SpursIQ
@spursiq.substack.com
Data-powered insights on Tottenham Hotspur — breaking down stats, tactics, and trends.
spursiq.substack.com
spursiq.substack.com
Spurs have registered three of the lowest five xG across all matches in the PL this season.
What a stat.
What a stat.
November 25, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Spurs have registered three of the lowest five xG across all matches in the PL this season.
What a stat.
What a stat.
Attacking momentum chart reflects well this Spurs performance. 0 shots, pathetic. Same problems we had against Bournemouth and Chelsea. Teams that press us well can completely dominate us. Our front 3 has no running threat behind so their defense can press our attacking players super aggressively
November 23, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Attacking momentum chart reflects well this Spurs performance. 0 shots, pathetic. Same problems we had against Bournemouth and Chelsea. Teams that press us well can completely dominate us. Our front 3 has no running threat behind so their defense can press our attacking players super aggressively
November 23, 2025 at 2:49 PM
@hal.thelastboyscout.uk just noting that if you look at PPDA we are 2nd in the league which is weird when you look how low our high turnover wins and especially shots from high turnovers are.
November 22, 2025 at 6:11 PM
@hal.thelastboyscout.uk just noting that if you look at PPDA we are 2nd in the league which is weird when you look how low our high turnover wins and especially shots from high turnovers are.
Brighton’s press has arguably been the best in the Premier League this season. Not talked about enough.
November 22, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Brighton’s press has arguably been the best in the Premier League this season. Not talked about enough.
Tottenham's Pressing Paradox: Spurs rank 2nd in the Premier League for Pressing Intensity (PPDA) but are 20th in Shots Created following high turnovers. 📊
This outlier status requires review. What factors cause this low output from elite pressing input?
#COYS #THFC #FootballAnalytics
This outlier status requires review. What factors cause this low output from elite pressing input?
#COYS #THFC #FootballAnalytics
November 20, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Tottenham's Pressing Paradox: Spurs rank 2nd in the Premier League for Pressing Intensity (PPDA) but are 20th in Shots Created following high turnovers. 📊
This outlier status requires review. What factors cause this low output from elite pressing input?
#COYS #THFC #FootballAnalytics
This outlier status requires review. What factors cause this low output from elite pressing input?
#COYS #THFC #FootballAnalytics
A clear tactical shift under Thomas Frank has started to emerge. Since the Everton match last week, Spurs have consistently lined up in possession as a back three, with Udogie pushing high and wide almost as a left winger.
(Thread) 🔽
(Thread) 🔽
November 7, 2025 at 4:45 PM
A clear tactical shift under Thomas Frank has started to emerge. Since the Everton match last week, Spurs have consistently lined up in possession as a back three, with Udogie pushing high and wide almost as a left winger.
(Thread) 🔽
(Thread) 🔽
From a 1–0 collapse to a 4–0 masterclass - a rollercoaster week even by Spurs standards.
My full SpursIQ review looks at what went wrong vs Chelsea, what changed vs Copenhagen, and why the difference might be more about execution than tactics.
#COYS
My full SpursIQ review looks at what went wrong vs Chelsea, what changed vs Copenhagen, and why the difference might be more about execution than tactics.
#COYS
November 6, 2025 at 6:23 PM
From a 1–0 collapse to a 4–0 masterclass - a rollercoaster week even by Spurs standards.
My full SpursIQ review looks at what went wrong vs Chelsea, what changed vs Copenhagen, and why the difference might be more about execution than tactics.
#COYS
My full SpursIQ review looks at what went wrong vs Chelsea, what changed vs Copenhagen, and why the difference might be more about execution than tactics.
#COYS
This actually aligns with what I discussed in my article from a couple weeks ago. We actually seem fairly good at getting into 'threatening' positions but are terrible at converting that into good chances, which can explain partially the major xG issues we see: spursiq.substack.com/p/reading-be...
November 6, 2025 at 6:20 PM
This actually aligns with what I discussed in my article from a couple weeks ago. We actually seem fairly good at getting into 'threatening' positions but are terrible at converting that into good chances, which can explain partially the major xG issues we see: spursiq.substack.com/p/reading-be...
Improve xG with this one simple trick
November 4, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Improve xG with this one simple trick
Spurs’ pass map against Everton this past weekend looked a lot more balanced this match overall relative to many of our previous matches this season.
We were able to progress more centrally on occasions, which I believe can be attributed to: (See thread)
#COYS
We were able to progress more centrally on occasions, which I believe can be attributed to: (See thread)
#COYS
October 29, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Spurs’ pass map against Everton this past weekend looked a lot more balanced this match overall relative to many of our previous matches this season.
We were able to progress more centrally on occasions, which I believe can be attributed to: (See thread)
#COYS
We were able to progress more centrally on occasions, which I believe can be attributed to: (See thread)
#COYS
Opta’s xPoints table had Spurs 14th after seven matches, even while sitting 3rd in the real table.
Naturally, the questions came fast: “Are Spurs lucky? Is this sustainable?”
I looked back at last season, plotting each team’s xPosition after seven matches vs their final place.
#COYS #THFC
Naturally, the questions came fast: “Are Spurs lucky? Is this sustainable?”
I looked back at last season, plotting each team’s xPosition after seven matches vs their final place.
#COYS #THFC
October 16, 2025 at 6:31 PM
xG didn’t tell the full story
The stats make it look like Leeds were better, but context matters.
Their xG was inflated by the 1st goal, while we had multiple sharp attacking sequences that don’t rate high on xG.
The match was more even than the numbers suggest.
The stats make it look like Leeds were better, but context matters.
Their xG was inflated by the 1st goal, while we had multiple sharp attacking sequences that don’t rate high on xG.
The match was more even than the numbers suggest.
October 9, 2025 at 4:16 PM
xG didn’t tell the full story
The stats make it look like Leeds were better, but context matters.
Their xG was inflated by the 1st goal, while we had multiple sharp attacking sequences that don’t rate high on xG.
The match was more even than the numbers suggest.
The stats make it look like Leeds were better, but context matters.
Their xG was inflated by the 1st goal, while we had multiple sharp attacking sequences that don’t rate high on xG.
The match was more even than the numbers suggest.
Bentancur and Palhinha double pivot provided needed defensive stability.
Leeds are physical and direct, and Bentancur with Palhinha gave us control and protection for both fullbacks.
It also freed Xavi to focus on creating higher up the pitch.
Image shows Bentancur's cover of Porro on the right
Leeds are physical and direct, and Bentancur with Palhinha gave us control and protection for both fullbacks.
It also freed Xavi to focus on creating higher up the pitch.
Image shows Bentancur's cover of Porro on the right
October 9, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Bentancur and Palhinha double pivot provided needed defensive stability.
Leeds are physical and direct, and Bentancur with Palhinha gave us control and protection for both fullbacks.
It also freed Xavi to focus on creating higher up the pitch.
Image shows Bentancur's cover of Porro on the right
Leeds are physical and direct, and Bentancur with Palhinha gave us control and protection for both fullbacks.
It also freed Xavi to focus on creating higher up the pitch.
Image shows Bentancur's cover of Porro on the right
Xavi + left-side connection
Xavi looked far more comfortable as a central creator, linking perfectly with Udogie and Odobert.
The left side finally clicked: Xavi drifting central, Odobert making runs, Udogie overlapping with good timing.
Xavi looked far more comfortable as a central creator, linking perfectly with Udogie and Odobert.
The left side finally clicked: Xavi drifting central, Odobert making runs, Udogie overlapping with good timing.
October 9, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Xavi + left-side connection
Xavi looked far more comfortable as a central creator, linking perfectly with Udogie and Odobert.
The left side finally clicked: Xavi drifting central, Odobert making runs, Udogie overlapping with good timing.
Xavi looked far more comfortable as a central creator, linking perfectly with Udogie and Odobert.
The left side finally clicked: Xavi drifting central, Odobert making runs, Udogie overlapping with good timing.
Kudus was brilliant again.
A goal, an assist, constant outlet, and composure under pressure. An extremely impressive 6/6 dribbles too.
He’s been our most consistent player this season and gives us a different level of physicality and creativity up front.
A goal, an assist, constant outlet, and composure under pressure. An extremely impressive 6/6 dribbles too.
He’s been our most consistent player this season and gives us a different level of physicality and creativity up front.
October 9, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Kudus was brilliant again.
A goal, an assist, constant outlet, and composure under pressure. An extremely impressive 6/6 dribbles too.
He’s been our most consistent player this season and gives us a different level of physicality and creativity up front.
A goal, an assist, constant outlet, and composure under pressure. An extremely impressive 6/6 dribbles too.
He’s been our most consistent player this season and gives us a different level of physicality and creativity up front.
Spurs finally broke the pre-international break curse and ended Leeds’ 1-year home streak.
Not a perfect performance, but a really resilient and important away win.
Here’s what stood out tactically and in the data 👇 (Thread)
Not a perfect performance, but a really resilient and important away win.
Here’s what stood out tactically and in the data 👇 (Thread)
October 9, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Spurs finally broke the pre-international break curse and ended Leeds’ 1-year home streak.
Not a perfect performance, but a really resilient and important away win.
Here’s what stood out tactically and in the data 👇 (Thread)
Not a perfect performance, but a really resilient and important away win.
Here’s what stood out tactically and in the data 👇 (Thread)
Multiple takeaways from Spurs’ big win at Leeds this weekend.
full analysis here:
spursiq.substack.com/p/premier-le...
#COYS
full analysis here:
spursiq.substack.com/p/premier-le...
#COYS
October 8, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Multiple takeaways from Spurs’ big win at Leeds this weekend.
full analysis here:
spursiq.substack.com/p/premier-le...
#COYS
full analysis here:
spursiq.substack.com/p/premier-le...
#COYS
Thank you. Finally some sense. He is a very good player.
September 30, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Thank you. Finally some sense. He is a very good player.
Xavi struggles, not because of LW.
Sloppy touches, misplaced passes, and little overall influence. This was not about being on the left wing. His movement inside matched the system’s demands, but his execution fell short.
Sloppy touches, misplaced passes, and little overall influence. This was not about being on the left wing. His movement inside matched the system’s demands, but his execution fell short.
September 29, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Xavi struggles, not because of LW.
Sloppy touches, misplaced passes, and little overall influence. This was not about being on the left wing. His movement inside matched the system’s demands, but his execution fell short.
Sloppy touches, misplaced passes, and little overall influence. This was not about being on the left wing. His movement inside matched the system’s demands, but his execution fell short.
2nd Half:
Wolves’ switch to a back three flipped the match:
- Spurs lost their rhythm.
- Vicario’s mistake gifted Wolves the opener.
- Bentancur was subbed, Xavi shifted into the 10 role and Spurs looked worse, not better.
Subs failed to add quality, and Kudus struggled after moving over to LW
Wolves’ switch to a back three flipped the match:
- Spurs lost their rhythm.
- Vicario’s mistake gifted Wolves the opener.
- Bentancur was subbed, Xavi shifted into the 10 role and Spurs looked worse, not better.
Subs failed to add quality, and Kudus struggled after moving over to LW
September 29, 2025 at 5:55 PM
2nd Half:
Wolves’ switch to a back three flipped the match:
- Spurs lost their rhythm.
- Vicario’s mistake gifted Wolves the opener.
- Bentancur was subbed, Xavi shifted into the 10 role and Spurs looked worse, not better.
Subs failed to add quality, and Kudus struggled after moving over to LW
Wolves’ switch to a back three flipped the match:
- Spurs lost their rhythm.
- Vicario’s mistake gifted Wolves the opener.
- Bentancur was subbed, Xavi shifted into the 10 role and Spurs looked worse, not better.
Subs failed to add quality, and Kudus struggled after moving over to LW
First Half:
Spurs controlled possession, created attacking momentum, and should have scored:
- Kudus was denied by a great save.
- Kudus and Bergvall combined for a goal, but it was ruled offside (0 xG).
- Bergvall whiffed a golden chance in front of goal (0 xG).
Spurs controlled possession, created attacking momentum, and should have scored:
- Kudus was denied by a great save.
- Kudus and Bergvall combined for a goal, but it was ruled offside (0 xG).
- Bergvall whiffed a golden chance in front of goal (0 xG).
September 29, 2025 at 5:53 PM
First Half:
Spurs controlled possession, created attacking momentum, and should have scored:
- Kudus was denied by a great save.
- Kudus and Bergvall combined for a goal, but it was ruled offside (0 xG).
- Bergvall whiffed a golden chance in front of goal (0 xG).
Spurs controlled possession, created attacking momentum, and should have scored:
- Kudus was denied by a great save.
- Kudus and Bergvall combined for a goal, but it was ruled offside (0 xG).
- Bergvall whiffed a golden chance in front of goal (0 xG).
Kudus has been very impressive so far this PL Season 📊
- Most successful take ons (19)
- Most accurate crosses (12)
- Tied 2nd most assists (3)
- Tied 2nd most duels won (39)
- Only player in Europe’s top 5 leagues with 10+ Dribbles, Key Passes, & Tackles (19,11,10)
What a signing #COYS #THFC
- Most successful take ons (19)
- Most accurate crosses (12)
- Tied 2nd most assists (3)
- Tied 2nd most duels won (39)
- Only player in Europe’s top 5 leagues with 10+ Dribbles, Key Passes, & Tackles (19,11,10)
What a signing #COYS #THFC
September 26, 2025 at 6:31 PM