Defensive issues revolve around Dembélé role
Tottenham Hotspur have defensive issues that are being addressed, but there has been a slight change in the system that has also contributed to a poorer defensive record.
André Villas-Boas introduced a high-pressing system designed to strangle the opposition’s ability to build attacks. In 2012-13, Spurs gave up the fewest shots in the Premier League, conceded the third-fewest goals and held opponents to the third-lowest passing percentage in the league.
Unfortunately, that came at a cost, Spurs were ineffectual as an attacking force and relied on our one world class player, Gareth Bale, to produce some magic. Without Bale, the system becomes one where we can defend but not attack effectively and that is a recipe for sliding down a table. Goals equal points, it's why the general cost of strikers is greater than a midfielder or defender.
While you need to improve components of a side the most important area are the strikers, it's an area we have to strengthen if we are not to have a frustrating season. At the moment, an injury to Harry Kane and the club has an enormous problem. Mauricio Pochetino is aware of it of course and solutions are being worked on, but we don't drive the timetable for completion, a player can do that.
Gareth Bale carried us in an attacking sense while at the club while Harry Kane rescued us last season. Different players but they are performing the same role and without them there is a problem. This highlights the Northern European method of playing football against the team based ethic of Iberian football. In their football, one component doesn't generally carry the team. Spurs are working toward that a team based ethic that incorporates the talented within it, but they have to work for the team, as Harry Kane does.
Southampton defended in the same high-pressing style that Spurs were using and the fact that the players purchased in 2013 seem unable to adapt to the demands the system and the league imposes suggest they were poorly researched signings. If you look at the number of players who have left Spurs since Pochettino arrived you'll see while the club were equipped to defend it wasn't equipped to play the system as effectively as it should be played. They were unable to do any better than teams in the past, perhaps they did worse.
The important thing is that a problem was identified, the cause of it found, players playing for themselves and money other than Spurs and rectified.
The high-press system is a bit all or nothing, it's either very effective or easily beaten with one long ball. Several times we have seen Spurs caught out by one long ball, fortunately, we haven't conceded goals from them but the threat is there. No system is ever going to stop every chance and every team has to ride their luck and produce defensive recovery skill from time to time.
The object of the system is to push teams wide and not have them attack you centrally, if that is where the opposition is attacking us then the central defensive midfield players are doing their job, fans just assume that as Spurs concede goals the centre is the problem. We can upgrade centrally yes, but the attacking midfield players are just, if not more, culpable for our defensive problems.
When you push a team out wide they are restricted by a sideline reducing the number of passing options and thus the sideline becomes an extra defender.
The defence itself has been strengthened, Kieran Trippier adds depth, Kyle Walker will return to fitness and remember he has only played the system for 15 games. Toby Alderweireld is a proven addition to joining Jan Vertobghen, Eric Dier now has a season under his belt, Kevin Wimmer is thought to be a star in the making and Ben Davies has had a season to adapt. The defence should improve on paper.
The difference between Pochettino and Villas-Boas is that under Pochettino Spurs field four attack-minded players whereas one of the three behind the loan striker under Villa-Boas was a more defensive player with attacking ability, Mousa Dembélé, Paulinho, Lewis Holtby. While all have an attacking ability, it is from a defensive base they begin, unlike Christian Eriksen, Érik Lamela or Nacer Chadli who are attack first, defend second.
That one element, in a nutshell, takes a defender away and adds an attacker. We now create and score more goals but are weaker defensively, as Eriksen pointed pout recently. Once players know the system then it's a question of adjusting the two elements to find a balance that works best for Spurs.
For now it's a question of bringing in the type of player Pochettino wants, develop the youth, help the likes of 23-year-old (24 next February) Eriksen and 23-year-old (24 next March) Lamela to mature as creative players. People overlook how young these two are. You would expect a natural development of players, squad and ability to play the system, certainly that is the hope for next season and beyond.
Further Tottenham Reading
Pochettino Spanish Radio Interview Part 4
Pochettino Spanish Radio Interview Part 3
You can help support THBN by buying your sporting goods through the following links.
If you need football boots for the new season try the SALE NOW ON at Lovell Soccer
If you need a new Tottenham shirt or sportswear try Kitbag Ltd
If you want an authentic autographed shirt or memorabilia try Icons
André Villas-Boas introduced a high-pressing system designed to strangle the opposition’s ability to build attacks. In 2012-13, Spurs gave up the fewest shots in the Premier League, conceded the third-fewest goals and held opponents to the third-lowest passing percentage in the league.
Unfortunately, that came at a cost, Spurs were ineffectual as an attacking force and relied on our one world class player, Gareth Bale, to produce some magic. Without Bale, the system becomes one where we can defend but not attack effectively and that is a recipe for sliding down a table. Goals equal points, it's why the general cost of strikers is greater than a midfielder or defender.
While you need to improve components of a side the most important area are the strikers, it's an area we have to strengthen if we are not to have a frustrating season. At the moment, an injury to Harry Kane and the club has an enormous problem. Mauricio Pochetino is aware of it of course and solutions are being worked on, but we don't drive the timetable for completion, a player can do that.
Gareth Bale carried us in an attacking sense while at the club while Harry Kane rescued us last season. Different players but they are performing the same role and without them there is a problem. This highlights the Northern European method of playing football against the team based ethic of Iberian football. In their football, one component doesn't generally carry the team. Spurs are working toward that a team based ethic that incorporates the talented within it, but they have to work for the team, as Harry Kane does.
Southampton defended in the same high-pressing style that Spurs were using and the fact that the players purchased in 2013 seem unable to adapt to the demands the system and the league imposes suggest they were poorly researched signings. If you look at the number of players who have left Spurs since Pochettino arrived you'll see while the club were equipped to defend it wasn't equipped to play the system as effectively as it should be played. They were unable to do any better than teams in the past, perhaps they did worse.
The important thing is that a problem was identified, the cause of it found, players playing for themselves and money other than Spurs and rectified.
The high-press system is a bit all or nothing, it's either very effective or easily beaten with one long ball. Several times we have seen Spurs caught out by one long ball, fortunately, we haven't conceded goals from them but the threat is there. No system is ever going to stop every chance and every team has to ride their luck and produce defensive recovery skill from time to time.
The object of the system is to push teams wide and not have them attack you centrally, if that is where the opposition is attacking us then the central defensive midfield players are doing their job, fans just assume that as Spurs concede goals the centre is the problem. We can upgrade centrally yes, but the attacking midfield players are just, if not more, culpable for our defensive problems.
When you push a team out wide they are restricted by a sideline reducing the number of passing options and thus the sideline becomes an extra defender.
The defence itself has been strengthened, Kieran Trippier adds depth, Kyle Walker will return to fitness and remember he has only played the system for 15 games. Toby Alderweireld is a proven addition to joining Jan Vertobghen, Eric Dier now has a season under his belt, Kevin Wimmer is thought to be a star in the making and Ben Davies has had a season to adapt. The defence should improve on paper.
The difference between Pochettino and Villas-Boas is that under Pochettino Spurs field four attack-minded players whereas one of the three behind the loan striker under Villa-Boas was a more defensive player with attacking ability, Mousa Dembélé, Paulinho, Lewis Holtby. While all have an attacking ability, it is from a defensive base they begin, unlike Christian Eriksen, Érik Lamela or Nacer Chadli who are attack first, defend second.
That one element, in a nutshell, takes a defender away and adds an attacker. We now create and score more goals but are weaker defensively, as Eriksen pointed pout recently. Once players know the system then it's a question of adjusting the two elements to find a balance that works best for Spurs.
For now it's a question of bringing in the type of player Pochettino wants, develop the youth, help the likes of 23-year-old (24 next February) Eriksen and 23-year-old (24 next March) Lamela to mature as creative players. People overlook how young these two are. You would expect a natural development of players, squad and ability to play the system, certainly that is the hope for next season and beyond.
Further Tottenham Reading
Pochettino Spanish Radio Interview Part 4
Pochettino Spanish Radio Interview Part 3
You can help support THBN by buying your sporting goods through the following links.
If you need football boots for the new season try the SALE NOW ON at Lovell Soccer
If you need a new Tottenham shirt or sportswear try Kitbag Ltd
If you want an authentic autographed shirt or memorabilia try Icons
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