Antonio Conte is not likely to field two completely different XIs the way Nuno Santo did. However, in looking at the Tottenham Hotspur squad, Spurs could field two decent XIs under Conte, this is what they may look like.
Tottenham to go to a back three under Conte
Despite primarily using a back-three at Wolverhampton, former Spurs manager Nuno Espirito Santo never really went down that path with Tottenham Hotspur. We should not expect Conte to deviate from his approach, rather we should expect the squad to step up to meet the demands of the new manager, including implementing a back three.
The reality of this Spurs squad is that they have a plethora of center-halves, even if none are naturally left-sided players, with Cristian Romero, Davinson Sanchez, Eric Dier, Joe Rodon, and Japhet Tanganga, Spurs have five players who are quite comfortable as a center-half. If you add in Ben Davies, who has played left-back in a back-three for Wales from time to time, the fact is, Spurs have the defensive depth to pull off Conte’s preferred approach.
If you add in that Spurs have several natural wing-backs on both sides as well, suddenly the idea of Conte changing the formation and approach makes great sense. So if Tottenham is going to go to a back three, and likely a 3-5-2 at that, what might Spurs look like in practice this week lining up against themselves?
Tottenham top XI under Conte
For starters, we have to assume that Harry Kane is going to come back to form and lead the line under Conte. If Kane does not, Conte will not hesitate to put the talisman on the bench and identify someone that will do the work he is looking for. The hope for all of Tottenham, inside and outside the building, is that Conte can spark that something in Kane and get him firing on all cylinders again. So what does the team around Kane look like?
For the top line at Tottenham, for now, Eric Dier, Cristian Romero, and Davinson Sanchez are penciled in as the back three. I say penciled in because neither Sanchez nor Dier has their positions on lockdown. Romero was seemingly born to play in a back three, however, it will take some adjustment for Dier and Sanchez who back are quite capable. Those three are of course in front of Hugo Lloris.
In the midfield, I would anticipate it being Oliver Skipp who sits deepest with the first team, not Pierre Hojbjerg. Hojbjerg will be more effective for the team in one of the more advanced central midfield roles ala N’golo Kante. Allowing one of your best defenders to press and pressure further up the pitch should benefit the team. As should having Tanguy Ndombele next to Hojbjerg creating a dynamic dribbling and defensive attacking force.
The two wing-backs are of course Sergio Reguilon and Emerson Royal. Both Reguilon and Royal excelled in similar positions on loan in La Liga and are both more attack-minded than defensive making the wing-back position perfect for them both.
Up top, Tottenham of course has Son Heung-Min and Harry Kane leading the line together. Having a partner with Kane should help. Having some new runs and new patterns should help both Son and Kane who has been kind of stale this season.
While the players are not all that different than those under Santo, having a different shape, roles, and some new direction should really help. So who will this XI face in practice?
Tottenham’s second XI under Conte
The second Tottenham XI is not nearly as strong or star-studded as the first team, however, with the right formation and motivation, there are several players in the group who will either compete for real playing time or will find a new home in January or the summer. Until this, here is the backup team.
Pierluigi Gollini is of course the goalkeeper for the second team and as the Italian influence may be growing going forward, that may mean Gollini is at N17 for the long term. In front of Gollini, there is another solid back three, quite capable of doing the job.
Japhet Tanganga would play on the right, with Joe Rodon in the middle, and Ben Davies on the left. Davies could be a left-sided back or play wing-back but given Spurs need six backs to field two full teams Davies gets the call.
In the midfield, the team is not as strong, although Harry Winks could end up with a new lease on life as a deep-lying playmaker in Conte’s system. Assuming he can be aggressive enough with his passing. Giovani Lo Celso and Bryan Gil would be the two attacking midfielders in this system. Both are active enough on and off the ball to apply the pressure Spurs would be looking for. Although this midfield is smallish, the pluck should be aplenty.
Matt Doherty would be another player with a new lease on life at N17, as a natural wing-back, he would be able to revert to his preferred position on the right. The left is a bit trickier. Ryan Sessegnon is not healthy enough to play and so it is one of Lucas Moura, Gil, or Steven Bergwijn.
We have elected to go with Bergwijn in this formation, leaving Lucas up-top and Gil in the attacking central midfield role.
Neither of the two forwards in this formation is natural strikers but it is what it is with the squad Spurs have. This means Moura is a forward along with Dele Alli. Alli will be one to watch to see if playing in a more advanced position as he did under Mauricio Pochettino can get him back on track. If not, do not be surprised to see Dele move on.
This line-up does leave Tottenham with two first-team players not involved, Sessegnon and Jack Clarke. For both young men, this may be a now or never opportunity as Conte comes to clean house.
While we are unlikely to see this second XI exactly as we have created it, there is certainly the depth available to run Conte’s preferred approach. And if people are not cutting it, they can expect to move on.