The Left-Footed Problem
Current Lefties:
Ben Davies - cuts in when attacking rather than providing width
Gio Lo Celso - needed in midfield, can be the left midfielder in a 3
Erik Lamela - plays exclusively as an inverted right winger
Ryan Sessegnon - might possibly play some day :(
Heung Min Son - two-footed
No team can succeed in the highest levels with being able to attack from all sides. A major issue with Spurs over the last few years is lack of width on the left. Teams would pack the box or overload the right wing against us. We've tried to buy players like N'Koudou with little success.
With the decline of Vertoghen and Rose, there has been a significant drop in defensive and attacking output from the left. Son plays left wing because he is our best option but is still right-foot dominant. Davies is the best available left side defender and offers little in attack. The reason why Sessegnon was so important last year was that he could develop to either attack more than Davies or defend better than Son. However he isn't playing and developing.
With Reguilon and Bale coming in, we get a better attacker than Davies at LB and a left winger that lets us put Son on the right. This vastly improves the wings in attack. Spurs becomes a 3 dimensional attack with these moves. If Sessegnon can develop this year, we will finally have depth as well.
Posted Sep 16, 2020, 4:19 PM UTC
I'm sorry, when does Davies cut in? He always goes to the byline and whips crosses in or stays back, it's very rare he goes inside. Also isn't Son right footed but he's very good with his left?
Also won't Bale surely play right wing since that's his more natural position? I feel like this isn't very well thought out.
Probably more accurate to say he cuts in way too often... but I get the sentiment. It’s because he can’t beat anyone for pace.
Every time Son has the ball, Davies cuts into the box rather than moving further out wide.
I don’t think this is true.
Our attack would be a lot better if Davies actually pushed forward as often as you’re implying. Usually, Davies doesn’t get past the midfield, and he largely prefers to stay outwide.
That was badly worded, when he's allowed into attack with Son dribbling he chooses to position himself in inside box on the left. Otherwise he acts as a recycling outlet. Davies puts in about half the number of crosses per 90 as prime Danny Rose and when he did so in the last 2 years, it was heavily contested.
it would certainly be more dynamic, Davies just doesn't have the pace to recover when he pushes up that far and we lose the ball.
If Bale returns i'd love to see Regulion LB, Doherty RB pushing up wide in attack, Son LW & Bale RW cutting inside and Kane staying close to the box. With healthy GLC & Ndombele if he can get regular minutes thats quality enough to go toe to toe with most starting 11's anywhere. Might be a bit too attacking depending on the midfield and back line that starts but nice to have the options.
No way. He makes different kinds of overlapping runs depending on position of the defense and son/ball. He goes into the box sometimes but also makes the outside overlap.
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