In an open letter to the Tottenham Hotspur fan base on the finish of the 2021 season, chairman Daniel Levy highlighted the membership would look to nominate a supervisor who might ship “free-flowing, attacking and entertaining” soccer – and so they’ve discovered what they had been on the lookout for in Ange Postecoglou.
The Australian has turned Spurs into the Premier League’s prime urgent facet. If you happen to have a look at the chart under, going left to proper, Tottenham have gained extra excessive turnovers than some other facet thus far this season. With their upcoming opponents Arsenal dwelling in the midst of the pack.
Going up the chart, it’s also possible to see solely Manchester Metropolis have usually gained the ball again larger up the sphere – a metric known as ‘beginning distance’. So, Spurs at the moment win the ball again round 46m from their very own aim.
They’re on the entrance foot and the north London derby on the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – reside on Sky Sports activities this Sunday – will likely be no totally different.
The aggressive nature and affect Ange has had on the staff is obvious to see by the graph under. Previous to his arrival, Tottenham sat again, simply 40m away from their very own aim, when beginning a passage of play.
Since then, Tottenham have pushed ahead almost six metres. That is so much. They’ve gone from a deep staff to probably the most superior facet – bar Metropolis.
They’re reaping the rewards for his or her efforts, too. Final season, Tottenham ranked second for possession, second for ahead passes and fourth for pictures. Their defensive efforts are translating right into a risk on the reverse finish of the pitch.
It is a new season however nothing new from Spurs, as they appear set to proceed with their mercurial fashion of play.
Simply have a look at this: Who’s obtained the ball most within the ultimate third whereas below strain this season? Let’s glaze over De Bruyne. Subsequent on the record? Maddison, then Son, then Porro – a full-back!
There’s a draw back to all of this, in fact. The trademark excessive press and focus to take care of possession of the ball additional up the pitch leaves them vulnerable to counterattacks.
As you possibly can see on this chart, Manchester United had been turned over greater than some other staff final season with counters reaching the ultimate third – and we all know that was an issue with United final season.
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We additionally know Newcastle suffered defensively and so they rank among the many 5 groups right here.
Spurs rank sixth worst. Given their attacking dominance, maybe the high-risk strategy is value that?
The alarm bells do not cease ringing there, both. If you examine Spurs and Arsenal final season, Ange’s facet conceded greater than twice the variety of objectives.
Solely six groups conceded extra anticipated objectives than Tottenham. After which there’s the sensitive topic of set-pieces, which is thought to get on Ange’s nerves.
Spurs shipped 23 objectives from useless balls final season – solely Nottingham Forest (27) and Sheffield United (24) conceded extra.
In full distinction to Spurs, Arsenal conceded a league-low 29 objectives. Even their anticipated objectives conceded was a league-low – which suggests there was no luck concerned.
However the query is, will the Arsenal defence miss the presence of Declan Rice forward of them following his crimson card in opposition to Brighton and Hove Albion?
These numbers counsel he completes 97.1 per cent of passes whereas below strain – a better ratio than any team-mate.
Shedding a cool, calm and picked up determine like Rice would affect any staff – however can Spurs exploit this new discovered weak spot within the Arsenal squad?
Spurs usually solely enable opponents 6.3 passes earlier than urgent and inflicting a defensive motion – which is 2 lower than Arsenal, even after they have Rice main the cost.
Postecoglou is but to style victory within the derby – along with his facet taking only one level from the fixtures final season.
Nevertheless, with the footballing philosophy he is instilled on this group of gamers, in addition to an immense quantity of expertise throughout all positions, he is obtained the instruments at his disposal to safe all three factors in opposition to a depleted Arsenal this time spherical.
