Ross Barkley would help Tottenham more than Isco
Quite a few Tottenham fans are salivating over the prospect of signing Isco from Real Madrid in January. Those same Spurs fans need to understand that bringing Ross Barkley to White Hart Lane would benefit the club more.
Reports linking the Real Madrid ace with Spurs just won’t die. It’s easy to understand why fans would be seduced by the thought of Isco in a Spurs shirt. He’s just the sort of classy attacker that fans love. If he, against all odds, signed with Tottenham, he’d give the squad an immediate boost in terms of star quality.
Unfortunately, acquiring Isco might not actually help Mauricio Pochettino’s squad all that much. The talented Spaniard could serve as an upgrade over one of the club’s attacking midfielders, but he isn’t a great tactical fit with Spurs. Can anyone really imagine Isco pressing the opponent for long stretches of time? Me neither.
If Pochettino really wants a midfielder to “benefit the club” immediately, purchasing Barkley would be a much better option. The Everton man could provide Spurs with an extra dimension as soon as he arrived at White Hart Lane.
The trick to getting the most out of Barkley, is to focus on what he does well, and not get overwhelmed with what he doesn’t do. When he’s playing well, he has a wonderful ability to carry the ball forward and break down opposing defenses. Ronald Koeman’s frustrations with him largely result from his inconsistent play.
Tottenham wouldn’t look for Barkley to be the star of their squad. He could serve as another important cog in Pochettino’s machine. His game could flourish without the pressure of being the club’s main attacking star.
In fact, I think Barkley might not even serve as an attacker for Tottenham. The physical midfielder could slide back into the double-pivot. Just imagine Barkley taking over Harry Winks’ role in Pochettino’s starting XI. He could be just the physical, but offensive-minded midfielder, to serve as the perfect partner for Victor Wanyama or Mousa Dembele.
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In a strange way, he could fill the shoes of Luka Modric at White Hart Lane. The two don’t share many physical traits, but they do both have exceptional passing ability. Barkley isn’t as good as Modric was with the ball, but he’d be a significant upgrade over Pochettino’s current defensive midfield options. He also has the physical frame to serve as a competent defender when the need arises.
Tottenham fans need to stop dreaming of Isco and start warming up to the idea of Ross Barkley in a Spurs shirt. The Englishman lacks the sex appeal of the Spaniard, but he’s a much better bet to help the club win matches immediately.