Leeds a different test for Tottenham Hotspur under Ryan Mason

As Tottenham Hotspur goes into another ‘cup final’ against Leeds United Saturday afternoon, the Peacocks present a different test for Ryan Mason’s squad. Each of the first three games for Tottenham had its own kind of challenges, however, the Whites on Saturday will present a stark contrast to the easy win against Sheffield United.

Tottenham, Mason had excuses

When Jose Mourinho was let go only a day after the Super League debacle only to have a coach with zero games managed appointed, needless to say, expectations were low. Ryan Mason may be Tottenham through and through but that does not mean anything when he is on the sideline matching whits against more experienced opposition.

In the first match under Ryan Mason, Tottenham had to overcome Southampton without talisman Harry Kane. Kane was recovering from an ankle injury and was trying to be ready for the Carabao Cup Final. You could see bits and pieces of the kind of forward-thinking attack Mason was trying to implement but in just two days with the squad, again one could not expect much.

Then six days after initially being named caretaker manager, Mason, and the Lilywhites were facing Manchester City and we saw none of the attacks we were promised. We are not giving Mason a pass here we know the team simply did not show up and there is no need to harp on it. Particularly given Manchester City is likely about to win a treble.

Then last weekend, we saw the Tottenham Hotspur team that Ryan Mason had been promising. Spurs were full of runs, passes, and in the end goals in a 4-0 romp over Sheffield United. As exciting as the big win was, we need to be realistic and remember Sheffield is already relegated. Worse, the Blades really did not make a go of it at all, meaning we really learned nothing about Tottenham in the match.

Leeds is a different test for Mason, Tottenham

Whereas the approach against Sheffield is the one we are all looking for from Tottenham, the play from Sheffield was not a realistic test. The Blades sat back and allowed the Spurs to knock the ball around and comfortably pass as the Lilywhites completed 91% of their attempts, according to whoscored.com.

The time and comfort the Tottenham players had on the ball against Sheffield will be non-existent against the in-your-face style of Leeds United. We know Marcelo Bielsa loves to play high-pressure football all over the pitch. While Manchester City applied ample pressure, Tottenham was not really interested in trying to take that pressure on and play a possession game.

Against Leeds, if Tottenham does not try to grab the match and dominate possession from the off and throughout, we will all be disappointed. The strength of the Peacocks is creating turnovers and counter-attacking. Then, once they get a lead, they rarely lose it. Tottenham cannot underestimate the Leeds approach.

Can the Spurs pass under the Peacock pressure?

The question that is ultimately going to determine the match is how well Tottenham can handle the pressure from the Whites. Leeds is not going to give Eric Dier or Toby Alderweireld time to survey the pitch. How effectively the defense can transition the ball into offense for Tottenham will be key in this match.

If Tottenham is not prepared for the pressure and reverts to the passing form shown under Jose Mourinho it could be a long day. However, if the fresh air and new life found in the passing triangles Ryan Mason has brought to the team can persist, then Tottenham can slice up Leeds and come out on top.

Ultimately, how Tottenham plays is going to say a lot about Mason as the coach who has now had three weeks with this team. We just have to hope both Mason and the team understand that the team they are playing Saturday afternoon at Elland Road is a different test than they have faced together.