Tottenham’s style of play has dramatically changed since Ange Postecoglou entered the building and the fans are loving every minute of it.
Yes, at this moment, the supporters are tasting the ugly side of it all because they were beaten 2-1 by Wolves on Saturday.
But it also needs to be noted that Tottenham were without the injured fullback duo Destiny Udogie and Pedro Porro for that game.
Are they Ange Postecoglou’s most important players? Especially in the system he plays and how his fullbacks play more like number tens?!
Well, former Premier League left-back Stephen Warnock certainly thinks so and he admitted ‘I am made up to say that, it makes me very happy’, as he told The Football Show on Sky Sports.
In a Pep Guardiola system, or across the road at Arsenal or even with Trent Alexander-Arnold at Liverpool, it’s only the one fullback that would come into midfield, and when he does, he is sitting deep and dictating play.
The man in Tottenham’s dugout has gone the other way and he allows his fullbacks to steam forward like they have the number 9 or 10 on the back of their shirts.
Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie in Ange Postecoglou’s system
“The way Tottenham play this season, everybody talks about the spine of the team, but it’s actually the fullbacks who are the most important players,” said Warnock.
“And I am made up to say that. It makes me very happy. They change the way that they play. Udogie doesn’t play as a conventional fullback or as an overlapping fullback.
“Incredibly, I saw an article on this a few weeks ago where he has actually completed the most dribbles in midfield. That tells you everything about the type of player he is and where he is playing on the pitch, so often, you see him and Porro in centre-forward positions or number 10 positions.
“You are thinking, why are you playing there? What’s this trying to achieve? The more that you watch Spurs, the more that you understand it. They are key to the way Tottenham play. You can get away with one not playing, but when both don’t play, then they are completely different.”
Tottenham’s indifferent performances
Spurs need to find consistent ground, or else, they will fall away in the race to secure Champions League football.
The London club won’t be in action this weekend because their Premier League clash against League Cup finalists Chelsea has been postponed.
That allows fourth-placed Aston Villa, who host Nottingham Forest, to push five points ahead of their rivals, whilst Manchester United, who welcome Fulham, can go level on points with a win.
Putting that scoreboard pressure on isn’t ideal for Spurs, but they hope this break allows Udogie and Porro to get back onto the training pitch.
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