Tottenham Hotspur's Full-Back Situation Is Healthy but Not Necessarily Permanent

Tottenham Hotspur full-backs Danny Rose and Kyle Walker featured heavily in Sunday's 2-2 draw with West Ham United. Their performances typified the healthy state of the position at the club, but also hinted at why the situation is not necessarily a permanent one.

Tottenham's attacking midfield floundered in the face of West Ham's repressive, obstructive central work in the first half. On the flanks, Rose and Walker's forward runs ensured the home team at least had a couple of outlets with more space to operate in.

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The right-back's link-up play with right-winger Andros Townsend was among the north Londoners' more encouraging, albeit not ultimately productive, work. Rose, though, proved to be one of Spurs' most effective threats altogether.

He set up Harry Kane's early shot off the post with a long ball from his left-back position. The two combined again 15 minutes later when the striker's chipped pass led to the on-running defender heading over.

Later on, Rose's 81st-minute goal—a bouncing effort which deceived Hammers goalkeeper Adrian—pulled Spurs back into the game.

Spurs full-backs obstructing opposition wide-men and capitalising on space left on the flanks is an important element within the relentless approach Pochettino asks of his team. West Ham was not the best example of it as a collective, but Rose and Walker put in good shifts fulfilling their respective offensive responsibilities.

Rose's rival for left-back, Ben Davies, has been solid in this department in his rarer opportunities. He has two assists to Rose's three this season, per ESPN FC. Though the Welshman is not as naturally adventurous as the former left-midfielder, at 21 he has time to hone his own attacking characteristics.

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Kyle Naughton's January departure means Walker's main cover for now is Vlad Chiriches. With all due respect to the makeshift right-back, recent arrival DeAndre Yedlin's line-hugging attributes lead the more likely long-term alternate options to Walker.

Yedlin has yet to be tested in English football (and may have to wait until next season). His speedy exploits for the Seattle Sounders and the United States men's national team means there is plenty of anticipation among fans over what he might soon offer for Tottenham.

Within the north London club's current parameters for recruitment, they would do well to find players to improve on their current full-back ranks in this particular department (though the recent productivity of the academy will mean plenty of eyes will be turned there).

Against West Ham, Rose also reiterated the encouraging, though not quite flawless, 2015 form, which has shown how the professional rivalry with Davies has aided his progression as a defender. As he told The Telegraph's Ben Rumsby last week, the introduction of the Swansea City left-back momentarily left his future up in the air: "I didn’t know what was going to happen and I spoke to the manager, and he made me aware that he had full belief in me."

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Injury and patchy form in front of his own goal saw Rose lose his first-choice Premier League status to Davies in November, before he regained it over Christmas. Pochettino giving the 24-year-old the chance to reclaim his place, even as Davies was finding his feet, is indicative of the boss' faith in him.

Rose looked as confident as he has all season on Sunday. He twice stopped Stewart Downing in his tracks in the first half and covered well when the visitors almost added to their lead soon after Cheikhou Kouyate's opener. There was other good work too.

Yet it was also Rose's costly lapse in concentration that allowed Diafra Sakho to make it 2-0. He had been unable to stop the attacker's initial cross and, when the ball came back in, his failure to keep track of Sakho allowed him to finish unmarked.

In fairness, Rose did not hide away from it (above). He got caught out there, but the goal might not have stood had the involved Enner Valencia been declared offside. He was not alone either in losing focus.

The ball-watching from Eric Dier and Jan Vertonghen for Kouyate's goal was even worse given between them they should have dealt with him.

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At right-back, Walker has gradually found form since returning from long-term injury. But as his part in failing to stop West Ham's build-up for that goal showed (culminating in a fine cross from Aaron Cresswell), he is not so dominant defensively either.

All this is nitpicking to a degree.

Additionally to Rose and Walker, Davies has to work on one-on-ones, and we are yet to see how Yedlin handles English and European football from a defensive perspective. Chiriches provides willing cover, but he is not naturally suited to defending from a wide position.

They all have flaws or doubts to go with the more satisfactory attributes. Yet Spurs are a side still in the hunt for a lofty Premier League finish, are in the Capital One Cup final and could still progress in Europe. They would not be there without the contributions of their defenders.

Nonetheless, the errors and less-than-comprehensive defensive showings from the team's full-backs against West Ham are the kind that might make Pochettino and the relevant Spurs decision-makers feel a little more inclined to keep an eye out for possibly better options.

Full-back is not a big concern position-wise, but Rose, Walker, et al., have work to do if they want to remain (or more in Davies and Yedlin's cases, become) Tottenham's guys there.