THE MAIN PROBLEM OF POSTECOGLOU | TOTTENHAM TACTICAL ANALYSIS
Let’s analyze Ange Postecoglou’s main problem at Tottenham.
The first sin is the team’s build up. Last season we saw Spurs playing from the back with a first line of 2 players and a second line of 3 players, this 2-3 set up was already very risky when they lost the ball.
Like in this game vs Man City.
But this year they are playing with a first line line of 2, then a single player and 7 players attacking, which is pretty crazy.
In addition, their first line of buildup is too narrow, which favours pressing, it’s very difficult to stretch the opponent’s block horizontally with this set up, having to drop too many players to receive in areas where they aren’t effective in order to progress.
The same happens with his second sin, the defensive transition isn’t good. Tottenham are only using 2 players in the last line when they have possession. When they loose the ball, the rest defence is in numerical inferiority in many plays, making it impossible to counterpress or to make a good defensive transition. If they don’t commit a foul, the play ends in a chance. Furthermore, many times, due to Postecoglou’s automatisms, several players end up out of their position, in this play Bentancur in the backline, having to make the defensive transition players who are midfielders or attackers.
This brings us to the third sin, the role of the players due to the constant rotations. The exchanges of players’ positions are too forced, with many players ending up in a role that doesn’t favor them. This problem appears in all of Spurs’ possessions. Udogie is a great wingback who is being used in half spaces, Maddison ends up being the team’s left back in many buildups.
Other example: Son and Werner play wide on the left wing most of the time when they are great scorers. The system and style is more important for Ange than the strenghts of his players, Postecoglou has to understand his players better and adapt his tactics. If he doesn’t, it’s very difficult for Spurs to be successful this season.
