Spurs start to master off the ball running
The difference in the last few weeks for Tottenham has been startling from the relegation fodder that was being served up before. Internal problems with certain players not buying into Pochettino's philosophy, preferring to just do what they have always done, meant results where not we have come to expect.
The problems, which stem from the wrong mental approach, were mainly in attack where the attacking players were not creating much meaning we posed little goal threat. The Pochettino way was that the front four were all capable of interchanging. When we did that we could create and Nacer Chadli was popping up all over the place to score. However that interchanging stopped and we were left with the midfielders staying behind the ball meaning we had nobody apart from a striker to pick out. Whenever we got into wide areas there was only one player in the box so the percentage for success if the ball were crossed was minimal. As a result we we were just recycling and moving the ball across the field again, our attack was reduced to long range shots.
The last few weeks however have seen the three attacking midfielders making runs beyond the ball again and this has transformed us into an attacking threat. Movement is fundamental to creating goals so it's no surprise.
When a midfielder runs beyond the striker it changed the whole dynamic of our game. It causes central defenders problems and the midfielders sitting in front of the back four have tough decisions to make, do they track the runner and get pulled out of shape or leave them and retain their shape, usually two banks of four or a bank of four and a bank of five. Equally though, movement in midfield has allowed us to move the ball forward instead of simply across the park searching for non-existent openings.
The key to playing with movement is to be able to think ahead. You have to read the game, read where the space is going to be, read if you play a ball to a team mate where you can move to to give him the option of a return pass. Also though you must be able to see what options he has before you pass to him, if you pass to a player with limited or even no options you are simply putting him under pressure and you'll find a move breaks down perhaps two passes later. The fault is that instance lies not with who lost the ball or misplaced a hurried or speculative pass, but two passes earlier when a player was given the ball with no options. You will often see this when the ball is played to a full-back by a centre-back, if the centre-back is advanced level with them.
The instance that springs to mind immediately id the Kyle Walker back-pass at Anfield, that Lloris should have cleared but didn't. The error was the ball by Michael Dawson to Walker on the touchline. With no options he made an attempted back pass but he shouldn't have been put in that situation in the first place. It just highlights why intelligent players are crucial. Sir Alex Ferguson used to buy players who he felt were intelligent so they could play various systems, the player who can only do his thing in one system is limited, however good at what he does within a system that suits him.
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In an attacking sense in the 4-2-3-1 system when the striker runs towards midfield the centre-back has two options, he can stay allowing the striker to receive the ball in space or he can go with him leaving space behind for a runner to utilise. In a 4-4-2 system the strike partner uses that space but in our 4-2-3-1 system it opens the area for one of three attacking midfielders. In today's game there is more focus on ball retention so the movement of the attacking players becomes crucial.
The difference between the Tottenham that moves and the Tottenham that doesn't is stark. The lone striker role has changed from simply being a hold-up role to an off the ball movement role. Jermain Defoe against Manchester United at Old Trafford a couple of years back highlighted the importance of off the ball running creating the space for Jan Vertonghen to score in our victory. He was instrumental in the goal but didn't touch the ball, rather shows that assists don't mean everything.
The attacking players are fairly settled together with the defensive midfield so everyone can play on the same wavelength and understand the movement others may make. That understanding will improve over time so Tottenham are very definitely in an upward curve.
The problems, which stem from the wrong mental approach, were mainly in attack where the attacking players were not creating much meaning we posed little goal threat. The Pochettino way was that the front four were all capable of interchanging. When we did that we could create and Nacer Chadli was popping up all over the place to score. However that interchanging stopped and we were left with the midfielders staying behind the ball meaning we had nobody apart from a striker to pick out. Whenever we got into wide areas there was only one player in the box so the percentage for success if the ball were crossed was minimal. As a result we we were just recycling and moving the ball across the field again, our attack was reduced to long range shots.
The last few weeks however have seen the three attacking midfielders making runs beyond the ball again and this has transformed us into an attacking threat. Movement is fundamental to creating goals so it's no surprise.
When a midfielder runs beyond the striker it changed the whole dynamic of our game. It causes central defenders problems and the midfielders sitting in front of the back four have tough decisions to make, do they track the runner and get pulled out of shape or leave them and retain their shape, usually two banks of four or a bank of four and a bank of five. Equally though, movement in midfield has allowed us to move the ball forward instead of simply across the park searching for non-existent openings.
The key to playing with movement is to be able to think ahead. You have to read the game, read where the space is going to be, read if you play a ball to a team mate where you can move to to give him the option of a return pass. Also though you must be able to see what options he has before you pass to him, if you pass to a player with limited or even no options you are simply putting him under pressure and you'll find a move breaks down perhaps two passes later. The fault is that instance lies not with who lost the ball or misplaced a hurried or speculative pass, but two passes earlier when a player was given the ball with no options. You will often see this when the ball is played to a full-back by a centre-back, if the centre-back is advanced level with them.
The instance that springs to mind immediately id the Kyle Walker back-pass at Anfield, that Lloris should have cleared but didn't. The error was the ball by Michael Dawson to Walker on the touchline. With no options he made an attempted back pass but he shouldn't have been put in that situation in the first place. It just highlights why intelligent players are crucial. Sir Alex Ferguson used to buy players who he felt were intelligent so they could play various systems, the player who can only do his thing in one system is limited, however good at what he does within a system that suits him.
Recent Articles
The Diving Debate
Spurs not interested in Cissokho
Berahino not for Spurs
Howard Webb discusses headbutts
When are the Italians gonna give it a rest
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In an attacking sense in the 4-2-3-1 system when the striker runs towards midfield the centre-back has two options, he can stay allowing the striker to receive the ball in space or he can go with him leaving space behind for a runner to utilise. In a 4-4-2 system the strike partner uses that space but in our 4-2-3-1 system it opens the area for one of three attacking midfielders. In today's game there is more focus on ball retention so the movement of the attacking players becomes crucial.
The difference between the Tottenham that moves and the Tottenham that doesn't is stark. The lone striker role has changed from simply being a hold-up role to an off the ball movement role. Jermain Defoe against Manchester United at Old Trafford a couple of years back highlighted the importance of off the ball running creating the space for Jan Vertonghen to score in our victory. He was instrumental in the goal but didn't touch the ball, rather shows that assists don't mean everything.
The attacking players are fairly settled together with the defensive midfield so everyone can play on the same wavelength and understand the movement others may make. That understanding will improve over time so Tottenham are very definitely in an upward curve.
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