Ange Postecoglou is reportedly facing pressure, as his Tottenham team selections and tactics are being questioned by both fans and the media, just five games into the new season. TT has therefore considered potential adjustments that could be made to improve the balance of his XI.
The north London club is presently ranked 13th in the Premier League table, having won only one of its first four matches. Additionally, they have lost seven of their last 11 games dating back to the conclusion of the previous season.
The Carabao Cup at Coventry on Wednesday night was a welcome victory, despite the fact that the outcome did not align with the disjointed performance that resulted in yet more defensive errors and lacked a cutting edge in the attack. Certainly, Postecoglou made eight substitutions from the team that suffered a defeat at Arsenal. However, the quality of the pitch was still sufficient to prevent Spurs from relying on two extremely late goals to defeat the Championship team.
The Sky Blues’ excessive wastefulness resulted in some shambolic communication moments and individual errors, which could have cost Postecoglou the match. Four of the back five were replaced.
Despite Tottenham’s considerable investment in Dominic Solanke, the former Bournemouth player has yet to score a goal. Additionally, Son Heung-min, the team’s captain, appears to be a mere shadow of his former self, who was so consistent for an extended period.
However, the midfield is where the balance appears to be completely off, as evidenced by the loss to Arsenal. Spurs were impressive when in possession, but they left the two center-backs exposed as the full-backs continued to surge forward.
In order to achieve this, it is imperative that Postecoglou return to the fundamentals and establish a more robust foundation from which to initiate assaults, thereby providing Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven with the necessary protection.
The team has been plagued by the issue of defending set-pieces for a number of years, and the centre-back pairing will also benefit from another alteration at the back (as highlighted below).
So, this is our perspective on Tottenham’s lineup for the foreseeable future…
The most effective Tottenham XI (4-2-1-3)
Guido Vicario
The Italian continues to struggle with his command of his area, particularly from set-pieces. However, the alternative is the 36-year-old veteran Fraser Forster, who appeared to be completely lost during the Carabao Cup victory at Coventry.
Vicario continues to be an exceptional shot-stopper; however, his distribution requires improvement, as his feet frequently result in Tottenham’s defense being placed in difficult situations.
Pedro Porro
The new campaign has begun in a manner that is consistent with one of the significant strengths of the previous season. The defensive aspect of his game is progressively developing, and his capacity to advance and pose a genuine threat in the box is a significant asset.
The Spaniard has been one of Postecoglou’s most consistent performers, with 12 goal involvements in his last 41 games, including five goals and seven assists, dating back to the previous season.
Cristian Romero
The Argentine is an unstoppable force for his country, but he can be a slight enigma at Tottenham, as lapses in concentration frequently result in goals.
He was outmuscled in the area by Gabriel for Arsenal’s set-piece winner last weekend and lost Jamie Vardy for Leicester’s equalizer in the opening game of the season just this season.
However, Spurs are interested in offering the World Cup and Copa America winner a new contract, despite the persistent connections to Real Madrid.
Radu Dragusin
The Romanian international has impressed in his limited appearances for the club, and his inclusion alongside Romero should significantly alleviate the set-piece issue.
6 feet 3 inches Although Dragusin is not quite at Micky van de Ven’s speed, he is a formidable force in the air and is no slacker on the ground. However, who is?
Despite Postecoglou’s admission that he is not excessively concerned with the set-piece difficulties, the former Genoa man’s presence at the back, alongside Romero (6ft 1in) and Van de Ven (6ft 4in), should alleviate what has become a significant issue for him.
Micky van de Ven
Another of Spurs’ more consistent performers, his electrifying pace frequently rescues the team from trouble when their aggressive attacking play is disrupted during the transition.
The Netherlands international excelled as a left-back in the latter part of the previous season as a result of Destiny Udogie’s injury. His presence provides an additional layer of protection against set-piece complications.
This is a difficult situation for Udogie, who appeared to be in excellent form during the first half of last season. However, his performance level has since declined, and he still does not appear to be totally recovered or at the level that impressed many observers during his early days at the club.
Archie Gray
The summer acquisition is the result of Yves Bissouma’s ongoing challenges in recapturing the exceptional form he exhibited during his tenure at Brighton and the initial ten games of the previous season.
Gray was acquired as a result of his exceptional performances in the core of Leeds’ engine room, where he performed at a level that exceeded his years and secured a £30 million transfer to north London.
His game intelligence was also evident during the pre-season, as Postecoglou frequently deployed him in central defense. It is time for the Australian to include him in the team, particularly in light of the scarcity of other high-quality options to safeguard the back four.
Rodrigo Bentancur
The Uruguayan international is still not the same player he was before his ACL injury in February 2023, but he continues to be the club’s top box-to-box midfielder.
Bentancur could potentially advance further and employ his creativity to a greater extent if Gray were present to provide additional defensive stability.
This was demonstrated in the final minutes of the game at Coventry when he disrupted the play on the halfway line, advanced, and delivered a flawless through pass for Brennan Johnson to score the winning goal.
The optimal Tottenham XI for Postecoglou to select
James Maddison
The England player was subdued during Arsenal’s defeat; however, he has otherwise begun the new season with a bang and has resembled the Maddison who was so impressive during the 10-match unbeaten streak that commenced last season.
The former Leicester player’s creativity is undeniable; however, he must enhance his scoring capabilities, as he has only scored four goals in 34 appearances for the club thus far.
Dejan Kulusevski
The Swede must be relocated to the right flank for the foreseeable future, as Spurs are left with an excessive amount of space when they are not in possession due to the experiment of playing him deeper.
Kulusevski’s acceleration is insufficient to qualify as a legitimate winger; however, it is more logical to position him in and around the box, where he performs his most impressive work.
Dominic Solanke
Despite the fact that the club-record signing has had a challenging start to life in north London, he has at least appeared to be a threat, despite not yet taking advantage of the opportunities that have been presented to him.
Tottenham have yet to capitalize on Solanke’s potential, as he is most effective when he is provided with crosses and through-balls to capitalize on his speed. Nevertheless, there is a perception that additional units will be introduced after the initial one is inserted.
Son Heung-min
It appears that the South Korean has relinquished some of his electrifying pace and finishing power, despite his continued menace.
Thus far this season, Son has been deployed both in the middle and out wide, as he was during the previous campaign. However, the captaincy may have contributed to his workload.
Tottenham has become increasingly dependent on their other superstar attacker following Harry Kane’s departure, and the weight of responsibility is beginning to have an impact. Additionally, their other superstar attacker is now 32 years old.
