Flipping the players’ mindset around from being reactive to proactive, Tottenham Hotspur’s new head coach Ange Postecoglou has had a transformative effect on the north London club.
Under a succession of managers, Spurs had largely been a passive team out of possession that exploded into life on the counter.
When he was appointed during the summer, Postecoglou pledged to bring something different - and he has been as good as his word, rapidly turning Spurs into one of the boldest, most adventurous top flight teams.
The set-up
Ditching a 3-4-2-1 in favour of a 4-2-3-1 formation, Postecoglou has added one extra attacking player to his starting XI.
In essence that is James Maddison, who is used as a floating No 10 with licence to roam in search of the ball, and usually to help create overloads.
These 2v1s, 3v2s or 4v3s take place all over the pitch, centrally or wide, and Maddison readily joins in to become the spare man.
Below, you see him push on close to striker Son Heung-min to set up a 4v3 as Spurs move the ball quickly from right to left against Luton Town.
From this attack Richarlison missed a golden chance to score.
When Spurs play out from the back, they are fluid and composed in possession, as they seek to create numerical advantages.
The clip below from their 2-2 draw with Arsenal reflects this.
Spurs' two central defenders split when goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario has the ball, while both full-backs (circled) invert into central midfield. Holding midfielder Pape Matar Sarr heads towards the right touchline, while Yves Bissouma and Maddison come short to show to feet.
In these situations they back themselves to keep the ball.
Setting up a 4v3 from the corner flag, Cristian Romero plays a pass into Bissouma, who then calmly executes a 1-2 around Eddie Nketiah with Maddison, that helps him release left-side centre-back Micky van de Ven as the spare man.
It is brave, but controlled play from Spurs, who are coached to create these overloads.
Incredible numbers
The data Spurs have produced this season is in stark contrast to the numbers they delivered under previous head coach Antonio Conte.
Their share of possession has leapt from 49.9 to 61.4 per cent, their pressing from the front is unrecognisable, and in terms of touches inside the opposition box and field tilt, there's been monumental changes under Postecoglou.
Conte v Postecoglou comparison
| Stat | Under Conte | Under Postecoglou |
|---|---|---|
| % Possession | 49.8 | 61.4 |
| Regains in final third | 4.4 | 7.3 |
| Touches in opp. box | 23.6 | 42.6 |
| Shots | 13.6 | 19.1 |
| Goals | 1.84 | 2.25 |
| Expected goals | 1.52 | 1.89 |
| % Field tilt | 43.1 | 64.8 |
Playing on the front foot and displaying showing patience on the ball, Spurs make the pitch feel very big for rival sides by stationing their wingers high and wide.
This creates room on the inside for the likes of Maddison and Son to shine.
This style pins opponents back and it has helped them dramatically increase the number of successful passes they make inside the final third, leaping from 79.4 per match last season (10th term in the PL) to 149 per match (1st in the PL).
Off the ball they are also working significantly harder to produce quick regains.
Spurs players now aggressively hunt in packs to close down, and as a collective they cover 113.1km per 90 minutes – a steep rise from 110.7km in 2022/23.
The stats certainly paint a picture of a team that is now markedly harder to play against.
Spurs tougher opponents
| Stat | 22/23 | Rank | 23/24 | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opponent passes per defensive action | 13.7 | 15th | 9.0 | 1st |
| High turnovers/90 | 6.7 | 20th | 10.6 | 2nd |
Pace at the back
The speed Spurs now possess at the back also enables them to press with more confidence and hostility.
New left-back Destiny Udogie is their fastest player, shortly followed by centre-back partners Romero and Van de Ven.
Postecoglou’s players know that because they have wonderful recovery pace, they can squeeze up a few yards higher than many other Premier League teams dare to, in order to congest space.
To successfully play this slightly risky brand of assertive football you need speed at the back, and Spurs have that in abundance.
Fastest Spurs players 2023/24
| Player | Top Speed (km/h) |
|---|---|
| Destiny Udogie | 34.68 |
| Micky van de Ven | 34.62 |
| Cristian Romero | 34.61 |
| Son Heung-min | 34.15 |
| Manor Solomon | 34.15 |
Freedom of expression
This tactical approach seems to be enjoyed by the players, and it has certainly endeared Postecoglou to Spurs' fans too.
Scoring an average 2.25 goals per match, they have been scintillating to watch.
Postecoglou is relatively hands-off on the touchline, however, and rarely engages in detailed in-game conversations with his players.
He trusts them to make the right decisions. Filled with confidence, the shackles of previous regimes have been well and truly released.
This is reflected in the number of times Spurs players now feel empowered to run with the ball at their feet to commit defenders.
It is yet another astonishing difference which has been cultivated inside just four months.
Ave. running with ball at their feet
| Season | Ave. | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 16.86 | 12th |
| 2023/24 | 24.75 | 1st |
Central defenders Van de Ven and Romero love to carry the ball forward more than most, and so too does rejuvenated central midfielder Bissouma.
Moving forward
There are sure to be bumps in the road for Postecoglou’s side between now and the end of the campaign, but it has been a near-perfect start under the astute Australian.
While they do leave themselves open at times, relying on goalkeeper Vicario a little more often than their top four rivals, this new-look team is largely functioning outstandingly well in all departments.
Hard work on the training ground and the reconfiguration of player habits has been at the heart of the progress Spurs have made.
The future looks bright for this well-coached Premier League side.
Also in this series
Part 2: Academy coaches highlight value of sharing best practices
Part 3: How Coach Scheme helps Fuller inspire Stoke's young stars