Brilliant Vicario, Porro surprise – Tottenham players and Postecoglou rated for s

Brilliant Vicario, Porro surprise – Tottenham players and Postecoglou rated for s
It’s that time when we look back and rate just how well or not the Tottenham players and their head coach Ange Postecoglou have done so far this season

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Tottenham Hotspur have had plenty to enjoy this season under Ange Postecoglou despite the past two results

Tottenham Hotspur have had their first wobble of of the Ange Postecoglou era with big injuries and their first two defeats of the Premier League season.

Still just two points off the top in fourth place, Spurs have mostly played with style, swagger and an aggression that the fans have been yearning for in recent years. The one low point previously was a much-changed Tottenham team crashing out of the Carabao Cup after a penalty shoot-out, which brought some early criticism for Postecoglou before the recent back-to-back defeats.

Now three months into the season and it’s time for our football.london international break tradition of looking back and rating the players who have got first team minutes so far during the early months of the campaign. As always, our ratings are based on the expectation for each player – ours and theirs – rather than to be used as a tool to compare them against each other. We’ve also rated Postecoglou’s early months in charge at the end of it all.

Let’s start with the men between the sticks.
Guglielmo Vicario

In one word – superb. After some very premature concerns among a few following his debut at Brentford, when he was still getting to know a newly-thrown together defence in front of him, Vicario has made a wonderful start to life at Spurs. He’s been assured with both his hands and feet, making spectacular saves – nominated twice for Premier League Save of the Month – and he’s very comfortable in doing the basics well. His performance against Chelsea, when he had to act as a sweeper keeper/midfielder behind Spurs’ eight other men, was ridiculously good. As the north London club’s first new No.1 in 11 years – albeit wearing 13 – he’s made the transition seamlessly and what’s most exciting is that he will only get better as the defence finally settles. We’re still giving him top marks because it’s difficult to think of many, if any, mistakes he’s made. 10

Fraser Forster

Just one appearance so far for Spurs this season in the Carabao Cup exit. He couldn’t do much about Van de Ven’s own goal but produced a fine one-handed save to stop Muniz’s header and also denied the striker at his near post, before making a good save late on to stop Wilson from scoring a winner. He couldn’t get anywhere near any of Fulham’s penalties though as Spurs exited the cup. 5

Pedro Porro

The 24-year-old Spaniard has perhaps been one of the surprises of the season so far. There’s been the odd wobble at the back, including late on at Palace, but on the whole he’s been a machine of a player, covering at both ends of the pitch from start to finish and coming inside in the No.10 role effortlessly. That’s because Porro has a passing ability that is second only to Maddison. He grabbed a second assist at Wolves with his low ball to Johnson after linking up well with Kulusevski and his assist for Son at Burnley was a world class pass that would have got far more coverage had it come from a top midfielder. He’s also been incredibly passionate about playing for Spurs and could become a fans’ favourite as time goes on. 8.5

Emerson Royal

Scored in the opening match at Brentford with a fine low drive but his only other start came at Fulham in the cup until Saturday’s game at Molineux. He has some struggles defensively in all three games he’s started but had come off the bench a number of times to shore things up with good cameos. He’s shown his versatility by playing on the left and in the centre of defence against Chelsea for a spell. He doesn’t have the attacking ability of Porro which might count against him in the long run under Postecoglou. 6.5

Cristian Romero

Until that red card, the Argentine was playing his best football since he arrived at Tottenham. The extra responsibility of being named a vice-captain by Postecoglou had seemed to be a gamechanger for a player. He didn’t even commit a foul in the Premier League until after the first international break. Romero also scored two great goals, one a booming header despite having just suffered a blow to his head and then that curling rocket in off the left-hand post at a crucial time at Burnley. Then came that game against Chelsea. Romero lost his head twice – he could easily have had red cards for both incidents if that was possible – and technically his absence played a big role in the defeat to the Blues and also then the loss at Wolves. He had a 10 the last time we did these ratings, so we’re knocking him down a whole mark and a half and hopefully he makes up for it when he returns next month after his three-match ban ends. 8.5

Micky van de Ven

His hamstring injury was a massive blow to Postecoglou and Tottenham because the 22-year-old had made the transition to Premier League football look effortless. There’s been the odd little slip and an unfortunate habit of getting the last touch on shots at Spurs’ goal, resulting in one own goal and a couple of others that almost were, but on the whole he’s made a huge impression at the club and fitted in seamlessly to the pace and physicality of the Premier League. The Dutchman has got pace, ability on the ball and was the perfect complement to Romero with a Ledley King-like ability to stay on his feet and guide attackers away from the danger zones. He also showed a smart finish in netting the winner at Luton. The New Year can’t come soon enough. 10

Davinson Sanchez

The Colombian departed to Galatasaray in a £12.8million deal but he played well before that when he was thrown in for Romero early on at Brentford. Had a tough first half in the Carabao Cup at Fulham before improving in the second half but his night ended with that saved penalty in the shoot-out which he was brave enough to step up and take but unfortunately ended up being his final moment as a Spurs player. 5.5

Eric Dier

Just two appearances so far after getting his chance following Romero’s red card and Van de Ven’s injury. The 29-year-old came in for this first minutes of the season and did well against Chelsea in tough circumstances and then against Wolves he was solid enough for 91 minutes before looking tired in added time and playing a part in both late goals. Postecoglou’s high line does not suit him and it feels like his time at Tottenham will end after a decade, but as he gets more match sharp in the weeks ahead he will have a part to play. 6

Destiny Udogie

A remarkable introduction to Premier League life for a 20-year-old from a very different league until a couple of daft moments against Chelsea. Udogie has weighed in with a couple of assists as a real menace to opposition defences and he’s also dealt with most of what has been thrown at him in defence. The Italian had been one of the best full-backs in the league until that red card while learning to play centrally in the inverted role Postecoglou demands. His performances against Saka and Salah in successive weeks showed that he’s learning with every passing game and from every tough moment and hopefully the same will happen when he returns from suspension. 9

Ben Davies

Reduced to a supporting role due to the displays of Udogie, making an impact against Manchester United, his only start came as captain in the cup match at Fulham until the game at Crystal Palace when an ankle injury got the better of him. Then came the match at Wolves in which he was excellent in the centre of defence. Named man of the match on the day with defensive interventions aplenty, Davies did not deserve to be on the end of the late turnaround. The Welshman is mainly going to be an experienced back-up this season but he did put in a good case to start alongside Romero when the Argentine is back next month until the return of Van de Ven. 6.5

Yves Bissouma

Postecoglou appeared to have unlocked the true Bissouma with the 27-year-old excellent until that red card at Kenilworth Road. While there’s the odd little loose pass or finding himself getting stuck out of position up the pitch, he’s been a crucial cog in the centre of the new Spurs machine. The yellow cards became an issue though – he’s had seven in total although only five officially counted. He was suspended for the match at Fulham after his red card and will now miss the Villa game. He’s played within himself in the past three matches, perhaps wary of getting that fifth yellow that came anyway. Postecoglou needs him back to what he was. 8

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg

While he will be disappointed about being reduced to a supporting role, both on and off the pitch, the Dane has still shown a good attitude behind the scenes and on it, and he’s contributed with experienced displays whenever he’s come off the bench in the Premier League, including playing in defence against Chelsea. He did struggle at Fulham in the cup, especially in the first half, but was excellent against them in the league in both halves of the pitch. However, he had a part to play in both Wolves goals on Saturday afternoon. 7

The signing of the summer in the Premier League without question and his ankle injury is a punch to the gut for Postecoglou. Maddison had been a breath of fresh air for Spurs with his attitude, leadership and his ability. He got five assists and three goals in his 10 Premier League games before the Chelsea match and he’s played a part in other goals. Tottenham will now have to operate without his playmaking ability, movement and leadership on the pitch until 2024. 10