Five Key Takeaways:
1. Away Form Remains a Significant Issue
Tottenham’s struggles in away matches continue to be a concern.
With only two victories in their last 11 Premier League away games, their current form does not reflect a team that is aiming for European qualification or a top-four finish.
In fact, it’s far from the standards expected of a club hoping to close the gap on the league leaders.
The frustration is compounded by the fact that Spurs have performed well in many of these games, which leads to our next point.
2. Converting Chances is Crucial
Tottenham’s narrative this season feels repetitive: they play well, dominate possession, and create numerous chances, yet fail to convert this pressure into goals.
The system under Postecoglou is indeed effective at generating opportunities, but it also exposes the team defensively.
When those chances aren’t taken, the openness at the back leads to defeats.
Top teams capitalize when they’re on top, turning dominance into goals and managing the game effectively to secure wins.
Right now, Spurs are falling short in both areas.
3. Utilizing Wide Play
A cornerstone of Postecoglou’s tactics involves spreading the play wide, allowing the wingers to send in crosses across the goal.
This strategy was evident in the second half today, with Brennan Johnson finding success on the right flank.
However, despite trailing 2-1 and with Johnson making dangerous runs, there was a noticeable lack of movement from Tottenham players into the box to finish off the crosses.
Although Spurs were without a traditional number nine, players like Son, Kulusevski, and Maddison should have been making late runs into the box, and Odobert could have gambled more often at the back post.
4. The Need for a Central Striker
The absence of a proper number nine was felt keenly today.
Having someone like Solanke might have made a difference, providing a much-needed presence in the box to convert chances.
Maddison, in particular, could benefit from having a reliable target to aim his crosses at, which could enhance his effectiveness.
Tottenham needs a goal poacher who can consistently finish the chances being created, potentially solving some of their current attacking problems.
5. Positives from the High Press
One of the few positives from today’s match was Tottenham’s high press, which was particularly effective in the second half as Newcastle began to tire. Players like Son, Kulusevski, Maddison, Odobert, and Johnson frequently won the ball back in advanced positions, with Pape Matar Sarr also performing well in the first half. Despite the success of the press, the team struggled to convert these turnovers into goals. The decision-making in the final third remains an area that needs significant improvement.
This rephrased content maintains the original points while slightly expanding to meet the word count requirement.
