Ok, this is hardly NEWS news, since we’ve known it’s a foregone conclusion for weeks now, but it’s finally OFFICIALLY official — Marcos Senesi has signed for Tottenham Hotspur as a free transfer. He previously played for Bournemouth before his contract expired this summer. He will wear shirt #5.
Rather than retype why I think this is a solid for-now signing, I’ll
just repost what I wrote about him when we got news that he had signed his contract.
…To my mind Senesi is the signing that makes the most sense for Tottenham Hotspur this summer thus far. Although at 29 he’s a bit far along the age curve, the Argentine Senesi is a very solid all-around central defender. He’s good with the ball at his feet, is good in the air, and is comfortable in possession, all things that will endear himself to Roberto De Zerbi. Senesi is a high volume passer but his passing completion numbers take a hit because he’s more likely to go for a longer, higher-risk pass from deep than a comfortable short pass to the defensive midfielder. Like Micky van de Ven, Senesi also likes to step forward out of the defensive line to make defensive plays further up the field, and he’s fifth among all defenders in major European leagues in possession adjusted defensive action VAEP.
Due to his age he’s unlikely to be a long term signing for Spurs, but the skills he brings to the table are ones that will hopefully help transform Tottenham into a team that fits De Zerbi’s pressing and mid-to-high block tactics a little better than they do now.
Senesi might not be an immediate starter considering Cuti Romero and Micky van de Ven are both still at the club… but then again, he might be. He’ll certainly push for starting minutes and could be a featured player if De Zerbi opts to play with a back three formation.
Kit #5 was last worn by Pierre-Emile Hojberg, and past players to sport that number include Jan Vertonghen (miss u Verts), David Bentley, Edgar Davids, Gary Mabbutt, Ricky Villa, and even Bill Nicholson and Sir Alf Ramsey. That’s a heady number to wear. Hope he does well in that kit.
Welcome to Tottenham, Marcos!
