Archie Gray is one of the most promising prospects for Tottenham Hotspur, but there are fans who are back to not believing in him again. Such is the fickle nature of the sport, but even the biggest haters often have a point that fans do not want to admit, which just might be the case with the England youth international.
Last season, Gray was one of the few bright spots for Spurs, usurping Rodrigo Bentancur as a starter for Thomas Frank before being a standout in the middle of the park as one of the few players with the courage and quality to move the ball for the Tottenham midfield. He lost his place, of course, to the big signings of Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes, but, despite that, he managed to impress as the emergency right back in Pedro Porro's stead due to injury, justifying Roberto De Zerbi's decision to sell Djed Spence without a replacement.
But against his former club Leeds United, Gray was rubbish, playing a key role in Tottenham getting overrun badly by a far inferior Leeds side. Gray struggled to win the ball and could not help Tottenham control possession or move the ball.
Tottenham Hotspur unfortunately have a track record of gassing up young players who did not do anything remarkably well in the midfield and were eventually exposed, and Spurs fans are privately worried that Gray could be the next Oliver Skipp or Harry Winks. Those two young midfielders were horrendous at Tottenham, never developed, and have never done anything in their careers since.
That's the reputation Archie Gray is hoping to avoid and the label he still must shed, because Tottenham are still going to wait to see something tangible from him before anointing him. It is a long road to winning a starting job with players like Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes who cost a combined 185 million pounds, and playing well against a 10 man Crystal Palace as a makeshift right back isn't going to get Gray to where he needs to be.
Clearly, to those who see him every week and know his talent and potential, Gray is not the next Oliver Skipp or Harry Winks. His technical quality, vision, and defensive quality are more impressive. He is a more advanced and well rounded midfielder with actual panache about him. But none of that matters in the Premier League, especially at a club like Spurs, if you can't make a difference and get results. Gray is still missing that, and until Spurs fans see it, he hasn't proven he's any different than the rest.