Tag: football

Data Breakdown: Conti Cup Win & West Ham Away

The following article was originally posted on the Spurs Women blog on January 27th 2024. Original post link: https://spurswomen.uk/2024/01/27/data-breakdown-conti-cup-win-west-ham-away/

By Harsh Mishra.

Over the past five days Spurs Women have returned to action after the winter break, notching up two back-to-back wins. The most recent, a 3-0 win away to Southampton, secured a place in the quarter-finals of the Conti Cup. The previous game saw them take on West Ham in the WSL, the team of ex-manager Rehanne Skinner.

The game against West Ham was a windy affair, with seven goals scored, as Spurs just managed to nick a 4-3 win, thereby equalling their points tally (18), from the whole of last season. There is already quite a bit of coverage of this game. You can read game reviews on Spurs across the pond, Cartilage Free Captain, and also on this website by Dave.

In this piece I therefore focus on the following:

  • Southampton Review
  • Chances in the game vs West Ham
  • Reliance on Grace Clinton
  • Eveliina Summanen at Center Back
  • Full backs vs Manchester City

Southampton Review

Three of our new signings were given starts for the first time, Nildén played 45 minutes, while Grant and Vinberg played the whole game. Grant moved over to the left back position at half time, when James came on. We also saw Turner play the full 90 minutes, after being subbed at half time against West Ham, Becky Spencer also got a start after not being on the bench in the last game, due to injury.

Starting 11 vs Southampton

The first half seemed a little sluggish at times, with Spurs’ attacks taking longer than usual while Southampton threatened a few times from corner situations. Petzelberger opened the scoring in the first half with a deflected shot, as Southampton failed to clear their lines after a free kick was swung into their box, by Ayane. Grant, who was voted the player of the match by the fans and also her teammates, then doubled our lead from an inswinging corner by Vinberg.

Although still a miniscule sample size to judge on, I was impressed by what Nildén brought to Spus’ possession going forward. She looked comfortable on the ball, near the touch line as well as carrying it inside. I feel her calmness on the ball will be really helpful in the way we build up from the back, and I am really looking forward to see how she progresses.

Vilahamn had praised Vicky Jepson’s attacking set piece coaching after the West Ham game. This time he specifically pointed out Vinberg’s ability to put in-swinging corners from her left foot. Lots of set piece goals in the last two games!

Chances in the game vs West Ham

All seven goals in this game (four for Spurs and three for West Ham) came either directly from a set piece or the first sequence of play just after a set piece was taken. Five of them came from throw-in situations unfolding, three of those being for Spurs and two for West Ham. West Ham’s last goal was assisted directly by the free kick taken by WSL debutant and US star, Kristie Mewis. While Grace Clinton’s controversial long shot (controversial due to questions about whether Amy Turner was blocking the keeper’s field of vision) came right after a corner kick was cleared to the edge of the box.

West Ham’s had a period of continuous dominance after Spurs had made it 3-1 and brought on a couple of substitutes. That fifteen minute period aside, the game was pretty evenly contested, with Spurs being able to create better chances, more frequently than their London rivals.

Pass Networks for West Ham vs Tottenham

Reliance on Grace Clinton

Grace Clinton was phenomenal once again and was the clear Player of the match. She scored 2 goals and assisted 1, while making a game high 10 successful dribbles out of 13 attempted.

I previously noted Spurs’ inclination to use the right side of the pitch to build up, as opposed to the left side. The pattern of play in these build-up situations most often sees Spurs play short passes inside our own defensive third, to attract pressure from the opposition and then try playing through them. However, as shown in the pass networks above, this game saw the build up shift to the left side. And a lot of those situations involved Clinton receiving the ball deep and dribbling, rather than passing, her way through the pressure. She was pretty much unplayable on the day and Vilahamn mentioned post-game, that she had been untouchable in the training sessions leading up to the game.

Grace Clinton’s Passes, Carries and Shots vs West Ham

Her growing influence on the side game by game was again highlighted against Southampton, as she scored a brilliant solo goal, after some unbelievable close control. Every time she does something outrageous, it leaves a mixed taste in Spurs supporters’ mouths, given that her improving performances this season will only make it harder for us to sign her permanently in the summer.

Eveliina Summanen at Center Back

West Ham’s best period in the game came right after they went 3-1 down. The game state alongside West Ham having nothing to lose and playing at home, were a big factor in that. But we have to also point out that the period of dominance coincided with Summanen moving away from the midfield, to the center back spot.

Personally, I have not been a big fan of Summanen moving deeper. None of our other existing center midfield options give us the combined level of physicality and technicality that she does. At the same time I understand Vilahamn’s decision since, including Graham & Petzelberger, we currently have lots of other players who can play in midfield.

Robert Vilahamn has conceded that playing Summanen in this position was perhaps a mistake. But with centre back numbers in short supply, if this is something that is potentially going to be tried again, I would hope that Spurs’ team analysts are keeping note of the number of line breaking passes our opposition make, with versus without Summanen in the midfield (I would have liked to be able to explore this, but there are not available open data). What is visible in the pass data, above, is how central Summanen was to Spurs’ passing networks prior to her 56th minute move back.

Full backs vs Manchester City

The last time Spurs played City they were unable to combat the City players making runs in behind and so faced lots of cutbacks and crosses from the wide channels. This transfer window we have brought in two new full backs while loaning out Asmita Ale to Leicester. It will be very interesting to see which two of the four potential options (Neville, James, Grant and Nildén) Vilahamn decides to go with in the next game.

Three of these full backs got minutes in the game against Southampton, with Neville being totally rested and Grant playing the full 90. Based on the last two games, it really cannot be predicted who will be the other full back, alongside Neville. But how we fare against City’s wide attacks this time might hint at whether a progress has been made in that area.

Thank you for reading.

You can make a comment using the form below or can contact Harsh on twitter at @simplywink.

by Tags: , , , , Leave a comment

Data Breakdown: Week 8 Recap & Spurs-Man United Preview

The following article was originally posted on the Spurs Women blog onDecember 15th 2023. Original post link: http://spurswomen.uk/2023/12/10/data-breakdown-week-8-recap-spurs-man-united-preview/

It’s been a fortnight since Tottenham Hotspur Women were beaten 7-0 by Manchester City Women, their biggest ever defeat in the WSL. In this edition of the Data Breakdown, I analyze Spurs’ approach in the game and highlight some of the reasons for such a heavy defeat. I then preview this week’s WSL game against Manchester United. As a heads-up, this piece is going to be heavier on the tactical side, than the data side.

Review: Manchester City vs Tottenham

Both teams fielded expected tactical shapes, City playing a 433 & Spurs a 4231. Although there was one important change that Robert Vilahamn made in his usual starting 11. Asmita Ale came in, to start her first WSL game of the season at right back & Angharad James moved up to the central midfield spot. I highlighted the ability of City’s wingers in 1v1 situations, to be the key to the game, in my preview. At the time the line-ups were released, Ale’s addition at RB seemed positive.

Despite playing away and the obvious threat of City’s wingers, Spurs stuck to their guns of pressing high up the pitch. We saw them play their usual 442 block without the ball, where the front two of Thomas & Clinton were happy to let City’s centre-backs have the ball when they were facing their attacking side. They were tasked with keeping the central City players always covered and not allow direct balls to them.

On the other hand, City also continued to build up in their familiar shape. During controlled possessions in the middle third, one of the fullbacks would tuck in to form a back three and the other inverted to join the midfield line. Below is a screenshot of one of the instances. You can see Spurs trying to squeeze the middle of the pitch and not allow the City CBs space to pass through the middle. The approach worked well enough until about the 20th minute of the game. Spurs were able to create a couple of turnovers from errant passes from the City backline. But there were also instances where the composure and passing ability of City’s players allowed them to make little rotations and play first time bumped passes through the middle. Khadija Shaw also helped City’s progression from time to time, because when she dropped deeper (as shown in the image below), she was rarely followed by Spurs’ centre-backs.

Tottenham’s pressing vs Manchester City’s buildup structure

In my opinion, Spurs’ approach to and execution of their high press on City worked fine, and was not critically responsible for the seven goals Spurs ended up conceding.

Below is the situation just before the first City goal. City were able to progress the ball to the final third of the pitch. Spurs’ wide players and the near sided CM were well positioned to cover the runs of City’s wide players. But Hasegawa drifted from her central position to the left channel, which created a 4v3 situation in that area. City were then able to make interplays and get the left-back, Ouahabi, in space to cross. Her cross was thumped-in by Shaw, who leaped above both of Spurs’ centre-backs to head the ball home.

Situation just before City’s 1st goal

For the second goal, once again City’s player rotations proved too difficult to deal with for Spurs. This time it didn’t need City over-loading Spurs. Jill Roord made a smart blind-side run in the space between the right back and the center back, with Summanen caught ball watching. Roord, with space and time once again picked out Shaw, who once again headed it in.

Situation just before City’s 2nd goal

City quickly added a third goal, giving Shaw a first half hattrick. This time it was from a direct play into Shaw, where she showed her strength to shield herself from her marker and score with her feet for a change. The game was pretty much done by half time, with City leading 3-0. But early in the second half, Shaw again displayed her strength. This time, making a powerful run with the ball, into the box, from a throw-in situation. Her cross got deflected and eventually found Hemp, who curled-in City’s fourth of the game.

The rest of City’s goals were directly a result of their wide 1v1 ability. Ale was caught in possession for the fifth, then Hemp beat her in a 1v1 for the sixth and finally Zadorsky, who came on as a left back, was dribbled past for the seventh. Spurs went into the game knowing about the threat from the dribbling ability of City players, but when it came to it they just could not keep up with them.

Deciding to press a quality opposition away from home is usually done for two reasons. You feel that you can pinch the ball high up the pitch and create chances from there. Or you want to delay the opposition’s attacks and prevent them from essentially camping out in or near your box. In the first half, Spurs were able to do a little of the former, but more of the latter. The three City goals had very little to do with Spurs deciding to commit numbers to the press. None of those goals were created by City being able to play through Tottenham and create a transition situation. Rather all were from settled play in the final third, where Spurs’ defenders proved unable to handle the opposition’s quality.

Preview: Tottenham vs Manchester United

Next up we play hosts to the red side from Manchester. Unlike City’s complex build-up patterns, United under Marc Skinner have got a relatively straightforward approach. The fullbacks remain wide and the deepest midfielder, Katie Zelem, acts as the pivot for their build-ups.

Manchester United’s pressing vs Manchester City’s pressing structure

Above is a screenshot of how United built up from the back in a recent home defeat against City. City, playing away from home, opted to push three players in their first line of press. The wingers positioned themselves in between the CBs and the closest full back, often trying to occupy that passing lane. Meanwhile, Shaw, in the middle always tried to keep Zelem in her cover shadow.

Whenever the ball was played backwards or when United defenders received the ball with their backs to the goal, it triggered City forwards to start pressing and to try to suffocate United. One such instance led to City’s second goal of the game. Shaw left marking Zelem to try press the back pass to Mary Earps. Her press was very well complemented by Hasegawa, who was quick to push up and not allow Zelem any space to turn.

Manchester City’s press just before their 2nd goal, vs Manchester United (Part I)

Manchester City’s press just before their 2nd goal, vs Manchester United (Part II)

Unlike City, who have genuine box to box midfielders and prefer to press in a 433, Vilahamn has so far opted to go for a 424/442 system off the ball. It will, however, be interesting to see if he makes any changes to the system, given that the confidence of the team will have been damaged by shipping seven away goals, but also there may be both missing and returning players.

If he persists with the same system, it will be fascinating to see how the Spurs midfield cope with being matched 1v1 against United’s attacking midfielders, one of which will be the majestic, Ella Toone. United like to leave space between their build-up line and the midfield line, which they want their midfielders and forwards drop into, so that they could receive the ball on turn and carry it up the pitch. Spurs would want to press United in such a way that they restrict that space between the two lines as much as possible, while also trying to win back possession from the duels in those areas.

Some points to keep in mind:

United have scored the most set-piece goals (5) in the WSL, this season, compare to the 2 from Spurs.

Ex-Spurs striker, Rachel Williams is their joint top scorers in the WSL, with 4 goals, despite having started all the games on the bench.

Spurs may be without Eveliina Summanen, who was injured against Manchester City and Grace Clinton, on loan from Manchester United in a deal that perhaps prohibits her playing against them. Both have started every WSL game for Spurs, so their absences (alongside those of Drew Spence and Olga Ahtinen) may force additional changes to the midfield. On the more positive side for Spurs, it looks like the team’s captain and irrepressible scorer, Beth England, will be back in the squad, although perhaps more likely to start on the bench.

Geyse, who was bought as the replacement for Alessia Russo, will be a key player to watch. She would bring a different challenge for the Spurs back line, compared to the physicality and strength of Bunny Shaw. Geyse, albeit not as physical as Shaw, can still shrug her marker and make powerful runs with the ball. She likes to drop deeper and carry the ball up the pitch, very much like a winger playing centrally.

Thank you for reading.

You can make a comment using the form below or can contact Harsh on twitter at @simplywink.

by Tags: , , , , , , Leave a comment