Former Tottenham Hotspur ace Jamie Redknapp is enthralled with the ‘unique’ way Ange Postecoglou is fielding Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie at the Premier League giants.
It was a goal which summed up Postecoglou’s Tottenham.
Destiny Udogie, Spurs’ left-back, picks up possession in a central role, about 25 yards out from goal, and rolls it wide to Heung-Min Son. And, as the captain breezes past Kieran Tripper and pulls the ball back into the penalty area, guess who was rushing in to finish? Udogie, arriving late in the box and tapping home like a goalscoring midfielder in his pomp.
No position on the pitch – well, apart from that of the goalkeeper, perhaps – has changed quite so much in the modern era. And, for Redknapp, the way Postecoglou fields Tottenham’s full-backs is symbolic of a man making a mockery of those who wondered if he could translate his ‘unique’ brand of Guardiola-like football into the Premier League after successful spells in Scotland, Australia and Japan.
Tottenham Hotspur hammer Newcastle United
“It’s quite unique. We’ve seen managers before bring a centre-back into midfield, maybe one full-back comes in. The way they play with both of them coming in, it gives the other team so many problems,” Redknapp, who spent three years at Tottenham between 2002 and 2005, tells Sky Sports after Udogie and the pristine Porro shone in Sunday’s 4-1 hammering of top-four rivals Newcastle United.
“You don’t know who you’re marking. There’s so much fluidity about how they play. It’s enjoyable, and it’s almost revolutionary.
“I’m loving seeing it. A lot of grassroots managers and young players are looking at that full-back role, he has changed it completely.
“Pep (Guardiola) has done it throughout his career and now you can see what Ange Postecoglou’s doing.
“When he came from Celtic, people did worry if he would be able to replicate his success in Scotland. But he’s shown you can change how a team plays within six months.”
Udogie and Porro inspire big Spurs win
Udogie has been one of the league’s breakout stars this term. Porro, meanwhile, is perhaps Trent Alexander-Arnold’s closest challenger these days for the title of the Premier League’s best right-back.
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