Presenter for Sky Sports and Football Daily, Joe Thomlinson, hosted the most recent edition of Football Daily’s Sunday Vibes alongside Chris Hamill and Patrick van Straaten, during which the panel discussed all things Tottenham Hotspur and in particular, Spurs boss Jose Mourinho’s tactics.
Seven games into the 2020/21 Premier League campaign, Mourinho’s Spurs currently sit two points off the top of the table, trailing only defending Premier League champions Liverpool at this point in the season prior to Monday’s fixtures.
With that in mind, it may be fair to say that the Lilywhites have enjoyed a positive start to the season and it may be understandable why their chances of winning the league were discussed during this recent edition of Football Daily’s Sunday Vibes.
While discussing this topic, Thomlinson shared some concern over Mourinho’s “tactics in big games” and the possibility that they will hinder the Lilywhites’ title hopes, saying:
“Sometimes, Jose’s tactics in big games can be a little bit too defensive, maybe, for modern-day football, when you see a lot of other managers being quite progressive in the big games going for the three points because, obviously, a win is so much more important than a draw – particularly when you’re playing against a rival, that I hope that doesn’t hold them back, that’s all I’ll say.
“That, and the combination of any Harry Kane injury could scupper all chances because he very rarely plays a full season.”
Do you think Mourinho's tactics will hold Spurs back in big games?
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TIF Thoughts on what Thomlinson had to say about Mourinho’s tactics…
Mourinho’s tactics have received some criticism in recent years, with Goal recently claiming that the Portuguese coach endured ‘a slow fade into tactical irrelevance’ due to his ‘counter-attacking preference’ becoming unfashionable as ‘possession dominance and high pressing’ became more popular.
Perhaps it is understandable why it has been suggested that his tactics are outdated due to the fact that he hasn’t won a trophy since the 2016/17 campaign, however, criticism of his tactics predates this trophyless period, as his tactics were criticised back in the 2014/15 campaign when he led Chelsea to a Premier League title, while Brendan Rodgers – during his spell at Liverpool – and Roberto Martinez – during his spell at Everton – were praised for playing a different style, despite neither Rodgers nor Martinez winning a trophy with those clubs.
Meanwhile, Mourinho has delivered silverware consistently throughout his career, winning at least one major trophy at every club he’s managed since his stint with Porto, except for Spurs as of yet.
Given that his Spurs side are undefeated in each of their last four games versus one of their ‘big six’ rivals in all competitions, maybe it is fair to say that the Portuguese coach’s tactics certainly haven’t been holding his Tottenham side back in recent big games, as Thomlinson thinks they might, and with all of this in mind, maybe concern over his tactics is not necessary.