Scouting James McAtee: Strengths, Weaknesses and Tactical fit at Tottenham

Strengths

Given how he likes to dribble with the ball at his feet, complemented by his vision for passes and then that ability to execute through balls, he is a constant threat every time he gets the ball in the final third. And then he is quite capable of operating as a central attacking midfielder as well as on the right flank, which brings that added layer of tactical flexibility. And then he has the knack of finding the back of the net. It’s all a blend of these qualities complemented by his technical abilities that makes him a more complete attacking unit than Cole Palmer, who also came through the ranks at City. Palmer is more apt to run into space, while McAtee has the ability to thrive in tight spaces as well, thanks to his low centre of gravity.

And he is still twenty-two (22) and has significant room for growth, which aligns well with the Lilywhites’ (and Levy’s) strategy of nurturing young players along the corridors at Hotspur Way.

Weaknesses

Given how most of his minutes have come in a secondary role, we will need to see how ready he is to consistently make an impact in the English top tier. And while he is a phenomenon when it comes to attacking setups, his defensive work rate and positioning do require a lot of work, especially if he is to fit into the system deployed by Ange Postecoglou at N17.

There could also be questions raised about his abilities to get on the better side of aerial duels given his low centre of gravity and 1.80m frame.

How can McAtee tactically fit in at Tottenham Hotspur under Ange Postecoglou?

Ange likes to deploy a flowing system that pushes to play with high pressing and quick transitions while laying importance on vertical passes into the half spaces and running channels to get the better of the opponent’s system, and McAtee can serve as both a receiver in half spaces and a channel passer.

He can serve as an alternative or complement to James Maddison in the CAM role, bringing in more creative abilities and goal-scoring threats from central zones. The 20-year-old can also play on the flanks, which allows for inverted runs and combination play with full-backs.

Author Opinion

Given the blend of tactical versatility and technical ability that McAtee possesses, he will make an exciting addition to the current setup at Hotspur Way. And moreover, if you consider how Levy wants to develop highly regarded talents within the club, he could very well end up being the skim of the roster. That being said, there are still areas for improvement in his game, but if Ange is to give that environment at Tottenham, the Lilywhites could end up providing the ideal platform for McAtee to flourish and become a mainstay at N17.