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Ndombele signing should allow move to 3-4-2-1 permanently

mawspurs

Staff
Jun 29, 2003
35,066
17,740
The signing of Tanguy Ndombele opens up a lot of new tactical possibilities for Tottenham and it will be exciting to see which approach is taken by Mauricio Pochettino.

Source: EPL Index
 

cider spurs

Well-Known Member
Jul 5, 2016
9,399
23,731
Fullbacks, gonna need a better RWB option if this is to be pursued as a permanent formation.

...and Rose is fine, Davies maybe not so ideal for this formation.
 

Shadydan

Well-Known Member
Jul 7, 2012
38,247
104,143
I'm not sure if I like us playing with 3 at the back

Playing 3 at he back worked for us because our midfield was so press resistant and dynamic, the opposition found it tough to get the ball off Wanyama and Dembele and we'd normally always have an extra man in the forward positions. Reckon with NDombele could see us utilising it more frequently especially if we improve our full backs.
 

C-oops

Well-Known Member
Jul 27, 2008
4,037
3,373
We always get ripped to pieces playing 3 at the back and more often than not end up switching to a 4 at half time
 

greywizard2020

Well-Known Member
Jun 9, 2003
331
709
Three at the back is horrible; you only have to look at the Ajax home leg, whereby our CB's were left marking no-one, whilst the opposition played freely in front of them.

Creatively we also look stunted. Not a fan.
 

Shadydan

Well-Known Member
Jul 7, 2012
38,247
104,143
We always get ripped to pieces playing 3 at the back and more often than not end up switching to a 4 at half time

Three at the back is horrible; you only have to look at the Ajax home leg, whereby our CB's were left marking no-one, whilst the opposition played freely in front of them.

Creatively we also look stunted. Not a fan.

You realise we had our best season in the league playing 3 at the back?
 
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ernest_lowrider

Well-Known Member
May 31, 2012
479
2,119
I'm not really sure if our squad by the start of the season will be suited for playing 3421 as Toby and Trips ale likely to go.
 

DJS

A hoonter must hoont
Dec 9, 2006
31,261
21,760
We played some scintillating football with three at the back, problem is recently we tried it with Dier in midfield and he’s better in front of a back four (Dier was good in the back three though).

If we got Sessegnon in this could be a pretty tasty line-up:

Lloris

Dier Sanchez Vertonghen

RB? Winks Ndombele Sessegnon

Dele Son

Kane


We have played successfully with Dele and Son behind Kane in that formation but may be that Lo Celso if we get or even a Eriksen if he stays get nod instead.

In the back three Foyth is another option, I’ve excluded Toby as assuming he’s going. Davies could also play left centre back and Vertonghen move into middle.

In midfield if Wanyama can get back to his best he may be a better option as a proper holder although Winks and Ndombele nice all rounders (yeah I know it’s tough on Sissoko but it’s a squad game).

No idea about right back at the moment lol.
 

Japhet

Well-Known Member
Aug 30, 2010
19,232
57,391
Three at the back is horrible; you only have to look at the Ajax home leg, whereby our CB's were left marking no-one, whilst the opposition played freely in front of them.

Creatively we also look stunted. Not a fan.

That's where Dier is so useful because he can step up to DM to stop us getting overrun in midfield.
 

BENNO

Well-Known Member
Jul 11, 2005
791
3,233
Makes sense to have as many options as possible, and to keep trying to find new or different patterns of play/formations to give us an edge over rivals who may have superior players man for man. That's the great thing about Poch, always looking at ways to get an extra edge. Think he did get a few formations wrong last season but overall it did seem to me that his starting formations and/or in match adjustments (including substitutions) had improved noticeably from previous seasons ?

Personally not fussed what formation we plan to play or who plays in it until each game has kicked off as you just never quite know how things are going to work out (have more than once thought we'd play in style X to counteract opposition that plays in style Y, only to find opponent had changed to style Z and we spent 20 mins clinging on before re adjustments were made).
 

Spurs 1961

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
6,665
8,739
Not sure if this is where Poch is going though I do believe it is what he wanted a few years back. However it is my feeling that juggling so many formations may be a weakness. At the start of his time at Spurs the manager had many critics on here for having no plan B yet we did have a clear style of play. I wonder if by juggling formations so much to suit opponents we have lost some fluidity in our play? City and Liverpool seem to believe in their style of play sticking with it come what may but getting players in who can deliver what is needed. (City went off plan in the CL first semi and paid for it).

For several months our game has seem disjointed, lacking rhythm, intensity, belief and end product. Was it just down to injuries / fitness issues or uncertainty in the pattern of play?
 
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