Why Tottenham Hotspur Must Build Team Around Christian Eriksen

When Tottenham Hotspur spent the Gareth Bale transfer fee on seven new players in the summer of 2013, Christian Eriksen's arrival from Ajax seemed something of an afterthought. Signed on the same day as Erik Lamela and Vlad Chiriches, Eriksen was just a face in the crowd. 

He made an impressive debut against Norwich City, and his reputation swelled in a season where few others could claim similar. Common wisdom judged him the most successful of the "Magnificent Seven," and he collected the fans' player of the season awards.

Despite a niggling injury that restricted his appearances under Andre Villas-Boas, Eriksen proved himself to be a singularly talented player. By the start of this season, he was being favourably compared with Arsenal's record-signing Mesut Ozil by Matt Law of The Telegraph. 

Much like Rafael van der Vaart, Eriksen has dazzlingly quick feet, a fully rounded passing game and a finely tuned sense of opportunity. He reads the play so well that he is able to anticipate how it will unfold and place himself at the centre of it.

Like Van der Vaart, he lacks any real pace but, effectively deployed, is able to influence a game more than any other player in the Tottenham squad. 

Denmark legend Brian Laudrup, a key player in that nation's only trophy-winning team at Euro 1992, gave a thoughtful interview to Tottenham's official website about Eriksen recently. He made some key observations about Eriksen's development in England and his role at Tottenham and for the national team. 

He praised Eriksen for an impressive debut season in England, observing the struggles of his team-mates arriving from foreign leagues. He was careful to point out that the second season can often be more difficult than the first.

"

I was asked about his second season and I said that I felt it was going to be difficult for him. The second season it always very difficult as the other teams know about your qualities. It’s going to be a tough season but he’s a very talented player.

"

Laudrup's faith is what is required at Spurs, but it is born out of how consistently Eriksen performed at Ajax and for Denmark. 

Eriksen was heavily criticised by Denmark manager Morten Olsen, via the Mirror, following a late defeat to Portugal in a Euro 2016 qualifier in October. Olsen argued that Eriksen had stagnated at Tottenham and failed to make the necessary progress. "It is not Ajax any more, this is not development," he said immediately after the 1-0 defeat. "Therefore, we blame him. He must stand up to the criticism, and he does too." 

Pochettino defended Eriksen amid the criticism, per the Guardian, but he too had cause to be frustrated with him early in the season. At the time, I too outlined a defence for Eriksen and attempted to demonstrate how he has been forced to develop his game at Spurs.  

Olsen singled out Eriksen for criticism because he is Denmark's most important player. At the age of 22, Eriksen has already reached 49 caps for his country. He is the heart of that team. Playing in a loose central midfield role, he is given the responsibility of running the team. Already a veteran of the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012, he is now leading them to a likely place in Euro 2016. 

Eriksen should assume a similar role at Tottenham. 

When Mauricio Pochettino joined Spurs, the assumption that he would persist with his 4-2-3-1/4-3-3 formation led to questions about where Eriksen would play.

Not tenacious enough to play as a holding midfielder and lacking the pace for a wide role, only the No. 10 position appeared to suit. Unfortunately, Spurs have a glut of players that prefer that area of the pitch.

Having gained a clearer understanding of his role in Pochettino's team now, Eriksen has been a regular starter. Unfortunately, as the team has struggled he has moved around and been regularly sacrificed for substitutions. 

Laudrup made the point that it is difficult for Eriksen to shine in unfamiliar roles. "He needs players around him to make the runs as he’s not the quickest himself," the former Swansea City manager noted.

Too often, Eriksen has not had the right players around him and has been unable to influence the game as he would like. 

He has been compared unfavourably with former Spurs attacking midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson. Sigurdsson left Spurs for Swansea in search of more regular football in the summer. Here Is The City observes that Sigurdsson has been a fantastic success, and the Icelander's performances have outshone those of his former Tottenham team-mate. 

Laudrup acknowledged the difficulties that Eriksen has had, while pointing out the team is still adapting to Pochettino's playing style. "At the moment in the Premier League he’s trying to adapt to [the manager's] way of playing, which is different to others."

There is no doubt that Eriksen has been below his best this season. It is true that Sigurdsson has flourished but Eriksen remains a vastly superior player. 

In truth, despite acknowledging that he and his team-mates simply need time to adapt to the manager's style, per the London Evening Standard, Pochettino himself must recognise that Eriksen is his most gifted player. 

Luka Modric was superficially similar to Eriksen when he arrived in England. Skilful but slight, he wasn't suited to a deep role and found his feet in a wide role before moving into the middle. Eriksen is younger now than Modric was when he arrived at Spurs but it is unlikely that he will ever develop the skill set necessary to play the "Modric" role. It's a shame, because Spurs are desperate to replace the little Croatian, but Eriksen is far better suited to a more pure attacking role. 

Pochettino is working hard to make Eriksen a more rounded player. He demands a great deal from his squad but, as Tim Sherwood revealed during his short spell as manager, per ESPN.co.uk, the Dane is a furiously hard trainer. 

In August, Eriksen admitted that life under Pochettino had been tough, per Law.

"

It’s been a hard pre-season under the new trainer. The first few weeks there were times when we went to bed pretty early. Now, of course, you try to get used to it. There have been double sessions two times a week when we’re training at 10am and then again at 4pm, so it’s a long day. Mentally as well it’s pretty hard, but it’s fun to play football so it’s all right. If he wants us to press and play like Southampton did, then all the work is necessary.

"

When Denmark beat Serbia in European qualifying last week, Morten Olsen singled Eriksen out once again when speaking to Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet (h/t Inside Futbol). This time though, it was to praise his contribution. Eriksen "played a good game", according to Denmark's coach. 

Positioned as a No. 10, Eriksen was heavily involved as they came back from 1-0 down to win 3-1. It was a reminder of how effective he can be. Of particular note was the first goal. Eriksen led a counter-attack from a Serbia corner, and his shot was spilled by the keeper for Nicklas Bendtner to score.

Pochettino's style of football places great value on rapid transition, and Eriksen's aptitude for the tactic means there is every reason to believe that the Argentinian can, and should, build his team around him. 

Eriksen should not hope to escape the hard work, but he must also be given some latitude and should not be sacrificed lightly. He is already Pochettino's best player but, with the appropriate flexibility, he is ready to become his most effective.