Arriving at the White Hart Lane as a relatively unknown quantity, it remains to be seen how the France international would fit in at Tottenham Hotspur.
In the midst of the extended version of the Gareth Bale saga, Tottenham Hotspur moved rather swiftly to acquire the services of France international, Etienne Capoue from Ligue 1 outside, Toulouse FC.
Initially, it was newly-promoted Cardiff City who were in pole position to acquire the player’s services but Daniel Levy moved in promptly to hijack a deal for the defensive midfielder. Although many people in North London might not know much about the Frenchman, Capoue has forged quite a reputation in Ligue 1 in the past few years.
Spurs have made quite a lot of bold signings this summer with the captures of Paulinho, Nacer Chadli and Roberto Soldado which depicts their ambition of earning a Champions League qualification next season.
However, the acquisition of Capoue still divides opinion as Spurs have brought another player for an area that looks pretty much balanced for now. The likes of Sandro and Mousa Dembele had formed a formidable pairing in midfield at the start of the last season with Scott Parker serving as an effective back-up option. The addition of Brazilian star Paulinho has further added depth to the midfield, moreover with academy youngsters such as Jake Livermore, Tom Carroll and Nabil Bentaleb showing their potential during preseason, one must wonder if it was so necessary to sign a player who might not get a lot of chances next season.
Last season, Capoue played as a defensive midfielder for Alain Casanova’s side and fitted in perfectly in 4-1-4-1 and 3-5-2 formations. His athleticism and high energy levels made him one of the best holding midfielders in the Championnat.
In short, Spurs have got quite a player on their hands but they already have three players who can play in the defensive midfield role easily. However, it should be noted that Parker and Livermore might not be the kind of players AVB would want to look at in the long-term so Capoue could provide a better option.
Another thing that makes Capoue a valuable addition is his excellent passing ability and the ability to score the odd goal. Last season, the 25-year-old scored seven times for Les Pitchouns which is a decent tally for a player who operates either as a defensive midfielder or as an emergency centre-back.
Another thing that should be noted is that Capoue, standing at 6’2, is an imposing figure which means that he will easily adapt to the physical aspect of the English game. During his time in France, the only criticism that Capoue faced was that the player did not really venture further up the field. A player of his ability should be helping out his side in the offense on a regular basis. That is something AVB needs to work on and a shortcoming that will make him a second fiddle to Sandro. If the Brazilian remains injury free, it is unlikely to see the new signing stake a place in the starting eleven on a regular basis.
After playing in a restrictive role under Casanova, Capoue will be required to play in a more expansive role which means that the France international will have a lot to prove and learning to do.
With the World Cup looming large, it is very important for Capoue to up his game in a new league if he wants to fly with Didier Deschamps to Brazil next year. However, after five years at Toulouse, one has to say that Capoue will have matured enough to survive in a competitive environment.
Tottenham will however benefit from Capoue’s versatility, with the 25 year old having played as a centre back during his days with the French U-21 side and would be able to slot in seamlessly in the back four if the need arises.
It should be noted however, that the club is in dire need of natural defenders. With Younes Kaboul proving to be an injury prone player, it is important for the club to bring in a defensive partner for Jan Vertonghen. The club has been hotly linked with Toby Alderweild of Ajax and Levy’s next business should be the acquisition of a top centre back if Spurs are to replace their North London rivals in the top four next season.
Initially, it was newly-promoted Cardiff City who were in pole position to acquire the player’s services but Daniel Levy moved in promptly to hijack a deal for the defensive midfielder. Although many people in North London might not know much about the Frenchman, Capoue has forged quite a reputation in Ligue 1 in the past few years.
Spurs have made quite a lot of bold signings this summer with the captures of Paulinho, Nacer Chadli and Roberto Soldado which depicts their ambition of earning a Champions League qualification next season.
However, the acquisition of Capoue still divides opinion as Spurs have brought another player for an area that looks pretty much balanced for now. The likes of Sandro and Mousa Dembele had formed a formidable pairing in midfield at the start of the last season with Scott Parker serving as an effective back-up option. The addition of Brazilian star Paulinho has further added depth to the midfield, moreover with academy youngsters such as Jake Livermore, Tom Carroll and Nabil Bentaleb showing their potential during preseason, one must wonder if it was so necessary to sign a player who might not get a lot of chances next season.
Last season, Capoue played as a defensive midfielder for Alain Casanova’s side and fitted in perfectly in 4-1-4-1 and 3-5-2 formations. His athleticism and high energy levels made him one of the best holding midfielders in the Championnat.
In short, Spurs have got quite a player on their hands but they already have three players who can play in the defensive midfield role easily. However, it should be noted that Parker and Livermore might not be the kind of players AVB would want to look at in the long-term so Capoue could provide a better option.
Another thing that makes Capoue a valuable addition is his excellent passing ability and the ability to score the odd goal. Last season, the 25-year-old scored seven times for Les Pitchouns which is a decent tally for a player who operates either as a defensive midfielder or as an emergency centre-back.
Another thing that should be noted is that Capoue, standing at 6’2, is an imposing figure which means that he will easily adapt to the physical aspect of the English game. During his time in France, the only criticism that Capoue faced was that the player did not really venture further up the field. A player of his ability should be helping out his side in the offense on a regular basis. That is something AVB needs to work on and a shortcoming that will make him a second fiddle to Sandro. If the Brazilian remains injury free, it is unlikely to see the new signing stake a place in the starting eleven on a regular basis.
After playing in a restrictive role under Casanova, Capoue will be required to play in a more expansive role which means that the France international will have a lot to prove and learning to do.
With the World Cup looming large, it is very important for Capoue to up his game in a new league if he wants to fly with Didier Deschamps to Brazil next year. However, after five years at Toulouse, one has to say that Capoue will have matured enough to survive in a competitive environment.
Tottenham will however benefit from Capoue’s versatility, with the 25 year old having played as a centre back during his days with the French U-21 side and would be able to slot in seamlessly in the back four if the need arises.
It should be noted however, that the club is in dire need of natural defenders. With Younes Kaboul proving to be an injury prone player, it is important for the club to bring in a defensive partner for Jan Vertonghen. The club has been hotly linked with Toby Alderweild of Ajax and Levy’s next business should be the acquisition of a top centre back if Spurs are to replace their North London rivals in the top four next season.
