Tottenham Hotspur have not been good enough this season, and it’s clear that Thomas Frank needs to find a solution both in regard to results and the excitement factor that has been lacking.
Having lost each of their past three matches in all competitions, including the miserable home loss against Fulham on Saturday evening in the Premier League, a response is sorely needed, but Newcastle United at St. James’ Park has hardly been a happy hunting ground for the Lilywhites in recent years.
Frank’s tactics have yet to click together, but the players also need to take responsibility for their shoddy showings, with Pedro Porro among the guilty members to have flattered to deceive all term.
Pedro Porro’s Spurs form this season
Porro, 26, is one of the most talented right-backs in Europe. He has played 126 matches for Tottenham, scoring 11 goals and supplying 23 assists.
The Spaniard’s gloomy, incensed demeanour at full-time on Saturday was indicative of the wider malaise at the club, but he surely must hold his hands up and acknowledge that he wasn’t good enough, with Sofascore recording that he found the mark with only three of 16 attempted crosses, losing eight of 11 duels and being caught out numerous times.
It was, frankly, a pitiful first-half performance, with Porro utterly toothless in his creative role and more than susceptible against the rampant Samuel Chukwueze and beaten far too easily in the build-up to Kenny Tete’s opening goal after just a few minutes.
He was hardly the only one to hang his head in shame, though, with his counterpart on the left serving up an equally frustrating performance.
Spurs defender is now becoming a liability
At his best, Destiny Udogie is a machine. Ferociously athletic, fleet-footed on the ball and attuned in crucial defence phases, he took the Lilywhites faithful’s breath away when he charged the left side of Postecoglou’s system during the halycon days of 2023/24, before things went wrong.
Indeed, when he burst onto the scene as a teenager under Postecoglou’s wing, journalist Hunter Godson remarked that he was “sickeningly good” and would get into “nearly every team in the world already”.
Such was his power and pace and balance down the left lane that he was considered by Clinton Morrison on BBC Sport to be “the best left-back” in the country during that first foray into English football.
But it might be fair to say that Udogie has yet to raise his game in the Premier League. Sure, he’s been unfortunate with injuries, but this is now his third season in English football and he is no longer an up-and-coming prospect but a talented member of the first team who is expected to provide an outlet while protecting his box.
|
Destiny Udogie in the Premier League |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Stats (per 90) |
23/24 |
25/26 |
|
Goals scored |
0.08 |
0.00 |
|
Assists |
0.11 |
0.17 |
|
Shot-creating actions |
2.15 |
2.25 |
|
Touches |
66.81 |
69.71 |
|
Pass completion (%) |
85.8 |
85.0 |
|
Progressive passes |
5.83 |
5.72 |
|
Progressive carries |
3.12 |
3.47 |
|
Successful take-ons |
0.90 |
0.52 |
|
Ball recoveries |
6.36 |
5.72 |
|
Tackles + interceptions |
3.95 |
2.43 |
|
Clearances |
3.01 |
|
|
Aerials won |
0.83 |
0.69 |
|
Data via FBref |
||
It may take a moment to look at the various elements of Udogie’s game, but it’s worth a closer inspection, with Udogie yet to raise his creative levels and indeed provide greater security at the back.
In fact, as per Sofascore, he has only completed 30% of his dribbles and won half of his duels in the Premier League this year.
This remains a talented full-back with the capacity to perform as one of the best in the division, but Udogie is not pulling his weight right now, and it’s clear to see that Frank’s system is being hindered by the lackadaisical performances of Udogie and Porro, two wide players who are considered among the most talented in the country, if not the continent.
Spurs flop has become their biggest “embarrassment” since Aurier
It’s gone from bad to worse for Spurs, and this Conte signing’s time at the club could be coming to an end.
