The tactics Tottenham Hotspur attack is missing this season

LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 20: (l-r) Harry Kane , Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Eric Dier , Jonny Evans of Leicester City , Toby Alderweireld , Serge Aurier and Moussa Sissoko of Tottenham Hotspur compete during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on December 20, 2020 in London, England. The match will be played without fans, behind closed doors as a Covid-19 precaution. (Photo by Andy Rain - Pool/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 20: (l-r) Harry Kane , Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Eric Dier , Jonny Evans of Leicester City , Toby Alderweireld , Serge Aurier and Moussa Sissoko of Tottenham Hotspur compete during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on December 20, 2020 in London, England. The match will be played without fans, behind closed doors as a Covid-19 precaution. (Photo by Andy Rain - Pool/Getty Images) /
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Tottenham, Matt Doherty
WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 27: Matt Doherty of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur at Molineux on December 27, 2020, in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom. The match will be played without fans, behind closed doors as a Covid-19 precaution. (Photo by Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images) /

Two things missing for Tottenham

Having scoured the data on the team over the last several seasons two things do really stand out about this team that is clearly different. And maybe, just maybe bringing these two things back will help get Tottenham over the hump in the next eight matches and the Carabao Cup Final.

Tottenham has stopped crossing the ball

While those big chances may be up for Tottenham there are two things down and not just a little but a lot. First, Tottenham has really cut back on crosses. Looking back from the 2014 season to last, Tottenham averaged 19 crosses per match during those six seasons. This season, the Spurs are averaging only 13 per game.

The Lilywhites reached a high of 21.7 attempts per match in 2017-18 and has dropped each year since. And before anyone just goes blaming Mourinho for this, Tottenham averaged the same 16.9 crosses per match last season as in Pochettino’s last full season in charge in 2018-19.

The point is this incremental drop in crosses was already underway when Mourinho came and factor in Tottenham lost first Kyle Walker and then Kieran Trippier over three seasons, a drop in crosses should not be surprising.

What is surprising is that given how much Tottenham has relied upon and used the fullbacks as wings this season to not be getting service seems just plain off. Harry Kane is a poacher among other things and he just hasn’t had enough of those goals this season. Remember his 200th goal? That was a beautiful cross back when Matt Doherty seemed to know how to play football. Remember Sergio Reguilon cutting back and crossing with his right foot for the assist? Where have those plays gone?

Tottenham needs more service and should look to increase it on the flanks to create more opportunities, which leads us to the second problem.

Spurs have kind of stopped shooting the ball

We previously wrote about how Tottenham has really failed to replace the 100 or so shots per season Christian Eriksen used to take. The problem, however, goes beyond just the loss of one player to really the entire team, which simply no longer really shoots. At just 11 shots per match, that is a full 6.5 shots less than the 2016-17 Spurs.

So while Tottenham has been creating more chances this season, taking a lot more shots back then paid dividends with a lot more goals. During Mauricio Pochettino’s five full seasons in charge, Tottenham took on average 603 shots per season. That is 15.87 shots per match. This season, Tottenham has taken 331 shots through 30 games, which is only 11.03 per match.

Spurs are getting 40% of their shots on target, which is higher than any Pochettino team, however, Tottenham is on pace for 419 shots, which is 107 less than any team under the Argentine. This difference of more than 4.5 shots per match makes a difference over time. Across 30 games at that is 145 shots and at a 40% on goal rate, that would be 58 more shots on target.

Really think Tottenham would not have scored a few more goals with 58 more shots on target?

Yes, the styles of Mourinho and Pochettino are different but Mourinho and Tottenham must realize you cannot win a race if the horse does not enter. If Tottenham can simply up the attempts they take, maybe the goals they have needed to hold onto leads will be there moving forward.

Bottom line, if people are looking for a bit more dynamics from the Spurs offense, maybe a few more crosses and a few more shots will do the trick.

dark. Next. Why Spurs Miss Eriksen