Thread by @InvertTheWing

Ange Postecoglou has the squad to have a favourable matchup versus every team. And why getting this correct is absolutely crucial to reach Tottenham’s ceiling of title contenders.

Here’s a tactical breakdown of how he could line up versus every Big 6 manager.

THREAD

Ange Postecoglou is one of the best managers in the league. His tactical variation, and ultra aggressive style of football not only makes him an enjoyable manager to watch, but also makes his team’s a nightmare to defend again. He is a possession manager like no other. The likes… https://t.co/tUSzhxPQbKtwitter.com/i/web/status/1…

Let’s start with title holders, Manchester City.

Manchester City are known for playing a revolutionary formation of 3-4-3, where one of the full backs drops into midfield in possession. Usually, this is John Stones. And during this possession phase, the left back will drift to… https://t.co/6z95ddyNdztwitter.com/i/web/status/1…

With the signing of Josko Gvardiol, we can imagine that he will play the role John Stones did, from the left hand flank, which would allow Walker to come back in the side with his crucial recovery pace.

And here’s why I think Postecoglou will give Guardiola one of his hardest games of the season.

The issue with the Guardiola system is there is increased pressure on the wingers and defensive responsibility, as this formation leaves the wide areas quite exposed. Defensive workrate aside, this is why Guardiola prefers possession based wingers like Grealish and Bernardo, as… https://t.co/O4MwqXDetHtwitter.com/i/web/status/1…

If possession is lost in a dangerous area, then the wide areas are left completely exposed for a short time before being able to regroup, and for teams with strong, pacey wingers, this is obviously a threat.

And one of the things Postecoglou loves is having his fullbacks to be aggressive, keep width, and play high up the pitch. And ultimately, this naturally matches up very well vs Guardiola.

And as a result, Postecoglou should be looking to utilise a fullback pairing of Porro-Udogie, accompanied by a wing pairing of Maddison-Son, and here’s why.

I have mentioned, the issue in playing such a system for Manchester City is how exposed they are left in the wide areas, especially if they give up possession.

I have spoken about my disdain for a Porro-Udogie full back pairing in the past, but simply put, I think offensively,… https://t.co/lrJIS03nk4twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

The main goal of such flanks is to suffocate these wide areas defensively, but also open these wide areas offensively.

This will make more sense later, since we have to assume we are not in possession of the ball.

Jack Grealish and Bernardo Silva both tend to cut inside a lot. This is actually why the system works so well, as Guardiola’s Manchester City aims to divert a lot of the play centrally, preventing the wide areas from being exposed.

And that is why Postecogolou should line-up with a double pivot of Hojbjerg-Bissouma, both sitting very deep. Having two of your best ball winners patrol that half space area vastly limits attacking threat from such area.

And as such, all areas of the pitch are very restricted.… https://t.co/IijJHeXVcftwitter.com/i/web/status/1…

The 3 games Manchester City struggled against most last season were vs. Brentford home, Brentford away, and Inter Milan in the Champions League final.

Albeit all 3 of these were playing back 5s, along with a 3 man midfield, Postecoglou having 2 6’s that sit very deep, alongside… https://t.co/k4CwWferpotwitter.com/i/web/status/1…

The deep lying double pivot gives license for a creative midfielder to play against such a formation and not have a negative defensive impact.

And that’s why I think Kulusevski should play as the advanced 8, or creative midfielder. It is absolutely crucial with your midfielders… https://t.co/90N4mVHzvitwitter.com/i/web/status/1…

An aggressive centre-back pairing of Romero and Van De Van also really neuteres any threat of Grealish and Bernardo trying to cut inside, as they are rather passive players.

Van De Van especially matches up well versus the end product of such an attack, Haaland, due to his… https://t.co/ToTocRvZnRtwitter.com/i/web/status/1…

The idea is simple, out of possession, you will look to overload the wide areas, forcing Manchester City to play centrally. The deep sitting double pivot, and high placed centre-backs will then also tighten up these central areas. And almost certainly, you will win possession at… https://t.co/pC00AxHMGKtwitter.com/i/web/status/1…

However, this is not exclusively playing off the counter football.

In safer possession, not looking to play off the counter and attack the vulnerable areas, you would encourage Kulusevski and Maddison to alternate, instructing Son and Kulusevski to both try and cut in, with… https://t.co/L5UvSKcLJAtwitter.com/i/web/status/1…

I don’t think this game will be an issue. I think tactically, Postecoglou’s setup will pose too big of a big threat offensively for Guardiola to handle.

Interestingly, I think a lot of this result will come down to Walker, how quick he is to recover in dangerous areas and… https://t.co/OIUfkdk7hktwitter.com/i/web/status/1…

Next up, we have Arsenal.

Arsenal, unsurprisingly enough, line up very similarly to Manchester City.

And this is largely why I do think you will be title contenders.

Having a natural style of football that matches up ever so well vs other title favourites is always a boost.

The main, significant difference between Arsenal and Manchester City is the difference in dynamics of the midfield.

Manchester City prefer pausa, opting for Gundogan, whereas Arsenal have went and signed Kai Havertz, presumably to play as an advanced 8, alongside Odegaard.

Odegaard-Havertz-Rice, for now, seems the most likely course of action. This midfield is defensively unbalanced, but poses a threat in possession.

So what should Postecoglou do? Drop Kulusevski.

I will explain why later.

Let’s talk about Arsenal’s wing pairing first, Martinelli and Saka first.

Essentially, everything works similarly to Manchester City in the way they play.

Arsenal look to minimise potential possession loss in wide areas, and try to direct play through half spaces. However,… https://t.co/LrjltQIJbhtwitter.com/i/web/status/1…

One thing to note is Saka and Martinelli are nowhere near as good enough at keeping possession compared to Grealish and Bernardo Silva, thus giving Tottenham a better chance to win possession in such dangerous areas.

And for the same reasons as for Manchester City, and… https://t.co/lCySOdvOuqtwitter.com/i/web/status/1…

Arsenal have much more of an attacking threat centrally than Manchester City, with a Havertz-Odegaard midfield pairing. And with such an attacking pairing in the midfield, playing against defensively weaker wide areas, another layer of protection is needed in the midfield,… https://t.co/d3QtJlcm5Wtwitter.com/i/web/status/1…

In possession, it would work similarly to how you would try set up vs Guardiola. Except, Kane would be playing a lot deeper, just to exploit the defensive flaws within the Arsenal midfield out of possession, whilst also fixing the creativity issue without Kulusevski.

An… https://t.co/XtDorVLm3ptwitter.com/i/web/status/1…

Next up, we have Liverpool.

They are an interesting one.

But if I’m honest, I do not understand how they will set up at all next season.

Towards the end of last season, we saw Trent inverting, but during preseason games, it doesn’t seem he’s playing the same role.

On top of… https://t.co/nmCQG8rjNKtwitter.com/i/web/status/1…

But let’s say hypothetically, they setup in the exact same way they have previous seasons. 1 6, 2 deep lying 8s in midfield, with no creative midfielder. The 9 will drop deep in possession, and alongside the fullbacks, will supply creativity. Majority of the creativity will come… https://t.co/92538sizkCtwitter.com/i/web/status/1…

The best bet of winning such a game would not be drastic changes to the lineup, but rather small tactical tweaks in-game which would see weaknesses of individual players exploited.

The biggest threat Postecoglou has to address in such a game is the aerial threat Liverpool possess.

Just the delivery from set pieces from Alexander Arnold and Robertson alone makes Liverpool one of the most aerial dominant teams in the league.

And for that reason, Emerson… https://t.co/wULH18loxutwitter.com/i/web/status/1…

And I spoke about it earlier, but rather than drastic lineup tweaks, Postecoglou should just look to target areas of weakness.

The biggest flaw that even majority of people will notice is Trent’s questionable defensive positioning.

He has good defensive ability, tackling and… https://t.co/54bw5445kytwitter.com/i/web/status/1…

Van De Van covering that left half space with his rapid recovery pace will provide a good match for Salah, whilst Udogie is able to stay high and wide, minimising overlapping threat.

Whereas Emerson being more defensively oriented will seem to reduce the threat on the left,… https://t.co/hdB4TIlUZQtwitter.com/i/web/status/1…

Destiny Udogie, Son Heung Min, and potentially James Maddison and Harry Kane will be the key components of such a game. With the fullbacks pushing so high up, if possession is won near Tottenham’s own box, Udogie and Son Heung Min will absolutely have a lot of responsibility to… https://t.co/YEjbBdXkBYtwitter.com/i/web/status/1…

Finally, we have Manchester United, the most unique team on this list.

Manchester United and Ten Hag have a team primarily suited to play some of the best counter attacking football in the league.

Winning the midfield battle in such a game is absolutely crucial.

Manchester United have the best midfield in the league, especially for the type of football they play.

Mason Mount and Casemiro are both suffocating with their press, and will solely look to win the ball. And are 2 of the best players in the league at achieving such.

Their goal… https://t.co/8g6h9t9cxvtwitter.com/i/web/status/1…

As a result, neither of Udogie or Porro should start.

You need to prioritise maximum ball retention in every area of the pitch.

Davies-Emerson is the way to proceed against such a team.

This similarly applies to the midfield.

Postecoglou should look to prioritise midfielders that are the best at keeping possession. Players that are not error prone, players that are press resistant.

A midfield Mate Sarr and Bissouma should be the way to go.

Passing should be… https://t.co/PKHmM6iSkFtwitter.com/i/web/status/1…

Similarly, the creative midfielder should also excel at such.

Luckily for Ange, both Kulusevski and Maddison are elite ball carriers. This allows them to still excel creatively in such a game via their dribbling progression, and find short passes into space without taking… https://t.co/b8dfnLUJ8atwitter.com/i/web/status/1…

And for reasons due to keeping possession being an absolute priority, I would not personally start Son. He strives off of service from deep, and runs into space, which would not be the case in a game like this.

An elite player, but against such a team like Manchester United, a… https://t.co/h3jUjGbhM7twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

One thing that is crucial out of possession is to have the wingers assist in tracking back and pressing the fullback.

Both Antony and Rashford will exclusively look to cut inside, however, both Dalot and Shaw will look to provide an overlapping run.

The wingers tracking back… https://t.co/6K1IOZQBVWtwitter.com/i/web/status/1…

The key to beating Manchester United is to play patiently, not being over expressive, and putting extra emphasis on ball carrying and short yet direct passes.

Very similar to how current Manchester City play when Kevin De Bruyne is not in the squad, not tactically, but… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…