Ange may silence Watkins by unleashing Spurs’ “titanic” dynamo

Tottenham Hotspur will conflict towards Aston Villa within the Premier League on Sunday afternoon in what may show to be a season-defining fixture for Ange Postecoglou‘s aspect.

Presently, Spurs are fifth within the standings and path the fourth-placed Villans by 5 factors, albeit with a sport in hand, and victory within the Midlands would doubtlessly reshape the desk within the coming weeks.

Defeat, conversely, would offer Unai Emery’s high-flying outfit with a serious benefit heading into the enterprise finish, and Tottenham should be certain that they go away Villa Park with one thing to maintain on their opponents’ heels.

Particularly so with groups resembling Manchester United trailing additional behind however positive to leap at any opening that arises from Tottenham’s defeat.

Postecoglou can be dedicated to stopping that from occurring, and whereas he has most of his gamers out there, there are one or two who’re marooned within the medical room.

Spurs group information vs Aston Villa

Richarlison’s knee damage suffered towards Wolverhampton Wanderers will maintain him shackled on the sidelines for the foreseeable, stifling a surprising run of goalscoring type that noticed the Brazilian reap 9 objectives from ten Premier League outings.

Veteran goalkeeper Fraser Forster and left-sided dynamo Ryan Sessegnon stay longer-term absentees, however there have been no recent considerations to dishearten Postecoglou.

Having been unavailable for Spurs’ previous two matches attributable to a muscular damage, Pedro Porro returned to full group coaching this week and is in line to reclaim his beginning spot at right-back.

The Spaniard’s return, it can’t be understated, is a stirring increase for the Lilywhites as they give the impression of being to clinch successive league victories for the primary time since earlier than Christmas.

Pedro Porro may assist silence Ollie Watkins

Tottenham have ebbed and flowed from type this season however they’re a far cry from the malaise of 2022/23, with the emphatic performances of stars resembling Porro – who has been praised for his “titanic” shows this time period by The Athletic’s Charlie Eccleshare – integral on this regard.

As per Sofascore, the January 2023 mortgage signing – who accomplished a everlasting £40m switch final summer season – has certainly been sensible this season; Tottenham’s high help maker with seven assists, he has additionally averaged 2.9 tackles, 2.5 clearances, 5.7 ball recoveries and 5.1 profitable duels per sport.

His all-encompassing strategy can be essential, additionally with a sure ubiquity in his play, energetic, tenacious, and overlaying immense stretches of floor – fairly merely, Porro is considered one of Tottenham’s finest gamers, and he can be essential in stifling the specter of Ollie Watkins.

Watkins has been Aston Villa’s indomitable spearhead this season, sensational in his attacking output and yielding a return of 21 objectives and ten assists throughout all competitions this season.

To completely underscore this, the 28-year-old ranks among the many high 14% of forwards throughout Europe’s high 5 leagues over the previous yr for objectives scored and the highest 5% for assists per 90, as per FBref, so he is definitely within the elite bracket of forwards proper now and has even been dubbed a “fascinating” participant by The Occasions’ Henry Winter.

These statistics illustrate how essential he has been to Villa and why Porro being out there to doubtlessly restrict his affect is so important to Tottenham’s probabilities of selecting up all three factors.

Whereas the England worldwide has been taking part in at centre-forward this season, he has a predilection to linger to the left – as evidenced by his Sofascore warmth map – and Porro’s productiveness in his defensive duties can be key in guaranteeing he doesn’t have free rein.

The video above shows Watkins in all his breakneck glory, wheeling away from his opponent down the Aston Villa attacking left flank to drive into the hazard space and look to unleash a artistic cross for a teammate.

That is precisely the type of hazard that Tottenham have to be cautious of and it’s an illustration of the striker’s multi-functionality, proving to be dynamic and efficient throughout a variety of roles.

Emerson Royal, who has stepped in at right-back for Porro throughout the previous two matches, is a strong defensive pressure and proved this by profitable 18 contested duels throughout the 2 affairs, however he was too comfy permitting others to do the attacking work and such stagnancy can be exploited by the Villa machine.

Porro’s creativity will maintain Watkins on his toes, not so carefree in waltzing via the thirds. Porro’s aforementioned restoration powers dwarf that of his Brazilian positional peer, who has averaged simply 3.9 ball recoveries per sport.

After all, right-sided central defender Cristian Romero may have the first responsibility of quelling Watkins’s free-scoring type however this would possibly really work in Tottenham’s favour, with the tough-tackling Argentine – who ranks among the many high 9% of centre-backs throughout Europe’s high 5 leagues over the previous yr for tackles per 90, as per FBref – a pillar of energy on the again.

Romero’s aggressiveness and nearly brazen strategy to his defensive duties have left hopeful attackers in items all through the marketing campaign however Watkins can be savvy to this and drift away, maybe down his favoured left flank, to concentrate on the playmaking aspect of his sport and watch for opportune moments to pounce and unleash strikes on purpose.

Now, Watkins could be a scientific striker however his intelligence, motion, and spatial consciousness are first-rate qualities which have been heralded by The Athletic’s Jacob Tanswell, who mentioned that his capacity to tie defenders “in knots” together with his fleet-footed surges is nothing wanting an “artwork type.”

Because it’s unlikely he’ll break the hosts’ form and drive out onto the proper wing, the one different is to come back up towards Porro, who’s greater than able to offering his adversary with the horn-locking welcome to rebuff him in his advances.

It is an enormous contest however Tottenham will imagine that they’ll overcome a slick and classy Villa aspect to proceed their resurgence below Postecoglou, and Porro can be on the centre of the motion.