal for the club, but from what we’ve all seen of him, he looks promising. I am excited to see if he can make the striker spot his in the years to come.
Timo Werner – I liked Timo at Chelsea as he often epitomised what it meant to give it your all when you’re not playing well, which helped him develop a bond with the Chelsea fans. Now it’s his turn to do it in Lilywhite, and despite some poor finishing on his debut, he played through a lovely assist to Bentancur against Manchester United. I reckon Timo’s going to do just fine in a Spurs shirt, leading us to secure his services for around £17 million.
Heung-min Son – Our captain, our leader. Protect him at all costs.
The squads rounded out very nicely, with only a few more pieces in the puzzle left to complete. If we’re able to get some good loans out of Dorrington, Donley, and Santiago next season too, we should be fine for many years to come.
We’ve got the depth now to see out the second half of the season, and crucially, all our rivals will be playing European knockout football starting in February, so there’s a massive chance for us to hurdle the opposition.
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