Spurs' pragmatic approach to football is set to take a creative turn as several key players return from injury, according to Match of the Day pundits Theo Walcott and Danny Murphy.
The Tottenham Hotspur boss, Antonio Conte, was praised by his former Chelsea teammate for Spurs' ability to win games without becoming overly dependent on flair. Instead, Conte's pragmatic approach has seen Spurs focus on set pieces, which ultimately led to a convincing 3-1 victory over Everton in the last match.
Walcott believes that Tottenham will continue to be effective with their current squad, but notes that when players like Richarlison and Dejan Kulusevski return from injury, Conte's team will become much more creative on the pitch. The Brazilian and Swedish winger have been Spurs' most prolific goalscorers this season, and Walcott expects them to make a significant impact once they regain fitness.
Murphy agrees that Spurs' current set piece strategy is a major strength, but warns that opposing teams may start to adapt to it. The former Liverpool midfielder believes that Conte's team will need to become more dynamic if they are going to overcome top teams in the league.
Despite this, Walcott remains confident that Spurs have the quality and depth to challenge for top-four honors. With several key players returning from injury, he expects Tottenham to mount a strong second-half of the season, pushing them closer to European contention.
In contrast, Murphy is more cautious, warning that the return of injured players will be crucial in determining Spurs' success. He notes that the team's ability to adapt to different opponents and situations will be put to the test as they look to build on their recent win against Everton.
Overall, both pundits agree that Tottenham's pragmatic approach has been a major factor in their recent success, but also recognize that the team's creative spark is key to unlocking their full potential.
The Tottenham Hotspur boss, Antonio Conte, was praised by his former Chelsea teammate for Spurs' ability to win games without becoming overly dependent on flair. Instead, Conte's pragmatic approach has seen Spurs focus on set pieces, which ultimately led to a convincing 3-1 victory over Everton in the last match.
Walcott believes that Tottenham will continue to be effective with their current squad, but notes that when players like Richarlison and Dejan Kulusevski return from injury, Conte's team will become much more creative on the pitch. The Brazilian and Swedish winger have been Spurs' most prolific goalscorers this season, and Walcott expects them to make a significant impact once they regain fitness.
Murphy agrees that Spurs' current set piece strategy is a major strength, but warns that opposing teams may start to adapt to it. The former Liverpool midfielder believes that Conte's team will need to become more dynamic if they are going to overcome top teams in the league.
Despite this, Walcott remains confident that Spurs have the quality and depth to challenge for top-four honors. With several key players returning from injury, he expects Tottenham to mount a strong second-half of the season, pushing them closer to European contention.
In contrast, Murphy is more cautious, warning that the return of injured players will be crucial in determining Spurs' success. He notes that the team's ability to adapt to different opponents and situations will be put to the test as they look to build on their recent win against Everton.
Overall, both pundits agree that Tottenham's pragmatic approach has been a major factor in their recent success, but also recognize that the team's creative spark is key to unlocking their full potential.
I gotta say, I'm loving Spurs' underdog vibe right now 
. Conte's pragmatism has been serving them well, and set pieces have proven to be a game-changer for them 
. But when those big players like Richarlison and Kulusevski get back on the pitch, it's gonna be a whole different story 
. They're gonna take it to the next level and show everyone what they're capable of 
. I'm not surprised Walcott is confident about their top-four push – Spurs have been playing some solid football 
. But Murphy's right too, if Conte can keep adapting and making adjustments on the fly, they might just pull off something special 
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Like Conte's approach might not be the flashiest but it definitely gets results. And now with Richarlison and Dejan Kulusevski coming back from injury, I'm curious to see how creative they'll be on the pitch... will Spurs finally become that team that everyone loves watching? 
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. And yeah, the second half of the season is gonna be crucial for Spurs – if they can stay consistent and make some smart adjustments, they've got a good shot at top-four 
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Conte's pragmatism is solid so far but with those two back in the mix, I expect them to be much more explosive on the pitch. Murphy's right though, it's gonna get tougher for Spurs to keep up that set piece magic against top teams 
. Conte's strategy is solid, but we need to see them take some more risks on the pitch 
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. Spurs are currently at the intersection of these two circles, but when Richarlison and Kulusevski come back, they'll be more like the overlapping areas – full of energy and unpredictability 
. Spurs have been dominating set pieces lately, but when they're back to 100%, I think we'll see them start taking more risks and being more dynamic on the pitch 
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THE RETURN OF RICHARLISON AND DEJAN KULUSEVSKI IS GOING TO MAKE SUCH A BIG DIFFERENCE ON THE PITCH, IM OBLIVIOUS TO WHY Conte WASN'T USING THEM MORE BEFORE THEY GOT HURT 
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The creativity they bring is going to take them to another level. And I'm all for it - let's see some exciting football from Tottenham!