Can Spurs make dominance count against Brentford?

Adrian Clarke looks at key tactical points and players who can be decisive in Matchweek 5.

Team analysis - Tottenham Hotspur

Creativity has been a huge issue for Ange Postecoglou’s side so far this season.

While Spurs have dominated all four of their Premier League matches, a lack of imagination, clever movement and bravery on the ball has let them down.

Spurs have been too easy to contain after largely failing to convert territorial superiority into quality chances, goals and ultimately points.

Consequently, they are 13th in the table on four points ahead of Saturday's home match against Brentford.

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Damning numbers

The statistics from Opta Analyst showcases the issues suffered by “Angeball” early in the new campaign.

Spurs have been excellent at keeping possession and pinning opponents back inside their own half, passing the ball around with confidence.

They have an average field tilt of 78.4 per cent - their share of the total number of passes in the final third for both teams in the match. That is the highest percentage in the league.

Yet for a side who have spent so much time in advanced areas, they have not carved out enough big goalscoring opportunities.

In fact, Spurs are averaging only 0.023 Expected Goals (xG) every time they move the ball into the attacking third, either with a pass or by someone carrying it.

Spurs' attacking threat 24/25

Only out-of-form Everton and the three promoted sides have lower threat levels for each entry into that part of the field.

Lowest xG per pass into final third 24/25

What’s the issue?

Opponents know that Spurs have pace in abundance in forward areas, with Brennan Johnson, Son Heung-min and Dominic Solanke among a host of speedy threats.

Throughout their respective careers those three individuals have all been at their best with space to run into, often on fast transitions or counter-attacks.

Knowing this, rival sides are dropping off into lower blocks in a bid to slow down Spurs’ danger men, just as Arsenal and Newcastle United have done to good effect in their last couple of matches.

Postecoglou’s desire to control matches is fine, but is it playing to the strengths of his key attacking talents?

Examples like this one below from last weekend's north London derby show everybody ahead of the ball, with the central domain crowded with their best forwards - and opposition markers.

This has been the pattern for large spells of each match in the current campaign, with Spurs playing too much of their football in front of packed, resolute defences.

As you can see from this key-pass chalkboard in the 2-1 loss at Newcastle, Spurs did not create anything from open play in the wide areas.  

Their xG of 1.26 was also behind Newcastle's 1.83, despite Spurs having 65.7 per cent of possession. 

Key passes v Newcastle 

This aspect of their play improved at home to Arsenal, mainly due to the Gunners blocking off the central area with so many bodies, but Spurs’ xG of 0.71 was still the lowest of all home matches under Postecoglou. 

Key passes v Arsenal

Spurs' lowest home xG under Postecoglou 

Spurs have worked the ball into some excellent areas during the early part of this season, enjoying 174 touches inside the box, which is second only to Manchester City.  

But out of all 20 top-flight teams, Spurs have fired off attempts at a less-prolific rate than anybody else.  

Their shots per penalty-area entry is only 0.387, which suggests a lack of decisiveness and conviction in advanced areas.

Pedro Porro has supplied the best of their creativity, producing 10 key passes from right-back.  

But Johnson and Dejan Kulusevski will be disappointed not to have registered their first goals by now, especially given that Mohamed Salah and Bukayo Saka are the only players to have had more touches inside the penalty area.  

Between them, Johnson and Kulusevski have managed only four shots on target. 

Most touches in opposition box 24/25

Kulusevski has been a little shot-shy, while former Nottingham Forest star Johnson has failed to hit the target with six of his nine efforts from relatively close range.  

Their quality from those positions must be better. 

Open to breakaways

Spurs are finding that many of their opponents are happy to concede possession and territory against them, with the aim of launching direct attacks when opportunities arise.  

Central defenders Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero will often be deep inside the opposition half, which leaves Spurs wide open to breakaways via long passes.  

Arsenal's winner last Sunday came from a corner that stemmed from a counter exploiting this flaw, with Kai Havertz stretching play and holding the ball up for supporting runners.  

Spurs' next opponents Brentford are excellent at launching these types of attacks and, even though Yoane Wissa is missing through injury, Bryan Mbeumo, Kevin Schade and Keane Lewis-Potter will carry a threat in those situations.  

The Bees’ field-tilt average is only 30 per cent this season, affected by visits to Man City and Liverpool, so they are well-versed at setting up to protect the middle and defensive thirds. 

Highest average for field tilt 24/25 

Brentford are also excellent at picking out team-mates with passes over distance, making 112 successful long passes, ranking them second in that area.  

Spurs are stuck in a rut right now and will need to make their dominance with the ball count if they are to avoid a third successive league defeat. 

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