Serge Aurier played again on the weekend. We know, we didn’t like it either, but Mauricio Pochettino seems to continue relying upon the Ivorian full-back even when he’s in dire form and seems more intent on hindering the Lilywhites as opposed to helping them.
This time around the full-back was used on the right of a back three/back five depending on whether the Lilywhites were attacking or defending. Either way, he was a right-wing-back, and given how strong young Kyle Walker-Peters is going forward it seems ludicrous that the young Tottenham born and bred youngster isn’t being used.
The 22-year-old Walker-Peters has been used at times this season, but after starting the club’s first three Premier League games this season against Aston Villa, Manchester City and Newcastle, the defender is yet to make a match-day squad since (Transfermarkt), whilst Aurier has frustratingly come back in.
The former PSG defender is at a point where it appears that he can do no wrong and continue to start games for Spurs. Against Southampton he was braindead as he got himself sent off in the first half, leaving his teammates facing over an hour of football to hold onto a 1-0, as Spurs went on to win 2-1.
If that wasn’t bad enough, though, the Ivorian would then go on to have an equally awful performance against Bayern Munich just days later. However, as he watched on with little shame as his side conceded goal after goal, Pochettino is still not dropping him, to the frustration of most of the fans.
On the weekend, though, Aurier was at it again. The defender was dribbled past once and clocked up four poor first-touches, as per WhoScored, whilst The Times also claimed that the Ivorian gave the ball away a whopping 27 times throughout the clash with the Premier League’s bottom side.
The next time the fans get to see their side in action is later today against Crvena Zvezda in the Champions League, and as Mauricio Pochettino’s side chase their first win in Europe this season, it could be time to ditch Aurier and bring Walker-Peters back into the fold.