Tottenham – Defensive needs show over last two games

Tottenham continues its struggles, but following the Newcastle disaster, a rebound draw against Manchester United has them trending the right direction and still in contention for European play next season. The two games provide a quick study of one of the issues the team will face as it finds a permanent (and we use that term loosely) manager and begins a new era.

As has been obvious, Spurs have spent several years with a defensive mindset, and their back three has become a staple of their approach under Antonio Conte. After that gaffer’s departure, the Conte-lite Cristian Stellini attempted to play a back four against Newcastle and the results were absolutely calamitous. Some of the blame can be laid on center backs Eric Dier, who seems generally lost these days and Cristian Romero, who felt free to wander as he liked despite the lack of defensive cover.

The wide position is in flux at Tottenham

An issue affecting the team’s transition into a new system involves its wing-backs. Against Newcastle, Ivan Perisic and Pedro Porro looked utterly outclassed. Both players should have been at least competent playing as outside backs in a 4-3-3, but instead, they looked as if they’d never defended a man in their lives. If the new manager wants to implement a back four (a likely plan for most leading candidates), he’ll need to figure out what to do about those positions.

Part of the solution might be tactical, as the two players repeatedly found themselves caught too far upfield to be useful in protecting their own goal. That doesn’t answer the problem fully, though, as both Perisic and Porro’s inability to defend played a part in Tottenham’s collapse. Whatever their specific roles are next year, that issue must be addressed.

Against Manchester United, the two players had a minor resurgence, and Romero’s occasional wandering was offset by proper coverage (usually) behind him. Perisic even picked up a highlight heading a ball away from a seemingly sure goal. Porro reminded us why he was a prized transfer window target, repeatedly threatening at the offensive end, including a goal that changed the game’s momentum for close to 30 minutes.

As quality, as the pair looked offensively, neither one defended especially well, suggesting a heavy load of work to be done in this area. Perisic may be in decline, but Porro is on his way up, poised to become a standout wing-back in the Premier League…if a manager can find a proper role for him.

And that issue will dog Spurs’ incoming manager. A couple of games don’t make for nearly enough of a sample size, but Porro comes from a back three system at Sporting, and as much as it seemed like he could thrive in a back four, that might have been an optimistic opinion. On the left side of the pitch, the team may require an overhaul unless Ben Davies returns from injury to peak form.

In the meantime, the club continues its topsy-turvy season, and fans can only hope that a quick managerial hire will enable the necessary work to start immediately. Otherwise, the squad will look continue to look more aimless than Dier trying for a game-winning header.