‘Sad for me’: Tim Sherwood thinks Tottenham academy star isn’t handed enough chances

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Tim Sherwood told Soccer Saturday on Sky Sports (21/08/21 at 1:25 pm) that it’s ‘sad for me’ that players like Japhet Tanganga aren’t handed enough chances at Tottenham.

The former Tottenham boss, who played a big part in bringing through Harry Kane in North London, claimed that it’s ‘almost not worthing having the academy there’ given how those players have been treated over the years.

Tanganga was a shining light for Spurs last Sunday as Nuno Espirito Santo’s side beat Manchester City 2-0 in the Premier League and he was then in the starting XI again for the win at Wolves.

It’s was only a case of the hard-hitting defender having the £100 million Jack Grealish and a Sterling in his pocket last week and then keeping Wolves’ flying wingers at bay this weekend.

Sherwood thinks Tottenham’s ‘underachieving money’ signings have resulted in the stagnation of the academy in recent times.

“I think they have good players,” said Sherwood. “You look around the squad, they are very good. I think there is a lot of underachieving money spent.

“I think they have players like Doherty and Serge Aurier. And they have a boy from the academy right under their nose in Tanganga, who they need to give the opportunity to.

“I don’t think they have had managers who want to give the kids the opportunity anymore. It’s almost not worth having the academy there, which is sad for me to say.

“I have seen their best player come through, at the moment, is one they are going to sell for £150 million if he gets his way.”

Jose Mourinho was the one who brought Tanganga to the forefront and handed him some healthy minutes during his time at the club.

And Nuno has continued that on during his early stages in North London.

Perhaps someone like Oliver Skipp, who was on loan at Norwich last season, will feel like he should have been part of the Spurs set-up last season.

But then again, that loan spell in England’s second-tier has made him a much better player, as he had proved during Tottenham’s opening two wins.