Victor Wanyama can be Tottenham’s X-factor down the stretch
Tottenham are short of options in the midfield. That gives Victor Wanyama a big opportunity to resurrect his career with Spurs.
Two seasons ago Victor Wanyama was one of the first names on Mauricio Pochettino’s team sheet. This season he’s been banished to the fringes of Tottenham’s squad. Now, the Kenyan midfielder has a golden opportunity to work his way back into the club’s long-term plans.
The simple truth is that Tottenham don’t have enough quality options in the midfield. Selling Mousa Dembele in January made a lot of financial sense for the club, but failing to secure a quality replacement was a mistake by Daniel Levy and company. Pochettino may not say it publicly, but he’s got to be disappointed over the situation.
Recent injuries to Eric Dier and Harry Winks forced Pochettino to start Wanyama against Arsenal in Saturday’s North London Derby. He wasn’t able to last the full 90 minutes against the Gunners, but he did give Pochettino an hour of decent production. We could look back at the match as a big step in the right direction for the powerful midfielder.
At his best, Wanyama is a massive presence in the middle of the pitch. He uses his powerful frame to knock opposing midfielders off the ball. He’s never been a terrific threat going forward, but Spurs have never needed him to be. What Pochettino needs from Wanyama is for him to serve as a terrific shield for his back four.
Wanyama at least showed signs of his ability against Unai Emery’s squad. He didn’t look as quick as he did when he first arrived at Spurs, but he was able to break up play on several key occasions. The question for Pochettino is whether or not Wanyama can continue to increase his fitness levels as the season goes along.
The club obviously hope that Winks and Dier can enjoy better health down the stretch as well. In other words, Wanyama shouldn’t be required to start many matches. Instead, his potential role for Tottenham will be as a player who can come in off the bench and shut matches down. That’s a role Dembele played very well in the past.
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No Tottenham fan should expect Wanyama to return to his career best anytime soon, but if he can give short bursts of good play for the club it could really help Spurs secure their spot in the top four. Look for him to have an increased role for the club moving forward.