Bournemouth duo Adam Smith and Charlie Daniels have been hailed by Jermaine Jenas.
Adam Smith in action for Tottenham
Pundit and former Tottenham midfielder Jermaine Jenas has told Yahoo Sport that he now thinks Adam Smith and Charlie Daniels are ‘exceptional’ having only been ‘decent’ at Spurs.
Bournemouth held Tottenham to a 0-0 draw at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday afternoon, with Eddie Howe’s men potentially feeling somewhat unlucky to have not claimed all three points.
It was another superb performance from the Cherries, who managed to keep a clean sheet against Spurs with a defence featuring two former Tottenham youth products.
Bournemouth’s Charlie Daniels celebrates scoring
Right back Adam Smith and left back Charlie Daniels both started for Bournemouth having become two of the Premier League’s leading full backs, and it will have been hugely satisfying for them to impress against Spurs.
Daniels, 30, had a spell with Norwich City before heading to Spurs, earning his first professional contract with the club at the age of just 18, but he failed to make his first-team debut for Spurs before leaving for Leyton Orient in 2009.
Bournemouth’s Adam Smith in action with Everton’s Bryan Oviedo
Meanwhile, Smith – now 25 – made two first-team appearances for Spurs, and after a total of seven loan moves away from White Hart Lane, he chose to move on to Bournemouth in January 2014.
Now, having impressed under Howe and against Spurs, pundit Jermaine Jenas – who was a Tottenham player alongside Daniels and Smith – has raved about their displays.
Speaking to Yahoo Sport, Jenas stated that he felt Daniels and Smith were ‘decent’ at Tottenham, but they’ve improved and developed so much that they’re now ‘exceptional’ Premier League full backs, leaving Spurs to wonder whether they should have given them both more of a chance.
Charlie Daniels during his time at Tottenham Hotspur
“I’ve been especially impressed with the full-backs, Smith and Daniels, who were at Spurs as kids when I was there,” said Jenas. “At the time I’d say they were decent, rather than exceptional, prospects. But looking at them now, I’d say they are both exceptional full-backs.”
“With more teams playing three at the back I think there will be an increased demand for players like Daniels and Smith, who can play in either a back four or as wing-backs. They’re equally happy defending and attacking,” he added.
Would you have liked to see Smith and Daniels stay at White Hart Lane?
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