Tottenham Hotspur’s season has been an unpredictable one so far, with their style of play ranging from thrilling to disappointing. Under manager Ange Postecoglou, Spurs have shown moments of brilliance, but inconsistency has left them sitting in tenth place in the Premier League, just three points behind Chelsea in third. Individual performances have been similarly erratic, with players like James Maddison and Son Heung-min showing glimpses of their best form one game, only to look far less effective in the next.
James Maddison, for instance, has been a mixed bag this season. In a match against Brentford, he delivered a standout performance, scoring a goal and earning a perfect 10/10 rating. However, his display against Crystal Palace was far less impressive, with Maddison being substituted after 62 minutes and receiving a low score from the media. Son Heung-min, on the other hand, has struggled to consistently make an impact. Though he has contributed with three goals and three assists in 11 appearances, his performances have often been underwhelming, as seen in losses to teams like Arsenal and Ipswich Town, where he struggled to influence the game.
What might frustrate Spurs fans even more is the performance of a former player, Christian Eriksen, who has been outperforming both Maddison and Son this season. Eriksen, sold by José Mourinho to Inter Milan in 2020, has since had an eventful career, from winning Serie A with Inter to overcoming a life-threatening incident during Euro 2020. After a stint at Brentford, he joined Manchester United in 2022. While his form dipped last season, Eriksen has found his rhythm again this year. Despite making just 13 appearances, he has scored four goals and provided three assists, averaging a goal involvement every 1.85 games. In comparison, Maddison has three goals and four assists in 15 games, while Son has three goals and three assists in 11 matches.
This season, Eriksen’s goal involvement per match rate is higher than both Maddison’s and Son’s. Eriksen’s 0.53 goal involvements per match edges out Maddison’s 0.46 and Son’s 0.54, making the Danish international seem in better goalscoring form despite his age and the challenges he has faced in recent years. Though Eriksen is nearing the end of his career, his performances this season have been impressive. It’s easy to wonder how he would fare under a coach like Postecoglou, who has revitalized Spurs with his attacking style.
While Tottenham’s current crop of stars like Maddison and Son have shown potential, their inconsistency has allowed Eriksen to outshine them this season. Spurs’ fans must be left wondering what might have been had Eriksen stayed at the club under the current management. His form this season proves that, even at 32, he still has the quality to make a significant impact, and his time away from Tottenham has not diminished his ability to contribute at a high level. As Spurs continue to search for more consistency, Eriksen’s success at Manchester United serves as a reminder of the talent they once had, and a reflection on the unpredictability of football, where players can rise and fall in unexpected ways.
