Utilising our squad - formations

[spurs9]

The wingers in Ange's system don't stay wide, they start wide and cut inside. If you look at their Heatmaps, they are largely the same area's as Kulusevski, except Kulusevski had more touches deeper (due to being in a low block, as oppose to a high press) and just more touches in general.

Also, Udogie isn't a "bomb wide and get crosses in" wing back, he rarely crosses and cuts inside and plays in the "half spaces" around the box, cuts inside in the middle of the pitch and has occasionally played CM. IMO, the inverted wing back role will be perfect for him, if he can adapt to the PL.

Jota:
View attachment 127543


Abada:
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Kulusevski:
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Just to add to this, to find a similar heatmap for Son (same area's but less touches), you have to go back to the 16/17 season, which, incidentally, is Son's 2nd best goal to minute ratio, so he is capable, but can he still do it?

 

[arunspurs]

I have a feeling Winks is going to make a big comeback under Ange atleast as squad player. Of the CMs we have, best suited for no6 role is Winks IMO.

I know, he gets slated with backward sideways passing but fact is most of that is down to how the teams are setup. He certainly has it in him to receive the ball in good body shape and keep playing forward. He does need a mature CM partner alongside like he had Dembele. May be Bentancur is that person.

We should go to the market to buy a no6 IMO but at same time, feel we should give a chance to Winks as squad player.

 

[robhumphreys]

Would expect all of the loaned players to be looked at before moving on. I can also see Lo Celso getting game time next season.

 

[Locotoro]

I have a feeling Winks is going to make a big comeback under Ange atleast as squad player. Of the CMs we have, best suited for no6 role is Winks IMO.

I know, he gets slated with backward sideways passing but fact is most of that is down to how the teams are setup. He certainly has it in him to receive the ball in good body shape and keep playing forward. He does need a mature CM partner alongside like he had Dembele. May be Bentancur is that person.

We should go to the market to buy a no6 IMO but at same time, feel we should give a chance to Winks as squad player.

Winks may have the technical ability you speak of but he's really poor defensively. That DMC along with the inverted WBs are the first counter pressers when the team loses the ball. I don't believe Winks has a tackling bone left in his body after those injuries he sustained a few years ago.

 

[Cochise]

I've been done with Winks for some time. Irregardless of his abilities or shortcomings, the way he has downed tools in the past is unacceptable.

 

[shoggy33]

Would expect all of the loaned players to be looked at before moving on. I can also see Lo Celso getting game time next season.

Never understood where the hate for GLC comes from. He seems to get lumped in with Ndombele who is the biggest waste of talent I've ever seen. GLC just got injured a lot and didn't fit with the previous 3 managers style of play, which is a style of play we've all been moaning about for 3 years. He's been pretty good everywhere else he's been, including internationally, maybe he'll excel in a different system? We've got 3 talented midfielders out on loan, wouldn't be surprised if at least one of then makes an impact under Ange.

 

[smallsnc]

IMO, what a lot of our players need is (and what I expect Ange to provide):

1. A return to fitness levels required to play proactive football. I think Conte drilled patterns of play into their heads, maybe at the expense of football drills that also develop fitness at the same time.
2. Practicing with the intent on making decisions on the fly instead of everything being drilled. By the time Conte left, I could have set up a squad to defend against us because of the mandated patterns of play. This should help maintain possession when the break is not on instead of leading us down blind alleys and putting us right back on defense.
3. Players knowing all of the roles defensively so that they can cover and maintain a defensive plan even when we lose possession when we have players out of their normal shape. Too often, when players pushed up this year, we had no balance as players were not covering for others to maintain some type of shape.

I know Conte has been a very successful coach, but I thought he did a very poor job this past year in preparing the team especially after teams had seen us play a few matches and started making adjustments. I think many of the players we have are better than they showed, but need both the fitness base, possession style practice and sound tactical foundation under which they can succeed.

 

[Annabel]

I'd be grateful if anyone could explain what a pivot is, and a double pivot in football terms please?

Whenever anyone mentions these as tactics, I just get a vision of Scott Parker doing his trademark 360 degree turns, and I don't think that's quite what it means!

 

[Trix]

I'd be grateful if anyone could explain what a pivot is, and a double pivot in football terms please?

Whenever anyone mentions these as tactics, I just get a vision of Scott Parker doing his trademark 360 degree turns, and I don't think that's quite what it means!

It basically means they are the deepest of the CM's and they sit at the base of the midfield. They generally maintain their position behind the other midfielders regardless of what is happening in front of them. Think Pirlo or Michael Carrick as being excellent pivot players. The idea is that they basically control the tempo when in possession and break up play when not. A double pivot is just 2 of them doing the job so think of Dembele and Wanyama under Poch when we played 4-2-3-1 for instance.

 

[Annabel]

Thanks Trix!

 

[Timberwolf]

Never understood where the hate for GLC comes from. He seems to get lumped in with Ndombele who is the biggest waste of talent I've ever seen. GLC just got injured a lot and didn't fit with the previous 3 managers style of play, which is a style of play we've all been moaning about for 3 years. He's been pretty good everywhere else he's been, including internationally, maybe he'll excel in a different system? We've got 3 talented midfielders out on loan, wouldn't be surprised if at least one of then makes an impact under Ange.

I think a lot of the hate is just borne of frustration. He was hyped up to be this creative, goal-scoring midfielder then he barely ever scored or assisted, never found a consistent place in the team, got injured, and generally came across as a bit aloof - appearing to save his best performances for Argentina rather than Spurs. Also missed some huge, crucial chances in key games vs Liverpool and City(?).

I think he was actually our best player for about a 10-game period under Jose when he was trusted in midfield, but then he got injured and never really got going again. I do think the hate got quite OTT by the end - he became a bit of a scapegoat for all of our woes under Jose in his 2nd season.

I'd be up for giving him a 2nd chance but have a feeling he's gonna be sold this summer. Would be v.useful if either him or Ndombele had a miraculous turnaround, though.

 

[mil1lion]

At the moment judging on the players we're linked too I'm thinking we could go with something like the below

Raya/Forster
Spence/Emerson---Romero/Ndicka---Laporte/Dier---Davies/Udogie
Bissouma/Skipp
Maddison/Bentancur---Sarr/Hatate
Kulusevski/Porro-------------Son/Gil
Kane/Richarlison
​

I think if we can get hold of Hatate he's going to suit more than Hojbjerg so maybe cash in on him. Maddison is ideal as a 8/10 in central midfield. Kulusevski could also cover this role as well as wide right. Porro can cover right back but if he plays infield full backs then he's better out wide for me. I would also look to find a replacement for Davies if possible.

Its still very uncertain if he will change his system and rely on width from fullback and have the wide forwards infield more. I think Emerson, Davies and Udogie all suit coming infield though. I think Spence has the potential to work on that as see him like Doherty in that position. Porro, Kulusevski and Gil can play wide on the wing. Maybe Kulusevski is better more central but if he can come inside still will be good. Same for Son really who would need to adapt to being wider and then making those runs infield from there.

 

[Cult of Ange High Priest]

At the moment judging on the players we're linked too I'm thinking we could go with something like the below

Raya/Forster
Spence/Emerson---Romero/Ndicka---Laporte/Dier---Davies/Udogie
Bissouma/Skipp
Maddison/Bentancur---Sarr/Hatate
Kulusevski/Porro-------------Son/Gil
Kane/Richarlison
​

I think if we can get hold of Hatate he's going to suit more than Hojbjerg so maybe cash in on him. Maddison is ideal as a 8/10 in central midfield. Kulusevski could also cover this role as well as wide right. Porro can cover right back but if he plays infield full backs then he's better out wide for me. I would also look to find a replacement for Davies if possible.

Its still very uncertain if he will change his system and rely on width from fullback and have the wide forwards infield more. I think Emerson, Davies and Udogie all suit coming infield though. I think Spence has the potential to work on that as see him like Doherty in that position. Porro, Kulusevski and Gil can play wide on the wing. Maybe Kulusevski is better more central but if he can come inside still will be good. Same for Son really who would need to adapt to being wider and then making those runs infield from there.

Why don't you think Maddison and Bentancur could play together as attacking 8s, one on each side?

 

[smallsnc]

Why don't you think Maddison and Bentancur could play together as attacking 8s, one on each side?

Personally, I think they could, but don't expect Bentancur to be starting until after the new year.