Tactical Analysis vs Leicester

[LukeBB]

In my latest piece I highlight why Spurs had particular trouble penetrating Leicester's defensive shape thanks to poor build-up/positional play.

http://www.thetottenhamway.com/2015...m-sluggish-spurs-should-drop-davies-and-dier/

From the opening minutes, Leicester set out to defend against Spurs in a vertically compact 4-4-2, crowding out any space for Harry Kane (who was usually set upon by 3 or 4 Leicester players whenever he touched the ball), so it was imperative for Spurs to dominate possession. Through this (and through the players’ positioning) Spurs lured Leicester out of their rigid shape......

 

[THFCSPURS19]

In my latest piece I highlight why Spurs had particular trouble penetrating Leicester's defensive shape thanks to poor build-up/positional play.

Was it all Lamela's fault?

 

[0-Tibsy-0]

Was it all Lamela's fault?

Funnily enough, Lamela is one of the only players we have that often does what Luke says we missed... (constant movement and being brave enough to show for the ball)

Good article mate. Concise and clearly explained.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

Great piece, maybe your best one yet that I've read.
Pinpoints all the problems, and, even though you don't explicitly point it out, shows how possession alone means nothing.
Also, sadly, points out that there are no improvements to long term problems; mainly lack of clever movement and swift, decisive passing.
Job well done, Luke!

 

[mpickard2087]

Completely agree with the build up play from the back. I called it at the time, the amount of times Dier and Mason found themselves standing alongside the centre backs or coming and taking the ball off their toes was ridiculous and achieved absolutely nothing. You have to trust the man at the back with the ball to play out themselves.

 

[talkshowhost86]

Funnily enough, Lamela is one of the only players we have that often does what Luke says we missed... (constant movement and being brave enough to show for the ball)

Good article mate. Concise and clearly explained.

It's a fair point. We don't have many people who get into that gap between midfield and attack and then try and do something.

For all his faults, Lamela does at least try to do that. Unfortunately his end product is generally a bit cack (with the odd exception) but we need someone getting into those areas.

It's the sort of position that Eriksen should really be filling when he plays. But it actually might be the sort of hole that Berahino can drop into, albeit that's not something we've really seen him do at West Brom.

In terms of how to break teams down, width is all well and good but there needs to be some end product as well which is why I hope to see Rose and Trippier playing soon.

Dier out is a no-brainer really, but if we get a proper defensive midfielder in there, I'd hope it would free up the other midfielder to get forwards a bit more (whether that be Mason/Bentaleb/Alli/Dembele).

Good analysis though. Bravo @LukeBB

 

[Rob]

In my latest piece I highlight why Spurs had particular trouble penetrating Leicester's defensive shape thanks to poor build-up/positional play.

Can you please make sure posts contain actual content and aren't just an advertisement for your blog. You're welcome to post the content here but if all you're going to do is post a link I don't really think it's appropriate...

 

[LukeBB]

Can you please make sure posts contain actual content and aren't just an advertisement for your blog. You're welcome to post the content here but if all you're going to do is post a link I don't really think it's appropriate...

fair enough

 

[shelfmonkey]

Our movement against compact, organised defences has been abysmal for years. I can't remember the last time our midfielders tried to play between the oppo's midfield and defence, when they don't have a dm, seems we're always playing safe, whether that's because the players don't have instruction to do so or they don't have the footballing intellect I don't know, but it needs to change.

 

[Gaz_Gammon]

Funnily enough, Lamela is one of the only players we have that often does what Luke says we missed... (constant movement and being brave enough to show for the ball)

Good article mate. Concise and clearly explained.

What i have seen of him in two seasons, is when he has the ball he loses it and when he does not have the ball he fouls the player who has it. He has not started regularly under AVB, Sherwood or Poch and that proves the indisputable fact that he cannot cut it at PL level. With the likes of Eriksen, Carroll, Pritchard and Alli all available i'd take either over over Lamela who is in his third season of trying to get a regular start.

As for the article itself it is a well written observation of a young side trying to blend. Top marks to the writer.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

What i have seen of him in two seasons, is when he has the ball he loses it and when he does not have the ball he fouls the player who has it. He has not started regularly under AVB, Sherwood or Poch and that proves the indisputable fact that he cannot cut it at PL level. With the likes of Eriksen, Carroll, Pritchard and Alli all available i'd take either over over Lamela who is in his third season of trying to get a regular start.

As for the article itself it is a well written observation of a young side trying to blend. Top marks to the writer.

Lamela won fair and square over Townsend for the starting position on the right last season, and went on to become a regular starter at the end of the season. Neither Eriksen, Carroll, Pritchard nor Alli are destined for that position.
Where it becomes muddy is if Lamela wants to move, or if we sign more players for the right hand side.

 

[Spursidol]

Lamela won fair and square over Townsend for the starting position on the right last season, and went on to become a regular starter at the end of the season. Neither Eriksen, Carroll, Pritchard nor Alli are destined for that position.
Where it becomes muddy is if Lamela wants to move, or if we sign more players for the right hand side.

N'Jie can play on the right as can Berahino, Pritchard usually is a left/centre player but can play on the right, in pre-season Chadli often played right with Oduwa left, so we have options already, regardless of signing a new player.

BTW if you look at playing times last season, Townsend played a fair amount, suggesting Poch was not as sure of Lamela as your post suggests, and of course Dembele seems preferred at RW currently.....

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

N'Jie can play on the right as can Berahino, Pritchard usually is a left/centre player but can play on the right, in pre-season Chadli often played right with Oduwa left, so we have options already, regardless of signing a new player.

BTW if you look at playing times last season, Townsend played a fair amount, suggesting Poch was not as sure of Lamela as your post suggests, and of course Dembele seems preferred at RW currently.....

Oduwa is loaned out and Berahino isn't signed yet ...
And as my post alludes to, both Townsend & Lamela had each their run in the team last season, with Lamela ending up as the absolutely preferred choice. You can try to create an ulterior reality around that fact as much as you want.
At the end of the day, Lamela played exactly 3 times as many minutes as Townsend did.
So yes, that choice was as clear as I suggest, especially towards the last part of the season.

 

[Spursidol]

http://www.thetottenhamway.com/2015...m-sluggish-spurs-should-drop-davies-and-dier/

In my latest piece I highlight why Spurs had particular trouble penetrating Leicester's defensive shape thanks to poor build-up/positional play.

Good article mate.

I like Eric Dier, but not as a DM, but regardless of that he can pass the ball. However playing with a DM does tend to ensure that we are always playing with a back 5 (at least until the full backs attack), and where the Leicester side are set up to frustrate us - an all too common issue with many PL sides playing Spurs both home but also a fair few away - then the compromise of having a DM rather than a CM becomes apparent.

Against sides such as Leicester who set up to sit back I'm far from convinced that Spurs playing a DM is an advantage - I think last season's Mason/Bentaleb would have been a better option with both better passers than Dier and available to cover both attacking and defensive roles, with the likes of Alli also being a contender albeit later this season.

Play a DM by all means against ManCity, ManU, Liverpool, Arsenal (Chelsea can sit back so its a slightly different question) but against many sides, I'm not sure a pure DM is the solution, and just as Palacios was a short term fix, so a new DM will follow suit unless they are a better all rounder with decent passing skills.

 

[Spursidol]

Oduwa is loaned out and Berahino isn't signed yet ...
And as my post alludes to, both Townsend & Lamela had each their run in the team last season, with Lamela ending up as the absolutely preferred choice. You can try to create an ulterior reality around that fact as much as you want.
At the end of the day, Lamela played exactly 3 times as many minutes as Townsend did.
So yes, that choice was as clear as I suggest, especially towards the last part of the season.

I did say Oduwa played left to emphasise Chadli playing right pre-season.

And did emphasise the other players who can play right wing where Lamela usually plays to emphasise the options Spurs actually have now, rather than that Spurs had none as you suggested that only a new player coming in would challenge Lamela.

And my point on Townsend was purely that if Lamela had been a certain starter then Townsend would not have started much, if at all (comparable to Stembouli's time when Mason/Bentaleb became the established CM2), not that Lamela didn't become the first choice RW last season - and that Dembele playing there this season suggests that Poch is struggling with the enigma which is Lamela as much as many SC'ers.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

I did say Oduwa played left to emphasise Chadli playing right pre-season.

And did emphasise the other players who can play right wing where Lamela usually plays to emphasise the options Spurs actually have now, rather than that Spurs had none as you suggested that only a new player coming in would challenge Lamela.

And my point on Townsend was purely that if Lamela had been a certain starter then Townsend would not have started much, if at all (comparable to Stembouli's time when Mason/Bentaleb became the established CM2), not that Lamela didn't become the first choice RW last season - and that Dembele playing there this season suggests that Poch is struggling with the enigma which is Lamela as much as many SC'ers.

OK.

 

[shelfmonkey]

What i have seen of him in two seasons, is when he has the ball he loses it and when he does not have the ball he fouls the player who has it. He has not started regularly under AVB, Sherwood or Poch and that proves the indisputable fact that he cannot cut it at PL level. With the likes of Eriksen, Carroll, Pritchard and Alli all available i'd take either over over Lamela who is in his third season of trying to get a regular start.

As for the article itself it is a well written observation of a young side trying to blend. Top marks to the writer.

Maybe the problem with Lamela is not Lamela, maybe it's our predictable, lumbering forward play.

 

[tommyt]

In my latest piece I highlight why Spurs had particular trouble penetrating Leicester's defensive shape thanks to poor build-up/positional play.

So can we get the content?

 

[LukeBB]

So can we get the content?

http://www.thetottenhamway.com/2015...m-sluggish-spurs-should-drop-davies-and-dier/