Five consecutive games for Tottenham in all competitions, five goals for Brennan Johnson and although the Welsh international recently deactivated his social media accounts in rather acrimonious circumstances, it may just prove to be the best thing he could have done for himself.
By Dan Tracey
Blocking out the digital noise, simply focusing on what matters on the field of play and with those five goals in five games also making sure of a quintet of successive wins for the North London outfit, there are reasons to be cheerful if you are a Spurs fan at the moment.
Especially after the way Spurs bulldozed past Manchester United last Sunday and although you can only beat what is put in front of you, Ange Postecoglou’s side did that, and arguably should have done it by a greater margin.
Considering Spurs’ previous form at Old Trafford, perhaps that’s a little greedy, but regardless of that, the three points that shot them up the table should be considered the most important takeaway.
This Sunday, Tottenham are on their Premier League travels for the second weekend in a row and this time it is Brighton who play the role of hosts – a Brighton side still tormented by the mauling dished out to them by Cole Palmer last weekend.
The England international scored four goals in the first 45 minutes of the Seagulls’ trip to Stamford Bridge and were it not for the woodwork or the assistant referee’s flag, Palmer’s personal goal haul could have been even greater.
That 4-2 defeat at the hands of the Blues was Brighton’s first league defeat under new boss Fabian Hürzeler and with his high-line tactics being pulled in every possible direction by Chelsea, those same high-line tactics will be placed under scrutiny back at the Amex.
The visit of Spurs will be a test of Hürzeler’s tactical ideals and how he wants his Brighton team to play. Does he stay true to his principles or does he alter them after one poor showing in the Premier League?
Tactical inflexibility is often used as a stick to beat managers with – a stick that counterpart Ange Postecoglou has felt only recently, but after sticking to his guns, it seems as if his methods are now starting to pay dividends.
Whether that continues on the South Coast remains to be seen but with both teams preferring to squeeze the space that their opponents can operate in, this could be one of the most interesting tactical clashes of the season so far.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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