Tottenham’s new set piece coaching plan revealed to fix persistent problems
Tottenham Hotspur and manager Ange Postecoglou have faced criticism for their struggles in defending set-piece situations, particularly after a recent loss to Arsenal that came from a corner.
Despite this, reports indicate that the club remains confident in its set-piece training regimen. The ongoing narrative surrounding Tottenham’s inability to handle set pieces has become a key talking point as the team continues to suffer from this issue in crucial matches.
The defeat to Arsenal was another example of Tottenham’s vulnerability to set pieces. Gabriel Magalhães’ winning header highlighted a recurring problem, as three of Arsenal’s last four goals against Spurs have come from corners.
This isn’t an isolated issue for Tottenham. Only Nottingham Forest has conceded more set-piece goals since Postecoglou took over as manager, with Tottenham allowing 18 goals from set plays.
This statistic has raised concerns among fans and pundits alike, questioning whether the team has the right defensive strategy in place for such situations.
In response to these concerns, Postecoglou has insisted that his team does work on set pieces regularly.
After the Arsenal match, he addressed the media’s concerns, stating that there is a misconception that he doesn’t prioritize set pieces in training.
He emphasized that Tottenham trains for set pieces as diligently as they do for other aspects of the game. However, the narrative of Tottenham’s set-piece struggles continues to circulate, particularly in light of the team’s repeated failures to defend against corners in high-stakes matches.
Nick Montgomery, who joined Tottenham this summer following Chris Davies’ move to Birmingham City, is the coach responsible for managing the team’s approach to set pieces.
Montgomery has taken on the task of overseeing both offensive and defensive set-piece strategies. Despite the continued scrutiny surrounding Tottenham’s performance in this area, there is reportedly internal confidence in Montgomery’s methods.
The club believes that improvements have been made, even if they are not yet fully reflected in the team’s match outcomes.
The media attention around Gabriel’s decisive header against Spurs has certainly intensified the focus on Tottenham’s set-piece weaknesses.
However, sources suggest that Montgomery’s work is still trusted within the club, and there is hope that the team’s ability to defend set pieces will improve in the near future.
Nevertheless, the pressure is mounting for Montgomery to deliver results quickly, as the team’s ongoing struggles in this area threaten to cost them valuable points.
From a broader perspective, Tottenham’s set-piece issues are not just a matter of coaching but also involve individual player performances.
Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, in particular, will need to make adjustments in organizing the defense during corners and set plays.
His ability to command the box and effectively deal with crosses will be crucial in shoring up Tottenham’s defense.
Teams are likely to continue targeting this vulnerability, knowing that Spurs have repeatedly been exposed in these situations.
The problem for Tottenham now is how quickly they can address this issue before it begins to have a more significant impact on their season.
With the Premier League as competitive as ever, every point matters, and continued lapses in defending set pieces could derail the club’s aspirations for a top-four finish or even a title challenge.
The clock is ticking for Postecoglou and his coaching staff to find a solution that works, as other teams will undoubtedly be analyzing Tottenham’s weaknesses and looking to exploit them.
In conclusion, while Tottenham is making efforts to improve their set-piece defending under Nick Montgomery, the results have yet to show on the pitch.
The team’s vulnerability in this area has become a glaring issue, with goals conceded from corners proving costly in important matches.
Postecoglou’s insistence that set pieces are a priority in training offers some reassurance, but fans will need to see tangible improvements soon.
If Tottenham can tighten up their defense in these critical moments, they may still salvage a strong season, but the time to fix the problem is running out.
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