Tottenham currently sit in 12th place in the Premier League after 20 matches, with only 24 points.
They’ve scored 42 goals but conceded 30, which is the eighth-highest number of goals conceded in the Premier League.
They average 1.5 goals allowed per match.
This unexpected form has been quite surprising, especially after finishing the 2023/24 season in fifth place with 66 points, just one point shy of securing a spot in the UEFA Champions League.
It seemed like they could push for a UCL spot at the start of the season, but that now seems almost entirely out of the picture.
So, what’s been going wrong for them this term?
In this tactical analysis, we’ll examine Ange Postecoglou tactics, identify what has contributed to their struggles, and explore the key areas that need improvement.
We will also explore two players they should consider signing, Dean Huijsen & Richard Ríos, to help strengthen their squad in key areas.
Ange Postecoglou Tactical Philosophy
Ange Postecoglou’s tactical approach at Tottenham Hotspur involves maintaining possession with purpose, utilising inverted full-backs to create midfield overloads while opening up wide spaces for attacking transitions.
Offensively, Postecoglou likes his team to exploit spaces and create numerical superiority across the pitch.
He likes his players to be able to adapt to situations quickly but still stay within their overall structure.
His style focuses on quick transitions and high pressing to recover possession swiftly, and he uses a high line in defence.
No matter the scenario, Ange remains committed to his core tactics.
A great example was last season’s match against Chelsea, where Spurs received a red card.
Despite this, they maintained their high defensive line, which was a very risky move.
For a few minutes, it worked, catching Chelsea offside multiple times.
Eventually, the system failed, but the discipline to stick to his philosophy was evident.
Tottenham Hotspur Problems 2024/2025
Not all of Tottenham’s issues are tied directly to on-field performance.
While the tactical issues will be explored below, some problems stem from the club’s management and transfer strategy.
Nearly half of the money spent ahead of this season was on Dominic Solanke.
While he hasn’t performed poorly, prioritising a big-money striker was a questionable decision given Spurs’ existing options in Son Heung-min, Richarlison, and Timo Werner, who could all cover the striker role effectively.
Although Richarlison faced heavy criticism last season for not meeting expectations, football requires patience.
With time and consistent opportunities, he could have developed into a reliable option up front.
His first season was quite poor, but he improved significantly last year; an additional year would have been great for him.
Instead, Tottenham overlooked other positions that needed some attention.
Depth at centre-back remains a bit of an issue, and an additional midfielder capable of playing as a 6 or 8 would have significantly strengthened their squad.
Tottenham Hotspur Tactical Issues 2024/2025
One of Tottenham’s major tactical issues this season is their defensive awareness.
At times, it feels like players are caught off guard in crucial scenarios, allowing opponents to exploit gaps easily.
In a high-line defensive system, all players must be alert.
In the first image above, we see a scenario highlighting Tottenhams defensive lapses.
Two strikers from the opposing team make straightforward runs directly into the box.
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