Paul Walsh says he can relate to what Vincent Janssen is going through at Tottenham.
Pundit Paul Walsh has told Sky Sports’ Soccer Special (02/11/2016) that he can understand Vincent Janssen’s struggles so far at Tottenham Hotspur.
Spurs again drew a blank on Wednesday night as they lost 1-0 at home to Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League, with Kevin Kampl’s second half goal consigning them to defeat.
It’s now six without a win for Mauricio Pochettino’s side, and they’ve scored just three goals in that time, with only one of those coming from open play.
Tottenham’s Vincent Janssen
Life without Harry Kane has been hard in recent weeks, and summer signing Vincent Janssen has still yet to really show why Spurs forked out a reported £18.6m (Sky Sports) to land the 22-year-old from AZ Alkmaar.
Janssen has scored just three goals for Spurs so far, and all three came from penalties, scoring recent goals against Liverpool and Leicester City from the penalty spot.
Tottenham’s Victor Wanyama in action
The Dutchman has been heavily criticised this season, and former Spurs striker Paul Walsh – who hit just 21 goals in 156 games during his time with Tottenham – has told Sky Sports’ Soccer Special that he can relate to what Janssen is going through.
Walsh suggested that Janssen may not be a natural goalscorer despite his 31 goals for AZ Alkmaar last season, and admitted that he himself wasn’t a natural goalscorer during his playing days, and understands how Janssen feels given the recent pressure on him to score goals.
Walsh also praised midfielder Victor Wanyama, another summer signing, stating that he’s taken the rash challenges out of his game since leaving Southampton for White Hart Lane, and now looks a much better player under Pochettino.
(L – R) Tottenham’s Vincent Janssen, Jan Vertonghen and Victor Wanyama
“Janssen still can’t seem to get goals in open play, but he’s got some confidence from scoring from the spot,” said Walsh. “Confidence for people who aren’t natural goalscorers is everything, and I can relate to that. You’ve got natural goalscorers like Tony [Cottee], who score loads of goals and score from all over the place, but I had to work at that – it didn’t come naturally. I can relate to it when a player is going through that sort of situation, and you know the whole world is on your back, criticising you, wondering when you’re going to get a goal from open play, and it can play on your mind,” he added.
“Wanyama – who I’ve been a critic of – has stopped diving in and making rash challenges, he’s nicking it away from people now, and he’s starting to look a much better player for Tottenham,” he added.
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