There have definitely been signs of progress for Tottenham Hotspur in recent weeks, but a 3-0 thrashing of Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on a chilly Sunday afternoon was a harsh reality for Thomas Frank.
At the weekend, Tottenham recorded a win at home to Brentford over Forest, who had gone winless in six games in the same division, and knew they had a chance to step up and make real progress in the Premier League.
However, that positive feeling did not last long after defeating Slavia Prague 3-0 in the Champions League in midweek. The system is riddled with problems and the way Spurs were defeated by Sean Dyche’s relegation-threatened side infuriated and disappointed a fan base who had been crying out for consistency and focused creativity all season.
Frank’s post-game comments were dark, but he couldn’t have stood in front of the cameras and praised his efforts and gained momentary solace.
It is clearer than ever that ENIC Group’s decision to attack the January transfer window is justified.
Spurs plan to strengthen in January
The loss to Forest was a memorable one, but it’s hard to put it in context as it hasn’t been an outlier for the Lilywhites this season.
Tottenham suffered a slump in the first half when Guglielmo Vicario put pressure on Archie Gray. The 19-year-old then gave the ball away cheaply, allowing Callum Hudson-Odoi to score.
This microcosm of Spurs’ season unfolds into an even more gloomy landscape, and it’s no wonder a deal is expected. This is a team that needs improvement across many positions. Gray anchors on a weekly basis and doesn’t seem ready for a starring role.
Perhaps that is why ENIC is preparing to sign Atletico Madrid star Pablo Barrios. In fact, Spanish media are under the impression that the Londoners have already made an opening offer of €70m (equivalent to £61m) for the 22-year-old midfielder. If the deal goes through, it would be one of the most expensive in the club’s history, surpassing the £60m paid for Richarlison, but falling short of Dominic Solanke’s £4m deal.
The Spaniard’s versatility and physical attributes make him ideal for the Premier League, but Atletico are not willing to part with the award easily. Interest from Spurs is very real, but securing his signature will be a difficult task.
Why the Spurs should sign Pablo Barrios
Gray’s missteps at the weekend are commonplace in football, but they are symptomatic of Tottenham’s wider struggles at the moment. More experience and dynamism is needed in the midfield, especially with the banishment of Yves Bissouma and the limited skill sets of Rodrigo Bentancur and Joao Parinha.
This is where Barrios will raise the bar for the Spurs. He is athletic, quick, and confident in duels. He has been praised by talent scout Jacek Kulig for his “Iniesta-like magic” with the ball and will help the manager establish fluid passing patterns from midfield to the final third.
Winning duels is a core part of the midgame, but Gray struggles to achieve it. Indeed, the England Under-21 international’s lack of success in attacking and defending has prevented him from establishing fluency in Tottenham’s midfield.
Such problems do not exist for Barrios, who is still young but boasts the strength and power to defeat any opponent.
League Form 25/26 – Archie Gray vs Pablo Barrios | ||
|---|---|---|
Statistics (* per match) | gray | barrios |
Match (start) | 6(4) | 16(14) |
the goal | 0 | 1 |
assist | 0 | 0 |
touch* | 28.3 | 61.8 |
Exact path* | 20.5 (92%) | 41.3 (87%) |
Opportunities created* | 0.2 | 0.8 |
Successful. dribble* | 0.2 (50%) | 1.8 (65%) |
Ball recovery rate* | 2.3 | 4.8 |
Tackle* | 0.5 | 1.2 |
Intercept* | 0.5 | 1.3 |
Win a duel* | 1.0 (29%) | 5.0 (57%) |
Data via Sofascore | ||
Barrios could help put the Spurs back on a more stable footing. The Spanish star is not only trained in coach Diego Simeone’s steely system, but is also active and aggressive on the ball. According to FBref, he ranks in the top 5% of center midfielders across Europe in take-on success rate over the past year, and in the top 14% in interceptions per 90 attempts.
A successful take-on is recorded when a player, while still in possession of the ball, directly carries the ball and defeats his opponent.
There are good reasons for Spurs directors Johan Lange and Fabio Paratici to complete this deal. Gray is an exciting talent and could play a talismanic role in Frank’s system, but he’s not there yet.
The problem is that Gray’s colleagues have had little to no glory this season, and with plenty of opportunities to play this term, a change is needed.
Fewer touches than Vicario, only two passes: Spurs’ flop must drop
It’s time for Frank to rid the team of the Spurs’ failure once and for all.
