> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.pitchsidedocket.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Wilson Odobert’s UCL Performance and Why It Was Better Than His FotMob Ratings - URL: https://www.pitchsidedocket.com/why-wilson-odoberts-ucl-performance/ - Published: 2025-12-12T06:13:27.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-12T00:06:05.000Z - Author: Jason Figueiredo - Tags: Tactics Three points are usually an excellent soother for fans on the verge of souring. However, Tottenham Hotspur’s win in the UEFA Champions League this week, while joyous in its own right, still raises the question: Did our offense do enough to quell those hankering concerns? And, was there enough improvement from their win over Brentford for the team to be considered on the mend? If you just look at the scoreline for the game against Slavia Prague, three goals for and zero against will usually satisfy the senses. Even when you factor in the lesser-talented opponent, it’s hard to argue against this being a respectable tally. As your eyes drift to xG, the numbers posted will continue to send tingling endorphines down your spine, making you believe that the just-out-of-reach corner is in sight, a few steps from the turn. Two straight games with xG over two have to be a trend. Right? But, then, you get distracted… Looking deeper at the three scores, an own goal and two penalty kick goals dampen things just a bit, especially when you consider the cries for more creativity from open play. Although both penalties resulted from aggressive, front-footed play, Spurs npXG drops to 1.2 without the penalties. While still above one, something Spurs struggled to achieve over many matches this season, a little less heart-thumping. Certainly, things have improved over the past few weeks, but this game didn’t really feel like a step up. And if it was a step up, it was a half step at best. From just an eye test, the offensive force and persistence in the Brentford game felt more direct and smooth. If FotMob game ratings are any indication, most of the starting XI had wonderful games. While only **Wilson Odobert** and **Richarlison** failed to reach the 7.0 mark, Odobert’s performance gets lost in the shuffle despite showing more reasons why he should be a staple for Thomas Frank on the left side. Odobert has a way of grabbing my attention when playing on the left side. The channel is one of the Spurs’ biggest concerns, and they desperately need to find more ways to activate this side if they ever hope to become a true threat in the Premier League. Despite getting the second fewest touches in the game, Odobert made the most with the ball. He led the team in xAG (0.4), tied the team lead in shots (2), and finished third in attempted take-ons (4). In fact, it was Odobert’s first-minute cross that provided the highest npXG in the game. **If Only Spurs Had a Brazilian Striker Who Could Finish** Watching this game already knowing the score, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from Spurs on the offensive side of the ball. This first-minute interaction between **Djed Spence** and Odobert instilled visions of a breakout game for Odobert, a scoreline with several duels and attempted crosses. Unfortunately, those would never come because, for some reason, they decided never to go back to that well after Richarlison’s header was deflected directly into the goalie’s body. The play starts off with Spence streaking up the left line with the ball after gaining possession in his own third. He laces a beautiful ball to Odobert running at full speed down the line. This connection worked well in previous games, and seeing this pass link-up right out of the gates was exciting. The chemistry between these two is apparent and should be exploited whenever possible. ![A group of people playing football AI-generated content may be incorrect.](https://www.pitchsidedocket.com/content/images/2026/09/https-3a-2f-2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com-2fpublic--Mjc1LnBuZw.png "A group of people playing football AI-generated content may be incorrect.") The aggressiveness of Odobert is palpable. There is no hesitation when he gets the ball. He sees a path to the box with only one defender in front of him and makes a move to beat his man. ![A football game with people in the stands AI-generated content may be incorrect.](https://www.pitchsidedocket.com/content/images/2026/09/https-3a-2f-2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com-2fpublic--MjcwLnBuZw.png "A football game with people in the stands AI-generated content may be incorrect.") Once he has his man beat and sees he has also pulled a defender to unclog the center of the box, he drops in a beautiful cross to a waiting Richy, who could have started this game off with a bang, but ended up saddling the two participants with nothing to show for it on the stat sheet at the end of the game. ![A football game on a field AI-generated content may be incorrect.](https://www.pitchsidedocket.com/content/images/2026/09/https-3a-2f-2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com-2fpublic--MjYyLnBuZw-1.png "A football game on a field AI-generated content may be incorrect.") **Underated Take On + Cross/Shot** As the first half began to wind down, Odobert finally got back into action, thanks to an unwieldy run by Mohammed Kudus up the right channel and then cutting his way back to the center as he neared the box. ![A group of football players on a field AI-generated content may be incorrect.](https://www.pitchsidedocket.com/content/images/2026/09/https-3a-2f-2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com-2fpublic--Dc4NC5wbmc.png "A group of football players on a field AI-generated content may be incorrect.") Odobert received the pass from Kudus about 18 yards to the left of the box, and his defender immediately met him. Instinctively, he moves laterally with the ball further down the left channel, hoping to create with his preferred left foot. However, Spence’s run brings his defender into Odobert’s path, creating a 1v2 that Odobert would need to navigate. ![A group of football players on a field AI-generated content may be incorrect.](https://www.pitchsidedocket.com/content/images/2026/09/https-3a-2f-2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com-2fpublic--DgwNC5wbmc.png "A group of football players on a field AI-generated content may be incorrect.") Instead of bringing his two defenders into the crowded corner with Spence and the defender marking him also migrating to that spot, Odobert goes Kool-Aid man, deciding to just break through the two-defender wall into the much more open area at the top of the box. An overly aggressive move that many other players may not try, and luckily for him, one that was successful. Once through the two-man, Odobert had to make a quick decision. But with four men covering Richy and Grey in the box, his options became limited. ![A football game on a field AI-generated content may be incorrect.](https://www.pitchsidedocket.com/content/images/2026/09/https-3a-2f-2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com-2fpublic--Dc4Ni5wbmc.png "A football game on a field AI-generated content may be incorrect.") What came to pass was most likely a cross to Richy that was easily handled by the goalkeeper. A shot might have been a better option considering Richy’s earlier failures and the fact that he was tightly marked. The vision and determination were there, but the final execution was just slightly askew. ![A football game on a field AI-generated content may be incorrect.](https://www.pitchsidedocket.com/content/images/2026/09/https-3a-2f-2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com-2fpublic--Dc5Ni5wbmc.png "A football game on a field AI-generated content may be incorrect.") **Yearning for a Better Shot** Odobert’s last bit of action against Slavia came during the 52-minute and could have ended with much more exhilaration for the French International if it were not for **Jindrich Stanek’s** excellent goaltending, accompanied by an unideal shot placement. Some great defensive work from **Archie Gray** and **Joao Palhinha** ignites the breakout play. After collecting the ball near the attacking third, Gray has a streaking Richy, Xavi Simons, and Odobert running alongside with him. ![A football game on a green field AI-generated content may be incorrect.](https://www.pitchsidedocket.com/content/images/2026/09/https-3a-2f-2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com-2fpublic--Dc5Ni5wbmc-1.png "A football game on a green field AI-generated content may be incorrect.") With Richy drifting offside and a difficult passing lane to Xavi, Gray opts to curve a pass to Odobert towards the top left of the box. ![A group of football players on a field AI-generated content may be incorrect.](https://www.pitchsidedocket.com/content/images/2026/09/https-3a-2f-2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com-2fpublic--DgwNC5wbmc-1.png "A group of football players on a field AI-generated content may be incorrect.") Upon first touch, Odobert found himself with three options: 1) drive with the ball to the baseline, hoping to beat his man and snap a cross back towards the net, 2) attempt a back-post cross to Xavi, or 3) drop it off for Spence, who was often trying to do too much with the ball. ![A football game on a field AI-generated content may be incorrect.](https://www.pitchsidedocket.com/content/images/2026/09/https-3a-2f-2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com-2fpublic--Dc5Ni5wbmc-2.png "A football game on a field AI-generated content may be incorrect.") He chooses to shoot the ball, which is not a bad decision given his position and the distance to the closest defender. However, his execution was just slightly off again. Instead of hammering the shot into the far bottom corner, his shot ends up way too close to the goalkeeper for a challenging but much more manageable save. ![A football game with players on a field AI-generated content may be incorrect.](https://www.pitchsidedocket.com/content/images/2026/09/https-3a-2f-2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com-2fpublic--DgwNC5wbmc-2.png "A football game with players on a field AI-generated content may be incorrect.") Odobert is just one of many current Spurs on the verge of a breakout game. The big names brought in during the previous transfer windows might be getting all of the attention for their untapped potential, but the Frenchmen should be included in this group of young talent waiting to burst. Even when getting tapped to start games, Odobert’s talents are underutilized at times, making his performances seem less impressive than they may actually be. Spurs need to test defenses down that left line a bit more, and Odobert is without a doubt the best option that they currently have. An option willing to take chances and create with every touch. And, with more touches, I truly believe an increase in team xG (and xAG) will come.