View: Ange Postecoglou will be forced into a tactical reshuffle when Tottenham face Fulham
Yves Bissouma’s moment to forget when Tottenham defeated Luton Town 1-0 on Saturday (7 October) means Ange Postecoglou is going to be forced into a tactical reshuffle when Spurs are next in action against Fulham.
Mali midfielder Bissouma headed into the clash at Kenilworth Road already walking a disciplinary tightrope and a fifth booking of the season meant he would have missed the clash with the Cottagers on Monday 23 October regardless.
But a mind-boggling second yellow for simulation meant not only was he sent off but he also moves back to four yellow cards and is on the brink of another suspension when he returns.
Bissouma has been an otherwise excellent performer for a Spurs side who are unbeaten and top of the table – albeit on goals scored from North London rivals Arsenal – heading into the second international break.
With 11 games still to go before cards reset, it looks pretty likely that Postecoglou will twice have to figure out a way to play without Bissouma.
However, what it does mean is a window of opportunity has arisen for another player in the squad and the likeliest candidate to step into his position is Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.
The Denmark international had been a regular since his switch from Southampton in 2020, but has found himself on the outside looking in since Postecoglou arrived at the start of season and has yet to start a league game this term.
If Hojbjerg is indeed the man to come in then it may mean Postegoclou is forced into a change of style, with the 28-year-old a very different profile of player compared to Bissouma – with one key example being what each player does in possession.
According to stats via Wyscout, although he has spent less time on the pitch, Hojbjerg has only attempted 14 dribbles throughout the 2023/24 season compared with Bissouma’s 52. Bissouma is a press-resistant player who has been trusted to carry the ball up the pitch for Tottenham, a quality which Postecoglou admires in his midfielders.
Bissouma will often carry the ball from inside his half into the opposition half, as seen in the graph above. This is not something that Hojbjerg will do as often. Bissouma has made 2.29 progressive runs per 90 minutes this season, while Hojbjerg has made just 0.23 per 90.
Pape Matar Sarr, who providing he is fit would play alongside Hojbjerg, has made 1.16 progressive runs per 90 this season, and will likely be asked to do more of this during the match against Fulham.
Sarr will also most likely take on Bissouma’s role of carrying the ball, while Hojbjerg acts as a defensive-minded midfielder.
Hojbjerg’s heatmap shows that he spends very little time in the attacking third and spends most of his time on the left-hand side of the pitch, in a defensive midfield role.
Hojbjerg has made more successful defensive actions per 90 (6.89) compared to Sarr this season (5.45), more sliding tackles (0.69 compared to 0.33) and more interceptions (4.59 compared to 2.64).
As a result, to make the midfield pairing work against Fulham, Hojbjerg is likely to sit back while Sarr ventures forward and joins James Maddison further up the pitch, which could offer the 20-year-old a chance to shine.
In other Tottenham news, the club’s Under-21s showed their strength in depth during their most recent win.