Ball possession & number of passes

[DOX]

Has Pochettino altered his possession-based philosophy, or is it just temporary?

http://www.goal.com/en/match/tottenham-hotspur-vs-southampton/1703631/stats?ICID=MP_MS_4
http://www.goal.com/en/match/tottenham-hotspur-vs-beşiktaş/1924157/stats?ICID=MP_MS_4
http://www.goal.com/en/match/arsenal-vs-tottenham-hotspur/1703595/stats?ICID=MP_MS_4

= 1 win and 2 draws

Vs.

http://www.goal.com/en/match/tottenham-hotspur-vs-west-bromwich-albion/1703591/stats?ICID=MP_MS_4
http://www.goal.com/en/match/tottenham-hotspur-vs-liverpool/1703551/stats?ICID=MP_MS_4
http://www.goal.com/en/match/partizan-vs-tottenham-hotspur/1924143/stats?ICID=MP_MS_4

= 2 defeats and 1 draw

 

[degoose]

it's a good shout and something i thought of myself. Before we were constantly having higher possession but it seemed to cause a bit of an issue as teams just sat back and defended with tw banks of 4 and we couldn't break them down. In the last 3 matches the possession has dropped off and we are now hitting teams more on the break and getting the ball forward quickly .Is this a change on purpose?

 

[DOX]

it's a good shout and something i thought of myself. Before we were constantly having higher possession but it seemed to cause a bit of an issue as teams just sat back and defended with tw banks of 4 and we couldn't break them down. In the last 3 matches the possession has dropped off and we are now hitting teams more on the break and getting the ball forward quickly .Is this a change on purpose?

IMO, this is definitely on purpose - but is the change of philosophy due to the lack of quality in the squad? Or just Poch experimenting? Is it temporary, or a permanent shift?

 

[TaoistMonkey]

Spoiler

philosophy

 

[Lufti]

I'd like to think he's altering our tactics based on our opponents, but the counter attacking style of definitely much more fun to watch, at this stage anyway

 

[E8spur]

I think sometimes our possession stats, not only under Poch but especially under AVB, were particularly high because of all that slow, slow, sideways, sideways stuff. So it seems logical that moving the ball on quicker, and making fast breaks would bring down the possession figures a bit.

It's much better to watch. And it used to drive me absolutely up the wall when we had played like a bunch of sleepwalkers to hear AVB go on about how we had got so much more possession than the other team. More running, one-touch passing and shooting please, Poch!

 

[mpickard2087]

I think its purely that the Arsenal match we had specific tactics to get in behind the ball and be defensively solid, whilst the Besiktas and Southampton games we came against two teams that have a bit about them and for long spells of both games we were on the backfoot and second best. At this stage I wouldn't say its the plan.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Has Pochettino altered his possession-based philosophy, or is it just temporary?

http://www.goal.com/en/match/tottenham-hotspur-vs-southampton/1703631/stats?ICID=MP_MS_4
http://www.goal.com/en/match/tottenham-hotspur-vs-beşiktaş/1924157/stats?ICID=MP_MS_4
http://www.goal.com/en/match/arsenal-vs-tottenham-hotspur/1703595/stats?ICID=MP_MS_4

= 1 win and 2 draws

Vs.

http://www.goal.com/en/match/tottenham-hotspur-vs-west-bromwich-albion/1703591/stats?ICID=MP_MS_4
http://www.goal.com/en/match/tottenham-hotspur-vs-liverpool/1703551/stats?ICID=MP_MS_4
http://www.goal.com/en/match/partizan-vs-tottenham-hotspur/1924143/stats?ICID=MP_MS_4

= 2 defeats and 1 draw

I think you'll find it's more about the teams we've played and their tactical approaches as well, with the exception perhaps of Arsenal where he seemed to set us up to play like a wounded animal.

 

[PT]

The Besiktas and the game at the weekend against Southampton were showing us as being noticeably quicker in moving the ball about and mostly forwards too. So I think he has thought hard about personnel, as well as opposition and decided to cede ground and use pace to counter more.

 

[Lilbaz]

The Besiktas and the game at the weekend against Southampton were showing us as being noticeably quicker in moving the ball about and mostly forwards too. So I think he has thought hard about personnel, as well as opposition and decided to cede ground and use pace to counter more.

Agree. But there's still a long way to go. Pisses me off when we have a corner and end up passing it backwards until Lloris has to kick it up the field. Usually under little pressure either. Think our forwards can help by moving about and trying to create space for themselves so that they can receive the pass.

 

[Gedson100]

Let's be honest it isn't going to change for Man City away

 

[WestBelfast Spurs]

if you shift the ball forward quicker your gonna score goals

can I get a managers job now please?

 

[CowInAComa]

The average number of passes to score a goal is something like 4. So I dont understand the desire to dominate the possession stats or even to maintain the ball for 2-3 mins at a time, ultimately your attack is goign to succeed and result in a goal or not, why pass it back and forth 20 times first. Intelligence and accuracy of passing is far more important.

Its fucking horrendous to watch.

 

[CowInAComa]

Also when has anyone ever scored a short corner. I understand the better angle concept etc etc. but it never ever works.

Infuriating.

 

[Blake Griffin]

I hate it when we score goals, all i can think about is how we've just conceded possession.

 

[TottenhamMattSpur]

I've thought for years the best way to break stubborn teams down is to sit deep, draw them out then catch them on the break.
If we play with a high line and keep the ball it's just going to end up with 21 players in the opposition half. There will be no space as even our own players contribute to player density.
Invariably attacks break down and because all of our players have pushed up, it's us that ends up conceding.

I'd welcome the change even against so called poorer sides as I feel the high line tactic is terrible flawed.

 

[JerryGarcia]

I've thought for years the best way to break stubborn teams down is to sit deep, draw them out then catch them on the break.
If we play with a high line and keep the ball it's just going to end up with 21 players in the opposition half. There will be no space as even our own players contribute to player density.
Invariably attacks break down and because all of our players have pushed up, it's us that ends up conceding.

I'd welcome the change even against so called poorer sides as I feel the high line tactic is terrible flawed.

That's pretty much how Man Utd swept everyone aside at Old Trafford in the 90's, we could just never do it before because our players would give away goals as well as possession. Maybe now we have a chance at making it work but it will require a solid CB partnership or we'll just be going around in circles imo.

 

[WestBelfast Spurs]

Also when has anyone ever scored a short corner. I understand the better angle concept etc etc. but it never ever works.

Infuriating.

short or long we are shit from corners for a big size

 

[Firekid]

Also when has anyone ever scored a short corner. I understand the better angle concept etc etc. but it never ever works.

Infuriating.

Did Dier not score his debut goal from a short corner?

 

[Blake Griffin]

Did Dier not score his debut goal from a short corner?

no, it was a through ball by kane

his goal against qpr was direct from a lamela corner