TOTTENHAM’S victory over Aston Villa on Sunday was their ninth win in their last eleven games in all competitions.
Much was made of the slip-ups against Brighton and Crystal Palace but there’s no denying the broader picture is an increasingly optimistic one for Ange Postecoglou’s side.
Decisions, decisions…[/caption]
Furthermore, Spurs are currently the top scorers in the Premier League, a fact that Dream Team managers should not take lightly.
At the time of writing, the North Londoners are the only club with three representatives inside the top 15 midfielders in terms of overall points.
Brennan Johnson (£3.8m) and James Maddison (£4.6m) are ranked sixth and seventh in their position respectively with Dejan Kulusevski (£3.1m) nestled in 13th.
Some Dream Team bosses will be more than happy to select a couple of Spurs midfielders but many will see that as overkill and so it begs the question: which of the three is the best option?
If goals are the priority then Johnson is the main man[/caption]
Johnson has earned the most points (95) so far but Maddison is just two behind him at this stage.
The Wales international has been the most prominent goal threat; his close-range finish against Villa was his seventh of the season in all competitions.
Only Bryan Mbeumo (£4.6m) has scored more goals among midfield assets – Brentford’s talisman has eight to his name.
Maddison’s picture-perfect free-kick against Unai Emery’s mob was just his third goal of the campaign but he’s hot on Johnson’s heels because he’s a bonus point magnet.
Spurs’ No10 has earned 21 bonus points already – only Savinho (£4.1m) boasts a higher tally (22) – while Johnson is yet to muster a single one!
Maddison has also registered five assists to Johnson’s two.
Plenty of quality but Maddison’s minutes are a concern[/caption]
However, gaffers who own the ex-Leicester playmaker will be concerned about minutes going forward.
Maddison was hooked at half time against West Ham in Gameweek 8, replaced after an hour against Crystal Palace in Gameweek 9, and given just eight minutes against Villa at the weekend.
From a Dream Team perspective, his owners have largely escaped punishment as the 27-year-old has pocketed enough points from his limited minutes to satisfy but whether he’s able to maintain such a rate remains to be seen.
Maddison will probably start against Galatasaray in the Europa League on Thursday night but Postecoglou is leaning towards a more conservative midfield balance in league fixtures.
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Maddison is also the most expensive Spurs midfielder by a relatively wide margin.
In contrast, Kulusevski is currently available for just £3.1m and has to be considered one of the best value-for-money selections in Dream Team this season.
The Sweden international is 20 points behind Maddison (and 22 shy of Johnson) but many Spurs fans will tell you he’s been the best of the lot.
Previously a right winger, the ex-Juventus man has been reinvented as a No10 where his creative powers have come to the fore.
Kulusevski has provided six assists – only Bukayo Saka (£6.7m) has more among midfielders – and he’s created twice as many big chances as Maddison.
In fact, Kulusevski’s quality in central areas has contributed to Maddison’s declining minutes.
Kulusevski has rediscovered his best form this season[/caption]
In conclusion, Johnson is the best option for gaffers who simply want the biggest goal threat but Kulusevski is the smart, value-for-money option.
The latter is also the most in-form of the trio having taken more points from the last three games.
And Maddison, for all his quality, has to be considered a potential trap door given his high price and dwindling playing time.
18th-placed Ipswich are set to visit the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday so it’s a good time for gaffers to make sure they’re backing the right Spurs assets.
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