Tottenham Hotspur are staring down another game without emergency left back option Djed Spence, as starter Destiny Udogie remains without a time table for return due to his latest injury. In the last game with Spence out due to a calf injury, Spurs manager Igor Tudor bumbled his way into a common mistake his predecessors have made, starting Archei Gray out of position at left back.
And all Tottenham fans want is a voice of reason to tell Tudor to start Souza. The Brazilian phenom was the first signing Spurs made in the winter transfer window from Palmeiras, the most touted defensive player in the Brazilian Serie A. Every time he has played this season, including off the bench in the loss to Fulham over the Premier League weekend, he has impressed.
Yet Tudor is not willing to commit to Souza as the obvious option. At the press conference prior to Thrusday's must win London derby battle against mid table side Crystal Palace, Tudor made a positive admission on Souza but then caged it with the usual frustratingly conservative response.
Igor Tudor won't commit to Souza
Tudor said of his teenage left back, via The Spurs Watch, "He was good, I saw something in him. He is there and waiting for his moment to play."
While it was nice to hear Tudor at least praise Souza somewhat, Tottenham fans will not take too kindly to this response because it is wishy washy from a manager who is usual much more straight to the point than Thomas Frank.
But Ange Postecoglou, Tudor is not. Tudor is talking about how Souza is "waiting for his moment", implying Souza will not start against Crystal Palace with Spence still confirmed to be out injured for one more game. Then, though, who will start at left back? And why not Souza?
Even when Spence is healthy, Souza has already shown that he is the superior option to the England international, as the right back hamstrings the entire offense with his inversion on the left. He simply cannot progress the ball or even play as an attacker, hurting the forwards badly.
Souza, though, is athletic, technically proficient, and further along than expected. If, by his own admission, Tudor is impressed with what Souza has done so far, then what is holding him back from starting his best option at the left back position? Tottenham fans will want to know this, especially if Tudor makes the same blunder again.