Assessing Pochettino's pre-season: Tactics & Player Management vs Toronto

[RichieS]

Very nice write up once again Luke, I didn't watch the game so your analysis did help describe how we played so thanks for that.

Just an idea though, perhaps you should do something similar for a liverpool game? Post it on RAWK and watch them spontaneously combust as they try to digest your analysis

Lol.

In all seriousness though @LukeBB if you have the time, in depth reports like this on our upcoming opponents once the season kicks-off might be something worth considering. Email them to the club and who knows, you may end up with a job as "Head of Opposition Scouting"!

Keep up the excellent work!

 

[LukeBB]

Good analysis.

If we assumed Spurs lined up as they did in the first half in a competitive match in the PL, what would the opposition's best tactics be, and how easy do you think it is to over turn Poch's system - what do they need to do or what sort of players do they need ?

If we're pressed high we'll struggle, by pressed high I mean if our CBs are challenged we'll be beaten at our own game, once the season kicks off, I'm not sure who'll be the preferred midfield partnership, I reckon (fitness permitting) it'll be Capoue & Paulinho and in that sense if our midfield don't support the single pivot we'll struggle. Chelsea will give us the hardest game IMO cause they counter attack with purpose and discipline, they'll soak up our pressure and when they recover the ball they'll play it to the likes of Hazard & Diego Costa who'll bend their runs coming in from wide areas, because our FBs are positioned so high and we defend with a single pivot, there will be space in the wide areas to exploit. It won't be easy for the other team unless we make it so, what is essential is that when we have the ball for a prolonged period of time and gradually we're advancing further and further up the pitch is that we don't give it away cheaply in central areas where the opposition can go left or right in that scenario. In theory we should be able to deal with teams who play aerial football i.e West Ham and against teams who play a possession game i.e Arsenal but I fear if we're not disciplined/ smart enough Chelsea and Manchester United will take advantage of our system with counter attacking football.

In summary high pressing teams and counter attacking teams

 

[SandroClegane]

Fair enough. I just really don't think there is much to take out of yesterday's friendly but for some kit sales and better fitness levels, if you understand what I mean.

If we have Lennon/Eriksen/Lamela linking up like that against Celtic or Schalke, I may think otherwise.

An MLS Squad would wipe the floor with Celtic

 

[Strikeb4ck]

An MLS Squad would wipe the floor with Celtic

Lol. No they wouldn't.

 

[Spursidol]

If we're pressed high we'll struggle, by pressed high I mean if our CBs are challenged we'll be beaten at our own game, once the season kicks off, I'm not sure who'll be the preferred midfield partnership, I reckon (fitness permitting) it'll be Capoue & Paulinho and in that sense if our midfield don't support the single pivot we'll struggle. Chelsea will give us the hardest game IMO cause they counter attack with purpose and discipline, they'll soak up our pressure and when they recover the ball they'll play it to the likes of Hazard & Diego Costa who'll bend their runs coming in from wide areas, because our FBs are positioned so high and we defend with a single pivot, there will be space in the wide areas to exploit. It won't be easy for the other team unless we make it so, what is essential is that when we have the ball for a prolonged period of time and gradually we're advancing further and further up the pitch is that we don't give it away cheaply in central areas where the opposition can go left or right in that scenario. In theory we should be able to deal with teams who play aerial football i.e West Ham and against teams who play a possession game i.e Arsenal but I fear if we're not disciplined/ smart enough Chelsea and Manchester United will take advantage of our system with counter attacking football.

In summary high pressing teams and counter attacking teams

I'd suggest that Wenger would tell Arsenal to sit back, absorb the pressure and hit us on the counter attack. Man City copuld do the same or alteratively play the same strategy (and Poch's tactics are well known), over powering us as many of their players will b e technically betterthan others.

Its not a question I asked, but I wonder if we need to play different tactics against certainly the top 4 we've discussed - not sure anout Liverpool

 

[JerryGarcia]

In one sense you're right, a tactical evaluation of our pre-season games isn't really necessary however:

1) Some people have enjoyed reading my pieces and were looking forward to the next one
2) It helps those who don't know/ understand how Pochettino gets his team to work
3) It's helping me gauge the reaction and criticisms of these posts as I plan to do more for the competitive season ahead.
4) I ain't got nothing better to do

I'm not making any conclusions about the season ahead but watching and analyzing how we line up in pre-season is making me excited to watch Spurs again and some people enjoy my pieces so meh.

I know that sounds condescending but it was written in a friendly manner

I for one have enjoyed your posts and look forward to however many more you decide to write, it's always nice to read some in depth analysis, even in pre season. Friendlies or not, these are our managers first games and there are plenty of us who want to find out as much as possible about Poch's plans and tactics. Theoretically you don't even have to be "right" for your posts to bring up other discussions which we might all learn from, keep it up!

 

[LukeBB]

I'd suggest that Wenger would tell Arsenal to sit back, absorb the pressure and hit us on the counter attack. Man City copuld do the same or alteratively play the same strategy (and Poch's tactics are well known), over powering us as many of their players will b e technically betterthan others.

Its not a question I asked, but I wonder if we need to play different tactics against certainly the top 4 we've discussed - not sure anout Liverpool

I would be surprised if Wenger changed his tactics for us, hell he didn't accommodate for Bale a year ago so I reckon we'll have 'em at the Lane next season

I haven't got a clue how Liverpool will play next season tbh replacing Suarez with Lambert & Origi suggests a change in tactics though I still reckon a load of their play will be possession based.

In terms of changing tactics for the top 4, seeing us play a variety of systems so far a 3-4-3/ 4-3-3, a 4-2-3-1/ 4-4-2 so far is encouraging and we have a great squad in terms of tactical flexibility, we've got destroyers in Sandro, deep lying playmakers in Bentaleb, Paulinho, Capoue, Holtby etc and a number of attacking mids who can fill all sorts of roles in Lamela, Eriksen, Chadli and out and out wingers in Townsend and Lennon. We've also the ability to play "guerrilla football" we've got a number of free-kick/ long shot specialists in Eriksen, Lamela, Kane, Townsend etc so I'm sure we will be able to find a solution if we apply ourselves correctly

 

[LukeBB]

I for one have enjoyed your posts and look forward to however many more you decide to write, it's always nice to read some in depth analysis, even in pre season. Friendlies or not, these are our managers first games and there are plenty of us who want to find out as much as possible about Poch's plans and tactics. Theoretically you don't even have to be "right" for your posts to bring up other discussions which we might all learn from, keep it up!

What you trying to say






Thank you for your encouraging comments though

 

[balalasaurus]

Good stuff as always mate. One thing I did notice about the second half was that more than once Fryers ended up being the last man. I'm not sure if that was a tactical error having him hang back or a failure by Daws to marshal the defense properly but I really didn't think that was a smart move. Call me crazy but keeping the most inexperienced member of your back line as the last line of defense is just asking for trouble.

 

[Spursidol]

I would be surprised if Wenger changed his tactics for us, hell he didn't accommodate for Bale a year ago so I reckon we'll have 'em at the Lane next season

I haven't got a clue how Liverpool will play next season tbh replacing Suarez with Lambert & Origi suggests a change in tactics though I still reckon a load of their play will be possession based.

In terms of changing tactics for the top 4, seeing us play a variety of systems so far a 3-4-3/ 4-3-3, a 4-2-3-1/ 4-4-2 so far is encouraging and we have a great squad in terms of tactical flexibility, we've got destroyers in Sandro, deep lying playmakers in Bentaleb, Paulinho, Capoue, Holtby etc and a number of attacking mids who can fill all sorts of roles in Lamela, Eriksen, Chadli and out and out wingers in Townsend and Lennon. We've also the ability to play "guerrilla football" we've got a number of free-kick/ long shot specialists in Eriksen, Lamela, Kane, Townsend etc so I'm sure we will be able to find a solution if we apply ourselves correctly

Yup Liverpool could be an enigma until the start of the season.

I liked your comment on the number of systems we have played in pre-season - one of the tactics which the Spurs youth have adopted (sometimes with devastating effect) is to change tactics/formations several times throughout a match from 4231 to 433 and 442 sometimes with a sub and sometimes without. They do not do it every match and sometimes its just that the original formation/tactics don''t seem to be effective, but at other times it seems to be to confuse the opposition (and boy it can do).

I'd really like Poch to try to teach them that system flexibility - and was encoiuraged in the second half by Townsend and Ceballos changing positions from time to time, as providing its well drilled, a constant change in tactics and players alternating position makes the team difficult to predict, difficult to defend against - and to my mind that's a graat way to play some of the better teams as they cannoy easily prepare for all the variants - but at the same time unless its well done it can expose you. So practice is certainly required

Is that something you think Poch could and might do ?.

 

[tonyc]

Not sure if this is the right thread for this question, but how did young Mason get on, please?

 

[LukeBB]

Yup Liverpool could be an enigma until the start of the season.

I liked your comment on the number of systems we have played in pre-season - one of the tactics which the Spurs youth have adopted (sometimes with devastating effect) is to change tactics/formations several times throughout a match from 4231 to 433 and 442 sometimes with a sub and sometimes without. They do not do it every match and sometimes its just that the original formation/tactics don''t seem to be effective, but at other times it seems to be to confuse the opposition (and boy it can do).

I'd really like Poch to try to teach them that system flexibility - and was encoiuraged in the second half by Townsend and Ceballos changing positions from time to time, as providing its well drilled, a constant change in tactics and players alternating position makes the team difficult to predict, difficult to defend against - and to my mind that's a graat way to play some of the better teams as they cannoy easily prepare for all the variants - but at the same time unless its well done it can expose you. So practice is certainly required

Is that something you think Poch could and might do ?.

It's hard to predict after two pre-season games and I didn't really watch what he was doing at Southampton so time will tell I guess, but concerning these two pre-season games, the signs are positive. As I said as well, IMO we have the necessary players to play whatever system we wanted to and when you have a young coach like Pochettino, it's not unheard of for them to change or adjust their system, their philosophy. Hell, Van Gaal at the age of 62 after more than 20 years of using a 4-3-3 has changed to favor a 5-3-2/3-5-2 formation. Seeing the likes of Lamela in central areas, Eriksen & Holtby wide right, Lennon wide left and Townsend in central areas suggest to me he isn't afraid of tweaking systems or players in order to find new solutions.

I love that bit of info of yours btw about the youth squad switching tactics, hopefully it's something this club can utilise and develop and maybe we can create an identity for ourselves out of it with the youth and senior sides playing fluid, flexible football. Future being bright and lilywhite and all that jazz

 

[LukeBB]

Not sure if this is the right thread for this question, but how did young Mason get on, please?

Was tasked with supporting Capoue & Eriksen in the build-up play and he did very well, showed off a decent enough passing range, generally composed and tidy when he was on the ball, pressed the opposition well when he needed to (showed better defensive contribution than Carroll and Holtby when they were on the pitch) and showed he wasn't afraid to shoot at goal when he let fly a wide shot from 30 yards. A solid/ encouraging performance from Mason though he didn't show anything spectacular, I struggle to see a route into the team for him, I guess it will all depend on how the likes of Sandro, Dembele, Paulinho & Bentaleb adjust to the new system and if Pochettino acquires Schneiderlin, if you believe the latest ITK.

 

[Spursidol]

I love that bit of info of yours btw about the youth squad switching tactics, hopefully it's something this club can utilise and develop and maybe we can create an identity for ourselves out of it with the youth and senior sides playing fluid, flexible football. Future being bright and lilywhite and all that jazz

I'm sure that the long term intention, but it may be easier to teach a squad who come through the academy for several years tro do it rather than a squad of players, a quarter of whom have come from different clubs in the last year and another half from different clunbs over longer periods of time. So the question becomes whether Poch can teach that ability to switch tactics and positions durung a match on a signal !

I'm sure some of the more intelligent players can do so and some from clubs who have been coached in clubs with a similar ethos to Spurs, but the rest...mmmh maybe/maybe not. Butr in terms of the AM's in a 4231 switching riound - I would hope that was easy to make happen with the quality of players Sputrrs have in those positions.

Long term, I hope (with some justification) that the Spurs youth system can churn out enough top class talent such that in 5 years time we have maybe half the squad being Academy graduates who have played with each other for a nuber of years with the ability to swich positions and formations easily - and that will give us a big advantage when we play, as Spurs become so much more unpredictable.

Until then, we have to rely on the coachto get the message across.....and enough intelligent players to put it into action !

 

[Pat Rice Spurs fan]

Thanks Luke.
That's probably the longest post I've ever bothered reading. I usually give up after a couple of paragraphs.
You know how to keep the reader's attention.

 

[carpediem1906]

I haven't watched either game, only highlights of goals..

And it seems that when there is suddenly an opening or space or a (highly probable) opportunity to successfully beat the opponent... The attacking tactic is very aggressive, plenty of off the ball running, gives and gos, crafting a one on one or open shooting/lay off opportunity..

This alone is the most impressive attacking play I've seen from us since luka, vdv, Lennon, bale

I'm quite sure (if played to instructions) we will stop seeing andros swinging wild 30yarders now.. The "when to pull the trigger" seems to be much more refined

 

[SA_Spurs]

great write up once again LukeBB!!! I cannot wait to read more of your analysis as the season progresses ...especially to see how our payers are adapting. Its too early to tell anything, but so far I've liked the energy from the players and how they already adopting Poch's system. I used to fear when teams pressed us high up the pitch cos we would make a mistake! Now I'm just looking forward to Spurs slowly becoming the fittest team in the EPL and playing some entertaining stuff! COYS!

 

[Lufti]

An MLS Squad would wipe the floor with Celtic

Celtic, as in Celtic who play in the champions league Celtic? No MLS team is even close to CL quality.

 

[Lenten]

I'm wondering if lennon will do better in the MP system where he won't be stuck out on the right the whole time trying to get the cross in. most of his career he's been pegged as an out and out winger, mainly because of his pace. But he doesn't seem to have the skill set (any more?) to flourish there. on the other hand, he was involved in the first two goals from a central position, selling the dummy and producing a deft pass to Soldado.

 

[LukeBB]

I'm wondering if lennon will do better in the MP system where he won't be stuck out on the right the whole time trying to get the cross in. most of his career he's been pegged as an out and out winger, mainly because of his pace. But he doesn't seem to have the skill set (any more?) to flourish there. on the other hand, he was involved in the first two goals from a central position, selling the dummy and producing a deft pass to Soldado.

Time will tell, I feel if we keep him on the left, his play will be positive but ultimatley he won't produce any better numbers than he did on the right, decent option in the squad but I really wouldn't be surprised at all if Poch feels he needs a better option out on the left as I believe Lennon's role in this system is rather easy, when say that I mean there are others who can do better.