Heung-Min Son scoring twice and Dele Alli with two assists are the headlines in Tottenham Hotspur’s 3-0 win over Ipswich Town in Spurs first preseason game.
Tottenham Hotspur hosted Ipswich Town in the first preseason match of the 2020-21 season.
Besides a couple of Heung-Min Son goals and Dele Alli assists, what did we see from Jose Mourinho and Spurs in the 3-0 victory that fans should be excited about?
Spurs stars lead
Anytime you play a team two divisions beneath your own – even in preseason – you do not want to lose the match. If your talent shows up that should not happen and while Tottenham Hotspur did not get a complete game from the first team, there was a strong squad to start and big names came up big.
The first goal demonstrated the vision and playmaking ability of Alli when he has a little space and time to pick his head up. After receiving the ball near midfield, Dele started to attack and then cut back to create some space and time on the ball. As Dele looked up, he saw Son breaking toward him near the edge of the box, which pulled the defenders up.
Behind Son, starting on the left outside of midfield – more on Tottenham formation later – Ryan Sessegnon was flashing in. His touch initially looked a bit too far out in front of him, but it put the ball into space beyond the reacting defense. After another touch to gain his balance, Sessegnon struck with his right foot back across the goal.
The strike was far from pure, but the approach was spot on, as the cutback shot caught Ipswich keeper David Cornell wrong-footed and rolled into the back of the net for a 1-0 Spurs lead about six minutes in. Then less than five minutes later, under-pressure David Cornell made a poor decision after a back pass, and instead of booting the ball out, he tried to play a pass up the middle to his defense.
It was at this moment of decision Spurs fans got their first real taste of what Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg brings to the team as he stepped in toward the pass, sliding to break up the attempt. Hojbjerg’s touch went straight to Dele who played the ball calmly back to Son, who managed to pass the ball between two defenders and the sprawling Cornell into the back of the net.
Ten minutes into the match and it was 2-0 Spurs to the good and Dele had two assists and Hojbjerg had his first real contribution. To say the match could not have started any better is probably an understatement at this point, as Spurs went into cruise control. While this approach has seen bad repercussions in the past – Juventus comes to mind – this was a preseason match against a League One side and there was no reason to put the foot on the throat in a friendly.
Near the half-hour mark, Juan Foyth showed some of the good he brings to the team with an excellent through ball – cannot remember the last time I typed that in a positive way in a Spurs match – to Son who had timed his run perfectly and then managed to dink the ball over Cornell into the net for a 3-0 Tottenham Hotspur lead.
This third and final goal was certainly the best of the bunch for Spurs as both Foyth and Son demonstrated something special on the play with the pass and finish. Tottenham never scored again, but the damage was done, and the match was as much about fitness and formation as anything, so well-done starters.
A new formation
Outside of the addition of Hojbjerg, the biggest story of the Tottenham transfer window has been the right fullback position and what Tottenham is going to do to support Serge Aurier or even replace him.
Today, Jose Mourinho demonstrated a different approach, simply do not employ one. Yes, Gedson Fernandes played in a role similar to Aurier’s from last season, but it was clear his focus was forward as opposed to backwards in defense as Tottenham employed a true three-man back line.
It was obvious from the team sheet that something was going on as both Ben Davies and Ryan Sessegnon were in the lineup and there was no obvious right fullback in the side. As it turned out, Juan Foyth played on the right, Davies on the left and Toby Alderweireld was in the middle of the two, and maybe Ryan Sessegnon has found a position in the midfield.
With Foyth and Davies both more than adequate passers on their own right, this formation created a lot of space and opportunity for Alderweireld to ping the ball all over the pitch. We particularly saw a lot of Toby hitting the ball wide and forward to Gedson way up on the right wing. With these three along with Davinson Sanchez, Eric Dier, and Japhet Tanganga – and a bunch of matches – might we see a back three rotation for much of the season? It is quite possible.
The key to making a back three work is what is happening in front of them to put them out of position. While the questions around whether two holding midfielders would sit in front of a back four with Hojbjerg now at Spurs, having two in front of a back three makes complete sense.
The pairing of Harry Winks and Hojbjerg shielded the back line well, allowing almost any of the five players to join in the attack at different points in the game. More importantly, defending primarily with five players allows five to participate almost full-time in attack, which is maybe more important.
Whether you called it a 3-5-2 or a 3-2-3-2 formation, it was obvious that there was a bit of pressure on Fernandes and Sessegnon to cover a lot of ground on the flanks, but in general, their focus was on attack. Those two, along with Dele, Son, and Lucas Moura clearly did the job for Spurs and demonstrated that maybe this team will not be quite as predictable as they had become the last few seasons. We will see.
Spurs’ youth players getting a run
There were 20 names on the team sheet today and all 20 played at some point in the match. And while it was exciting to see Joe Hart get a few minutes in the second half as a new signing, it was much more exciting to see all the Tottenham youth on display in the last 45 minutes.
Previous loanees Cameron Carter-Vickers, Jack Clarke, and academy product Dennis Cirkin all get a chance to start the second half – along with Hart – and show Mourinho or potentially others what they can do.
CCV still looks a bit stiff at times, but his size and athleticism is certainly clear. Cirkin had a couple nice defensive plays and tried to dribble a bit but lost the ball a couple of times. Clarke showed me something as one of the few players on the pitch to put in a decent cross from the right-hand side of the pitch and a few other runs. It will be interesting to see what those three do for the rest of the preseason and if they can earn a place in the squad or are out on loan. Something to watch.
After those three we saw Harvey White – who blew his big chance on a free-kick – and a couple more teenagers in Dane Scarlett and new signee Alfie Devine. Paulo Gazzaniga then came in with Jamie Bowden about half-way through the half and that meant all 20 players had reached the pitch for Spurs. The rest of the second half was relatively open, but neither side created any clear-cut chances and the game ended 3-0.
It was positive to see so much youth on display for Spurs, hopefully someone from the seven non-regulars seen today can contribute this season, particularly early on when the fixture congestion due to multiple fronts is very real. Tottenham next play again in preseason Friday against Reading, again at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.