Sebastien Bassong says players stick to the plan way too often under Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham

Former Tottenham defender Sebastian Bassong recently shared his insights on the potential downsides of Ange Postecoglou’s tactical approach, particularly in light of the team’s recent 1-1 draw with West Ham United.

Bassong, who played for Spurs between 2009–2012, provided valuable commentary on the need for adaptability and creativity within the team’s playing style. Here is what he told BBC:

“The downfall to Ange Postecoglou’s style of play at times is that the players really stick to it.”

“Sometimes you need the players on the pitch to realise that it is not working and to try something different. Take someone on or take a shot from distance. Ange made some changes but it seems like they are still sticking to the game plan.”

His remarks centred on the balance between adherence to a structured game plan and the ability to innovate and adapt in response to evolving match dynamics. Bassong also acknowledged the benefits of Postecoglou‘s tactical philosophy, which emphasises a proactive and high-pressing style of play. However, the Frenchman also pointed out potential challenges that arise when players become too rigid in their adherence to the prescribed game plan.

To be honest, it is a common pitfall in modern football, where players may become overly reliant on tactical instructions and fail to exercise independent decision-making on the pitch.

The key issue lies in the players’ reluctance to deviate from the established game plan, even when it becomes apparent that adjustments are necessary.

Successful teams often exhibit flexibility and adaptability in their approach and the importance of player initiative and creativity in responding to changing match situations is extremely important on that front.

Bassong suggested that

players should be willing to experiment with alternative strategies, such as taking on opponents individually or attempting long-range shots, to break down stubborn defences and create scoring opportunities. By demonstrating initiative and creativity on the field, players can inject unpredictability into the team’s play and catch opponents off guard.

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A reactive approach is much tougher to handle compared to proactive ones, at least in football where the opposite team would have put in hours studying one’s style of play. While it is important to remain true to the style of play, popping out something out of the blue when nobody expects you to do that might give your team an extra push.