Giovanni Dos Santos
Giovanni Dos Santos 22 Midfielder Tottenham Hotspur
How do you solve a problem like Giovanni dos Santos? Two trains of thought are currently running in North London. The first suggests that Harry Redknapp has blighted Dos Santos’ career by refusing to play him and sticking with the usual suspects at White Hart Lane. The other points to a penchant for the finer things in life and an appetite for the social side of a footballer’s lot which have ruined his chances of making a career in England.
Dos Santos was impressive at the World Cup for Mexico in 2010 but has rarely had an opportunity to shine in the rough and tumble of the English Premier League. When he has played, GDS has frequently looked off the pace and there has been nothing to suggest he will apply his often excellent international form to the club arena.
Where can we point the finger for Dos Santos making just thirteen appearances in three and a half years at Tottenham? Barcelona were none too disappointed to offer a swift adieu to the Mexican in 2008 amid rumours of persistent indiscipline, which backs up the theory that problems were always likely. However for Spurs to invest in such a talented player, but then appear to have absolutely no idea what to do with him seems to indicate that the poor return from Dos Santos is not entirely down to him.
The Mexican enigma has toured several European sides on loan without nailing a permanent move and first team appearances at Spurs are likely to be patchy in their frequency once more. Where we go next is anyone’s guess, but it has to be out of the door permanently.
“Super underutilized. Remember when he was supposed to be the Next Ronaldinho? Pretty sure ‘Arry doesn't know how to use that” - @luisnavadad
“Excelled at Racing because belief placed in his ability. Given right platform, he can prosper. A good player in the right hands” - David Cartlidge (SpanishFootball.info)
"Utterly superb in the Gold Cup, the best player of the tournament and scored a superb goal in the final. One of the most talented players in Europe, but not Harry's sort. Amazing he didn't move in the summer." - Michael Cox (Zonal Marking)
E A move might help, but we just can’t tell….
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Reader Comments (4)
humbled by the inclusion of the quote. I stick by my statement though. Harry & Gio come from two different schools of football, so they probably were never meant to be. I hope he can find a good place where he can contribute his talents come this winter transfer window. possibly Inter or Villareal could use a guy like this.
Unfortunately Dos Santos doesn't have the application to make it at a top club in my view. Evidently blessed with superb natural talent on the ball, this (and barca's superb youth deveopment) got him to the stage but to excel and take the main role you need application and Dos Santos just doesn't have it...evidenced by his attitude on the pitch for spurs when he does get the chance and his relative failures at the other clubs he has been loaned to. There's too many players with too much talent who patently desire to reach their full potential for Dos Santos to ever really succeed - I would imagine he will sign for a midtable spanish club next and hopefully apply himself and cement a career in Europe; else I'm afraid Chivas may be his best hope.
Gav, I must disagree with you. I think Gio has what it takes, but it he needs to be put in the right system. English football is not for him. Most Mexican players, with the exception of Chicharito, don't fare well in the Premier League [Vela at Arsenal, Barrera & Franco at West Ham]. I could see Gio doing well a team like Valencia, Sevilla, or Roma. The issue is the time wasted at Spurs and being loaned out to mediocre teams. I think Harry must have known what type of player he is, but has no idea how to use him but doesn't want to let him go in case he loses Luka Modric to Chelsea. Had he been traded sooner, he grade would be higher on this list. I am sure of that.
I had high hopes for Gio but I'm pretty sure he will never be an elite player on the world stage. Everyone talks about his international form but the truth is he is a bit of a rabbit killer. CONCACAF is not exactly filled with top notch competition. The same Barsa youth system he came from has produced plenty of players his age and younger that are killing it right now, at Barcelona and elsewhere, and they didn't need hand-holding and excuses. Where would you rank Gio at 22 among these players: Bojan, Thiago Alcanatara, Nolito, Sergio Busquets?
I have never been thrilled with Harry Redknapp and I think he gets a lot of extra credit for being English but the truth is although he may have marginalized Gio during that time Spurs had their best run of form in the Premiership era. At neither of the big European clubs he has been with has Gio's absence from the field been noticed.