da 888： This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…
da leao： Alan Hutton has slammed Tottenham Hotspur full-back Serge Aurier after his performance against Liverpool on Sunday, per Football Insider.
What’s he said?
The 51-cap Ivory Coast international conceded a penalty after kicking Sadio Mane in the box as the Reds came from 1-0 down to win 2-1 at Anfield.
He has been in erratic form all season, being shown a red card against Southampton, and has contributed to just one clean sheet thus far this term.
And Hutton, who played at right-back for Spurs between 2008 and 2011, has savaged the full-back:
He said: “It’s difficult to watch at times. One minute he does something brilliant and then the next minute it’s as if he just switches off.
“It’s his third or fourth penalty he’s given away – it’s just clumsy. It’s clumsy not knowing where the attacking player is and it’s a big swing. He did well initially, I thought, to get the ball but just keep concentrating.
“He’s taken a big lash at it and ended up kicking him in the back of the leg. It’s happening too much for my liking and I think when you’re in a difficult situation as Tottenham have been, you need people out there who you can trust to give you consistent performances.
“Playing him, you don’t know what you’re going to get. I can’t see him just sticking with it.”
Walker-Peters’ time
The time is right to promote Kyle Walker-Peters permanently.
The 22-year-old has made a total of 21 appearances for the first-team, scoring one goal and providing six assists.
And yet he has not even been included in the squad for the last seven Premier League outings.
Per WhoScored, he averages 2.7 tackles per game in the league, one interception and just 0.3 fouls, along with 1.7 dribbles and a pass completion rate of 87.6%.
Aurier, by comparison, averages two tackles, two interceptions, 1.4 fouls, 0.6 dribbles and a passing accuracy of 78.6%.
It is baffling to suggest that the Ivorian is any better than Walker-Peters, who could well be something of a saviour at right-back.
He is nowhere near as rash as the former PSG man and is also an all-round better player, both defensively and going forward.
He should be restored to the team as soon as possible.