Chimbo!
Well-Known Member
- Jan 7, 2007
- 3,596
- 3,340
There is a lot of attacking talent at Spurs at the moment. Modric, Kranjcar, Bentley, Gudjonson, Crouch, Pavluchenko, Defoe and Lennon. However, of those players only two have pace.
One is a striker and the other is a midfielder and if either were to be absent from a match then it would leave either our midfield or striker force with no pace.
This makes it harder to get in behind the defence, which is how a lot of our goals have come about this season. Without pace our style of play becomes less effective because teams can defend deep knowing full well that we lack the ability to make a sudden burst through and open up an opportunity in the box.
Over the course of the season teams have struggled against us because whether they defend deep or push up we will create chances. This is because the skill of Modic and Kranjcar exploit gaps and space in the opposition midfield and defence. While Lennon can create those gaps and space by stretching the defence because he poses such a threat to getting in behind the defensive line.
Lennon has been injured since the beginning of the year and our results are showing his significance. When Lennon has played we have amassed 34 points from 18 games while when he has not played we have gained 9 points from 8 matches.
The point is further highlighted when the stats show Spurs have scored 40 goals in the 18 matches Lennon has played. There has, however, been a return of 5 goals in the 8 games he has missed.
Although Lennon's absence cannot be seen as the sole reason for our loss of form, it is indicative of why. Without pace in midfield we become predictable because we cannot attack quickly. We have seen plenty of patient build up but little quality with it. This is not because the team is poor but unbalanced. At premiership level the smallest weakness can become the downfall of any side.
We have dropped points because our midfield lacks pace and diversity. This is because a key player has been injured. We have felt his absence so greatly because the management have failed to find a suitable backup. Our loss of form is temporary but it could have been avoided.
One is a striker and the other is a midfielder and if either were to be absent from a match then it would leave either our midfield or striker force with no pace.
This makes it harder to get in behind the defence, which is how a lot of our goals have come about this season. Without pace our style of play becomes less effective because teams can defend deep knowing full well that we lack the ability to make a sudden burst through and open up an opportunity in the box.
Over the course of the season teams have struggled against us because whether they defend deep or push up we will create chances. This is because the skill of Modic and Kranjcar exploit gaps and space in the opposition midfield and defence. While Lennon can create those gaps and space by stretching the defence because he poses such a threat to getting in behind the defensive line.
Lennon has been injured since the beginning of the year and our results are showing his significance. When Lennon has played we have amassed 34 points from 18 games while when he has not played we have gained 9 points from 8 matches.
The point is further highlighted when the stats show Spurs have scored 40 goals in the 18 matches Lennon has played. There has, however, been a return of 5 goals in the 8 games he has missed.
Although Lennon's absence cannot be seen as the sole reason for our loss of form, it is indicative of why. Without pace in midfield we become predictable because we cannot attack quickly. We have seen plenty of patient build up but little quality with it. This is not because the team is poor but unbalanced. At premiership level the smallest weakness can become the downfall of any side.
We have dropped points because our midfield lacks pace and diversity. This is because a key player has been injured. We have felt his absence so greatly because the management have failed to find a suitable backup. Our loss of form is temporary but it could have been avoided.
