3 Tactical Reasons Why Tottenham Need Defensive Reinforcements In January

Almost halfway through the season, Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham Hotspur seem to be some distance off the title race, as they sit 10 points behind leader Chelsea in the fifth place. However, the League triumph may seem a far reach, but the top four is very much for the taking for Spurs with fourth-placed Arsenal just a point ahead.

But things have hardly gone smooth for the Lilywhites, having struggled for goals in the absence of Harry Kane early in the season and their defensive struggles in the absence of Toby Alderweireld. So, it is absolutely necessary that Pochettino brings in reinforcements in the January transfer window if his team are to sustain their challenge for the Champions League spots.

With the transfer window less than 10 days away, we take a look at three reasons why signing a defender is a must for Pochettino and Spurs in the winter:

1. Kevin Wimmer’s Struggles

When Toby Alderweireld was out injured from the last week of October, Austrian Kevin Wimmer got a chance in the side at the heart of the defence, alongside Jan Vertonghen.

But in the two games that he played, the 24-year old was woeful to say the least. Wimmer looked shaky and suspect, there was a clear lack of confidence in his game and it seemed that he was not cut out for the Premier League. Especially in the game against Chelsea, where Pochettino set out a three-man defence, Wimmer looked completely out of place and struggled to have the desired impact.

Alderweireld missed a total of 9 games during his injury period, but Wimmer was used only in three of those, indicating Pochettino’s lack of trust in the player. Hence a reinforcement at the heart of the defence is needed for the North Londoners.

2. Eric Dier’s Comfort in Midfield

Eric Dier has emerged as one of the most promising central midfielders in the Premier League over the past year or so. His energy in the middle of the park, his constant running and his fearless tackling combined with his ability on the ball and keen eye for a pass, make him an excellent option to have in the midfield.

But due to the injury to Alderweireld, Dier was used as a centre-back by Pochettino in recent weeks, where he did not look very convincing. The 22-year old wasn’t bad as a centre-half, but he seems to be much more comfortable in his new role of a midfielder and looks a much better player in the centre of the pitch. While he can fill in as a centre-back, Dier’s value lies in the midfield and is best suited to the role of an all-action box to box midfielder that he has made his own which is why Pochettino should sign a defender and use Dier where he is at his destructive best.

3. Lack of Depth

Title campaigns are built on strong squads that endure the season despite the rigorous schedules or injuries to key players. It is an area where Spurs seem to be lacking in comparison to their rivals. The Londoners are heavily reliant on Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen in defence and seem to struggle if either of the two are unavailable due to some reasons.

Kevin Wimmer is the only backup option that Pochettino has at his hands and can also rely upon Eric Dier to fill in. But, for a side that is aiming for the title or even the Champions League, Spurs seem to be very limited in their options for fallback, especially with the Wimmer’s poor run and Dier’s value in midfield. Spurs despite their Champions League exit, will be involved in the Europa League knockout stages and also the FA Cup alongside their league campaign. With involvement in three important competitions, the manager needs to bring in another solid option at the heart of the defence.