{"id":137980,"date":"2026-04-22T09:59:33","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T09:59:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=137980"},"modified":"2026-04-22T09:59:33","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T09:59:33","slug":"de-zerbi-can-bench-gallagher-by-unleashing-spurs-carrick-modric-hybrid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=137980","title":{"rendered":"De Zerbi can bench Gallagher by unleashing Spurs’ Carrick & Modric hybrid"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
<\/div>\n
\n

Robbie is the Assistant Editor at Football FanCast.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Having graduated from the University of Exeter in 2020, Robbie spent time working as an intern or in freelance positions across a variety of sites, including at 90min, producing news and feature content related to clubs in the Premier League, EFL, SPFL and in Europe.<\/p>\n

Robbie subsequently spent over a year working as a news, features and opinion writer at Football Faithful, primarily focused on the Premier League and Manchester United, in particular.<\/p>\n

After beginning life at Football FanCast as part of the company’s academy set-up in 2022, Robbie has risen through the ranks to now taking on the role of Assistant Editor since October 2023, having also been part of the Exclusives team in the past.<\/p>\n

Across the last few years, Robbie has covered Manchester United, Celtic and Rangers on a regular basis, alongside a raft of other clubs, boasting an in-depth knowledge of the Premier League, EFL and Scottish football in general.<\/p>\n

Robbie is a Manchester United fan, but also has a particular fondness for both Celtic and Wycombe Wanderers, taking in a multitude of home and away games for the Chairboys over the last two decades.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Things have escalated since then, although Tottenham Hotspur were already in the mire heading into the January window, in need of a fresh spark to lift proceedings.<\/p>\n

Four years earlier, with Newcastle United at risk of relegation, the new ownership regime brought in the likes of Dan Burn, Kieran Trippier and Bruno Guimaraes, three men who instantly lifted the standards at St James’ Park.<\/p>\n

In Spurs’ case, the decision to fork out almost \u00a335m on Conor Gallagher as the sole winter purchase remains a head-scratching one, particularly with the Lilywhites so short on depth in other departments, including on the flanks.<\/p>\n

\n
\"De <\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

New boss Roberto De Zerbi was full of praise for the Englishman following his arrival in the dugout, although there was no immediate revival on Sunday, with Gallagher needing to be taken out of the firing line.<\/p>\n

Gallagher is no longer the player De Zerbi “loved” at Chelsea<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Speaking ahead of Tottenham’s trip to Wearside, De Zerbi singled out Gallagher as one of the players he was excited to work with, suggesting he was keen to see the 26-year-old return to the player he “loved” at Stamford Bridge.<\/p>\n

In the midfielder’s final year with the Blues back in 2023\/24, he was a key cog in Mauricio Pochettino’s team, lining up in a number eight or even advanced midfield role, scoring and assisting 12 goals in the Premier League that season.<\/p>\n

Once described as being “like [N’Golo] Kante with goals” by pundit Tony Cascarino, there looked to be so many strings to his bow, an all-action, relentless midfield presence who also had that box-crashing, goalscoring knack to his game.<\/p>\n

\n
\"De <\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

As was evident at the weekend, however, Gallagher looks a shadow of that player these days, having registered just one assist and failed to score in his first ten Premier League games back in England.<\/p>\n

Lining up alongside Archie Gray against the Black Cats, the former Atletico Madrid man didn’t win a single tackle, won just three of his seven duels and provided only a solitary key pass, having struggled to provide any sort of attacking inspiration in that 85-minute outing.<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Gallagher vs Sunderland<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Stat<\/th>\nRecord<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Minutes<\/td>\n85<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Touches<\/td>\n48<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pass rate<\/td>\n87%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Key passes<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ball lost<\/td>\n7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Carries<\/td>\n13<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Succ. dribbles<\/td>\n1\/2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tackles<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ground duels<\/td>\n2\/5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Aerial duels<\/td>\n1\/2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

In those ten games so far, he has yet to create a single ‘big chance’, and averages just 0.8 key passes per game, hardly hitting the ground running as would be expected for a player of his prior Premier League experience.<\/p>\n

With the visit of De Zerbi’s former club Brighton and Hove Albion next on the agenda, the Italian could well shake things up in the centre of the park.<\/p>\n

De Zerbi could replace Gallagher with Spurs’ Carrick & Modric hybrid<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Thankfully for De Zerbi, if there is one area that Spurs do have depth, it is in midfield, with Joao Palhinha and Pape Matar Sarr having both been involved off the bench at the weekend, with Yves Bissouma part of the matchday squad.<\/p>\n

\"De <\/picture>