Tottenham Hotspur recently disclosed their squad for the initial phase of the 2024-25 Europa League, revealing a surprising decision in the exclusion of Djed Spence. This decision has sparked considerable debate among fans and analysts.
The Europa League squad, as published on the official UEFA website, includes four goalkeepers: Guglielmo Vicario, Fraser Forster, Brandon Austin, and Alfie Whiteman. The defenders listed are Radu Dragusin, Destiny Udogie, Cristian Romero, Pedro Porro, Ben Davies, and Micky van de Ven. The midfielders are Son Heung-Min, Yves Bissouma, James Maddison, Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall, Dejan Kulusevski, Brennan Johnson, Wilson Odobert, Pape Sarr, and Rodrigo Bentancur.
The forwards selected are Richarlison, Timo Werner, and Dominic Solanke. Notably, Tottenham has named 23 players out of a potential 25, given that only two eligible club-trained players, Brandon Austin and Alfie Whiteman, are included. The squad list does not incorporate List B players, such as Mikey Moore, Will Lankshear, and Tyrese Hall, who will presumably be used to supplement the squad as required.
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The most striking aspect of this announcement is the omission of Djed Spence, a decision that has puzzled many. Instead, the squad includes a fourth goalkeeper, Fraser Forster, who, despite being a somewhat surprising choice, retains his place in the squad. This decision appears to be particularly perplexing given that Tottenham has chosen to include an extra goalkeeper rather than a backup fullback, a position where depth is arguably more necessary.
It is understood that Tottenham was required to name at least three goalkeepers in their Europa League squad, which they have done, yet they opted to include a fourth goalkeeper. This choice has led to the exclusion of Spence, a situation that raises questions about the rationale behind prioritizing a fourth goalkeeper over additional fullback depth.
It is expected that Ben Davies and Archie Gray will be utilized as right-backs if rotation or injuries occur, but the reasoning behind not incorporating Spence, especially considering his recent re-integration into the squad, remains unclear.
The decision may be influenced by the fact that both Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall, having not been with the club for two years, cannot be included in List B. This situation necessitates their inclusion in the main squad list, which limits Tottenham’s flexibility.
Nonetheless, the decision to prioritize a fourth goalkeeper over Spence, who could provide valuable depth in the fullback position, is perplexing.
Looking ahead, many of these squad issues are expected to be resolved as younger players brought in by Johan Lange mature and qualify for both club- and association-trained status.
However, this adjustment will not benefit the current squad. It remains crucial for Tottenham to assemble a well-balanced squad, and the exclusion of Djed Spence, in favor of a fourth goalkeeper, suggests a strategy that prioritizes goalkeeper depth over fullback options. This decision, while possibly justified from a tactical perspective, continues to generate debate and uncertainty among supporters and analysts alike.
