Sometimes, the value of a player increases, not when he is on the field of play, but when he isn’t in the XI.
Tottenham found that out against Fulham on Saturday when Micky van de Ven was missing through injury and Radu Dragusin had to fill in.
The January capture did come off the bench during Tottenham’s 4-0 win at Aston Villa last week, but before he could even settle in, his team were 2-0 up.
But against Fulham, it was a different story altogether with Tim Sherwood urging patience with Radu Dragusin because he thinks he will become a ‘very good player’ for Ange Postecoglou, as he told Premier League Productions (16/03/24 at 7:45 pm).
Given the high-risk nature of Tottenham’s football, if you manage to play through them as Fulham did, then you have all the space in the world to target.
The issue for someone like Radu Dragusin was, on his first Premier League start, the team in general wasn’t performing or at the races.
All of that just made life more difficult for the 22-year-old, with Rodrigo Muniz pouncing on his mixed performance and scoring a brace.
In the past, Tim Sherwood has been quick to slam new players at the club, such as Pedro Porro, before they have even got comfortable in their seat, but not with the newest recruit.
Radu Dragusin’s first start for Tottenham
“It’s a great pass from Robinson,” said Sherwood. “Dragusin decides to step up at the wrong moment.
“Just that extra yard that he (Muniz) needs. I know Micky van de Ven isn’t there. He would have got back to him there and put him under more pressure. He just stops there and plays offside.
“Dragusin here, I am not digging him out, but you have to highlight the fact that teams miss players. Van de Ven is such a big miss for them today. The first goal wouldn’t have happened. He would have got back to that and for these two goals, he would been quicker.
“But listen, the boy has only just come to the Premier League. You have to give him time. I am not saying he played badly, he didn’t, by any means. I am just looking at who he came in for and how good he has been – I am not ruling this guy out because I think he will bed into be a very good player for Tottenham.”
Tottenham without Micky van den Ven
Even though Cristian Romero has been at Spurs for much longer, it’s pretty obvious now that van de Ven is the main man at the back.
When you are the quickest player in the Premier League, then you can back it up with composure, and the ability to read danger quickly and produce clean tackles, then you are going to be difficult to get past.
That’s exactly what Spurs are now missing with van de Ven.
The hope for all Spurs is that this upcoming international break will do him the world of good and he can recover in time for the last few months of the club’s season.
From a north London derby against Arsenal to a showdown at Anfield, it’s all to play for in the race for the top four.
The post 'I'm not digging him out': Tim Sherwood's brutally honest thoughts on Radu Dragusin after Tottenham loss appeared first on HITC.
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