This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…
Juan Foyth turned in an excellent performance as Tottenham Hotspur beat Red Star Belgrade 4-0 in the Champions League on Wednesday.
On the chalkboard
The Argentina international was restored to the right-back position ahead of Serge Aurier and Kyle Walker-Peters in Serbia and looked assured throughout the 90 minutes.
Having been told he would be played in the position in the summer, instead of his natural centre-back role, Foyth will surely have hoped to have nailed down the role by now.
Injury robbed him of that chance, unfortunately, but he is now back in the mix and on this evidence, could be the answer.
Foyth had 88 touches of the ball throughout the game, per WhoScored, and completed two dribbles, along with two tackles, while registering a pass completion rate of 94%. Only Moussa Sissoko had a higher number in the latter category.
Foyth also made one clearance and won one aerial duel in a display that had him haring up and down the flank on a continual basis.
Replacement
Foyth needs to be starting games in the Premier League.
Aurier has struggled throughout the season and has made some noticeable errors during his time as the club’s first-choice.
He was sent off against Southampton and then conceded a penalty versus Liverpool, from which Mohamed Salah scored the winning goal at Anfield in a 2-1 defeat for Pochettino’s side.
Former Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane labelled him and Danny Rose “dumb and dumber” after the game against the Reds.
He has had good games – ironically, his highest rating garnered from WhoScored came in the 5-0 win over Red Star at home – but there is a feeling that he is erratic and prone to lapses in concentration.
It must be said, here, that the Ivory Coast international is no longer a prospect; he is 26 and should be approaching his peak.
Foyth, by comparison, is just 21 and is a player who can be nurtured.
The best way for that to happen is for him to start games on a regular basis.
Spurs play Sheffield United this weekend at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium before taking on West Ham United in a London derby and returning to European action against Olympiacos.
In an ideal world for Spurs, Foyth should start every single one of those games; on the basis of his performance on Wednesday, he would deserve to.
