Tottenham’s Woeful Finishing FIXED! The One Thing That Will Change It All

Tottenham’s Woeful Finishing FIXED! The One Thing That Will Change It All

Morning Spurs folk, it's a beautiful THBN morning on the coast in sunny Kent.

One of the comments on a recent article has asked me for answers.

The Question 

"Excellent article Clive. So is the problem in front of Ange a different one to what the average fan believes? Firstly, has Ange used sports psychologists in other clubs and therefore he knows the benefits, or is he going to need to be innovative, selling the benefits to the boardroom before he goes further? I’m intrigued by this and I believe you’re right, but has the sifting of players — particularly this Summer — rid the club of minds less open to help. One of the great problems of man is his prideful attitude. Are some of these young millionaires open to psychology as a step further for them? They’ve set themselves apart from many already.

"Not singling out Spurs players, it takes a special kind of individual to see there may be real benefits to life outside of Spurs with such intervention. I can’t be sure, but when Angel’s scouts identify a young player such as Gray and Bergvall might it be that during his first contact with the player he perceives their openness to this ‘fuller development’? In the case of Vicario, as an example , he’d have walked from Italy to play for the club. I’ve looked at your blogs for some considerable time so I realise you’ve advocated this psychological approach for ages. Maybe in Ange we have someone who can deliver so much more than what money can buy… a purpose driven team! Thanks Clive,

Regards, Andy"

So today, let's tackle that insightful comment from a regular reader for many a year now, so thanks for that Andy.

The Answer

Ange Postecoglou has brought a wave of optimism to Tottenham, but one area that often flies under the radar is the psychological side of the game. 

Society perceptions and therefore tradition, dictate it.

Let's be honest, there is a stigma attached to going to see a psychologist, but why?

They are there to help you, to improve you, to solve a problem.

So, if you are brought up in that society to believe a psychologist is a last resort and something to be kept secret, you are not going to go and see one.

Now if you are not going to go and see one and you become a football coach, it stands to reason that you are not going to include it as a part of your training, but something or a player to turn to if they have a problem.

However they have been brought up with the same stigma by the same society so it's not going to happen, is it.

You don't go to see someone to fix a problem you don't think you have.

Spurs have a 1st XI Sports Psychologist, but what does he do?

It seems to me that he deals with off-field problems in players lives to enable them to deliver their best on the field, but for me that isn't enough.

In football, mentality is as crucial as tactics and fitness. 

Spurs' struggles in front of goal, we have dropped 5 points in 2 games already because we can't finish and our defending in the box could well be rooted not just in technical deficiencies but also in the mental state of the players. 

As Andy points out in his insightful comment, sports psychology is often seen as a reactive measure, used when things go wrong, but what if it became a proactive, compulsory part of player development? 

Tottenham, with their ambition to be innovative on and off the pitch, could lead the way in this area.

I'm apoplectic with frustration that Spurs don't innovate and harness the huge power and potential of mentally training the most important aspect of a player who is an asset worth tens of millions of pounds, his brain.

Why would you let an amateur brain train you?

Why wouldn't you use a professional if here was one available to you?

It improves performance massively and it increases the value of your asset.

It makes sense results wise and financially, as well as cementing the Tottenham Hotspur brand as innovators, a valuable trait that companies wnt to be associated with and thus increases the sponsorship opportunities, which in turn makes more money available for the team.

I don't see a downside.

Improving Defensive Resilience

Defending in the box is often about decision-making under pressure. 

A centre-back or goalkeeper has a split second to decide how to deal with a cross or a through ball. 

In those moments, a clear, focused mind is critical. 

The anxiety of making a mistake, the fear of letting the team down, or even the pressure of playing in front of a passionate crowd can cloud judgment. 

By incorporating sports psychology into regular training sessions, Tottenham could work on clearing these mental blocks. 

Visualisation techniques, as used by Glenn Hoddle, Pele and Didier Drogba, stress management and mindfulness exercises are already proven methods in other sports that help athletes perform better in high-pressure situations. 

Why the hell aren't they used in football (soccer)!

Spurs could become known for having a defence that remains calm and organised even in the most intense situations.

Don't we need that?

Fixing Woeful Finishing

Tottenham’s struggle in front of goal already this season is a glaring issue. 

Whether it’s a lack of composure or overthinking in key moments, sports psychology could help players improve their focus and confidence when it matters most. 

Imagine the difference it could make if, during training, players like Richarlison, Johnson or Son Heung-min worked regularly with a sports psychologist to hone their mental toughness. 

They could be trained to block out distractions and self-doubt, focusing solely on the technique and timing needed to finish chances.

Finishing, like defending, is more mental than physical. 

It’s about confidence and the belief that you will score. 

Harry Kane is a prime example of this, his mental sharpness and self-belief allows him to convert chances that others might have fluffed. 

If you miss chances, it affects you.

It puts doubt in your mind about your ability to score in that situation.

When it comes around again, those doubts surface and affect your finish, it affects your technique because you are not 100% confident that you'll score and thus perform the technique to the best of your ability.

Do that and you;ll score, don't do that and you might miss.

If Ange could bring that psychological edge to the whole squad, Spurs’ conversion rate in front of goal would soar.

Ange Postecoglou: The Man to Drive this Change?

Andy raises an excellent point regarding Ange Postecoglou's experience with sports psychologists. Has he used them in his previous clubs, or will he need to sell this idea to the Tottenham board? 

Either way, Ange is a progressive manager. 

He has spoken about building not just a team but a culture and mental toughness is a massive part of that. 

In Ange, Spurs may have someone who understands that elite performance is about more than just physical ability, it’s about mental strength, resilience and focus.

However, nobody uses sports psychologists in the way I recommend so this seed would need to be planted in Ange Postecoglou first before he could sell it to the board.

It's that social barrier again and thinking beyond the boundaries of current thinking, beyond the boundaries of tradition and the way things have always been done.

It's innovation and who can tell who will innovate.

Using a sports psychologist isn't new. There was a French player whose name I can't remember who played for Middlesbrough who secretly saw a sports psychologist to improve his game because he felt the club would disapprove and fans would ridicule him.

That's what we are fighting here, that's the barriers we have to overcome.

This summer’s squad overhaul could mean that Spurs now have a group of players more open to psychological intervention, given their age and desire to improve. 

Young minds are more open, that's why Ange works with them.

The pride and ego that Andy mentioned can be a barrier, but younger players like Mikey Moore or even new signings like Alejo Véliz might be more willing to embrace a holistic approach to development, one that includes mental training. 

If Ange's scouts are identifying players based not just on talent but on their openness to full development, Spurs could truly be on to something.

But will it happen.

Somebody needs to listen to me because my constructive criticism is way ahead and far more helpful than the fans 'buy the most expensive player' or 'all change' rhetoric that simply perpetuates tradition.

The THBN Wrap Up

Tottenham have an opportunity to lead the footballing world in mentality training. 

If sports psychology became a core part of training, it could transform Spurs’ defending, finishing and overall resilience. 

The club’s defensive lapses and wastefulness in front of goal this season could be greatly reduced with the right psychological approach. 

Ange Postecoglou, with his vision for a purpose-driven team, could be the perfect figurehead to implement this strategy, turning Spurs into a mentally elite side that consistently performs under pressure.

The future of football isn’t just physical, it’s mental and Spurs could/should be leading the charge.

Trophies could depend on it.

It could be the key to requiring a larger trophy case.

Your Questions Answered

1. How can sports psychology improve Tottenham’s finishing?

2. What role does mental toughness play in football success?
Mental toughness allows players to perform consistently under stress, make better decisions and recover from mistakes. It’s essential for staying calm in high-pressure moments, such as defending in the box or taking crucial shots.

3. Has Ange Postecoglou used sports psychologists at his previous clubs?
While there’s no public confirmation, Ange Postecoglou is known for his progressive approach to player development. If he hasn’t used sports psychologists before, he may bring them into Tottenham to enhance the team’s mental resilience.

4. Why should Tottenham lead the Premier League in mentality training?
Tottenham could gain a competitive edge by integrating mental training into everyday sessions. Developing psychological skills such as focus, stress management and resilience would set Spurs apart from rivals, potentially improving both defensive and attacking performance.

5. How does sports psychology impact defending in the box?
Sports psychology helps defenders manage the anxiety and pressure that arise in critical moments. By training the mind to stay focused and calm, players can make better decisions in the box, reducing costly errors and improving overall defensive stability.

Let me end by throwing Yves Bissouma at you.

Taking nitrous oxide is not the actions of someone with a winning mentality.

In his role, he has to take the ball under pressure, in other words, at times of maximum anxiety. Would mental training not help him make the right decisions in those moments?

He was conceding goals last season through just those lapses, making wrong decisions, chaving the ball instead of covering the danger, indeed his performances cost us points.

Isn't waiting for him to make an off-field mistake so he actually raises his game on-the-field to atone, poor management?

That is exactly what sports psychologist prevents, they get the best out of the player without the downside and without the mediocre performances.

COYS