Ange Postecoglou has brought attacking football back to Tottenham.
For several years, Spurs had two proven winners in the dugout – Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte – but their characters were too strong for the club and their style of play put everyone to sleep.
When Harry Kane left Tottenham last season, many feared that Postecoglou had one hand tied behind his back and it would be difficult.
Yes, Spurs missed out on Champions League football, but going from no Europe at all, to scoring more goals without Kane, transforming the style of play and securing Europa League football, it was a positive debut campaign from the new boss.
But certain issues are continuing to rear its ugly head again and that was displayed as Tottenham were beaten at Newcastle on Sunday at St James’ Park.
Jermain Defoe certainly wasn’t happy with Tottenham‘s tactics and he called for changes to be made by the manager.
Everyone knows that the London club play 100 miles per hour and only Unai Emery’s Aston Villa probably play a higher high line than them.
But Defoe thinks the fact that opposition teams, as was proven by Alexander Isak’s winner, can get in behind the defensive backline so easily is starting to get ‘silly’.
The former striker also highlighted the centre-backs – at Newcastle, Cristian Romero and Radu Dragusin started – and how they need to change their ways.
Defoe added that it ‘isn’t right’ and he thinks they need to change their body shape when they are running back towards their goal and having to defend, as he told Premier League Productions (02/09/24 at 5:55 pm).
Tottenham’s tactics under Ange Postecoglou
“I think the only thing that could help is that, when teams do beat the press, I think the defenders, their body shape has to be different,” said Defoe. “You have to be ready to race and the goalkeeper has to be further out of his goal.
“You can understand it, dictating build-up and wanting to overload centrally, so you can win the ball back and you can dominate possession, like Tottenham do most games. At the same time, I think the (defensive) line is, he wants the players to be brave, but there is being brave and there is being silly.
“Just too easy to get in behind (Isak’s goal). It just can’t be right, the amount of times you see this happening, you have centre-backs sprinting back. When it keeps happening throughout the game. When it’s happening every single time and every game, then it can’t be right.”
Tottenham’s forward line
A lot of talk is about the team’s defence, and understandably so, but Tottenham’s attack certainly isn’t helping matters.
Dominic Solanke made his Tottenham debut following his club-record transfer and then proceeded to get injured.
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Spurs need him back as soon as possible because it would then allow a focal point up front, with Son Heung-min being shifted to the left.
You just sense the pressure is going to mount up if nothing changes after the international break.
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