Ange Postecoglou has made some significant changes to the Tottenham Hotspur lineup as they take on Newcastle United at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Son Heung-min has been moved from his center forward position back to the wing, while Richarlison has been placed in the central role. Postecoglou explained that most of Spurs’ goals have come from the wide positions, so he wanted to capitalize on that trend.
Tottenham ended a five-game winless streak with an impressive 4-1 victory over Newcastle, with Son and Richarlison playing crucial roles in the match. Postecoglou’s tactical decisions paid off, as Son finished off the scoring with a late penalty, following Richarlison’s brace.
Despite his recent success in the number nine role, Son was shifted to the left wing for this game. Richarlison, who has struggled to find the net for Spurs, was placed back in his preferred central position. Postecoglou explained his reasoning for this change in a post-match press conference, citing the recent trend of opportunities coming from the wide areas.
Postecoglou stated, “Richy’s healthy now and I think that’s his best position, through the middle. With Sonny, looking at the last few weeks, most of our chances and opportunities have fallen to the wide players. He’s still our best finisher and I thought getting him back on the left would give us some more avenues to score goals. Sonny set the tone early on and I think the rest of the lads fed off him.”
Richarlison, who recently returned to full fitness after undergoing groin surgery, emphasized the importance of his recovery in reaching peak physical condition. Postecoglou echoed this sentiment, praising Richarlison’s improved physical state and the impact it had on his performance.
Postecoglou said, “I think you could tell he was kind of restricted with his movements. At times we had to play him out wide just to get him through games. Since he’s come back, it’s fair to say he feels a lot better physically and I think that’s helped him mentally as well. Great for him to get two goals today, but it wasn’t just his goals, it was his general work rate, energy and physicality.”
The changes to the lineup paid off handsomely, as both Son and Richarlison played pivotal roles in the victory against Newcastle. Postecoglou’s astute tactical decisions turned the tide for Spurs, and the players responded with an impressive performance. This win could be a turning point for Tottenham as they look to climb the Premier League table.
