Lilywhite Lab

Because he absolutely loves TEI specifically and absolutely not because he put a call out for any old pod to have him on, we’re delighted to be podcasting with @lilywhitelab.bsky.social on Monday. Hit us up if you have any questions you’d like us to answer.

I am so excited for him to get a good run of games . Sums up my thoughts 👇👇👇

He’s a very specific player who should never be the first name on the team sheet but has value. Goals win games after all.

Furthermore teams know they can leave their full-back 1v1 with him because he won’t beat them and therefore makes it easier to mark our central players.

On the other hand, when things are a bit out of sync, confidence is low and we’re struggling to break through teams, Brennan is a real passenger. He struggles to retain the ball, he can’t combine welll and he consistently fails to beat his full back.

When the team is flying, combinations look fluid, rotations are quick, adding him to this is like the cherry on top. His ability to time runs, and get away from his marker mean that a lot of our moves will have the finishing touch. In other words when we’re flying he’s a legitimate asset.

And finally on Brennan Johnson

I’m sure I’ve said this before but Johnson is a ceiling raiser but arguably makes your floor worse

He hasn’t done anything outrageously bad but has been pretty ineffective

Tel is most devastating when he can face up his defender and create separation for shots

I think it’s pretty embarrassing that fans are turning on a 19 year old kid, who’s moved to a new country and has barely played minutes all season and is now chucked in

In my eyes, we need to get him in areas where he can be facing the opposition backline, whether that means wide left, or letting him stretch the last line with one of the 8s positioning higher to receive in the higher pockets

Regarding Mathys Tel

He clearly struggles with his back to goal, his link up is subpar and he doesn’t use his body well

Bear in mind that’s him after a really serious injury too… once he’s in his rhythm I strongly believe every single one of you will be sold on him, I’ve watched enough of him to confidently say that.

People can argue whether he’s at the quality we need because he hasn’t proved much in a Spurs shirt, and he came from Burnley or whatever (FWIW I think he quite clearly is good enough) What you can’t argue is his profile is something we’ve been screaming out for for 2 years now.

Furthermore, Odobert offers serious 1v1 threat which means opposition will be reluctant to leave him isolated with his full back. So… he’ll draw opposition players towards him to support their full-back, what does that do? It opens up space for players in the box or arriving onto the edge of the box

Compare him to Johnson, or even Son, you can’t trust them to retain the ball under pressure. Their touches are inconsistent, bobbly, get stuck under their feet. It doesn’t ever relieve pressure and forces turnovers.

Part of the reason we concede so many transitions is because our attackers have struggled to stay on the ball.

However every single touch he takes, is secure, out his feet, refined. Play the ball into him and he’ll kill it with ease, even under immense pressure. It’s brilliant security to have a player in the front line who won’t lose the ball.

I think a lot of people can see what I see with Odobert but for those who don’t let me try explain…

I’m not saying he set the world alight tonight, far from it

So you can’t press him… but then stand off him and watch him cut through space at a rapid rate, long strides and excellent acceleration means he can glide through the thirds and get us up the pitch at a rapid rate.

Really unique player.

But if those players aren’t available to combine with straight away… no bother, he doesn’t panic. He’ll wriggle out of pressure with ease and never give the ball away.

The best thing about Spence coming into the team is the way he’s massively lifted our technical floor while not being vulnerable physically either

The way he combines with those around him is effortless and gets us out of so many sticky situations in our third.

He’s also the type to not even need half a yard, to get his shots off

Don’t stress about his 1v1 ability because it’s an upgrade on most of our current options despite it not being amazing

Yeah Mathys Tel is not a 1v1 winger however he’s very capable at carrying especially when there’s open spaces

He has the ability to feint and drop shoulders to off balance defenders

😉

🤫

You won’t find a better long term Son replacement than Mathys Tel

Although I think he ends up at 9, his ability to cut in from that left flank and find the far corner is brilliant

He is so good at getting separation in and around the box to get those shots off, just like Son was in his prime