Tottenham Hotspur: Ranking Best and Worst Spurs Players for April
Five points from four matches can be regarded as a decent return in some circumstances, but Tottenham Hotspur's securing of that tally in April was not so satisfying.
The uninspired efforts in the draw and loss to Burnley and Aston Villa, respectively, were partly redeemed by an improved showing to beat Newcastle United. But the month's concluding draw away at European-place rivals Southampton was not as admirable a result as it might have been given the failure to pick up the earlier points against relegation-threatened sides.
The following rankings of Tottenham's best and worst players for April reflects the team's mixed penultimate month of the 2014-15 season.
The good were not consistently impressive. The bad sometimes had mitigating factors influencing their less flattering placings. Both were impaired by bigger collective and tactical issues (too defensive against Burnley, disorganised at Southampton).
Five players will be ranked for each category, and those featured had to play in more than one of the north London club's four April fixtures to suit the criteria.
Each ranking is based on consideration of the player's performances and the circumstances surrounding those showings. Selections ultimately come down to this writer's opinion.
Kicking off the rankings is April's best.
Best No. 5: Michel Vorm
1 of 10
Ideally, Michel Vorm would have liked more than the one clean sheet from his spell deputising for Hugo Lloris. Not to mention more than the one win.
Despite the goalkeeper's period covering for Lloris not turning out too successfully team-wise, his individual efforts were just about beyond reproach. Timely interventions in the first and third of his April appearances helped ensure Spurs put some points on the board.
Vorm made way with the Frenchman fit again for the trip to Southampton. Short though his covering run was, the back-up reminded the first-choice he cannot rest on his laurels while he is waiting in the wings.
Best No. 4: Eric Dier
2 of 10
Tottenham's defensive work lurched between the assured and the worryingly tentative in April. Indiscriminately so at times.
Switched from centre-back to right-back halfway through the month's fixtures, Eric Dier was the one constant in the back four.
The 21-year-old produced one of his strongest displays yet at centre-back against Burnley in what was also one of Spurs' better recent defensive outings. Alongside the less compatible Federico Fazio, their shared big-man instincts did not mesh so well handling the Christian Benteke-led Aston Villa attack.
Dier took a little time settling out-wide against Newcastle. Remy Cabella and others got the better of their exchanges out on the touchline, but the Spurs defender did better closer to goal.
This past weekend, Southampton's attacking left-back Ryan Bertrand barely allowed Dier a moment's rest. But the England under-21 international also returned the favour, making the most of the home side's hesitancy closing him down to set up both Spurs' goals.
Best No. 3: Erik Lamela
3 of 10
Erik Lamela had to bide his time for his next chance in Mauricio Pochettino's starting XI after limited opportunities heading into and early on in spring.
A recall was earned after the substitute's penetrative passing proved a breath of fresh air during Tottenham's otherwise staid offensive showings against Burnley and Aston Villa.
Rusty in the opening 45 minutes of his first start since February at Newcastle, Lamela was off-rhythm in his passing and particularly in his anticipation of challenges. After the interval, the Argentinian found his feet coming in off the flank and from there contributed the assist for Harry Kane's win-sealing goal.
Lamela was good for his goal at Southampton, his instinct getting into a dangerous penalty-box position in keeping with him being one of Spurs' more optimistic performers that day.
The challenge now is for the 23-year-old to up his involvement to a degree Pochettino cannot afford to drop him again.
Best No. 2: Danny Rose
4 of 10
Danny Rose missed last Saturday's draw with Southampton with the thigh injury sustained during the win over Newcastle United. PremierInjuries.com has him down to be back by next week, but if the left-back does not play another match this season, he could still feel satisfied with how his campaign has turned out.
Since receiving a kick up the backside in the form of Pochettino's late-2014 replacement of him with fellow left-back Ben Davies, Rose's improved work-ethic and focus has turned him into one of Tottenham's most consistent performers.
The Englishman bounced back from the disappointment of his injury-enforced pull-out from international duty with a near-dominant display patrolling his flank in the draw at Burnley. Aston Villa had a little more joy there the following week, but the full-back was more effective than others in providing Spurs with a semblance of attacking threat.
Rose's forward work paid off more handsomely at St. James' Park. Positioning himself smartly just inside the opposition half, his short and precise passing helped facilitate the crucial momentum-regaining combinations of Nacer Chadli and Christian Eriksen.
Best No. 1: Nacer Chadli
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Based on his first two appearances in April, Nacer Chadli would have been nowhere near the month's list of Tottenham's best players. The quietness that had been the Belgian's default setting for a couple of months persisted in two particularly ineffectual afternoons' work.
Whether it came from the urging of the coaching staff or within himself, against Newcastle, Chadli reconnected with the daring and confident style that had made him so effective in mid-season.
He grabbed the game by the scruff of its neck, capitalising on the Magpies' back-pedalling defence to score an impressively precise long-range opening goal. When the home side drew level, it was Chadli's directness down the left that put Spurs back on the front foot.
The north Londoners found it harder going against Southampton's stout defence, but Chadli remained one of his team's biggest threats.
Ironically, given the problems Chadli was causing right-back Nathaniel Clyne, it was a foray out to Saints' left side where he salvaged a point for his team. His darting run into the channel was met perfectly by Dier's through ball. There, the attacker showed both strength and poise, holding off Maya Yoshida's challenge before placing his shot smartly across goal.
Worst No. 5: Harry Kane
6 of 10
Harry Kane takes his place as Tottenham's fifth worst player of April through little fault of his own.
Southampton's suffocating defence successfully stifled him, but his quietness against Burnley and Aston Villa was more to do with the lack of quality service from his team-mates. Bar the outclassing during the fixture against Manchester United at Old Trafford in March, the frontman had not been so isolated as he was at Turf Moor all season long.
Kane had a better time of things at St James' Park. Chances were more forthcoming and his goal—his 30th for Spurs this season—was a timely reminder of his quality in case any doubters were preparing to question the credentials of the campaign's most-hyped performer.
Still, one goal from four matches is a relatively barren run for the PFA Young Player of the Year winner. Kane will be hoping for an altogether more productive May.
Worst No. 4: Federico Fazio
7 of 10
Similarly to Kane, Federico Fazio's placing here is partly emblematic of greater issues in the Tottenham team. In his case, the unhelpful mix and matching of defensive personnel and the disconnect between the back four and the midfield in front of them.
Fazio is a little unlucky to be placed ahead of other culprits in these problems. He played well in the win over Newcastle and did good work in places against Aston Villa and Southampton too.
The centre-back's disappointingly laboured reaction at crossing situations to the presence of Christian Benteke and Graziano Pelle proved particularly costly, though.
Terrific though both players' headers were, Fazio might have contested them had he not been ball-watching at the point of the excellent deliveries in.
In earlier and later aerial dealings with both, the six-foot-plus Argentinian had got the better of them or at least made it difficult for the forwards. Similar attention in the penalty box may well have stopped them scoring.
Worst No. 3: Vlad Chiriches
8 of 10
Vlad Chiriches understandably might wonder how things can change so much in the space of a week or two.
After a couple of early giveaways, Chiriches soon settled down in his more regular centre-back role at Burnley. Maintaining his concentration well, he helped keep the Clarets away from Vorm's goal. He kept that up when he was later moved out right to cover for the injured Kyle Walker.
When focused, the Romanian is a fine and capable defender. Sadly, his more erratic tendencies took hold against Aston Villa a week later.
Used at full-back from the start, Chiriches was at his timid and unfocused worst. Several passes went awry while he was consistently beaten by Benteke (clearly targeting him) in the air and Jack Grealish on the ground.
His second-half substitution was greeted by jeers from some less supportive portions of the White Hart Lane crowd.
Not involved whatsoever against Newcastle the following week, Pochettino brought Chiriches on against Southampton out of necessity (more on that on the next page). Even so, the player has some work to do to prove to his head coach and the fans that he can be trusted to play regularly.
Worst No. 2: Ben Davies
9 of 10
Davies' April began brightly with an impressive job covering at centre-back at Turf Moor. With Rose injured late on against Newcastle, the left-back was presented with another opportunity in his regular position.
That chance quickly turned into a nightmare at St Mary's with the Welshman failing to convince he should be playing ahead of Rose.
Unlucky to be put under pressure after Ryan Mason's slip for Pelle's opener, Davies will still feel he should have done better to see off the danger.
Later on, it was his aimless clearing header that put Tottenham back under pressure in the buildup to Southampton's second. Just over 10 minutes later, he had to leave the pitch early after hurting his shoulder in a fall.
Worst No. 1: Roberto Soldado
10 of 10
Placing Roberto Soldado at the head of this list is a bit like kicking a dog while it's down.
The already struggling striker—who has scored just once in 2015—has not started since February. In April, his two appearances were both off the bench, totalling just over 30 minutes of football.
Both Aston Villa and Southampton were defending well on each occasion, making the prospect of having an impact tough. But as recently as a month ago, Soldado still looked keen to contribute in whatever way he could. Against West Ham United he helped apply the pressure that led to Spurs rescuing a late draw.
In similar situations in April his effort was negligible, bordering on abject. As tallied by Squawka, the Spaniard contributed not one single shot, nor created any chances.
Soldado appears to be counting down his days at Tottenham, offering little to no fight in the battle for more playing time. That is a sad sight to see for a player whose previous perseverance rightly earned the respect and warmth of the White Hart Lane faithful.
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