The last few seasons have been connected by one predictable plot twist – a problem with depth on the flanks. This year, as happened the year before, Aaron Lennon picked up a knock about two-thirds of the way through the season, decimating Tottenham’s crucial width and reducing their attacking options. I’ve written at length about […]
Posts Categorized: Lennon
In Case You’ve Forgotten, This is a Full Strength Spurs Squad
Sometimes during the long winning streaks this season, a small minority of fans were infected by a certain amount of hubris. As soon as a negative result happened, some took the opportunity to decry the club with both hands. “We didn’t spend enough money”, “Friedel is rubbish”, “Steffen Freund isn’t shouting loud enough”. Etcetera. But […]
Can I get a Left-Back up in Here?: Spurs v Sunderland Tactical Preview
Well, there’s ninety minutes of the 2012/13 season left, and Champions League football might not be in our hands, but you can’t say that Tottenham haven’t given it a damn good go. If Tottenham win against Sunderland at White Hart Lane but don’t qualify for the Champions Leauge, they’ll have still finished the season on 72 […]
Deuce not yet Dropped: Stoke 1-2 Spurs Tactical Analysis
A Deuce might not have been dropped in the Tottenham Hotspur team this afternoon, but many a deuce must have been dropped by Spurs fans across the breadth of the country. Spurs left it late to score a winning goal against a Stoke side that were a man down for nearly 45 minutes. Although the […]
Mad Craachy’s Black Apalachi: Stoke v Tottenham Tactical Preview
Stoke play with a totally different nature to the rest of the Premier League, they are very aggressive and direct, they are in your face. It is a style that has brought them success so it is not up to me to condemn them. But it is easier to cope with now I have played […]
Thor’s Hammer: Chelsea 2-2 Tottenham Tactical Analysis
When I have a son, I’ll be able to tell him all about Tottenham’s history. One day, I might tell him about these two players that used to be on that White Hart Lane turf. One was this useless, lanky striker. He walked around the pitch like he was looking for a toothpick in the [...]
The Battle of Stamford Bridge: Chelsea v Spurs Tactical Preview
Nearly a thousand years ago two sides met at Stamford Bridge. One, an established ruler of the land that’d been at the top for a while. The other, a challenger from across the channel that was commanding a fearsome and large empire itself, and whom had already seen off many powerful adversaries. That day, the [...]
Who Needs Strikers, Anyway?: Spurs v Southamption Tactical Analysis
There are some games that Tottenham have won this season that displayed what is frequently called a “winning mentality”. That drive and confidence that forces players on and up the pitch with the ball even when it seems like the footballing gods have no gifts to give you that day. Spurs have shown it time [...]
Ride the Dembele Train: Spurs v Soton Tactical Preview
Last weekend’s game at Wigan felt like a third date that didn’t end in a night of passion. All the expectations were there, the groundwork had been laid in the previous weeks, and it was assumed beforehand plenty of chances to score would make themselves apparent. But for whatever reason Tottenham never quite settled into [...]
How high do Tottenham aim?
The 2012/2013 season has been a massive shake up, it has seen the departure of manager Harry Redknapp and key players in Ledley King, Luka Modric and Rafa Van Der Vaart for Tottenham Hotspur. So, the million dollar question: Is 5th place, the Europa league place, really that bad? This is a transitional season, new …
DW, We Got This: Wigan v Spurs Tactical Preview
In many ways, playing Wigan Athletic almost feels like some kind of international cup tie. The Latics carry themselves with a swagger that’s just a little bit different to every other team in the Premier League. From their continental 3-5-2 formation (more on that later) that is unlike anything else in the league, to [...]
A win at Wigan
This weekend, we play Wigan at the DW stadium. The chase for top four is still on. A win against Man City, an amazing comeback which really lifted our spirits against last years league winners. So, lets continue our drive and determination to Wigan, and hopefully a win! Lennon returns to bomb down that wing, …
AVB Reads my Blog: Spurs v Man City Tactical Analysis
Even if the valiant comeback and eventual 3-1 win in yesterday’s match against Manchester City doesn’t get Tottenham into the Champions League it proved, if nothing else, that I know what I’m talking about when it comes to tactics. In my preview yesterday, I said that the only way to beat the title holders would [...]
Spurs v Man City: Quick Tactical Preview
It feels like an age since Tottenham last played, doesn’t it? In footballing terms, it almost has been an age. A two-week break for our players coming after a gutting but heroic exit from the Europa League is something of a blessing in disguise, and for those who constantly complain of Spurs never getting any [...]
Chalkboard For City | The ‘One-Man Team’ Edition
By the time the single-term Champions arrive at The Lane tomorrow it’ll have been a whole ten days since our semi-tragic parp-parp-whoops exit from the Europa League. In that period, Arsenal and Everton will have played thrice and Chelsea and City on two occasions. These things rarely boil down to the machinations of a diary, [...]
Without a Paddle?: Tactical Analysis of Spurs With and Without Bale
“One man team” has always been a lazy criticism when it comes to football, regardless of the club. It’s not in doubt that every squad will have their triggerman, the fulcrum of the team and someone that just makes the side tick, but to reduce the tactical depth of eleven men to the performance of one [...]
The Rise of Tottenham Hotspur (Part 1)
I’m writing this article the day after the 2-2 draw with Everton at the Lane. A lot of people are understandably nervous, as it’s April, the month where the wheels usually come off. So why do we feel like this? What evidence is there to show it won’t happen again? Well, let’s take a trip …
Most Creative English Players This Season | Opta Stats Analysis
With England’s recent struggle against Montenegro we thought it would be interesting to take a look just how well the English players have fared in the Premier League this season. In this first article we have looked at which English players have been the most creative this season. We have also taken a look at [...]
Most Creative English Players This Season | Opta Stats Analysis
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THFC International Squads Update 18/03/2013
After a heavy week of football for many top English clubs, a raft of players have predictably announced they will not be available for England’s two international fixtures in the next fortnight – away games against San Marino and Montenegro. Here’s the players that have had to pull out, including a couple of Spurs’s big [...]
Sunderland 1-2 Tottenham: Player Ratings
Here are TheSpursBlog’s player ratings for the entire Tottenham team in relation to their 2-1 victory over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light yesterday afternoon. STARTING XI Lloris: 8 – Pulled off a few good saves, and couldn’t have done any more than he did to stop Sunderland’s goal. Walker: 5 – At fault for [...]
Tomorrow’s Wish List- Liverpool At Home
A three-man midfield. If there was ever a time this season when Tottenham could be outnumbered and outplayed in the middle (they have already been, by Wigan Athletic no less, but let’s put that aside for a moment), it’ll be in tomorrow’s game. This Liverpool side suffers from deficiencies in a number of areas, the centre forward …
Arsenal 5 Tottenham 2: Tactical Analysis | Pre- & Post-Adebayor
The 151st London derby between Arsenal and Tottenham ended with the Gunners taking the spoils in the kind of high-scoring encounter which is rapidly becoming the norm when these two meet. Yet a 5-2 victory for the hosts would have seemed somewhat far f…
Premier League’s Top Scorers, Creators, Passers & Tacklers! Opta Stats
Match Day 9 has been completed in the Premier League and, despite their first loss yesterday, Chelsea are still on top of the league. With both of their Manchester rivals winning Chelsea are now a solitary point ahead as the title race hots up coming i…
EPLIndex Statistical Team of the Week – Premier League Matchday 7
End of another fascinating weekend of the Premier League and it’s time to check out – EPLIndex’s Team of the Week using the EPLIndex.com’s Stats Centre (Subscribe for Access to the EPLIndex Stats Centre) This time 5 goal keepers manage…
AVB Analysis: Spurs v QPR
Andre Villas-Boas notched up his first home win of the season against QPR on Sunday, but at half time Spurs were seriously struggling and in need of a change. Sure enough, the changes at the interval worked wonders as Spurs performed incredibly in the …
Who should AVB pick to be in Tottenham’s starting XI?
Goalkeeper: Now if you would have asked me before the season started, I would have said hands down that we needed a new younger keeper this season and demote Brad to the bench and our prayers have been answered in the form of French number 1 and capta…
The Importance of Adebayor | Stats Comparison of Strikers From Top 6
With two weeks to go until Tottenham face their season opener up at Newcastle, to say we are lightweight up front is an understatement. The only recognised strikers on the books are Jermain Defoe and the youngster Harry Kane. While [...]Written by Matt…
Should Aaron Lennon Have Made the England Squad? Opta Stats
When Roy Hodgson announced his England squad last week there were a number of surprises. Most surprising for me and I am sure a number of England fans was the inclusion of Stewart Downing. This is a player who famously [...]Written by Matt SwanShould A…
England’s Best XI | Part 2 : Midfield | Opta Stats Analysis
With the goalkeeper and defence already chosen for England’s best XI (Full England Defence Article Here) we will now look at what England’s best midfield would be for Euro 2012. We have again given the player who came out on [...]Written by James A…