Do These Midfielders Have A Future At Tottenham?

When a Premier League team, or any team for that matter, recruits an influx of new players, there are always going to be losers. Whether it is the club who signs them as they turn out to be utter rubbish on the field, or whether it's the player himself whose reputation takes a battering, life in football is never a fairytale. In this case, however, it has been two players that were already at the club - Gylfi Sigurdsson and Lewis Holtby  at Tottenham.

Andre Villas-Boas was a busy man this summer. The sale of Gareth Bale allowed the White Hart Lane to strengthen numerous areas of their squad, and although Tom Huddlestone and Scott Parker left the club it is now the central midfield berth which looks the strongest, if not a little overcrowded.

Etienne Capoue, Paulinho and Christian Eriksen have come into the club to join the likes of Sandro and Mousa Dembele, as well as the aforementioned duo.

Holtby has missed out on the start of the current season due to an injury, so it's hard to tell whether AVB sees him as a key player in the squad, but he offers more, in my opinion, than Sigurdsson.

Although the Iceland international scored three goals in his 33 games last season - Holtby failed to score in his 11 - Sigurdsson's 25 chances created (1.32 per game) is a lower average than Holtby's 12.

Holtby held a higher pass accuracy as well as a better duel completion, but it doesn't hide the fact that the two are seriously up against it if they want to hold their place in the side.

Villas-Boas' preference towards a flexible 4-3-3 sees Sandro, Paulinho and Mousa Dembele/Christian Eriksen control the middle, and you wouldn't fancy Sigurdsson nor Holtby to play more games than any of those if they all stay fit.

What do you reckon Spurs fans, do the pair have a future in north London? 

Comments

[G. A. De Forest]

I don't really know the relative merits of Sigurdsson, Holtby (whom I haven't seen much of) and Eriksen (only seen him on Youtube), and might as well include Tom Carroll -- as Tottenham's four blonde Aryan midfielders: varying from moderate to fantastic ability as playmakers. It seems to me we could have done with at least two of them up against the Arses last week, when the second half of the match was just banging our heads against a brick wall instead of seeking penetrative moves. Yes, Tottenham's brown four midfielders Paulinho, Dembele, Sandro and Capoue are big and strong but currently are not at full strength or effectiveness for obvious reasons. Why not give both Holtby and Eriksen starts against Norwich (?) and Cardiff to see how they go before facing Chelsea?

[Matt]

The best midfield would be Holtby, Carroll, Eriksen, Pritchard and Lamela.

Sandro, Capoue, Dembele and Paulinho offer no creativity and are not skilful or entertaining to watch. It may be worth keeping one or two of them for the times when Spurs need to close a game down. You can bring one of them on to help defend the lead.

[ColinSC]

Having a best/1st teaM is great but we have a team we can rotate now. This article clearly misses this point. we have 3-4 cup/league sets of fixtures and will have injuries. While some players are not a 1st choice they offer other options- positions, strengths and skills to cover for fallen teammates.

[Cal27]

I think it will be Eriksen\Holtby, Dembele\Paulinho, Capoue\Sandro. No place for Sigurdsson unless he plays left wing. Dembele is way off form, he needs to sit down a bit.

[Stradders]

I think Cal27 has it spot on

[TJ]

I think Holtby in a team with better players will really shine,But saying that I think what I have seen so far of spurs they need to go up a gear or two to compete with the likes of mu and chealsea and get the new players to gel as soon as possible TJ

[anonymime]

Spot on cal27, my thoughts exactly. COYS!!!