You don't have to be Einstein, AVB! Spurs should embrace playing two strikers

You don't have to be Einstein, AVB! Spurs should embrace playing two strikers

According to Einstein, doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results is the definition of insanity.

Unfortunately for Tottenham fans this well known phrase seems to have dodged the attention of manager Andre Villas-Boas, who having bought over half a team in the summer simply cannot get them to play.

Tottenham’s 1-0 defeat at home to Newcastle on Sunday was a slight upset on paper but the north London club haven’t shown any sparkling form this season and have looked vulnerable in a majority of their domestic fixtures.

White Hart pain: Spurs fell to another home loss on Sunday after failing to find a way past inspired Newcastle keeper Tim Krul in a 1-0 Premier League defeat by the Toon

It would be easy to point the blame at ‘failed’ summer signings and even easier to say the loss of Gareth Bale has had a catastrophic impact on the team.

Of course, both have had negative influences but the real pressing concern stretches back to as early as the start of last season when Villas-Boas took over and employed the 4-5-1 formation.

Away from home it has and still works well. Spurs can often neuter the attacking instincts of a home side and use it to help take control of a game, and as a result have an easier time breaching defences.

But against sides with no intention but to soak up pressure and hit Spurs on the counter attack, it’s proved increasingly vulnerable.

The problem has magnified this season as the wealth of midfield talent at Tottenham has led to even more teams employing an ultra defensive stance against the north London side, especially at White Hart Lane.

Derby disaster: Ravel Morrison's wonder strike helped West Ham record a shock 3-0 victory at Tottenham

West Ham and Newcastle are two sides already this season who have gone to Tottenham and come away with three points despite having vastly inferior possession. Hull were also very unfortunate (twice) to leave the Lane empty handed after frustrating their hosts.

A lack of natural wide players is also hurting Tottenham in attack, with Gylfi Sigurdsson often shoe-horned into deploying either side of the midfield but having a tendency to cut inside and straight into a sea of opposition players.

As a result the central area becomes congested making it even harder for an attacking midfield blessed with talent to create chances.

Width is an issue but even with players like Aaron Lennon and Gareth Bale, Spurs failed to beat a number of supposed inferior sides on home territory last term including West Brom, Norwich, Wigan, Fulham and Stoke (scoring only two goals).

Missed: Tottenham often won matches through the individual brilliance of Gareth Bale

Add the ‘Bale points’ in his late wonder strikes against Southampton and Sunderland and you see just how badly Spurs really have struggled playing 4-5-1 at White Hart Lane.

Abandoning the system isn’t the answer – it is still useful against sides keen to attack Tottenham. Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool all lost at the Lane last term while Manchester United could only pick up a draw.

Well at least one new signing is impressing the Tottenham fans

Given the riches of creativity and striking ability signed by Tottenham over the summer, you would have expected Spurs fans to be voting in their droves for one of their flair signings as player of the month.
But as Spurs toil in front of goal, it's a defender who supporters of the north London sides have taken most to, after voting Vlad Chiriches as their star performer for October.

Of the title challengers this season, only Chelsea have visited the Lane and they could have easily been beaten in the first half alone by a rampant Spurs side.

But with Roberto Soldado so isolated and surrounded by defenders he needs a strike partner to work with – and this is why Villas-Boas should embrace the 4-4-2 formation and employ it in his armoury.

This would involve having to recall Emmanuel Adebayor to the side, as Soldado and Jermain Defoe would not be suited to playing with each other.

For all the criticisms the Togo striker has had in the last year, the former Manchester City hitman has still scored three more Premier League goals in 2013 than Defoe.
In addition, the striker is best suited to link up the midfield and attack playing as a support striker and helping take defensive focus solely off Soldado who thrived at Valencia playing alongside another forward.

AVB: Very very poor the result does not reflect the performance

Double act: Emmanuel Adebayor (left) and Jermain Defoe combined to good effect last season

Tottenham’s biggest league win under Villas-Boas was the 4-0 at Aston Villa last season – where Defoe and Adebayor were the strike force in a heavily one-sided game.

The same shape and system also won at Sunderland and at home to Reading in the following games before being abandoned.

The big problem Villas-Boas has in this system is to employ the formation he has to drop one of the many midfield talents bought in the summer, replacing them with a striker who hasn’t played a single minute of the campaign.

It’s not ideal but Tottenham’s predictable playing style at home is costing them valuable points that a Champions League chasing team should be picking up regularly.

Villas-Boas will stay faithful to 4-5-1 and he has good reason too given the success it has already earned him, but at home against sides Spurs are expected to beat he simply has to attack more.

You don’t have to be Einstein to work that out.

 

So how have those summer signings worked out for Tottenham?

Thanks much in part to Gareth Bale's world record £85million transfer to Real Madrid, Spurs sold £110million of talent over the summer, enabling the club to spend heavy in bringing replacements to White Hart Lane.
In total, seven big names came into the club but how have they impacted on the squad? Sportsmail looks at Andre Villas-Boas summer transfer business and rates how they have performed in relation to their transfer fee.

Late bloomer? Erik Lamela has taken time to show his best form but has improved over the season

Erik Lamela (Roma, £30m)

Andre Villas-Boas has admitted that the club’s record signing has taken the most time to settle and for the most part this season the 21-year-old has been left watching Premier League action from the sidelines.

The Argentine’s limited game time though has shown the potential on offer. Lamela came off the bench to play a major role in assisting the last-gasp winner at Cardiff, and he put in a man-of-the-match performance in his last game against Sheriff in the Europa League. Gradually improving. Value for money 5/10

Shot shy: Roberto Soldado has cored four league goals but just one from open play

On the ball: Paulinho has impressed in the Tottenham midfield despite not playing his strongest role

Roberto Soldado (Valencia, £26m)

The second of three players to break the Tottenham transfer record this summe but
the Spaniard hasn’t proven the answer to
the club’s lack of regular goal scoring strikers.

The former Valencia hitman has struggled badly playing as a lone striker, failing to build any understanding with the Spurs midfield.
Handy from the penalty spot but you expect more for your cash. Value for money 4/10

Paulinho (Corinthians, £17m)

Was at fault for Newcastle’s winner on Sunday but the midfielder which started Spurs’ summer spending frenzy has performed well enough to warrant his starting role he currently holds.

However, the Brazil international’s true value comes as a box-to-box midfielder.
With Spurs not playing a counter attacking style at present his best isn’t shining through.Value for money 7/10

False start: An injury suffered at Arsenal has hampered Etienne Capoue's early Spurs career

Fading: Christian Eriksen has suffered a dip in form after an encouraging start at White Hart Lane

Christian Eriksen (Ajax, £11.5m)

It looked like being one of the steals of the summer when Spurs reacted to missing out on Willian by signing the Dane once chased by Real Madrid.

But after starting well and scoring a stunner against Tromso in the Europa League, the attacking midfielder has faded badly in his last few outings. A talented player who should shine at White Hart Lane but form is a concern. Value for money 6/10

Etienne Capoue (Toulouse, £8.6m)

An unfortunate injury suffered against Arsenal means the holding midfielder has featured just five times in all competitions for Tottenham this season, but has looked to be one of Villas-Boas’ more promising buys.

The injury suffered at the Emirates Stadium means he has played just once since the start of September but Spurs' recent poor form may give him a way back into the side.
Value for money 6/10

 

Christian Eriksen's ten best goals at Ajax

Little impact: Nacer Chadli has struggled to get into the Tottenham team

Best of the bunch: Vlad Chiriches has played his way into the Tottenham starting XI

Vlad Chiriches (S. Bucharest, £8.5m)

Eyebrows were raised when Tottenham sold Steven Caulker to Cardiff and Spurs do still miss the centre-back’s attacking ability from set-pieces.

Chriches’ arrival hasn’t replaced that aerial threat but the defender has made a good start at White Hart Lane as his awareness and composure on the ball have shone through.
He needs time to develop an understanding with fellow centre-backs but it looks a matter of when rather than if. Value for money 8/10

Nacer Chadli (Twente, £6m)

Started off the season replacing Gareth Bale on the left wing but has put in anonymous performances in the Tottenham midfield, resulting in the Belgian losing his place in the team.

Injuries have also hampered the summer arrival from Twente but with competition for places fierce, he faces a tough ask to get back into the team.
Value for money 4/10
 

 

Watch Nacer Chadli's best goals and tricks at FC Twente

 

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