Insider: Bizarre Tottenham plan may see them collapse after Hugo Lloris reveal
Tottenham will slip down the Premier League table if they try and conserve energy for the second half of the season now.
That is the view of medical expert Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries site and has a background in injury and data analysis.
Tottenham’s winless run was extended to three when they drew 1-1 with Sporting in the Champions League
As quoted by 90min after the game, Hugo Lloris admitted his side were being “cautious” with their energy as they could not afford to play the full game at top intensity.
“I don’t think I buy into this narrative that Antonio Conte wants his players to conserve their energy for the second half of the campaign,” Dinnery told Football Insider‘s Connor Whitley.
“If things continue the way they are going what are you conserving your energy for? There might not be too much to play for in reality.
“It’s open to interpretation but we have seen Tottenham rotate very heavily. Over the last eight Premier League games, they are averaging around three changes.
“A lot of those positions are interchangeable, the full-backs and centre-backs are all around the same level.
“I don’t necessarily see them holding back. There might be seven or eight of the core firest-team squad going to the World Cup but the rest have six weeks off.
“You can maybe understand if some players want to protect themselves ahead of the World Cup, especially having seen Richarlison pick up that calf injury.
“For others, it’s an opportunity for them to cement themselves in that team. In a couple of weeks time, you can kick back and recharge their batteries.
“Tottenham are well-placed in regards to who goes to the World Cup. The two big players that they will struggle to replace in that team is Harry Kane and Heung-min Son and you could argue Hugo Lloris.
“Injuries are a part of the game and easing back is not something I really buy into. Given the competitive nature of the game, you can’t afford to take your foot off the gas for too long. If you switch off for just a couple of games you’ll find yourself slipping down the table pretty quickly.”
In other news, a Tottenham expert has claimed Harry Kane is refusing to pass to a “Championship level” teammate.