Player Focus: Patient Wimmer Proving to be Another Savvy Spurs Signing

Tottenham became renowned for a soft underbelly often hindering their defensive solidity. When the going got tough, Spurs would roll over and wave the white flag. Not now, it seems; this Tottenham team boasts the best defence in the Premier League, having shipped only 20 goals in 26 league games this season. At this stage last term, the north London side had conceded 36 times by comparison. Clearly, the defence is the solid foundation with which Spurs’ title charge is built on, a sentence many thought would ever be uttered.

Toby Alderweireld has been lauded as one of the signings of the season. Centre-back partner Jan Vertonghen has had his finest campaign since his debut season at White Hart Lane. Further back, goalkeeper and captain Hugo Lloris is as solid a last line of defence as they come, with the Frenchman once again enjoying a fine campaign for Pochettino’s team. Lloris’ save success rate (75.6%) is indeed the second best of goalkeepers to make 10 or more Premier League starts this term. 

However, an injury to Vertonghen threatened to derail the club’s top-4 challenge. The Belgian sustained a knee problem in the 3-1 win over Crystal Palace last month following a wayward Connor Wickham elbow at Selhurst Park. While that could have been enough to curtail Spurs’ ambitions to maintain an unlikely title tilt, Pochettino was confident his stand-in could sufficiently cover for the former Ajax man. 

Kevin Wimmer joined from Cologne in the summer on the back of a respectable debut campaign in the Bundesliga. The Austrian blocked more shots (31) than any other player in Germany’s top tier last term, with Wimmer willing to do all he could to deny the opposition from scoring upon Cologne’s return to the top-flight of German football. 

Following in the mould of Spurs signing young players with a sell on value, Wimmer fit the bit perfectly, though was forced to bide his time for regular action, understandably so given Alderweireld and Vertonghen’s respective outings. Nevertheless, now a first team fixture - for the time being at least - Wimmer is doing his utmost to ensure he retains his starting berth, even once Vertonghen recovers from injury. 

Of course, the temptation will be on Pochettino to throw Vertonghen back into the mix and given his form prior to injury, one would not begrudge the Argentine from doing so. This, though, would be harsh on Wimmer, who has proven to be more than an adequate replacement during the Belgian’s spell on the sidelines. Of those to make at least three league appearances this season, Wimmer (91.4%) has the best pass success rate of all Spurs players. 

In his seven appearances in the Europa League and Premier League this season, Wimmer has attempted 391 passes and found a teammate with 357, consistent across the board at 91.3%. Given Pochettino demands his Spurs side play the ball out from the back, the 23-year-old performs the necessary duties with consummate ease. 

What’s notable, however, is that Wimmer, despite his sporadic appearances this season, has been effective no matter his defensive partner. In his 11 competitive appearances, the Austria international has played alongside Alderweireld, Eric Dier and Federico Fazio. Yet, regardless of the player at the heart of the defence, Wimmer has exceeded expectations when called on, proving himself to be another savvy pick-up by Pochettino and co. 

“I always knew Kevin was a very good player and that’s what pushes me to improve as well,” Vertonghen said of his defensive teammate recently, certainly a ringing endorsement. Wimmer’s preference to play on the left side of the two centre-back’s further improves the balance at the back. As such, Wimmer is a strong rival for Vertonghen, of that there is no doubt. 

His proactivity in the defensive third also comes as a bonus to this Spurs side. Wimmer is yet to make a tackle in the Premier League, though this is not necessarily a negative for centre-backs: "If I have to make a tackle then I have already made a mistake," to quote AC Milan and Italy legend Paolo Maldini. Rather, he is utilising his impressive reading of the game to ease the pressure on the Spurs goal. An average of 2.4 interceptions per league and European fixture helps to not only stem the flow of opposition attacks, but instigate swift offensive moves from defence.  

Given his commendable distribution, Wimmer is instead capable of playing his way out of danger when the opportunity presents itself, further endearing himself to supporters as he opts against needlessly punting the ball upfield. Many a Spurs fan fretted when Vertonghen was forced off against Palace, and were understandably concerned when it was confirmed he would require knee surgery. However, Wimmer has slotted seamlessly into the Spurs XI when needed, easing the burden on Alderweireld and Vertonghen and providing competition for the pairing in the process.

Do you think Kevin Wimmer deserves to retain his starting spot in the Spurs XI upon Jan Vertonghen's return to fitness? Let us know in the comments below