Andy Gray on Tottenham's tactical outlook
Every week, Betfair Football's star tipster Andy Gray picks out and answers his favourite question out of those he is asked on Twitter and Facebook. Here's his answer to this week's poser...
"Tottenham's recent matches have been high-scoring and Harry Redknapp has said he intends to keep on attacking. Will this backfire eventually when they reach the business end of the Champions League?" - Further to a conversation between @BetfairFootball and @kbotw1690
For starters, Tottenham aren't quite as gung-ho as some make them out to be. Yes, a straightforward 4-4-2 is pretty attacking by today's standards but for much of the season (in the absence of Jermain Defoe) Harry has gone with 4-4-1-1 with Rafael van der Vaart just behind the lone striker. Of course, the Dutchman is very much an attack-minded player but he's certainly not a striker.
The other point is that just because you're playing two proper wingers, the likes of Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon, it doesn't mean you're going all-out attack. Bale in particular tracks back a fair bit to avoid his left back being exposed whereas the likes of Tom Huddlestone and Wilson Palacios (when he plays) do plenty of running and tackling to ensure gaps aren't let when the more attack-minded players roam forward.
At the moment, Spurs are more positive than most, their matches are high-scoring and entertaining and that's obviously good for the game but that's not to say that will be a constant throughout the season. Harry knows better than most that football is a game of 'horses for courses' and there will be occasions when he may bring in an extra midfielder, say Palacios, at the expense of one of his strikers.
We know how much he likes little Defoe but if he feels he's better off going with a target man like Roman Pavlyuchenko or Peter Crouch as his most advanced player for a particular match, he'll have no hesitation in leaving Defoe out if that's what he think is best.
A bigger concern for Spurs fans is simply how few clean sheets they're keeping. More important than systems is simply doing the basics well like defending well from set pieces, not giving away silly free-kicks in dangerous areas and working hard when you're not in possession of the football. One thing is for sure, irrespective of how many goals they're scoring at the other end, they need to start keeping a few clean sheets if they're to have another top-four finish ([3.05]) or get through another couple of rounds in the Champions League.
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Published: 9 Dec 2010
Alan Maile (December 9, 2010 9:58 AM) said:
So Spurs fans are concerned with the number of clean sheets are they? When Spurs beat Arsenal 3-2 and Inter Milan 3-1 were Spurs fans unhappy because they had not kept a clean sheet? I think not. I hope Spurs keep entertaining us and leave the statisticians to keep counnt of clean sheets. What happens over the course of the season is far more important than stupid stats. Wigan and West Ham both kept clean sheets against Spurs. Fat lot of good it has done them!!!!
Steve (December 9, 2010 11:56 AM) said:
We'll keep clean sheets when we can name a settled back four. People seem to forget that under Harry we secured the best home defensive record in our history. We are usually quite solid in defence but we've missed King (as usual) but most critically Dawson as well who is usually an ever present and very accomplished at defending set plays. In addition to injuries to our first team players, players like Gallas and Kaboul have had stop start seasons as well. Owing to injuries to VDV we are also having to tinker with our shape. Lots of excuses there but as soon as we can get Dawson back the better.
davspurs (December 9, 2010 12:10 PM) said:
We do need clean sheets and this is not because we attack to much its got more to do with not having a settled back four. Hutton and Ekotto are both better going forward Gallas needs a centre forward who can head the ball like Dawson or Woodgate Bassong his more of a right back or left back. This would be a my defence Kaboul Gallas Dawson Bassong to keep clean sheets King and Woodgate has cover.