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The formation that shall not be named

5 min read
by Mike Horowitz
Mike Horowitz discusses tactics and looks at a new formation that may give Spurs the edge when going toe-to-toe with the oil XI.

Last time I checked, the closest I’ve ever been to a Premier League Manager was FIFA15. That being said, you don’t have to be Bill Nicholson to figure out that if two teams play the same formation, the team with more skilled players should theoretically always win. It’s like putting the same dress on an ugly girl and a supermodel: Who’s going to wear it better?

In the Premier League over the last few seasons, every team that matters plays 4-2-3-1: Double pivot. Three behind the lone striker. Front four etc. I can’t take it anymore and I’ve become very tired of watching our boys set up in the same tired way, week after week after week.

Now I would say we are more skilled than the majority of teams in the league, but we all know how we struggle against the so-called “big clubs.” In the City match for example, both squads played formation that shall not be named. Did any of our players outperform their positional counterpart?

[linequote]Danny Rose seems a good fit for a wingback role. He’s definitely fit, has plenty of pace and has the ability to run at midfielders down the touchline. [/linequote]

I would take Hugo over Hart everyday, and at this point in their careers, Eriksen over Lampard and Vertonghen (who didn’t start) over Demichelis, but when you clash heads from a formation standpoint, it turns into a man for man battle. City has better players, City wins.

What are we to do when we play Chelsea?

We don’t have an outfield player who you could guarantee to play every weekend for them. Mauricio needs to be on the front foot and not put our girls next door in the same miniskirt as Jose’s Victoria’s Secret Angels.

What formation can we try?

Let’s look at our players. We have no true, healthy right back at the moment, and while I think Kyle Naughton is often treated harshly, he is about as average as they come. We do have some very pacey wingers and fullbacks in Rose, Lennon, Townsend, Walker (when he returns) and hopefully Yedlin in the near future. We also have a few centre backs who have played at fullback and are comfortable in wider areas in defence and in possession like Vertonghen, Dier, Kaboul and even Vlad (I know). This sounds like the ideal group to play a back 3/5.

Capoue and Stambouli have also both played the centre centre back role in France, similar to when De Rossi was placed back there for Italy in Euro 2012. I think our strongest three would be Dier, Kaboul, Vertonghen. Danny Rose seems a good fit for a wingback role. He’s definitely fit, has plenty of pace and has the ability to run at midfielders down the touchline. After all, he was a winger before he dropped back for us and then moved there full-time during his loan with Sunderland.

On the right, Kyle Walker fits the bill for many of the same reasons. Both of them can be caught out of position as well, so having a spare man behind them could be a big help. While Walker is out though, someone who might be able to fill this role exceptionally well is the elder-statesman of the bunch: Aaron Lennon.

[fullquote]Wingbacks also don’t really need to worry about holding a defensive line as their starting position is always higher to start so I think Azza could slot right in[/fullquote]

At the moment, all he has really been good or marginally praised for is tracking back. He has the motor and is definitely technically gifted enough to run with the ball down the wing. Wingbacks also don’t really need to worry about holding a defensive line as their starting position is always higher to start so I think Azza could slot right in. There is no doubt he gives it all for the club and I think his presence could bring a little more fight to the team.

Ahead of those players, there are three main options: Three in the midfield with a holder, three in the midfield with a number ten, or two in the midfield with Two hybrid wingers/tens and a forward (Like Wigan from 2011-2013). I prefer the Wigan model considering our players, who are all much more skilled than that Wigan side. You may even say the reason they survived in 2012 was because of Martinez’s switch to 3-4-3.

For the two in the midfield, Capoue and Mason have been a good partnership. Capoue is the rock and Mason makes the odd forward run and/or cutting pass. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. I’d then go with a front three of Eriksen, Soldado and Lamela. Everyone is down on Soldado, but I thought he was actually very bright against City minus the penalty.

He set up Eriksen’s goal and deserved an assist on a pretty ball that sent Mason through in the opening moments. The fact he got such good contact on his other big chance on a ball well behind him with his weak foot was impressive. Give Hart credit for a very good save. While he needs to score goals, he brings a great deal of class up front and a run of games would do him good. Robby is a contentious player for sure, but that’s my stance.

[linequote] Eriksen saw most of his success last year drifting in from the left. He can really control the game from the left/inside left[/linequote]

Adebayor and Kane could also obviously take up that spot as well. As for the wingers/10s, Eriksen saw most of his success last year drifting in from the left. He can really control the game from the left/inside left. He would see plenty of the ball and would give us the consistent crosser of the ball we have been lacking this season. On the opposite side, Lamela won’t be running into a clogged middle of the pitch so often and would hopefully be isolated one v one a bit more. Chadli and Townsend could slot into these spots as well, or preferably come off the bench, where they are probably most effective.

We have a run of games coming up that, if we are a top six team, we should be looking to get at least 10 points from. If we line up the same way as we have been, we may still accomplish that goal, but Everton and Chelsea are just around the corner. Maybe Mauricio should break the mould and try something new?

He has a chance to do something different and aggressive, to catch teams off guard, to get the very best out of his players. The sad thing is, it probably won’t happen and Poch will take the safe route and continue to play the formation that will not be named. You seem like a brave man gaffer, what do you say?

All views and opinions expressed in this article are the views and opinions of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of The Fighting Cock. We offer a platform for fans to commit their views to text and voice their thoughts. Football is a passionate game and as long as the views stay within the parameters of what is acceptable, we encourage people to write, get involved and share their thoughts on the mighty Tottenham Hotspur.

Mike Horowitz

Spurs Fan who grew up in New Jersey and lives in Philadelphia. Prefer European Nights to Monday Night Football. A Jew all for the Y-word. After all, I chose the greatest club in the world as mine because of it.

5 Comments

  1. abe
    22/10/2014 @ 2:44 pm

    so you have us playing 5,2,2,1? with wingbacks and Soldado upfront? Interesting formation. Right now I would stick with our current formation. I would be tempted to play Kane ahead of Ade, and play Soldado in Lamela’s position. I know Lamela might improve, but right now I would give him the sub opportunities. The more I see of Soldodo, the better he seems as an attacking midfielder.

  2. sokem
    22/10/2014 @ 4:45 pm

    “…the closest I’ve ever been to a Premier League Manager was FIFA15.”

    Probably should of stopped there.

    1) Formation doesn’t dictate the approach to a game or the style of play
    2) Playing a back 3 vs a lone striker is a waste of a player

    Some recommended reading:
    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Inverting-Pyramid-History-Football-Tactics/dp/1409128644

    • Mike
      22/10/2014 @ 5:48 pm

      Everyone’s entitled to their opinions so no argument with yours. I just see a few things over and over again: Rose caught high up the pitch, Dier (out of position) and Naughton (OK at best) at right back, too many players clogging up the middle of the field in the final third, and very few legitimate crossing opportunities. Even if this formation isn’t the answer, I do think something needs to be done to address those issues.

      • sokem
        23/10/2014 @ 10:09 am

        I think your reply highlights the real issue. Rose isn’t good enough to get forward and back positionally, Naughton is not good enough to play in a premier league side and Dier is being played out of position.

        Every game we play we have 2 players in a back 4 who aren’t good enough and then we heap more problems on ourselves by playing someone like Chiriches who again, is not good enough at the level we are competing at.

        I don’t really want to write off players and Rose is young so I am sure he could get better but the general make up of our team just isn’t at the races, we have too many players who don’t affect a game and our only real hope right now is for Pochettino to do something magical with the players he has available. It’s no surprise to me that more youth players are getting chances because the senior places ahead of them just aren’t contributing.

  3. Casey Copp
    23/10/2014 @ 12:54 am

    I love the idea of utilizing our wingbacks to their fullest potential, however, would prefer a 5-3-2 with Eriksen, Paulinho, and Capoue in midfield and Kane with Soldado/Lamela up top. Once Yedlin arrives he will be able to play the wingback role exceptionally. With our defensive deficiencies, I feel the only way to combat a strong attack force like City or Chelsea we simply need to soak it up with superior numbers and taking away the space for their playmakers. A 3-4-3 is interesting but will likely prove to be useless with our 2 central midfielders, no matter who they are, being both outskilled and outnumbered.

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