Evening Standard
·22 January 2025
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·22 January 2025
Some Spurs fans have called for more experienced signings
Pedro Porro believes the form of Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall justifies Tottenham's transfer policy to invest in young stars.
Spurs have made a concerted effort in recent seasons to snap up the continent's most promising youngsters, having beaten Barcelona to the signing of Bergval and spent big on bringing in Gray in the last 12 months.
Wilson Odobert also arrived in the summer, while the likes of Pape Matar Sarr, 22, has been a regular for Spurs for two seasons. This month, young forward Yang Min-hyeok arrived from South Korea and highly rated goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky, 21, was thrust straight into first-team action and impressed.
Both Gray and Bergvall were expected to be gradually introduced into the senior team but a nightmare injury crisis has seen the pair already make over 50 appearances between them this season.
Lucas Bergvall hugs Archie Gray
REUTERS
Gray has playing out of position at centre-back for the majority, prompting praise from team-mate Porro, who told Football London: "Oh Archie Gray, he's unreal! He's a good guy and he's playing centre-back or as a number six, he's top!"
Sections of the Spurs support have called for signings with more experience to tackle the club's miserable form - which includes seven defeats in nine Premier League games.
But Porro suggests otherwise, insisting the experience will only serve to make the likes of Gray and Bergvall even better.
They're doing a spectacular job for the club ... they're putting everything out there for the team
Pedro Porro on Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall
He said: "When you have injuries and you have signed young players who perhaps are for the future, then you sign them for the future but also so you've got options if you get injuries.
"Lucas, Archie and others have been doing so well, but that, at the end of the day, is why the club have brought them in. They've had their opportunity and it's up to them to take it.
"They're doing a spectacular job for the club and if we go through a bad moment and they're suffering like us all at this moment, then that'll make them great players in the future because they're putting everything out there for the team."
Djed Spence and Archie Gray after the north London derby
Bradley Collyer/PA Wire
Another to impress this season is Djed Spence, who was signed two and a half years ago but appeared to have little future at Spurs after struggling to impress three different managers.
The injury crisis has presented opportunities and Spence has since thrived. Porro said of the fellow right-back: "He is doing a spectacular job for us at the moment, not just now but before I've always looked at him as being a real talent. It's not just because he plays in my position, you can just see from the way he is, the man he is.
"When he was out away from the club, he kept working hard, kept his ideas clear, just so that when he had that opportunity he would be prepared for it. I just say to him now to keep going as you are and you will keep being important for the team."
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