Next Tottenham manager faces transfer headache if Paul Robinson prediction comes true

Tottenham v Wolves: Match in pictures

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The next Tottenham manager could have a right-back dilemma if former goalkeeper Paul Robinson’s prediction that Matt Doherty will depart comes true. The Irishman has endured a tough season since signing from Wolves for £16million, and an early exit appears possible.

Doherty has not played for Spurs since their 2-1 north London derby defeat in March. The 29-year-old was then the victim of vast changes made by Jose Mourinho in the aftermath of that loss, with Serge Aurier and even Japhet Tanganga preferred at right-back.

Doherty might have hoped for a revival when Mourinho was sacked in April. But that has not come to fruition. Instead, his Tottenham future now rests on who replaces Mourinho.

Tanganga, naturally a centre-back, started on the right of a back four in Tottenham’s 2-0 win over Wolves on Sunday. The academy graduate played well and looks to have a far brighter future at the club than Doherty, who might have been disappointed not to be given the chance to prove his worth against his former side.

Interim boss Ryan Mason picked a side that moved away from the Mourinho era. There was a place for the in-form Gareth Bale, who was used sparingly by the Portuguese for most of the season.

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Even Dele Alli, an almost forgotten figure under the 58-year-old, was handed a start.

And Doherty, who Mourinho described as “incredible” upon signing, remained on the bench.

Mason’s admission that the 22-year-old Tanganga started because he is a “a more defence-minded” option is a particularly damning indictment on where Doherty stands.

“There are so many players in this squad. There are 21 players training that we are trying to pick from,” Mason said when asked why he picked Tanganga over Doherty.

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“We just feel the dynamic felt right with a more defence-minded player in that position with their threat. It paid off today.

“I am sure if we hadn’t won today it would have been a criticism of me not starting Matt.

“Japhet was excellent, the team was excellent, Matt’s been excellent all week, he is ready to play, he has trained very well.

“Mentally he is ready, we will see what happens on Wednesday because we are going to need everyone between now and the end of the season.”

Doherty has perhaps been the victim of playing in a system totally different to the one in which he thrived under Nuno Espirito Santo at Wolves. As a marauding wing-back at Wolves, he scored eight Premier League goals in two seasons and provided 11 assists.

For Spurs, Doherty has just two assists in 15 top-flight appearances and has failed to score.

That is also a failure of the club’s recruitment, with it looking as though Serge Aurier may too depart this summer, which would leave only Tanganga as an option in the position.

Former Spurs shot-stopper Robinson believes Doherty’s Tottenham career will only last a year.

“There is something amiss there at the moment,” the 41-year-old told Football Insider.

“When he came in at the start of the season he looked decent. I was a big fan of his when he was at Wolves.

“When Aurier is out you would expect Doherty to play so the fact Tanganga played gives you an indication as to where Doherty’s future is. It doesn’t look like it lies at Spurs.

“The next managerial appointment will be critical though. You cannot speculate too much when we don’t know who will be in charge next season.

“Doherty’s future will rely on it but right now it doesn’t look like he will be there.”

The likelihood of Doherty’s Tottenham career being revived may rely on the club appointing Graham Potter.

The Brighton manager is one of the frontrunners for the job and could choose to adopt the 5-3-2 formation that has worked well for the Seagulls.

In that system, Doherty would return to the wing-back role where he made such an impact at Wolves. He would also have the added protection of an extra centre-back behind him.

But if it is not Potter, the next Tottenham manager might have a right-back high on his agenda ahead of the transfer window. Doherty, meanwhile, may opt to seek a new challenge.  

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