Power Ranking Every Tottenham Player from the 2015-16 Premier League Season
Tottenham Hotspur's 2015-16 Premier League season turned ugly fast.
Following the fractious denouement of their title challenge in a 2-2 draw at Chelsea, Mauricio Pochettino's side played like they had just sold shares in a bandwagon company on the eve of Leicester City being crowned champions. All were left shell-shocked and in disbelief as glory hunters in England and beyond clambered to get on this remarkable underdog story.
Despite the season-ending losses that saw Tottenham drop further, from second to third, altogether it was a campaign to be proud of. That's reflected in the following, highly competitive player power rankings.
There have been only a few years in the Premier League era when the performances of Spurs players have been anywhere near as uniformly good as this one. Individual showings have fired up the team ethic that took them to the cusp of an unexpected achievement.
There is naturally some separation between back-up players and regular starters. But among the latter group, you could argue for several being the best among of the bunch.
The following rankings account for league play only and include those still at the club. So no Andros Townsend (now of Newcastle United) or Federico Fazio (still contracted but who did not appear in the competition), but all others are eligible.
First up, a player whose year was characterised by bad luck.
22. Alex Pritchard
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Alex Pritchard just about makes these 2015-16 rankings.
His nine minutes off the bench in August's 0-0 draw with Everton was to be his only competitive appearance for Tottenham. The hoped-for introduction into the first team of another academy-produced talent was sadly stopped by a lingering injury issue.
After recovering, the attacking midfielder went on loan to West Bromwich Albion in January but had little luck there either.
Pritchard's ability was clear to see in his more successful spell with Brentford in 2014-15. Denied the opportunity to prove himself a capable top-flight performer, too, the 23-year-old will hope fortune favours him in the build-up to next season.
21. Michel Vorm
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Like Pritchard, goalkeeper Michel Vorm's one Premier League appearance this season came back in August.
With Hugo Lloris not quite fit, the Dutchman was selected for the opening weekend trip to Manchester United. Unable to do anything about Kyle Walker's unfortunate own goal, Vorm and Tottenham fell to an ill-deserved 1-0 loss.
With Lloris available thereafter, Vorm's only subsequent playing time came in cup games.
Spurs could do worse than keep the Netherlands international on as their back-up. Whether he is still interested in being the club's covering 'keeper remains to be seen.
20. Nabil Bentaleb
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Few would have anticipated Nabil Bentaleb's standing at Tottenham falling as much as it did this season; not after such a strong 2014-15 from the young midfielder.
Sidelined by injuries more than once, Bentaleb's campaign never really got going. The costly error that led to Manchester United's winner in the first game was an unforeseen omen of things to come.
The Algeria international completed August, but from there, things went drastically wrong.
He featured just once more in the Premier League, coming on late to help see out a win over Crystal Palace in January.
By then the central midfield trio of Dele Alli, Mousa Dembele and Eric Dier were cemented in their positions, much like Bentaleb was a year prior. Unable to convince Pochettino he should at least be the first back-up option, his season petered out with under-21 side appearances before a final injury closed it completely.
Despite subsequent thoughts, a parting of the ways could be on the horizon, although ESPN FC's Dan Kilpatrick reported this week that is unlikely to be the case.
19. Clinton Njie
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Summer 2015 signing Clinton Njie was another to have his season disrupted by enforced time on the treatment table.
A knee injury suffered in what felt a breakthrough performance against Monaco in the Europa League left the former Olympique Lyonnais man out of action until a late cameo in the May loss to Southampton.
Up until that unfortunate blow, Njie was still adapting to the demands of Pochettino's relentless attack. The instruction to close down the opposition defence was not quite yet second nature.
The standout moment of the attacker's first seven league appearances came in the 4-1 win over Manchester City. Receiving the ball out right, he turned Aleksandar Kolarov and advanced before picking Erik Lamela out in the box, the composed Argentinian skillfully sealing a memorable victory.
Speaking recently to Tottenham's official website, Njie believes the best is yet to come from him.
"Next season I think I’m going to be like a new signing to this team because I still have a lot to offer to our supporters and my team-mates," the 22-year-old said. "I just wish that next season I will be fitter so I can perform how I know I can and make everyone happy."
18. Ryan Mason
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Ryan Mason's 2015-16 was rather similar to Bentaleb's. Like his predominant midfield partner from a season earlier, injuries saw him sidelined and having to battle to recover his place from those who had stepped in.
Unlike Bentaleb, Mason's year began brightly.
One of Tottenham's more energetic early performers, his determination driving the team forward led to him scoring the winner against Sunderland, their first victory. Unfortunately for Mason, he was injured in the process.
He returned later in the autumn and was performing solidly before injury claimed him again. Upon his second comeback, league opportunities were intermittent, and he struggled to generate any momentum.
Mason did not make the most of the suspended Dembele's absence in Spurs' two season-ending defeats to Southampton and Newcastle. The grit that characterised his breakthrough into the first-team picture was worryingly missing as valuable opportunities to impress passed him by.
17. Tom Carroll
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Tom Carroll was a beneficiary of Bentaleb and Mason's fitness problems.
He spent the first few months of the season reintegrating himself into Pochettino's philosophy after a year on loan at Swansea City. After biding his time and sufficiently adjusted in his boss' eyes, he was rewarded with increased game time heading into the winter months.
Carroll became the next man up in Tottenham's midfield, covering for the first-choice guys as well as being drafted in to offer something a little different.
His more measured passing style made no small contribution to Spurs' good mid-season form, helping them continue to tick over during this demanding schedule. A goal in the Boxing Day win over Norwich City—his first league strike for the club—added to the academy man's confidence.
Carroll's impact diminished somewhat in the remaining months. He performed tidily enough, but the less consistent match time hurt his rhythm, making it difficult to make a telling contribution.
His 45 minutes in the final-day thrashing by Newcastle was his first appearance since March. Carroll heads into the summer with his prospects unclear.
16. Nacer Chadli
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Nacer Chadli's 2015-16 was up and down to say the least.
He began it as one of Tottenham's first-choice attacking midfielders after establishing himself in the preceding campaign with 11 goals. His strike in the 2-2 draw with Stoke City suggested he was set to carry on from where he left off.
Chadli performed adequately over the next couple of months without scoring. But then an ankle injury suffered in the early October draw with Liverpool kept him out until December.
The layoff set the tone for what remained. An inconsistent sequence saw him threaten to find his best form, only then to disappear with quieter efforts.
The highlights were his only two other league goals, coming in the wins over Crystal Palace and Swansea City. Both helped important comebacks that kept Spurs' burgeoning title challenge alive.
There were some decent non-scoring appearances such as a hard-working cameo away at Liverpool. Mostly, though, there was little else that stood out from Chadli.
That was unfortunate for Spurs given they could have done with a timely goal or two from one of their best finishers. Costly for him, too, as his lack of impact has seen him miss out on Belgium's Euro 2016 squad, consigned to the standby list.
15. Ben Davies
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If Danny Rose's strong finish to 2014-15 suggested he would be nailed on as left-back, Pochettino had other ideas.
The Tottenham head coach looked to keep him on his toes by using Ben Davies frequently, too. Consequently, the Wales international featured 17 times in the Premier League.
As it was, Rose would again establish himself as first choice, but not before having to prove himself as offering more than Davies again.
The younger defender would have his moments throughout, notably being used well in mid-season rotation as Pochettino looked to keep his squad fresh.
While capable enough performing his full-back duties, Davies still left a little to be desired compared to Rose. Less combative defensively, his forays forward were often tidier than his more scatter-shot positional rival but not so productive as to make them indispensable.
Davies will remain a fine back-up moving forward, but he has work to do if he is to prove himself Spurs' best left-back.
14. Kieran Trippier
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One of the summer 2015 signings Pochettino tasked with "strengthening our defence," per Tottenham's official website, Kieran Trippier performed much the same function as Davies. In his case, it was to compete with, and cover for, Walker at right-back.
Making his first Premier League appearance for Spurs in October, he would finish with six to his name. Though the bulk of his football came in cup competitions, Trippier's work in his rare league opportunities was often impressive.
He played as a nominal wing-back as Spurs utilised a rare 5-3-2 formation in their 2-1 win over Watford. Setting up Heung-Min Son's winner on that occasion, his attacking threat was again highlighted against the same opposition in February when he charged forward to net the game's deciding goal.
Trippier's final league appearance, in the 1-0 loss to West Ham United in March, was tougher. The London rivals' last meeting at Upton Park proving too big an occasion for much of the team, he struggled to provide much resistance against the Hammers.
That it feels like there is more to see still of 25-year-old sees him gets the nod over the similarly utilised Davies in these rankings.
13. Heung-Min Son
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Heung-Min Son finished his first season in England similarly to how he started it—a shortened involvement against a north-east club coming either side of a good goalscoring performance.
Obviously feeling his way into things in his September debut against Sunderland, there was less to excuse the quiet showing in the defeat to Newcastle.
The aforementioned sandwiched contributions rightly deserve greater prominence in analysing what Son brought to his new club. While rarer than he or anyone would have liked, his best days saw him inject welcome zest to the team and often provided timely boosts.
The winner over Crystal Palace in September was a ferocious culmination to an already fast Spurs break. The stoppage-time goal against Watford—a cleverly crafted back-heel—was less representative of his defining speed-related qualities but showed he could yet become a valuable penalty box-poacher for the team.
Unfortunately for Son, his resurgence in May after a patchy spring coincided with his team-mates losing the plot. The well-taken goals against Chelsea and Southampton ultimately counting for little.
12. Kevin Wimmer
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Thrown right into the thick of things, Kevin Wimmer duly responded when Tottenham needed him.
His first Premier League appearance for the club came against Crystal Palace in January when he replaced the injured Jan Vertonghen. Though a little nervy on that occasion, he quickly settled into the role of defensive deputy.
Shepherded by the more experienced Toby Alderweireld, the deceptively classy Wimmer helped Spurs maintain their good defensive record heading into spring.
Playing his part in four clean sheets, he also performed bravely in the big away win at Manchester City and helped ensure his side left March's north London derby with at least a point.
The 23-year-old flagged latterly and was replaced in early April by the returning Vertonghen.
Wimmer had done his duty well overall, though, and will go into next season the better for his experiences.
11. Kyle Walker
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Kyle Walker enjoyed arguably his best season in a Tottenham shirt, or at least since his first in 2011-12 when he won PFA Young Player of the Year.
His mid-ranking place here speaks more to how good many of his team-mates were than any slight on him.
After a few injury-hit years, Walker found some much-needed consistency. Motivated by the threat of Trippier, the England international performed with improved positional discipline and greater awareness of his surroundings.
Few opposition wingers got the better of him one-on-one while he generally combined well with the nearest-placed centre-back Alderweireld. Going forward, he was not as fearsome as Trippier but offered more than enough in providing the width Pochettino asks from his full-backs.
Walker's performances late-on were a little iffier. But he was not alone here, and his defensive presence was greatly missed after he went off against Newcastle as the season climaxed.
10. Jan Vertonghen
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Given he missed the best part of three months in the second-half of the season through injury, it is easy to forget how good Jan Vertonghen had been up to then.
After an inconsistent opening month, the centre-back settled down, forming a sturdy partnership with his Belgium colleague Alderweireld.
Vertonghen—now into his fourth season with Tottenham—was the first responder of the two, engaging opposition attacks and often winning it. Safe in the knowledge Alderweireld had his back, the Spurs mainstay performed as confidently and consistently as he ever has during his time in England.
The north Londoners did get by relatively well without him. But by the end of Wimmer's deputising spell, Vertonghen's greater calm was being missed.
The Austrian will be working hard to displace the vice-captain from here. If he performs as well as he did for much of the season, however, Vertonghen will back himself to remain at the heart of the Spurs defence.
9. Hugo Lloris
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The odd slip-up aside (for instance, he might have done better stopping Steven Davis' first for Southampton in the penultimate game), Hugo Lloris was as close to impeccable as ever for Tottenham.
Officially captain for the first time, he led the mostly young team with typical cool and set a fine example with often outstanding, vital performances and good conduct in all other departments.
Adherence to Pochettino's insistence that Spurs look to pass around the back wherever possible led to some bad moments with his distribution. But otherwise, Lloris was the near-perfect 'keeper for this team, nigh on always on hand to to make a big save or claim a pressure-deflating catch.
Naturally his workload decreased somewhat with the team doing so well and mostly dominating games. Lloris will hope this continues to be the case.
8. Christian Eriksen
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One of Tottenham's best performers in the second half of the season, Christian Eriksen bounced back well from a patchy opening few months to do as much as anyone in sustaining the team's title charge.
Alli's emergence in attacking midfield saw Eriksen moved to a nominal wider role. It took a little getting used to, but he eventually found ways to make his involvement count and not end up confined to the periphery (an issue sometimes when occupying a similar role in previous seasons).
While his goal tally dipped from 10 in 2014-15 to six this time around, his assists increased—an impressive increase from two to 13, per ESPN FC.
The lessening of the creative responsibility worked in his favour, and the 24-year-old played some of the best football of his still-young career. His winner against Manchester City was calmly delivered in a high-pressure moment while he sublimely orchestrated much of the 4-1 win over Stoke City, the last great result of Spurs' season.
Also crucial to his mid-season upturn was a greater willingness to play his part in the less glamorous aspects of the game. He participated in the team's pressing and worked hard to get back and help with recovery duties when needed.
Though he netted two free-kicks to secure his team a point at Swansea City in October, Eriksen's set pieces remain one area he can still stand to improve in.
7. Erik Lamela
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Depending on your viewpoint, Erik Lamela and Eriksen could be switched in these rankings.
The former's league numbers—five goals and nine assists, the latter tallied by ESPN FC—are not quite as good. Eriksen maintaining his status as one of Tottenham's most productive performers also deserves credit.
Yet Lamela gets the nod for his representation of the emotional highs of Spurs' season as well as the more tangible ones.
A late returner last summer after playing in the Copa America, the Argentinian struggled in August.
After a particularly poor performance in the central attacking midfield position against Leicester City, he was dropped for the 0-0 draw against Everton, his indignity worsened when the inexperienced Pritchard came on as the last substitute instead of him. Given his steady but not fast enough adaptation to English football following his expensive transfer from Roma two years earlier, you could be forgiven for thinking things might head the other way.
Within just under a month, Lamela delivered the best performance of his Tottenham career.
His swashbuckling, goalscoring participation in the 4-1 destruction of Manchester City showed all he needed was a little patience. Pochettino warmly embraced him at the end, well aware of how important this game was for his compatriot.
Lamela's subsequent work was not always so thrilling. Yet his combination of skill and commitment typified Spurs' aggressive style as well as anyone.
If he can add to his numbers moving forward, adding to the moments like his assist for Eriksen in the return win over Manchester City, Lamela may yet become one of Tottenham's best.
6. Eric Dier
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The defining strategical choice of Tottenham's 2015-16 was Pochettino's decision to use Eric Dier in central midfield rather than defence.
His trust in the young Englishman was such that he was willing to let both Etienne Capoue and Benjamin Stambouli leave last summer and not replace them with another defensive midfielder.
Dier promptly repaid his boss' faith.
Few in the Premier League have performed the holding role as well as the 22-year-old did this season. Nobody has done it as well at Tottenham in recent years.
Dier's timing in the tackle and largely legal harrying made him difficult for opponents to pass. His defence were very grateful for his presence, one informed by the positioning learned playing as a defender proper.
When Spurs were in possession, Dier smartly judged when to drop back and allow the full-backs to advance. He used the ball himself well enough and still found time to get forward on occasion.
Dier definitely missed the mobility of Alli and Dembele around him in the season's last few games, however. It will be interesting to see how he fares at Euro 2016 if left without such comforting assistance in the England midfield.
5. Danny Rose
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Rose will be joining Dier at this summer's European Championships.
Over the course of an impressive season, he reasserted himself as Tottenham's first-choice left-back and in the process has become England's, too. His widely acclaimed role in the national side's 3-2 friendly win over Germany in March was no surprise to those who have watched him for his club.
Perhaps others were not shocked either. His peers certainly rate Rose, voting him into the PFA Team of the Year.
After an excellent second-half to 2014-15, he has continued to fly. Maintaining the increased work rate that was integral to that improvement, Rose is as commanding a full-back as there is in the English top flight right now.
He is not afraid to get forward and more than holds his own defensively. Vertonghen knew he could count on him on his flank, and Wimmer benefited from him being there to cover, too.
But for the following man, Rose would have been the highest-placed defender on these rankings.
4. Toby Alderweireld
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Toby Alderweireld's first season with Tottenham began in patchy fashion (one of those culpable for blowing a lead against Stoke City) and finished that way, too (he was poor against Chelsea and, like his fellow defenders, off his game in the losses to Southampton and Newcastle).
In between times, he was just about excellent. The close to immediate improvement he brought to the north Londoners' defence made him well deserving of recognition by the club's members and supporters clubs as their player of the season.
Sensible positioning and strong skills in the defensive arts made Alderweireld an ideal counterpoint to Vertonghen. He generally doubled up behind him but was ready to take the lead when necessary, too.
The latter became more important when his international team-mate got injured and Wimmer stepped in. Alderweireld marshalled his new, younger partner smartly and for a good, crucial month or so Spurs barely missed a beat at the back.
The occasional tendency to switch off at crosses and set plays is a mark on Alderweireld's game (and was the main problem in the earlier mentioned matches). But make no mistake, Spurs are much better off for having the 27-year-old around than not.
3. Mousa Dembele
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It was tempting to count Mousa Dembele's idiocy in getting caught up in a confrontation with Chelsea's Diego Costa against him in these rankings. His emotion-fuelled decision to get in the striker's face in the bad-tempered London derby leading to a ban that cost Tottenham the use of the Belgian for the end of the season and the beginning of next.
But Spurs missed the midfielder so badly in the last two games that it highlighted just how important he had been for them. With him in the team, they suffered just 6.9 per cent of their Premier League losses; without him it was up to 44.4 per cent, per Squawka.
Dembele began the season playing in attacking midfield. The selection on the right away at Manchester United was a reaction to how badly the Red Devils had hurt Spurs on the flanks the last time they met at Old Trafford.
A lack of energy in his work had seen him lose his place in 2014-15. In the first few games, Dembele gave his best and, though not too effective in the role, earned back some respect.
Injury kept Dembele out until October, upon which time came the turning point of his season and perhaps his Spurs career. Covering for the suspended Dier in a 0-0 draw with Liverpool and re-motivated by the his earlier good form, he was terrific.
Breaking up play in his own half, leading the team forward and creating well, too—it was the physical yet artful player at his best. Pochettino agreed and kept him on, moving Alli forward into a more advanced role when Dier returned.
In Dembele's dominance of Spurs' midfield battles from then on, fans witnessed the player they had been waiting for since his 2012 move from Fulham, delighting in his ability to dispossess opponents and then shrug off his opponents with ease.
Spurs were altogether more formidable with Dembele. Without him late on, already demoralised by missing out on the title, they were decidedly weaker.
2. Dele Alli
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Dele Alli's impetuousness in aiming a dig at West Bromwich Albion's Claudio Jacob almost went against him in these rankings, too.
Straying dangerously close to the edge of acceptable behaviour at various points this season, he was caught here and paid the price for it. Ironically, Tottenham could have done with his fight in those final two games in particular.
Despite the disappointing ending to his first top-flight season, it should not take away from the incredible first Premier League experience Alli enjoyed.
The former Milton Keynes Dons man made the jump of two tiers look like no big thing. His 10 goals and nine assists, tallied by ESPN FC, are a most exciting return for a player who only turned 20 in April.
The fast-beating heart of Spurs' attacking midfield for much of the campaign, it is easy to forget his first starts were in central midfield proper. Dembele made that position his own later on, but Alli had looked more than comfortable there, too, notably excelling alongside Dier against then-title favourites Manchester City in September.
Given what he went on to do playing further forward, it will be harder to argue for constraining him like that again.
Take your pick of the goals he scored from his advanced role. His brace against Stoke City and the opener against Manchester United are fresh on the mind, while BBC's Match of the Day awarded his stunning effort against Crystal Palace their goal of the season.
If the best is still to come from Alli, Tottenham fans are going to be in for a treat.
1. Harry Kane
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These rankings of Tottenham's players for this season was much deliberated.
The fans-voted star man Alderweireld only made fourth. His PFA Team of the Year colleague (also that organisation's Young Player recipient) Alli just second. Again, you could argue the merits of a Dier or Dembele as being Spurs' best, too.
Kane takes the top spot above them all for a couple of key reasons.
The first: His scoring 24 goals since the end of October (25 for the whole season) is extraordinary.
It won him the Golden Boot ahead of Leicester's Jamie Vardy and Manchester City's Sergio Aguero, two players who did not suffer an early goal drought like Kane. They maintained and enhanced Spurs' first serious title challenge in decades and consistently delighted in their range and timeliness (he is the king of the London derby, striking again against Arsenal, Chelsea and West Ham this year).
The second: Kane embodies almost everything that is good about Pochettino's Tottenham.
He closes down and tackles, links up and creates for himself and others. He has done it on their best days, yet was also there doing the best he could as Spurs' season suffered that humiliating exclamation point against Newcastle.
Off the pitch, he conducts himself well, and he is increasingly carrying leadership responsibilities with the maturity of a man 10 years his senior.
The Lilywhites' season would have been different without any of these players. So many deserve credit for their part in the the club's highest-placed finish for 26 years.
But more than anyone, it is hard to imagine it being as exciting, enjoyable and important without Kane. The same is likely to be true moving forward.
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