Tottenham Football Formation

Starting Lineup

Tottenham plays a vertical style of football using a 5-2-3 formation. The team looks to hit opponents on the transition and play with high intensity throughout the match. This lineup is built to win the ball back high up the pitch to attack the space behind the opposition back line immediately.

Kinsky stays in goal to command the box and organize the line. The defensive unit operates as a back five. Bentancur sits in the middle as a ball playing centre back to help play out from the back and break the lines. Davies and Danso act as the wide centre backs to cover the spaces and provide cover when the wing backs push up. Porro acts as an attacking wing back on the right to provide width, while Spence plays as the left wing back to stretch the defence. The whole unit works to stay compact when defending in a mid block.

The midfield features a two man unit to link the defence and attack. Maddison and Sarr occupy the central roles to control the tempo of the game. Maddison uses his passing range to find the forwards in dangerous areas, while Sarr acts as a carrier to drive forward with the ball. Sarr also helps to squeeze the space in the middle to protect the back five. Maddison looks to arrive late into the box to support the strike force and win the second ball.

In the final third, Tottenham uses three attackers to pin the opposition. Richarlison leads the line as a pressing centre forward to force long balls and disrupt the build up. Son plays as an inverted winger on the left to cut inside and use his clinical finishing. Kulusevski stays wide on the right to isolate defenders and create chances. The front three press from the front to trigger a press in the final third, looking to exploit the transition through quick combinations.

A major strength for Tottenham is the ability to create wide overloads as Porro and Spence push high to support the wingers. The team also benefits from a high speed of transition to catch teams out of position. With three attackers, the team can pin the last defender and create room for the midfielders to operate. This formation allows for quick play to find the feet of the striker or knock it in behind.

This 5-2-3 formation is designed for a high press and rapid counter attacking football. It is best suited for matches against teams that play a high line and leave space for runs in behind.