Sheffield United – Tottenham Hotspur: Spurs Reveal How Not To Build Attacks (3-1)

Despite dominating possession, Tottenham Hotspur showed very little creativity in their unbalanced system, and were rightly punished for it. Sheffield United were finally back to their normal selves, defending compactly before great transitions down the flanks exposed more problems with Spurs’s Joséification.
Tactical analysis and match report by Joel Parker.

The horse race towards the European places will still throw stern hurdles for all clubs involved, but the showdown between Sheffield United and Tottenham Hotspur would be seen as a pivotal fixture for both teams.

Chris Wilder’s team already played four times since they opened ‘Project Restart’, the constant rotation of fixtures becoming a catalyst to their poor form. Defeats to Newcastle United and Manchester United put them in tenth, having failed to capture the sparkle which elevated them well above expectations. Though Sheffield United’s season will live long in the memory, the desire for a sweet conclusion looks less flavorsome without some wins under the belt.

Tottenham’s 2-0 victory over West Ham in their previous matchday re-energized the prospects of them securing a higher position in the Premier League standings. The Mourinho makeover had epitomized a club with very little sense of direction, but the return of Heung-Min Son and Harry Kane to the frontline, could paper over the cracks for the time being. 

Sheffield United made two enforced changes, following their 2-1 defeat in the FA Cup to Arsenal. John Lundstram and John Fleck were out due to injury, Sander Berge and Ben Osborn took their places in the midfield. Tottenham’s only change . . .