OMT ** Tottenham Hotspur v Wolves ** 29 December 2024.

[Gutter Boy]

I don’t think that’s true at all in this system. Our CBs do a high number of sprints back from the halfway line towards their goal every game.

Yeah, but they still cover say 5 miles a game compared to other positions 10 miles

 

[Mikey10]

Yeah, but they still cover say 5 miles a game compared to other positions 10 miles

Yeah - I just think parts of their bodies are put under particular stress because of the system. But definitely agree they run less than most of the team.

 

[SteveAWOL]

Yeah - I just think parts of their bodies are put under particular stress because of the system. But definitely agree they run less than most of the team.

Wish that the sprints per player figures were readily available but no doubt our CBs must have to work those hamstrings more than those in other teams on account of our high line combined with flying full backs and lack of protection from CMF. No wonder young Archie Gray has taken to Angeball so readily, having previously excelled at Bielsa’s murder-ball sessions.

Opta Analyst found that Postecoglou’s side rank first in the Premier League this season for sprints (180.7 per game), pressures in the final third (68.7 per game), off-the-ball runs to try and receive a pass (172.5 per game), sprints to try and receive a pass (59.8 per game), and overlapping runs (32.8 per game).

Their average distance of each off-the-ball run (22.1 metres per run) is also further than any other team. It all requires an extraordinary amount of work that is inevitably difficult to maintain at all times.

In fact, Postecoglou’s demand for high intensity even extends to getting the ball back into play. Opta Analyst found there is scarcely any effort to slow play and run down the clock when Spurs are ahead in games, using an average of just 17.3 seconds (the quickest in the league by some margin) to take a goal-kick when they are winning.

The Big Question: Which Spurs will turn up against Liverpool?

Consistency has been Spurs' biggest issue this season as Ben Bloom looks at whether they can inflict a blow to the league leaders

www.premierleague.com

Alongside the choreography of these sharp transitions and willingness to commit multiple runners, their not-so-secret ingredient is in their physicality. Call it ripe for future burnout, call it unnecessary exertion, but whatever the view, Bielsa’s Leeds care little for the noise. Their style of play when combined with such energy often makes them, at best, an uncomfortable appointment. Many opponents have felt the worst of it this season.

Unsurprisingly, Leeds covered more distance and made more sprints per game than any other team in the Premier League this term. They outran their opponents in total distance covered in 37 of their 38 league games, with the only exception being in their 2-1 win away at Emirates Marketing Project – a game in which they had 10 men for the whole second half. Even then, the margin was less than a kilometre between the sides.

Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger: The Wonder of Marcelo Bielsa | Opta Analyst

After relegation from the Premier League in 2004, Leeds never looked like returning to the top-flight. Until Marcelo Bielsa came in, that is.

theanalyst.com

 

[tommysvr]

CBs dont tend to get fatigued. They do far less running in a game than any other position. They dont particularly need rotating. FBs and CMs def do, and CFs if you press high like we do

You post some dumb brick, but this surely goes towards the top of the list.

 

[braineclipse]

I accept that it is possibly harsh but for me, he has to stop that.
I think if we do not get another keeper short-term it will be difficult for us for a while yet.

Strikers have essentially two options there. High and hard near corner or go low in the far corner. Both are decent options. It's rare to see those go in, but when it's that well struck they do go in also against good goalkeepers.

Agreed on all except the bold-face. We are markedly playing through him less. Both Gray and Dragusin have turned away from a ball they'd usually play back to Vic by about 50% to my eyes. He has gone longer more often, and we have rarely goit possession back when that happens.

We miss Romero more than Vicario in deep buildup imo.

 

[thfcsteff]

We miss Romero more than Vicario in deep buildup imo.

I wouldn't disagree. What I am pointing out is that we are actively playing less passes to Forster/back through Forster, which is also impacting everything we're doing.

 

[Kandi1977]

There is always blame on the keeper when they get done at the near post, they’ve got their maths wrong if nothing else.

That is just pure and utter gonads. How that idiotic idea has become a "fact" I don't know, but it's just ridiculous. If you always was to completly cover one side of the goal, you'd leave the other side wide open. How's that in any way better?
Ask any competent GK or GK coach.

 

[Finney Is Back]

We signed Gray and Bergvall and brought through Moore to play them. Just because they don't technically have to be registered doesn't mean they're not taking up a squad space in the plans of the coaching and technical staff at the club. The other thing I'm getting tired of explaining is that you need 8 locally trained and 4 club trained players in your UEFA list.

You don’t. You are allowed a maximum of 17 overseas players. You can have another 8 players if 4 are association trained and 4 club trained.

Chelsea have players left out of their European squad who are in their PL squad, we could (and probably should) have done the same thing.

 

[Finney Is Back]

I don't always enjoy these "squad not big enough" narratives. Ange was only one centre half away from having a full quota of players at the start of this season.

Ange didn't operate with 18 outfield players. He had 23 and needs to be measured on those 23. That is his job.

Porro, Spence, VDV, Romero, Dragusin, Davies, Udogie, Reggie, Biss, Bents, Sarr, Gray, Bergval, Kulu, Madds, Johnson, Moore, Odobert, Sonny, Werner, Solanke, Richi, Lankshear

5 of them are kids who still have a lot of learning to do (though I would say that Gray is pretty much ready now)

 

[Finney Is Back]

if thats tactical instruction, fair enough

I'd like to see us sit a lot deeper to adjust for his sweep range, and to make teams shoot from further out

We are.

 

[Yiddo]

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Not difficult if you have done your homework.

 

[Muttley]

5 of them are kids who still have a lot of learning to do (though I would say that Gray is pretty much ready now)

Pep won a treble with that composition of players. He found a Lewis and Palmer that season in his 6 U21s.

I keep wondering why we put such a high emphasis on the kids that are doing such an admirable job. Pep had a core 18/19 that won that treble with the kids and rotated his core players heavily.

I have a feeling this season will ultimately be disappointing but we would have learned so much that will stand us in good stead.

 

[parklane1]

Strikers have essentially two options there. High and hard near corner or go low in the far corner. Both are decent options. It's rare to see those go in, but when it's that well struck they do go in also against good goalkeepers.

We miss Romero more than Vicario in deep buildup imo.

Indeed we do big time.

 

[SteveAWOL]

…

We miss Romero more than Vicario in deep buildup imo.

Thankfully young Gray is doing a decent job filling in as our quarterback in Romero’s absence.