Like every position in the game, full-back evolves over the years as demands on players in that role change. There’s been attacking full-backs, defensive full-backs, full-backs that aren’t allowed over the halfway line, overlapping full-backs, and the development of “wing-backs” (I still remember the English media mocking an England manager once for using the term “wing-back” as if he had caused some great national insult). Sometimes, the style of play is associated with teams, eras, or even a decade. I recently was told Aaron Wan-Bissaka was transferred from Man United as he was too much of a “90s-style full-back”. (I’m not sure either. Man United were certainly more successful in the 90s than they are currently.)
Even with so many different iterations of the position, I don’t think I’ve seen a system designed to use them in quite the way that Ange does. There is sometimes the traditional overlap, but also often an underlap and done so in steps that they gradually move infield, often ending up in the central attacking positions. Whatever results Ange’s tactics yield (and this season has been a mix to say the least), I do like that we play on the front foot and do so a little differently to everyone else. We are trying something different.
And there’s few greater differences at the moment than one of own full-backs Djed Spence’s situation at Spurs. Spence’s start at Spurs hasn’t been smooth. A young player, signed in 2022 after impressing in the Championship for Nottingham Forest, Spence signed a long-term contract and good things were expected. The transfer seemed to have taken forever, which at least gave the impression of how much he must have been wanted by the management at the time. Then we barely saw him. A few very rare appearances for Spurs and 3 loans (Rennes, Leeds, Genoa) were quickly followed up by rumors of management never wanting the transfer and problems in training. It looked like a disappointing end might be in the future.
Fast forward to the most recent few months and Spence has arguably been our best player. He’s played much of that time on his opposite side at left-back but still impressed. He’s defending well but looking very comfortable on the ball, willing to take players on, dribbling past opponents. Full-back play like that has often been missing this season vs. last and it’s been noticeable in our overall performances. In some of our poorer games this season (thinking particularly league cup semi-final at Anfield), he’s even been our best attacking threat as well. It was interesting in the win at Ipswich this weekend, Spence again started at right back. A fair decision on recent form.
Now while Ange, as a manager who places a high degree of importance on the full-backs, should of course take some credit, it should also be remembered that Ange himself seemed reluctant to play Spence earlier this season. He chose not to even register him in the original Europa League squad.
In a season of many lows so far, it’s good to have found a high. And now Europa League gives us an opportunity for an amazing turnaround. And Djed’s been added to that Europa squad now. Who says Ange isn’t flexible?