An England legend defends Marmoush after a selfish moment that sparked controversy in London
"Eager to score"
Tottenham fans have run out of patience for the first time, and Egyptian star Omar Marmoush found himself at the centre of a storm of criticism. Then a heavyweight name in English football stepped in to defend him.
Danny Murphy backed Marmoush's performance after a disappointing outing against Nottingham Forest, a game that ended goalless in the third round of the Premier League.
A goalless start: a moment that raises questions
Marmoush moved from Manchester City to Tottenham in the summer transfer window and started for the second match running, but he has yet to find the net.
Against Forest on Saturday, the Egyptian looked far from his best. He managed only two shots, neither on target.
The controversy erupted in the second half. Marmoush broke away on a promising counter-attack, Mohammed Kudus supporting him on the right wing, ten yards ahead of the last defender and perfectly placed to score from inside the box.
Rather than square the ball to Kudus for a golden one-on-one, Marmoush went for goal himself. He sent it high over the crossbar, to the astonishment of his Ghanaian teammate.
Murphy: it is a star's eagerness, not selfishness
Analysing the match on the famous "Match of the Day" programme, Danny Murphy offered a completely different reading. He saw hunger, not selfishness.
Murphy said: "I don't think it will be a problem in the long run, because I see Marmoush as a special player, but he seems so eager to score goals and to start strongly that he ignored Kudus."
The former Liverpool star added: "He sees him, and he knows where Andy Robertson is standing next to him, he is a top-class player, but his intense eagerness to give his team the win made him take the wrong decision at the wrong time. He also missed a golden chance in the first half."
The riddle of Marmoush's new position
There is a tactical point that may explain Marmoush's confusion. The manager deployed him in an unfamiliar position.
He continued: "Omar Marmoush should have dropped back. Paul Merson played Marmoush as the most advanced midfielder in Tottenham's line-up, while Conor Gallagher played behind him in the number 10 playmaker role."
Striker Dominic Solanke paid the price for the switch. He stayed on the bench before coming on later, proof that Marmoush is still searching for his new identity within the Spurs system.
