Like most Spurs fans I spend my time obsessing about how Spurs seem to control so many games without truly threatening their opponents. After witnessing a textbook Spurs performance against Aston Villa at the weekend- I’ve come up with is a hypothesis that AVB’s high line is both a blessing and a curse. At the […]
Getting High – A Blessing and a Curse
Like most Spurs fans I spend my time obsessing about how Spurs seem to control so many games without truly threatening their opponents. After witnessing a textbook Spurs performance against Aston Villa at the weekend- I’ve come up with is a hypothesis that AVB’s high line is both a blessing and a curse.
At the heart of it, the high line, is a hard-pressing strategy all about achieving control through the compression of space. We fence the opponents in to their half, force them to turn over the ball in that area, preventing ourselves from being overexposed in midfield, which in turn stops the opposition from creating much in our half.
In many respects, this is a provident strategy, as it’s been a key reason why we’ve conceded some of the fewest shots on goal of all of the sides in the Premier League in 2013.
The problem comes when opponents start to bunker down against us, which is now happening pretty much on a weekly basis. When the other team doesn’t come out to play as we fence them back, the space starts to become a little too compressed- most importantly, it means players like Roberto Soldado, who thrive off of those little pockets to get volleys away, don’t really have anything to work with.
This is the heart of ‘domination without threat’- turnovers in the opponents half and transitions become irrelevant, because we have no room to do anything with the possession we hold on to.
[linequote]t’s been a key reason why we’ve conceded some of the fewest shots on goal of all of the sides in the Premier League in 2013[/linequote]
In these situations, I’m wondering if it wouldn’t be best for AVB to ease up the high line. Perhaps sit back and invite opponents on to us a little bit, then torch them on the counter with our wing play. In theory, squad members like Andros Townsend, Soldado and Paulinho, all ‘space players’, should really thrive off of this approach.
I’m not saying we ditch the high line for good- I just don’t see the point of dogmatically sticking to it when it’s very much playing into our opponent’s hands to push up. If we want to start putting a gloss of goals on to our decent weekly stats, I think we have to let matches breathe a bit, take the risk of allowing play to become more open. Then, when the time is right, apply the high line and compression tactics to seal out wins.
I think the heart of what made Spurs so entertaining under Harry Redknapp was that cavalier tendency to play a really low-block and create acres of space around the pitch for Rafa Van der Vaart and Luka Modric to play in and for speedy lads like Gareth Bale and Kyle Walker to sprint into.
Obviously, that approach isn’t really sustainable and lead to us shipping far more goals than we do now- but maybe the timely injection of it into certain games will make us less turgid and help us to turn domination into goals.
[linequote]I think the heart of what made Spurs so entertaining under Harry Redknapp was that cavalier tendency to play a really low block and create acres of space around the pitch[/linequote]
Currently under AVB we’re sometimes guilty of compressing space too much, and we’re making life too hard for ourselves when our opponents don’t turn up and play. I don’t think we should ditch the high line, but I think sometimes it would be appropriate ease it up, open up the pitch, take a few more risks and hit opponents on the counter.
Mix it up, Andre.
[author name=”Erik_Edman” avatar=”https://www.thefightingcock.co.uk/forum/data/avatars/l/1/1252.jpg?1353963738″ twitter=”ErikSpur” website=”lifeislillywhite.wordpress.com” tag=”Erik_Edman[/linequote]
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4 Comments
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21/10/2013 @ 9:40 pm
It’s not the high line.
It’s because AVB isn’t playing two wingers. If we want soldado to score more he needs crosses in the box from the bar line each side.
Space is created by wingers stretching the play.
Sigurdson is far too narrow, we need width from Townsend, Lennon, chadli, lamela
Simples. Keep the high line stretch the opposition with width and direct wing play.
22/10/2013 @ 4:21 pm
Absolutely agreed. Right now, we’re not playing in the opposition’s half, we’re playing in 25% of the pitch. The introduction of Lennon was important against Villa because he suddenly created the space in the middle by providing movement and an outlet on the left side of the pitch.
Danny Rose being injured is also part of the problem as without a proper left back we have no overlap and less width. Siggurdson just accentuated the problem even further. I’d really like to see what Townsend could do on the left, and it might allow a way to ease Lamela into the first team by giving him time on the right to adjust to the English game before mixing things up.
22/10/2013 @ 10:15 am
obviously spurs problem is we’ve score too few goals. Soldado scored (almost) all his goals last season at valencia from inside the box.
I disagree with your classification of andros together with soldado as space players. soldado does not fit your description of a “space player”. it was as a result of clever short pass from holtby to paul that led to soldado’s goal.
The high line tactic is good, we’ve got possession but the AMF’s do not know what to do with it.
so yeah, andros is like bale. fast, takes on the opposition and shoots a lot. but for the team to create chances and score goals, we need more than that.
tbh i do not see andros creating genuine goal scoring chances and racking up assists. his lack of creativity has made soldado suffer. if andros can improve on this aspect of his game, then we have a world beater. if not, then we have a winger that can stretch any opposing defense but with little end product.
lamela is a bit younger than townsend, but if he eventually hits his stride, his class would show, then andros would have to be dropped.esp if nacer is doing good on the other flank.
there’s no way the high line is a curse. our AMF’s just needs more creativity. coys
25/10/2013 @ 6:25 am
Its All Very Boring’s tactics that are the problem or should I say his only tactic (the high line) that’s the problem. It’s all very well saying two wingers will stretch the play – but he’s playing with inverted wingers – they don’t stretch the play – they compound the problem but coming inside to an already crowded space where are attackers can’t do much but stand around. That’s why you see Eriksen – our playmaker – scratching his head trying to find a pass – and then playing it backwards where it ends up with our CB’s back in possession. This goes on and on. Great stats though.
I am writing this after the Sheriff game – two wingers – Lamela and Lennon – did they play as wingers – NO. AVB had no intention to play them as wingers – with only Defoe in the box. Result – same old same old. And boy did our high line get found out – by a very fast counter attacking side who pressed us in their half. A quality striker and we would have been stuffed.
It’s up to you – victory – success – (up to a point) but at what cost?
I can’t bear my beloved spurs being turned into boring boring Arsenal – and spending 100 million to do it.
Bring back F.R.R.A.B ……..