Analysis by Archie Grey's first start in midfield: A look at Tottenham's future?

It was a moment when Tottenham Hotspur fans were waiting patiently throughout the season. During his 38th appearance for Spurs, since he came from Leeds United last July, Archie Gray started for the first time in the central midfield.

There were not many positive people who were made by the miserable 2-0 defeat on Sunday against Fulham, but it was encouraging how Gray could finally play in his preferred position. The 19-year-old operated in midfield for an hour until Cristian Romero was replaced by James Maddison. At that time he fell into the central defense alongside Ben Davies.

Gray was excellent in the Leeds' Academy as a midfielder, but regularly played in the right -back for her under Daniel Farke in the championship last season. The English U21 international treated every single defense position for Spurs, including the start of eight games of the Premier League in a row in Center-Back.

But did he show enough against Fulham to prove that he could be the long-term answer to Tottenham's problems in No. 6 role? The athlete I have re -shared its best and worst moments from Craven Cottage to find out.

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Before the kick-off, Gray took part in his individual training exercise with co-trainers Mile Jedinak and Nick Montgomery. They alternately took fire to testing his control. Jedinak then stepped closer to Gray and made a few hand gestures when he gave up a few last advice.

Postecoglou did not add a creative midfielder to his starting XI, which meant that there was uncertainty about how gray, yves bisor and Rodrigo Bentancur would work together. Bentancur was highest while Gray was sitting at the deepest. Bissouma occurred occasionally next to Gray to help Spurs drive the ball forward or to fell Emile Smith Rowe, Andreas Pereira and Alex Iwobi.

Gray's first participation of the game was to move between Raul Jimenez and Smith Rowe to get a pass from Guglielmo Vicario before bringing it to Romero. It was encouraging to see a tour when he proven to be a bissoumer to move further away to create more space.

In the same order, the ball ends with Mathys Tel, which is gray and with his left arm shows that he wants the next pass to go forward. Gray is surrounded by four Fulham players and has a limited number of options. He returns the ball to Tel, which undermines a pass to Vicario, which is almost intercepted. Gray and Tel.

There are two teenagers who are still dealing with new positions and, in Teles case, new teammates.

In the middle of the first half, Gray showed a good defensive awareness when Antonee Robinson resolved the left wing.

Gray is over Smith Rowe in the last second to gain property and find Brennan Johnson.

Playing as No. 6 is a demanding role and the concentration for a second break part can have catastrophic consequences.

Dominic Solanke receives the ball from a throw -in and goes back to Gray, which is briefly switched off. The ball brings awkwardly from his left foot and Iwobi collects him, but Gray does it well to force him to farm with Romero.

Iwobi and Gray reappeared shortly before half -time.

Gray closes the Nigeria International and makes the first contact with the ball, but it bounces past him. He refuses to give up and commits Iwobi again. The Fulham midfielder complains about the treatment he receives, but the referee waves continue to play and Djed Spence finally presses the ball and hands it over to Tel.

Tottenham's defective performance against Fulham meant that Gray was mainly responsible for the laying of fires. There were not many opportunities in which he could show his quality. This incident shortly before he moved to the central defender shows where there is space for him to improve.

Gray drops deep to receive the ball before Jimenez from Romero, and he turns over before he drives into space. Sander Berge is approaching him. Instead of shooting a reverse pass into the feet of Lucas Bergvall, the simple option is to put it into Spence.

Hopefully Gray will possess more confidently in the future, when he plays more regularly in the central midfield. Gray's performance against Fulham was decent and he deserves further opportunities. It is important to remember that Fulham head coach Marco Silva Central areas with Smith Rowe, Pereira, Mountains, Iwobi and even Willian, who like to cut on the right foot to shoot. It would always be difficult for gray to impress.

Something else happened on Sunday that indicates that Gray has the Midfield Hacking Order jumping. Bissoum was replaced at half -time for the second league game in a row and Postecoglou explained his decision by saying: “I think the game can sometimes let him drive through him.”

“He has to be a little more dominant than he gets on the ball,” added Postecoglou. “However, I needed him because he didn't play much.

“It's not about getting through it or with the players a lack of effort.

Bissoumer has made 22 appearances and started 14 times for Spurs in the top flight this season, but his minutes have been dramatically reduced lately. He did not get off the bank in the 1-0 defeat in the last month against Manchester City and only made short Kameen at the victories over Manchester United and Ipswich Town.

In the Europa League, the 28-year-old was a unused replacement in the first leg against AZ and his participation was limited to around 15 minutes in the second leg. All evidence indicates that Postecoglou bissoora is no longer familiar in important games. The Mali international will only have his contract for a year in summer and Spurs will certainly reduce their losses.

Bentancur will enter bissoum in the last 12 months of his business, but Postecoglou spoke much more positively about him last month when he was asked about a possible expansion.

“Rodri was great,” said Postecoglou before the 1-0 defeat against Man City in the last month. “With regard to his contractual situation, this is treated by other people, and obviously a large part of our strategy is not only the short -term, but also the longer period.

“It's really annoying.

Bentancur is not a natural defensive midfielder, but he played most of his minutes for Spurs in this position this season. Don't be surprised if Bentancurs are the rest of the campaign to become an all-conquering no 6, while bissoor continues from the sidelines.

A possible hurdle for Gray is Johnny Cardoso. During the negotiations with real Betis about the sale of Giovani Lo Celso last year, Spurs contained a recreational clause in relation to Cardoso, which will be active this summer. The central midfielder, who was limited 18 times by the United States 18 times, made 20 appearances in La Liga this season and achieved Betis against Real Madrid in the 2-1 victory at the beginning of this month.

Cardoso extended his contract with Betis by 2030 in February, but Tottenham's clause remains. The 23-year-old could be a bispera replacement and a finished option for the central defensive midfield role, while Gray continues its development.

(Top photo: Richard Pelham/Getty Images)