By Harsh Mishra
Welcome to the 7th edition of the Data Breakdown series! If this is your first time reading one of these, let me first tell you what these blogs usually are about and how this one is different from the other six. The last six have each been reviews of the first six of Tottenham Hotspur’s Game Weeks this season. These articles usually cover the tactical aspects that stood out during the game, presented along with data visualizations that help convey those points. There is slight change with this one. Rather than solely reviewing last weekend’s game, this time I focus on an upcoming one: Spurs away at Manchester City, this Sunday, a game that breaks the relatively long cycle of Spurs playing mid-table teams .
But before the preview, I will stay true to the format to briefly recap the two games that Spurs have played since the last Data Breakdown. The first of these, was a 1-1 draw away to Leicester City. Broader picture – the game was no different to Spurs two previous 1-1 WSL draws. Robert Vilahamn’s side created good enough chances to win the match, but paid for not controlling some sections of the match. Playing the way that Tottenham do – baiting the press by short passes and progressing through the lines – it is normal to turn over the ball. But against Leicester, the main chances that Spurs gave away, were a direct result of turning the ball over, be it close to their own penalty box or after a sloppy touch in the opposition half. We see that Leicester benefitted from this by looking at ‘Quick Shots’ (shots within 10 seconds of a defensive action). On this statistic Leicester beat Spurs by 6 shots to 2, one of which was their goal. On the positive side, Spurs created enough chances with a clear look at the goal. Celin Bizet continued to show that she is slowly mastering the shot across goal with her laces, scoring a similar goal for a second game running. The trend of Martha Thomas dropping to the #10 position in the later stages of the game continued again, likely in order to save her pressing legs.
Next, in the midweek Conti Cup game, Vilahamn fielded a much changed side, as he had done in Spurs previous Cup match. Despite the changes it was a straightforward win, as Spurs beat Bristol City 3-0. Rosella Ayane was the standout performer, being directly involved in all the three goals, scoring two and winning a penalty for the other one. There was also a debut for an academy graduate, as the 17 year old, Millie Boughton, came on near the end of the game, taking turns with Bizet to play right winger or right back.
Preview: Manchester City vs Tottenham
The last time Spurs played a team from last season’s top four was when they narrowly lost to Chelsea in the first game of the season. It was a game where Spurs showed that they were willing to be the aggressors by wanting to control the game with the ball. Although that night, Chelsea never seemed to get out of second gear, Spurs showed that they were eager to assert themselves, even against bigger teams.
The Similarities
In the WSL, when it comes to dominating the ball, there is probably no team which has done it as much as Manchester City have, in the past few seasons. This season has been no different. Despite some changes in personnel at the back, their approach is still the same as last season, a 433, with wide wingers specializing in 1v1s and two box to box 8s. New signing and ex-Arsenal midfielder Jill Roord has taken to the box to box role like a duck to water. Roord, alongside the forward three of Hemp, Shaw and Kelly have all been amongst the goals this season. You may see their average on-ball location in the below visualization and wonder why I described their wingers as ‘wide’. They are, but Hemp and Kelly often switch sides during games, causing their locations to be averaged into the middle of the pitch.
Wingers with 1v1 ability and a forward who can run with the ball and is their team’s markswomen, is a description that applies to both City and Tottenham’s forward lines. The front three of both the teams are very alike in terms of their attributes and what their coaches want from them. They have also statistically matched each other’s performances so far, both in terms of the spread of goals, as well as the reliance on carrying the ball while attacking.
This interactive visualization can be viewed in more detail on Tableau
The Differences
Although both managers want their teams to dominate the ball, their approaches are very different. As I have pointed out in previous editions of the Data Breakdown, Vilahamn wants his side to bait the opposition’s press. To do so, they position their players very close to each other while building up from the back, thus attracting pressure, in the hope of playing through it. Gareth Taylor on the other hand wants his wingers to be given the ball as early as possible. The 19 year old English goalkeeper, Khiara Keating, who has become their first choice goal keeper this season, is playing an important role in making that happen.
When City build up from the back, only the two centre-backs and Keating are involved in the first stage of progression. Most of the time the opposition forwards pressure the two centre-backs, leaving Keating with no close options. During these situations, she often likes to play either diagonal passes to the loosely marked full backs or play it long to her midfielders or forwards. The wide triangle of the full back, the near side #8 and the winger are then able to create interplays and to work on creating artificial transition situations. These typically focus on getting the winger in 1v1 opportunities against the opposition full-back.
This difference between the play styles of the keepers, alongside their contrasting utilization during build-ups, is highlighted in the data as well, with Keating leading the league for average goal kick length, whereas Spencer is at the opposite end.
Keys to the game
Continuing on the Khiara Keating topic. Set pieces may well turn out to be important. The data shows that City’s oppositions in the WSL so far have predominantly chosen to put in-swinging corners against them. One possibility is that teams are purposefully trying to exploit Keating’s relative in-experience in terms of coming off her line and claiming the ball. I need to watch more tapes before claiming that that is the hidden variable. But the corners, along with the potential turnovers that Keating’s long passes bring, are something that Spurs would want to exploit. Indeed, City conceded from an in-swinging corner only a few days ago, in their midweek Conti Cup game against Leicester. In the WSL, the goals that they conceded against Chelsea and Arsenal were also credited to either an in-swinging corner or Keating being pressurized into making a mistake.
From City’s perspective, they will want to utilize their best assets, their 1v1 wingers and directly use them to get in behind Spurs’ backline. Angharad James (if she is playing at right back) would be the likely target for this. The game might well be decided on how willing the midfielders from both teams are to make forward runs off the ball. In their recent away win against Manchester United, City were able to use third-player runs to their advantage, but were also caught out in transitional situations when United used the same approach.
After three consecutive draws, where Tottenham enjoyed large spells of dominance and chance creation, a game against City will bring a new challenge, where dominance won’t come as easy. The teams have faced each other eight times in the WSL up until now, with City winning seven of those. The only win that Spurs managed was an unlikely smash and grab courtesy of the ‘Hand of Ros’. Given the injury to Ahtinen and Percival still far from her peak fitness levels, it might be a game where Spurs have to be content with being without the ball for long spells and depend on Clinton to produce opportunities from transitional moments.
Thank you for reading.
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Spurs Women Blog 
This was by far the worst display this season – we looked like frightened sheep esp our defense who wouldnt/couldnt even head a ball away. It doesnt help when we still keep using a GK that rarely comes off her line to at least try punching the ball away. Every attack was met with an easy shot and score at goal. Seems Robert has no faith in trying Vitikova so maybe it is time to get a taller top drawer GK and put this one on the bench until she can be moved on in the summer. Boy do we need better players esp if we want to try keep Grace’s interest at our club. 6 more signings please and start severing some stale contracted players – one being a 6 foot plus top top TOP GK. A left and right TOP wing back … a left and right TOP wing attack and another TOP Central Defender … I would dearly love it if we could try tempt Maeva Clemaron to come back if her Uni studies are finished…. she was as good as Dembele was for the Men’s team.
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