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Lineup we hope to see from Tottenham on Sunday v Newcastle

By Aaron Coe

Tottenham Hotspur's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho gestures on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur at The London Stadium, in east London on February 21, 2021. (Photo by Kirsty Wigglesworth / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by KIRSTY WIGGLESWORTH/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Tottenham Hotspur's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho gestures on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur at The London Stadium, in east London on February 21, 2021. (Photo by Kirsty Wigglesworth / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by KIRSTY WIGGLESWORTH/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Tottenham, Pierre Hojbjerg
Tottenham Hotspur’s Danish midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg strikes the ball to score their first goal during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on January 28, 2021. (Photo by SHAUN BOTTERILL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

2-Man Defensive Midfield

To help block the channels and cover the gaps, it is always nice to have even numbers on a line after odd. If Tottenham has a three-man defense, this means a two-man deep midfield. Essentially, in this formation the two deep midfielders would be asked to do essentially the same thing they are doing now, protect the backline and move the ball back into the attack.

Tanguy Ndombele -Defensive Midfield

Tanguy Ndombele has started to find a real home in the deep midfield. Freed of the responsibility of covering as much defensively with Højbjerg carrying the lion’s share of defensive responsibilities, Tanguy could be a positive force all over the field for Spurs. Ndombele has shown he can do a good job linking the defense and the attack, which more space and more options in front of him we start to see even more of the best of the Frenchman.

Pierre-Emile Højbjerg – Defensive Midfield

Speaking of more of the best, anytime Højbjerg is wider than the penalty box in the defensive third he is not where Spurs need him. Højbjerg does his best work in the middle of the field, moving forward toward the ball. To get Højbjerg in a position to do that, we have to stop forcing him to cover for fullbacks and simply ask him to play a true defensive midfield role.

The big difference in this formation is the deep midfielders no longer have to cover for missing fullbacks. Without fullbacks bombing up the pitch leaving two defenders exposed, there is less need for the midfielders to go out wide and thus they can stay home and do their job, which would be much easier and simpler moving forward.  Further, an easier, simpler role for the deep midfielder is one that better suits both Harry Winks and Moussa Sissoko as the two primary alternates in that part of the pitch.

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