Tottenham Hotspur: Full Report Card for Every Position for November
November turned out pretty good for Tottenham Hotspur. Europa League progress was confirmed, while they clinched nine out of a possible 12 Premier League points.
Performances improved over the course of the month, too. The concluding win over Everton could have been a different team compared to the one that lost to Stoke City prior to the international break.
Actually, it was quite different. Which is why the following position-by-position report card has seen several players earn better grades than might have been foreseen earlier in November.
Each player's mark is based primarily on their work this past month and their current standing in their respective position. Naturally, overall form so far this season also informed the decisions.
Not included are squad members who did not feature at all (Brad Friedel and Kyle Walker), or only played minimal minutes (academy midfielder Harry Winks who came on against Partizan Belgrade).
First up, the goalkeepers.
Goalkeeper
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Hugo Lloris: A
Besides a couple of iffy moments venturing off his line (as pictured above), Lloris kept to his usual high standard in November when called upon. Which was not actually all that much in a month when none of Tottenham's opponents particularly bombarded their goal. For instance, Stoke—their only conquerors—managed just four shots on target (as tallied by BBC Sport).
The standout moment for the France captain was his crucial late save to maintain Spurs' lead over Partizan Belgrade in the Europa League. Beginning with league leaders Chelsea, December should be busier.
Michel Vorm: B
There was nothing to fault about Vorm's solitary appearance away at Asteras Tripolis. He made a number of second-half saves that helped Spurs to a 2-1 win which boosted their chances of topping Europa League Group C. But for the Greek outfit winning a late penalty he would have probably kept a clean-sheet.
Lloris was back for Partizan as his suspension was complete after the Asteras game. Assuming head coach Mauricio Pochettino keeps with his current thinking, the only game Vorm might play in the foreseeable future is the Capital One Cup quarter-final against Newcastle United.
Centre-Back
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Federico Fazio: B
November could not have started much worse for Fazio. He was harshly sent off away at Asteras and was then thrown in alongside Younes Kaboul against Stoke. The centre-back pair's unfamiliarity played into the hands of the adventurous Potters, particularly Bojan Krkic who punished their dithering with a superb opener.
An international call-up for Argentina appears to have done Fazio some good, though. He performed decently enough with Jan Vertonghen at Hull City—the comparatively graceful Belgian a more compatible partner than Kaboul—which led to the two keeping their place for Everton.
Fazio had his best game of the season in a dominant display where he played a big part in keeping the dangerous Romelu Lukaku quiet. A little consistency of selection should continue to do the big defender some good.
Younes Kaboul: C-
The international break came at the worst time for Kaboul. He had not played particularly well in the loss to Stoke (albeit Pochettino's tinkering in defence had not helped) and had been struggling for consistency anyway.
Missing for the post-break win over Hull, the club captain was unable to help his team get back on track then either. The good work of Fazio and Vertonghen in his absence means Kaboul has likely lost his place for now.
Jan Vertonghen: B
Like Fazio, Vertonghen did not start November too well. He was average against Aston Villa and found himself worked inside and out by Asteras Tripolis' aggressive second-half showing out in Greece. Not for the first time this season, he then found himself dropped for the league.
Bar his involvement in the unpleasant altercation which got Gaston Ramirez sent off at Hull, Vertonghen performed well enough at the KC Stadium to keep his place for Everton. That consistency undoubtedly benefited the Belgian, as he put in an assured 90 minutes work. He ably marshalled his team-mates and won the majority of his individual battles.
Full-Back
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Vlad Chiriches: B
Chiriches is included in the full-back section on the basis of two out of his three appearances in November coming in the position. His good work as a substitute there against Hull—particularly going forward—earned him a start on the right against Everton (while he performed capably in the Partizan win in his normal centre-back position).
The Romanian played well enough again in the win over the Toffees—he has given Pochettino something to think about at right-back. With Walker expected back soon and Eric Dier and Kyle Naughton also available (not to mention DeAndre Yedlin due to arrive in 2015), Chiriches' long-term future is unlikely to be in the position. Nonetheless, his good initial work covering there should be commended.
Ben Davies: B+
Davies has seized on Danny Rose's absence through injury with a string of outings which have given him the advantage in the duel to play left-back.
The Welshman's good work in cup games already had him pushing for the under-performing Rose's place. Though he should have done better stopping Jake Livermore's goal at Hull, he grew into his first league start for Spurs and was even better against Everton. His patience looks to have paid off.
Eric Dier: B-
The palaver which came with Dier's withdrawal from the England under-21s was the most noteworthy news of his November. He only appeared three times for Spurs and did not light up two of those showings.
He helped see out the Everton win, though, and remains very much a part of his boss' plans. Given it is still early days in the 20-year-old's Premier League career, both player and club should be satisfied by his progress so far this season.
Kyle Naughton: C+
The inconsistency of Naughton's stop-start season continued apace in a tough month for the right-back. He played well against Aston Villa and was Spurs' best defensive performer for 84 minutes against Stoke. But then he was left with the dilemma of letting Victor Moses go through on goal or riskily attempting a tackle.
Naughton went for the latter, brought the Stoke winger down and was sent off for the second time in 2014-15. Poor in the Partizan win, the chance to build up some momentum could have passed with Chiriches performing decently and Walker's impending return.
Danny Rose: C-
As noted above, Davies looks to be the man in charge of the left-back position heading into the end of 2014.
Rose might not have lost his place if he had not suffered an injury late in the Stoke loss. A mistake in that game, off the back of an unflattering showing in the Villa win, had left his first-choice status in a precarious state, though.
If Davies continued to build on his encouraging form, Rose will have some work to do to get back ahead of him when he is fit.
Central Midfield
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Nabil Bentaleb: B+
Pochettino clearly rates Bentaleb. As soon as he had recovered from the ankle injury which kept him out since early October he was back in the team.
Solid and efficient in his return against Partizan, he kept that up in the Everton win. The 21-year-old worked well alongside Ryan Mason as they both used the ball smartly and worked hard to deny their counterparts space to operate. It will be intriguing to see if this academy product partnership is one Pochettino decides to go with on a regular basis.
Etienne Capoue: C
Capoue's adequate work in defensive midfield saw him retain his place into November. He was decent enough against Villa and Stoke, but even had he not subsequently picked up a knock his place might have been at risk.
The Frenchman was proving just a little too tame in his role. Spurs needed more aggression protecting their defence and stopping other teams playing. Bar the odd appearance it is difficult to see Capoue playing much from here unless he ups his own game.
Mousa Dembele: C
Dembele has not performed awfully by any means, but in comparison to others his own work in Novemer left a lot to be desired.
Spurs were markedly better against Hull when Christian Eriksen dropped deep and took up the duty of orchestrating Spurs' play. Dembele was subsequently not missed against Everton, while at home to Partizan it was the nominal defensive midfielder Benjamin Stambouli who stood out most in the position.
Dembele needs to put in performances commensurate with his considerable ability if he is to play more moving forward.
Ryan Mason: A-
Mason has continued to show he is deserving of his place in the Tottenham team right now. Although a little sloppy at times, he generally uses the ball well and has a good eye for the movements of those ahead of him.
His general work rate is excellent, while his willingness to put in a tackle as well as get back and pitch in defensively continues to impress. Against Everton, the balance between him and Bentaleb worked well. His efforts will be tested by a gruelling December.
Benjamin Stambouli: B+
Pochettino's thinking in not using Stambouli in the Premier League is still unclear. So long as the midfielder continues to play as well as he has in cup competition his chance will surely come, though.
The Frenchman's spirited display proved the difference against Partizan as he combined crunching tackles and attacking verve. The latter resulted in his first Spurs goal.
Attacking Midfield
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Nacer Chadli: A-
A post-international break knock saw Chadli lose his starting place at the end of the month, but it will not be too long before he gets his chance again.
He scored a vital equaliser in the eventual win over Aston Villa and his goal against Stoke gave Spurs a chance of coming back in that one. Along with Eriksen and Harry Kane, Chadli's goals have ensured his team has not got caught in the bottom-half mud this season.
There is a little uncertainty as to how the Belgian best fits in Pochettino's system, but his way of finding the net continues to make him an important tool as the Argentinian tries to build a successful team.
Christian Eriksen: A
Withdrawn at half-time in Tottenham's first two games of November, Eriksen's underwhelming work suggested his national team boss Morten Olsen's constructive criticism of him had backfired. However, a better time of it with Denmark this most recent time around seems to have revitalised the creative midfielder.
Played a little deeper in the second-half against Hull, Eriksen passed Spurs back into the game after they had been a goal down. His free-kick led to Kane's equaliser, and then the Dane scored a terrific goal to win it. Pochettino played him off the left-flank against Everton but with a license to roam. He again impressed in another important fightback for his side.
Erik Lamela: B+
Not a big month for Lamela production-wise, but November did show Tottenham are generally better for his presence.
He did not start against Villa or Stoke and Spurs lacked penetration and creativity as a result. No other player in the squad puts opposition sides on the back foot quite like the skilful Argentinian. Even if he does hold on to the ball too long sometimes.
Back in the team, Lamela played his part in turning around the Hull game. Though dropped for Everton following a midweek outing in the Europa League, he did help see the game out in the manner described above.
Aaron Lennon: A-
Something apparently has clicked in Lennon's mind over the course of the last 30 days. Bereft of ideas and inspiration, the 27-year-old's poor form earlier in the season looked to have left him firmly out of Pochettino's plans.
Then he was brought on against Hull, and the smart, sharp link-up play he combined with the natural width he provides helped Spurs win the game. He followed that up with a bright display against Partizan Belgrade and was rewarded with a start at home to Everton. Lennon's work helped keep his team in it at one-nil down before he provided what proved to be the match-winning assist.
Lennon has found some much-needed momentum, he now needs to find a way to sustain it.
Paulinho: C-
There is not much to say about Paulinho, which just about sums him up. In keeping with much of the season, his recent work veered between ineffectual and anonymous.
The Brazilian tried to make things happen against Partizan and worked hard to keep Spurs' lead against Everton. But for a player of whom much was expected, he has not done enough to suggest he deserves more opportunities.
Andros Townsend: B
Townsend has not had much luck of late. A hand in the win over Villa and a big part in the 2-1 defeat of Asteras Tripolis earned him a start versus Stoke. The change did not suit the team for that day, though, and the burgeoning momentum that might have been better served off the bench was gone.
Injured since then, Townsend will hope December provides further opportunities to prove he can be more than just a bit-part player.
Attack
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Emmanuel Adebayor: C-
Injury and the international break meant November would be a quiet month for Adebayor. Then again, his lackadaisical work to begin it with suggested it might have turned out that way regardless.
Pochettino gave him ample opportunity to lead his team's attack in the season's opening months. Adebayor did not take it and others have now moved ahead of him in the pecking order.
Harry Kane: A+
The decisive goals against Aston Villa and Asteras, the crucial equaliser versus Hull—Kane was excellent for Tottenham in November.
While he was unable to make the most of the first league start of 2014-15 those contributions earned versus Stoke, he came back from the international break as motivated as before at Hull. Though he did not score, his industrious, swashbuckling display helped set the tone of Spurs' confidence-boosting win over Everton too.
As things stand, Kane is the main man in his team's attack.
Roberto Soldado: B+
Soldado's winner against Everton earns him a plus mark to his grade. Up until then, he had continued to be among the chances for Spurs but had been unable to find the net all month. The Spaniard will hope that goal is a turning point.
Just as crucial to him building on it will be his burgeoning strike partnership with Kane. There have been hints they could be good for each other. If not always in direct combinations, then in the distraction their presences poses to opposition defenders.
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