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Looking at the Potential Formations with Clarke, Ndombele, Lo Celso and Sessegnon in the Squad.

Tottenham Hotspur are in unfamiliar territory, at least in regards to recent times, finding themselves deep-in-the-thick of the transfers market. Having already signed a highly rated prospect in Jack Clarke and arguably the most sought-after midfielder in Europe in Tanguy Ndombele, the rumors are coming fast and hot, with it now being reported by a host of news outlets that Spurs will be announcing Giovani Lo Celso and Ryan Sessegnon imminently.  Not only are Spurs bringing in much needed depth, they are bringing in talent that is both for the “now” and for the future, with all of their signings, both official and reported, being born in 1996 or after, and all being ready to play immediately, bar Clarke who has been loaned back to Leeds. 

That being said, it’s well-worth discussing what a Spurs side which includes these four new players will look like, and it would be wise to do so in two parts, one that discusses the immediate impact of these players, and one that discusses the near future. 

The first players worth discussing are Ndombele and Lo Celso, as both are midfielders and come into the fold at a time in which the squad is light in that area. Ndombele is known for being strong in both a deeper role and a more central position, patrolling the middle of the park and helping to maintain possession.  Lo Celso is equally as strong in the middle of the park, but is known for being someone who will push the ball forward and help in advancing the attack.  While he is able to pick a pass, his ability to play 1-2’s and get shots on target is amicable for a midfielder, to say the least, and is probably his standout feature.

Out of the two, it is more likely that Ndombele will find himself in the fold immediately, but Lo Celso won’t be far behind, seen as a strong competitor to Christian Eriksen, who now appears likely to stay at Tottenham.  The former appears to have already formed a bond with his fellow countryman Moussa Sissoko, who will be a mainstay in the center of the park for Mauricio Pochettino, and the two should pair together nicely.  Of course, the academy graduate Harry Winks will also be heavily involved in the center of the park, and you would think that the trio form a fantastic rotation for the manager.  With Eriksen, Alli, Son, Kane, Lucas and Lamela in attack, I don’t expect the manager to sacrifice someone up front to make room for all three midfielders. Again, expect heavy rotation amongst the three, giving the manager some serious flexibility with regards to tactics and setup, as again, all three players can play a variety of midfield positions.  

In looking more towards the future, it would next be pertinent to discuss the impact that a young Ryan Sessegnon would have.  The former FA Young player of the year will bring a handful of impactful qualities to the squad, the most important being an ability to play numerous positions, which is a staple to the Pochettino system.  And not only he is flexible, but his ability to play different roles is vast, as he is effective in both defense and attack, having had success in the roles of LB, LW and RW.  In my opinion, this would speak highly to him being a very effective wingback, and I think he comes in to pair with Kyle-Walker Peters in such a system. 

 Sessegnon is pacey, and has the ability to defend, deliver a strong cross and find the back of the net.  This trio of qualities is something that will put a wingback at the forefront of the position.  In past, we saw Danny Rose play the position very well for Spurs, but while he did find the occasional goal, his ability to score was never as strong as one would expect of Sessegnon.  Ideally, he would have a strong back-3 behind him, and be given the green light to get forward often and become the fourth or fifth attacker in the push forward.  And on the other side, the qualities of Kyle Walker-Peters would be similar, giving Tottenham the ability to shift from a three-man attack to five or six going forward, assuming one of the two midfielders in the pivot would also get involved (most likely Ndombele).

With Sessegnon on the pitch, I would expect Spurs to lineup like this…

Lastly, we should discuss what a young Jack Clarke would bring to the squad, and while it will without doubt be a few years into the future, he will most definitely add a real threat from the wing and would give Pochettino the ability to take his formational flexibility even further.  Clarke is a natural winger, and his preference in to run at defenders with the ball, taking them head-on and using quick movements to find an open cross. Out of anyone Tottenham currently have in their squad, he is without a doubt the closest to a true winger, which tells me that Pochettino is looking to eventually shift to a setup which uses a front three and a trio in the midfield.  This is a setup which many of the world’s top teams use, and it requires two of these winger types that we see in Clarke, and equally, a very strong midfield-three, something which Spurs are certainly building for both now and in the future.  

With Clarke in the squad (and using members of our current squad) I would expect Spurs to lineup in system that looks like this

The theme here, is that with the flexibility of Clarke, Sessegnon, Ndombele on Lo Celso, Pochettino is setting himself and his squad up to be very fluid and capable of shifting it’s tactical approach in response to the opponent and the competition. As seen above, I would expect the manager to shift from a 4-4-2 diamond, to a 4-3-3, while mixing in the occasional 3-4-3 setup.  He is again, buying young players who can make an immediate impact, while providing stability for years to come, having the majority of their professional career in front of them.  He is also buying players who fit his mold, both personally and professionally, as he always does, and it gives the fan the feeling that the “plan” that Pochettino always discusses is really taking shape.  With the new stadium in full-swing, graduated contracts being offered to key members of the squad, and a group of strong new signings that really push the mold, Tottenham is certainly on the rise.  And honestly, having made the champions league final and having finished in the top-four for a fourth consecutive season, it could be argued that Tottenham is already there, as it’s having signed such highly sought-after players for such large fees, in competition with major clubs across the continent would speak to.  

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Ndombele and Potential Midfield Partnerships

Tottenham are close to completing their record signing in Tanguy Ndombele, as reported by Sky Sports, Di Marzio, and a handful of other reputable news agencies, and it couldn’t be more welcome amongst the Spurs faithful.  Ndombele comes highly-rated, arguably the most sought-after midfield in the world, and at twenty-two years of age, his experience in both the Champions League and international football speaks to this being the case.  Tottenham fans have been vocal about their desire to see the club take their transfer strategy to the next level, and surely the signing of Ndombele would do just that.

The French international put up impressive numbers last year in Ligue 1, with a league-high seven assists from open play.  Add his 46 won tackles in the league and his 1,278 completed passes, it’s clear that the midfielder is skilled in both winning back possession and starting the attack.  This is hybrid-type of player that Spurs have been crying out for, often deploying two midfielders in a pivot, one whom is skilled in winning back possession and the other being skilled in creating the attack, but often neither possessing both skills to the degree of Ndombele.  With the twenty-two year old, Spurs will be able to move on the counter much more quickly, which will allow Son, Lucas, Dele and Kane to punish opponents with their respective pace, poise and finishing ability.

It would also be worth discussing what a two-man pivot in the midfield might look like with Ndombele in the mix.  Spurs have a solid midfield contingent, but injuries and fatigue proved to be a detriment during the last campaign, slightly muted by the fantastic rise of Mousa Sissoko as Tottenham’s main man in the middle of the park.  Sissoko has proven himself to be very effective in patrolling the center of the pitch and controlling the tempo, and his ability to “mop up” and protect the back-four is noteworthy.  Beyond Sissoko, the other standout in the aforementioned contingent is Harry Winks, the homegrown midfielder who has proven capable of picking a pass to start the attack, and maintaining poise and patience in possession during highly pertinent matches.  Both Sissoko and Winks are talented midfielders and were without doubt the preferred pivot for Mauricio Pochettino during the last campaign.

Add Ndombele to the mix, and you get a highly skilled trio of midfielders who can offer Pochettino flexibility and a bit of breathing room.

First, in looking at the potential partnership of Sissoko and Ndombele, Spurs would be getting a duo that would above all else, patrol the midfield with pace, power, endurance, and two players who can add to the attack both with their ability to carry the ball forward, and their ability to pick a pass.  Both players cover loads of ground, and furthermore, both players are very effective when it comes to winning back possession, via both the tackle and interception.  With this partnership, the attacking contingent would be able to find space, rotate, and eventually work the ball in the final-third effectively.

In looking at a potential partnership of Harry Winks and Ndombele, while similar to the idea of Sissoko and Ndombele, this partnership would allow Ndombele to get a bit more forward and add to the attack with his technical ability and spatial awareness.  With Winks sitting deeper and being deployed as a deep-lying playmaker, Ndombele would be granted the ability to find space and open himself up for winks to find him.  This would most likely lead to a midfield duo that works the ball amongst itself to open up space, rather than a Sissoko/Ndombele partnership, which would be heavily focused on getting the ball forward quickly, with that aforementioned power, pace, and ability to carry the ball.  Both Ndombele and Winks are highly gifted when it comes to finding a pass, and the attacking contingent would without doubt benefit from this partnership.

All of this being said, the natural question to pose would be to ask which of these two options is best, and I don’t think there is a correct answer.  When looking at the trio, having already seen Sissoko and Winks work together effectively, and in now peering into the potential partnerships that include Ndombele, it goes to show that any combination of the three will be productive.  Coming off of a season which saw Tottenham heavily depleted in the center of the park, and with ambitions to compete on all four fronts, having options will be welcomed.  Add to this, the idea that again, Ndombele is most likely the most highly-sought midfield in Europe, and will undoubtedly show major progress in Tottenham’s transfer strategy and approach, and Spurs fans (and Mauricio Pochettino) will have every reason to be thrilled.

[dsmspurs]

A Look to the RB  Position

There is a lot of discussion surrounding Tottenham and its situation at the right-back position. Kieren Trippier was unequivocally the first-choice during the past season, a spot which he was more than deserving of following his dedication to competing with Walker. Throw in the performance he put in at the 2018 World Cup, and it was clear to see that he was the best option at N17.

Serge Aurier was brought in in the summer of 2017 to give Trippier that same competition that he gave Walker, but a slow start, due to a combination of injuries, mistakes, and a general idea that fullbacks under Pochettino always need some time to settle and adjust, questions have been posed.  There is a general consensus that he hasn’t quite given the Tottenham faithful the types of performances that they would maybe expect, especially considering their hunger to see the type of play at the RB spot that they saw from Kyle Walker.

Outside of Trippier and Aurier, Tottenham also employ young Kyle Walker-Peters, an academy graduate who is touted as being quite the prospect. Walker-Peters has pace, and a great understanding of the game, but his small frame and the fact that he is inexperienced has proven problematic. It should also be noted that the manager opted against the use of Walker-Peters later in the season during a time in which it would have made sense to give him minutes, which surely has some sort of undertone to it.

That being said, the chatter amongst both the Tottenham faithful and the general footballing world, is that Tottenham might be shopping for a new right back, with the look to move one, if not two, of their current group on in their respective careers.

However, I might ask the question, is that the right move?

The two players that Spurs are most strongly linked with are Aaron Wan-Bissaka, of Crystal Palace, and Max Aarons, of newly-promoted Norwich City. Both players are young, incredibly promising English fullbacks, but as always in such cases, come with a hefty price tag. It has been reported by various sources that Crystal Palace will look at nothing under $50,000,000 for Wan-Bissaka, and again from various sources, it looks like Norwich City would be expected at least $30,000,000 for Aarons.

What Spurs would be getting in either of these players is a young, home-grown English talent, something that is valuable for any in the league. However, Wan-Bissaka has only one full season in England’s top-flight, and Aarons, albeit a fantastic season at Norwich in the Championship, has yet to play in the competition. Such uncertainty should be considered when potentially spending over $50,000,000 on the player.

What Spurs already have, is a right-back in Trippier who has proven himself at the highest level of both English and World football, centered on his ability to create scoring opportunities from the right flank arguably better than anyone else in the position. He was a bit suspect this season in defense, but injuries and a general fatigue certainly would be arguable suggestions as to why that was. When in form, Trippier is a fantastic player and as we all know, form is temporary, but class is permanent.

Furthermore, in Aurier and Walker-Peters, Spurs have two more options at the position who have proven competent and able on numerous occasions. Walker-Peters (who could possibly benefit from a loan), put up three assists against Everton in the same match, and Aurier has proven to be quite athletic and pacey going forward, with his defensive performances improving drastically throughout his tenure at the North London club. It could be considered rash to write both of these promising fullbacks off at this point, and it could be the case that Pochettino is looking to give each more time.

All of that being said, Spurs also have a gaping hole in the midfield, and with rumored targets Tanguy Ndombele and Giovani Lo Celso available for large margins, it is no secret that plugging that hole is going to be expensive. Sure, neither have played in the Premiere League, but both have proven themselves to be incredibly talented in the highest level of international play, and both performed astutely in their respective leagues, those being Ligue 1, for Ndombele, and La Liga, for Lo Celso. It should also be noted that the market has dictated a higher price for midfielders, and both right-back targets come with an inflated price tag, being they are young, home grown English talents.

I might argue that it would be in Spurs best interested to invest in both Ndombele, to give competition and most likely start ahead of or-in-tandem-with Winks and Sissoko, and Lo Celso, to provide competition to Eriksen, rather than to completely reboot and reinvest in the right back position. I do not see Spurs being able to spend more than $150,000,000 this summer, and those two midfielders would max the budget. When considering the club has three first-team right-backs, all of whom have proven useful and competent at various times throughout the past two seasons, and that aforementioned hole in the midfield, it makes sense to spend the money on the engine and let Pochettino keep working his magic on his current options at the right-back position.

[dsmspurs]

England in the Champions League

Match-Day two of European’s elite competition was without doubt, quite unfavorable to the English contingency taking part. On Tuesday evening, both Manchester clubs played rather unconvincingly, and while City eventually found a late winner against Hoffenheim, United put in a drab performance that added to the 0-0 draw against Valencia. In the former, City would need a bit of late luck to take the points again the German side who had started the competition in pot-four. Hoffenheim didn’t look terribly threatened or off-put by the English giants, and although three points were gained, questions will be asked. United, on the other hand, reaffirmed the idea that they are in turmoil and continued to beg questions around the future of both Pogba and Mourinho, and the ability of one Romelu Lukaku, their coveted signing from fifteen-months back.

​On the other side of the coin, both Spurs and Liverpool, rounding out the English contingency, found themselves on the short end of the stick, figuratively speaking. Tottenham, up against Messi, Barcelona, and the fact that they were missing four of their starting eleven, had plenty to ask of themselves. And although valiant and high-spirited, their fight wouldn’t be enough, and they would lose 4-2. The aforementioned Messi was inspiring on the night, scoring twice and reminding fans of the Premier League that he is arguably the world’s best. Liverpool, on a bit of a different note, were up against a talented Napoli side but didn’t quite pack the heavy punch that the world has come to expect of Jurgen Klopp’s side. Mo Salah was missing on the evening, furthering the idea that he may very well be unable to re-create his form of 2017/18, which saw him win the Premier League’s Golden Boot, and the 2018 Puskas award. Liverpool as a whole also seemed to be a step behind in the press and never quite found the flow that we are used to seeing.

​With all four teams being in what would be considered as heavy, difficult groups, an off match-day such as this is never favorable towards a club reaching the knockout rounds. City last to Lyon on the first match-day, and the three points against Hoffenheim will be incredibly helpful, and with this, United and Liverpool have also both only taken half of the available points thus-far. To add insult to injury, Tottenham, in a group with Barcelona, Inter Milan and PSV, have yet to see any return on investment as far as points go. One would expect City, in what is viewed as a bit of a softer group (in comparison to the rest) to get out, but the other three will have plenty to ask of themselves if they are to reach the knockout-round. They will play Shaktar Donetsk in their next two matches, and if they can grab all six of the points, they will be looking healthy and alive.

​United will have to prepare for two matches against Juventus, and this will not be an easy task. Currently sitting on four points, they have the highest points-haul of anyone discussed. However, those points come from a win against Young Boys, and the aforementioned draw with Valencia. If they are unable to take anything from these two forthcoming matches against the Italian giants, they will find themselves with quite a hill to climb, needing to beat Valencia to have a shot at getting out, especially considering that Valencia will most likely take six-point from their next two games. With this, Liverpool will also face quite a challenge, but possibly in a different sense. Their win against PSG is proving to be very much valuable, as they will face Red Star Belgrade in their next two game and should take the points, which will see them at nine. However, their challenge will then come from a match at home to Napoli, and a trip to the Parc De Princes to face Neymar and PSG, who are heavily invested in winning the Champions League.

​This leaves only Tottenham, who really have it all to do. Their self-implosion in the last five minute at Inter were most likely very indicative of what was to come. Had they taken the three points from Milan, which they had until the end, which have been a massive boost towards getting out of the group. However, they were not able to see the game out and in turn, the loss to Barcelona yesterday evening was a massive blow to their hopes of getting out of the group. Assuming they can get six points in the next two matches against PSV (which will not be easy), Spurs would still have to beat Inter at home and hope for Barca to beat Inter twice, or at the very least, to take points themselves from Barca on the away leg in Spain, neither of which are a given.

​So as England continues to make it’s argument for being the home of football, with the most competitive league on Earth, seeing that it’s representative of the Champions League emerge from the group stage and make runs into the knockouts is extremely important. And while some have a more challenging route to doing so, be it self-imposed or not, it would be easy to argue that the best-case scenario is for the whole of them to emerge, especially considering the opinions that again, the Premier League holds for itself with regards to it’s unmatched competitiveness. All eyes will be on the next two matches, and upon conclusion of them, the way things will shake out should be much-more telling.

[dsmspurs]

Injuries, a Tight-Schedule and Lamela.

Tottenham Hotspur fine themselves with a few of their key players unable to feature. Hugo Lloris is reportedly set to miss his final match in a string of absences stemming from a quad injury, and Serge Aurier will be unable to feature due to a hamstring. Added to this, is the Mirrors recent report that Dele has reinsured a hamstring that will see him miss, at least, both the trio to Huddersfield, and the welcoming of Barcelona to Wembley.

With Paulo Gazzaniga’s recent heroics, the absence of Lloris, while negative, will not have the impact that many would expect it to have. The former Southhampton man is playing at the top of his game, his confidence brimming and consecutive wins with him in goal speak to this. On the right, Auriers absence will hurt, but as Pochettino always does, we would expect him to rotate fullbacks, so there will be options. The only question will be, is Kieran Trippier fit enough to go a second-time this week? Or will Pochettino be handing the start to Kyle Walker-Peters, saving Trippier for the clash with Barca midweek. Either way, the flank should be covered just fine.

The absence that will create the most chatter will undoubtedly be that of Dele, who seems to make things tick for Spurs in the final third. His presence in-and-around the box is something special, and spurs will be asking for someone to play the role.

Enter: Erik Lamela

The Argentine has been astute in the last three matches for Spurs, both in starting and featuring as an “impact substitute,” making all the difference against both Brighton and Watford. Spurs fans worldwide knew that he had potential, but had been asking for it to show its face for some time. While he has shown moments and sparks of brilliance, his injuries have kept him from showing consistency, and it finally appears that his numerous operations have paid off, and the lad can finally play football at full-fitness.

Lamela can And does create within the final third very efficiently. In his last season at Roma, ages just 19, he registered 15 assists, almost one every-other match. His vision, touch and willingness to get dirty make him an idea attacking player for this Mauricio Pochettino method, and as many (including myself) have argued, Lamela can be defined as the life-blood and the “ethos” of the way that Pochettino asks his team to play. The manager will surely be depending on Lamela to guide Spurs through a lean period, one that is filled with matches.

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Th Curious Case of Moussa Sissoko

The story of Moussa Sissoko’s career, while rocky, definitely doesn’t have the market “cornered,” (as some would say), by any means. [Skilled player has up and down moments for mid level club, performs well for a short period, gets a forced move to a stronger club and ultimately, never quite finds their place]. Mauricio Pochettino clearly believed in the midfielder, after continued attempts to find a role for him, but never did find a way to allow the impact of which Sissoko would seemingly be ready for when he signed for Spurs.

Firstly, Sissoko is a player who has immense power and pace, as well as a decent cross, something that is useful in a footballer. However, for Spurs, these attributes are really only useful if you are a fullback. Tottenham’s width comes from wide defenders who, through an anchor man, have full freedom to roam. In turn, the midfielders tend to be focused on keeping narrow and providing link-up between themselves, the fullbacks, and the attack three or four. Sissoko, while he does provide a spatial benefit in the midfield, doesn’t quite have the technical skills required of our midfielders. (Could it be that he was purchased in an attempt to find a makeshift wingback? If so, we probably will never know, but it seems a plausible theory?)

Secondly, he way in which Sissoko has been treated by the media and the fans isn’t necessarily desirable. Fans sing a commonly known song that mocks him, the media constantly questions his performance and his lifespan at Spurs, and in all fairness, he hasn’t done much to bring any of that on, other than be deployed in a system that doesn’t quite fit his game.

Lastly, the price-tag must be considered in all of this. Sissoko was sold to Spurs off of the back of a fantastic Euro 16, and Tottenham broke their record transfer on deadline day to bring him in. Call it a panic buy, it’s impossible to determine if the manager or the chairman was more instrumental in the decision, but either way, Sissoko came with a price tag that not only added pressure to perform. Both for his manager, but also got the fan, who would expect a record signing to change fortunes almost immediately. However, at the time, the market was changing, and 30 million all of a sudden wasn’t much money. Pochettino needed a utility man to add flexibility to the way he wanted to play, and as Sissoko was the best utility man available in the window, Spurs pulled the trigger and bought the Frenchman.

So, while Moussa Sissoko is currently employed by a team with massive expectations, and for that, is expected to perform in standout fashion, we must remember the circumstances surrounding his transfer. When all things are considered, Sissoko has done a job when called upon, even if that job wasn’t a highlight role, and as the market continues to flounder, it may actually start to make sense as to why Sissoko was cast out with massive expectations and a situation that wasn’t quite conducive to seeing he lived up to that pressure.

[dsmspurs]

Croatia: World Cup Edition

Russia and the World Cup have not yet failed to deliver.  

So far, 2018 has shown us far more parity than any other World Cup in recent memory.  Brazil, Spain and France are the only favorites who are currently leading their group, and Argentina, Germany and Columbia all find themselves in positions where they need some outside influence to help them see the knockout-rounds.  Russia has smashed the competition, finding themselves on top of group A, while Japan has found itself on top of group H and Sweden on top of Group F, albeit each of those last two teams have only played once.  With this, Mexico has also started the tournament by smashing the favored (and aforementioned) Germany, and look to secure a knockout-birth with a win today against South Korea.

However, in glancing through the rankings, one “first-placed” team who was not touted as a favorite to win is in particular, no surprise at all, and that is Croatia.

The Croats have a formidable defense, including Liverpool’s Lovren, Dynamo Kiev’s Vida and Versaljko of Atleti, and also boast an attacking line that features Juve’s Mandzukic and Inter’s Perisic. However, I argue that their midfield is what separates them from the rest of the competition within their group, and across the tournament.

Managed by Zlatco Dalic, Croatia features a midfield that is setup in a way so that one player can anchor and two can patrol and roam freely, with one adding to the attack and the other to the defensive shape, but ultimately both tasked with linking and creating. Hoffenheim’s Andrej Kramaric is tasked with getting in behind the striker and linking the attack, while Barcelona’s Ivan Rakitic will anchor centrally and Real Madrid’s Luka Modric will be given the freedom to roam, patrol and maintain possession as he does for the European Club Champions.

Given the aforementioned, it is hard to argue that Croatia has one of the best (if not, THE best) midfields at this tournament, and this is where we start to see the idea take shape that Croatia leading their group after two matches, which includes Argentina, is no fluke.  Kramaric has come off of two fantastic seasons at Hoffenheim which have seen him score a combined 31 goals and help earn Hoffenheim a Champions League birth.  Furthermore, the class of Modric, who has won the last three consecutive Champions Leagues with Real Madrid and the ability of Rakitic, who controls the midfield for Barcelona, leave very, very little to be desired in the heart of the park, and because of this, the Croats are dangerous. 

They play against Iceland in their final group match, and are already through the group as the champions, for Nigeria is the only team capable of achieving six points in a must-win match against Argentina, as Croatia has beaten the Super Eagles in head-to-head fashion.  One would assume that manager Dalic will look to rest some tired legs, but will also want to balance that with enough playing time to keep his heavy-hitters sharp.  Expect Rebic to play in an effort to continue building his confidence and give an aging Mandzukic a rest, and also expect an in-form Lovren to continue finding his form.  

Looking toward the round-of-sixteen, Croatia will be up against the runner-up of group C, which will likely be Denmark, but could be Australia as well with Peru looking to be done and France looking to be in control of the group.  Should Croatia end up playing against a Danish side, the class of that midfield should give Christian Eriksen too much to do, and would assumedly be enough to see the Croats through to the quarters.  From there, is it hard to speculate, but Croatia could find themselves up against one of ether Uruguary, Spain, or Portugal, and if they can see themselves prepare and find a win, would be looking at a semi-final against a team no stronger than the one they would have played the round-prior. 

If Croatia can continue to perform at the levels that they have, relying on Modric and Rakatic to play as two of the best on Earth at their respective roles and Mandzukic and Rebic to find them the goals, they do have a legitimate chance at making a deep run into the tournament, potentially even winning it.  With “favorites” struggling all over the board, and arguably the greatest parity we have seen at a World Cup, it might be a favorable argument to proclaim that this is the year that an underdog wins the tournament, and Croatia, for me, is the favorite of that bracket. 

[dsmspurs]

Pochettino & Madrid; A Deeper Discussion.

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has been the epicenter of a media frenzy over the past week, in response to manager Zinadine Zidane leaving Real Madrid, and Pochettino being the natural target to replace him.  News sites ranging from BBC to ESPN have linked the Argentine to the Bernabeu, but as many would have come to find by now, Pochettino may be one of the few managers out there who are not in a position to bite on such a prestigious advancement for opportunity. 

The Tottenham manager is now entering his fifth season in charge of the club, and the first four seasons have shown tremendous progress.  Not only has he taken the club from their typical 5-7 finish to the standard 2-4 finish, but he has done so while completely overhauling the squad and bringing in (and up) players who fit the mold both on the pitch, but also off of the pitch. Furthermore, he has revamped the squad in a manner that has seen him spend roughly half of what his top-6 rivals have, and this is no doubt a large part of his being very attractive to Madrid.  

Pochettino brings much to the club, and from a tactical perspective, his methods are not a far shout from many managers around him.  But what the former Espanyol man brings to his side that fails to be matched by his peers is his ethos, his mentality, that he brings to the club.  Firstly, the man simply “lives out” his mindset on a day to day basis.  His expectations are cut-and-dry, but they are not only football expectations, but are rather expectations for life in general, and this is a huge part of why he feels such a connection to his team.  Not only does Mauricio Pochettino manage his players in respect to their footballing, but any of his players will tell you that he is a mentor, a life-coach, and for that reason, he tends to hold a very special bond with his group. 

From here, we look to Spurs...

Tottenham are currently a team that is undoubtedly on the rise.  Months away from taking the field for the first time in their new, 62K capacity stadium, and boasting a squad full of young, well-respected and sought-out players, Spurs are setting themselves up for a bright future.  The chairman is fully invested in the growth, in the success, and most importantly, the chairman has full belief in the manager, and that belief flows in both directions.  Pochettino and Levy have grown close over the four years they have spent together, and Levy is arguably showing more trust in the Argentine than he ever has in a manager.  This is something that in the current game, simply and frankly isn’t happening anymore, and it is a breath of fresh air to see at Spurs, something that Pochettino will undoubtedly have to consider when someone makes an approach. 

You see, Spurs are, at the moment, a full-on project.  When the manager was brought-in, Daniel Levy had plans to build this new stadium, and he knew that it would be costly.  After firing Andre Villas-Boas, it was clear that Spurs needed a manager who was going to be able to cut costs, as the majority of liquid-cash would be tied up in the building of the new stadium, and having led Southampton to it’s highest finish ever through magnificent youth development, Pochettino was that man. His ability to get the most out of what he has, to identify targets based on potential rather than current skill, made him the perfect candidate for the job, and frankly, made Spurs the perfect destination for him. 

It was decided that Spurs would look to cement themselves are regular top-four contender by the time they made the new stadium home, and having finished in that group over the last three seasons, Pochettino’s project is well ahead of schedule.  Players like Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Eric Dier and Christian Eriksen are proving to be developing into world-class talent, and all being under the age of 25, Mauricio Pochettino has a strong core that should, in theory, be around for some time.  With this, the chairman has also displayed publically that Pochettino will have his full-backing in this transfer window, and has shown value in this statement by offering a new five-year contract to Pochettino, which the Argentine has signed.  

In retrospect, Pochettino is currently managing the most up-and-coming side in Europe, and his position is arguably the safest of anyone managing in the sport...

However, there are two sides to all of this, and the other of course, asks for us to focus on the Real Madrid piece of all of this.  The clout and pull of what is arguably the biggest club on Earth, and what that must do to someone looing to make a the decision to manage it, is certainly a talking point and shouldn’t be overlooked. 

Real Madrid CF offers many, many things to a manager.  Firstly, the opportunity to win swarms of trophies, the fact that the manager has virtually an open-checkbook with regards to player signings, and the fact that any sought-after player is going to most likely come to the club make the move attractive.  However, secondly (and most importantly for a man like Pochettino), the club offers a manager to test himself at the highest of levels, in the brightest of spotlights.

Christiano Ronaldo, Sergio Ramos, Marcos Ascensio and Luka Modric; these are the type of names that Pochettino would be walking away from in turning down the Madrid vacancy.  Now, at Spurs, he has Harry Kane, Dele Alli and co to counter, but these players are still establishing themselves as world-class, while the aforementioned have surely already established themselves as such, winning clinically at the highest of levels.  For Pochettino, having come from a situation in which he doesn’t always get the exact player he wants for the role, this would be very attractive.  Furthermore, three consecutive Champions League trophies, as well as the constant state of being within a shout of the La Liga title, the accolades tend to come thick-and-fast for the Real Madrid manager, and Pochettino would surely be considering this.  

However, for a manager such as Pochettino, instant gratification might not be exactly what he is after.  He is a passionate, loving man, who clearly fancies romanticism and “the journey,” both of which are aplenty at Tottenham.  Spurs have a fantastic fan base, who again will be leading the squad into the new stadium, but Spurs are also a storied club, built on the backs of European trophies and beautiful, free flowing football, two things which remain at the forefront of the manager’s project. Mauricio will undoubtedly be VERY keen on being the manager that gets Spurs back to the ways of the sixties and the eighties, decades of which Tottenham can truly hang it’s hat on, and this had to be considered.

The last thing that we must discuss is the fact that the manager of Real Madrid tends to have the most stressful job in football, as winning is fully-expecting, and in return, losing isn't something that is tolerated.  Managers often are on the chopping-block from the first moment they take the podium, something which recently-departed Zidane would have surely been considering when he walked-away.  He had failed to secure La Liga this season, and also fell out of the Cope-del-Ray, and many argue that had he not won the Champions League, Real may have let him go before he could walk-away.  This idea is something that would have been unappealing to Pochettino, especially at a time where he again, probably has the safest job in football at Tottenham.

In turn, Mauricio Pochettino understands that a move to Madrid at this moment could certainly equate to career-suicide.  He is currently the most sought-after manager in the game, without winning a single trophy, and this is due to what he has done at Spurs.  For him to not finish what he has started (which for him, is a Premier League and a Champions League trophy), would not only leave options for people to say he never quite achieved, but also would be a strain on the personal mentality of the manager, who values effort and attitude very highly.  If he were to go to Madrid, and say, in two years, win only a La Liga, he would most likely be on his ass, looking for work, and possibly end up at a mid-level club looking for a manager who can oversee a project similar to what he has just overseen and overcame at Spurs.  This simply couldn't and doesn’t make sense to the manager, who knows that his best option is to complete his project at Spurs and then possibly make a move to the highest of levels, if that doesn’t end up being Tottenham in itself. 

So, as Spurs and venture into new fronts, new stadiums, it appears that Mauricio Pochettino will be guiding the troops.  The Argentine will look to continue honing his craft, to cement Spurs back on top of European football, and to ultimately get himself into a position where he feels that he has accomplished his goals.  As a mid-level executive might not quite be ready for a move to CEO, fearing for a lack of preparedness, Pochettino may feel that he is not quite ready for the biggest job on Earth, and that is OK.  Seeing out goals, completing personal objectives and ultimately, feeling fully prepared in a current role is paramount  for anyone who is looking to make an advancement, at Spurs fans will be happy to see that Mauricio Pochettino agrees, and looks to at least see out his development in North London. 

It also speaks to the incredibly aptitude and character of Mauricio Pochettino...

[dsmspurs]

Top-four, Trophies, and Trying to Make Sense of it all.

The Tottenham community is still feeling the burn that was the defeat to Manchester United in last Saturday’s FA Cup Semi-Final.  Questions have been asked of the young squad and it’s fairly inexperienced manager and their ability to deliver on the biggest of stages, and prior to the match, the majority of the footballing world had the sense that they just might be up for it, ready to answer those questions with a firm stamp.  However, Spurs would look a bit flat on the day and United would capitalize on a couple of lapses and ultimately find themselves having booked a place in the final. 

The media, both professionally and throughout various social media platforms, have been laying it thick on Spurs for the last couple of seasons.  They have been the focus of a host of jokes relating to their inability to close the gap at the top of the Premier League, their inability to push through semi-finals, and their inability to keep their star-players, however, Spurs find themselves in a top-four position, having made a run into the knockout-stages of the Champions League and the FA Cup semi-final, and one could argue that is very hard to stamp this season as a negative one.  However, if you are paying attention to either your cell phone or your television, you would think that Spurs are absolutely imploding.  

Most of this hostility and tension stems from the fact that Spurs are pushing the mold, breaking the modern way of spending blatantly to achieve success.  They have relied heavily on both their academy, but also on the shrewd business acumen of Daniel Levy, who has a knack for buying a young player with potential at a cut-rate price.  Couple this with a manager who is renowned for developing youth, and Spurs have found themselves with a model that allows them to compete with the “big boys” without the available budget, which is currently tied up in the development of the new stadium that Levy and ENIC are building. 

Tottenham have had ambitions to carry Champions League qualification in consistent seasons into their new stadium and as of right now, they have done that.  The last two seasons have seen them improve their campaign in Europe’s greatest competition quite substantially, and a third consecutive season would only leave us to believe that Pochettino and his men will only improve again.  However, with 4 matches to play, and only a 5-point gap between Tottenham and fifth-placed Chelsea, Spurs will have it all to do to ensure that they do qualify for a third consecutive term.  

However, I think the question that sits begging is along the lines of the FA Cup semi-final loss to Manchester United, as the FA Cup was Spurs last (and best) opportunity to to win a trophy, having seen Manchester City already lift both the Premier League trophy and Caraboa Cup and having been previously been knocked out of the Champions League.  Tottenham is a young side, full of promise and grit, and it is hard to argue against the idea that they do need their first trophy in order to start the snowball of silverware that many see on the horizon for the club.  This is what leads so many to ask the question, is the loss against United enough to stamp the season as a failure?

In taking a look at the question, we first need look at the FA Cup itself.  Their is fantastic history associated with the trophy and we all know what a trophy can do for the psyche of young team, but does that trophy actually bring money, talent, and a larger brand to a particular club, and it’s hard to say.  Arse*al have won three of the last four FA cups, and frankly, nobody seems to remember.  They are still faced with the manager walking way from a tumultuous club, players walking away from contracts and fans turning on one another.  With this, Wigan Athletic won the competition as recently as 2013 and they currently find themselves outside of the top flight, with nothing monetary to show for that victory. 

That being said, I don’t think that you can in any way, shape or form, say that the loss in the FA Cup semi was detrimental to Tottenham’s season.  They still find themselves sitting with an opportunity to secure top four, an opportunity to carry Europe’s highest honor into the new stadium, which would leave them in a much better position to boost their squad by adding a bit of real quality this summer, as Europe’s top players are always looking for moves to clubs that can offer such.  Spurs will use the losses to Juventus, to Manchester United, to build on a young squad that is still learning how to win and how to lose, and most importantly, still learning what it takes to play your best on the biggest of stages.  In theory, the club should walk in the new stadium with a chest full of confidence based on a foundation of experience, both positive and negative.  

Most importantly, Spurs must finish strong and secure top-four.  Should they not, it might be time to start question the mentality of the team, to ask if they really can take that next step, as they are certainly on the cusp of greatness, and need a third consecutive season of Champions League football to keep the flame burning.  

#COYS #THFC

[dsmspurs]

USMNT: Scoring the International Break

The international break has wrapped, and while many nations were preparing for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the USMNT were using the break to begin building the foundation of the federation’s future.  Dave Sarachan, interim manager, was tasked with bringing in a group of players who would showcase the youth that the nation and the federation has access to.  Sarachan, picking up the pieces of a broken Bruce Arena return, most likely knows that the job is not long term, but would expectedly be dialed into the opportunity to turn the USMNT’s fortunes towards the good. 

The squad that Sarachan selected consisted of a healthy mix of twenty-two players.  Only seven of them represented squads within Major League Soccer, with the remaining sixteen represented a host of various European leagues and squads.  While this would in itself boast well for the future of the program, the metaphorical “icing on the cake” would be the fact that the majority of the squad were younger, with seventeen of those twenty-two being under the age of twenty-four.

Firstly, big news within the federation came in the form of a young Timothy Weah declaring as an American International at a time in which the famous French federation was also vying for his signature.  Weah is the son of legendary footballer George Weah, who happens to be the only Afircan player to win the FIFA world player of the year, and one would expect the young Timothy to hold a bright future.  Secondly, beyond Weah, Sarachan also included a young Kenny Saief of Anderlecht, Weston McKinnie of Schalke, and Andrija Navokovic, on loan at Telsar, all of whom are up and coming youth within the federation.  This sort of trust in youth in very promising, especially at time in which all points of leadership are also youthful, allowing the federation to build a new identity from top-to-bottom, something which missing a world cup allows you to do.

The point of all of this, the result against Paraguay in Cary, North Carolina, turned out to be a favorable one, with Bobby Wood scoring the only goal of the game from the penalty spot.  Young goalkeeper Zac Steffen of the Columbus Crew played exceptionally well and spoke to the continued class of US goalkeeping, and Tyler Adams of New York Red Bulls was exceptionally special in the midfield, controlling the pace of the match and making sure that the US used it’s possession wisely.

The back-four consisted of long-time youth partners Cameron Carter-Vickers of Tottenham Hotspur and Matt Miazga of Chelsea, and both youngsters are the epitome of the future of the USMNT’s central defense.  Their presence was strengthened by the selection of Deandre Yedlin, of Newcastle United, on the right flank, with the twenty-seven year old offering both pace, and Premier League Experience.  The underlying theme here, is that Sarachan opted for a young group that had it’s roots planted in Europe, and the result speaks to the selection.

In looking at the international break and it’s fixtures, and in turn giving it some sort of performance measure, we need to look at three things:  The result, the selection, and the performance.  In firstly looking at the result, not much to say, a 1-0 result is always going to be a positive one.  The team achieved a clean sheet with a young defense and young keeper, and made sure it buried it’s best opportunity, so A-.  Secondly, in the selection, I have to give the manager at A.  Not only did he select a core group of young players, he also made sure that the majority of them came from European leagues, leagues of which are challenging these players are the highest levels in the game.  

Thirdly, in looking at the performance, I have to give the squad a B+.  A bit harsh, but the squad depended on the experience and tenacity of Bobby Wood (from the penalty spot) to score it’s only goal, and we would need to see a bit more from the youth in terms of goal-scoring opportunities to give anything more.  The goalkeeping was brilliant, and the midfield help possession well, but the attacking crew could have flown a bit higher, and for that, I come in at the B+.

That being said, with an A for squad-selection, an A- for the result and a B+ on the performance, mathematics tell me that the overall grade, for me, is an A-, and that is certainly respectable. A performance such as this, with a strong, young selection and a new USSF chief, speaks highly to the future of the organization and I commend all involved for delivering at a crucial time in the in which the federation, from top to bottom, is certainly hurting. 

[dsmspurs]

SUM, MLS, and the USMNT

There is little to be said in defense of the United States Mens National Team (USMNT) not qualifying for the 2018 world cup.  The United States Soccer Federation had aspirations to win a World Cup by 2022, but through a bit of arrogance, and the American way, the team finds itself having taken a massive step backwards.  Not only have they not qualified, but they have also (in appeasement of the fans, the players, etc..) removed the federations underwhelming leader, Sunil Gulati, with his also underwhelming and like-minded vice president, Carlos Cordeiro. Ultimately, the team have replaced the old guard with the older guard, and we can’t expect much change, and certainly can’t expect and FIFA World Cup victory by 2022, an idea which to be is beyond laughable.

However, it might not be fully on the shoulders of the USSF.  While they are certainly to blame for their own arrogance and unwillingness to change, there are other factors at play.  Soccer United Marketing, or SUM, is an organization founded by the heads of Major League Soccer and is an organization which is responsible for the marketing of both the MLS and the USMNT.  SUM has a deal with the USSF that runs through 2022, and that deal is very lucrative, which is the foundation of the questions that many people now have.  As the commissioner of MLS, Garber is tasked with the growing of the sport and the as the CEO of SUM, he is also tasked with the marketing of the USMNT.  Here is where, in my opinion, we start to see the UMSNT suffer in response to Garber’s ambitions for MLS and for SUM, and see that build into a conflict of interest.

Dan Garber is hell-bent on growing the MLS, and as the commissioner, he should be.  However, as the CEO of the marketing agency responsible for representing the USMNT and the USSF, it is particularly easy for him to use his influence on the USSF to represent the MLS and help its growth.  For growth in MLS, Garber needs to look no further than his stranglehold over the USSF and SUM.  With complete control of the USMNT marketability, what better way to keep the attention of MLS players pertinent in the USMNT discussion than through marketing campaigns?  

As we have discussed on the “50 States of Futbol” podcast, it is in the best interest of young American footballers to traverse overseas to learn the game and grow into the game. However, this does not serve the agenda of MLS and SUM, as they are both overseen by the same person, who naturally, as a human, is going to drive his own interest.  And while the USSF is not for profit, SUM is for profit, and therefore, profit gets prioritized more heavily than the USMNT and the USSF. Simply put, SUM and MLS are completely fine with sacrificing the growth of the USMNT for the sake of its profit margins.  

Now, it CAN be argued that supporting the growth of MLS quality is in itself, pushing towards a better USMNT, and that might be the case in fifty, sixty years, but the reality of the current situation is that MLS does not, in any way, represent the kind of quality that is needed for our USMNT field to push itself.  Players who go to Europe compete with the best on a daily basis.  For example, at the peak of him game, Michael Bradley has shot through the ranks at Herenveen, Chievo Verona and was now starting at AS Roma, and his father had raised him on the European game.  His return to MLS ensured he was no longer competing for his spot every week, but was simply handed it, and it subsequently lessened his game quite substantially.

So while the MLS might eventually be a great league, at the moment, Americans are far too stubborn and proud to accept that our players need to get overseas in order to improve the USMNT, and SUM, MLS and Dan Garber are getting in the way of that, through their determination to line their own pockets.  If SUM does not cease to push it’s MLS players towards the USMNT and some of it’s European-based USMNT players back to MLS, the growth of our National Team is going to suffer, and there is really no way to argue against such.  

[dsmspurs]

My  THFC Thoughts on 2017

We are hours from wrapping up 2017, and in contemplation, decided it would be worth an attempt to put the year, as it pertained to Spurs, on wax.  Hope you enjoy.

Lesson’s Learned:

Tottenham had an arguably tumultuous past twelve-months, and I certainly don’t mean that in a negative way, but more in terms of a reflection on the ups and downs that the squad has recently seen.  A second consecutive season in which Spurs pushed for the title is something to hang the club’s hat on, being that the club’s stated target was to make consecutive Champions League showings.  However, with those consecutive seasons of pushing, but subsequently falling short, comes the lingual fact that Tottenham did fall short in consecutive seasons at a time in which titles would have stamped the beginning of a era.  

That being said, it is incredibly easy to forget that the club is young, hungry, and littered with real quality.  Spurs have seen their $5,000,000 investment in Dele pay off monumentally, both fiscally and with his play on the field.  With this, Christian Eriksen is certainly starting to fulfill his hype, Erik Lamela has returned from elongated injury with a vengeance, and Harry Kane, well, he needs to explanation.  Furthermore, players such as Harry Winks, Victor Wanyma and Eric Dier insure that Spurs will have a midfield to reckon with for the foreseeable future.  It is hard to argue that titles are not en route to Mauricio Pochettino and his men, even if City are miles ahead in the Premier League.  Do not forget that Tottenham achieved the highest points-total of anyone in the Champions League group stage, and they did so after being labeled as favorite to fail from the “group of death,” a monumental achievement for the young side and it’s green manager.

So, while the club continue to look back on it’s shortcomings in the league, it must follow it’s Manager in putting it in the past, and looking towards the future. In looking at the West Ham loss, the Chelsea loss the season before, or anything else, you can’t put the third and second place finishes at the hands of those individual performances, as it takes an entire season to become champions, and this would have become evident to the players. With each opportunity missed, a lesson was learned, and both the individual player and the team as a whole, under the guidance of Pochettino, will use it to be more prepared when the next opportunity comes.  The manager and the player certainly won’ t forget this, and the fans must equally-remember such.

Kyle Walker (& Serge Aurier): 

I will start by rightfully admitting that I have referred to the man as a snake.  I could live with his decision to leave, I really could, but what I couldn’t handle were two things:  Firstly, the right-back went to the manager months before the season had concluded, in the middle of a title-fight, and let him know that his heart was no longer at the club.  And secondly, when he did make his move, he was quick to praise his new manager while subsequently insinuating that his previous manager wasn’t quite on the same level.  This, to the fan an the manager equally, was unacceptable. 

However, again, I can understand the desire to move back to where his wife’s family resides, and I will do my best to continue without bias. 

Walker has undoubtedly been fantastic this season for the league-leaders.  His presence on the right flank, making the entire length of the pitch his, has been instrumental in City’s ability to punish it’s opponents.  To say that Spurs aren’t lacking his pace and ability would be as stubborn as opinions come, so I will not go that far, as Walker again, has been fantastic. Furthermore, seeing City prosper from his play does make one think that strengthening a direct-rival is never a positive thing, no matter the fee for that player.  However, I am not prepared to say that Tottenham are not better off for the sale of Walker and the following purchase of Serge Aurier.

Aurier comes from a tumultuous past, having used homophobic slang to the press, and having his a constable (police officer) during a night out.  Typically, this wouldn’t be the sort of personality that Pochettino would go for, but the manager saw something in the young Ivorian that drew interest.  The right-back was obviously talented, and as Mauricio told the press, he was confident that he could help the player grow both personally and professionally.  

The player did take some time to settle in, but as of date, it appears that the manager has handed the shirt to Aurier.  His consecutive starts speaks to such, but do expect plenty of rotation, as Pochettino favors rotation at the fullback position above all else, being they are so crucial for his system. Aurier brings pace, power, precision and an obvious ability to get balls into the box, which again, is crucial to the system.  At just 24 years of age, he will have plenty of time to grow, and by the time he is Walker’s age (27), his prime, it is hard to believe that he will not be giving teams a real headache down the right-side, doing so in a manner that lacks nothing in comparison to Walker. 

So, while losing Walker was a sour-blow to the gut of all associated with the club, I am comfortable saying that we are no worse-off than we were with Walker, especially in having two quality fullbacks down the right-side who want to be at the club.

Spurs in Nashville:

Okay, Okay, you had to be there,  you really did.  Therefore, I won’t go on forever, but Nashville Spurs and their crew did us fans proud down there.  The entire experience, from the opening social to the after-party, was top-notch.  The first night, at the Belcourt Taps, a fair few of us lost of voice (and maybe our memories), and I know the entire neighborhood was trying to figure out what was happening.  The front patio was rocking and it may very well be the greatest moment of mine as a Spurs fan to-date, including my times at the Lane.  

The Group Stage:

Wow, what an incredible ride those six games were.  Not only did we show that we are growing as a unit and as a club, we did so in striking fashion with the rest of Europe against us.  Son Hueng-Min reminded the world that he is incredibly talented, Harry Winks played the likes of Modric, Kroos, Gotze and Sahin off of the pitch, and Harry Kane bagged himself six Champions League goals to add to his tally and end any speculation that he can’t “do it in Europe.”

The most mind-bending fact in all of this was that two of our three opponents either held the title, or had been playing for it in very recent times.  Many factored Spurs out of the running from the beginning, and after their previous group staging showing, it was hard to disagree, but the squad proved all of us wrong.  This is the real sign of growth within the organization and allows me to comfortable saying that very good things are on the horizon for the North London club.

Spurs will now face Juventus on the round-of-sixteen, a formidable opponent, but also an opponent that Spurs have beaten on the season already, albeit it was a pre-season match.  Juventus boasts a threatening attack and a sturdy defense, but Spurs have fared very well this season against teams that have taken the game to them, as Juventus likely will.

Wembley:

Glad we can finally put that to bed.  The “who-doo” nonsense was getting a bit out of hand, and was subsequently becoming very-much unwelcomed within the organization.  Spurs have now won the past three matches at home in the league, and have not lost at home since the home-opener to Chelsea.  Furthermore, Tottenham smashed both Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund, and that in itself is enough to end the discussion that Spurs can’t perform at the national Stadium.

However, looking forward to next year, back at home….

The Premier League, thus-far:

Hard to kick this portion off with a smile on my face, but what can you say?  City have been outstanding on the season, and are continuously showing that it is going to be incredibly hard to catch them.  They continue to punish their fellow-top-six, and seem to slice through even the most astute of defenses with ease.  Spurs are now twenty-two points behind, but do have a game in hand on the table-toppers.  With competition from all around us, to win the league would be nothing of the greatest comeback in the league’s history, but it is a wonderful opportunity to continue to push ourselves and grow as a club.

There is a lot stacked against the team this year, and it should not go without mention.  Not only is the team playing it’s home matches at an unfamiliar stadium, one that lacks the punch of it’s old ground, but it also is facing plenty of individual hurdles, on the pitch.  Two of the staple-players in our back-line are new to the team and the league, and they are being asked to adjust quickly, and are doing so quite-well.  Dele Alli is facing the pressure of being a world-wide name for the first time, and Harry Kane is facing expectations that continue to grow with each time he nets. With this, the team’s midfield and defensive generals, Victor Wanyama and Toby Alderweireld, have missed most of the season on injury.

In considering the aforementioned, it’s hard  to say that Spurs haven’t dealt with all of their woes with grace and confidence.  Harry Winks has been astute, Sanchez has (as previously mentioned) made the adjustment to the starting-eleven with class, and Serge Aurier is finding his feet, all of which will propel Spurs and be silver linings to come from devastating injuries.  When Wanyama and Alderweireld return, the team will be well-equipped to make a strong finish and being hanging around, should City slip (drastically).

So, while the title might be out of reach, let’s say that this Premier League second-half is going to be a fantastic opportunity for the team to solidify itself and prepare for the next term, in which the fan-base and the team itself will have high expectations. 

The FA Cup:

Not much to say here - we need a trophy, and we need to go after this one.  

In Wrapping-up:

2017 has had it’s ups and it’s downs for Spurs, but we must ride all of the aforementioned positives and continue on.  2018 will be the year that sees us open our new stadium, and could be the year that potentially sees Spurs make its first Champions League push.  Lots to look forward to, and lots of reasons to be a part of Tottenham Hotspur. 

[dsmspurs]

The Many Shifting Formations of Mauricio Pochettino

Tottenham is a club side that is coming off of a good year.  Not only did they record their highest-ever points-total in the Premier League era, they saw themselves finish their last-ever at White Hart Lane undefeated on her soil.  

However, it wasn’t so long ago that Spurs found themselves in quite a mess.  Andre Villas-Boas did not work out, and his predecessor, one whom would end up allegedly involved in a bust-up in the dressing room, failed to meet the benchmarks of Daniel Levy and ENIC.  For many fans (and pundits), the state of the club under Pochettino is fantastic enough, but for others, the lack of a trophy is not only a let-down, but is troublesome in regards to keeping players happy at the club.  

This coming season, Spurs will be faced with a tough challenge.  Not only will they themselves, the media and the fans expect a higher yield than that of 16/17, but they will have to find a way to meet those expectations inside of a Wembley stadium that did not fare well for Tottenham this season, finishing 1-2-1 on the season at the famous ground.  For Pochettino, improving on this will be of the utmost importance, and there are all kinds of ideas on how this is to be done (of course, the best opinion to have is to put your faith in Mauricio, if you are in fact a fan of Spurs).

 Some will say that crucial signings will be key to improving at Wembley, and of course, on the season.  However, while I do believe that the club will sign players this summer, I also believe that our first-11 will consist of no one that was not a member of the 16/17 squad.  Adding quality players to the bench will be a crucially important aspect of work needed and done in the transfer market, but I do believe that what is of the most importance is Pochettino’s need to have a squad (with that purchased, returned and promoted depth), that is capable of playing numerous styles of football.  The team will need to be able to do this in order to compete in three separate competitions, all of which have different tempos and styles-of-play.  Fortunately, for Mauricio Pochettino and his Spurs faithful, that tends to already happen.

Let me try and explain…

We all know that Mauricio Pochettino came up through Espanyol and Southampton playing a consistent 4-2-3-1, which would look a little something like this:

This formation sees a center-back pairing that tends to stay fairly central and doesn’t move forward beyond the center-line.  However, they do hold a high-line, allowing the fullbacks to push forward, with inverted wingers (Son, Eriksen, Lamela) who prefer to cut inside, pulling opposing fullbacks in and clearing space for fullbacks who press very high and wide.  The formation also seeds two midfielders, one of whom will sit back and support the center-back pairing, while the other allows himself to open himself up to the final third of the field and link the back-line with the attacking front.  Finally, a 4-2-3-1 sees an attacking midfielder (Dele) who plays in tandem with the forward (Kane).  These two will interchange and work with the attacking fullbacks and inverted-wingers to created space amongst and between the back-four.

Secondly, Pochettino is able to structure his team in a manner that resembles a 3-4-3-, which relies heavily on the wingbacks, and this will looks something like this:

This formation is similar to a 4-2-3-1, only it adheres to one major change.  While the 4-2-3-1 focuses on creating 2v1 situations in-between the back-four, this formation sees a much higher percentage of shots-on-target when the attack is centered around allowing the wing-backs to get crosses into the box.  While a 4-2-3-1 uses an attacking midfield to play in tandem with a striker, this tends to see the middle CB (Dier) almost acting as a sweeper, playing behind the CB pairing in defense, and supporting the attack when in possession, allowing one CM (Wanyama) to sit in the middle of the pitch and control the tempo, and the other to push forward, getting the ball wide so that the two wide attacking players can cut inside and allow the wing-backs room to play balls into the striker.

Lastly, there is a third formation, which we do tend to use, and this formation is an adjustment of the typical 4-2-3-1, of which I will explain below, but ends up as a 3-3-1-3, and looks like this:

Now this formation looks a bit different, but it is actually just an adjustment of the 4-2-3-1, and these formations are also interchangeable.  Here, we see one of the CM (in this case, Dier) drop back and become the middle CB in a back-three, almost acting as a sweeper.  This allows the two FB’s to push forwards and assume the roles of WB’s in the defensive midfield.  Meanwhile, the CM who did not fall back (Wanyama) will sit in the middle of the pitch and conduct the tempo and the play of his team, while the CAM (Dele) is given freedom to roam and create, playing off of the striker.  This will allow the WB’s and wide attacking players to play off of one-another and either cut inside, or push outside, creating space for either a 2v1 situation off of the back four, or acres of space outside to put crosses into the box.

Now using these formation in-tandem is always going to be difficult, but if Spurs are to improve on their season and acquire some silverware in one of their four competitions (the favored being the Premier League or the Champions League), Pochettino will have to keep team on their toes and continue to have numerous methods of combating an opponent and their style-of-play.  Now again, this already tends to happen, as a player like Eric Dier (this could be discussed on it’s own) allow it to, but to loop it all back together, Spurs and Pochettino must find some depth to allow these shift in formation to occur, whether that be in the market, via a promotion of a youth player or the emergence of a current fringe-man.

[dsmspurs]

Spurs Prove Quality of Champions in a Quiet Way.

A day of irony for Spurs as they show that they do possess the characteristics of champions, but do so on a day where they don’t show much that was particularly special.  With the injuries to Victor Wanyama and Harry Winks, we saw who is arguably Spurs most influential player in Wanyama, and unquestionably their most important player that doesn’t always start a match, in Harry Winks, leave a gap in midfield that had to be dealt with.  Mousa Dembele would of course, be a like-for-like substitution to Wanyama, but in the absence of Winks, Mauricio Pochettino found himself with a more difficult problem to solve.  

On paper, it would seem that Sissoko, the club’s joint-record signing, would be the most logical option.  However, it has been cited in the press recently that Sissoko and Pochettino have fallen out-of- sorts, and many question whether or not the former has a home at Spurs for much longer.  It would also be left unknown as to how Pochettino would use him -- would he slot in midfield, where Winks had been, remaining with three at the back, or would he shift to a 4-2-3-1, assuming DIer would slide into midfield, and Sissoko would push forward to form an attacking four.  It would be the case that Pochettino would opt to shift to four-at-the-back, and sixty-minutes in, Spurs fans found themselves wondering if we would be able to overcome the odds, and history would not show favorably for the Spurs faithful.

Little did we know, thirty-minutes later we would be impressed in a manner that few would have expected.

Eric Dier drew first blood in the sixty-sixth minute, when a corner dropped straight to his feet in front of goal, and he picked his shot perfectly, one-touch, into the top right corner of the net.  Spurs fans at this point, worldwide, would have felt the weight of the world lifted off of their shoulders, and anyone watching saw what it meant to the team.  Then, in the seventy-seventh minute, Dele would square a pass beautifully to substitute Son, who is proving to be so much more effective off of the bench,  would tap-in to secure the three-points for Tottenham.  

However, it wasn’t the goals that impressed many fans and pundits alike, but it was the manner in which Spurs found themselves in a hole, and dug themselves out quite nicely by way of a complete team effort; one in which everyone on the pitch played outside of their elements, that gave the club and it’s followers so much hope.  Tottenham proved to themselves and to the world today that they are a club capable of boasting what it takes to become champions of the Premier League.

Firstly, it should be noted as to how seamlessly Tottenham shifted to a back-four.  Eric Dier would obviously play a huge role in this, as he spent all of last season playing in what has become VIctor Wanyama’s role, but he has been playing at the back for a better part of six-months, and the way in which he controlled the flow of the game during his time in midfield was very impressive.  No doubt that he made that transition possible.  

Secondly, it was clear that at halftime, Pochettino gave the players instructions pertinent to the shift in formation.  It was also evident as to how well the players took to their instructions -- The fullbacks were outstanding, with Daviess tracking back well, in line with a couple of fantastic opportunities that he created for both himself and others (almost scoring a goal off of some beautiful holding play from the striker Vincent Janssen).  Kieran Tripper was also outstanding, providing cross after cross, but also coming up with a couple of key blocks in front of Hugo Lloris.  Christian Eriksen did an excellent job of tracking back, finding himself responsible for the second goal, when he dug-out an excellent tackle, turned, and produced a world-class pass to Dele who was able to square to Son.  Toby Alderweireld, who in my opinion was easily the man of the match, did a terrific job of steadying the shift from three-at-the-back to two, making sure Andre Grey did not take advantage of the extra space to drop in behind, and Vincent Janssen actually played very well in a holding-role, providing time for counter-attacks, although undergoing a lapse of judgement when he decided to take on a defender, rather than square to a wide-open Dele Alli just before the Dier goal.  

The point is, the Spurs of two or three years ago would not have been able to dig themselves out of the predicament that they found themselves in.  The team was already facing the injury to Harry Kane and the absence of Kyle Walker, but quickly found themselves without either of their holding midfielders, and Pochettino had to react incredibly quickly in order to stop the bleeding and right the ship.  It is more than evident that the club has a renewed identity, one that can emulate the early-eighties, and it gives every Spurs fan the right to be excited for the future.  And while injuries to Wanyama and Winks are without-a-doubt crippling, the team proved today that they can survive through their depth and they showed the world that a team-mentality supersedes whatever talent is missing.

Champions find a way to win, and Spurs certainly did that today at Turf Moor, which does not prove an easy place to take three-points from.  

We couldn’t, could we?.......

[dsmspurs]

Tom Carroll: Why he Should be Rated Much Higher.

With the 1-1 draw at Goodison over the weekend, a couple of points of criticism were brought to the surface amongst the Tottenham faithful.  One of these, as I'm sure any fan is aware, was the selection of, and subsequent full ninety-minute-appearance of, Tom Carroll, at the defensive midfield position alongside Eric Dier. Tom Carroll is certainly one of our own, but he has also spent time away on loan.  One thing that has been quite consistent throughout his time was that Carroll plied his trade as more of an attacking or atleast "central" midfielder rather than one that tends to defend first.  He can pinpoint a pass with either foot and is one to abruptly start an attack out of nothing, but he surely isnt terribly strong in the defense.  He is pushed off the ball much more easily than others in the squad and certainly doesnt have the leveraging turning ability of a few others, but if you really look at the details, you will find that all of that doesn't really matter.  Tom Carroll tends to find himself starting in the same position that Dembele plays, next to Dier, when Dembele is either unfit or rested, and Carroll tends to do what Dembele does - Certainly not to the same level, but there are few on the Premiere League that play the position as well as Moussa.  The "2" of our "4-2-3-1" are not necessarily a defensive-midfield, left and right "pairing" as one may think, and rightly so, but the two deep midfielders have two distinct roles; one, is to protect the back four, covering sideline to sideline (as Eric Dier seems to always play), and the other, to press on and start the counter attack, something which I believe Tom Carroll actually does a really good job of.    We have arguably looked our best when Dembele starts alongside Dier, with Alli on the front four playing in the attack.  However, anyone watching can see the Dembele is often found pushing up the field in support of the front-four. When this happens, Dele Alli seems to provide cover. And when this happens, i wouldnt say that Alli necessarily drops back, but we tend to become a 4-1-4-1 with a conservative fourth center mid and an Eric Dier dropping deep to narrowly protect the defensive line. It has been this interchangeability that has allowed us to be elusive to our opponent and has allowed us to counter-attack from virtually any position in the midfield. This being said, it is easy to see why Tom Carroll would be the best option to start in the wake of a missing Moussa Dembele.  Be it anyone else who starts, we lose that interchangeability and in turn, we lose what has made us quite successful thus far in the campaign.  Mauricio is a coach that looks for eleven players to form a system, rather than simply looking at whomever is the strongest, the most technical, and so on. So when Dembele is unable to play, or needs a rest, Mauricio is going to look for the most like-for-like replacement to fit the mold rather than the most popular player on the bench.  I would have to argue that if say, a Nabil Bentaleb were to come in and replace Dembele, we would not have the same fluidity that has seen us to our current place in the table.  So while Tom Carroll might not dance through the midfield and pick a blinder out of nothing, he is there to do a job and his passing efficiency and chances created in the Everton match speak volumes to this (over 80 complete passes and four chances created).  Good on you, Tommy Carroll. Just make sure you don't let every jackass on twitter bring you down.

[dsmspurs]

Mauricio Pochettino and co. Must Keep the Ship Steady

Tottenham Hotspur and the club that surround them are at a pivotal moment. Two calander years ago, the north London side looked lost; from the direction that the club was heading in to the very play itself on the field.  Today, the club certainly has it’s identity back. Mauricio is arguably one of the best coaches in europe, and is surely the hottest coach in England, and the squad boasts the best defensive record and on many matchdays, the youngest overall squad. Dele Alli has risen to the top rung with the flip of a switch, and Eric Dier has proven his adaptability, versatility, and coachability it what has been one of the most amazing transitions the game has seen in some time - this all coinciding with Harry Kane having shown that as long as all goes according to plan, he should be banging them in for years to come.  So with all that has happened, why is it that spurs fans aren’t through the roof with excitement?

The club is without a doubt having the best season that it has had in some time. The 15-game unbeated streak  (along with the afore-mentioned best defensive record in the Premiere League), coinciding with the fact that Spurs now sit in 4th place, three points ahead of 5th place Manchester United and only six points behind league leaders Arsenal speaks for itself, but what has been most impressive is the coach’s integration of youth players and his ability to rotate the squad without much of a hiccup in quality of play.  The consistent faith in the likes of Dele Alli, Tom Carroll and Erik Lamela has seen the three of them take their careers to their highest-to-date level, and Josh Onomah has broken into the first team. The midfield committee of Moussa Dembele, Eric Dier, Ryan Mason and Tom Carroll bring consitency to the clubs style of play and Vertonghen and Alderweireld, though rarely rotated, and arguably the best pairing in the league.

All of this being said, it would be easy to see why many people are starting to talk about Tottenham being a legitimate title contender, but it should be of the utmost importance for the club and its fans to stay grounded.  It is extremely important for the club to remain focused on the development of the team and it’s mentality, and that means taking the season a week-at-a-time. Tottenham have a very good shot at obtaining a Top-four position and that should not be put to rest at the hands of an over-ambitious expectation that Spurs must win the league this year.  Two seasons ago a point away to an Everton side that is as threatening in attack as anyone in the Premiere League would have beena good result; our defense was much more poor and we were lacking the grit needed to grind out results.  Todays result speaks volumes to how far we have come both defensively and in tempo.  Tottenham held over 60% of the ball and barring a beautiful strike from former Spurs-man Aaron Lennon (as well as two shots that rang off of Howard’s goalposts, could have easily taken all three points, and it is important to look at the performance rather than the points obtained and realize that Spurs are on the absolute right path.

Pochettino recently said that it is his dream to develop his squad and his players.  It is without hesitation that I say that this squad had potential to be very special in the future but that must happen in steps.  The first step for the club and its young, developing squad is a champions league birth and the experience it brings.  The likes of Alli, Dier and Kane would benefit so much in terms of confidence from a season of participation, as would the partnership of Jan Vertongen and Toby Alderweireld at the back.  But with such a young squad, the most implosive thing that could happen is for the club to put the cart before the horse. Youth has a habit of being over-confident and looking past the job at hand, and the success of a defense largely hinders on small, detailed assignments, which can often be overlooked towards the end of a season that breaks expectation.

All things considered, it is with the utmost importance that the clubs keeps a blind-eye to the “title-talk” and focus on doing a job week-in and week-out, and that the fans do, as well.  Continuing to build on this season’s success could very well see Spurs win their first Premiere League title, and its first English title since 1961, but a developed core of players and a top-four birth is much more important, and in all honesty, should happen so long as the right mindset is applied.  Anything less than top-four would be a failure, but in order for that to happen, the title-talk has to be thrown to the wind.  I ask the fans to keep behind the squad and do what it takes to help the club reach a top-four birth, and trust that Pochettino, Levy and co. will do the same.