The Netherlands international has struggled to make an impact at White Hart Lane but at times isn’t being helped by Mauricio Pochettino.
Tottenham’s Vincent Janssen on the bench before the match
One of the reasons behind Tottenham’s failed title charge last season was the lack of an alternative striker to Harry Kane.
The club had two windows to resolve their situation, with an interest in Celtic’s former Fulham forward Moussa Dembele failing to materialise, leaving Spurs to persist with an exhausted Kane and an out of favour Heung-Min Son as his deputy.
Several months on and with Kane sidelined with an ankle injury, the onus was on Vincent Janssen to step up and fill the void but it simply hasn’t happened for the Dutchman with personal form and a lack of faith derailing his career in North London.
Since Kane’s injury against Sunderland, Janssen featured in Tottenham’s next seven games, starting five and completing 90 minutes just once with a return of a goal and two assists not the sort of form expected of the former AZ Alkmaar man.
Tottenham’s Vincent Janssen looks dejected at full time
Comparisons are already being made to notorious Spurs flop Roberto Soldado, but they seem harsh if not understandable with frustration at Janssen’s lack of end product.
Whereas Soldado was simply too old to learn new tricks, Janssen is 22 and needs time to adjust to a new system and new surroundings after only two seasons’ experience in top flight football in the Netherlands and England.
He endured a slow start at AZ Alkmaar failing to score in his opening eight matches, before romping home to 27 goals to become the Eredivisie’s top scorer but since his move to the Premier League questions are already being asked of his suitability in Mauricio Pochettino’s system.
Janssen plays as a target man holding the ball up and linking up with his attackers, rather than chasing opponents and pressing high which Kane can do so admirably, but the England forward can also create chances on his own and not rely on others to do so.
Tottenham’s Vincent Janssen and team mates look dejected after West Bromwich Albion’s Nacer Chadli scores their first goal
With the possibility of Kane returning soon and Spurs the lowest scorers in the top five of the league, Pochettino may look to play the pair together and forge the beginnings of a fruitful partnership especially with Christian Eriksen nowhere near playing his best football.
Even though he hasn’t hit the heights expected of him so far, the club should also shoulder some of the blame for Janssen’s poor start through placing a lack of faith and confidence in him.
Pochettino moving Son from a wide position to play up front against Manchester City was tactically excellent with Spurs able to out-press and out-pace City with everything starting from the front and the mobile South Korean.
But last season Son showed he could not constantly play as a centre forward as he continuously moved out wide rather than playing on the shoulder and through the middle, thereby losing Spurs’ focal point.
Tottenham’s Vincent Janssen reacts after hitting the crossbar against Bayer Leverkusen
Although drawing blanks against West Bromwich Albion and Bayer Leverkusen, Janssen’s performance in the latter was very good in helping Spurs string attacks together while also showing a creative side to himself.
Yet he was somewhat harshly and mistakenly taken off just after the hour mark, with the Germans’ influence continuing to grow even after his substitution as Son couldn’t lead the line himself and Spurs sat too deep.
Little under 30 minutes in the 0-0 draw vs Bournemouth will further frustrate Janssen, who since his star turn in the 5-0 thrashing over Giillingham has been unable to contribute to Spurs’ strong start and that frustration will increase further with Kane slotting straight back into the side when fully fit.
Much more time is needed for Janssen to adjust to his new situation at Tottenham and in England, but he needs to be handled with care and made to feel important at White Hart Lane.
Tottenham’s Vincent Janssen reacts
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