The diversity of playing styles is what makes the Premier League the spectacle it is. Perhaps no other fixture exemplifies that diversity quite as well as Tottenham vs Everton coming this weekend.
Ange Postecoglou is a certified hipster’s favourite with his attacking philosophy, player rotations, and savvy tactics. Sean Dyche personifies everything that is seemingly getting lost in modern football- good, old-fashioned hard work, clearly defined player roles, and simplifying the game.
Spurs have gotten over the injury absences of James Maddison and Micky Van de Ven to succeed again but Everton, in their current form, are a huge banana skin. Here’s how Spurs should line his team up for this game:
GK: Guglielmo Vicario
This is a no-brainer. There were murmurs around the footballing world when Spurs brought Vicario that they were getting someone special who had been flying under the radar. With January approaching, they are no longer murmurs. Vicario has been even better than advertised, combining great ball-playing skills with extremely efficient shot-stopping and command of his area.
He’s the perfect sweeper-keeper for Ange who likes to play an extremely high line, as his being in the 91st percentile of defensive actions outside the penalty area suggests. Dominic Calvert-Lewin will have a wall in front of him on the weekend.
RB: Pedro Porro
Pedro Porro is another bonafide Ange Postecoglou success story. The Aussie is generally known for playing inverted wingbacks to solidify the middle and protect the team from transitions.
However, in Porro, he had a maverick overlapping presence who was almost a quasi-winger in attack. Ange used his gifts perfectly to make him a crucial part of overloading the wings on the overlap. The result? Five assists in 16 league games and being an attacking menace all around.
CBs: Cristian Romero and Ben Davies
James Maddison’s absence stole all the headlines, but Spurs are still scoring goals. However, Van de Ven’s absence is what hurt them the most. Romero’s return calmed the waters somewhat and for now, Ben Davies is doing an appreciable job as the left-sided CB in a makeshift defence.
His fullback history enables him to play out perfectly, sometimes even acting as the wide centre-back on the left, helping the defensive midfielder drop between defenders as an extra man in the buildup.
Van de Ven will take his place back when he returns but for now, this duo is Spurs’ best bet.
LB: Destiny Udogie
Destiny Udogie’s new contract confirms what everyone was already saying about the LB- he’s a star in the making. While not as menacing in attack as Porro on the right, Udogie’s role in the team is to be more of a ball progressor than being the one providing the end product.
With his trademark runs on the left, he carries the team upwards, expertly evading the press through 1-2s or using his pace. Against the pace and trickery of Jack Harrison, Udogie is tailor-made to counter it.
CDMs: Pape Sarr and Oliver Skipp
Who’ll replace Yves Bissouma? That’s the biggest question for Spurs after Bissouma got sent off against Forest last time out. Everton’s midfield is full of powerhouses like Doucoure and Gueye so Skipp’s inclusion over Hojbjerg might sound a bit weird, but there’s logic behind it.
Everton are going to cede possession and territory to Spurs before trying to hit them on the counter. Therefore, they need someone with good ball-circulation ability to make the most of the time afforded on the ball. Hojbjerg is more of a disruptor than an orchestrator which makes him a good option off the bench.
Attacking quartet: Son (LW), Kulusevski (CAM), Johnson (RW), and Richarlison (ST)
The four have been clubbed together because, in the absence of more options, these positions pick themselves in the team. Son needs nothing to be said about him. He’s the heartbeat of this team and even though the goals and assists numbers are not at lofty heights, he is absolutely pivotal to how this attack functions.
Kulusevski’s creative prowess has been unlocked by playing behind the striker and away from the wings. His left-footedness and control in tight spaces helps Spurs pick through deep defences, something which they’ll encounter against Everton.
Brennan Johnson hasn’t reached the heady heights of his Forest tenure but he’s slowly starting to find his groove as well. When Maddison returns, Johnson will be a good option off the bench.
As for Richarlison, his return to goalscoring form is the most welcome development. Harry Kane was always going to be irreplaceable but the hope was that Spurs would “score by committee”. Richarlison is finally joining that committee.
