Adrian Clarke looks at key tactical points and players who can be decisive in matches following the release of the 2023/24 Premier League fixtures.
Tottenham Hotspur
Ange Postecoglou’s arrival as head coach means Spurs will undergo a major style change.
The vastly experienced 57-year-old prefers to use a traditional back four, so we will see a move away from the 3-4-2-1 favoured by Postecoglou's predecessor Antonio Conte.
Attacking philosophy
Postecoglou is regarded as an attack-minded coach, building teams who play with boldness and adventure.
This represents a change from the more defensive style adopted by predecessors Conte, Nuno Espirito Santo and Jose Mourinho.
He also demands that his sides press from the front, play out from the back and keep possession with short passing between the lines that features intelligent rotational movement.
A message from our new Head Coach 🗣 pic.twitter.com/JjG4pdCEPk
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) June 9, 2023
Provided that Postecoglou can find a winning formula, his philosophy should be a big hit with Spurs supporters.
In an interview for Optus Sport in his homeland Australia last season, Postecoglou said: “There's some basic beliefs I have, values I have, not just in football but in life that have steered my whole career, that I've stuck really close to.
"One of them is that I like my teams to play football that all players want to play, and all supporters want to watch.
“We started off as seven, eight or nine-year-olds playing in the street with the ball at our feet and we loved scoring goals. We loved to tackle; we loved the action. We weren't worried about tactics or results then, we just wanted to play the game.
"I've tried to come up with a system that replicates that, but also knowing that ultimately, I'm going to be judged by winning games of football and I love winning, so I've tried to marry both and so far, it's worked well.”
Defending from the front
Throughout his coaching career, Postecoglou has preferred his sides to press with aggression.
In underdog situations, the former Celtic manager will drop his players back behind the ball and sit a touch deeper before counter-attacking on turnovers.
However, his first-choice tactical approach is to close down inside the opposition half.
While it is difficult to compare teams from different leagues, the stats from Postecoglou’s campaign with Celtic last season do point towards a stark contrast in styles.
He will ask his forward line and two No 8 midfielders to put pressure on opponents more aggressively than we saw under Conte. So, expect Spurs' passes per defensive action (PPDA), which measures how much a team allows an opponent to pass the ball, to drop.
Turnover comparison Spurs/Celtic 22/23
| Spurs | Rank* | Celtic | Rank* | |
| PPDA | 13.8 | 14th | 8.0 | 1st |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High turnovers | 255 | 20th | 342 | 1st |
| Goals from high turnovers | 9 | =1st | 14 | 1st |
*domestic league ranking
Spurs were relatively passive out of possession in 2022/23, forcing the fewest number of high turnovers of all 20 Premier League sides.
But Postecoglou will be encouraged by how potent Spurs were at converting their transition opportunities. They scored a joint league-high nine goals from high turnovers.
4-3-3 the favourite formation
During a 27-year coaching career Postecoglou has never been married to one specific formation.
He has experimented with various shapes, but during his hugely successful two-year spell at Celtic he made 4-3-3 his principal system of play.
Celtic formations since 2021/22
| Formation | Matches |
| 4-3-3 | 78 |
|---|---|
| 4-2-3-1 | 11 |
| 4-5-1 | 5 |
In possession, he likes his deepest defensive midfielder to drop between his centre-backs, and either one or both full-backs to invert into central midfield.
His wide forwards usually take up high positions, using the full width of the pitch.
In the past, Postecoglou has dropped attacking midfielders into deeper roles as part of a midfield trio.
These players will also drift wide to combine with their full-backs and wingers down the flanks.
Increased possession & shorter passing
Spurs have not been a possession-heavy team since Mauricio Pochettino left the club in November 2019.
Under Postecoglou, we are likely to see a return to that approach, moving away from the counter-attacking style used by their last three managers.
Possession and build-up comparison Postecoglou/Spurs
| Celtic | Rank* | Spurs | Rank* | |
| Possession | 72.5% | 1st | 49.8% | 9th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10+ pass sequences | 735 | 1st | 416 | 7th |
| Build-up attacks | 257 | 1st | 100 | 6th |
| Long passes | 6.4% | - | 10.4% | - |
*domestic league ranking
His Celtic side were extremely dominant in their domestic division but even so they still made 161 more sequences of 10 or more passes than Rangers.
So under his leadership, Spurs are very likely to want more of the ball and to show greater patience in the way they look to punish the opposition.
The signature of a Postecoglou side is the way they move the ball quickly with sharp pass-and-move football.
At the outset, his players may need a period of adaptation to become fully comfortable passing out from the back, taking risks with their decision-making.
This may cost them some goals, but over time it can provide them with greater control.
Postecoglou boasts a highly impressive CV and a track record of consistent success. Spurs fans can look forward to his bold approach this season.
