Former England midfielder Fara Williams put Tottenham’s inconsistency down to Ange Postecoglou’s style of play, suggesting that a couple of Spurs players are being left exposed.
Tottenham yet to find consistency
While all the metrics suggest that Spurs’ performances have improved when compared to last season, the displays are yet to really translate into consistent results for the Lilywhites.
Postecoglou’s men also continue to struggle away from home, having won just one of their five Premier League away fixtures this season.
That is something the Australian has to fix if he wants his side to compete near the top end of the table, but Williams believes that it is the 59-year-old’s system that is the main issue.
Fara Williams on Spurs’ inconsistency
Williams admitted that while she enjoys watching Tottenham’s style of play, it is not the ideal tactical set-up to pick up consistent results.
The 40-year-old suggested that by turning each game into a shootout, Spurs are always reliant on opposition sides not taking their chances.
Williams wrote in her BBC Sport column: “Tottenham create so many chances and are an exciting team to watch but they are lacking consistency. They signed a lot of young players in the summer so I do not know if that is one of the reasons or if their high-risk style of play is contributing as well.
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“With the way Spurs play, they are always going to give up chances to the opposition. The risk of the high line is if you are against a team that are more clinical than you then there is the possibility you will lose.
“As a neutral, I like the way Ange Postecoglou has them playing, but as a fan, I probably would not because it is risky.”
Williams on Tottenham’s defence
Willaims believes that Postecoglou has assembled defenders who are aggressive and can drive forward with the ball, but suggested that neither Cristian Romero nor Micky van de Ven are good at sensing danger.
She added that the Tottenham centre-back pair are being exposed by their hyper-attacking system.
The former Everton star added: “There is also the question mark over the back line. If you look at Micky van de Ven, the majority of his work is recovery defending and along with Cristian Romero, they are not very good at reading the game.
“Postecoglou wants them to be the one driving the ball forwards but as a back four, they are all front-footed and highly aggressive players. As a unit, it does not work and they are quite disconnected. Their style of play is exposing them defensively.”