Richarlison’s Impressive Season in a Tottenham Shirt
Richarlison is having a standout season for Tottenham, surpassing his goal tally from the previous year. Since his £60 million move from Everton in 2022, the Brazilian forward has scored seven goals in 19 games.
After a disappointing 2022/23 season, where he only managed to score one Premier League goal, Richarlison is now showing signs of fulfilling Tottenham’s expectations. However, former Aston Villa player Gabby Agbonlahor remains unimpressed with the Brazilian’s recent performance.
In the FA Cup third round match against Burnley, Tottenham secured a 1-0 victory thanks to a late goal from Pedro Porro. Agbonlahor wasn’t surprised that a defender had to step up, considering Richarlison’s performance in front of him.
Agbonlahor’s Critique of Richarlison
Agbonlahor expressed his disappointment with Richarlison’s performance, stating, “I was watching the game and thinking ‘I’m wasting my evening, I could be watching a new series on Netflix.’ After 60 minutes, I turned it off; it was dreadful.”
According to Agbonlahor, Richarlison lacks control over the ball, strength to hold it up, proficiency in link-up play, speed to run in behind defenders, and finishing ability. He even goes as far as saying that Richarlison would be playing in League Two if he weren’t Brazilian.
Despite Agbonlahor’s criticism, Richarlison is currently second in goals for Tottenham, trailing behind Heung-min Son’s 12 goals. With Son’s absence due to the Asian Cup, Richarlison will have to step up as the main attacking threat for the team.
Tottenham’s Search for Striker Reinforcements
Recognizing the need for additional options upfront, Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou has pursued a loan deal with former Chelsea striker Timo Werner. Agbonlahor believes that Werner will be a better choice than Richarlison and supports Postecoglou’s decision to bring him in on a six-month loan.
Postecoglou himself has commented on Richarlison’s improvement this season compared to his struggles under previous manager Antonio Conte. He attributes Richarlison’s success to being free of injury, feeling physically fit, and gaining confidence from scoring goals and working hard for the team.