Micah Richards Gives His Thoughts on Wilson Odobert’s Latest Display for Tottenham vs Newcastle

Odobert’s Performance Against Newcastle

In Sunday’s match against Newcastle United, Ange Postecoglou once again deployed Wilson Odobert in the forward line, stepping in for the injured Dominic Solanke. However, Postecoglou opted for a more conservative approach in midfield, deciding against using Yves Bissouma as a single-pivot. Instead, he replaced Brennan Johnson with Pape Matar Sarr, likely due to Micky van de Ven’s absence, which necessitated extra protection for the backline.

While Postecoglou was impressed with Radu Dragusin, some Tottenham players had underwhelming performances during what turned out to be another disappointing away trip for Spurs. Cristian Romero was labeled a “mad man” for his role in Newcastle’s opening goal, and after impressing against Everton, Odobert didn’t deliver his best display either.

Micah Richards’ Take on Odobert’s Performance

Speaking on ‘The Rest Is Football’ podcast, Micah Richards shared his thoughts on Odobert’s performance, noting that while the £25m winger underwhelmed this time, it’s not time for Spurs to panic. Richards emphasized the importance of focusing on the bigger picture.

Richards commented:

“I wouldn’t be concerned, I would be frustrated is more the word I would use. I think in terms of wide areas, Alan mentioned it before, Kulusevski, Brennan Johnson, getting into some really good positions. Odobert, I thought he played really well last week. Not so well in today’s game. Solanke gets injured.

“Van de Ven picks up a little injury. They’re just nearly there, they always seem to be nearly there. But they’ve made a lot of progress, if you consider where they were before Postecoglou joined.”

Dominic Solanke’s Importance in the Upcoming North London Derby

Given their early frustrations on the road, Tottenham will recognize the importance of the upcoming North London derby. Fortunately, Spurs should have both Dominic Solanke and Van de Ven back fit for the crucial tie.

Even though Solanke has only been at the club for a short time, his impact was evident in his debut performance. He offers a different dimension to the team, providing a vital focal point in attack.

During the Newcastle match, Dejan Kulusevski and Son Heung-min frequently swapped positions centrally, but it felt like something was missing. As much as Van de Ven was missed—having been so reliable since joining the club—Solanke’s presence was arguably missed even more, despite having only played 90 minutes for Spurs so far.