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 may ship “free-flowing, attacking and entertaining” soccer – they usually’ve discovered what they had been searching for in Ange Postecoglou.
The Australian has turned Spurs into the Premier League’s high urgent aspect. Should you take a look at the chart under, going left to proper, Tottenham have received extra excessive turnovers than another aspect thus far this season. With their upcoming opponents Arsenal dwelling in the midst of the pack.
Going up the chart, you may as well see solely Manchester Metropolis have sometimes received the ball again greater up the sphere – a metric referred to as ‘beginning distance’. So, Spurs at present win the ball again round 46m from their very own purpose.
They’re on the entrance foot and the north London derby on the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – stay on Sky Sports activities this Sunday – will likely be no completely different.
The aggressive nature and affect Ange has had on the group is obvious to see by the graph under. Previous to his arrival, Tottenham sat again, simply 40m away from their very own purpose, when beginning a passage of play.
Since then, Tottenham have pushed ahead almost six metres. That is rather a lot. They’ve gone from a deep group to essentially the most superior aspect – 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 menace 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 take a look at this: Who’s obtained the ball most within the ultimate third whereas below stress this season? Let’s glaze over De Bruyne. Subsequent on the listing? 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 keep up possession of the ball additional up the pitch leaves them inclined to counterattacks.
As you’ll be able to see on this chart, Manchester United had been turned over greater than another group 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 they usually rank among the many 5 groups right here.
Spurs rank sixth worst. Given their attacking dominance, maybe the high-risk method is value that?
The alarm bells do not cease ringing there, both. While you examine Spurs and Arsenal final season, Ange’s aspect conceded greater than twice the variety of targets.
Solely six groups conceded extra anticipated targets than Tottenham. After which there’s the sensitive topic of set-pieces, which is understood to get on Ange’s nerves.
Spurs shipped 23 targets 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 targets. Even their anticipated targets 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 purple card in opposition to Brighton and Hove Albion?
These numbers recommend he completes 97.1 per cent of passes whereas below stress – a better ratio than any team-mate.
Dropping a cool, calm and picked up determine like Rice would influence any group – however can Spurs exploit this new discovered weak point within the Arsenal squad?
Spurs sometimes solely permit opponents 6.3 passes earlier than urgent and inflicting a defensive motion – which is 2 lower than Arsenal, even once they have Rice main the cost.
Postecoglou is but to style victory within the derby – together with his aspect 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 acquired the instruments at his disposal to safe all three factors in opposition to a depleted Arsenal this time spherical.
