Tottenham player ratings v. Watford: Dele bails out Spurs

Tottenham did not get the three points they wanted against Watford, but Dele Alli’s late goal helped Spurs avoid complete disaster. 

Very little about Tottenham’s 1-1 draw against Watford on Saturday bodes well for the club’s future. At least Dele Alli managed to find a way to slot a goal home late to earn his side a valuable point. In the end Spurs avoided an embarassing defeat, but their long-term issues still remain.

In fairness, Tottenham did show some signs of life in the second half. It wasn’t enough to overcome Watford’s conservative setup, but it will elevate the following player ratings slightly. Read on to discover just how every Spurs star played on the day.

Harry Kane-6

This wasn’t a banner day for England’s top centre forward. Kane was unable to really gain control of the ball for any meaningful stretch of time. The effort level was there, but he didn’t provide his attack the foothold it needed in this match. He must play better in the future if Spurs are going to get rolling.

Lucas Moura-5.5

Once again, Lucas showed that he’s incapable of playing effectively alongside Kane. The idea of him in the starting XI is terrific, but it’s not working in practice. Look for the Brazilian to return to the substitutes’ bench when several of his teammates return to training.

Harry Winks-6.5

Winks was one of Tottenham’s best players for roughly an hour of action. He was quick and tidy in the midfield which is precisely what the squad needed. Then his play dropped off sharply and he started making costly giveaways in the middle of the pitch. His uneven performance earns him an uneven rating.

Moussa Sissoko-7

As usual with Sissoko, the focus must be on what he does rather than what he doesn’t. He’s never going to play a skillful 90 minutes, but he can give his side effort and edge. For the most part, he did that against the Hornets. Spurs may need to find a better option in the future, but Sissoko isn’t a part of their problems at the moment.

Dele Alli-7.5

In many ways this was a vintage match for Dele. He struggled to find space in the first half and was largely ineffective. After the break he was much better. His late runs from deep in the midfield ultimately unlocked the Watford defence. He deserved his goal even if it was a bit scruffy.

Serge Aurier-7.5

Plenty of Spurs fans have already written Aurier off. When he makes his trademark ridiculous decisions he kills his team. He didn’t do that on Saturday though. Instead, he played a very solid match on the right flank. Aurier doesn’t have a long-term future in North London, but he was one of Pochettino’s top performers in this match.

Toby Alderweireld-6.5

Playing three centre backs to start the match was supposed to free up Alderweireld to go forward and shoulder some playmaking duties. He failed to make anything happen in the opening 45 minutes. He was a bit better after the break, but it was still a relatively anonymous performance for one of the most talented players on the pitch.

Davinson Sanchez-5

Sanchez got the surprising start in the middle of Tottenham’s three central defenders. He was caught out of position for Watford’s only goal and he earned a yellow card for a poor foul that gifted the opponent a promising free kick. Pochettino was entirely correct to take him off at the break.

Jan Vertonghen-4.5

This was one of Vertonghen’s worst matches in a Tottenham shirt. He looked at least one step slow all game long. His hesitation on the ball put his teammates under pressure on multiple occasions. If Sanchez had played better, he would’ve come off at the half instead.

Danny Rose-5

It’s time for Tottenham fans to face reality regarding Rose. He plays pretty hard, but his lack of skill and declining athleticism are both major problems. The Englishman looked overmatched at times against a pretty pedestrian Watford attack. His days as an effective Premier League starter are quickly coming to an end.

Paulo Gazzaniga-6

Gazzaniga had a pretty quiet day in relief of Hugo Lloris. He had zero chance to stop Doucoure’s goal. He wasn’t really required to make any difficult save. His performance does get downgraded slightly for his pitiful giveaway of the ball in the second half.

Heung-min Son-7.5

It’s not an exaggeration to say that Son completely changed the match in the second half. He came tantalizingly close to tying the match when his rocket deflected off the crossbar. The talented Korean didn’t tally a goal or an assist, but he put Watford under serious pressure. He’ll be back in the starting XI as soon as his fitness allows it.

Erik Lamela-6.5

Lamela’s insertion into the match also had a positive effect on Spurs. His dogged determination has a way of buoying the energy level of his teammates. The Argentine’s final product needs work, but he helped Tottenham establish a foothold in the final third that they desperately needed.

Tanguy Ndombele -5.5

The Frenchman didn’t get a ton of time to impact the match, but he was a marked upgrade on Winks. Like Son, he should also be in the starting XI as soon as his fitness permits. He may still be learning the Premier League game, but his ability to be a legitimate two-way midfielder gives Pochettino’s squad a massive boost.