Paul Merson tips Conor Gallagher to decide Tottenham vs West Ham derby
Paul Merson has weighed in ahead of Tottenham Hotspur’s latest London derby, with the former Arsenal midfielder tipping Conor Gallagher to be the hero against West Ham United.
Given how poorly the first half of the campaign has gone, Tottenham Hotspur need a strong second half of the season.
Fourteenth after 21 games is never a good look for a manager at a club of Tottenham’s stature, but that is where Thomas Frank finds himself as he looks to turn things around.
Spurs have turned to the transfer market for solutions and have since secured the services of Conor Gallagher from Atletico Madrid for £35 million, with the midfielder arriving to bolster a squad hit by inconsistency.
The former Chelsea man could be handed his debut after only a few days at the club, and we have already highlighted how Frank might deploy Gallagher in midfield against the Hammers.
Paul Merson predicts Tottenham v West Ham with Conor Gallagher decisive
Paul Merson has now given his score prediction for Tottenham Hotspur against West Ham United, explaining why he believes Conor Gallagher could prove decisive in the London derby.
Writing for Sportskeeda, Merson outlined his view on the significance of the midfielder’s arrival and what it could mean for Spurs on derby day, saying: “You know what? As a Chelsea fan, I am not happy with Conor Gallagher joining Tottenham. But what a signing that is. It is just brilliant from a Spurs perspective.
“The one thing Tottenham struggle with is the lack of legs in midfield. They cannot dominate games because of it, and Gallagher ticks every box. He will be infectious in the sense that he will push his team-mates to be better.
“I would like to think Gallagher goes straight into the line-up for this game. If he plays, Tottenham will beat West Ham. Spurs fans would demand only one thing from a player now – just work hard, and Gallagher gives you that assurance.”
“The problem with Tottenham is that they only start playing when they are losing games. We saw that in the second half against Aston Villa in the FA Cup. It was all done and dusted by the time they turned it on.
“As I said, Spurs win if Gallagher plays. If he does not, I think West Ham win it 2-1.”
Prediction: Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 West Ham United.
Why Gallagher’s energy could shape the derby
As Merson has stated, it will be a recipe for problems if Tottenham begin this derby on the back foot.
The last thing Frank will want is a slow start, which would not only encourage the visitors but also hand momentum to the away support inside the stadium.
Gallagher, however, could help raise the intensity in the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this weekend, as he will bring some much-needed energy and freshness to the Spurs midfield.
The post Paul Merson tips Conor Gallagher to decide Tottenham vs West Ham derby appeared first on Spurs Web.