Tottenham Hotspur: Full Report Card for Every Position for August
With August in the books, Mauricio Pochettino has completed his first official month as Tottenham Hotspur manager.
The delight of a couple of London derby victories to begin their Premier League campaign was tempered by the 3-0 loss to Liverpool last time out. With Europa League qualification confirmed too, however, it has been a largely positive start to 2014-15.
Over the following pages, we take a look position-by-position at how each individual Tottenham player has fared in the early days of Pochettino's managerial reign.
Each player's grade will be based on their performances since the start of the season, with recognition of their current standing in their playing positions, as well as the amount of time they have actually played.
Not included are players to have featured in August, but who have subsequently left—i.e. Sandro, who has joined Queens Park Rangers. Yet to have featured in any capacity whatsoever, new signings Federico Fazio and Benjamin Stambouli are also omitted for now.
As currently recognised first-team squad members, the likes of Brad Friedel and Milos Veljkovic are included, despite either not featuring, or thus far having minimal involvement.
Naturally, we begin with Spurs' goalkeepers.
Goalkeeper
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Brad Friedel: B
Friedel's function this season as the back-up to Lloris and Vorm has already been seen. He is there to sit on the substitute's bench when either of them are absent.
At 43 he may be on his last legs as a professional, but his pre-season showed he can still do a job for Spurs when needed.
Hugo Lloris: A+
Save for some errant kicking and a misjudged venture off his line against Liverpool, Lloris has been typically reliable in goal for Tottenham. He helped keep the score down in the 3-0 loss to the Reds, and also made some big stops to keep Spurs level away at West Ham United.
The France international has been involved in every game since that season-opening win. His cup involvement may be cut back once Michel Vorm is fit, but Lloris has quickly proved to Mauricio Pochettino how indispensable he is.
Michel Vorm: C
Pochettino talked to Spurs' official website prior to the West Ham game about the "special plan" to get Vorm into playing condition. Perhaps the length of his duration on the sideline was anticipated. Whatever the issue, it has done him no favours.
The former Swansea City keeper would likely have played both games against Limassol, getting an opportunity to put the first-choice Lloris under some immediate pressure. He will likely still get his chance in Europa League and Capital One Cup games to come. But he is going to be playing catch-up.
Centre-Back
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Vlad Chiriches: C
After injury kept Chiriches sidelined in pre-season, the centre-back finally made his 2014-15 bow in the Europa League qualifier second leg with Limassol. The Cypriot outfit did not overly test him at White Hart Lane, but Chiriches was an assured presence at the back.
That he has been kept beyond the transfer window suggests the Romanian is valued by his manager. For now we wait to see if he is regarded as the left-sided back-up to Jan Vertonghen in central defence, or someone with a real chance of claiming a regular starting role again.
Younes Kaboul: C-
Tottenham's captain so far this season, Kaboul has not yet looked like the player who helmed the defence as solidly as he often did late last season. An uncertain display against West Ham can be excused for rustiness, and he was definitely better against QPR (albeit with a little less to deal with).
Kaboul was sub-par against Liverpool, though—erratic in possession and undoubtedly troubled by the speed and movement of their attack. There is still scope for improvement for the Frenchman, but he is looking at a fight to play following Federico Fazio's arrival.
Milos Veljkovic: B-
His late cameo at home to Limassol and the departure of Zeki Fryers confirmed this is a player Spurs already have a certain amount of trust in. The 18-year-old may head out on loan at some point this season as he continues his development, but his future looks bright.
Jan Vertonghen: B+
A late returner because of his World Cup duties, Vertonghen was a little off the pace in his first game back, away at Limassol. The Belgian has quickly settled into something close to a regular groove, and was particularly commanding in the 4-0 home win over QPR.
Pochettino still needs to figure out his strongest back four, and Vertonghen cannot rest on his laurels with Chiriches close by. Still, he has as good a chance as any of his team-mates at cementing a regular stating role at centre-back.
Full-Back
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Eric Dier: B+
Dier's future may be at centre-back, but having been predominantly utilised at right-back so far this season, that is where he deserves to be evaluated. The general impression he has given there has been positive.
Against West Ham and QPR he adapted sufficiently to the demands of each game, defending well while decidedly contributing in attack. He had a poorer showing in the loss to Liverpool, but still showed some defensive chops (a good sliding tackle on Mario Balotelli the highlight) even as he was unhappily involved in the game's turning points.
Ben Davies: B-
Pochettino has opted to start with Danny Rose in the Premier League thus far, placing Davies on Europa League duty. Tidy enough, the left-back did not have a whole lot to do in either game versus Limassol.
Davies made his Premier League bow as a second-half substitute versus Liverpool, he will get his chances in the league soon enough if he remains reliable in cup outings.
Kyle Naughton: C
Unluckily sent off against West Ham for handball, Naughton had been Spurs' most solid defensive performer up to that point in the game. He is a no-thrills full-back, and that ability to get on with the job ensures he will remain a good option for his manager.
Naughton will see some match time as long as Kyle Walker is out. For the time being, though, the greater offensive energy of Dier might mean the 25-year-old is benched in the league.
Danny Rose: B
Rose has had a mixed season so far to say the least. His grade is more to do with the faith Pochettino has placed in him at this early stage—and the England call-up it has helped to lead to—than his actual performances.
The left-back was given a torrid time on the flank by West Ham's Stewart Downing. He was much improved against QPR, then was relatively uninspired at home to Liverpool. The sight of Rose slowly getting back into position on a couple of occasions in the latter game has not done much to alleviate concerns over his work ethic.
Kyle Walker: C
Walker has not played a minute of competitive action in pre-season so his grade is obviously nothing to do with his performances. His is to do with his continued struggle to overcome a pelvic injury that has ruined his chances of quickly regaining momentum this season.
The 24-year-old's injury disrupted end to 2013-14 cost him a World Cup place, but also stunted his aimed-for development into one of the Premier League's best defenders. That objective is still achievable, but he is behind schedule.
UPDATE: Later on Tuesday, Walker's fitness situation was clarified via Tottenham's official website with news he had "undergone lower abdominal surgery." Additionally, it was noted "the decision to have surgery was taken following further medical assessment by specialists."
Central Midfield
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Nabil Bentaleb: B
Albeit aided by the late returns from World Cup duty of others, Bentaleb getting the nod to start in central midfield has gone some way to shutting up critics who viewed him as a Tim Sherwood lackey. The 19-year-old is still a work in progress, but has been generally impressive so far this season.
Bentaleb played especially well against QPR, and still managed to display some impressive flashes of quality during a tough learning experience against Liverpool. He will likely be dropped at some point, but his next chance will not be too long forthcoming afterwards.
Etienne Capoue: B+
Benjamin Stambouli's signing has increased the competition for places in defensive midfield. That Sandro has been allowed to leave rather than Capoue clearly underlines Pochettino's belief in the latter's talents.
Capoue will have to find ways of better stifling the greater attacking quality of sides like Liverpool. Nonetheless, his attributes snuffing out moves before they reach the defence and then making use of the ball have been evident enough already to justify a belief they will increasingly come to the fore this season.
Mousa Dembele: C
Coming on as he did against Liverpool, ahead of Lewis Holtby and the not-involved Paulinho, Pochettino evidently is an admirer of the dynamic Dembele. The Belgium international has not yet settled into his best rhythm since his late World Cup return, yet the on-ball strength and purposeful dribbling is as hard to ignore as always.
What remains to be seen is if Pochettino already believes in Dembele enough to bring him into central midfield for Bentaleb after the international break. Or if his desire to see more from him limits him to a supporting role until he satisfactorily steps up a gear.
Ryan Mason: C-
One of Tottenham's brightest pre-season performers, Mason has not been called on yet this season. The departures of Holtby and Sandro could yet mean him getting his chance at some point.
Paulinho: C+
Underwhelming in the first leg against Limassol, Paulinho was much improved in a more attacking role in the second leg. His excellent pass to Kyle Naughton helped Spurs win a penalty, and while that was missed, Paulinho was the one to tee up Harry Kane for their opener.
The goal the Brazilian scored himself was well taken, and a just reward after he and an advanced Chiriches had forced the ball off Diallo Guidileye in his own box. It was only one game, but it showed what Paulinho could offer with an emphasis placed on his attacking abilities, rather than tethered to defensive duty. It is uncertain how many opportunities he will get to show this.
Attacking Midfield
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Nacer Chadli: B+
As he was not involved in pre-season, it was difficult to ascertain whether Chadli was much fancied by Pochettino for his team. After a decent cameo off the bench versus Limassol, the answer was presented at home to QPR as the Belgian scored twice in his first start of the season.
The following week's Liverpool loss showed his limitations against certain sides—chiefly the absence of explosive pace. Chadli is arguably the best finisher of Spurs' attacking midfield options, though, while the 6' 2" man's physicality and aerial presence provides an outlet none of his colleagues in the position quite provide.
Christian Eriksen: A
Eriksen is gradually finding his way into this season. If the increasingly quality of his performances are anything to go by, he will more than match the highs of his first season in England.
The widening boundaries of his influence were underlined by him being Spurs' best riposte to Liverpool's own midfield on Sunday, making it all the more surprising when he was substituted. There is a developing understanding between Eriksen and Erik Lamela too that holds some promise for it being the key feature of the team's attacking play this year.
Erik Lamela: B+
After helping Spurs overcome a one-goal deficit away at Limassol, Lamela was excellent in the following weekend's win over QPR. The performance demonstrated the effectiveness of his incisive dribbles, as well as his eye for a telling pass.
Lamela was less influential against West Ham and Liverpool, but he commendably still worked hard to make an impression. He is far better prepared for the physical side of the Premier League than he was last year, something that will continue to stand him in good stead. There are signs the all-round quality of his performances coming to the fore might not be far behind either.
Aaron Lennon: C-
Lennon's use alongside Eriksen and Lamela in Pochettino's attacking midfield trio quickly—at least for the time being—gave way after a quiet game versus West Ham. He had some good moments at home to Limassol last week, but pre-season hopes he had been revitalised by a switch to left wing have not quite bore fruit yet.
Not used against QPR and not even on the bench versus Liverpool, the time when Lennon was a key part of the Spurs side may be nearing an end. It is up to him to prove otherwise when playing opportunities come his way.
Andros Townsend: C+
The arrival of Townsend in the second half versus West Ham helped Spurs back into the game, providing a welcome directness of approach that had previously been lacking. The limitations of this side of the winger's game have subsequently proved less helpful—none more so than when he immediately and costly gave the ball away to Liverpool's Alberto Moreno this past Sunday.
Townsend was a little unlucky there, but the moment and his subsequent display underlined the need for him to find more nuance in his game. There have been signs of an improvement on last season here, but Pochettino still has work to do if he wants to shape him into a consistently useful attacker, rather than just an occasionally dangerous weapon.
Up Front
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Emmanuel Adebayor: B
Unsurprisingly, Pochettino has so far gone with the experienced and sizable Adebayor as the focal point of his team's attack in the Premier League.
The best of his aptitude for the role was shown in an all-encompassing effort versus QPR—he scored, set one up and led the line impeccably as a fluid Tottenham ripped apart the Hoops. Adebayor's more ponderous tendencies were then seen against Liverpool—albeit forced by the more thorough attentions of their defenders—while he did little to take the game to West Ham on opening day.
It appears Spurs have the same striker at their disposal then as has been the case every season he has been with them. Undoubtedly talented, just not especially consistent.
Harry Kane: A-
The rawness of Kane's game has been shown in the sloppiness of his initial contributions off the bench versus West Ham, as well as his missed penalty at home to Limassol. The contrasting, increasing quality of the 20-year-old forward was also shown in those same games—an excellent assist for Dier's winner at Upton Park, followed by a goal and highly involved display at White Hart Lane in the latter.
Kane is undoubtedly a legitimate option for Pochettino up front. He is finding his feet as a finisher and is already a player capable of linking up and creating from deep positions and out wide. The big test of his credentials will come if he is handed the chance to lead the Spurs attack regularly in the Premier League.
Roberto Soldado: B-
Soldado's size counts somewhat against him in the battle to be Pochettino's leading man in attack. If he is not suitable in terms of occupying opposition defences physically, he has hinted at once again finding the finishing form that may keep them on their toes in another way.
The Spaniard's goal against Limassol away was superbly taken. Unfortunately he was almost immediately sidelined by injury, denying him the chance to try and prove his "comeback" is well and truly on.
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