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Tottenham finally have a new starting right back

By Rucker Haringey

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 13: Serge Aurier of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Everton at Wembley Stadium on January 13, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 13: Serge Aurier of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Everton at Wembley Stadium on January 13, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images) /
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Serge Aurier has replaced Kieran Trippier

Tottenham may not be overly active in the January transfer market, but that doesn’t mean important things aren’t happening for Spurs. As of now, it’s quite clear that Serge Aurier has jumped in front of Kieran Trippier to become Mauricio Pochettino’s first choice at right back.

In truth, it’s a move that many Tottenham fans have been wanting to see for quite some time. Trippier has put in some solid performances this season, but his limited athleticism is a real issue against high-quality opposition. Aurier, on the other hand, is more than athletic enough to handle almost any attacker he faces.

The former PSG defenders’ challenge has been to improve his mental approach to the game. Even in his brief time with Spurs, he’s showed some real immaturity. His foolish red card against West Ham earlier this season is the perfect example of what kept him out of Pochettino’s starting XI for big matches early in the season. The gaffer could never be quite sure what was going through Aurier’s mind when he elected to go in for a wild challenge.

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Lately, Aurier has largely eliminated those unexplainable decisions. He’s always going to be prone to a reckless challenge every now and then, but Pochettino appreciates players who can be a little bit “naughty.” As a former defender himself, Tottenham’s boss certainly appreciates physicality for those who play in his back line.

Aurier isn’t just helping his club as a defender though. In his latest outing against Everton he showed real signs of grasping Tottenham’s attacking system as well. Time and time again he tormented Sam Allardyce’s squad down the right flank. He may never be Trippier’s equal as a crosser of the ball, but his speed gets him in much better positions to fire dangerous balls into the penalty area. His opening assist for Son’s goal against the Toffees was a great example of his class with the ball at his feet.

Two reasonable questions arise from Aurier knocking Trippier out of the top spot at right back. The first, is just how good can Aurier become? There’s still plenty of time for him to improve his game and his subsequent impact on Tottenham’s season. If Pochettino can improve his performance as much as he did with Danny Rose on the left side of the pitch, Tottenham will have an invaluable gem on their hands.

The other logical question is what will the club do with Trippier? He’s at an age where he’ll want regular playing time in an effort to cement his place in the England squad. It’s possible that Pochettino won’t give him enough opportunities to earn his ticket to Russia.

If Trippier doesn’t play enough to make it to the World Cup, it’s very likely he’ll try to force a move this summer. Given Kyle Walker-Peters’ readiness to earn legitimate Premier League playing time, it’s very likely that Spurs would be amenable to letting him depart.

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No matter how you slice it, Serge Aurier’s ascension to the top right back spot is good news for Tottenham. He’s an excellent fit for how Pochettino wants to play and he should only get better as he grows more accustomed to his manager’s expectations.

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