Advantage Richarlison in contest to be Tottenham's first-choice striker

New York Times

10 hours ago

Richarlison is one of the Premier League's most exciting enigmas.
How could a player who has led the line for Brazil at a World Cup and scored 13 goals in his past 16 Premier League starts continue to split opinion within the Tottenham Hotspur fanbase?
How can he be the social media joker with possibly the most goofy celebration in England, as well as an often reserved character? At the end of a game in which he had scored a spectacular double in Tottenham's 3-0 win against Burnley on Saturday, the 28-year-old hung back from his team-mates, almost reluctant to accept the embrace he was due from supporters
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The Richarlison experience is one that Everton fans continue to eulogise three years after 'o pombo' (which translates to the pigeon in English) left Goodison Park for £60 million. Spurs fans are yet to truly experience the same but across last Wednesday's penalty shoot-out Super Cup defeat by Paris Saint-Germain and Spurs' Premier League opener, he went as close to demonstrating the breadth of his talent since that outstanding run of nine goals in eight games in the winter of 2023-24.
'(It's) fantastic he is scoring,' Frank said in his post-match press conference on Saturday. 'The first one is definitely easier to score without being easy, but I have a striker that takes those two chances and helps us win the game. He deserves a lot of praise. He was very good against PSG, and today he was exceptional, with his work-rate, driving the team, link-up play, hold-up play, just dominating and then the two finishes.
'It is only the second game of the season, there is a long way to go, but very positive with him. Second goal (there were) 17 passes in the team I have been told, every player touched the ball and finished with two top actions. First from Mohammed Kudus and then second an exceptional finish by Richarlison. I'm a little disappointed that so early we have goal of the season, but (it) must be a contender.'
That his trademark finish is the acrobatic scissor kick he brilliantly doubled Tottenham's lead with on Saturday, both assisted by the excellent Kudus, probably feeds into the league-wide perception that he's a player who can burn incredibly bright and flatter to deceive on a game-to-game basis.
However, his recent goal record, which includes nine from his past nine starts at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, indicates he has been far more consistent and reliable in front of goal than he's had credit for. His first goal on Saturday afternoon, pulling away from the Burnley defence and then reading the flight of Kudus' bouncing cross to control the ball into the bottom corner, is the type of elite striker's finish you can recall a certain Harry Kane scoring and, crucially, is replicable.
And his contribution to Tottenham's attacking build-up should not be overshadowed by his goals. He was a physical and technically competent outlet for Spurs' defensive line to target in the centre of the pitch, a crucial out-ball to beat the opposition press.
While Cristian Romero gave the ball away trying to force the ball into the middle of the pitch in the first-half, leading to threatening Burnley counter-attacks, it paid dividends when the Argentinian fired a bouncing pass into Richarlison, who held off his marker and controlled the ball, allowing Pape Matar Sarr to take it from him and thread Brennan Johnson through to score Tottenham's third. Proving he's capable of the mundanities of being a Premier League centre-forward will encourage Frank as much as the world-class finishes.
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It's not the first time Richarlison has put together a short string of impressive performances, but an injury, causing him to miss a few games or longer, has often killed his momentum.
In 2023-24 it was a knee injury when he was at his height which took the wheels off his season, with the Brazilian only scoring once for the remainder of the term after a brace against Everton on matchday 23. Last season, Richarlison was limited to 15 league appearances and just four starts as hamstring and calf injuries sidelined him for months combined. Offering as much protection as possible is paramount to him getting back to his best, and Frank is conscious of providing that.
'I always thought he was good when he played for Everton and when he came to Tottenham we know he struggled with some injuries,' Frank said. 'He was unlucky also. So we're very aware that we need to build him and protect him, because we can't say we just did as he played two games back-to-back.
'I think we need to be smart with him. What is the right answer to that? I don't know. That can be getting out earlier, that can be coming from the bench. There can be various ways, there can be playing five games in a row, you know. We need to get to know him.'
Encouragingly, Dominic Solanke is fit and available again after missing most of pre-season with a minor ankle injury. Perhaps elevated by Richarlison's pursuits, the England international was a handful when he replaced the Brazilian in the 71st minute, and went close to scoring with a left-footed effort.
Last season, Ange Postecoglou bemoaned the lack of squad depth as a primary reason why the league campaign unravelled the way it did, but with a fit and firing Solanke and Richarlison, Tottenham have among the best striker depth in the Premier League. Keeping them fit and building healthy competition raises the team's ceiling considerably.
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Owing to injuries, there's a feeling that there's still much more to come from Solanke and Richarlison in north London. And with designs of representing their respective countries at next year's World Cup, the most precious carrot in football is dangling in front of them to fuel the fight for Tottenham's No 9 shirt.
With that performance, admittedly against a Burnley side tipped for relegation, it's currently Richarlison's to lose.
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