For the entirety of last season, set pieces were Tottenham’s Achilles heel. Opposition teams licked their lips at the prospect of corners and free kicks against Spurs, knowing they had a great chance of finding the back of the net. Meanwhile, Tottenham’s own attacking set pieces rarely troubled opponents.
Spurs conceded 16 goals from set pieces in the Premier League, with only three teams faring worse. Their xG conceded from set pieces was a league-worst 14.66. Time after time, fans watched in horror as unmarked opponents nodded home from corners or free kicks sailed directly into the net.
But manager Ange Postecoglou seemed almost dismissive of the problem. When asked about hiring a specialist set piece coach in March, he bluntly stated:
“I’m not interested, never have been, not in the least.”
He claimed set pieces were simply an extension of his overall playing philosophy, divvying up responsibility between assistants Mile Jedinak and Ryan Mason.
But behind the scenes, it appears Postecoglou recognized the need for change. This summer saw a coaching reshuffle after the departure of Chris Davies. Among the new additions was Nick Montgomery, brought in from Hibernian FC.
While not officially designated as a set piece specialist, sources report that Montgomery has taken a leading role in both attacking and defending set pieces since joining the club. The impact has been immediate and stark.
In their opening two matches of the 2023/24 season, Spurs have looked like a different team on dead balls. They’ve yet to concede from a set piece, while looking far more dangerous from their own corners and free kicks. Against Everton, Cristian Romero powered home a header from a James Maddison corner – the kind of goal Spurs fans had grown accustomed to conceding rather than scoring.
The eye test backs up the results. Spurs appear more organized defensively, with players showing greater discipline and understanding of their assignments. There’s a newfound flexibility between zonal and man-marking. On the attacking end, Tottenham are attempting more varied and intricate routines.
Read: The fatal flaw in Ange’s tactics which exposed Spurs against Leicester
Of course, it’s early days. Two matches is far too small a sample size to declare Tottenham’s set piece woes solved. They will inevitably concede goals from dead balls over the course of a long season. But the early signs are hugely promising. If this improvement proves sustainable, it could be a game-changer for Spurs’ ambitions this season. Set pieces often prove the difference in tight matches. Turning a major weakness into a strength could easily be worth several points over the course of a campaign.
Credit must go to Postecoglou for identifying and addressing the issue, even if he downplayed it publicly. By bringing in Montgomery and empowering him to take charge of set pieces, the Australian has shown both humility and shrewd management. Tottenham fans will be hoping this set piece revolution is just the beginning. If Spurs can maintain their dead ball improvement while continuing to develop Postecoglou’s thrilling brand of open play football, they may just have the recipe for a special season.
