Supervisor Thomas Frank has modified the dynamic at Tottenham Hotspur and, after a tricky begin to the season for the Londoners, maybe indicators of success are starting to emerge.
European competition was again within the recreation as Spurs had solely gained one recreation in eight video games earlier than Frank took on his former membership Brentford and gained the spoils. There’s nonetheless a number of floor to cowl this season, however a loss to the Bees at house will surely have made issues troublesome.
Tottenham’s attacking play was notable, with their whole xG of two.18 in opposition to Brentford being their highest within the Premier League because the season opener with a 3-0 win in opposition to Burnley.
Anticipated Objectives (xG) is a metric designed to measure the likelihood {that a} shot will lead to a objective.
However what about protection? This season, Tottenham’s rearguard has not been as compact and well-trained as anticipated when Frank took over. Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven, each elite centre-backs, can do extra.
Spurs’ defensive efficiency underneath Thomas Frank
Frank watched on as Tottenham conceded 15 objectives in 5 Premier League video games, failing to win any of them, earlier than sending off his protégé Keith Andrews.
At occasions, Spurs have been in a horrible place in the back of the desk. An ideal instance of this was among the defensive motion we noticed in opposition to Fulham simply over per week in the past.
What are the roots of this battle? Structural downside? Are there nonetheless stains from the unstable Ange Postecoglou period?
The essential factor is that a lot of Tottenham’s objectives this time period have been avoidable, however is not that every one?
Tottenham have displayed an improved defence, however Romero, Van de Ven and others might want to work tougher to match Spurs’ most disciplined protection of the fashionable period. Assume Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld. Take into account Ledley King.
For now, Frank must make do with what he has, however come subsequent season the North London membership’s subsequent model of King might discover himself rising to the primary workforce.
New model of Spurs’ Ledley King
King was fairly the defender. He rivaled Harry Kane for the title of Tottenham’s finest academy graduate of the previous 30 years, breaking into the primary workforce in 1999 and finishing his profession at White Hart Lane.
Harry Redknapp as soon as hailed King as an “absolute freak”, extraordinarily highly effective and tenacious within the defensive third.
The previous England worldwide was astute and possessed a uncommon skill to time issues completely, along with his defensive talent set operating on a exact in-house stopwatch.
It is actually troublesome for brand new prospects to emerge and imitate the membership’s icons, however Luka Vuskoic may very well be the proper addition to the ENIC group.
Tottenham signed Vusković in 2023, transferring him to Bundesliga aspect Hamburger SV on a one-year mortgage deal. The 18-year-old has flourished in Germany and has proven he has the expertise to match somebody like King sooner or later, and even perhaps possess a extra sturdy and promising skillset than somebody like Van de Ven.
Van de Ven can rating objectives, however so can Vuskovic. This teenage expertise has proven a sure penchant for the spectacle in Germany this 12 months.
In keeping with FBref, Vusković has an uncommon profile, rating within the prime 3% of central defenders within the Bundesliga this season for objectives scored, prime 9% for possibilities created and prime 1% for aerial duel success price of 90%. He has what it takes to be a famous person.
Though the Premier League is taken into account by many to be the hardest league on this planet, it’s attention-grabbing to notice that Vuskovic is arguably taking part in extra deftly than Spurs’ athletic centre-backs, which bodes properly for his future in London.
League Stats 25/26 – Van de Ven vs Vusković | ||
|---|---|---|
Match statistics (* per match) | van de ven | Vusković |
Match (begin) | 14(14) | 11(11) |
the objective | 3 | 2 |
help | 0 | 0 |
clear sheet | 4 | 2 |
contact* | 68.1 | 79.2 |
Actual path* | 52.1 (91%) | 51.0 (86%) |
Alternatives created* | 0.1 | 0.6 |
dribble* | 0.3 | 0.3 |
acquire* | 3.7 | 4.1 |
Deal with + Interception* | 2.2 | 1.5 |
clearance* | 3.3 | 8.8 |
Duel (win)* | 3.1 (48%) | 7.5 (67%) |
error | 2 | 1 |
Information through Sofascore | ||
The truth that Van de Ven has gained lower than half of his Premier League matches this season exhibits he must do extra to cease the rampant corruption.
Nonetheless, such corruption is in its early levels and may be addressed. Frank has choices for the rest of his time period, however including Vuskovic to the combo might inject a King-like presence to take the challenge to the subsequent stage.
Anirst Ben Mattinson described him as an “extraordinary athlete” and an “extraordinary expertise” with a “scary ceiling”, thus highlighting the resonance between him and King.
It stays to be seen whether or not the Croatian expertise will be capable of adapt to life within the Premier League, however the indicators are constructive. He might ultimately overtake the 2 prime stars in Van de Ven and Romero to develop into the centre-half on an analogous pitch to gamers like King.
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