Stephen Warnock believes that the two full-backs are the most important pieces of the puzzle in Ange Postecoglou’s system, with Tottenham reliant on them to progress the ball high up the pitch.
While other managers like Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp also used inverted full-backs, Postecoglou’s system is unique as he demands both of his full-backs to take up central positions rather than just having one of the two tuck in, which is the norm with other sides.
Additionally, the likes of City simply use one of their full-backs to create an extra body in the middle of the park, the Tottenham boss gives his full-backs to freedom to take up really advanced positions, with both Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie often being as advanced as the number ten.
Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie are so important for Spurs
Warnock argued that the Italian and the Spaniard are Spurs’ two most important players, remarking that he was not surprised that the Lilywhites struggled against Wolves in their absence.
The former Villa left-back said on The Football Show on Sky Sports: “The way Tottenham play this season, everybody talks about the spine of the team, but it’s actually the fullbacks who are the most important players.
“And I am made up to say that. It makes me very happy. They change the way that they play. Udogie doesn’t play as a conventional fullback or as an overlapping fullback.
“Incredibly, I saw an article on this a few weeks ago where he has actually completed the most dribbles in midfield. That tells you everything about the type of player he is and where he is playing on the pitch, so often, you see him and Porro in centre-forward positions or number 10 positions.
“You are thinking, why are you playing there? What’s this trying to achieve? The more that you watch Spurs, the more that you understand it. They are key to the way Tottenham play. You can get away with one not playing, but when both don’t play, then they are completely different.”
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While a lot has been said about Emerson’s and Davies’ technical shortcomings and them not being great fits for the inverted role, the reality is that it is very difficult for full-backs to play the way Ange wants to without some continuity.
Porro and Udogie both made some mistakes at the start of the season before growing into the role. To expect Davies and Emerson to walk into the team after a couple of months on the bench and to produce top performances is not entirely fair.