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Tue 5th Nov: TACTICS TUESDAY - Sarr or Maddison?
12 Plays1 month ago
On today's Daily Tottenham Podcast we explore a key question facing Spurs: should Ange Postecoglou make Pape Matar Sarr the midfield anchor or trust James Maddison as the creative fulcrum? We break down the distinct styles each player brings to Tottenham’s tactics and dive into their impact on possession, creativity, and pressing intensity. Don’t miss this in-depth analysis of Sarr’s defensive versatility versus Maddison’s attacking flair, as we ask, who's the best fit for Postecoglou's Spurs?
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Transcript
00:00:09
Speaker
Hello and welcome to the Daily Tottenham Podcast from the Global Sports Podcast Network. I'm Joe Forrester and today we're taking a deep dive into one of the most pressing questions facing Anj Poster Koglu. Should he start with Saar or make Madison his midfield linchpin? So today I'll be taking a peek at the difference each makes to the team stylistically and tactically. Before we jump in, just remember you can have your say at GSP and Tottenham on all social media.
00:00:33
Speaker
Now, in the current season, Tottenham's tactical approaches evolve significantly, as we all know, particularly in how the midfield operates, depending on whether Papimata Saar or James Madison is deployed. There's also the issue of Koulousevski being dropped into a more attacking midfield role, meaning perhaps there's need for a more workman-like midfielder like Saar to support him rather than another creative force like Madison. um When it comes to Saar and Madison, both players really do bring distinct qualities that shape the way that Tottenham play.
00:01:02
Speaker
So let's talk about Saar. He really is the engine room of any midfield that he's a part of. So he kind of primarily operates obviously in central midfield, drifting out to the left a little bit. um Well, maybe his midfield partner will occupy the right hand side of that centre midfield, but it's all much more muchness. He is an all action central midfielder, versatile,
00:01:23
Speaker
dynamic. And there's some key stats that we've picked out here that highlight his importance to the team structure. So his pass completion rate this year is 88.2%, placing him right at the top of the Premier League's midfielders. That's absolutely crucial as well, because winning the ball, turning the ball over and then finding the correct pass is everything that Andrew Posikogli's style is kind of predicated on.
00:01:49
Speaker
Speaking of finding that correct pass, he makes 6.75 progressive passes per 90 minutes, which shows a lot of people kind of think he's more of a water carrying midfielder, but he does try and move the ball forward. um He excels in his defensive role as well. He tends to win 1.31 aerial duels per game as well as making 2.27 tackles per 90 minutes. um His physicality and his work rate have obviously been ah pointed out by lots and lots of people, but his tactical versatility as well allows him to shift roles fairly fluidly while he is often that box-to-box midfielder um who engages in kind of his defensive duties and joins the attack.
00:02:27
Speaker
um His capacity to cover ground does mean he can track back defensively or he can even support um the players who are playing out wide or cooler serve skiers he kind of pushes through the middle. Poster Kogliu has said of him he's a 6, an 8 and a 10 and he does it all with ease. Clearly a player that the boss um really really values.
00:02:47
Speaker
When it comes to James Madison, completely different dimensions as Tottenham's midfield when he's playing. um Obviously, he's all about dictating playing, creating chances. ah He makes an average of 2.57 key passes per 90 minutes. That's essentially a pass that leads to a goalscoring opportunity. That's pretty good. um Because obviously,
00:03:08
Speaker
those are what turn into assists for goals. um And he's directly contributed to 10 goals, five goals and five assists this season. um So a lot of people think he's having a relatively quiet season, but he's a 10 goal involvement, which is pretty impressive. um We're going to be talking more tactics in just a moment's time. But first up, this podcast is part of the Global Sports Podcast Network, the only network bringing you exclusive daily news and views on your Premier League team, the Premier League, women's football and fantasy football.
00:03:33
Speaker
A unique listening experience that puts fans first, bringing you the very latest breaking news from your team. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and make us your first listen every day. The Global Sports Podcast Network, every club, every day. In Madison's absence, the midfield does tend to lack the same creativity and attacking threat, um which has obviously been made up for with the shift to Kuleszewski as that attacking midfield, a kind of less kind of the through ball looking to pick a pass game and more driving forward. um But Saar does maintain possession exceptionally well, supports both defense and attack, as we said, um but he doesn't quite have that playmaking ability that Madison does. The difference in their style becomes apparent really in the final third, where Madison
00:04:18
Speaker
really is at home. That's where he kind of makes those incisive passes, creates those goalscoring opportunities. um Let's talk about the tactical implications of of each player. um So obviously Spurs style focuses on a high pressing game and quick transitions. Sar is the absolute ideal player to facilitate this. Really good at winning the ball, moving it on quickly. um As we said, such an engine, gets up and down the pitch, does a bit of everything. And given that Ann's prioritised his hard work,
00:04:48
Speaker
um It kind of allows Spurs to engage more defensively um because they know that he can recover that ball, distribute it quickly to the forward players, really useful player. kind of A bit like Solanke's role up front, it's not just being a forward, it's about winning the ball as well. That is hugely, hugely important to the way that that Ange wants to play but when mad is's in Madison's in the lineup Tottenham are a little bit more fluid, um tend to kind of dominate possession a little bit more, it's kind of more intricate passing sequences to break down defences. I mean he's got the ability to find those spaces in between the lines, pick through balls but that's sometimes when Tottenham do look a little bit more ponderous. Saar's inclusion can mean Tottenham look
00:05:34
Speaker
a little bit more decisive um and a little bit more dynamic. Win the ball quickly, move the ball quickly, whereas Madison proposed to prefers not to dwell because it's got negative connotations, but to but to spend more time on the ball and pick a pass.
00:05:48
Speaker
um We're going to be kind of looking overall at who we think the best pick is for Angie's system in just a moment. But first up, do you have a story to tell that the world needs to hear? Have you struggled with reaching new audiences who are engaged with your story? Well, it might be time for you to start a podcast. Let me tell you about a platform we use here at the Global Sports Podcast Network. Zencast makes it easy to start a high quality podcast built for growth from day one.
00:06:12
Speaker
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00:06:29
Speaker
So what are the conclusions here? Well, overall, the choice between Saar and Madison really does influence the way Spurs play tactically on on kind of any given day. um As you said, Saar brings those robust defensive capabilities and energy, matters, provides the creativity and the attacking and impetus that can transform a game. um Obviously, both players are going to be needed if Spurs are looking to go deep in in a few competitions.
00:06:53
Speaker
um and luckily we don't touch wood have ah a big info midfield injury list but that obviously won't be the case throughout the season. um In all honesty I love James Madison and I think he's a fantastic player um but I think Sara is perhaps a better fit for this Spurs team. More dynamic, more direct, um got a better work rate than Madison wins the ball more than Madison and that's everything, isn't it? Win the ball quickly and move it on quickly and turn it into an attack. um And I think if Madison can add add the kind of work rate to his game and and try and catch up with where Sarri is on that front, ah then
00:07:36
Speaker
he'd be a better fit and I think he's probably technically a superior footballer, but Saar perhaps is a better fit for the system overall. What do you think though? Have your say at GSP and Tottenham on all social media. um That's it for today. Don't forget to listen Friday. We'll be looking back at Galatasaray versus Spurs in the Europa League and previewing the weekend's Premier League game with the daily Ipswich pod.
00:07:59
Speaker
And ah remember, as I said, you can have your say ah at GSP and Tottenham on all social media. Plus, if you're enjoying the plot, please the plot. If you're enjoying the pod, please do remember to give us a review. um We do like it when you give us five stars. It's just easier, isn't it? um It really does ah help other Spurs fans find us with the algorithm. Thank you very much for listening to Daily Tottenham Podcast from the Global Sports Podcast Network, the place where we talk Tottenham every single weekday. Bye. Every club.
00:08:27
Speaker
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