Away at Old Trafford, Tottenham submitted its most spirited performance of the Premier League season, and after a bevy of chances Spurs equalized in stoppage time. It was mostly smiles after the match, but rather than eat footballs I suggest manager Roberto De Zerbi figure out how to get his team to put them in the net. Tottenham captured a well-earned point, but they have the same old problem.
Tottenham seemingly had a lot of good chances against Manchester United, and they should have won, but their data remained uninspiring. In fact, their 1.56 expected goals on Saturday was not the highest single-game tally of the season. United had more shots on target. This hardly suggests Spurs should have routed Michael Carrick’s faltering side.
On the season, Spurs have the third-fewest xG. They still possess the lowest xG per shot, indicating they don’t make many good chances. Conversely, only the three teams at the top of the Premier League table possess the ball more, and only Manchester City have registered more sequences of at least 10 passes. Jan Paul van Hecke and Savio lead the league in progressive carries per 90 minutes, and the top four leaders in successful dribbles per 90 are all Spurs. The Tottenham attack is easy to describe. They got the ball a lot, and they have no idea what to do with it.
Roberto De Zerbi is either refusing to or is incapable of making adjustments
Tottenham's inability to score would be inexplicable at any time, but it is especially so after De Zerbi had a three-week international break to assess his team’s performance and make necessary adjustments. Sure, he has changed his lineup—it was Conor Gallagher in the 10 this time and Savio on the left flank—but structurally and tactically, De Zerbi is as wedded to his system as ever. Unfortunately, the jig is up.
Don’t press, clog the middle, and watch De Zerbi’s attack harmlessly cycle the ball around. It’s what his opponents did in his second season at Brighton. It’s what they did in his second season at Marseille. It’s what they are doing now in his second season in North London. It is little wonder why Tottenham are sitting in the relegation zone. Despite their breadth of talent, they are predictable and their coach is refusing to depart from the plan.
Tottenham could stop baiting a press that never comes and get up the pitch sooner. They could ask goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky to play it longer, in an attempt to start possessions or win second balls higher up the pitch. They could sacrifice some defensive solidity to get more players involved in attack. They could do a million little things to increase their likelihood of scoring goals, but that’s not the problem. The problem is a manager who refuses to try any of them.
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