Spurs season player grades after a campaign of contrasting fortunes | OneFootball

Despite finishing 17th in the league and recording their most ever Premier League defeats in a season, Tottenham’s poor season was salvaged by European glory.

There will be many parts of this season that Spurs fans will wipe from their memory but their Europa League victory in Bilbao will forever be etched into the club’s history.

We have rated each of the players based on their performances this season, a somewhat difficult job given their contrasting fortunes…

Goalkeepers

Guglielmo Vicario – B

One of many Spurs players who faced a lengthy spell out with injury but he was still a major part of Tottenham’s European run. The Italian’s high point of the season was a last minute save from Luke Shaw’s header in the Europa League final. Though he was often shaky throughout the season.

Antonin Kinsky – C

The 22-year-old goalkeeper joined Spurs at a particularly hard point of the season. They were ravaged by injuries and Kinsky was thrown straight into the side. He made errors, including for Jacob Ramsey’s goal in the FA Cup fourth round defeat to Aston Villa. However, the first leg of the League Cup semi-final against Liverpool is where the young keeper shone, keeping a clean sheet.

Fraser Forster – D

The Englishman was forced to play more games than expected this season due to an injury to Guglielmo Vicario. His distribution was disastrous and he cost his side a few goals.

Brandon Austin – C

Austin’s performance against Newcastle earned him man of the match even though Spurs lost the game. The keeper was only called upon three times, but when he was he looked like an able replacement.

Defenders

Pedro Porro – B-

The Spanish full-back was often a liability in defence for Tottenham this season but he came up with some huge moments in the Europa League, scoring in both the quarter-final and the semi-final.

Cristian Romero – B+

Given Tottenham’s 17th placed league finish it is hard to rate anyone this high, but if anyone deserves it, it is Romero. The Europa League’s player of the tournament put in several imperious displays in the latter stages of the competition. Romero missing 26 games this season was a major factor in Spurs’ domestic struggles.

Micky Van de Ven – B

The clearance off the line from Rasmus Hojlund’s header could almost be described as tournament winning. Another Tottenham player who had their season curtailed by injury with 27 games missed but when he was fit he performed well. It goes without saying that with van de Ven, fit Spurs are a better side.

Destiny Udogie – C

The Italian struggled defensively and had a major drop off from the year before. However, just like many other Spurs players, the left-back performed well in the latter stages of the Europa League, the standout being the second-leg of the quarter-final against Frankfurt.

Radu Dragusin – E

It is harsh to rate Dragusin based off of this season as most of the time he played it was alongside an 18-year-old midfielder at centre-half in Archie Gray, while still being a young defender himself. But that being said, his performances this season were not good enough. His worst outing was actually at the beginning of the season against Qarabag where he was sent off early on and he continued this poor form throughout the season before a serious knee injury cut short his campaign.

Kevin Danso – B-

The Austrian was bought in January to help combat Spurs’ injury crisis and under difficult circumstances the defender performed well. Despite not starting in the latter stages of the Europa League, he came off the bench to have a big impact.

Djed Spence – B-

There was a point in the season where Spence looked unplayable. His goal against Coventry saved Tottenham from embarrassment in the League Cup and he covered for the injured Destiny Udogie well. His form tailed off towards the end of the season though.

Ben Davies – C

Filled in for van de Ven and Romero while they were out injured and did a respectable job.

Midfielders

Archie Gray – B-

The 18-year-old midfielder spent most of this season at centre-half and, despite playing out of position, he was still one of Spurs’ standout performers. Even though he often struggled against top physical strikers, the Englishman looked assured on the ball and played beyond his years.

Yves Bissouma – C-

Before the semi-final stage of the Europa League, Bissouma’s rating could have been the lowest in the squad but in the absence of Lucas Bergvall, the Mali international stepped up for Tottenham. During the season he was taken off at half-time on multiple occasions and he struggled to find form all year, however, when it mattered against Bodo/Glimt and Manchester United, he was excellent.

Rodrigo Bentancur – B-

The Uruguyan was one of Spurs’ few constants in the team this season, despite not being at his best.

Lucas Bergvall – B+

The teenager was not meant to have played as much as he did this season according to Ange Postecoglou but he was one of the very few shining lights for Tottenham. His aggressive ball-winning combined with his impressive dribbling show the potential he has.

Dejan Kulusevski – B+

The Swede was Spurs’ best player at the beginning of the season but after coming back from his first injury which he suffered in February, his form was never the same. His performance in the 4-0 win at the Etihad against Manchester City was particularly excellent.

Pape Mate Sarr – C+

Despite not getting as much game time as he did the season before, Sarr was still an important part of the Spurs side which won the Europa League. His cross for Brennan Johnson’s goal in the final was his best moment of the season.

James Maddison – B

Tottenham’s vice-captain was unable to lead Tottenham through a tough season domestically, but his performances in the latter stages of the Europa League will not be forgotten. He won the winning penalty bravely against Frankfurt and scored an important goal in the home-leg against Bodo in the semi-final, before missing the final due to injury.

Attackers

Brennan Johnson – B+

18 goals this season including the winner in the Europa League final proved many of Johnson’s doubters wrong. The winger has made a habit out of popping up at the back post to put the ball away for Spurs. Aside from the goals Johnson, did find it hard to make an impact in matches this season, however.

Timo Werner – F

Scoring against Manchester City in the League Cup was a highlight for Werner this season but he struggled to make any impact aside from that. The winger has now been sent back to RB Leipzig after his loan ended.

Dominic Solanke – B

Despite being hampered by injury, Solanke still had some big moments this season. Scoring away at Bodo and the winning goal against Frankfurt were key in Spurs’ run to winning the Europa League.

Heung-min Son – C-

The Tottenham captain missed much of the latter stages of the Europa League run through injury and it was a poor season overall by his standards. Even though he performed poorly he still became the first Spurs captain to lift a trophy since Ledley King.

Richarlison – D

32 games missed through injury really did not help the Brazilian find a rhythm but even when he did play, he did not make much of an impact.

Wilson Odobert – C-

Odobert missed the most games through injury this season for Tottenham with 33. He scored two goals when Spurs turned around the tie in the Europa League round of 16 against AZ Alkmaar though.

Mathys Tel – D

The Frenchman came in from Bayern Munich on loan to help resolve Spurs’ injury issues in January but he has failed to impress as of yet. They face a big decision as to whether to sign him permanently.