Tottenham tactics: Pochettino must move star backwards
Tottenham need to shake up their midfield
Mauricio Pochettino needs to make a significant shift to his starting XI if Tottenham are going to get back on track. You might be surprised to know that the Spurs gaffer needs to move either Christian Eriksen or Dele Alli back in his formation.
Both stars have been mainstays in Pochettino’s attacking midfield this season. Dele and Eriksen have both started nearly every match they’ve been eligible to participate in this season. Lately though, that hasn’t been a formula for Tottenham success.
Early in the year, Pochettino didn’t have much choice. If he wanted to change-up his attacking midfield it would require the insertion of Moussa Sissoko into his starting XI. With all due respect to the French international, that wasn’t a realistic choice for the Argentine gaffer. Playing Sissoko as an attacking midfielder instead of Dele or Eriksen represents a massive downgrade.
The recent emergence of both Erik Lamela and Heung-Min Son have changed the dynamics in the Spurs midfield significantly. The speedy Korean has emerged as a serious goal threat for Tottenham. It’s hard to leave him out of the starting XI given his proclivity to put the ball into the back of the net.
Lamela’s return from injury hasn’t resulted in a massive offensive boost, but he can impact the game in other ways. Specifically, his insertion into the attacking midfield gives Pochettino a player who can hold the ball up against physical defenders. That, combined with his willingness to press the opposition to win back the ball, make him a unique weapon for Tottenham.
At the most, Pochettino prefers to start three attacking midfielders at once. Starting Eriksen, Dele, Lamela and Son at the same time is impossible given his formational confines. The simple answer would be to leave one of the talented quarter on the bench.
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That isn’t the best choice though. The superior alternative would be to slide either Eriksen or Dele back into the double-pivot. There’s certainly open playing time there given the absence of Victor Wanyama due to injury. The frailty of Mousa Dembele’s body often leaves Harry Winks as the only defensive midfielder that’s fully fit. Eric Dier could provide support, but his services are currently required along Pochettino’s back four.
That’s why Dele or Eriksen could move further back in the formation. Neither is a defensive stalwart, but neither is Luka Modric. The former Spurs midfielder certainly plays excellent football for Real Madrid when deployed in such a role.
Eriksen could control the match from further back with his excellent passing vision. It might prevent him from getting forward to score, but his ability to move the ball could prove vital against opponents who elect to park the bus.
Moving Dele back into the double-pivot could be even more advantageous. Many of his goals come from late runs into the box. It’s even easier to escape defensive attention when you’re making that sort of late run from deep. Counterintuitively, moving Dele back in the formation might help him regain his scoring touch.
When all of Pochettino’s troops are fully fit and back in the lineup, he can leave some of his talented attacking midfielders on the bench for rest. Until then, moving Dele or Eriksen back into the double-pivot could be the perfect solution for the problems plaguing Tottenham.