Mauricio Pochettino may switch Tottenham to 4-3-3 formation

A close examination of Tottenham’s transfer targets makes it clear Mauricio Pochettino is considering switching Spurs to a 4-3-3 formation.

If Mauricio Pochettino is planning a formation change at Tottenham he certainly isn’t going to announce it to the press. However, he is leaving lots of clues lying around. The list of Spurs’ transfer targets to date make it pretty obvious Pochettino is thinking about a move to a 4-3-3 setup.

Just ask yourself what Wilfried Zaha, Ryan Sessegnon, Anthony Martial and Christian Pulisic all have in common. Aside from being some of Tottenham’s top transfer targets, they are all players who do their best work out wide. Spurs’ current setup doesn’t really for much attacking width.

In fact, switching from a 4-2-3-1 to a 4-3-3 could cure two problems at once for Pochettino. First, it would alleviate a lot of pressure that’s currently heaped on his fullbacks. Ben Davies and Kieran Trippier had solid seasons, but neither has electric pace moving up the pitch. Starting them in a 4-3-3 formation would greatly reduce the burden on both players to provide width for their club’s attack.

The other thing it could do is create space for Tottenham’s central playmakers. Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen can all score goals in bundles. However, they can be stifled a bit when play gets bogged down in the middle of the pitch. Putting two wingers up top with Kane should really put horizontal pressure on opposing defenses. That could give Tottenham’s central attackers a lot more room to operate.

Playing out wide as attacking wingers would also perfectly suit current Spurs like Heung-Min Son and Lucas Moura. Each struggles to satisfy Pochettino’s defense requirements for an attacking midfielder, but they can run enough to put in a solid defensive shift from out wide.

Adding any of the club’s aforementioned top transfer targets would give Pochettino even more attacking options. If Pochettino isn’t going to change things up, it’s hard to find room for Pulisic, Zaha or Sessegnon in the Tottenham starting XI.

The last sign that Pochettino is considering a formation switch is the apparent lack of urgency to find a replacement for Mousa Dembele. If Pochettino were still committed to the double-pivot he’d be charging hard after a true defensive midfielder. At the moment, most of the club’s midfield targets (Andre Gomes, etc) are more equipped to help the side going forward. Victor Wanyama is perfectly suited to play as the defensive midfielder in a group of three. Pochettino can drop players like Eriksen, Lamela and Dele to flank him in the midfield to add more attacking punch.

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Nothing is for certain this early in the summer, but early indications clearly point to a change in formation from Pochettino. If he can land several of his top targets, look for Tottenham to line up in a classic 4-3-3 formation.