TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR STADIUM — The main topics of conversation in Tottenham press conferences in recent years have generally revolved around Harry Kane or Son Heung-min’s brilliance, either as individuals or a duo, or how Daniel Levy’s most recent managerial appointment plans to bring the good times back to the Lane.
Lucas Moura, the least-celebrated of Tottenham’s front three, has got an occasional mention; Ben Davies, who is closing in on 250 club appearances, hardly ever does. But on Sunday, after Tottenham’s 3-0 victory over Norwich had lifted Antonio Conte’s side into fifth in the Premier League table, it was Moura and Davies, rather than Kane and Son, who featured in the post-match discourse.
“Ben is playing very well and I think [in] that role specifically I can get out the best of him,” Conte mused about the Welshman who, after being largely frozen out by Nuno Espirito Santo, has been the biggest winner of Levy’s latest manager swap. “It happened the same with Azpilicueta [at Chelsea].”
On Moura, the scorer of a stunning opening goal that halted Norwich’s early momentum in its tracks, Conte laid down a marker. “I think he scored an amazing goal but he has the quality to score more. My expectation is to see much more goals like this.”
Conte was asked specifically about Davies, Moura and Ryan Sessegnon, hence why he spoke about them. Had he been asked about Kane’s enduring goal drought, or Son’s well-taken finish late on, he naturally would have spoken about them instead.
But the fact that he was asked about players accustomed to a place in the shadows rather than front and centre was important. It demonstrated not only their growing importance, but also that this side is becoming less reliant on the Kane-Son axis that has so often carried Spurs. After every game, Tottenham’s social media team tweets a four-strong man of the match poll for the club’s 6.6 million followers to vote on. The candidates on Sunday were: Davies, Moura, Davinson Sanchez and Oliver Skipp. Not a Ballon d’Or contender in sight.
Under Nuno, Skipp looked a solid if limited player prone to taking the safe option with his passes; he’s a different animal under Conte, driving purposefully forward with the ball, fizzing forward passes into the front players and snapping enthusiastically into tackles.
Eric Dier, who has veered from much-loved to much-maligned throughout his seven-year Tottenham career has marshalled the defence superbly in Cristian Romero’s injury-enforced absence.
Davies’ emergence has been the most surprising of all. From being part of Nuno’s Conference League bomb squad, the Welshman is suddenly a pivotal part of Conte’s plans, playing as a left-sided centre-back. Davies, renowned for being solid rather than spectacular, has had a big hand in three of Spurs’ last five goals.
When Spurs confirmed Conte’s arrival, the reaction was though Levy had hired a magician than a football manager. The Italian has revitalised Juventus, the Italian national team, Chelsea and Inter in each of his past four jobs. An immaculate hair transplant is further proof of his powers of recovery. Early signs suggest Spurs could be the next to benefit.
Sceptics will argue that in Brentford and Norwich, Spurs have beaten teams that a club of their wealth and ambition should be swatting aside in their £1bn home. They also benefited from having a snow fight with Burnley at Turf Moor postponed a few days after the misery in Maribor against NS Mura, allowing Conte more time to work with his players.
The counter-argument is that Spurs have frequently made relatively routine assignments look anything but. Opposing teams have often looked fitter and better coached. With ketchup off the menu and Conte barking out instructions, that will become the exception rather than the norm.
Spurs simply wouldn’t have won back-to-back games without Kane scoring or assisting in either last season. Conte will need his star striker to improve a one in 13 strike rate if end of year targets are to be met, but for the time being others are making key contributions. And Tottenham look far better for it.
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3EnKtSF
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