What's going wrong? Passmap for SCBC sums it up nicely

Rob · Jan 2, 2020

I thought this was a useful/interesting image to sum up what I think's going wrong.

My interpretation of this is that:

Sissoko is having to cover for Aurier's poor positional awareness and because of this:

We basically lose a central midfielder.
There is no shield in front of the back 2.

Alli in a free role does nothing productive and although he's heavily involved, attacks die out when they get to him. Alli, Kane and Moura are all trying to occupy the same space and that causes various problems.

It often gives Eriken little choice but to pass backwards.
Toby/Verts have no one to pick out going forward.
Sessegnon has no one to cross the ball to.

Losing Eriksen without trying to change this system is going to be a nightmare.

Son coming back should make a huge difference.

Tucker · Jan 2, 2020

Selling Trippier without an adequate replacement continues to look like a fantastic decision doesn’t it.

pelayo59 · Jan 2, 2020

Tucker said:
Selling Trippier without an adequate replacement continues to look like a fantastic decision doesn’t it.

Sissoko were doing the same things last season with Trippier. Also he was bad.

Lighty64 · Jan 2, 2020

I know Aurier isn't too popular, but the manager must be the 1 asking Sissoko to cover him, and he wants Aurier up high and wide. if he didn't either Aurier would have been dropped by now or told to not venture so far forward.

the goal conceded yesterday wasn't Auriers fault, even the own goal v Norwich wasn't his fault, he got himself in a position to block Pukki's shot, but Tobby's stab at the ball just took the wrong path.

John48 · Jan 2, 2020

Our best games have been played without Eriksen starting & with Son, Dele, Moura & Kane up front & only tended to call on Eriksen if things weren't going right.

Things seem to unravel when we don't have Kane, Son etc. up front & we don't get the ball forward quickly enough & that's because we don't have another system that works without those 4 involved.

Kane's going to be out for a few weeks at least, so Jose going to have to find another system to cope with his loss. Mind you he needs to find away of getting the likes of Lucas & Lo Celso to look anything other than bang average.

JKendall13 · Jan 2, 2020

Interesting, just a giant hole in the center of the pitch really. Confirms what most of us have been saying about get a CDM in. We just don't have any ability to grab control in the center of the pitch offensively or defensively. Wanyama and Dier used to suffocate the opponent of space and then distribute the ball quickly to the attacking players.

Sissoko has been a wonderful story for us and seems a great character, but if we want to push on he should be a depth option. Just doesn't offer enough passing or defensive action as a CM.

GutBucket · Jan 2, 2020

This was our passmap vs West Ham, still shit defensively but more control in midfield since Dier doesn't babysit Aurier. Davies is also more disciplined at the back so no huge problems there either. Would be even better with Ndombele instead of Winks in the lineup. Also it was better when Kane didn't have to drop deeper than Dele.

Dazzazzad · Jan 2, 2020

My takeaway:

Our goalkeeper is too small. Needs to make himself bigger.

spursfan77 · Jan 2, 2020

Somebody else posted another one of these after the Chelsea game, I think. It was similar too. I wonder what Liverpool’s look like.

Somebody print them off and send them to the training ground addressed to the manager please!

rossdapep · Jan 2, 2020

spursfan77 said:
Somebody else posted another one of these after the Chelsea game, I think. It was similar too. I wonder what Liverpool’s look like.

Somebody print them off and send them to the training ground addressed to the manager please!

Found Liverpool's from against City in November.

gavspur · Jan 2, 2020

I really think a variation on a 4-3-3 suits us best. Liverpool seem to play it, and it actually is more a 4-3-2-1, which isn’t dissimilar to the roles Dele and Eriksen played for us in the last year at The Lane (them being the two behind the striker).. Sess and Aurier at full back to give the width, and a holding CM who doesn’t venture forward very much at all. Play one of Winks/Ndombele/LoCelso/even Sissoko as the two other CM’s. You’ll see that gap in midfield disappear, we’ll get better passers in the team, a defensive shield, and two creative guys who can also run in behind defenders behind the main striker.

mpickard2087 · Jan 2, 2020

GutBucket said:
This was our passmap vs West Ham

Careful. This will mindfuck quite a few posters.

ralphs bald spot · Jan 3, 2020

Personally I don't think its nothing to do with tactics - there is something desperately wrong in the club they are not fighting for each other they are not digging each other out. Worst of all you have to question do they care ?

We are being beaten to easily yesterday was awful no fight no passion and its not the first time Brighton Chelsea the role over vs Bayern- you can blame individuals but its so easy against us the goal was a disgrace Toby beaten so easily but he had no cover and it was a simple ball down the middle. Vertonghen for me has been awful this season the disallowed goal at Norwich a top central defender ball watching that;s more than a mistake. How the hell is Aurier picked ? For a full back he has no appreciation of defending he is never round on the cover just doesn't see danger.

The midfield is woeful the passing yesterday was desperate 5 yard passes going astray and worse still people hiding. Tanguy hardly seems to manage a game and Mourinho's comments on him don't suggest that he is over impressed. You can go on and on just insert players name its almost inter changeable not many can be spared

I hate to imagine what Liverpool might do to us and Boro have won there last 4 and it will be a real battle up there. Do you fancy our lot? . Put our players up against the wall and where is the leadership the heart ?

I am usually an optimist when it comes to Tottenham but I am seriously worried at the moment there has to be real problems in the dressing room so some bad apples need clearing

bat-chain · Jan 3, 2020

Don’t think I've been more concerned as a Spurs fan in the last decade. Was genuinely stunned how little we were able to trouble Southampton, they kept out with ease.

Too many players who are not at the technical standard required. Other players who are at the standard who don’t seem to care or can’t get fit. Players who are the standard who also care but as a result are run into the ground.

punkisback · Jan 3, 2020

I think Sissoko just ends up there naturally as he doesn’t have the tactical ability to play CM. He prefers the one dimensional play of being a RM.

spursfan77 · Jan 3, 2020

rossdapep said:
Found Liverpool's from against City in November.

Cheers.

Someone needs to take TAA out!

faze_coys · Jan 3, 2020

punkisback said:
I think Sissoko just ends up there naturally as he doesn’t have the tactical ability to play CM. He prefers the one dimensional play of being a RM.

This,

He barely even offers Aurier any protection either, hes caught in that no-mans land between CM and the place he should be covering the majority of the time, thats we get absolutley smashed down the right side, and there is never an outlet for our CB's to pass to. His positioning is piss poor.

SpartanSpur · Jan 3, 2020

GutBucket said:
This was our passmap vs West Ham, still shit defensively but more control in midfield since Dier doesn't babysit Aurier. Davies is also more disciplined at the back so no huge problems there either. Would be even better with Ndombele instead of Winks in the lineup. Also it was better when Kane didn't have to drop deeper than Dele. View attachment 60585

We did look a lot more like a team vs West Ham for the first 70 mins or so. I'd wager it was the same up until Sissoko ended up in CM. Balance between attack and defence seemed much better than recently and we were finding Dele and Son with vertical passes. Davies was especially good until injury typically.

Injuries, suspensions and fatigue have contributed to our disjointed play over Xmas I'm sure. No Son scaring defences meaning a shattered Kane and Dele were being easily marked out of the game. With less options our defenders took the easy options with long balls. Hopefully we'll pick up a bit now the schedule is starting to ease off, but bringing in 2-3 quality players (CB/DM/RB priorities) is still essential this window.

Timberwolf · Jan 3, 2020

faze_coys said:
This,

He barely even offers Aurier any protection either, hes caught in that no-mans land between CM and the place he should be covering the majority of the time, thats we get absolutley smashed down the right side, and there is never an outlet for our CB's to pass to. His positioning is piss poor.

Jose himself has said that he doesn't think Sissoko has the characteristics to be a natural 6 or 8. I guess he must feel that our other CM options really are piss poor in order to keep picking him there.

I firmly believe that, while it's obviously not all his fault, it's also no coincidence that our overall good form and coherent play went down the toilet around the time Dembele left and Sissoko became a regular starter. His willingness to put himself about and make the odd eye-catching run forward kept a lot of fans on his side, but in reality his lack of technical ability, poor positional play and rudimentary passing have caused us huge problems over the past 18 months.

In an ideal world he'd be a solid rotational option off the bench who we could bring on late to add energy and legs. He could also be a solid conservative option wide right against better sides, especially if he had a better RB behind him. However, he should never ever be one of our first choice central midfielders and I hope Jose acts upon his words and stops playing him there as soon as he has better options at his disposal.

Kiedis · Jan 3, 2020

Most of our troubles stem from not having a functioning central midfield. Unless Ndombele plays and does it by himself,
we're not able to play through a decently organised press and getting some sustained possession in the final third.

Our attackers are chasing 60 yard passes, and spend their energy competing with 2 or 3 defenders every single time. And when you actually manage to get the ball under control, which may be 1 in 6 times, there's that added pressure of knowing that you better create something, or score, since it will probably be another ten minutes of chasing shadows before you get the ball in a decent position again.

And constantly giving the ball away with hopeless long passes also adds pressure to the defence.

And Sissokos positioning is what it is. When under pressure, he finds comfort in the sideline and moves out to stand next to Aurier. That's why I want us to play him at RW if we have to play him. That way, he can charge about as he pleases without leaving a gaping hole in midfield defensively and hiding from the ball when we try and progress it through the opponents press.

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