{"id":1422345,"date":"2026-01-05T14:47:03","date_gmt":"2026-01-05T14:47:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?post_type=features&#038;p=1422345"},"modified":"2026-01-05T14:47:04","modified_gmt":"2026-01-05T14:47:04","slug":"tactical-analysis-tottenham-left-flank","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/tactical-analysis-tottenham-left-flank\/","title":{"rendered":"Tottenham analysis: How balance on the left briefly made Spurs watchable again"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>For 45 minutes, Tottenham were watchable.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes, you read that correctly. Thomas Frank released the handbrake ever so slightly. For the first time in months, Spurs were somewhat enjoyable. They attacked with purpose. They stretched the play. The north London side looked as though they might win their first home game of 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-table-of-contents yoast-table-of-contents\"><h2>In this article, we&#8217;ll cover:<\/h2><ul><li><a href=\"#h-first-half-vs-sunderland-was-a-huge-improvement\" data-level=\"3\">First half vs Sunderland was a huge improvement<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-natural-left-back-benefitted-spurs\" data-level=\"3\">Natural left-back benefitted Spurs<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-january-links-with-souza-a-step-in-the-right-direction\" data-level=\"3\">January links with Souza a step in the right direction<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It was a far cry from the last few gameweeks. Of late, Spurs have made watching paint dry incredibly appealing. Their New Year\u2019s Day borefest at Brentford a case in point. \u2018New Year, New Me? Don\u2019t count on it\u2019 Frank probably thought ahead of the trip to his old stomping ground. And supporters voiced their displeasure at full time at the Gtech last week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Frank was roundly booed by the travelling support in west London. When you lose the away fans, good luck winning them back. Yet the Dane looked to taken some of the criticism on board on Sunday. <em>Finally, <\/em>fans had something to get behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>The former Bees boss gave a glimpse as what <em>could<\/em> be for Spurs. It\u2019s not the first time he\u2019s done so. Against PSG, Burnley and Manchester City, Frank showed tactical flexibility. There was in-game tinkering and relevant changes. It seemed as though Spurs had found the right man to build on the Europa League success. It proved to be a false dawn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-first-half-vs-sunderland-was-a-huge-improvement\">First half vs Sunderland was a huge improvement<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>There is absolutely no excitement to Spurs anymore&#8230; the opening 45 minutes against Sunderland, aside. Yes, the bar really is that low. Disappointingly, Frank reverted to type for the second half. His side sat back and invited pressure on the defence. The surprise wasn\u2019t that Brian Brobbey bagged late equaliser. Rather, the shock was that it took until the 80th minute for Sunderland to score.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Spurs have now won two of their last 11 league matches. In a year that is five days old, and has seen both Enzo Maresca and Ruben Amorim relieved of his duties, it\u2019s surely only a matter of time before Frank is shown the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium exit. Yet, there was one positive \u2013 if we can call it that \u2013 from Sunday\u2019s staletmate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ben Davies came in for his first league start of the season at the weekend. While the Welshman has his critics, Davies is a consistently solid defensive option for Spurs. Crucially, though, is that Spurs finally had the requisite balance at the back. There was a left-footer at left-back. A right-footer at right-back. &#8216;Perfectly balanced, as all things should be&#8217;. That\u2019s not a dig at Djed Spence, who has often been shoehorned into left-back this season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-natural-left-back-benefitted-spurs\">Natural left-back benefitted Spurs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As a right-footer, the England international has a knack for slowing attacks by a crucial second when he does get forward. With the preference to get the ball onto his right, this grants opponents an extra second or two to set up defensively. Yet with Davies at left-back on Sunday, Spurs suddenly had a left-footer to overlap the left winger, on this occasion Mathys Tel. There was a left-back whose preference was to go on the outside rather than come infield.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Davies hardly pulled up any trees with his outing. He only attempted two crosses and created just one goalscoring chance to go with his goal. However, Spurs showed a little more willingness to stretch the play. Davies\u2019 desire to overlap rather than underlap dragged markers out of position. There was a little more space in the final that Spurs sought to capitalise upon, especially in the first half.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/01\/05143905\/DaviesHeatmap_05012026-819x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1422360\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/01\/05143905\/DaviesHeatmap_05012026-819x1024.jpg 819w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/01\/05143905\/DaviesHeatmap_05012026-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/01\/05143905\/DaviesHeatmap_05012026-768x960.jpg 768w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/01\/05143905\/DaviesHeatmap_05012026-1229x1536.jpg 1229w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/01\/05143905\/DaviesHeatmap_05012026-214x267.jpg 214w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/01\/05143905\/DaviesHeatmap_05012026-160x200.jpg 160w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/01\/05143905\/DaviesHeatmap_05012026-48x60.jpg 48w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/01\/05143905\/DaviesHeatmap_05012026-120x150.jpg 120w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/01\/05143905\/DaviesHeatmap_05012026-32x40.jpg 32w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/01\/05143905\/DaviesHeatmap_05012026.jpg 1620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>What Davies\u2019 inclusion on Sunday highlighted, though, was the benefit that comes with playing a full-back on their natural side. To Frank\u2019s credit, he\u2019s been working with what is at his disposal. Both Davies and first-choice left-back Destiny Udogie have been restricted to just seven league starts between them this season due to injury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A lack of consistency down the left has hurt a Spurs side that does favour to attack down the flanks. Only 25% of their attacks have come through the middle, the fourth lowest such proportion in the Premier League. A failure to be able to call upon Davies or Udogie frequently this season has hurt Spurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-january-links-with-souza-a-step-in-the-right-direction\">January links with Souza a step in the right direction<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>And while Spurs have other problem positions \u2013 notably the left flank and central midfield \u2013 they have been linked with a new left-back in January. Santos teenager Souza is a rumoured target. Reports suggest that Spurs have seen \u00a38m bid for the 19-year-old rejected by the Brazilian club, who view Souza as one of the brightest talents to come through their famed academy in recent years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Compared to the legendary Marcelo for his offensive output, Spurs could utilise the left-footed defender as an attacking outlet. There are weaknesses to Souza\u2019s game, and he doesn\u2019t seem ready for European football <em>just<\/em> yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Saying that, that Spurs have identified a need for a left-footed left-back is a step in the right direction. The opening 45 minutes against Sunderland highlighted the importance of balance across the backline. Udogie\u2019s return to fitness can\u2019t come soon enough as Frank looks to rebuild bridges with supporters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With a game against winless Bournemouth looming, Frank needs to resist the urge to throw Spence back into the fold at left-back. It\u2019ll certainly minimise the chances of Dr. Tottenham making a house-call on the south coast.<\/p>\n\n\n<h3><strong>Read more:<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/news\/\"><strong>Latest football news<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/bet\/football-tips\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Football betting tips<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/bet\/betting-sites\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Best betting sites<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/bet\/betting-sites\/best-free-bet-offers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Best free bet offers<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/bet\/football-tips\/accumulator\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Football accumulator tips<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n    <div class=\"sq-articles-list\">\n      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                  <span class=\"sq-card__label\">Features<\/span>\n                            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/france-vs-morocco-penalty-analysis-world-cup-2026\/\" class=\"sq-card__title\">\n                                <h2 class=\"sq-card__title-text\">\n                                    France vs Morocco penalty analysis: Who will win if quarter-final goes all the way?                                <\/h2>\n                            <\/a>\n                        <\/div>\n                        <div class=\"sq-card__excerpt\">\n                                                            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/author\/harry-edwards\/\" class=\"sq-card__link\">\n                                    Harry Edwards                                <\/a>\n                                                        <time class=\"sq-card__label\">1 day ago<\/time>\n                        <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n            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<\/div>\n                <\/article>\n                    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For 45 minutes, Tottenham were watchable. Yes, you read that correctly. Thomas Frank released the handbrake ever so slightly. For the first time in months, Spurs were somewhat enjoyable. They attacked with purpose. They stretched the play. The north London side looked as though they might win their first home game of 2026. It was&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3564,"featured_media":1422349,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_focuskw":"","_yoast_wpseo_title":"","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Spurs showed improvement against Sunderland, with better balance on the left highlighting why a natural left-back is crucial to their attacking play.","footnotes":""},"tags":[],"features-category":[],"squawka-category":[],"class_list":["post-1422345","features","type-features","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":{"external_featured_image_url":"","hide_featured_image_pattern":false},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.1 (Yoast SEO v27.1.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Tottenham analysis: How balance on the left briefly made Spurs watchable again | Squawka | EN<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Spurs showed improvement against Sunderland, with better balance on the left 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