Alasdair Gold says things happenings now at Tottenham has proven Jose Mourinho absolutely right
Tottenham Hotspur is gearing up for a return to European football this season, with the team set to compete in the Europa League after missing out on continental action last year.
This opportunity is welcomed by fans and the club alike, marking a return to the international stage. However, a controversial decision by manager Ange Postecoglou has stirred debate among supporters and analysts.
The issue centers around Tottenham defender Djed Spence, who has been excluded from the Europa League squad for the group stage, despite delivering a solid performance during pre-season.
Adding to the controversy, Spurs have opted to register only 23 players for the competition instead of the maximum allowed 25.
The reduced squad size is a result of UEFA’s regulations, which require that a 25-man squad must include at least four homegrown players.
Football journalist Alasdair Gold, on his Gold & Guest podcast, criticized Tottenham’s current situation, describing it as “ridiculous” and a consequence of poor squad management over the years.
The club’s lack of homegrown talent has left them unable to fill the quota necessary to field a complete squad for the Europa League, which has led to Spence’s exclusion.
The Premier League’s rules allow clubs to exclude players under the age of 21 from their registered squad, but UEFA’s regulations are stricter. Under-21 players must have been with the club for at least two years to qualify as homegrown, a condition Spence does not meet.
Consequently, Postecoglou chose to include veteran goalkeeper Fraser Forster in the squad instead of Spence.
Tottenham’s homegrown player shortage is stark, with only Brandon Austin and Alfie Whiteman, both goalkeepers, meeting the criteria.
This has forced Postecoglou into a difficult position, and Gold did not mince words when discussing the club’s predicament.
He pointed out that this is the result of years of inadequate squad planning, leading to the current situation where Tottenham lacks senior club-trained outfield players.
Gold further highlighted how this issue has been brewing for years, referencing comments made by former Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho.
Mourinho had previously identified a gap in the club’s development pipeline, noting that there was a lack of young talent ready to step up from the academy to the first team.
His observations have now been validated, as no players have emerged to fill this gap, leaving Tottenham in a vulnerable position when it comes to meeting UEFA’s homegrown player requirements.
Tottenham’s Europa League squad for the group stage includes four goalkeepers: Guglielmo Vicario, Fraser Forster, Brandon Austin, and Alfie Whiteman.
The defensive lineup features Radu Dragusin, Destiny Udogie, Cristian Romero, Pedro Porro, Ben Davies, and Micky van de Ven.
The midfield is strengthened by the inclusion of Son Heung-Min, Yves Bissouma, James Maddison, Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall, Dejan Kulusevski, Brennan Johnson, Wilson Odobert, Pape Sarr, and Rodrigo Bentancur. The forward line will see Richarlison, Timo Werner, and Dominic Solanke leading the attack.
Tottenham’s Europa League campaign kicks off with a home match against Azerbaijani club Qarabag FK at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Thursday, September 26, with an 8 pm kickoff.
Before that, Spurs have a challenging schedule with three matches across two domestic competitions. They face local rivals Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday, September 15, followed by a League Cup clash against Coventry City on Wednesday, September 18.
They then return to Premier League action with a home match against Brentford on Saturday, September 21.
The exclusion of a promising player like Djed Spence underscores the broader issue of Tottenham’s failure to adequately develop or retain homegrown talent capable of meeting UEFA’s criteria.
As the season unfolds, Postecoglou will need to navigate these challenges while aiming to make a strong impact in both domestic and European competitions.
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