Tottenham’s Defensive Evolution

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It wouldn’t be unfair to suggest that Tottenham’s defense is due for an overhaul, and in fact has been for quite some time. Over the past three Premier League seasons Tottenham have conceded an average of 50 goals per term. The top four teams over those same three years have, on average, given up only 38. That twelve goal gap feels massive, and it’s a significant reason why Tottenham perennially fails to find itself in the promised land of the Champions League.

The other reason, of course, is how lacking they’ve been on offense. Even with goal scoring runs from Gareth Bale and Harry Kane, it’s often the case that Spurs just barely break even on goal differential. That stat alone makes them stand out among the top six or so teams in the table year over year.

Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has tried plenty of fixes to these issues in recent years. It’d be generous to refer to the results of these ‘fixes’ as mixed. Two defensive midfielders – Etienne Capoue and Benjamin Stambouli – have been brought in only to have mostly warmed the bench. Two fullbacks, one for each flank, were brought in last summer. Ben Davies and DeAndre Yedlin are young and could prove useful in the future, but have thus far failed to settle into starting roles.

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That latter, offensive concern was of course the subject of the now-infamous spending spree following the departure of Gareth Bale in 2013. To date only one or two of those dozen-odd new signings have come good, and indeed Bale’s industry and production have only really just been replaced by youth product Harry Kane.

The next, hopefully more successful, step in Tottenham’s upgrades began this spring with the signing of FC Köln centre-back Kevin Wimmer. The signing of a relatively obscure centre-back wouldn’t be unprecedented – Spurs did it recently with the signings of Vlad Chiricheș and Eric Dier – but this seems to be notably different. There’s a plan here, but it really only comes into focus with the next two players due to be brought in.

Rightback Kieran Trippier’s move from Burnley has already been confirmed, and Atlético Madrid centre-back Toby Alderweireld seems next in line. Let’s take a look at this new crop alongside the current Spurs players they’ll be joining and/or replacing.

First, the centre-backs, with the newer additions italicized. All numbers are courtesy of WhoScored and are on a per-game basis unless otherwise noted. This list also presupposes that Younes Kaboul and Chiricheș will be sold or otherwise not with the squad by the beginning of the 2015/16 season.

Next the rightback position. Trippier’s only competition with meaningful numbers from last season is Kyle Walker. Again, all numbers from WhoScored.

First off, forgive the numbers dump. Don’t worry: we’re not talking about all of the numbers here, just the bolded figures. The rest of the details were only included for those that might want a more thorough comparison.

Secondly, let’s look at the most superficial stat among these: minutes played in the league. Both Wimmer and Trippier played more minutes than their counterparts at Spurs. Wimmer is especially remarkable due to having racked up those minutes despite the Bundesliga’s shorter season. That figure speaks to two very crucial qualities for Mauricio Pochettino’s Spurs: consistency and durability. A press-heavy, high-energy squad like Pochettino’s needs players who can last the full 90 minutes week in and week out.

There’s a much more important similarity here though: each of these three new – or prospective – arrivals has a penchant for the long ball.

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