100% duels lost: Ange’s 5/10 dud must now never play for Spurs again after Newcastle
Tottenham Hotspur finished their 2023/24 season with a 1-1 tie against rival Premier League team Newcastle United on Tuesday, in what seemed to be a meaningless match in Melbourne.
Just days after the end of another gruelling league season, the teams jetted off for a post-season clash at the MCG, with Euro 2024 hopeful James Maddison opening the scoring after a delightful, weaving run, before Alexander Isak levelled things up on the stroke of halftime.
Following a second half marked by a slew of changes and a wave of young replacements, the game was finally settled in a penalty shootout, with forgotten man Bryan Gil missing the vital spot-kick.
Melbourne magic from @Madders10 🪄
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) May 22, 2024
While not much can or can be gleaned from what was essentially a friendly, that excursion may have marked the end of Gil’s turbulent tenure in English football, with that timid performance probably summarising the Spaniard’s stint with the Lilywhites so far.
Bryan Gil’s game in numbers vs Newcastle
Gil, who replaced captain Heung-min Son on the hour mark, would have been eager to make an impact on what was his uncommon appearance in Spurs colours, having made just 12 appearances in all competitions during the regular season.
It’s fair to say that the one-time Valencia man hasn’t been able to worm his way into Ange Postecoglou’s plans, and Tuesday’s match may highlight why.
Tottenham’s winger Bryan Gil
In his 30 minutes of play, the 23-year-old made 35 touches and had a 97% pass accuracy rate, but he also wasted possession four times and failed to win a single battle, a reflection of his lightweight character.
As football.london’s Alasdair Gold, who gave Gil a 5/10 performance rating, remarked after the game, it was a ‘busy cameo’ in what may well be the winger’s ‘final exhibition in a Spurs jersey,’ but he was ultimately the only player unable to score from the spot.
| Bryan Gil vs Newcastle |
|---|
| 29 minutes |
| 35 touches |
| 97% pass accuracy |
| 1 key pass |
| 0 ground duels won |
| 0 aerial duels won |
| 4x possession lost |
| 1 shot off target |
| 1 missed penalty |
| Stats via Sofascore |
With so much youthful talent at Postecoglou’s disposal in the offensive ranks, including a certain Mikey Moore who caught the attention on international duty after scoring twice for England’s U17s, it’s difficult to see the point in keeping Gil around for much longer.
Bryan Gil’s future with Spurs
Signed from Sevilla in the summer of 2021, the four-cap Spain international has made only 43 appearances for the club in all competitions, assisting twice and failing to score.
That is an unimpressive record for any offensive talent, much alone a £22 million addition, with loan spells in his hometown at Valencia and Sevilla failing to transform his fortunes.
Of course, injuries has played a role in the wideman’s north London difficulties, but when he has appeared, the left-footer has seldom looked up to the task, with Jamie Carragher labelling him a “boy playing in a man’s game” after facing Manchester City earlier this season.
With Fabrizio Romano indicating that there is now interest in his services, it would be unsurprising if Gil is one of several whose time at N17 has come to an end, with this failed signing’s last act perhaps missing a penalty.
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