Not Just Another Tottenham Review: The 33% Issue

10/20/2024 11:17 AM

A Tale of Two Halves: Tactical Changes Secure Tottenham's 4-1 Victory Over West Ham

In this breakdown of Tottenham's 4-1 win against West Ham, it's clear that while Spurs dominated possession, our defensive frailties from throw-ins nearly cost us again. 

West Ham's first goal came from a Spurs throw-in near the Hammers' corner flag, highlighting Tottenham's ongoing issues in this area. 

Mohammed Kudus, West Ham's 'player to watch,' capitalized on poor defending, further exposing Tottenham's weaknesses from throw-ins and transitions.

What have I written about this week?

How Spurs were, possibly are, the worst in the Premier League from our own throw-ins.

West Ham Goal Analysis

Destiny Udogie was the wrong side of the West Ham attacking player (Jarrod Bowen) for the West Ham opening goal, why?

What was he doing?

He should be between the man and the goal, he should be blocking his right foot and stopping a cross across the six-yard box,

The Hammers Mohammed Kudus, puts the ball into the net with Johnson arriving to help out a fraction too late.

Instead, he stops at his back, unbelievably poor defending.

It is the same goal Bentancur allowed last week,

What is our defensive coach teaching them?

Both goals were conceded because we were trying to usher the player out for a goal kick, which has allowed them both to cross resulting in dropped points.

It's as if Spurs are scared of giving away corners.

Did a reporter ask this after the game?

If not, why not?

That's the kind of reporting I want to see, something a lot more insightful than what we actually get.

In summary, the Irons strength, counter-attacking, combined with our weakness, throw-ins, combined to create their goal.

Fix the throw-in and the rest doesn't happen.

How many goals are we conceding as a result of out throw-ins?

It's 3 out of 9 at least in the Premier League, that's 33.3% plus the only goal we have conceded in Europe against Ferencvaros 100%.

I can't remember how Coventry scored in the League Cup.

The Tottenham goal from Dejan Kulusevski to level it was the result of pressing in midfield in our own half.

To sum the first-half up, West Ham's compact defensive setup frustrated Spurs, limiting clear-cut chances by congesting the box and doubling up on Tottenham's wide players. 

Despite Tottenham dominating possession, West Ham's defensive discipline and ability to counter earned them.

The inside channels were blocked stopping Maddison and Kulusevski running into them.

Kulusevski Goal Analysis

The new Swedish captain who plays in this central role for his country and did for Juventus, added another goal to his tally.

Loved Ange taking off Maddison to say you're not guaranteed a spot, you have to keep your performance levels up.

The pivotal moment came with Postecoglou's decision to replace James Maddison with Pape Matar Sarr at halftime, switching to a 4-2-3-1 formation. 

This change opened up spaces between West Ham's full-backs and center-backs, which Tottenham exploited through overlapping runs by Destiny Udogie and Pedro Porro. 

The tactical adjustment allowed Spurs to dominate the second half, scoring three more goals, with West Ham unable to cope with Tottenham's transition play and pace​.

Credit goes to Son with a goal, one he should have scored but hit the post and a couple of outside of the boot passes in the build-up to two of the goals.

The preview was highly accurate in predicting Tottenham's possession dominance and West Ham's threat on the counter, but it also Tottenham's ability to press, West Ham's inability to cope with it and Spurs'  ability to exploit these transitions, which was key to our emphatic win.

THBN Answers Your Questions

What is causing Tottenham to concede so many goals from their own throw-ins?

Tottenham's issues with conceding from throw-ins aren't solely down to defensive positioning. The problem is more widespread and systemic, affecting various areas of the pitch, not just in the defensive third. 

The West Ham goal exemplifies how easily Spurs give away possession from throw-ins, no matter where on the pitch they occur.

The issue seems to be twofold: first, a lack of strategic planning when taking throw-ins, leading to poor decision-making. Spurs often fail to retain possession, which puts the team on the back foot immediately. 

Secondly, there's a disconnect between the players' movement and awareness when receiving the ball, leaving throw-ins vulnerable to pressure from opponents. 

The team must work on routines and synchronization to avoid such costly errors, with better movement off the ball and quicker decision-making to avoid being pressed into turnovers.

By focusing on improving the technical execution and tactical setup during throw-ins across the pitch, Tottenham can prevent the costly turnovers that have led to goals like those against West Ham, Newcastle, Brighton and Ferencvaros.

Why is Destiny Udogie struggling defensively in key moments?

Udogie's defensive struggles, particularly in the first West Ham goal, are due to positioning errors. He was caught on the wrong side of Jarrod Bowen, allowing a cross that led to the goal. Defensively, he needs to focus on being between the attacker and the goal, rather than attempting to shepherd players out of bounds. This is a fundamental aspect that Tottenham's defensive coaching must address to prevent similar mistakes.

Why did Postecoglou replace Maddison at halftime, and how did it change the game?

Postecoglou's decision to replace Maddison with Sarr was a tactical masterstroke. By switching to a 4-2-3-1 formation, Tottenham gained more control of the midfield and were able to exploit the spaces between West Ham's full-backs and center-backs. This change allowed Tottenham's full-backs to make effective overlapping runs, which opened up the game and led to three second-half goals. This substitution emphasized the need for tactical flexibility in games where initial strategies aren't working.

COYS