Tottenham Hotspur beat Slavia Prague 3-0 at home, and Djed Spence was one among the players who had a stellar night.
Tottenham Hotspur returned to winning ways in the Champions League as they got the better of Slavia Prague on a 3-0 scoreline this midweek.
While a lot was about celebrating that home win and getting more comfortable on the better side of the European top-tier table, there was also a display of tactical flair from Djed Spence that showed how Thomas Frank has been tweaking his structure following a spell of underwhelming performances at Hotspur Way.
The former Middlesbrough defender played in a more inverted role. You could see him almost as the fourth midfielder at times. His presence there meant that Tottenham were more capable going forward.
But this didn’t just give structure to the front foot; it also brought stability to the back.
Spence played in an inverted role in the mid-week
Going forward, Djed Spence created more chances than anyone else on the pitch, with three to his name. This exactly gives you a picture of how high he was and how confidently he was playing. He also had a shot on target with seven passes in the final third. Spence also put in six accurate long balls, showing his poise.
That long-ball number is huge. There were phases where the visitors were trying to force Tottenham into going long, but with Spence repeatedly pinging in those balls, the Lilywhites had a lethal out ball at times.
In possession, Spence was playing like a midfielder, with Van de Ven sliding out to cover the flank. When the ball went right in the final third, you’d suddenly see Spence going in late on the inside of the half-space as an extra passing option instead of just hugging the touchline.
But for all the talk of his offensive ability and inverted presence, Spence looked genuinely covered for the game at the back. He had 7 recoveries alongside 4 clearances and 2 tackles.
There were a few sequences when Slavia Prague tried to isolate, especially when Tottenham dropped into that back five out of possession with Spence tucking in and Van de Ven sliding across. But he didn’t give in and stayed patient. And he was dribbled past zero times, showing how his accurate defensive performance against Arsenal was not just a one-off. (Stats by Fotmob)
Author Opinion
That inverted performance from him was a sign that Frank is changing how Tottenham can structure themselves against big teams who give spaces in the midfield zones. And given how Spence did play, it brings a sense of dynamism at Hotspur Way.
What do you make of this new role from Spence? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
