Player Watch: Emerson Royal

[ATLguy]

Took his goal very well and finished the game very strongly.

He still frustrates me by slowing down the play but he keeps showing me that I know fuck all about football!

Agree! I thought he slowed down play a few too many times, but his goal, recoveries and defensive work far and away made up for it.

 

[THFC_SWE]

Just a little fun stat. Emerson had 10.2% possession today. Only Bissouma had more with 11%.

 

[HildoSpur]

He is a good player and is certainly earning his run in the side. He is never going to be a world beater, but he is solid, works hard and seems like a very likeable chap to have around the team.

 

[hughy]

Just a little fun stat. Emerson had 10.2% possession today. Only Bissouma had more with 11%.

That's because they kept doing little first touch passing drills backwards and forwards. It happened at least twice.

 

[Albertbarich]

He stood out to me along with Kulu yesterday as the player least suited to the role he's being asked to do

Now don't get me wrong he was fine, you could easily argue he had a good game and I wouldn't disagree but for the role he is currently playing I think he lacks the technical ability.

He had so much of the ball and he rarely knew what to do with it, was often too slow reacting and against better opposition that could show even more.

Now being that nobody trusts Porro defensively that leaves us in a pickle, one that we could of not been in had we walked away from the Porro deal in the summer but hopefully he can get upto speed defensively and prove me wrong.

Question for the more tactically astute among you. In this system would it be possible for Romero to be the one who pushes into midfield and Emerson then step into a central position to cover him? I feel like Romero could be more suited.

 

[Saoirse]

I hope everyone who gave him so much abuse reflects on it a bit to be honest. It's one thing for the likes of Ndombele who disrespect our club. But for players like Royal who've always put in top effort, it's utterly counterproductive and unpleasant. How can we blame players for not having loyalty to or connection with the club when they're treated this way at the moments they're most struggling?

"He can't defend, he can't attack, Emerson Royal is our wing-back".

 

[Tucker]

He stood out to me along with Kulu yesterday as the player least suited to the role he's being asked to do

Now don't get me wrong he was fine, you could easily argue he had a good game and I wouldn't disagree but for the role he is currently playing I think he lacks the technical ability.

He had so much of the ball and he rarely knew what to do with it, was often too slow reacting and against better opposition that could show even more.

Now being that nobody trusts Porro defensively that leaves us in a pickle, one that we could of not been in had we walked away from the Porro deal in the summer but hopefully he can get upto speed defensively and prove me wrong.

Question for the more tactically astute among you. In this system would it be possible for Romero to be the one who pushes into midfield and Emerson then step into a central position to cover him? I feel like Romero could be more suited.

I did get the same feelings about him yesterday, and was about to bemoan him when he rifled in that goal

Thinking back more clearly though, Brentford were playing a well organised low block. None of our players really excelled at breaking them down yesterday, and even those that had really good performances were generally slow to progress the ball into the final third. Emerson isn’t really there to thread passes into the penalty area anyway, he’s a passing option for those in attack to recycle possession and keep the ball moving.

Defensively, Emerson was absolutely everywhere yesterday, I think without his key interventions we’d have conceded more corners, more set pieces and ultimately more goals. He was my motm yesterday and while he’s not tailor made for the role he’s being asked to play, I think he’ll probably grow into it.

 

[Albertbarich]

I did get the same feelings about him yesterday, and was about to bemoan him when he rifled in that goal

Thinking back more clearly though, Brentford were playing a well organised low block. None of our players really excelled at breaking them down yesterday, and even those that had really good performances were generally slow to progress the ball into the final third. Emerson isn’t really there to thread passes into the penalty area anyway, he’s a passing option for those in attack to recycle possession and keep the ball moving.

Defensively, Emerson was absolutely everywhere yesterday, I think without his key interventions we’d have conceded more corners, more set pieces and ultimately more goals. He was my motm yesterday and while he’s not tailor made for the role he’s being asked to play, I think he’ll probably grow into it.

Yes agree that I think we need him defensively that's why I wonder if there is another solution into getting that extra man into midfield.

 

[Bluto Blutarsky]

 

[DannyNZ]

He stood out to me along with Kulu yesterday as the player least suited to the role he's being asked to do

Now don't get me wrong he was fine, you could easily argue he had a good game and I wouldn't disagree but for the role he is currently playing I think he lacks the technical ability.

He had so much of the ball and he rarely knew what to do with it, was often too slow reacting and against better opposition that could show even more.

Now being that nobody trusts Porro defensively that leaves us in a pickle, one that we could of not been in had we walked away from the Porro deal in the summer but hopefully he can get upto speed defensively and prove me wrong.

Question for the more tactically astute among you. In this system would it be possible for Romero to be the one who pushes into midfield and Emerson then step into a central position to cover him? I feel like Romero could be more suited.

Porro has his issues defensively and a lot has to do with positional awareness. Emerson has improved out of sight but he made a couple of serious blunders against Brentford and him and Skipp really didnt Combine well with Kulu. I wouldn’t write off Porro yet and as you say hopefully he gets up to speed defensivel.

 

[Goobers]

I cannot see where Porro fits in really as the right back in this system but I do think he is a wonderful player and has great attributes. But very happy to be proven wrong. If and when he does play the room behind him could well be exploited from what I have sen in his very limited time playing in a 4 thus far.

 

[DarwinSpur]

Porro has his issues defensively and a lot has to do with positional awareness. Emerson has improved out of sight but he made a couple of serious blunders against Brentford and him and Skipp really didnt Combine well with Kulu. I wouldn’t write off Porro yet and as you say hopefully he gets up to speed defensivel.

What "blunders" did he make against Brentford?

Some people were claiming he was "at fault" for their second goal but that's just a crock of shit. He got beaten for pace by Rico Henry - as would most RB's not called Kyle Walker. Even then he put enough pressure on for Henry's cut back to be tame. The real fault for that goal was Bissouma not tracking back.

Second half Royal was immense defensively - often covering Udogie and VDV when they got caught out.

The disrespect this guy gets just amazes me. He's been Spurs second best player since Fulham away last season.

 

[Reado]

What "blunders" did he make against Brentford?

Some people were claiming he was "at fault" for their second goal but that's just a crock of shit. He got beaten for pace by Rico Henry - as would most RB's not called Kyle Walker. Even then he put enough pressure on for Henry's cut back to be tame. The real fault for that goal was Bissouma not tracking back.

Second half Royal was immense defensively - often covering Udogie and VDV when they got caught out.

The disrespect this guy gets just amazes me. He's been Spurs second best player since Fulham away last season.

Radio comms kept saying how he was terrible defensively. Like you said, one ball over the top that a rapid RIco Henry got onto like he would most games against most right backs. It was ridiculously over the top criticism.

 

[ButchCassidy]

I hope everyone who gave him so much abuse reflects on it a bit to be honest.

They absolutely will not.

 

[djhotspur]

I was wondering if (fully fit) could convert Benta to rb in this system? Him on the ball in the positions Emerson got in would be excellent and provide a lot of creativity/mobilty, in the Zinchenko mould. Would allow us to play maybe Gio at 8 too.

 

[Wearegoingtowintheleague]

They absolutely will not.

You're right

They will go quiet, until he makes a mistake and costs us and they will come out in force reminding everyone how right they were and how rubbish he is

I think that's how it works on SC.

 

[thebenjamin]

I cannot see where Porro fits in really as the right back in this system but I do think he is a wonderful player and has great attributes. But very happy to be proven wrong. If and when he does play the room behind him could well be exploited from what I have sen in his very limited time playing in a 4 thus far.

Porro can only play if Udogie is out and Ben Davies is playing left back.

 

[DarwinSpur]

You're right

They will go quiet, until he makes a mistake and costs us and they will come out in force reminding everyone how right they were and how rubbish he is

I think that's how it works on SC.

It's not just SC - it's Podcasts too. Windy from The Extra Inch gives him zero credit and constantly calls for him to be sold. Even the View From the Lane are "surprised" he's Ange's preferred starter. Why on earth would be surprised if you' watched spurs since Emerson cemented his place last season?

So weird. I think it must be that they all can't row back on how they either abused Emerson early last season or didn't stand up for him against that abuse.

Anyway - let's hope his form continues and Porro improves defensively to give him competition.

 

[EQP]

Why are people who are criticizing Royal overlooking the fact that Ange is literally asking him to play as a CM and RB?

 

[Bluto Blutarsky]

Porro can only play if Udogie is out and Ben Davies is playing left back.

I don't think that is true.

I did think that at the beginning of the summer, but having watched Udogie - he is strong enough defensively, that if Ange wanted a more attacking option at RB, Udogie could still handle the defensive responsibility on the left.

I was under the impression that Udogie, as a WB, would be too attacking - but he has shown to be a strong, literally and figuratively, defender.