A bold approach
Ange Postecoglou certainly surprised the vast majority of Tottenham fans when the Spurs team news dropped at 1pm on Sunday afternoon. Without a host of players through injury and suspension anyway, the boss made some big calls with his selection to face Aston Villa as he dropped Eric Dier to the bench despite having a real shortage of centre-backs.
Emerson Royal started in the defender's place as he joined Ben Davies in the middle of the backline, with Pedro Porro and the returning Destiny Udogie taking up their usual full-back roles. Starting four full-backs, two of whom are very attacking ones, in defence was a bold move and caught many by surprise.
There was to be another shock further up the pitch as Bryan Gil came into the XI for his first Tottenham start since January. As a result of the Spaniard's inclusion and the need to add some creativity to midfield, Dejan Kulusevski dropped into the No.10 role and operated alongside Rodrigo Bentancur and Giovani Lo Celso.
The Tottenham XI was extremely attacking and it left many rather worried due to Aston Villa's form and the amount of goals they had plundered in recent weeks. It was Spurs who dominated proceedings, though, and took the game to their opponents as they carved them open time and time again with some rather impressive attacking play.
The attacking approach worked a treat and Spurs really should have had more than the one goal they scored through Lo Celso in the first half. Tottenham weren't really troubled at the other end of the pitch despite starting with four full-backs in defence and that was because the vast majority of the ball was in and around the Aston Villa area.
Attack really is the best form of defence for Tottenham at present as they
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