Tottenham’s season hangs in the balance, with the disappointment of a Capital One Cup final defeat and Europa League elimination being offset by the fact that they are still in the running for a top-four finish.
Harry Kane scored two more goals at the weekend to give the north London outfit a 2-1 away win over cross-city rivals QPR, with it apparent that Mauricio Pochettino’s men are reliant on the England under-21 star and key playmaker Christian Eriksen.
With Nacer Chadli having gone off the boil slightly of late, Mousa Dembele inconsistent and the options on the right-hand side of Pochettino’s 4-2-3-1 formation hot and cold, it appears that Spurs are missing someone who can score and create from an attacking midfield berth.
This certain someone would need an eye for a killer ball, the ability to keep possession well and shoot to score from distance. Someone with Premier League experience and a positive attitude. Someone like Gylfi Sigurdsson.
The Icelandic midfielder was signed from Swansea in 2012 and promised much, but in two years at White Hart Lane was not given a consistent place in the Spurs team to show just what he was capable of.
If and when he was selected to play, it was usually on the left wing as Eriksen commanded the number ten role. However, Sigurdsson did not complain, always put in a shift for his side and scored a number of very important goals along the way.
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This season, following a return to Swansea, Sigurdsson has proved just how good he is and will have plenty of Tottenham supporters wishing that he was still at White Hart Lane.
Eight assists and five goals, including one against Spurs in midweek, is an excellent return and the Scandinavian has clearly been relishing the opportunity to play regularly in his favoured position.
Meanwhile, back at Tottenham, Eriksen has been shifted out to the left on occasion in the second half of this season to accommodate Dembele in the number ten role. Although, admittedly, the Belgian’s showings in a more advanced role have outdone those when he has played in central midfield, the former Fulham man has not shown anywhere near the ability that Sigurdsson has at Swansea.
The right-hand side of midfield is a problem area for Tottenham also, with Andros Townsend and Erik Lamela sharing the responsibilities and neither fully convincing in the process. The fact that the Argentina international is still given a chance while Sigurdsson was kicked to the kerb may well have something to do with the extortionate transfer fee Spurs paid to bring Lamela to England from Roma.
With the versatility to play anywhere across the forward line, surely Sigurdsson would be a more comprehensive option on the right for Spurs this season also.
Selling the Icelandic star is clearly proving to be a mistake by Spurs, with acquiring Ben Davies and Michel Vorm in the swap not exactly reaping dividends.
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