Tottenham Hotspur have endured a challenging season thus far, plagued by injuries and inconsistency. With December fixtures looming, a critical question emerges: what personnel tweak can Ange Postecoglou make to his side? We have one name in mind – Djed Spence.
Tottenham’s season of injury woes
Tottenham’s campaign so far has been a rollercoaster of emotions for their fans, with high points marred by a growing list of injuries and inconsistency in performances.
Ange Postecoglou’s side has suffered a raft of setbacks, losing crucial players across the pitch, which has left them scrambling to maintain balance.
Their first-choice goalkeeper, Guglielmo Vicario, is out injured, alongside key defenders Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero.
Attacking options have also been reduced with Wilson Odobert undergoing surgery, while promising youngster Mikey Moore has been sidelined due to illness.
Dominic Solanke’s recent illness added further woes, leaving the team stretched thin across all competitions.
Pedro Porro, Tottenham’s full-back, has been one of the few constants, logging a hefty 1,166 Premier League minutes so far.
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His contributions in attack, including two goals and an assist, have been commendable, supported by underlying stats that place him in the 93rd percentile for shot-creating actions per 90 minutes among full-backs (fbref).
However, questions are beginning to surface about his defensive output and the toll of playing too many games without rest.
Is fatigue catching up with Pedro Porro?
While Porro’s attacking stats show he has been effective in the final third, his defensive contributions have drawn criticism.
Based on the games I have watched, Porro has struggled in key defensive moments, with lapses in concentration costing Tottenham dearly in matches against Ipswich Town and Brighton.
His inability to mark the back post effectively or track runners has left gaps for opponents to exploit.
Porro’s defensive metrics underline these issues. According to fotmob, he has won only 49 per cent of his duels and 30.8 per cent of aerial battles, with a worrying 15 instances of being dribbled past.
These struggles suggest that fatigue might be playing a role, especially with Porro having also featured heavily in Tottenham’s Europa League campaign, bringing his total minutes to 1,436 this season.
With such a heavy workload, the question arises: who can step in to give him a much-needed rest? In my opinion, Djed Spence, a player who has seen just 65 minutes of action this season.
Despite his limited game time, I believe Spence offers potential solutions to Tottenham’s defensive frailties, but Postecoglou has been reluctant to shuffle his backline, perhaps wary of further destabilising a defence already missing key personnel.
However, I believe now is the perfect time to make some changes to the team. After all, what’s the worst that could happen?
We’re already struggling for consistency, unable to put together a decent run. As a fan, I’ve come to terms with the fact that we either win big or lose.
Injecting some freshness into the squad isn’t a bad idea. Just look at Pep Guardiola and Manchester City—he benched Ederson when the goalkeeper wasn’t performing up to expectations.
While it didn’t immediately lead to a win, Pep understood that a change was necessary and hoped it would spark improvement. Ange could take a similar approach.
What could Djed Spence bring to the Tottenham table?
Djed Spence, acquired to add depth and competition at right-back, has yet to truly showcase his abilities in a Tottenham shirt. However, a deeper look into his per 90 stats provides insight into what he could offer.
Despite a low volume of minutes, Spence ranks in the 84th percentile for successful take-ons and the 98th percentile for blocks, demonstrating his capability in one-on-one situations and his defensive awareness.
He also boasts an impressive clearance rate, sitting in the 79th percentile, and wins 75 per cent of his aerial duels.
These metrics suggest that Spence could provide a more balanced option in the right-back position, particularly in matches where Tottenham need to shore up defensively.
His progressive carries and decent touch rate in the attacking penalty area (54th percentile) also indicate he has the potential to contribute going forward, albeit not as explosively as Porro.
Djed Spence’s defensive contributions (per 90)
Given Tottenham’s gruelling December fixture list, with games coming thick and fast, it would be prudent for Postecoglou to rotate and manage his squad more effectively.
Resting Porro and giving Djed Spence a chance in the Tottenham XI could not only rejuvenate the team but also provide Spence with the opportunity to prove his worth.
If Tottenham are to navigate their current injury crisis successfully, every player in the squad must be ready to step up, and now might be the perfect time for Spence to shine.