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Five Things to Watch for in Tottenham v Inter

By Ryan Wrenn

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 22: Harry Kane (R) of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates scoring his teams third goal with Dele Alli of Tottenham Hotspur during the Barclays Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United at White Hart Lane on November 22, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 22: Harry Kane (R) of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates scoring his teams third goal with Dele Alli of Tottenham Hotspur during the Barclays Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United at White Hart Lane on November 22, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) /
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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JULY 29: Vincent Janssen of Tottenham Hotspur passes the ball during 2016 International Champions Cup Australia match between Tottenham Hotspur and Atletico de Madrid at Melbourne Cricket Ground on July 29, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JULY 29: Vincent Janssen of Tottenham Hotspur passes the ball during 2016 International Champions Cup Australia match between Tottenham Hotspur and Atletico de Madrid at Melbourne Cricket Ground on July 29, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images) /

An Altered Attack

There’s no fixing something that isn’t broken. Tottenham’s attack last term was one of the most potent and reliable in the league, led as it was by the Premier League Golden Boot winner Harry Kane.

For most purposes, Kane will feature ahead of the typical three of Christian Eriksen, Dele Alli and Érik Lamela. That quad has a bit of everything, embodying Pochettino’s high press, defender-from-the-front philosophy while also being able to convert a good many shots along the way.

There are the slightest hints that maybe Pochettino has something else in store however. The arrival of Vincent Janssen from AZ Alkmaar might prompt Pochettino to experiment with the possibility of playing both the Dutch striker and Kane alongside each other.

Tottenham - Friendly - 5th August 2016 - Football tactics and formations
Tottenham - Friendly - 5th August 2016 - Football tactics and formations /

Janssen sits at the tip of the spear with Kane dropping deeper just behind him. Eriksen and Lamela cut inside from the nominal wings of the 4-4-2 formation to help funnel the ball, while Danny Rose and Kyle Walker press forward. Mason — most likely — and Dier are left in the center to muscle possession away when needed.

The scheme isn’t dramatically different than what Pochettino utilized last season in truth. For several matches in Alli essentially functioned as a deep lying forward, working to retrieve the ball in the press but surging forward and even past Kane when in possession. Kane would fill that role even better, though it would mean that Alli looses his automatic starting berth as a result.

Tottenham won’t, in all likelihood, start in this formation. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Pochettino experiment with some second half substitutes, however.

Next: An Italian Job