Why Spurs' twin No 10s can thrive at Brighton

Adrian Clarke looks at key tactical points and players who can be decisive in Matchweek 7.

Player analysis: Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison (Tottenham Hotspur)

Spurs ran rings around Manchester United in a statement 3-0 victory last weekend, vindicating Ange Postecoglou’s positive tactical mentality.

Starting at Old Trafford with a central midfield containing Rodrigo Bentancur flanked by Kulusevski and Maddison would have been deemed too bold by many head coaches.

Yet the front-footed Postecoglou flipped that thought process around, choosing to focus on the benefits of pairing them as twin No 10s instead.

Kulusevski and Maddison were both outstanding, just as they were when pressing Brentford into submission in an impressive 3-1 success in Matchweek 5.

Kulusevski the creator

Swedish midfielder Kulusevski is a highly regarded creative talent for good reason, delivering 20 key passes already this season, including 15 from open play.

That ranks him joint-top in the Premier League rankings alongside Chelsea’s brilliant playmaker Cole Palmer.

In a sign of just how adventurous Spurs have been so far in 2024/25, three of their players feature inside the top 10.

Kulusevski is revelling in his new role on the inside of Spurs' wide forwards and consistently bursts forward from a position stationed to the right of Bentancur.

The shot assist map below shows that aside from outswinging corners, Kulusevski’s main creativity has come from central areas where he has provided a string of incisive, telling passes.

In those parts of the field, Maddison enjoys bouncing one-twos off the Swede.

Last weekend, Kulusevski created nine chances for Spurs, the most on record (since 2003/04) by a visiting player in a Premier League game at Old Trafford.

Upcoming opponents Brighton & Hove Albion must devise a plan to tame him at the Amex Stadium on Sunday.

Hard work pays off

One of the main reasons why Postecoglou trusts Kulusevski to operate in a deeper role is because he knows how hard the 24-year-old is willing to work.

After six rounds of matches no Premier League player has covered more distance per 90 minutes or averaged a higher running speed.

Indeed, no top-flight midfielder can match the total number of runs Kulusevski makes either, or the quantity of runs that end inside the opposition penalty area.

Playing with a spring in his step, the Swede is supremely fit and brings outstanding levels of athleticism to Spurs' midfield.

Kulusevski's physical prowess 2024/25

Working as a unit

Spurs laboured when trying to break down low blocks put up by Newcastle United and Arsenal, which is why the creation of turnovers is so vital for them.

Across their last two matches against Brentford and Manchester United, Postecoglou’s men averaged 10.5 regains inside the final third.

The average number of times they won possession in that domain during the other four matches stands at 7.25.

Dominic Solanke’s first goal for the club came from a typically hostile Spurs press that involved Kulusevski and Maddison squeezing up in unison.

Kulusevski forced Brentford’s Ethan Pinnock into an error that Maddison pounced on, and when his shot was saved, Solanke knocked home the rebound.

Solanke's goal v Brentford

Providing they close down properly, playing this pair in central positions will help Spurs profit more often from regains in advanced areas.

Kulusevski has won the ball a competition-high nine times inside the final third, with Maddison not too far behind him on six.

Magic numbers for Maddison

Spurs have largely controlled all the matches they have played in so far this season, averaging 63.2 per cent possession.

This suits Maddison, who has been the fulcrum of many of their attacks.

He may not have earned an England recall from Lee Carsley this week, but no one has come close to Maddison's Expected Assists (xA) tally of 2.54 so far.

Most open-play expected assists 2024/25

Maddison is also ranked joint-first for passes played into the box, fourth for successful passes inside the final third, and fifth for successful crosses.

Respected statistical analysts Data MB also came up with some interesting data for the creative midfielder earlier this week, ranking him highly against other Premier League midfielders.

Maddison v other Premier League midfielders

How Hurzeler learned from Spurs

After watching the pair dismantle Man Utd in a contest that saw Spurs rack up a season-high xG of 4.67, Postecoglou was heartfelt in his praise of the new midfield combination.

“They are both really good intelligent footballers,” Postecoglou said in his post-match press conference. “The way we play suits their characteristics because Maddison does so much damage with the ball and Kulusevski does so much damage with his running. It’s a good balance for us in that attacking third.”

Interestingly, it was also revealed this week that Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler spent a day at Spurs' training ground last season, while in charge of St Pauli in Bundesliga 2.

Hurzeler made a lasting impression on Postecoglou, who joked at his press conference that he gave away too much information to the curious 31-year-old.

“He asked a lot of questions, I gave him too many answers, for sure! You can tell he's a real student of the game,” added Postecoglou.

“I actually palmed him off at one stage because he asking too many, so I passed him to the other coaches! He was inquisitive about everything. He was already a senior manager, doing a good job, and the fact that he still wanted to ask questions... he made a real impression on everyone.”

Similar identities

Brighton and Spurs certainly share many tactical similarities, with both head coaches bold by nature, and determined to produce entertaining football.

Taking risks does not faze either man, so we should see plenty of excitement when it comes to pressing and exploiting one another’s high lines.

On paper Brighton are the type of opponents that Spurs would prefer to face, as they will not sit back in a low block.

Postecoglou’s shape is a 4-3-3 compared to Hurzeler’s 4-2-3-1, but in reality the formations become near-identical when they have possession.

As you can see below, Postecoglou and Hurzeler are prepared to leave a sole holding midfielder in situ, as their shapes morph into 2-3-5.

These average position maps from the season so far indicate how like-minded they are.

Average position maps 2024/25

This contest on the south coast promises to be a lively, high-octane encounter between two sides that share equally positive ideologies.

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