In a recent match against Ipswich Town, Tottenham manager, Ange Postecoglou made some strategic changes that proved to be effective. This article delves into the reasons behind these decisions and their impact on the game.
Postecoglou decided to bring Archie Gray back into the starting eleven in place of Ben Davies at Portman Road Stadium. He also introduced Destiny Udogie in place of Pedro Porro, with Djed Spence moving to the right-back slot.
Interestingly though, it was Gray who was positioned on the right side of central defence, with Kevin Danso starting on the left side. This is unusual as Gray, a Leeds academy graduate has almost exclusively played as a left centre-back this season.
Nervy start but steady progress
Although Gray had a shaky start to the game with Liam Delap getting an upper hand in early exchanges, he gradually grew more comfortable as the game progressed. Similarly, despite being predominantly one-footed, Danso seemed well-suited for his new position on the left side. He confidently moved forward whenever space opened up. When asked about his decision to swap their positions against Ipswich Town Postecoglou explained:
Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham manager, said:
“We just felt Archie is more comfortable on the right. We just felt he could do better on the right, and give Kev a go on the left-hand side, we wanted to see how he goes on the left-hand side. Because he may have to play on that side for us during this period.”
The decision seemed justified considering how brilliantly Gray assisted for Tottenham’s opening goal. When this point was raised with Postecoglou he responded humorously.
Ange Postecoglou added:
“Like I said, I just felt today, we kind of knew, Delap’s a handful, I just felt putting Archie in, he’s a right-sided player, putting him on the right side. Kevin’s a bit more experienced. I wanted to see how Kevin handled the left-hand side. Because that’s an area where we may need him during this run-in. And I thought both of them handled it well.”
Calming effect of Guglielmo Vicario's return
The return of goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario has also had a positive impact on Tottenham's backline. His calm demeanor contrasts with the slightly frantic Antonin Kinsky, which seems to have helped Spurs' defenders feel less on edge.
Postecoglou’s tactical changes, particularly swapping Gray and Danso’s positions, along with key player arrivals and returns have significantly improved Tottenham's defensive performance. These strategic decisions are proving beneficial for Spurs as they continue their campaign this season.
