TTLB Opinion: Rayan Aït-Nouri is an ideal Ange Postecoglou signing – here’s why

Given how the North Londoners play in the current system, the Australian head coach is not looking for full-backs who are going to only hold their shape. He is instead looking to add someone that can invert into midfield when required during the build-up phase. Has the capacity to drive on the inside as well as outside to create overloads while also maintaining structure (let’s face it, the current Lilywhites side are missing a sense of balance that has led teams to catch them out defensively time and again).

And that is exactly what Aït-Nouri brings to the table, playing for his current employers. Aït-Nouri has already played as an inverted left-back (under both Lopetegui and O’Neil) while operating in central zones alongside the pivot. The Algerian is also comfortable taking touches under pressure as well as dropping deep to receive or can also feature tucking inside (this allows the winger on his flank to hold width).

But let’s speak more about his traits; let’s understand how that translates into the current system. So if I were to put him into the current system tomorrow, he can alternate between holding width and forming a 2-3 in the buildup phase. He can pair/bounce off the likes of Bergvall or Maddison for second- to third-phase combinations.

Then comes his ball-carrying ability; I don’t think there is any fullback outside the big six that has carried the ball into the final third more consistently than Aït-Nouri over the last 18 months. See, the thing is he is not like your traditional full-backs; he doesn’t just run into space; in fact, he glides between markers instead, and to add to it, he plays those inside-out passes into the danger lanes.

Let me get it straight: signing him is not a case for replacing Udogie, but it is more about bringing a layer of variation and depth to the role. In games where the Lilywhites are looking to add some calm progression and midfield overloads, Aït-Nouri adds more to it than what Udogie offers.

Author Opinion

Ange doesn’t need eleven (11) stars to form his team; he needs eleven players on the pitch that work through his system, and Aït-Nouri does just the latter. The Algerian brings that intelligence in structure complemented by that unpredictability in the offensive sequences. He will also add some genuine depth at a position where Tottenham have been one injury away from tactical compromise.