Tottenham's Possession Problem: A Midfield Black Hole

Resources

Resources & Recommendations

Books

• "The Problem of Assume You Have the Ball" - This concept, often discussed on this podcast, refers to the pitfall of building a team strategy solely around having possession, leading to breakdowns when possession is lost.

People Mentioned

• Mike Goodman - Co-host of the podcast, offering analysis on Tottenham Hotspur.
• Alex Ferguson - Former Manchester United manager, referenced for the long tenure he was given to build the team.
• Jurgen Klopp - Liverpool manager, cited for his ability to adapt his tactical ideas to available talent over time.
• David Moyes - Manager, whose slow, deliberate approach at West Ham is contrasted with his less successful time at Manchester United, and is used as a comparison for Thomas Frank's situation.
• Mikel Arteta - Arsenal manager, mentioned for the patience he was afforded to implement his system, particularly during a period without fans in stadiums.
• Thomas Frank - Tottenham Hotspur manager, the central figure of the discussion, with analysis of his tactical approach and its current effectiveness.
• James Benge (Journalist) - Wrote a piece about whether Thomas Frank could be Tottenham Hotspur's Mikel Arteta.
• Unai Emery - Manager whose teams are described as having a distinct tactical identity, even if not always successful.
• Ange Postecoglou - Former Tottenham manager, whose teams were noted for their distinctive playing style.
• Steven Gerrard - Manager, referenced in contrast to Mikel Arteta, where an assistant's tactical ideas might have been mistaken for his own.
• Pioli - Manager who recently went to Fiorentina, mentioned as an example of a manager who might be available in the "free agent market" if Tottenham were to change managers.
• Julian Nagelsmann - Manager, mentioned as a potential high-profile candidate for a club with financial resources.
• Thomas Tuchel - Manager, mentioned as a potential high-profile candidate for a club with financial resources.
• Mauricio Pochettino - Manager, mentioned as a potential high-profile candidate for a club with financial resources.
• Frank Lange - Tottenham Hotspur sporting director, mentioned in the context of who might be making decisions about player signings.
• Fabio Paratici - Tottenham Hotspur managing director of football, mentioned in the context of who might be making decisions about player signings.

Organizations & Institutions

• Manchester United - Football club, used as an example for the managerial tenures of Alex Ferguson and David Moyes.
• West Ham - Football club, used as an example of David Moyes's successful, slow-building managerial approach.
• Arsenal - Football club, used as an example of Mikel Arteta's long-term project.
• Liverpool - Football club, used as an example of Jurgen Klopp's successful adaptation of his system over time.
• Brentford - Football club, Thomas Frank's former team, referenced for the distinctive style he implemented there.
• Fiorentina - Football club, where Pioli recently became manager.
• Dortmund - Football club, Jurgen Klopp's former team, referenced for his early "Kloppian" high-pressing style.

Websites & Online Resources

• Patreon (patreon.com/doublepivot) - Platform where listeners can access additional content.

Other Resources

• The Lairs (Music group) - Their music is featured at the beginning of the podcast.