The Current State of Tottenham: A Midfield Conundrum
Tottenham Hotspur fans have been grappling with a sense of disillusionment lately, and the announcement of the starting XI to face Bournemouth did little to ease their concerns. Coach Ange Postecoglou opted for a midfield trio that prioritized physicality over creativity: Pape Matar Sarr, Yves Bissouma, and Rodrigo Bentancur. While Sarr eventually found the net, the overall performance left much to be desired.
The strategy appeared to be aimed at countering Bournemouth’s aggressive style, yet Spurs struggled to navigate their opponent’s relentless pressing game, often misplacing passes and failing to connect effectively. The Cherries capitalized on this, forcing 38 turnovers—the eighth-highest in a Premier League match this season—and managed to score from one of those opportunities, coming close to adding more goals on several occasions.
Postecoglou’s Tactical Adjustments
In response to the unfolding situation, Postecoglou made significant changes at halftime, substituting Bissouma for Lucas Bergvall and Bentancur for James Maddison by the hour mark. This double substitution underscored the coach’s recognition that his initial game plan was ineffective.
Sunday’s match was emblematic of a broader issue that has plagued Postecoglou since his appointment 21 months ago. He has consistently struggled to strike the right balance in midfield, frequently experimenting with different combinations like an amateur chef attempting to replicate a complex recipe. The midfield has seen a staggering 68 changes across 44 matches, averaging 1.5 alterations per game, with the same trio starting back-to-back matches just four times.
- The rotation has been influenced by various factors, including:
- Using early rounds of the Carabao Cup and Europa League to rotate players.
- Injuries and suspensions, notably Bentancur’s seven-game ban.
However, fluctuating form has been a significant catalyst for Postecoglou’s decision-making. At various points throughout the season, he has appeared to find a successful combination, only for a disappointing result to prompt a reevaluation of his tactics.
Searching for Stability
During September and October, Postecoglou selected an exciting midfield trio that aligned with his “Angeball” philosophy, featuring Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski flanking Bentancur for four consecutive league matches. However, a 3-2 defeat to Brighton—despite leading 2-0 at halftime—brought that experiment to a quick end. Since then, Maddison and Kulusevski have only started together in midfield once, during a 1-0 loss to Crystal Palace on October 27.
Despite criticisms of Postecoglou’s supposed rigidity, his acknowledgment that a combination including both Maddison and Kulusevski was overly ambitious led to a more cautious approach moving forward. For instance, Sarr replaced Maddison during crucial victories against Manchester City in the Carabao Cup and Aston Villa in the league. Still, the limitations of that pairing became evident during a 2-1 home defeat to Ipswich, where Maddison’s creativity was sorely missed.
In an impressive 4-0 victory over City at the Etihad Stadium, a Maddison-Bissouma-Sarr combination showed promise but subsequently faltered in matches against Bournemouth and a 6-3 defeat to Liverpool in December. These disheartening losses to Brighton, Ipswich, Bournemouth, and Liverpool stand out as some of Spurs’ most dispiriting performances this season, highlighting the impact of Postecoglou’s adjustment in selection.
Injuries and Selection Dilemmas
While injuries have certainly affected Spurs this season, the midfield has been less disrupted compared to other positions. According to data from Premier Injuries, Spurs’ central midfielders—Bergvall, Bentancur, Bissouma, Kulusevski, Maddison, and Sarr—have collectively missed 17 games due to injury. In contrast, the forward line has endured a staggering 100 absences, while defenders have missed 97 games, with goalkeepers Guglielmo Vicario and Fraser Forster also sidelined for 22 matches.
Despite having a deeper pool of talent in midfield, Tottenham’s central position remains a complex puzzle that Postecoglou has yet to solve. He has generally opted for a structure featuring one No. 6 (either Bentancur or Bissouma), one playmaker (Maddison or Kulusevski), and one ball carrier (Bergvall or Sarr) in his attempts to establish a coherent midfield setup.
Looking Ahead
The ongoing issues surrounding the midfield do not reflect positively on Postecoglou’s methods, and criticism has also been directed at technical director Johan Lange for the recruitment decisions made last summer and in January. It became evident last season that neither Bentancur nor Bissouma were ideally suited to play as press-resistant, ball-progressing, defensive midfielders required in a Postecoglou system.
Nevertheless, certain midfielders have enjoyed standout individual seasons. Kulusevski is a frontrunner for the club’s Player of the Year award, while the young Bergvall has emerged as a revelation since the turn of the year, and Maddison leads the club in league goals with nine. Archie Gray has also shone despite being shuffled around the back four and deserves an opportunity to play in his preferred defensive midfield role. The skill sets of Bergvall and Maddison could potentially complement each other well.
As Spurs prepare for a pivotal win-or-bust encounter against AZ Alkmaar, Postecoglou may need to consider yet another new combination to salvage the season and reignite hope among the fans.
