Solve 2 habits and you solve Spurs problems
Solve 2 habits and you solve Spurs problems
A win, a terrible win which showed the problems these players have, their habits remain and I don't see that any amount of coaching is going to change them.
When you have an ingrained habit, it will keep resurfacing and if you don't see it as a problem, you won't change it.
Habit 1- Slow passing
We have certain players in the team and squad that do not see it as a priority to pass quickly.
Regular readers will know I don't mean simply hanging on to the ball to decide what to do, no that is slow decision making, but when they do pass, they kick the ball so slowly that the recipient has to wait for the ball to arrive too long.
People praise Toby Alderweireld but it is one of his problems in defence, Jan Vertonghen has the same problem, as does Ben Davies.
Eric Dier though doesn't, not does Harry Kane when he drops deeper.
There is urgency in their passing, in some players there is no urgency at all.
They are just content for the side to keep the ball, however they stop us playing, they allow the opposition time to readjust and cut off attacking possibilities.
It is an ingrained habit that only the purchase of players without that habit will cure or the mental coaching we don't do.
I have talked about being clinical n front of goal late in the game for years, to train ourselves to be clinical in a game like this one, when it matters.
My argument is that you can not turn on and off clinical finishing when you want it, you have either trained yourself in match situations or you haven't, we haven't.
It is the same with non-urgent passing.
We haven't trained ourselves to ping the ball to each other.
We can't turn it on and off because it is a mental thing, it's a trait, it's a fault the individual doesn't see they have.
It makes us easy to defend against as it blunts our attacking.
We haven't trained ourselves to ping the ball to each other.
We can't turn it on and off because it is a mental thing, it's a trait, it's a fault the individual doesn't see they have.
It makes us easy to defend against as it blunts our attacking.
Habit 2 - Poor Movement
The second major point and another that stops us playing was highlighted once again, poor movement in midfield and attack.
This prevents us building up, forcing us to go backwards and sideways.
This prevents us building up, forcing us to go backwards and sideways.
We didn't really put Everton under too much pressure.
Why?
Because we didn't move their defence, but even a poor Everton team moved our defence with alarming ease.
Time and again Everton passed from defence to a strikers feet.
Where were our midfield?
We play to strikers in the air, rarely from a centre-back to Harry Kane on the floor.
I failed to see anything in Dominic Calvert-Lewin, the Everton striker the commentator was raving about at times for some reason, but in this respect he was good.
He would drop from his striker position to receive the ball to feet from a centre-back, play it back the way he was facing first-time to André Gomes (presumably, I didn't take note of the actual player) for him to immediately pass forward.
They created a chance like this which was highlighted by a replay, pulling Eric Dier out of position.
That was the one aspect of their play that impressed, little else did.
We occasionally get Son in in a similar way by creating a gap behind Kane but without the passing forward, back, forward.
It is a passing sequence and movement we could learn from.
I'll stand up for a player I criticise here, Serge Aurier.
Aurier looks to play the ball forward from defence to an attacker or advanced midfielder, however his pass is usually intercepted.
Now while I criticise him for this, there is also criticism for the receiving player who is usually stood waiting for the ball rather than moving toward it.
Moving toward the ball shortens the distance, increases the speed you receive the ball, increases the chances of retaining possession, gives a marker the decision whether to go with them or retain defensive shape.
Moving toward the ball shortens the distance, increases the speed you receive the ball, increases the chances of retaining possession, gives a marker the decision whether to go with them or retain defensive shape.
The difference is stark.
I'll demonstrate with a further incident in a moment but our mentality in these positions is ONE PASS.
We are looking to complete one pass and see what that player can decide to do with the ball.
We are looking to complete one pass and see what that player can decide to do with the ball.
The Everton example shows a SEQUENCE OF PASSES, three in this incidence to create space behind or to stroke the ball to a wide full-back overlapping (Digne is an excellent player, a world away in style from dependable Davies).
The second thing that stuck in the mind to show our total lack of movement killing our game, was in the second half when Harry Winks had the ball.
He was on the half way line in the left side channel midway between the centre of the field and the touchline.
He was on the half way line in the left side channel midway between the centre of the field and the touchline.
Ahead of him were our four attacking players, two out wide, one central (slightly left of centre) and our central centre-forward.
All were marked by one or more Everton players in close proximity to them so while they could receive the ball, they would probably have to play it off first-time.
However, the only pass was one back to Winks or perhaps a pass forward to Moura who would have had to play a ball first-time behind a full-back that the Everton player would be favourite to win from a wide player reacting.
However, the only pass was one back to Winks or perhaps a pass forward to Moura who would have had to play a ball first-time behind a full-back that the Everton player would be favourite to win from a wide player reacting.
Winks moved forward with the ball, our players stayed in their positions and moved forward with him, the defence stayed in their position and moved back with us.
Harry moved forward again and our players stopped outside the penalty area, nowhere else to go, the defenders were keeping us there.
The space between their midfield and defence was minimal.
They were well set up defensively.
With space in front Harry Winks moved forward again and again looking for a pass.
There was no movement, the defenders were not given any decisions to make (decisions create mistakes) so all Winks could do was pass sideways or back.
What does that do?
It switches the point of attack, but unless we then have movement, Moura just jogs across, the defence stay in shape and we simply have the same problem on the other side of the field.
It switches the point of attack, but unless we then have movement, Moura just jogs across, the defence stay in shape and we simply have the same problem on the other side of the field.
We have the same problem, just given it to a different player.
We do this time and time again and wonder why we create nothing.
We do this time and time again and wonder why we create nothing.
Now Dele Alli tries things in these situations, he'll try a flick, the flicks you all complain about, because he is trying to create something where nothing exists.
Spurs lack of movement is a constant bugbear.
Without movement we can't pass forward, we can't create.
At the moment we are asking Giovani Lo Celso or, in this game Harry Winks, we don't ask it of Moussa Sissoko, to create a wonder defence splitting pass that our attacking players can respond to.
But, without movement, there can be no defence splitting pass.
You have to pull the opposition out of shape, you have to create situation where a pass in behind can be manufactured.
Without movement we can't create for Harry Kane and he wants chances.
You have to pull the opposition out of shape, you have to create situation where a pass in behind can be manufactured.
Without movement we can't create for Harry Kane and he wants chances.
We don't and then we get to the point where we are camped around their box going from side to side of a packed defence that doesn't really have to do anything.
We have too many players that want to be behind the ball rather than in front of it, the same problem we frequently had with Christian Eriksen.
We have too many players that want to be behind the ball rather than in front of it, the same problem we frequently had with Christian Eriksen.
Lucas Moura can run with the ball and is dangerous when he does, he can spring and head a ball, occasionally he can finish, but movement, no, not enough.
In yesterday's article I said that Giovani Lo Celso should be playing #10, not #6.
He should be an attacking midfielder not a playmaker from defence, not a quarterback. Without movement a quarterback is useless.
It was something the commentator spoke about, after he had had his shot deflected for a goal of course. he is the creative spark being subdued.
If Lo Celso is to play as a central midfielder then we need to buy an attacking midfielder with the same passing vision. Lo Celso was in the right position at the right time, that's where we need him more often.
If Tanguy Ndombélé wanted to be here, and clearly he doesn't any more, then he could play in the #6 Lo Celso role and Giovani could move to #10 and play behind Kane.
If Tanguy Ndombélé wanted to be here, and clearly he doesn't any more, then he could play in the #6 Lo Celso role and Giovani could move to #10 and play behind Kane.
I have no doubt Harry Kane would excel even more with Lo Celso behind him, no doubt at all.
But Ndombélé has so far shown he can't be trusted although I will say his substitute performance in the last game showed a little bit of encouragement. There seemed to me to be a bit more life about him, a bit more desire than I have seen before.
But Ndombélé has so far shown he can't be trusted although I will say his substitute performance in the last game showed a little bit of encouragement. There seemed to me to be a bit more life about him, a bit more desire than I have seen before.
Until personnel is changed I don't see any improvement because of the ingrained habit - the lack of movement off the ball, because let's face it, we aren't going to employ the mental solution that none of them can see!
Well that's all folks but I'd ask you to get into the habit of pressing the Click To Tweet button in every post and to share them on your social media profiles that you post Spurs stuff on. Thanks.
Well that's all folks but I'd ask you to get into the habit of pressing the Click To Tweet button in every post and to share them on your social media profiles that you post Spurs stuff on. Thanks.
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