Adrian Clarke looks at key tactical points and players who can be decisive in Matchweek 2.
Player analysis - James Maddison and Yves Bissouma
Manchester United will encounter a very different Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday evening.
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The absence of Harry Kane is the standout change of course, but from a tactical perspective Spurs are in the process of developing a new identity.
Ange Postecoglou promised Spurs fans a more exciting, attacking brand of football. If the performance in their 2-2 draw at Brentford is an accurate gauge, the Australian is well on his way to delivering that.
Keeping Man Utd pegged back
The biggest change is how Postecoglou will want to see a lot more of the ball inside the opposition half.
Under their last three permanent head coaches, Jose Mourinho, Nuno Espirito Santo, and Antonio Conte, Spurs have been quite defensive in their approach.
Spurs sat back and were passive out of possession as they looked to hurt teams on the counter-attack, rather than controlling matches in an assertive manner.
New head coach Postecoglou wants an opposite style of play, and we bore witness to that last Sunday.
Lining up in a 4-2-3-1 with several new faces, including Maddison as a No 10, Destiny Udogie at left-back, Micky van de Ven at centre-back and Guglielmo Vicario in goal, Spurs played with a freshness and verve.
As displayed in the table below, their distribution numbers were the polar opposite of their averages across 2022/23.
Spurs made 242.1 extra passes than last season’s norm, their passes inside the opposition half rose by 167 per cent, and inside the final third that figure leapt to a remarkable increase of 211 per cent.
Spurs' attacking approach compared
| Statistic | 2022/23 ave. per match | 2023/24 v Brentford |
|---|---|---|
| Succ. passes ending in final third | 79.4 | 247 |
| Succ. passes in opp. half | 170 | 455 |
| Succ. passes | 395.9 | 638 |
| Touches in opp. box | 23.6 | 33 |
| Poss. won final third | 4.4 | 6 |
Forcing the Bees to retreat, they played most of this encounter inside the home team’s territory.
This action areas chalkboard showcases the pattern of the match.
Work in progress
While Spurs' desire to press, often led by Maddison, caught the eye, they did show fragility against counter-attacks.
Operating with a much higher line than they have been used to, Spurs left space in behind for Brentford’s pacy forwards to exploit.
Despite all their pressure, it was Thomas Frank’s men who produced a higher Expected Goals (xG) of 2.22 compared to 1.87 from the visitors.
Against Man Utd, players such as Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, Antony and Jadon Sancho could use their speed to hurt Spurs in fast breaks.
Two standouts
Maddison and Bissouma were Spurs' best players on the opening weekend.
Playing behind Richarlison, Maddison will have been delighted to produce two assists on his debut, the first from a wonderful inswinging free-kick.
The majority of Maddison’s touches were inside the final third, a sign of his side’s territorial dominance, and he laid on five goalscoring opportunities.
Bissouma, who made only 10 Premier League starts last season, was also influential.
The Mali star pushed into more advanced positions than he did in 2022/23, which enabled him to dictate play for Postecoglou’s side in a classy, and often entertaining manner.
He made five successful dribbles and produced 89 of his 116 passes inside the Brentford half.
Spurs and Man Utd are two teams who are keen to evolve their tactical blueprints this season, so it will be fascinating to see who gains the upper hand.
Erik ten Hag’s side are sure to get chances against a Spurs outfit who are still coming to grips with such a dramatic shift in style, but if Maddison and Bissouma reproduce the standards they set in Matchweek 1, they will provide a stern challenge for United.
Also in this series
Part 1: Eze and Saka can determine London derby outcome
Part 2: How Emery can get Villa's balance right against Everton
Part 4: How Chilwell and Jackson typify spirit of Pochettino's Chelsea