Tottenham already have Romero replacement among ranks at Hotspur Way – Opinion

The Lilywhites signed Kevin Danso from RC Lens in the winter transfer window, and the Australian international arrived at Hotspur Way with solid credentials, given how he comes in with a towering frame alongside his athleticism and ball-playing ability. And then the 26-year-old has attributes which help him play in a back four as well as a back three (something that suits Thomas Frank’s tactical versatility perfectly).

But then it is more than that. When I was looking into his performances in the French top tier, you could see that he was dominating the aerial duels quite comfortably, and then he was tasked with stepping into the midfield phase of the play with his progressive passes and ball-carrying capabilities.

Then he had that reputation for winning his 1v1 defensive duels with a complement of smart positioning with this mammoth strength that he possesses.

And if we are talking about his time at N17, Danso has already proven his composure when facing pressure, especially when he was thrown into the far end as a late substitute during the Europa League final to help see out a narrow lead against Manchester United, and it is the exact type of high-pressure experience that can end up being invaluable for him in turn for Tottenham.

How can Kevin Danso tactically fit in at Tottenham?

So now if we are speaking about Thomas Frank, the Dane head coach always demanded this tactical discipline complemented by their spatial awareness from the players he deployed at the heart of defence at Brentford, and now he is expected to do the same at Tottenham.

And speaking in that sense, Danso can end up taking up that space as a central or right-sided centre-back when he is deployed in a back three (3-5-2 or 3-4-3) where his aerial capabilities and physical presence allow the North Londoners to absorb pressure and build from deep. When we are speaking about the back four, the Austrian can partner with Micky van de Ven, which brings a sense of balance to the Dutchman’s ball-carrying explosiveness with the former Lens CB’s more measured and positional style.

We know that Danso will not be the same front-footed aggressive defender like Romero, but he is someone who will be a more reliable and less risky alternative when directly compared with the Argentine’s antics at the heart of the defence, which works out perfectly for Frank, given how the Dane values stability over chaos in defensive phases.

Jamie O’Hara speaks on Danso taking over Romero’s place at Tottenham

Former Tottenham midfielder Jamie O’Hara, who is never scared of putting up his opinions on the front foot, has now pointed out how Kevin Danso could end up being a critical presence in the dressing room at Hotspur Way next season. And speaking in an interview with Grosvenor Sport (via. Spurs Web), he went on to praise the 26-year-old’s personality, insisting that Danso is the kind of player that every manager would want to have in their dressing room.

He said:

“I like Kevin Danso; he is a really good signing. He potentially could be someone who plays a lot of games for Tottenham, in case Cristian Romero or Micky van de Ven get injured or leave the club.

“He is a good player and has a personality; I am already a fan after seeing him on holiday in Ibiza. He strikes me as someone who, as a coach, you would really want in the dressing room.”

Author Opinion

After having shown his leadership abilities at RC Lens and then having shown this willingness to fight for his spot at Tottenham, it does look like Danso is mentally ready to shoulder more responsibility. And building on what O’Hara said, I do think that if the 26-year-old is played in the right system with support around him, he can take on the Romero crown at Tottenham.

It is agreed that he is not the emotional and erratic leader that Romero is, but Danso might be exactly what Tottenham need to evolve defensively under Frank, given how he is a calm and composed figure at the back and then has this intelligence to navigate through the high-stakes situations.