Spurs under Mourinho and why playing Lo Celso as the attacking midfielder could be the remedy to many of their issues during build-up.

At Tottenham Jose has attempted to answer the attacking width conundrum and attempt to provide defensive balance through using asymmetrical full backs and thusly wingers. This has been largely to suite the strengths of the full backs in question. Aurier has consistently

shown that he struggles in the defensive 3rd due to careless decision making, particularly a proclivity to make fouls where they are not necessary and, in many ways, characterises this Spurs defence, notable for many individual errors. Therefore, attempting to place him in

situations higher up the pitch where his errors are less impactful and cover is in play makes sense, as well as allowing for him to take advantage of his attacking abilities, although his delivery is lacking. On the opposite flank the more defensively oriented full back in

either Davies or Vertonghen creates a 3 in possession allowing the right centre back to position himself in a way to better defend the flanks. With the 3 theoretically shifting play out wide during the oppositions counter attacks and leaving greater room for error from the

individual players because there is a covering centre back after wide duels. Thus, the theory behind the system is reasonable. Cover for players weaknesses while accentuating thier strengths.

This impacts how Tottenham seek to attain attacking width, as to allow Aurier to attacking with greater freedom the winger on the right flank must cut in, allowing them to more easily link-up with the centre forward and attacking midfielder. Conversely, the winger on the

opposite flank must stay wider as to compensate for the defensive left back, creating in essence a 3-2-5 shape once Spurs have consolidated possession. Therefore, generating good coverage on the pitch while maintaining central compactness defensively through the two holding

midfielders and back three. Asymmetrical attacking is often used to create overloads while maintaining men back defensively – with the tight gathering of players providing security for a turnover of possession if the short passing fails while the possibility of it working

allows for a quick switch of play to the winger on the opposite flank in space as the opponents defence attempts to work around the attacking asymmetry. Should a turnover occur on the isolated flank there are 3 defenders and at least 1 midfielder covering providing

security. Answering the attacking width conundrum as attacking compactness is maintained on one side while the pitch remains stretched via the use of the wide winger where the lack of compactness is covered for through keeping men back to respond to potential counter attacks.

However, this balancing act often creates predictable attacks and isolates Aurier in attack generating stale possession. The winger tucking in during build up and Aurier pushing forward to create a flat attacking shape allows Tottenham to progress the ball quicker into the

deeper regions of the middle third, but this predictability has been exploited by their opponents to create pressing traps which forces either a turnover or stale possession. When Aurier receives the ball out wide he is isolated with regards to progressive options because

all support is lateral and thus easily cut off through a team cutting forward and horizontal passing lanes which is more easily achieved in wider areas (the touchline limits) forcing the pass back to either the holding midfielder or centre. And this staleness in possession

has typified Spurs against opposition who refuse to press high and centrally, with the 4/5 deep central players being comfortable in non-dangerous areas with the only outlet being the ball out to Aurier which results in the repeating of the process until a more direct ball

forward is attempted, with varying levels of success. Additionally, the outlet for these direct balls is typically Aurier as he is the only player afforded the positional freedom to attempt dynamic runs.

A 4-2-3-1 with a full back that is more attacking than the other however has been a feature of Jose Mourinho’s play at previous teams and has been successful – particularly Maicon at Inter. However, a crucial element behind the success previously was having an attacking

midfielder who was capable of dropping deep to provide support to the deeper midfielders stuggling to progress centrally. The movement of the attacking midfielder would provide an element of unpredictability to build-up play and force the opposition to either adapt around

the movement and thus alter their defensive shape, allowing for the attacking team to capitalise upon that as the defenders had more complex decision making to make. Creating more room for error and therefore space being created as they were reacting to spontaneous events

rather than predictable sequences, they were fundamentally in control of which are seen at Tottenham. The fluidity of the attacking midfielder would reverberate across the attacking line as the defensive team would ultimately have to adapt, creating more space for movement,

and due to the way Jose Mourinho coaches attacking to facilitate such movement – it would follow. Therefore, reducing the predictability and thus flatness of attacks which characterise this Spurs team. With the passing options available allowing for better attacking play as

they either had more time and space in possession in higher areas or were closed down by a player creating space elsewhere.

Dele does not provide this fluidity being more of a second striker than a link up player. However, Lo Celso could, allowing Spurs to be better prepared against teams that do and do not allow the holding midfielder to be comfortable in possession. Against teams that do, the

aforementioned fluidity generates more dynamic and less predictable attacks. And against teams that do not and therefore apply pressure to the holding midfielders more space in between the lines (or in behind the defence is opened) for the attacking midfielder to receive

possession and drive forward breaking the oppositions press through the numerical advantage and deeper movement to collect.

Ndombele hypothetically seems like the solution that allows Dele to continue playing, with his ability to drive forward and beat the press as a member of the double pivot being notable. However, the asymmetric attacking is not conducive to a deeper dribbler in the double

pivot due to the requirement of that player to be an outlet for possession if/when Aurier becomes isolated and requires the option to pass the ball backwards. Losing the ball in transition through the defensive midfielder, particularly on the right flank could prove costly

with their flatter offensive shape leaving great deals of space in between the lines. Space which Lo Celso hypothetically would fill as the ten, with the double pivot remaining deeper. Moreover, a Winks like figure who switches play and recycles possession becomes more

useful overall in that position as he more actively seeks to receive and quickly move on possession while maintaining the capability to attempt riskier passes. As Carragher explained, his lack of effort off the ball, particularly when it comes to offering for possession is

costly when playing such a vital role in build-up. When it comes to playing through pressure the deeper midfielders should always be seeking to offer for possession in an attempt to both relive pressure from whoever is holding it, seek space to act as a launching pad

or a combination of the previous two much like Matic and Fabregas at Chelsea. Although expecting replication of that duo is asking for a bit too much.

As has been suggested throughout, Spurs play with quite a detached system, something which ideally has outlets for direct balls to compensate for lack of connections in between the lines. However, Kane got injured, something which had a series of negative

offensive impacts because of the lack of direct replacement. Spurs predictability and the easiness with which teams nullify their progression efforts through forcing possession to be maintained by the centre backs often leads to a direct ball often being required. Even if

Lo Celso does play, he cannot reliably be sought as a one-man transition, teams will evolve and therefore threat must be diversified. That diversified threat using Harry Kane as an outlet to receive direct balls then take advantage of his playmaking skillset to feed balls

in behind to the wingers or to consolidate possession higher up the pitch depending on the circumstance of the attack. These situations are where an attacking midfielder in the mould of Dele are useful and he was undoubtedly successful there when Jose first arrives as the

role allows him to take advantage of his abilities in tight spaces, intelligent movement and threat in the box. However, his presence prevents those opportunities from occurring as frequently as he doesn’t offer for the ball deep, and therefore although there is utility in

playing Dele as the attacking midfielder, he doesn’t help Spurs fix their weaknesses as much as Lo Celso would in that position. Therefore, Lo Celso should be Spurs attacking midfielder in the future because he has the mentality and quality to offer position which provides

them a different avenue for progression other than the fruitless pass out to Aurier in space or a direct ball to Kane. With Lo Celso dropping deeper allowing Spurs to maintain the ball centrally for longer periods of time and therefore allow the wingers more space as the

opposition looks to remain compact, allowing them to stretch the play while reducing the flatness emblematic of the current 3-2-5.