Five things we learned from Tottenham 2-1 defeat to Ipswich

Tottenham Hotspur’s disjointed display against Ipswich now leaves them languishing in mid-table going into the international break.

Let’s take a look at five things we learned from Tottenham vs Ipswich:

Odobert’s injuries are season-defining for Tottenham

It may feel odd to consider a player who has only accumulated 182 minutes for Tottenham a critical loss, but Wilson Odobert is the only winger at Spurs with the skillset to consistently take on his defender.

Against Ipswich, Brennan Johnson completed 0 dribbles and Son Heung-min was only able to complete 2 of his 4 attempted for Tottenham. Without Odobert, Spurs simply do not have the profile of winger required to break down teams that sit deep.

Dragusin’s on-ball ability makes him entirely unsuitable for LCB

If you just look at the numbers, Radu Dragusin had a comparable performance to Romero in possession. Each had a pass completion percentage of 87% and 88% respectively. However, Dragusin’s inability to play the ball with his left foot or make incisive progressive passes, heavily affects Tottenham’s build-up.

Ipswich tailored their press to dictate Dragusin’s passes, cutting off access to Son and Udogie, meaning Dragusin was often left with only the option to pass back to Romero or to Sarr who was being heavily pressed and often shifted to Romero anyway. Dragusin put in a good performance against Manchester City, but today, van de Ven’s absence was apparent.

The team selection didn’t work

Pape Matar Sarr has performed to a spectacular standard in Tottenham’s last few games, so it was not a surprise to see him in the starting line-up. However, Sarr’s strength is his mobility in transitional games. Ange seemingly figured out earlier in the season that Spurs can operate against low-blocks without necessarily well-suited wingers, with both Kulusevski and Maddison in midfield.

While Maddison has not had the best form over the last few games, Tottenham clearly missed the connection he had developed with Son and Udogie down the left as well as his ability to drop deep and help build-up. Hindsight is 20-20, but when Spurs conceded their second to a direct attack, the choice to prioritise cover in transition clearly didn’t pay off.

Tottenham lack conviction in their attacking approach

What began as groans, became roars of discontent from the fans in the stadium as Tottenham clipped yet another cross into the box which was claimed with ease by Muric.

In games where Tottenham have managed to complete a comeback, they show a commitment by moving the ball with purpose through the lines into dangerous areas. However, today was an example of the players lacking belief in being able to break down Ipswich.

Floating crosses into areas where Muric was able to catch felt more like an act of hope than a committed and considered attack. It can be disconcerting to stay committed when the team is in need of a goal, but having faith in the system has often proved more successful than opting for speculative crosses.

Tottenham’s inconsistency is Ange’s no.1 problem to address

Inconsistency has been the main talking point around Tottenham this season. It has generally presented itself in away form, but after a challenging game midweek against Galatasaray, it has now crept into Spurs’ home form. Slow starts are becoming a trend and are more difficult to address than a team running out of energy towards the end of a game.

We can lament Tottenham’s injuries that exacerbate the difficulty of playing in multiple competitions. Nevertheless, with two games a week throughout the entirety of December, this is a challenge that requires urgent tactical and coaching solutions. If Ange’s goal is to make Spurs into a side that consistently challenges for trophies, getting consistency in the players’ mental application will be the most important hurdle.

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