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Top 5 Tottenham v Middlesbrough matchups

By Rucker Haringey

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 21: Vincent Janssen of Tottenham shakes the hand of manager Mauricio Pochettino during the EFL Cup Third Round match between Tottenham Hotspur and Gillingham at White Hart Lane on September 21, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images )
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 21: Vincent Janssen of Tottenham shakes the hand of manager Mauricio Pochettino during the EFL Cup Third Round match between Tottenham Hotspur and Gillingham at White Hart Lane on September 21, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images ) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 21: Vincent Janssen of Tottenham in action v’s Gillingham during the EFL Cup Third Round match between Tottenham Hotspur and Gillingham at White Hart Lane on September 21, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images )
LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 21: Vincent Janssen of Tottenham in action v’s Gillingham during the EFL Cup Third Round match between Tottenham Hotspur and Gillingham at White Hart Lane on September 21, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images ) /

Vincent Janssen vs. Boro centre backs

Let me be crystal clear about something right from the start. Vincent Janssen does not have to be Harry Kane to have a successful stint occupying his spot in the starting XI.

For that matter, he doesn’t even need to score to have a quality match against Middlesbrough. What he needs to do, is occupy occupying defenders in an effort to free up space for his attacking midfield.

Counterintuitively, Middlesbrough need to make sure they don’t pay too much attention to Tottenham’s backup striker. If they devote too many defenders to muscling him out of the penalty box, they’re going to suffer greatly. That would play right into Pochettino’s hands.

Spurs’ game plan will be for Janssen to tie up the opposition’s central defenders and lay the ball off to attacking runs from the midfield. It’s what the Dutch striker is best at, and clearly his teammates enjoy his service. That’ll be the measure of success for him against Boro.

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