Tottenham are reborn under new manager Ange Postecoglou, and have found new leaders in Son Heung-min and James Maddison
Pep Guardiola famously referred to Tottenham Hotspur as “The Harry Kane Team,” which was not well received in north London. However, there was some truth behind it. Kane was the focal point of the Spurs’ offense and served as their captain.
The “Ange-ball” period is centered on the squad as a whole, pushing and attacking without concentrating on a single talisman. In the post-Kane era, they are developing in the following ways under Ange Postecoglou:
Son as a central striker
In the summer transfer window, Spurs prioritized midfielders and flexible forwards over a No. 9 who would serve as the centerpiece of Postecoglou’s attack. Son Heung-min’s ability to play through the middle after years of assisting Kane from his wide starting position contributed in part to this.
Son is Spurs’ press leader, which is a crucial component of Postecoglou’s strategy. Because of his dribbling skills, he stands out among Premier League No. 9s in a big way. With his weekend hat-trick against Burnley coming from runs behind the defense, the South Korean attacker will not be a tap-in king this season.
“He wants to have the ball, he wants to dominate the game, and he wants to play as high and in their half of the pitch as possible, which our players are really interested in it and put a lot of effort into it so everyone is enjoying it and you could see on the pitch that everyone is playing with joy, with the happiness which is very helpful for the team,” said Son.
Mad for it
The playmaking of James Maddison from the No. 10 position and his slicked-back blonde hair have become a familiar sight so far this season. Kane changed his style to play a little deeper in this region of the pitch during the past few years.
Even Kane’s No. 10 shirt, which went nearly undetected at the beginning of the season due to the speed with which Kane left for Bayern Munich, has been seized by Maddison.
Although it is acknowledged that Kane will not be replaced, it is obvious that Postecoglou’s Spurs will attack via Maddison. At Turf Moore, he utilised a variety of passing techniques to get his team ahead before adding a danger in and around the penalty area. Seems to thrive on stick from the crowd and getting fouled.
New leaders
Hugo Lloris served as Spurs’ captain, not Kane, although Kane was unquestionably the club’s captain. There is a distinct leadership team under Postecoglou without Lloris and Kane.
Son has been named captain, Maddison has been named vice-captain, and Cristian Romero is the next in command. At Turf Moor, all three of them scored in the 5-2 victory over Burnley. Postecoglou stated later that the group was taking its daily duties at the Bulls Cross training facility for Spurs very seriously. As talented as each player is individually, Postecoglou emphasized the importance of the team mentality.
Angles of attack
Pedro Porro, a right-back, provides a crucial attacking aspect. He drifts inside, as full-backs are increasingly doing, and may make classic crosses or passes behind the defenses of the opposition. Although he has committed blunders on defense, he still poses a real danger on offense for Spurs.
After spending the previous season on loan back at Udinese, Destiny Udogie is also experiencing a breakout season at left-back. In the middle of the field, Pape Matar Sarr and Yves Bissouma offer a strong foundation for others to advance.
Fresh blood
Brennan Johnson will play across the front three after being acquired from Nottingham Forest for £45 million. Postecoglou has observed undeveloped ability that he can grow.
“He’s a real threat in the front third, he’s different from what we’ve already got, and he’s young and ambitious,” the Spurs manager stated.
It’s no secret that she serves as my role model. Because he is driven, hungry, and eager to advance his game, he appears to fit in well with this group. Football is just as much about the person as it is about the player. Given his technical and athletic skills, he ought to blend in quite well.
Spreading the goals
Seven different players have scored goals in Spurs’ four Premier League games. Son had not scored before the weekend, and Romero is in prolific scoring mode after tallying two goals this season after going scoreless in the previous campaign.
Since Kane’s departure, the goals have been spread out rather than relying on one player, thanks to Emerson Royal, Dejan Kulusevski, Sarr, and an own goal.
“If you have Harry Kane on your team, you have 20 to 30 goals in your pocket safely, but this is part of football,” added Son. “Harry is one of the best players in the world and one of the best players to work with.” You don’t have Harry Kane on your side, therefore everyone has a major duty.
