“T
Ange Postecoglou, discussing Timo Werner prior to Tottenham’s game at Villa Park, confidently predicted that there would be more impressive performances from the player. His prediction proved true as Werner delivered his first league goal for Spurs in their 3-1 win over Crystal Palace, where he scored the crucial equalizer in a come-from-behind victory. Werner also found the back of the net in Tottenham’s 4-0 victory over Villa on Sunday.
Werner substituted in for the game against Villa and scored a goal against Emiliano Martínez, helping Spurs get closer to securing a top four spot. He also provided assists in games against Manchester United and Brentford in January, making it a total of four goal involvements in seven games for Spurs. In his time at Chelsea, Werner had difficulty maintaining consistent performance, but in a more stable system with lower expectations at Spurs, he appears more confident.
When it was revealed that Tottenham Hotspur were trying to sign the 28-year-old during the beginning of the year, many dismissed the notion of the German player coming back to England. He did not perform well at Chelsea, only scoring 10 goals in 56 league matches, and was also struggling to get playing time at RB Leipzig, where Loïs Openda, Yussuf Poulsen, and Benjamin Sesko were chosen before him by manager Marco Rose.
However, the Spurs made the decision to bring Werner on a temporary loan in January, with the potential of permanently signing him for £15m in the future. As time progresses, the case for investing and prolonging his tenure with the team after this season grows stronger. Although his image may have been damaged during his time at Chelsea, where he did win the Champions League, he has proven to be a valuable addition to Postecoglou’s squad.
Werner’s speed and directness on the left side is a valuable asset for Spurs, especially against teams that have open spaces in their defense. His fellow players are able to pass the ball to him when he is in free space, allowing him to use his pace to beat his opponent. In the league this season, only Dejan Kulusevski (1.7) has completed more dribbles per 90 minutes than Werner (1.5) for Spurs.
Due to lengthy injuries sustained by Manor Solomon and Ivan Perisic, who has now left for his hometown team Hajduk Split, Tottenham Hotspur required a strong offensive presence on the left wing for the latter part of the season. Werner has the potential to fulfill this role.
He brings a unique element to the team’s other attacking players under Postecoglou. Kulusevski is skilled at dribbling past defenders, utilizing his quick thinking, but his speed is not his strongest attribute. Johnson is known for his speed but has struggled with finishing and consistency this season. Werner is lightning fast and can take on defenders with both feet, making him a difficult opponent for even the most solid defenses.
His defensive abilities are also highly valued by the Spurs team. Under the management of Postecoglou, the team has become one of the most aggressive pressing teams in the Premier League. In fact, in terms of possession in the attacking third, only Manchester City (201) has a higher number than Spurs (184) this season. Werner has played a crucial role in this aspect. He has been able to win possession in the attacking third more frequently than any other Spurs player, with an average of every 52.6 minutes. Among the regular players in the league, only Kevin De Bruyne has a better record of winning back possession, with an average of every 44.8 minutes. This is a highly underrated aspect of Werner’s game, but it has greatly contributed to his successful integration into the Spurs team. Postecoglou has effectively turned this defensive strength into a valuable asset for the team.
Considering Werner’s flexibility, being able to play on both the left side and in the center, it’s a clear decision for Spurs to sign him permanently at the end of the season. This is especially true if he continues to improve upon his promising start back in London.
“This week’s top-rated team from the English Premier League, the initials of this team are P L T W
The P L T W team is the best performing team in the Premier League for this week.
Display the image in full screen mode.
Source: theguardian.com
