Tottenham Hotspur You will want to approach the new year with a clean slate, having fallen by the wayside in recent weeks.
Angie Postecoglou's stubborn execution of his attack-focused, free-flowing brand has unraveled the fan base's collective faith and dedication to the cause. Tottenham suffered injuries, but the refusal to change things led to the exacerbation of the conflict.
That is the case, but the Australian coach must be frustrated by that Mickey van de Ven and Christian Romero They were sidelined together for successive winters below the N17.
The spare parts did not support Postecoglou's tactical virtues, and the whole thing became a bit of a mess, 11th in the standings. Premier League This is 11 points behind Chelsea, which is in fourth place. The front line is on fire, but the balance is shaky.
Premier League 24/25 – Most goals scored |
|||
---|---|---|---|
Rank |
position |
Goals scored |
|
1. |
Liverpool |
the first |
45 |
2. |
Tottenham |
eleventh |
41 |
3. |
Chelsea |
Fourth |
38 |
4. |
Arsenal |
3rd |
35 |
5. |
Newcastle |
Fifth |
32 |
5. |
Man City |
Sixth |
32 |
5. |
Brentford |
twelfth |
32 |
Statistics via Premier League |
Tottenham must bolster a talented group of players with more quality, depth and dynamism. polarization Daniel Levy He seems to have an ambitious name in mind.
Tottenham are eyeing a new centre-back
According to the Mail on Sunday – Via TEAMtalk – Tottenham is interested in pursuing a deal for the Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite Internal talks were held to determine the possibility of submitting an offer.
Branthwaite is one of the best emerging defenders in Europe and has been a centre Special interest from Manchester United Last summer, but Everton remained firm on their high rating.
In fact, Branthwaite, 22, has been valued at around £80m by the Merseyside side, meaning Levy would need to break Spurs' transfer record to bring him to the capital.
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What will Jarrad Branthwaite bring to Tottenham
Branthwaite enjoyed his first season in the English Premier League under Sean DychePavilion last year and was hailed as an “absolute monster”. Talent scout Jacek Kulej After his amazing performance…
He's not a complete defender. not yet. However, Branthwaite's accuracy and devastating defensive skill demonstrate that he has the minerals to be a top-class player in a top-class team.
Tottenham are not a top-flight side yet under Postecoglou despite some intermittent form, but this marriage between players and club could pay dividends for a team capable of achieving great things over the coming years.
It is no coincidence that Everton's poor start to the 2024/25 season ended with Branthwaite in the infirmary and that Dyche's defensive firepower has reignited in recent months, with the huge player returning and Keep five clean sheets In just 11 matches in the English Premier League.
He has won 81% of his ground duels, a ridiculously high percentage, and could be a difference-maker as Everton look to maintain their Premier League status with confidence over the coming months.
With some work and care, he could become a star at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, potentially better than Romero and Van de Ven.
Branthwaite could be better than Romero and Van de Ven
Spurs' favored defensive pivot is formidable and versatile when in one game, but inconsistencies at the London club have disrupted what could have been absolute brilliance, exacerbating their problems further.
With Romero and Van de Ven in the team this season, Spurs have She conceded eight goals From nine Premier League matches; Without them, Ange saw his versatile defense score 18 goals in just eight matches.
They certainly had their weaknesses, but Van de Ven's incredible athleticism and Romero's fearsome aggression combined to sow the seeds of something special. Naturally, they share a mutual technical ability that rivals the best of their counterparts in centers across Europe.
For Branthwaite, entering the fray at Spurs and inserting himself into the starting line-up would be a major achievement, but Spurs have already suffered regular absences from both giants in recent years and could use another presence to add strength.
Who knows, Branthwaite might find himself dethroning a key member as he improves under Ange's guidance.
Premier League 24/25 – Branthwaite vs Romero vs Van de Ven |
|||
---|---|---|---|
Match statistics* |
|||
Matches (start) |
11 (9) |
12 (12) |
9 (9) |
Objectives |
0 |
1 |
0 |
Helps |
0 |
0 |
2 |
Clean sheets |
5 |
2 |
1 |
touches* |
42.5 |
84.3 |
81.4 |
Complete the pass |
85% |
90% |
91% |
recover the ball* |
3.2 |
5.3 |
6.0 |
Quirks (completed)* |
0.2 (67%) |
0.1 (50%) |
0.4 (67%) |
Interventions + Interceptions * |
2.6 |
3.4 |
1.9 |
Approvals* |
3.6 |
2.4 |
3.1 |
Total duels (won)* |
3.5 (60%) |
5.3 (61%) |
3.8 (49%) |
Statistics via Sofascore (* = per game) |
There's a lot to unpack. However, there is one oddity worth discussing, which is Branthwaite's pass success rate of 85% despite being at the heart of an Everton team that, as a rule, shuns possession.
It is important to remember that the England centre-back plays an active role in promoting counter-attacking football. In other words, Branthwaite exists in a world that minimizes playing the ball to someone in his position, and is instead tasked with protecting Everton's goal and quickly removing the danger.
Everton ranks 19th in terms of possession in the English Premier League this season, with an average of 40.1%.FBrefConversely, Tottenham ranks third with a retention rate of 57.9%.
It is natural for Spurs' defenders to allow their passing range to flourish, and Branthwaite has not, so far, been able to regularly showcase this side of his game in a proper, consistent system.
Given that Branthwaite already has an incredible defensive presence, with stats to back up his authority at the back, there is an argument he could outperform both of Tottenham's star centre-backs under Ange's tutelage, cultivating new talent and enhancing depth. -The inherent combat that alerted the best groups to its quality.