RICHARLISON’S look of confusion last week as he wandered around Spurs’ academy building was very fitting given Tottenham’s baffling striker situation.
The Brazilian, who has been bombed out of boss Roberto De Zerbi’s first-team plans, seemed to observers to be a little lost in his unfamiliar environment.
Presumably he had been sent to the youth players’ facility – where also conducts his press conferences – ahead of his involvement in the EFL Trophy this week.
The 29-year-old would go on to score for Spurs’ Under-21s in that lowly competition in
He also netted in the game’s penalty shootout, which Town won 7-6.
Turning out at the EV Charger Points Stadium for Spurs’ reserves was a far cry from the World Cup Richarlison featured at as Brazil’s first-choice centre-forward four years ago.
It was also his first appearance since a woeful outing on the opening day of the Premier League.
Spurs were crushed 3-0 by that day.
After that humbling defeat, clearly had had enough of Richarlison’s antics – which had seen him ask to leave over the summer, according to the Italian – and he was left out of Spurs’ 25-man Premier League squad.
It seemed drastic, given was Spurs’ top-scorer last term with 11 league goals.
But De Zerbi insisted time again that it was the only course of action he could take and Richarlison alone was to blame for the sorry situation.
The Spurs boss has seemed irked by the continued questions from the media over the controversial call.
But the more his team struggles for goals, especially in the forward areas, there is justification for the probing to continue.
Tottenham have netted just three times in their first six league games, none of which they have won.
Performances have been steadily improving, despite the results, with De Zerbi’s side being widely praised for their display in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at .
Yet goals remain a big problem.
is the only attacker to net so far in the league, grabbing a deserved late point with a deft header at Old Trafford.
The other two were late consolation from midfielder and centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke in the dispiriting 3-2 home defeat to before the international break.
and Savio, signed for a combined £140m from Manchester City once the former’s loan is turned permanent in the summer, are yet to net in the Premier League.
It makes the treatment of Richarlison – who is the only player at the club to have netted at least ten Premier League goals in a season on more than one occasion – even more glaring.
As does the decision to sell red-hot Will Lankshear too.
have pulled off a steal after nabbing the 21-year-old for an initial fee of just £10million.
That number could rise to around £20m via a number of add-ons, which are believed to include Lankshear turning out and scoring for England.
Spurs also hold a 20 per cent sell-on and matching rights, meaning they can match any bid that another club has accepted by Boro in the future.
The North Londoners feel that gives them strong protection for the future on an exciting, young prospect.
But many Spurs fans are wondering why Lankshear could not have been their man for the here and now, especially given his red-hot start to life at the Riverside.
including eight in the Championship and two in the Carabao Cup.
De Zerbi would likely argue there is a huge difference between England’s second-tier and the Premier League in terms of quality.
But given the lack of quality his forward line has shown so far, plus Richarlison’s exile, in hindsight it would surely have been better to keep Lankshear around this term.
De Zerbi believes in his players and will have faith the goals will flow soon enough.
Yet until that becomes a reality, he and the club will be scrutinised for their forward thinking.
