Martin Ho's Tottenham Hotspur: Formation, style of play and key players
Tactical deep dives on all 12 Barclays Women's Super League sides from The Cutback and Football Manager
The Cutback has partnered with Football Manager to deliver a series of articles that go deeper on the tactics and gameplay of the world’s leading football management simulation game ahead of Football Manager 26’s release.
This year, women’s football features in Football Manager for the very first time, so to get fans ready for a brand new experience, The Cutback has put together the ultimate insights on FM26. Find out about the secrets of building FM26, dive into the tactical details of all 12 Barclays Women’s Super League sides and hear about the next gen talent that will feature in the game.
The next team to be profiled in this deep dives series is Tottenham Hotspur.
Formation: After a disappointing 2024-25, Tottenham have entered a new cycle under Martin Ho, formerly of SK Brann and with prior WSL experience. His base structure is a 4-2-3-1, but in possession, it morphs into a 3-4-2-1 through carefully drilled positional rotations.
The right-back tucks inside to form a back 3. In the opening games, like against West Ham and Everton, centre-back Josefine Rybrink was deployed in that role, further emphasising the shape. From there, the wing-backs in the back 3 become the left-back (Amanda Nilden) and the right winger, a role that can suit profiles like young full-back Araya Dennis or Ella Morris once she returns from her ACL injury, but even pacey wingers with good defensive work rate.
The double pivot remains a constant reference: Eveliina Summanen holds the line as the deeper midfielder, anchoring play and protecting the defence, while Drew Spence has licence to roam and act as box-to-box playmaker. Ahead of them, the left winger and central attacking midfielder rotate into dual 10 roles: the winger drifts inside while the 10 pulls slightly wider to the right, creating a fluid central box.
These spaces are occupied by versatile attackers such as Olivia Holdt, Jess Naz and Matilda Vinberg, who are all capable of playing across the frontline, and even by captain and natural striker Beth England. New signing Cathinka Tandberg leads the line at centre forward. She is on 4 goals and 1 assist in the WSL already, thanks to her ability to drop in, combine, and then attack the box, which also ensures the trident remains fluid and unpredictable. The 3 forwards interchange constantly, looking to unsettle defences and open up pockets between centre-back and full-back.
In possession: Spurs’ build-up reflects Ho’s SK Brann heritage: structured rotations designed to create central overloads and short passing lanes around the box. From deep, both centre-backs are expected to initiate play. The addition of Toko Koga has been crucial here: she combines the solid defensive presence Tottenham badly needed with calm ball-playing ability, evidenced by her 105 touches against West Ham, more than any teammate by a distance.
In possession, the rotations are designed less as a rigid shape change and more as a way to overload central lanes. Spurs circulate patiently, but the intention is always to find vertical passes into the half-spaces where the dual 10s operate. The striker frequently drops short to connect play and create lay-offs, pulling defenders out and freeing gaps for runners to attack.
The wide players act more as release valves than primary outlets. Once pressure is drawn centrally, switches of play or cut-backs from advanced full-backs can become decisive. Having attackers with different dribbling profiles adds variety: Holdt and Olga Ahtinen can unpick tight spaces with close control, while Naz provides pace to break into open channels. This mix gives Tottenham multiple ways to destabilise a block once the ball arrives in advanced areas.
The style is best described as vertical tiki-taka: possession used with patience, but always geared towards sharp vertical combinations and breaking lines around the box. The best actions from Tottenham’s season have come from these patterns, creating chances through sharp interchanges at the edge of the area and well-timed runs from midfield.
Out of possession: Without the ball, Spurs defend in a traditional 4-2-3-1 that often looks like a 4-4-1-1 or 4-4-2, depending on the 10’s position. The 2 banks of 4 stay compact and narrow, with wingers tracking to support their full-backs. The press is trigger-based rather than player-to-player across the whole pitch: they step higher when the opponent plays into full-backs or slows circulation; otherwise, the priority is protecting central lanes.
The arrival of Koga has already raised the defensive baseline; her positioning and anticipation cut lanes, and her calm distribution under pressure helps Spurs reset without just clearing long. This structure has also mitigated last season’s issue of overly adventurous full-backs, since the right one acts as an extra centre-back, evidenced by how effectively they've kept explosive attacks quiet this season, and by solid preseason showings even against top teams like Arsenal.
One area still under review is midfield connectivity in transition. All 3 midfielders are naturally dynamic; even Summanen is held more by tactical instruction than by instinct. When recoveries are late, space can open behind the midfield line, leaving units disconnected and inviting direct counters. It was a recurring problem last season and remains a key adjustment for Ho to nail down to prevent the opponent’s central progression.
Key players:
Beth England – The captain and forward remains Tottenham’s reference point. She provides goals, link play and leadership, but what sets her apart is her willingness to cover every blade of grass. England drops short to knit together combinations, drifts wide to drag defenders out, and then attacks the box with timing and conviction. Her finishing gives Spurs a reliable source of goals, but just as important is her spirit of sacrifice; she is prepared to defend at the edge of her own penalty area if required, setting the tone for her teammates. A proven winner and WSL legend, she embodies the mentality Martin Ho wants: selfless, relentless and decisive.
Toko Koga – The summer signing has immediately changed the landscape of Spurs’ defence. Koga offers exactly the blend they lacked last season: strong 1-v-1 defending, anticipation in duels, and calm progression from the back. She is confident carrying the ball, switching play to the full-backs, or stepping forward to link with midfield. Her composure helps the team absorb pressure and stay organised, ensuring Tottenham can hold their defensive line higher and commit players safely to attacking rotations.
Eveliina Summanen – Summanen is rarely substituted, and for good reason. As the holding midfielder, she provides balance to every phase, protecting the defence while keeping circulation smooth. She reads the game well, cutting out passing lanes and breaking up play with timing and physicality in duels. Her distribution is simple but effective, always available as a passing option to recycle or to start forward moves. Importantly, Summanen’s role requires discipline: by staying anchored, she allows Spence and the advanced players to roam more freely, even if her natural instincts are more dynamic. Her reliability, stamina and tactical understanding make her the glue of the side.
This is a paid partnership between The Cutback and Football Manager.