The False 9

On Saturday 26 November 2005, Edgar Davids picked up the ball just inside Wigan’s half and kept going. He went past several challenges, moved onto the left side of the box and drove a low left-foot shot across the body of Wigan goalkeeper Mike Pollitt. Robbie Keane had laid the ball back into his path, and the goal made it 2-0 to Spurs in the 77th minute at the JJB Stadium. It was the only goal Davids scored for Tottenham. Lee McCulloch pulled one back for Wigan late on, but Spurs held on for a 2-1 win. Davids was booked in the same game. He was 32 at the time, and he had come to Tottenham less than four months earlier.

Martin Jol had Davids back in his favoured central midfield role, with Michael Carrick alongside him, Jermaine Jenas and Tainio wide, and Keane and Mido up front. Keane had scored after eight minutes, and Davids’ goal on 77 minutes looked to have settled it until McCulloch’s late reply. For a man who had spent a decade in the biggest games in Europe, one goal was a modest return, but it’s the one Spurs fans can point to.

A free transfer at 32

Spurs signed him for nothing, and it was a long way from the Ajax years. His career by then covered Ajax, Milan, Juventus, a loan at Barcelona and a season at Inter. Inter had ended his contract, and on 3 August 2005 UEFA reported that he had completed a free transfer to Tottenham. Martin Jol was pleased, and UEFA’s report of the signing carried the manager’s words: “I know everybody is very excited, he is a big player and the one we wanted.” Jol also said Davids “is probably one of the most successful players of the last decade”, and that he “wants to play for Spurs”.

Given what Davids had won, the price looks like a bargain. He had been a Champions League finalist twice with Juventus, and Spurs were getting him at 32 for nothing. A player with that record gets judged on whether he can still do it every week, and at 32 that’s a harder question than the fee suggests.

Ajax, Juventus and the glasses

Louis van Gaal gave him the Pitbull nickname at Ajax for his fierce midfield play, and the early part of his career was built on that edge. He made his Ajax debut on 6 September 1991, won the 1992 UEFA Cup and three Eredivisie titles, and helped Ajax win the Champions League in 1995. In the 1996 final against Juventus he missed Ajax’s first penalty in the shoot-out, which Juventus won. The same Ajax years are covered in the Litmanen profile.

He joined Juventus in 1997 and won Serie A in 1997-98, 2001-02 and 2002-03, and reached two Champions League finals, losing both. The best moment for the Netherlands came at the 1998 World Cup, when he scored a last-minute winner against FR Yugoslavia in the second round on 29 June, a 2-1 win. The Dutch finished fourth.

Glaucoma developed in 1995 after eye injuries, and he had surgery on his right eye. From 1999 he played in protective glasses, first worn in a friendly against Belgium on 4 September 1999.

Here’s his club career, league games only, using the figures in Wikipedia’s career table.

Club Years Apps Goals Ajax 1991-96 106 20 AC Milan 1996-97 19 1 Juventus 1997-2004 159 9 Barcelona (loan) 2004 18 1 Inter Milan 2004-05 14 0 Tottenham Hotspur 2005-07 40 1 Ajax 2007-09 25 1 Crystal Palace 2010 6 0 Barnet 2012-14 36 1 Total 423 34

League games only. Source: Wikipedia, Edgar Davids career table. The Juventus goal total is 9 there.

Key moments

Why England never fully took to him

He arrived at 32, and most of the trophies were already in his cabinet. Spurs finished fifth in both seasons he was there, and by 28 January 2007 he had signed back for Ajax. Fans liked a player who fought for every ball, and the Pitbull fitted that. In league terms, though, his two seasons were the quiet part of a career that had been loud elsewhere.

English football tends to reward the tidy highlight over the scrap, and Davids was a scrap. For another hard man the fans took to, see Julian Dicks at West Ham.

Crystal Palace took him on a pay-as-you-play deal on 20 August 2010, and he made his debut at left-back in a League Cup second-round tie against Portsmouth on 24 August. On 8 November he announced he was leaving, calling it “one of the greatest experiences of my life”. Six league appearances make it the shortest of his English spells.

Barnet, and the player-manager job

He joined Barnet on 11 October 2012 as player-manager alongside Mark Robson. He took sole charge at the end of December 2012, and scored his only Barnet goal in a 2-0 home win over Southend in February 2013. Barnet were relegated from the Football League on the final day of 2012-13.

He resigned on 18 January 2014, after a 2-1 defeat at Chester left Barnet tenth in the Skrill Premier. Across 68 games in charge the record was 25 wins, 18 draws and 25 defeats. The announcement described his exit as a resignation by mutual agreement.

Where he is now

He has stayed close to football. Ajax put him on their supervisory board in June 2011, alongside Johan Cruyff. He was Telstar’s assistant coach in 2020, was announced as head coach of Olhanense on 4 January 2021 and sacked on 19 July that year. From May 2022 he worked as an assistant to Louis van Gaal with the Netherlands at the World Cup.

On 21 April 2026, when he was 53, speaking at the announcement of the Hong Kong Football Festival, he was asked about Spurs and gave a blunt answer. He told AFP that “It’s a lack of quality and a lack of management. Everything.” Tottenham were then in the relegation zone, two points from safety with five games left, on their third manager of the season. He said he hoped they would stay up, and called the appointment of Roberto De Zerbi “a very good thing”. He also said Spurs “should have done big things in the winter period to get some players in. It was obvious.”

Forty league games and one goal don’t make a big Spurs career on paper, and I wouldn’t argue with anyone who says so. The Wigan goal is the bit worth keeping. If you want a Spurs player whose time at the club says more about the fans than his numbers, David Ginola is the better comparison.

Featured photo: Soccer illustrated, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped).

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Tottenham go to Chelsea on Saturday 24 October (17:30 BST, Stamford Bridge) five days after their first league win of the season, and Roberto De Zerbi’s team news is dominated by three players who left the pitch hurt in Monday’s 3-1 win over Coventry City: Andy Robertson, Tosin Adarabioyo and Omar Marmoush are all awaiting assessment. Our view is that De Zerbi returns to a back four, starts Ben Davies at left-back, and keeps Dejan Kulusevski on the bench.

Spurs beat Coventry 3-1 at home on Monday night to move up to 16th on six points, with James Maddison scoring on his first league start in 536 days, Marmoush restoring the lead in the 58th minute and Ben Davies adding the third in the 90+6th minute. The full story of that night is in our Tottenham 3-1 Coventry player ratings. Chelsea, fourth after back to back wins, named their side earlier this week in our Chelsea predicted lineup against Tottenham.

The predicted XI

Tottenham predicted XI (4-2-3-1)

Solanke

Tel

Maddison

Kudus

Tonali

Gallagher

Davies

Van de Ven

Van Hecke

Gray

Kinsky

Antonin Kinsky keeps his place in goal. In front of him, Archie Gray moves to right-back, the position he filled for the last 20 minutes on Monday once the defensive injuries hit, with Jan Paul van Hecke and Micky van de Ven as the centre-backs and Ben Davies at left-back. Sandro Tonali anchors midfield next to Conor Gallagher, Mohammed Kudus and Mathys Tel play either side of James Maddison, and Dominic Solanke leads the line.

Why the shape changes at Stamford Bridge

De Zerbi explained his back three against Coventry in his own words after the game: he played three at the back because of injured players in the midfield positions, and because he wanted more control against the counter-attack. That shortage has eased. Gallagher, who had only returned from injury two days before the Coventry game, got minutes off the bench on Monday, and Mateus Fernandes also came on after training for two days following the birth of his child. With two midfielders back in contention, the reason for the extra centre-back goes away, and a back four is the shape Spurs used at Manchester United on 10 October. Our reading of Monday’s shape, and why reports labelled it differently, is in our explainer on Tottenham’s formation against Coventry.

The three injury doubts

Robertson began to hobble around the hour on Monday, went down favouring his left leg and came off around the 70th minute. Davies replaced him and scored the third goal, so Davies is the straightforward starter if Robertson does not recover. Tosin, making his first Premier League start for Spurs, went down clutching his right calf and was replaced by Fernandes. Marmoush scored the second goal and then came off with a calf problem in the final five minutes, with Tel taking his place. The club had given no update on how serious any of the three problems is at the time of writing, and the full picture is set out in our Robertson, Tosin and Marmoush injury update. If Marmoush is passed fit, he takes the left-sided attacking place from Tel in this XI.

Behind them, Pedro Porro is a doubt. He injured a hamstring in the 3-2 loss at Aston Villa on 19 September and has not played since, and he missed the Coventry squad. Destiny Udogie was also left out on Monday with a knee problem, while Savio, Lucas Bergvall, Xavi Simons, Wilson Odobert and Mykhailo Mudryk were all absent from that squad as well.

Midfield cover and the bench

Rodrigo Bentancur serves the second game of his three-match suspension on Saturday, so he is not available at Stamford Bridge. That is why Gallagher’s return matters: he and Fernandes are the two options next to Tonali, and Gallagher’s minutes on Monday, in a game Spurs were chasing control of after Coventry’s equaliser, point to him starting. Kulusevski’s position is simpler. He came on in the 87th minute on Monday for his first appearance in 526 days, and nine minutes after a knee injury of that length is a return to build on from the bench, not a start at Stamford Bridge five days later. Maddison, by contrast, started on Monday, scored after 14 minutes and played 69 minutes, so he keeps the number 10 role.

Spurs’ next game after Chelsea is at home to Crystal Palace on Saturday 31 October, and De Zerbi’s press conference later this week is the next confirmed update on Robertson, Tosin and Marmoush.

The lineup in full

Tottenham (4-2-3-1): Kinsky; Gray, Van Hecke, Van de Ven, Davies; Tonali, Gallagher; Kudus, Maddison, Tel; Solanke.

Tottenham started against Coventry in a back three, a change from the back four they used at Man Utd on 10 October, and it still produced a 3-1 win at home on Monday night. All times in this piece are UK time.

Role Player Goalkeeper Kinsky Back three Tosin Adarabioyo (central), van Hecke, van de Ven Wing-backs Robertson (left), Kudus (right), per Hotspur HQ Midfield Gray, Tonali, Maddison Attack Marmoush, Solanke Substitutes used 69′ Davies for Robertson; 69′ Gallagher for Maddison; 71′ Fernandes for Tosin; 87′ Kulusevski for Kudus; 87′ Tel for Marmoush

Reports don’t agree on the label: the data site YSScores lists it as a 3-4-2-1. Hotspur HQ’s player ratings put Kudus at right wing-back, Gray and Tonali in central midfield and Maddison in the number 10 role. Yahoo called it a hybrid back three, with Tosin in the middle and van Hecke pushed wide left. Goal had van Hecke starting nominally on the right. That’s why the diagram flags the back three’s sides as unconfirmed. Substitution minutes above are Hotspur HQ’s; Goal confirms Fernandes replacing Tosin on 71 minutes.

Why De Zerbi changed it

The answer came after the game. “We played three at the back because of injured players in the midfield positions,” De Zerbi said, according to Dan Bennett’s report for Hayters. “I thought three at the back was the best solution to defend the counter-attack and have more control of the game.”

The same report says Gallagher only returned from injury two days before the game, Bergvall was injured and Fernandes had trained for two days after becoming a father. Bergvall and Gallagher both started at Old Trafford, so the midfield De Zerbi had then wasn’t the one he had on Monday. Hotspur HQ described the line-up as one that “absolutely nobody foreshadowed”.

With and without the ball

Spurs had 65% of the ball and 16 shots to Coventry’s 12, with five on target to one, according to VAVEL’s full-time stats. Goal said the fluid formation confused Coventry early on, with Marmoush dropping deep to link play. Maddison opened the scoring early in the first half.

Without it, the aim was to defend the counter-attack, as De Zerbi put it. It held until just after half-time, when Coventry scored.

What went right and wrong

Right: control, Maddison back in the starting XI, and Marmoush restoring the lead on 58 minutes. Wrong: the equaliser itself. Jack Rudoni equalised with a close-range finish on 49 minutes.

The shape didn’t last either. Robertson and Tosin both went off around the 70th minute, and Goal reported that Gray moved to right-back once the defensive injuries hit, with Fernandes on for Tosin and Davies on for Robertson, so the back three as it started was gone for the last 20 minutes. Davies sealed the win on 90+6.

Will it stay for Chelsea?

Chelsea away is on Saturday 24 October, kick-off 17:30 UK time. Robertson, Tosin and Marmoush all left the pitch hurt on Monday, and when we last checked there was no club update on how serious any of it is.

Our view: it goes back to a back four. De Zerbi’s own reason for the three was a midfield shortage, and Gallagher and Fernandes both got minutes on Monday. With Robertson and Tosin both hurt, a back four asks less of the squad. We’d keep Maddison in it whatever the system. Call it a lean, not a certainty.

For more, see our Spurs player ratings, the earlier team news and our Man Utd formation piece.

Should De Zerbi keep the back three at Chelsea on Saturday? Post your Spurs XI below.

FAQ

What formation did Tottenham play against Coventry?

A back three. YSScores lists it as a 3-4-2-1, while Hotspur HQ’s positions read as wing-backs, two central midfielders, Maddison in a number 10 role and two forwards.

What formation does De Zerbi usually play?

We can only source the last game before this one: at Man Utd on 10 October Spurs started with a back four and three in midfield (Kinsky; Gray, van Hecke, Senesi, Udogie; Tonali, Bergvall, Gallagher; Kudus, Savio, Solanke), which we read as a 4-3-3. That was a 1-1 draw.

Why did Tottenham play a back three against Coventry?

De Zerbi said he went to three at the back “because of injured players in the midfield positions”, with Bergvall injured, Gallagher only just back and Fernandes short of training. Gray moved to right-back in the second half after Robertson and Tosin went off, Goal reported.

Featured photo: “Tottenham Hotspur Stadium March 2019 – view from east” by Hzh, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Tottenham have their first Premier League win of the season. James Maddison scored on his first league start in 536 days and Omar Marmoush curled in his first goal for the club as Spurs beat Coventry City 3-1 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Monday night, with Dejan Kulusevski returning from the bench after more than 500 days out.

How the game was won

Spurs started the night bottom of the table with three points from six games, and for once the early pressure told. They had 72 per cent of the ball by half-time and took the lead in the 14th minute, Mohammed Kudus cutting in from the right and finding Maddison, who swept a first-time shot into the top corner from outside the box. It was the first time Tottenham had led in a league game this season, and it came from the player Roberto De Zerbi had brought back into the side, as set out in our predicted lineup for this fixture.

Coventry were level four minutes after half-time. Jack Rudoni, who also scored against Newcastle in Coventry’s previous game, worked his way into the box and finished after the ball bounced to him off Brandon Thomas-Asante, with Antonin Kinsky only able to pat the effort into his own net. The lead was restored in the 58th minute. Andy Robertson played the ball into Marmoush, the forward turned Milan van Ewijk and curled his shot into the far corner, a goal checked and cleared after Coventry claimed an elbow in the turn.

The points were sealed in the sixth minute of stoppage time. Mathys Tel crossed from the left, Solanke held the ball up and laid it off, and substitute Ben Davies struck a low shot that Carl Rushworth got two hands to but could not keep out.

De Zerbi lost Robertson and Tosin Adarabioyo to injury concerns in the second half, and Marmoush was also replaced late on, but the biggest cheer of the closing stages was for a substitute. Kulusevski came on in the 87th minute for his first appearance since May 2025, ending an absence of more than 500 days with a knee injury that needed two operations.

Tottenham player ratings

Antonin Kinsky: 4 – Beaten too easily for the equaliser, patting Rudoni’s effort into his own net, and one first-half corner passed straight through his hands.

Tosin Adarabioyo: 7 – The most assured of the back three before an injury ended his night in the 71st minute.

Jan Paul van Hecke: 6 – Blocked an early Tatsuhiro Sakamoto shot with his face and defended his box well enough, without dominating it.

Micky van de Ven: 7 – Used his recovery pace to slide in and stop Thomas-Asante after playing the Coventry forward onside in the first half.

Archie Gray: 7 – Filled in on the right of the 3-4-2-1 with Bentancur suspended, kept the ball moving and gave Sakamoto little room.

Sandro Tonali: 7 – Drove Spurs forward from midfield and twice shot over as Tottenham pushed for a third goal in the second half.

Andy Robertson: 7 – Set up the winning goal with the pass into Marmoush before signalling to the bench and going off in the 69th minute.

Mohammed Kudus: 8 – The assist for Maddison, a first-half display full of direct running, and the player Coventry could least afford to leave in space.

James Maddison: 9 – A goal of real quality on his first league start in 536 days, against the club where he came through the academy, and the creative centre of the side for 69 minutes.

Omar Marmoush: 8 – Quiet before half-time, decisive after it. His first Tottenham goal, turned and curled in from Robertson’s pass, won the game.

Dominic Solanke: 7 – Shot over from a good position in the first half, had a tap-in ruled out for offside in the build-up, and laid on the third goal for Davies in stoppage time.

Substitutes: Ben Davies 8 (on 69 minutes, and scored the third goal in stoppage time), Conor Gallagher 6 (on 69 minutes), Mateus Fernandes 6 (on 71 minutes, replaced the injured Adarabioyo), Mathys Tel 6 (on 87 minutes), Dejan Kulusevski 7 (on 87 minutes, a short but significant return after more than 500 days out).

Coventry City player ratings

Carl Rushworth: 5 – Beaten by two finishes curled in from the edge of the box, then let Davies’ low stoppage-time shot slip in after getting two hands to it.

Milan van Ewijk: 5 – Combined well with Sakamoto early on, then turned by Marmoush for the winning goal.

Bobby Thomas: 6 – Headed one first-half corner behind and defended the box in numbers as Coventry sat in their shape.

Ethan Pinnock: 6 – Solid alongside Thomas for long spells, with Solanke kept mostly quiet between them.

Jay DaSilva: 5 – Booked before half-time for pulling Kudus back and given a hard evening by the winger throughout.

Caleb Yirenkyi: 5 – Worked hard in front of the defence but Coventry needed more control, and he was replaced on the hour.

Matt Grimes: 6 – Kept Coventry’s passing tidy in spells, though his side spent most of the night without the ball.

Tatsuhiro Sakamoto: 5 – Took too long over an early chance that Van Hecke blocked, and was replaced in the 78th minute.

Jack Rudoni: 8 – Coventry’s best player. Scored for the second game running, arriving in the box to level the scores at 1-1 in the 49th minute.

Brandon Thomas-Asante: 7 – The assist for Rudoni’s goal and a constant run in behind, denied once by Van de Ven’s recovery tackle.

Sidiki Cherif: 5 – Little service and little impact before Frank Lampard changed the front line on the hour.

Substitutes: Frank Onyeka 6 (on 60 minutes), Taiwo Awoniyi 6 (on 60 minutes, back from a ban), Ephron Mason-Clark 6 (on 78 minutes), Gustavo Hamer 6 (on 78 minutes), Kaine Kesler-Hayden 5 (on 88 minutes).

What it means

The win takes Tottenham to six points from seven games and up to 16th place, above Coventry on goal difference with the two clubs level on points, after the Marbella training camp De Zerbi used to reset his side, covered in our look at the plan to rescue a broken season. Coventry stay on six points after back-to-back wins over Nottingham Forest and Newcastle, the run examined in our Coventry and Newcastle talking points earlier this month. Tottenham’s next league game is away to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in Matchweek 8.

Rodrigo Bentancur will miss Tottenham’s Premier League game against Coventry on Monday 19 October, serving the first of a three-match ban for his red card at Old Trafford, and Pedro Porro is set to miss out with a hamstring problem. Kick-off at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is 8pm UK time, live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League.

The suspension won’t hurt Roberto De Zerbi’s first choice much. Sports Mole’s Ben Knapton expects Tonali and Bergvall to start together in midfield again. Porro is the bigger worry. Rotowire says he remains out, and while Knapton says he’s close to a return from a muscle injury but “there are no guarantees over the Spaniard’s fitness”, both previews have Archie Gray at right-back.

Our predicted Spurs XI

This is our prediction, informed by Sports Mole and Rotowire. Nothing is confirmed until the teams are named about an hour before kick-off.

Player Status Bentancur Suspended (first of three games) Porro Likely out, hamstring Kulusevski Knee, close, not expected to start Simons, Odobert Out, knee Mudryk Out, ankle

Kulusevski, and the No 10 call

Dejan Kulusevski’s knee is the story supporters are watching. Rotowire says he’s training fully and being assessed week to week, so a place in the matchday squad is possible. Sports Mole says he’s close but not ready to start. The Fantasy Premier League data still lists him as injured, with no return date. See our Premier League injury return dates for the wider picture.

The real selection debate is at No 10. Sports Mole has James Maddison starting behind Solanke, while Rotowire picks Conor Gallagher. We’d start Maddison: against a Coventry side likely to sit deep, Spurs need a passer who can unlock a low block more than another runner.

Micky van de Ven is back from a wrist injury and both predicted XIs have him at centre-back alongside Van Hecke. Both previews have Udogie at left-back, with Robertson left out of the last squad for reasons that aren’t injury-related. Xavi Simons, Wilson Odobert and Mykhailo Mudryk are all out.

Coventry: Awoniyi returns

Frank Lampard’s side get Awoniyi back: Rotowire says he has served his three-match ban for a red card against Brighton and has him leading the line. It also reports Kesler-Hayden is available after returning to team training following a hamstring problem, and Van Ewijk is fit again.

Player Issue Return Haji Wright Quad Not before November Aurele Amenda Calf Up to three months Woolfenden Knee Weeks Eccles Ankle Weeks

Rotowire’s Coventry XI is also a 4-2-3-1, shown above. After Monday, Coventry host Fulham on Saturday 24 October, and Spurs travel to Chelsea the same day for a 5.30pm kick-off. If you’re picking fantasy teams, our GW8 fixture difficulty guide and best fixtures for GW8 to GW12 cover the Spurs and Coventry players.

Maddison or Gallagher at No 10 for Spurs against Coventry? Post your Tottenham XI below.

Featured photo: Hzh, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped).

Tottenham Hotspur could be set to hand a full competitive debut to 18-year-old Archie Gray as they visit Coventry City in the EFL Cup on Wednesday night. The England Under-21 international, who made the high-profile switch from Leeds United to North London this summer for £40 million, may finally get his chance to start after two Premier League cameos.

Gray is not the only youngster likely to grace the pitch in Coventry. Lucas Bergvall, another promising talent, is expected to feature, although it remains unclear whether he will start. Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham’s head coach, has hinted that Wednesday’s clash will give fringe players opportunities, so fans could see a mix of youth and experience in the starting XI.

With the need for squad rotation and pressure mounting after Spurs’ recent struggles in the Premier League, Postecoglou will likely rest key players while still fielding a competitive lineup. Ben Davies and Radu Dragusin could be included to provide defensive stability against a lower-tier opponent.

Spurs’ Attacking Struggles and the Need for Fresh Faces

Tottenham’s attacking line has yet to click this season, which opens the door for Wilson Odobert and Timo Werner to showcase their abilities against Coventry. Both forwards will look to capitalize on the opportunity to impress, especially with the frontline struggling to find the net in the Premier League.

Dominic Solanke, who is still searching for his first goal since his big-money move from Bournemouth, is expected to retain his spot up front, as Richarlison remains unavailable. Solanke’s lack of goals has been a talking point, and Wednesday’s match could provide him the platform to finally break his duck.

Midfield Reinforcements and Tactical Flexibility

With Yves Bissouma sidelined, Pape Matar Sarr is likely to step into the starting lineup after coming off the bench during Tottenham’s defeat to Arsenal. The young midfielder has shown promise and will be eager to make his mark.

Another intriguing option is Dejan Kulusevski, who could slot into the midfield in a more advanced role. His versatility allows Postecoglou to tinker with the setup, ensuring a balance between creativity and control.

Defensive Changes Likely

While Postecoglou is expected to make changes across the board, the backline may also see some rotation. Pedro Porro is the most likely to continue at right-back, while Cristian Romero could partner Radu Dragusin in the center of defense. Ben Davies could provide leadership at left-back, offering balance between youth and experience.

Predicted Tottenham Starting Lineup (4-3-3)

Goalkeeper: Fraser Forster

Right-back: Pedro Porro

Center-backs: Cristian Romero, Radu Dragusin

Left-back: Ben Davies

Midfield: Pape Sarr, Dejan Kulusevski, Archie Gray

Forwards: Wilson Odobert, Timo Werner, Dominic Solanke

Postecoglou Balancing Pressure and Rotation

Although Tottenham suffered a bitter defeat to Arsenal in the North London Derby, Postecoglou is not expected to make wholesale changes. The need to secure a win against Coventry is paramount, and the pressure on his shoulders has only increased following the poor start to the season. As a result, Ange will likely field a lineup that mixes youth with experience, ensuring a competitive edge while providing opportunities to emerging talents like Gray and Bergvall.

Despite facing a Championship side, Coventry should not be underestimated. Postecoglou knows that a cup run could be vital for boosting morale and easing the growing pressure. Spurs fans will be hoping for a strong performance and a comfortable victory as the club looks to bounce back from recent disappointments.

Tottenham Hotspur face off against Arsenal in the first North London derby of the season, and all eyes are on how manager Ange Postecoglou will set up his team. With both sides dealing with injuries, Spurs’ will have a great opportunity to beat their rivals as Arsenal’s injury and suspension troubles are more concerning.

Arsenal’s Injury Concerns

Arsenal head into this derby with significant injury setbacks, which could influence Tottenham’s tactical approach. Declan Rice, one of Arsenal’s key midfielders, is set to miss out after a controversial red card in their match against Brighton. Mikel Arteta is also without new signing Mikel Merino, who fractured his shoulder in training, and club captain Martin Ødegaard, who is a major doubt with an ankle sprain suffered during international duty.

With these absences, the Gunners are likely to field a weakened midfield, which could give Spurs the upper hand. Arteta may have to rely on Thomas Partey and Jorginho in midfield, with the potential of pushing Kai Havertz into a deeper role.

Spurs’ Predicted Lineup Against Arsenal

Despite injury concerns of their own, Tottenham Hotspur are expected to field a strong side. Here’s the predicted Spurs lineup against Arsenal in Postecoglou’s favored 4-3-3 formation:

If Bissouma, who picked up a knock during international duty, isn’t fit to start, Rodrigo Bentancur is expected to step in. Bentancur has returned to fitness and could play a pivotal role in midfield if needed. The forward line will be spearheaded by Son Heung-min, with Dejan Kulusevski and Wilson Odobert providing support from the wings. James Maddison will continue to orchestrate Spurs’ attack from midfield, and his creativity will be key to unlocking Arsenal’s defense.

Midfield Battle: With Rice and Ødegaard potentially absent for Arsenal, Spurs’ midfield trio of Bissouma, Sarr, and Maddison will look to dominate possession and dictate the tempo. Ange can expect his team to take the game to Arsenal especially with his midfield trio playing against Arsenal’s weakened midfield

Arsenal’s Lineup Challenges

With the Gunners missing key players like Rice, Merino, and potentially Ødegaard, their predicted lineup looks far from full strength. The midfield will be a major area of concern for Arteta, and this gives Spurs a potential advantage to exploit.

Additionally, Arsenal are dealing with injuries to defenders like Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney, while Gabriel Jesus remains a doubt due to a groin injury. Raheem Sterling, Arsenal’s new signing, could make his debut, but his fitness levels remain uncertain.

As the North London derby approaches, Tottenham Hotspur’s lineup against Arsenal looks set to be a strong 4-3-3 formation. Ange Postecoglou’s men will aim to capitalize on Arsenal’s midfield crisis and injury struggles. With key players like Son Heung-min, James Maddison, and Cristian Romero fit and in form, Spurs have a real chance to make a statement in this derby.

Tottenham Hotspur’s recent loss to Newcastle United was a tough blow, especially considering how much control they had during key moments of the game. Spurs dominated possession and created more chances, yet still walked away with nothing to show for it. This has become a troubling pattern, with fans all too familiar with their team’s ability to control matches but fail to secure the win.

Despite the progress made under Ange Postecoglou, one significant tactical issue continues to hinder Spurs: their static attack against teams that deploy a wide low block defense. This problem was evident in their defeat at St. James’ Park and has been a recurring obstacle in other matches this season. As Tottenham prepares for their next game against Arsenal, this issue becomes even more critical to address.

The Tactical Issue: Static Attack Against a Wide Low Block Defense

The primary tactical challenge facing Tottenham is their predictable and static attacking approach when up against a wide low block defense. Spurs often aim to create one-vs-one situations out wide, relying on cutbacks and crosses into the box. While this can work against teams that allow space, it falters against well-organized defenses that close down the wide areas and force Spurs to play in front of them.

Against Newcastle, this predictability was Tottenham’s undoing. Despite their dominance in possession, they struggled to break down Newcastle’s defense, often resorting to hopeful crosses and speculative long-range efforts. The lack of dynamic movement in the penalty area made it easier for Newcastle to defend, and without a natural striker like Dominic Solanke or Richarlison, Spurs lacked the sharpness needed to turn their chances into goals.

Why It Matters

This struggle to break down low block defenses is not an isolated issue but a recurring problem for Tottenham. In their first away game of the season against Leicester City, Spurs similarly dominated but failed to make their superiority count, eventually settling for a disappointing draw. Across these matches, Tottenham has often controlled the game but lacked the cutting edge to consistently find the back of the net, highlighting a critical flaw in their tactical setup.

As Tottenham prepares for a high-stakes North London Derby against Arsenal, this issue takes on even greater importance. Arsenal, known for their solid defensive structure under Mikel Arteta, will likely present a similar challenge. If Spurs cannot find a way to adapt their attacking approach, they risk being stifled by Arsenal’s defense, which could lead to another frustrating result.

The Solution

To overcome this tactical hurdle, Postecoglou needs to introduce more variety and dynamism into Tottenham’s attacking play. Spurs must find ways to break down wide low block defenses by utilizing quick, incisive passing through the middle, encouraging more off-the-ball movement, and creating overloads in central areas. Additionally, improving the team’s composure and decision-making in the final third will be crucial to converting dominance into goals. All of these solutions will of course be much easier to implement once Spurs’ summer signing, Solanke is back from injury.

Given the high stakes of the upcoming match against Arsenal, this adaptation is not just necessary—it’s urgent. A win against their fiercest rivals could provide the momentum needed to push Tottenham back on track for a successful season.

Conclusion

Ange Postecoglou has undoubtedly brought a more progressive and attractive style of play to Tottenham, but the team’s static attack against wide low block defenses is a significant tactical issue that must be resolved. As Spurs gear up for their crucial clash against Arsenal, the need to address this problem becomes even more pressing. If Tottenham are to challenge for a top-four finish this season, they must become more unpredictable and effective in their approach to breaking down stubborn defenses. The North London Derby could be the turning point that determines whether Postecoglou can guide Tottenham back on track.

Tottenham Hotspur heads into Sunday’s clash against Newcastle United with some significant absences in their attack. Center-forwards Dominic Solanke and Richarlison are both ruled out, forcing manager Ange Postecoglou to rethink his offensive strategy for the trip to St James’ Park.

Injury Concerns:Dominic Solanke: The forward remains sidelined with an ankle injury sustained during the opening day victory against Leicester. Manager Ange Postecoglou confirmed that Solanke is close to returning but will not be risked before the international break. “Dom Solanke’s close but we’ll err on the side of caution, he won’t play on the weekend with the international week, we’ve made a decision to wait until after that,” Postecoglou said in the pre-match press conference.

Richarlison: The Brazilian forward also misses out after pulling up in training with a muscle injury. Postecoglou mentioned, “Richy pulled up sore, I think there’s a muscle injury there, we’re just getting more information but he’ll be out as well.”

Midfield Reinforcements:

– Rodrigo Bentancur: On a positive note, Bentancur is available again after a concussion kept him out of last weekend’s emphatic 4-0 win over Everton. The Uruguayan has completed all necessary protocols and is ready for selection. “Bentancur’s all good, he’s trained well, gone through all the protocols and most important he feels good training-wise,” added Postecoglou.

Key Decisions for Postecoglou:

Attack: With both Solanke and Richarlison out, Heung-min Son is expected to continue as the central striker. The South Korean international was in scintillating form last weekend, scoring twice against Everton, and will be key to Spurs’ attacking threat against Newcastle. Wilson Odobert put in a great performance against Everton so he is expected to start against Newcastle.

Midfield: Postecoglou faces a dilemma regarding Kulusevski’s role. The Swede, who has been deployed as a No. 8 recently, could either retain his midfield role, move to the front three, or potentially start on the bench. His versatility will be crucial in shaping Tottenham’s approach against a strong Newcastle side. With Bentancur back in the mix, Postecoglou could pair him with Pape Sarr and James Maddison in the middle of the park, which potentially could be Spurs’ strongest midfield combination. This midfield trio would offer a balance of creativity, physicality, and defensive solidity, crucial for controlling the game against a well-organized Newcastle team.

Ange’s predicted lineup against Newcastle in 4-3-3 formation