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Tim Sherwood rips into ‘rubbish’ Spurs decision that has backfired on Jose Mourinho
Tim Sherwood has torn into Tottenham Hotspur boss Jose Mourinho for failing to give Gareth Bale and Carlos Vinicius enough game time prior to Harry Kane’s injury.
Both players signed for Spurs during the summer transfer window, but to date, neither has been given much of a chance.
The bulk of Bale’s minutes have come in the Europa League, with just four appearances – and only one start – in the Premier League.
Likewise, Vinicius has mostly played in the cup competitions, and had only got 25 minutes of game time in the league prior to the last two games.
Spurs have now lost three league matches in a row, the latest a 1-0 loss to Chelsea in which the North Londoners delivered a meek, toothless performance.
Bale once again remained on the bench, and on the subject of the game’s unused substitutes, Sherwood made his feelings very clear about both the Welshman and the Brazilian.
“Gareth is not fit enough,” he said on . “He is not fit enough because he’s played inferior games in the Europa League and FA Cup – bit part. Vinicius is exactly the same.
“All of a sudden you can’t expect him to come in and make a difference.
“He should’ve been dipped in half hour, 45 minutes, maybe an hour against a lesser side in the Premier League, (you need to) get used to this intensity … he needs to get used to it (again).
“There’s no gimme games in this league. You have to be conditioned.
“This isn’t going to get him fit – a few runs after the game running up and down the line … this kid needs to play! He needs to play on the pitch, get up and down, bust a get; get opportunities.
“Vinicius I feel sorry for, Bale I feel sorry for, and when Kane is fit again they’ll end up sitting next to the manager again.
“What is that, what the hell is that? I would say to my sports scientists – what are you achieving from that? Are they all getting the same out of it?
“Look at Gareth… I am 52 years of age and I could do that quicker than they are doing it now!
“This is nonsense. A box ticking exercise. Rubbish. Rubbish. This is not getting them fit for the weekend.
“He should’ve got minutes way before, when he first came back to the club and everyone was euphoric.”
TBR View:
A very impassioned speech from Sherwood, who is rightly aggrieved about what’s happened at Spurs – and he’s very much right.
With Kane now out of action, Bale and Vinicius aren’t quite up to scratch in terms of full match fitness and sharpness, and the team has suffered as a result.