- Aug 21, 2011
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I thought we should have a thread to discuss the problems with our off the ball play. When AVB came to Spurs we were all sold on his defensive tactics being based around a high tempo pressing game with a high back line. It appears that AVB has been trying to get his side to play in this manner but it clearly has not worked as of yet. When we try to press we appear dis-jointed, too open and the opposition not actually that flustered. Personally I think there are two reasons for this. The back line and the midfield formation.
The back line issues have been discussed to death in other threads but I thought its worth bringing up because the whole pressing game has to start form the back. The midfield can not press high without the defence moving up because it creates too much space between the lines. The forwards can not press without the midfield pressing, because they will just be outnumbered and passed around by any mildly competent defence.
Earlier in the season we really allowed ourselves to get deep as the game went on, this meant that the pressing midfield suddenly found they were leaving big gaps between the lines and were getting cut up. Seeing the ensuing chaos they stopped pressing and full on dropped in to the defensive line. The unchallenged opposition then pinned us in our 1/3rd and came at us again and again and again unchallenged. I'm not sure who was in charge of the defence but I have a feeling that it was Gallas who should have been taking responsibility. Perhaps AVB should have been picking up on it? We've lately started pressing higher but have not had the right players to do it. Gallas, whilst putting in some awesome performances, has not had the pace to recover from mistakes. Walker has been off form and as some have controversially mentioned; been playing oppo strikers onside as he tries to protect the space behind the slow Gallas.
Against Lazio we finally had a back four who could really play the high line to the extreme. They struggled with not being used to the system, but that is expected and will improve. You could also clearly see the intended effect of the sweeper keeper with the set-up and it certainly looks like something worth working on. So Verts, Caulker and Lloris improves this part. Despite that improvement however the team as a whole still didn't look right which brings me to the next point; the midfield set up.
Rather than playing the 4-3-3 like AVB had used at Porto we have been forced in to using the 4-2-3-1. It hasn't looked pretty in the attacking sense and it hasn't been effective in a defensive one. I would like to see us move on to a 4-3-3. Leaving out the attacking side of the argument for another thread, this formation affects the pressing side of our game for a number of reasons. In a 4-3-3 there is a genuine midfield 3 where, although there will be a more defensively minded midfielder, an all-rounder and a more attacking player, they are all still midfielders. They all attack, defend and pass, playing in a fluid style. The 4-2-3-1 has the two deep laying midfielders and the man behind the striker. Because a midfield 3 is far less narrow than a midfield 2 it allows the wingers to press the oppo full backs high up the pitch, as a midfielder can always cover behind. A midfield 2 cannot cover across like this as comfortably because it leaves space in the middle of the pitch and although the man behind the striker could drop in to cover, they are often left in no mans land. That's why Dempsey and Siggurdson have looked so lost in those roles this year. They neither hunt down the defending players on the ball nor help dominate the midfield.
So my argument is we should play a midfield 3 of Sandro, Carrol and Dembele. A genuine 3, not Sandro and Carroll sitting and Dembele behind the striker. I'd assume Sandro to be the middle man as he will be naturally inclined to be the more defensively minded. I think set up like this, after some match practice, our team can press high as a unit and dominate the opposition. Bale and Lennon will be given the chance to cause havoc for fullbacks trying to pass the ball out, as Dembele or Carroll can protect the space behind. With the ball we will have far more fluidity and be less predictable. Dembele will probably spearhead attacks but Carroll and Sandro will also have chances to drive with ball as the others take turns to cover.
4-3-3. More effective, more attractive. (Especially when Ade comes back )
The back line issues have been discussed to death in other threads but I thought its worth bringing up because the whole pressing game has to start form the back. The midfield can not press high without the defence moving up because it creates too much space between the lines. The forwards can not press without the midfield pressing, because they will just be outnumbered and passed around by any mildly competent defence.
Earlier in the season we really allowed ourselves to get deep as the game went on, this meant that the pressing midfield suddenly found they were leaving big gaps between the lines and were getting cut up. Seeing the ensuing chaos they stopped pressing and full on dropped in to the defensive line. The unchallenged opposition then pinned us in our 1/3rd and came at us again and again and again unchallenged. I'm not sure who was in charge of the defence but I have a feeling that it was Gallas who should have been taking responsibility. Perhaps AVB should have been picking up on it? We've lately started pressing higher but have not had the right players to do it. Gallas, whilst putting in some awesome performances, has not had the pace to recover from mistakes. Walker has been off form and as some have controversially mentioned; been playing oppo strikers onside as he tries to protect the space behind the slow Gallas.
Against Lazio we finally had a back four who could really play the high line to the extreme. They struggled with not being used to the system, but that is expected and will improve. You could also clearly see the intended effect of the sweeper keeper with the set-up and it certainly looks like something worth working on. So Verts, Caulker and Lloris improves this part. Despite that improvement however the team as a whole still didn't look right which brings me to the next point; the midfield set up.
Rather than playing the 4-3-3 like AVB had used at Porto we have been forced in to using the 4-2-3-1. It hasn't looked pretty in the attacking sense and it hasn't been effective in a defensive one. I would like to see us move on to a 4-3-3. Leaving out the attacking side of the argument for another thread, this formation affects the pressing side of our game for a number of reasons. In a 4-3-3 there is a genuine midfield 3 where, although there will be a more defensively minded midfielder, an all-rounder and a more attacking player, they are all still midfielders. They all attack, defend and pass, playing in a fluid style. The 4-2-3-1 has the two deep laying midfielders and the man behind the striker. Because a midfield 3 is far less narrow than a midfield 2 it allows the wingers to press the oppo full backs high up the pitch, as a midfielder can always cover behind. A midfield 2 cannot cover across like this as comfortably because it leaves space in the middle of the pitch and although the man behind the striker could drop in to cover, they are often left in no mans land. That's why Dempsey and Siggurdson have looked so lost in those roles this year. They neither hunt down the defending players on the ball nor help dominate the midfield.
So my argument is we should play a midfield 3 of Sandro, Carrol and Dembele. A genuine 3, not Sandro and Carroll sitting and Dembele behind the striker. I'd assume Sandro to be the middle man as he will be naturally inclined to be the more defensively minded. I think set up like this, after some match practice, our team can press high as a unit and dominate the opposition. Bale and Lennon will be given the chance to cause havoc for fullbacks trying to pass the ball out, as Dembele or Carroll can protect the space behind. With the ball we will have far more fluidity and be less predictable. Dembele will probably spearhead attacks but Carroll and Sandro will also have chances to drive with ball as the others take turns to cover.
4-3-3. More effective, more attractive. (Especially when Ade comes back )