Tottenham: 3 things to watch in preseason game vs. Ipswich

Spurs set piece practice

While you do not have to think long or hard to remember Tottenham Hotspur scoring from a set piece, as Toby Alderweireld’s goal from a corner in the season finale against Crystal Palace, I know I do have to think pretty long and hard to find the next previous set piece score. While not every team will have the fortune to get a penalty kick in nearly every game like Manchester United, every team could be as effective and efficient at set pieces as Premier League champions Liverpool.

One clear area of focus since Jurgen Klopp took over the Reds was an emphasis on being good at set pieces. Goals can be hard to come by in the Premier League and the best teams take advantage of opportunities that come their way. While Harry Kane is an excellent finisher who does not need a ton of looks, Spurs can improve in their attacking set pieces.

While nothing guarantees Tottenham will get many or even any set pieces, I am very interested in the ones that they do have. First, who is taking them from a shot perspective? If there is a penalty without Kane, who steps up? If Spurs have a free kick within striking range, who gets the call, first, second? Finally, on corners and other pass-based free kick opportunities, who is doing the passing/crossing and how well are they doing it?

So, there you have it, I am interested in the formations, the rotations, and the set piece practice. What about you, what are you looking to see in the first pre-season game?