Tottenham Hotspur have had some major issues from set pieces this season under Ange Postecoglou.
The Australian’s first season at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has offered a lot to be positive about with European football looking set to return.
A number of players have thrived under Ange Postecoglou with individuals like Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero seriously impressing.
But despite the positive displays from the two Spurs centre-backs, it has been in defence where Spurs have struggled massively this season.
Postecoglou has built a solid backline – on paper – with Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie on either side of the centre-backs.
However, there remains a consistent issue when it comes to defending set pieces with 16 goals now conceded in the Premier League from dead ball situations.
With criticism being thrown at Tottenham over the issue, The Spurs News has sat down with Celtic expert Paddy Sinat of 67 Hail Hail to discuss Postecoglou’s early time at Parkhead.
Celtic expert admits set piece issues to be expected in first season
The recent North London Derby was perhaps the biggest indication that work needed to be done to solve Tottenham’s ability to defend set pieces.
Two corners undone Tottenham and put the game to bed before the half time whistle was even blown.
And corners have been the main issue with Guglielmo Vicario being targeted by the opposition with the officials not offering the Italian much protection.
But the Celtic expert, Sinat, has told The Spurs News that conceding from set pieces was also an issue at Parkhead in Postecoglou’s first season.
“Yeah, the first season we had some issues with defending set-pieces, but I mean there was there was different reasons for that. Quite a lot of that was down to the different style of play which the team wasn’t used to playing,” he said.
“We did see there was issues where with kind of set pieces at the club at a time where we conceded nine league goals that season through just set-pieces. But what Ange was also good at was trusting the players and trusting the staff that he had, so we never hired a specific first team coach to take over set-pieces.”
“Then the following season we went from being the joint second-worst team at defending set pieces to the best team and conceded less goals. So again, that will come with time. And you’ll see that start to improve. I have no doubt we’ll see that start to improve from next season.”
What Ange Postecoglou has said about solving Tottenham’s set piece issues
Although the issue has been there for all to see, there has not been a lot of movement on the matter from Postecoglou.
The 58-year-old does not have a specialised set piece coach at the club with Mile Jedinak and Ryan Mason sharing the responsibility.
Although there is no sign of the issues slowing down for Tottenham from set pieces, Postecoglou has recently admitted he isn’t comfortable with the idea of hiring a specific coach to handle set pieces.
There are far more important things that we need to concentrate on at the moment in terms of the team we’re building. I think people want to be believe, and it can be, that football is very prescriptive,” he said in a recent press conference.
“You’ve got an illness, here’s the tablet and you feel better. I’ve never believed that.
“I’ve always been about trying to create an environment and a style of football that can win things. I’ve never worked in a prescriptive manner and I certainly won’t be doing it now.”