Tottenham: Should Mourinho Invert the Wingers or Not?

Jose Mourinho now has options in terms of how Tottenham Hotspur are going to play the big three in the front, as Spurs can play both with and without inverted wingers.

Since joining Tottenham Hotspur Heung-Min Son has played mostly as a left winger; likewise, after joining Real Madrid Gareth Bale most often played as a right winger. Whether those decisions were made of necessity or of appeasement – as Spurs had few options and a certain Portuguese attacker preferred the left at Madrid – one could argue both players were playing out of position.

Heung-Min Son is considered a left winger as he spends most of his time on the left playing a somewhat inverted role. Although the South Korean is one of the most ambidextrous players in world football and is excellent with his left, he is naturally a right-footed player, with a deadly right foot. Could you imagine how much more often Son might beat his man if he were playing primarily to his stronger side?

While Ryan Sessegnon was a potential alternative and more recently Steven Bergwijn has been solid, Spurs now have a world class left-footed winger on the team in Gareth Bale. Bale, started as a left sided player at Spurs, but spent much of his time at Real Madrid on the right, as Ronaldo staked his claim to left wing, but we all know the majesty of Bale’s left foot. After the transfer window and now with Bale and Son both available to him, Jose Mourinho has options, so does he use inverted wingers or not?