If Tottenham Hotspur are to maintain their Premier League status this season, they will need to do it the hard way, fighting tooth and nail in the final weeks of the season.
To be fair to Roberto De Zerbi, Tottenham’s deeply ingrained habits prevent them from celebrating Xavi Simmons’ special strike as a winner, but his performance against Brighton last weekend proves he is having an impact on this beleaguered team.
Spurs are in a state of purgatory in 18th place, two points behind West Ham United and a further three behind Nottingham Forest, but De Zerbi will need to be spot-on with his team selection if the London side are to play at their highest level next season.
Time is running out and difficult choices must be made. However, with Rodrigo Bentancur back in the starting lineup after an injury (and James Maddison also ostensibly healthy after an extended layoff), the head coach could potentially remove Yves Bissouma for the next game.
Why De Zerbi must remove Bissouma at Spurs
Bissouma, 29, is out of contract at the end of the season, but even if Tottenham manage to make an escape, it seems unlikely that the Mali international will extend his stay on the N17.
Bissouma has had few chances this season. He suffered multiple injuries and missed most of the winter due to the African Cup of Nations.
Against Brighton, he was one of those who failed to put in a big performance, failing to display the physicality that has formed the core of the midfield skillset for so many years.
The 29-year-old is a talented central midfielder with plenty of Premier League experience, but he has been left much to be desired for far too long and many fans will wonder why he was not released at some stage in recent years.
Yves Bissouma vs Brighton | |
|---|---|
statistics | # |
Play time (minutes) | 57 minutes |
touch | 28 |
exact path | 21/23 (91%) |
An opportunity has arisen | 0 |
loss of ownership | 1x |
dribble | 0/1 |
collect | 4 |
tackle win | 0 |
ground duel | 0/4 |
foul | 3 |
Bissouma lost all of its ground games on Saturday and lacked any progress in possession. Of course, he’s not completely fit for the game, but De Zerbi can’t afford to wait for his tough tackler to get back up to speed.
It’s time for Bisouuma to return to the bench. Another Spurs star could definitely take his place near the end, and indeed for years to come.
Spurs’ ‘young Declan Rice’ could end Bissouma’s N17 career
Tottenham have a lot of talent in their first team, but things haven’t been going well for them in recent years, and last season’s Europa League victory covered any serious problems.
But through these trying times, Archie Gray has stood out among the upperclassmen, outperforming many players and playing with more maturity and conviction. Still only 20 years old, he has been thrust into the deep end and has impressed since joining as an 18-year-old from his boyhood club Leeds United in 2024.
According to Duncan Alexander of The Athletic, Gray’s versatility and mindset, comparable to a “young Declan Rice,” set him apart from other players. Sharp in possession and aggressive on the ball, the player could be Rice’s future rival in the Three Lions system.
A natural midfielder, Gray has played in every position for Tottenham, a testament to his versatility but also evidence of the dysfunction in north London that would surely hold back a lesser player.
Archie Gray’s Tottenham career by position | ||
|---|---|---|
position | app | Goal + Assist |
center back | 20 | 0+0 |
defensive midfield | 18 | 1 + 0 |
central midfield | 14 | 0 + 1 |
right full back | 11 | 1 + 0 |
left full back | 7 | 0 + 1 |
right midfield | 3 | 0 + 1 |
Instead, Gray has looked only ahead and encouraged those around him. There are certainly similarities to Rice in that regard, with the England superstar helping to pull West Ham away from relegation fodder and into Europe to secure silverware under manager David Moyes.
In reality, Gray hasn’t been given enough chances to make a good impression in his natural and best position, center.
Now that Bentancur is back, do we need to start over with a player like Bissouma? You’d think his technique could be important when Spurs take on Wolves next weekend, and it could just be the end for an experienced player who has been outclassed by players 10 years younger than him.
Spurs have acquired raw talent Xavi Simmons and could let them go
Roberto De Zerbi must unleash a young Spurs player who could become Xavi Simmons 2.0.
