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Player Watch Player Watch: Archie Gray

Trix

Well-Known Member
Jul 29, 2004
21,617
356,853
There’s two problems, one is Johnson is marking nobody yet again, and two the communication between the back four just isn’t there. Archie could pass him onto Romero if he let him know and then deal with the Nunes at the back post.
Looking at that image I don't have a problem with the positioning of any of the back 4. The midfield 3 and 2 wide players however is a different story altogether.
 

Trix

Well-Known Member
Jul 29, 2004
21,617
356,853
we concede this goal so often.

archie is doing the right thing here, just as porro is when he "loses his man". either the rcm or rw needs to be picking up the runner at the back post. sarr is usually pretty diligent at this, the others less so.
100%
 

mil1lion

This is the place to be
May 7, 2004
44,607
86,517
City are a nightmare for that goal. They had no centre forward so essentially you have Dragusin near post which is where you want him, Romero behind but no forward in front, then Gray is tracking the player coming in behind Romero. I think Gray does well there as you have to defend the most dangerous area which is central. That however creates an overload at the far post so we need Johnson to track back. It's clever because they have 2 attackers arriving from the back post area which makes it difficult for the centre backs to see. In those situations the full back can spot the run and Gray does that well but you end up essentially with a back 3. Dragusin left , Romero central and Gray right. So Johnson would essentially need to become a wing back when tracking back.
 

muppetman

Well-Known Member
Jul 29, 2011
11,017
30,922
Nothing earth shattering here, but some nice quotes.

www.football.london /tottenham-hotspur-fc/players/archie-gray-makes-tottenham-position-30271305

Archie Gray makes Spurs position stance clear as he names duo helping his game​

Rob Guest7-9 minutes 01/11/2024

Archie Gray has told football.london that it does not matter where he plays on the pitch for Tottenham right now. Joining the north London club from Championship side Leeds United in July, the 18-year-old has so far played in a variety of different positions throughout his young career.
Seen as a midfielder in the long term, Gray was utilised as a right-back for the vast majority of the 2023/24 campaign by Daniel Farke at Leeds. The summer addition has spent a lot of his Tottenham playing time on the right since the season began back in August, with the highly-rated ace even used at centre-back, left-back and in midfield on occasions.
As much as some may want Gray to have a specific position rather than playing all across the pitch for Ange Postecoglou, the star is fully aware that getting experience in a number of roles right now is only going to enhance his game in the years ahead. That, in turn, will only benefit Postecoglou and Tottenham.
"I'm just enjoying it and wherever I get put on the pitch I'll just try to do my best," Gray told football.london in an exclusive interview. "Every day in training wherever I am playing on the pitch I'll just try and learn as much as I can because ultimately I am an 18-year-old and it doesn't matter where I play now. As long as I can learn loads of different roles then hopefully it will help me in the future.
"When you play different positions you understand that position. And especially when you go back into whichever position you prefer or wherever you play in a different game, you understand what you want from that position as well. Say I play central midfield in one game and have played right-back before, you understand what the right-back wants of you and also what the centre-back wants because you've played in those positions.
"It's just really useful to understand what they want and where you need to be in those positions and I think it just helps my overall game and the understanding. Like I said, I'll just keep learning those positions."
READ MORE: Son given special job after Archie Gray joined as new Tottenham star admits key transfer chat
READ MORE: Ange Postecoglou's Radu Dragusin moment as Tottenham man shows leadership on and off the pitch

One position Tottenham fans are desperate to see Gray in is the No.6 role in midfield. Very much viewed as his long-term berth on the pitch after playing there for club and country, we have only seen the teenager in the middle of the park for Tottenham on a handful of occasions so far.
Opportunities have been there at the end of the Leicester City and Everton Premier League games, with Gray also utilised in midfield at times during pre-season. What makes life difficult for him at Tottenham right now is that Postecoglou has Rodrigo Bentancur and Yves Bissouma to select from at No.6.
The trio may be competing with each another for a start but Bentancur and Bissouma are proving to be pivotal figures in Gray enhancing his game on the training pitch at Hotspur Way.
"They're two brilliant players and they're so important for the team," he explained. "Especially in training every day they both help me so much as I am a young player and they've seen a lot in football and played at the top of football.
"They're helping me when I go in at No.6 in training and I'm in the same position as them. They just teach me little things like where to be on the pitch and things like that. It's really useful and I'm grateful for them."
Postecoglou is also a huge influence on Gray's development right now. Following his big-money transfer to Tottenham at the beginning of July, the versatile player revealed that he is a Celtic fan and that the Australian boss was a "massive factor" in his move to N17. So what exactly has it been like for Gray to get the chance to work under Postecoglou on a daily basis?
"It has been a pleasure just to learn things under him in training and being able to work under him is a pleasure and I'm really grateful for it," he said. "There's so much more that I can learn from him and I'm just taking it day-by-day in training and the games, so I'm just very grateful."
Gray told football.london he has "definitely" improved as a player in his first four months at the club, with Postecoglou's training methods key to that. The player believes one area of his game has certainly developed since his Spurs switch.
"Just understanding the game a bit more and being a bit more adaptable, if you could say that because I played in a lot of positions last year and even this year I've played in a new one at centre-back," said the England Under-21 international. "I'm enjoying it and just working hard every day."
Although Premier League minutes may have been hard to come by for the player since the start of the season, Gray has featured heavily in the Europa League for Tottenham. The Leeds United academy graduate has played the full 90 minutes in all three league phase fixtures so far, notably starting as a centre-back before playing as a left-back in the second half of last month's 2-1 win away at Ferencvaros.
"It's brilliant. I've said it before in an interview that it's different to league football and cup competitions in England because it's under the lights against European teams, different playing styles and you have to approach each game in different ways because of how the teams play," revealed Gray. "It just has a different feeling to it because it's in a European competition but I enjoy it a lot and I can't wait for the games."
There is one Europa League game that Gray will be particularly looking forward to due to his Celtic connections. Tottenham travel to Ibrox to face Rangers at the beginning of December and the starlet will be desperate to get all three points at the home of Celtic's fierce city rivals.
"Definitely [looking forward to it]," he stated with a smile on his face. "Especially watching Celtic and supporting them a little bit you always look for the Rangers game. The chance to play at Ibrox is a special thing and I can't wait for it.
"I have been to one [Old Firm Derby] and it wasn't at Ibrox. They're brilliant games and I love them every single time. Even on TV they're just as good to watch."
Due to supporting Celtic, Gray knows all about Postecoglou's rousing speeches on the pitch prior to the Bhoys' trophy celebrations. The Australian is also well known for his motivational talks inside the dressing room, with a number of players who worked under him previously stating that they were ready to go to battle hours before even taking to the field.
So just how good are they and what is it like for a Celtic supporter to now witness them on a weekly basis?
"They are good," admitted Gray. "They get you fired up for a game and ready for it. Especially with a manager like him you want to put your all in for him and do your best in the game and get the three points. The team talks are pretty special.
"Everything we do we treat each other like family and that's a big topic around here because if you treat your teammates like family then you'll be ready to do everything for them on the pitch."
Archie Gray was speaking at the launch of Tottenham Hotspur's new Official Furniture Manufacturing Partner, Sidiz.

 

E17yid

Well-Known Member
Jan 21, 2013
18,434
35,591
Did anyone notice Gray giving some verbals back to Vicario after Vicario had a few choice words with him? Good to see him sticking up for himself.
 
Jan 28, 2011
6,100
86,593
Did anyone notice Gray giving some verbals back to Vicario after Vicario had a few choice words with him? Good to see him sticking up for himself.


Quite right.

It's the only language these Italians understand.

italians.PNG
 

GobbyJJ

Well-Known Member
Jan 31, 2013
509
1,295
Can see this guy taking rice position in a few years for England.
Did anyone else notice the backspin on the lofted pass in our build up to opening goal yesterday.

Dare I say it but Hoddle-esque? How long will it be before Ange gives him a run out in midfield?
 

Real_madyidd

The best username, unless you are a fucking idiot.
Oct 25, 2004
18,890
12,779
Did anyone else notice the backspin on the lofted pass in our build up to opening goal yesterday.

Dare I say it but Hoddle-esque? How long will it be before Ange gives him a run out in midfield?

Shouldn't be long really. That is where he is at his best apparently.
 

funkycoldmedina

Well-Known Member
Jun 20, 2004
2,652
8,673
Did anyone else notice the backspin on the lofted pass in our build up to opening goal yesterday.

Dare I say it but Hoddle-esque? How long will it be before Ange gives him a run out in midfield?
Soon I hope, having to play RB at this level is tough enough when you don't have the pace but covering LB is next level. We saw the horlicks Emerson Royal, an experienced player, made of it last season.
 

bubble07

Well-Known Member
Dec 27, 2004
24,098
32,376
Overall he has been very good this season. Looking forward to seeing what he can do in midfield. Still not sure if he will end up a 6 or 8
 

fishhhandaricecake

Well-Known Member
Nov 15, 2018
21,772
54,258
Not a LB but looks such a talent, miles ahead of Bergvall and Lankshear for comparison in terms of current ability.

I suppose that’s why we paid big bucks for him.
 

Danny1

Well-Known Member
Dec 6, 2006
5,952
19,111
Gray is getting some fantastic minutes with us. There aren’t many 18 year olds in the top level of English football getting game time and Archie is posting some really good minutes.

Every time he plays for us there is a moment in each game that he just shows that true quality he has, last night with the pass, against West Ham with his first touch taking it round 2 players with ease.

Just a very classy player who has a long career at the very top with club and country.
 

keithtighe93

Well-Known Member
Nov 1, 2011
898
3,886
Looking forward to seeing him in the middle. He’s class and just has it, you can see it instantly.

He’s miles ahead of the likes of Mikey and Bergvall - no slight on them, both are doing great in their own right.

This fella is a step above right now though
 

14/04/91

Well-Known Member
Jan 13, 2006
3,882
6,541
Great prospect, but not convinced he’s a full back as struggles with quick wingers

I’m sure Ange has no intention of playing him full back long term. But for now it’s a good way of him getting minutes and learning top level football, particularly given what Ange asks of his full backs.

It’s unrealistic for him to play cm as there’s a lot of responsibility in that role (especially in our system) and we have seasoned pros Bissouma & Bentancur vying for that position.

Give it 2/3 years and he’ll be first choice centre mid.
 

HarryKane

Well-Known Member
Jan 2, 2015
175
1,016
Great prospect, but not convinced he’s a full back as struggles with quick wingers
I mean he's not a fullback, he's an 18 year old midfielder in his second full season of senior football playing out of position because he needs time and there aren't other options. Given that I'd say he's doing very well, if he keeps improving he's going to be an absolute rolls royce midfielder
 
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