Tottenham Hotspur had been struggling with creative outlets in the previous campaign, and that is particularly given how the current options at N17 are mostly playing in a one-dimensional manner, given how James Maddison is a passer who rarely carries and Dejan Kulusevski is majorly driving with the ball, and this makes their creative ability a little bit predictable based on who is playing in that role. And with Thomas Frank taking charge of the proceedings at Hotspur Way, Daniel Levy is looking to resolve this problem by handing the incoming Dane head coach highly rated Premier League ace Jacob Ramsey.
The Aston Villa maestro has been subject to links with a move to the Lilywhites for a while now, and given the PSR situation at Villa Park, which could force Unai Emery into selling, a situation where Daniel Levy tries to take advantage of it in order to sign Ramsey could be well foreseen.
A brief about Jacob Ramsey and the attributes that he brings to the table
Ramsey is someone who is really good at making those problem runs into half-spaces and the box, and at times he makes those late runs into the box that catch the defenders by surprise. Moreover, he is really good at those quick interplays and making those tight passing combos, and these effective one-twos reap heavy dividends around the 18-yard box when under high press.
He is also someone who is an athlete and possesses an exceptional work rate, given how he excels at disrupting opposition buildup.
How does Ramsey fit at Tottenham under Thomas Frank?
Tottenham are interested in signing Aston Villa star Jacob Ramsey.
Tottenham under Frank are expected to replicate parts of what the Dane head coach did at Brentford in terms of putting through that disciplined mid-block complemented by vertical transitions alongside having those intelligent pressing triggers and dynamic midfield patterns.
And if I try to understand how Jacob Ramsey will replicate that in terms of how he fits in at Tottenham, then I need to start with his ability as a ball carrier and the transitional catalyst that he is. His presence will compound the North Londoners ability to break lines. And then his capacity to hold the ball and drive through midfield triggers helps the vertical triggers that Dane usually has in his system, and it will end up giving the Lilywhites those smooth turnover-to-attack sequences.
Now coming into his timings off the ball, we have seen Ramsey popping up in goalscoring positions quite regularly, and he does so by taking advantage of half-space vacuums. When I am thinking about this in the Tottenham setup, I think it brings a layer of unpredictability in the offensive sequences given how that complements the likes of Son and Maddison.
Moving into that aggressive middle third pressing, Ramsey is really good at those pressure across the ninety and in the integrity of mid-block structure where Frank likes to play with a timed press, and Ramsey here would bring that intensity and structure to pressing triggers, stiffening the Lilywhites’ shape.
Jacob Ramsey can feature as a left-sided #8 in a 4-3-3 where he can be tasked with carrying and pressing while pairing dynamically with full-back overlaps (Udogie), and he also has this drifting ability into final third positions. And you can also play him, the 24-year-old, in a more advanced midfield runner role (#10 in 3-5-2) where he is tasked to inject pace and dynamism into the attacking transitions. Having him in that ten role will give the North Londoners a second-wave strike option behind the front two.
I think that the Lilywhites will need the midfielders to understand pressing structures whilst shifting roles (in zonal consistency) and that intelligent manipulation of tempo under the incoming head coach, and I also think that Ramsey ticks all of those boxes.
Weaknesses
I do think that he still has a level or two to explore in terms of his passing, especially under high-tempo situations. So Frank and his staff will have to work to improve his precision of passes in vertical structures. And then I think whilst he brings that massive engine on the pitch, he has had a few injury stints of late, and the Lilywhites need to monitor this as well.
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Author Opinion
Ramsey is a talented option to consider, and given his potential, he could end up being a coup even at the reported ~£40 million price tag for his signatures. And beyond being a talented midfielder, he is also a tailor-made piece to what Thomas Frank wants to implement in terms of structure at N17.