Tottenham player ratings v APOEL: Several Spurs should be ashamed

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NICOSIA, CYPRUS – SEPTEMBER 26: Praxitelis Vouros of of Apoel FC and Harry Winks of Tottenham Hotspur battle for possession during the UEFA Champions League Group H match between Apoel Nicosia and Tottenham Hotspur at GSP Stadium on September 26, 2017 in Nicosia, Cyprus. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) /

Harry Winks-6.5

It was a tale of two halves for the Tottenham social media darling. In the first half, he was ponderous on the ball and didn’t give much juice to the club’s attack. In the second stanza, he was much more energetic and purposeful with the ball at his feet.

Take the average of both halves and you get an adequate outing for the young Englishman. He shouldn’t sniff the pitch against the likes of Real Madrid if players like Mousa Dembele and Victor Wanyama recover from injury, but he’s a useful squad player. It was a quality outing for Winks, but nothing more.

Eric Dier-4

Winks’ partner in the double-pivot was an absolute passenger in this match. I joked on social media that Dier should be charged for a ticket he was so poor. Aside from a few interceptions he didn’t give Tottenham anything on the afternoon.

It’s the continuation of a disturbing trend for the English international. Dier is coasting on his reputation. Close examination of his play makes it clear he hasn’t been good for the better part of a year. Some of his struggles are likely due to his constant positional switching, but not all of it. If Dier wants a place in this squad when everyone’s fit, his play needs to improve immediately.

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