INTRODUCTION
Disciplined Spurs dropped points for the second time in a row as they faced a late defeat in the stoppage time in Molineux. Postecoglou set up a solid team despite their injury issues - only 4 players started the game that had started against Chelsea last Monday. Leading 1-0 almost for the entirety of the game wasn't enough for Spurs as they conceded two late stoppage time goals. Pablo Sarabia and Mario Lemina took the win for the Wolves. Sarabia bagged an assist and a goal after coming off the bench and was awarded the Man of the Match. Spurs went from sitting at the top of the table to the 4th position in just a week. They are now two points behind the table toppers, Manchester City.
THE SPURS GOAL
Ange Postecoglou's men took less than two and a half minutes to open the scoreboard. Brennan Johnson tapped in the ball to finish off a beautiful passage of play.
Sarr had the ball at his feet on the left side of the pitch. Spurs had set up in a position where Porro had drifted inwards as a CM near the penalty area and Kulusevski maintained the wide winger role as seen in the above image (the topmost player).
As the ball is played, Porro makes an initial attempt to get to the ball thereby attracting the Wolves' defender, Tote Gomes. This fractures the defensive structure and now Gomes is out of position. Porro left the ball for Kulusevski and continued his overlapping run, wide of Kulusevski. Brennan Johnson (extreme left) made his way into the box and positioned himself perfectly at the end of Porro's cutback.
It all started with the false. "that" space allowed Porro to cross the ball in such a dangerous position. Also, it was easy for Johnson to make the run into the big space left behind by Gomes.
THE HIGH LINE
It is nothing new that Tottenham Hotspur has been playing a high line of defence under Ange Postecoglou. We even saw the amount of belief he has in his philosophy; "sticking to your style" -- Spurs continued to play with a high line even after conceding two red cards. They caught Chelsea offside 4 times with 9 men, it was mad and courageous.
A high-line defence line does not allow the opposition space to penetrate through, they often need to switch to a long ball strategy. This is a very good defensive strategy but it does come with its consequences.
The defenders need to be alert and on their toes all the time. Everyone should be on the same page as one mistake can play the opposition onside.
Often, long balls and unexpected through balls break the line of defence.
It was no different in this match too. From the beginning, Spurs put up a high line of defence almost at the centre of the pitch. They were extremely disciplined throughout the match.
THE INVERTED PYRAMID
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when the concept of "formation" was emerging, this was a tactic that was in good use. At that time, football was mostly about attacking; everyone wanted to score goals, and as a result, the majority of the players were near the opposition's goal. We find entries in Jonathan Wilson's book "Inverting the Pyramid: The History of Football Tactics" about this.
In possession, Spurs set up in a system quite like this. They pushed Hojbjerg and Sarr up as the inverted midfielders and drifted Porro and Emerson Royal as the centre mids with Bissouma as the holding player. Kulusevski and Brennan Johnson widened their attack support by stretching up the pitch in the final third. So, it was a 2-1-2-5 system thus forming the "pyramid".
However, the system wasn't rigid. At times of need, Hojbjerg and Bissouma were seen as acting almost as a double pivot, while giving Pedro Porro more freedom to move up the pitch.
I was very interested in the role that Sarr was given in this match. He was present in the tight spaces in the attacking third -- almost replicating the role of Maddison.
In the 2-1-2-5 system, the positions of Pedro Porro and Hojbjerg were seen to be interchangeable. Hojbjerg dropped down and swapped positions with Porro in certain situations.
After the 2nd half substitutions, Hojbjerg was the holding midfielder. Lo Celso and Bentancur pressed high up the pitch and man-marked Wolves' double pivot.
IMPORTANT CASES
At the 7th-minute mark, Porro made a forward run from the inside channel dragging the Wolves defender, Tote Gomes with him. Son dropped inside to that space to receive the ball from his winger Kulusevski. He then turns and switches the flank where there are two Tottenham players waiting.
Pedro Porro and Emerson Royal drift inwards to join the midfield, creating space for the wide players, Kulusevski and Brennan Johnson.
This could have been a goal-scoring chance for Spurs if not for Kulusevski's bad decision-making. Son was making an overlapping run across Kulusevski. There were three Tottenham players in the box. Had he played the back heel to Son in the open space in front, Son could have cut it back to a dangerous position in the penalty area. Spurs had the number advantage in the far post. Kulusevsku decided to shoot instead.
Son dropped into the midfield to receive the ball. At the same time, Sarr and Kulusevski made a forward run into the space. Son played a through ball to the wing. Sarr covered the space created by Son. It was a great moment to watch.
WOLVES' GOAL
I believe both goals were conceded due to defensive errors.
In the first goal, Hojbjerg has no idea that Sarabia is making a run behind him. Eric Dier was out of position, and Hojbjerg was filling in for him. He did not check over his shoulder even for a single time. Sarabia got in behind him and scored the first goal.
In the second goal, Hojbjerg was tracking Lemina from the midfield. He then left his man near the midfield as if "hoping" his defenders would mark him. Lemina made the run between Dier and Hojbjerg and scored the goal. There was not enough communication between the Spurs players it seems. By the rule, if you let go of your man, you should inform your teammate to mark him.
VIDEO ANALYSIS OF SOME POINTS:
**NOTE: All the match screenshots are taken from the live stream of the match from Disney+ Hotstar. I have annotated them to provide my analytical perspectives.
Good read....
Cool
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