Victor Wanyama may end up in the Tottenham starting XI
When Tottenham purchased Victor Wanyama from Southampton this summer most Spurs fans believed he would provide excellent cover for Mousa Dembele and Eric Dier. After just a couple of matches at the club, it now seems entirely possible that the Kenyan destroyer could force his way into Mauricio Pochettino’s starting XI.
Up to this point, Pochettino hasn’t been forced to choose between the trio of Wanyama, Dier and Dembele. The latter is still serving his suspension for his antics against Chelsea at the end of the 2015-16 campaign. His absence has given Wanyama the chance to make his case for minutes on the pitch.
All he’s done with that opportunity is turn in a man of the match performance and score the game winner against Crystal Palace. He was brilliant against the Eagles and earned a Whoscored.com player rating of 8.5 for the match.
He did an excellent job of both shielding the back four and surging forward to aid the Spurs attack. His ability to carry the ball forward into the opponents’ final third was a particular surprise against Palace.
If he continues his stellar play, he’s going to give Pochettino quite the selection challenge once Dembele returns. Will the Spurs boss elect to stick with last year’s starting midfield pairing or will he allow Wanyama’s success to change things up?
If history is an indicator, Pochettino won’t hesitate to shift his starting pairing. Entering last season, most expected Nabil Bentaleb and Ryan Mason to serve as the club’s starting double-pivot. That seems like decades ago at this point.
If Wanyama secures a starting spot, Pochettino will need to make a tough choice between Dier and Dembele. The English international was a revelation after moving to the midfield into the back four last season. His stellar play made him one of the first names on both the Tottenham and England team sheets. That would seem to be enough to keep him in the Spurs starting XI.
Unfortunately for Dier, Dembele was even better. He was statistically rated as Tottenham’s top player on the year, and the club struggled mightily to win matches in his absence. Dropping him from the starting XI would be an almost unthinkable move by the Spurs boss.
More from Tottenham Hotspur
- Bayern Munich reach agreement for Harry Kane
- Antonio Conte goes scorched earth on Tottenham
- Clement Lenglet set to join Tottenham on loan
- Tottenham set to sign Brazilian Richarlison
- Tottenham Hotspur hold off Arsenal for Champions League spot
The good news for each player involved is that there will be plenty of playing time available for all three. Spurs will attempt to compete on all fronts this year which will force Tottenham to play quite a few matches. Midfield rotation will be a necessity. That says nothing of the possibility of injury and suspension affecting Pochettino’s choices.
Victor Wanyama may supplant Eric Dier in Tottenham’s starting XI and that would actually be a good thing for Spurs. It would give the club an embarrassment of riches at a position crucial for the squad’s success.