Saturday’s Premier League match between Middlesbrough and Tottenham will put a surprising mix of talent on display.
The “surprising” aspect of it won’t necessarily come from Tottenham — there are few who aren’t aware of the talents of Mauricio Pochettino’s side. Rather, what will stand out is the potential on display in Aitor Karanka’s Middlesbrough side.
Five points in as many games isn’t the most sterling of records, of course. Though Boro started relatively strong for a recently promoted side — one win and two draws — they’ve succumb to consecutive defeats against Crystal Palace and Everton. That’s enough to put them 13th in the Premier League table.
It is early days yet. What’s been clear in these opening weeks is that Karanka’s side have the means to improve and sustain a level of play that, if perhaps not allowing them to crack into the league’s top half, will likely secure the team a place in the English top flight for another year.
The results don’t show it, but by contrast Tottenham’s looked like a team that might underperform in the coming season. They might sit undefeated and third in the table, but it’s clear that Tottenham are not yet firing on all cylinders. Form or fitness or psychological impediment are holding them back from being the team they were last season.
All of which is to say that combined this team is greater than the sum of its parts.
Tottenham’s players narrowly edge out Middlesbrough’s in this combined XI, but there’s a surprising mix here. Let’s count them down.
Hugo Lloris – Tottenham – Even if he missed the first few weeks of the season, it’s hard to argue that Tottenham’s goalkeeper doesn’t deserve a place in any combined XI out there.
George Friend – Middlesbrough – Full-backs tend to be shoved to the side (no pun intended) when it comes to assessing a team’s strengths, but Friend is included here for good reason. Throughout Boro’s promotion campaign last season, Friend was a reliable source of both defense and attack on the left — and thus far the Premier League hardly looks daunting to him
David Ayala – Middlesbrough – Another veteran of Middlesbrough’s promotion campaign, Ayala is set to become the core of Karanka’s side over the next season. The 3-1 win over Everton smarted, but one feels that the Spaniard will come good once again.
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Toby Alderweireld – Tottenham – This could be a Premier League combined XI and Alderweireld would still feature. The Belgian is immense in defense for Spurs, chasing down balls and — more impressively — becoming a fairly active member of build up play from as high up the pitch as midfield when in possession
Kyle Walker – Tottenham – Year over year, the England right-back continues to mature and hone in being a truly complete player. His defense remains his biggest improvement, but his forays forward so far this season have appeared more intelligent and his sometimes reckless take on the position in years past.
Mousa Dembélé – Tottenham – Like Lloris, time missed this season doesn’t mean that Dembélé is any less crucial to this team’s chances on Saturday and beyond. The Belgian midfield maestro is the spring that keeps Spurs ticking in both directions.
Adam Forshaw – Middlesbrough – Like Dembélé, Forshaw’s presence in midfield is unflashy and done with no fuss — and also absolutely crucial. The 24-year-old Englishman is a metronome in the center of the pitch, responsible for the most passes per match (59.4 per WhoScored) of anyone at Boro, and with the highest accuracy.
Heung-min Son – Tottenham – Through two starts in the Premier League, Tottenham’s South Korean winger is quickly proving to be one of the most exceptional members of the squad. His capacity to work from wider areas combined with his nose for goal make him a huge asset in an evolving Tottenham attack.
Dele Alli – Tottenham – Though he’s spent most of his time in the center of the pitch, Alli’s showing all the right signs of a young player growing into his role. Pochettino will be putting more and more pressure on the 20-year-old to stand out in this team, and he looks up to the task.
Cristhian Stuani – Middlesbrough – The Uruguayan winger plied his trade in Spain for years before making the move to Boro last season. It’s early days, but he might have found his ideal competition in the Premier League. Fitness is a concern coming into Saturday’s match, but if he plays he’ll be influential in the result.
Álvaro Negredo – Middlesbrough – The former Manchester City striker isn’t included here only because Harry Kane has not been at his level best this year. Even at 31, Negredo has a lethal touch when his teammates can find him in the right position. Tottenham’s defense would do well to keep him away from goal.
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