Pundit says Tottenham star has dropped to 2/10 rating after embarassing performances
Jamie O’Hara didn’t hold back when critiquing Tottenham Hotspur’s recent performance, particularly targeting goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.
O’Hara was especially disappointed with Vicario’s handling of set-pieces, awarding him a mere two out of 10 for his showing in the North London derby against Arsenal.
Tottenham’s struggle with set-pieces, despite improvement compared to last season, remains a concern. They conceded a crucial goal to Arsenal when Gabriel Magalhaes managed to evade Cristian Romero’s marking with little effort.
Romero, the Spurs vice-captain, went down following a slight nudge from Magalhaes, who capitalized on the opportunity with a point-blank header.
Arsenal posed a constant threat from corners throughout the match, and Vicario’s inability to dominate his area was evident.
The Italian goalkeeper struggled with the crowded penalty area, flapping at several deliveries, which reignited criticisms that plagued him last season.
O’Hara’s harsh rating of Vicario reflected his dissatisfaction with the goalkeeper’s failure to command the box during set-pieces. He also criticized Brennan Johnson and Dominic Solanke, awarding them similarly low scores for their contributions.
O’Hara, never one to shy away from strong opinions, didn’t limit his criticism to the players. He also voiced concerns over Ange Postecoglou’s tactics, giving the manager a rating of just 3/10.
O’Hara expressed frustration with Tottenham’s soft defensive approach and inability to defend or attack effectively from set-pieces.
According to him, the lack of organization in both areas was a significant factor in their loss to Arsenal. He called for Postecoglou to address these issues urgently if Tottenham are to improve.
On the field, some of Tottenham’s players fared slightly better in O’Hara’s evaluation. Destiny Udogie and Pedro Porro received more favorable assessments, with O’Hara awarding them 6/10 for their solid, if unspectacular, performances.
He even went as far as to say that Porro is currently a better player than Arsenal’s Ben White. However, it was Micky van de Ven who earned the highest praise from O’Hara, with a score of 7/10.
Despite Tottenham’s loss, O’Hara acknowledged Van de Ven’s impressive defensive work, suggesting that the player may be too good for Spurs at the moment.
Romero, however, did not escape O’Hara’s criticism. The Argentine was faulted for being outmuscled by Gabriel for Arsenal’s goal, with O’Hara awarding him just 3/10 for a performance that he feels is becoming a weekly trend of gifting the opposition easy opportunities.
James Maddison’s effort on the ball was appreciated by O’Hara, who gave the midfielder a 5/10, recognizing his attempts to make things happen, even when the rest of the team struggled.
Maddison’s willingness to take responsibility and drive forward stood out in an otherwise disappointing team effort. However, Rodrigo Bentancur and Dejan Kulusevski didn’t impress O’Hara.
He gave both players a rating of 4/10, noting Bentancur’s lack of influence and Kulusevski’s apparent fatigue whenever he was in possession.
Perhaps one of O’Hara’s most critical assessments was reserved for Heung-min Son, who, in his view, is no longer the player he once was.
Awarding Son a 3/10, O’Hara pointed out the South Korean’s reluctance to take on defenders, even when given the opportunity.
On multiple occasions, Son managed to create space for himself against Ben White, but instead of capitalizing on the opportunity, he chose to slow down and play the ball backward, showing a lack of confidence and aggression.
Dominic Solanke, who O’Hara admitted to liking as a player, didn’t escape criticism either. His recent performances have been underwhelming, and O’Hara rated him 2/10 for his contribution against Arsenal.
Brennan Johnson, who has struggled to make an impact, was singled out as the worst performer of the game.
O’Hara described Johnson as “woeful,” accusing him of hiding on the field and failing to produce anything of note when in possession. Like Solanke, Johnson received a 2/10 for his poor showing.
While some of O’Hara’s ratings may seem harsh, particularly towards players like Son and Johnson, they reflect broader concerns about Tottenham’s overall performance.
Tottenham’s inability to defend set-pieces, coupled with a lack of aggression in attack, highlights the need for improvement across the board.
Postecoglou and his players will need to address these issues if they are to turn their season around and deliver the results their fans expect.
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