What is the best role for Tottenham to unlock Archie Gray's potential?

One of the early football management video games was Brian Clough’s football fortunes in the 1980s. An excellent game at the time, which combined physical player cards with the video game itself. These player cards had positions, of course, one of which was “Utility Player” who you were allowed to field in any outfield position, and which could change from match to match.

The utility player was very much a thing in football at that time, valuable squad members who were equally at home in many different positions. So much so, that it wasn’t always clear what their main position was. Gary Stevens and Gary Mabbutt (in his early years) were two notable such players for Tottenham at this time.

Just as that video game has been superseded by newer football management games over the decades, so too has the position of the utility player (though I would argue no manager has superseded Brian Clough). There are players in the modern game who can play in multiple positions of course, but players are asked to do so far less now in the Premier League. This is due most likely to teams having much bigger squads than in the 1980s and more substitutes available. In the 1980s, for example, teams did not even have a substitute goalkeeper in the matchday lineup, which did lead to some excellent more regular scenarios of outfield players having to go in goal.

Archie Gray in the current Tottenham team seems to be functioning more of a throwback to the old utility player and it doesn’t seem to be benefitting either the team or the player himself.

Since arriving at Tottenham, Gray has played in every position except striker and goalkeeper, which is both impressive and alarming for someone who is just 20 years old. He has performed admirably in many of the roles of course and played in each with commitment, but the modern game often demands a more settled role.

Against Leeds, Gray spent much of the game playing behind our striker. This had been tried before under previous managers, and the results had not gone well. There was an equally disappointing outcome against Leeds.

The best teams do not change formations or personnel just to get their preferred XI on the pitch. De Zerbi’s complex system would make this even more true. Almost every world cup winning team has a player that is a surprise omission from the team or the squad at the start of the tournament.

A player’s best position is always a matter of opinion. I think Gray’s best performances have come at right back, but wherever the position is, De Zerbi needs to apply more consistency to his selection here. The choice at Leeds seemed to nullify our effective midfield performances from the previous weeks while also causing us a problem at right back with Pedro Porro struggling on that day. De Zerbi did at least move to fix this with substitutions, but we were already deep in the game by that point.

As well as playing in so many different positions, Gray is currently under his third permanent Tottenham manager. He has also been named as one of the club’s captains. This is all a lot for a young player still developing his game. Brian Clough famously focused on simplicity and fundamental roles of his players. Given the deeper squad we have now, and with injuries hopefully (finally) clearing, De Zerbi could benefit from focusing more on developing Gray in a more consistent role in the squad than being his default utility player.