Igor Tudor has been tasked with putting out a great fire in London. He’ll be managing Tottenham Hotspur until, at least, the end of the season.
He follows in the footsteps of Thomas Frank. And, he has the strange double mission of avoiding Premier League relegation and winning the Champions League.
Just what tactics will Igor Tudor employ? And what does this Tottenham side need to reach its full potential? Here’s what I will try to predict today.
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Career Prior to Managing Tottenham
Igor Tudor is a manager with extensive experience. He’s not a relegation specialist. No, he has had the opportunity to work with some top clubs.
Tudor was one of Croatia’s top defenders during the 1990s. He earned 55 caps for the senior team. At the club level, he made a name for himself at Juventus and back home, playing for Hajduk Split.
In fact, Tudor’s first off-field job was managing Hajduk in 2013. Since he has been something of a journeyman manager. His appointments, however, have always been high profile. In recent years, he has taken charge of clubs such as Olympique Marseille, Lazio, and Juventus.
Tactical Philosophy
Why does Igor Tudor keep getting these great jobs? This is far from an insult. It’s a fair question.
Tudor’s an optimist, a manager who plays aggressive, attacking-minded football. Those attacks, however, nearly always come on the counterattack.
Like Jurgen Klopp and other managers back in the Bundesliga, Tudor was an early proponent of high-intensity pressing, known in some quarters as gegenpressing.
He’s not fanatical, however. At Juventus, Tudor’s players often defended man-to-man. More technical players were encouraged to drop down to receive the ball. The team attempted to overload central areas when breaking at speed.
Can Tottenham do these things? Yes, and no. Thomas Frank‘s system, at its core, encouraged direct football played on the wings. Part of the team’s problem was its overreliance on technically gifted players like Mohamed Kudus and Dejan Kulusevski. Both were often injured.
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Formations and Adaptability
Igor Tudor’s tactics are not tied to a single formation. Some of his best football was played at Verona using a 3-4-1-2 system. More recently, Juventus tended to defend in a 4-3-2-1 formation.
Spurs have played for most of the season with four defenders at the back and two pivots in a 4-2-3-1. It’s unlikely Tudor will greatly alter this.
On the other hand, Tudor’s tactical roles are vital. He encourages players to switch positions, such as when one of the pivots covers for a winger who moves inside. He wants quick transitions. And, he prefers a tall, mobile forward up top.
Tottenham’s squad is riddled with injuries. However, Tudor will likely feel like he can implement some of these changes.
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What Will Igor Tudor’s Attacking Tactics Look Like?
Be warned! When Tudor’s attacking principles work, his teams play wonderful football. That’s what happened when he was in charge of Marseille or Verona.
Igor Tudor’s attacking system usually involves quick ball recycling, overloading the final third, and getting the wing-backs to stretch the field and destabilise the opposition’s press.
Tudor also prefers working with a striker who can act as a pivot. This is why Dusan Vlahovic was an attacker he favoured at Juventus.
Does Tottenham have these kinds of players? Randal Kolo Muani has played poorly. However, he is a mobile, technical attacker with Serie A experience. He could work well with Tudor. Still, it’s Dominic Solanke who looks like the favourite to start in such a system.
Technically, Spurs can also depend on fast, attacking full-backs. Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie are currently injured. However, if fit, they can help Tudor’s plans immensely.
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What to Expect from Tottenham in Defence?
Igor Tudor is both old-fashioned and progressive when it comes to defending. He prefers that his team employ man-to-man defending. This means his players must move quickly, never lose their marker, and avoid mistakes.
Tudor has played with both three and four-player defensive systems. However, in both cases, it is common for one of the central midfielders to drop back to build up play. Meanwhile, the other midfielders will provide extra support on the flank. Connor Gallagher or Yves Bissouma could help in these roles.
Realistically, the defence is Spurs’ greatest weakness. This is not assisted by the fact that the London side is dealing with a full-blown injury crisis.
It’ll likely be up to Tudor to not just pick the right players. He’ll have to find ways to motivate players who are handed the opportunity to start for Tottenham.
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What’s Next for Tudor and for Tottenham?
Clearly, Igor Tudor is a well-respected manager. His status is influenced by his style of play and reputation. It is not diminished by the fact that he has not won a major trophy as a manager.
Tottenham is not a hopeless case. However, if results continue in this fashion, the team could be relegated. For a club of its stature, and without the backing of Daniel Levy, this would be a disaster.
My prediction is that Tudor can revive this side, respond positively to the injury crisis and maintain Tottenham safely in the EPL. Beyond that, it’s anyone’s guess.
