As Ange Postecoglou wraps up his inaugural season at Tottenham Hotspur, the club finds itself in a place of cautious optimism mixed with frustration. Finishing fifth in the Premier League, Spurs narrowly missed out on a coveted Champions League spot. This outcome, although not disastrous, underlined the team's struggle with the same inconsistency that has plagued them in recent campaigns.
Together with the fans, Postecoglou will be scrutinizing the 3-0 victory against Sheffield United that sealed their position. Despite the strong finish, the season’s opening stages told a different story, with Tottenham starting the 2024-25 campaign with only one win from their early matches. Retaining much of the previous season's squad, Tottenham's strategy in the summer transfer window was notably youth-centric.
Focus on Youth
The club stayed true to its promise of investing in future stars, bringing in promising young talents such as Wilson Odobert, Lucas Bergvall, and Archie Gray. These investments represent a strategic shift towards building a squad that can grow and develop together over the coming seasons. Additionally, the signing of Dominic Solanke, who is currently sidelined with a short-term injury, hints at Postecoglou’s intent to strengthen multiple facets of the squad.
Possession and Passing: A Tactical Paradigm
Numbers often tell a compelling story in football, and Tottenham's remain impressive in certain areas. The club ranks consistently within the top four in the Premier League for possession, passing, and attacking metrics. Their dominance was evident in matches against Leicester City and Newcastle United, where they controlled nearly 70% and 65% possession, respectively.
Despite these numbers, the effectiveness in front of goal has varied. Generating expected goals of 1.18 against Leicester City and 1.26 against Newcastle indicates an ability to create scoring opportunities. However, converting those chances remains a sticking point. A particular area of concern is the performance of the midfield trio of Rodrigo Bentancur, Yves Bissouma, and Pape Matar Sarr. This unit has yet to deliver the confidence and stability expected from such a crucial part of the pitch.
International Commitments and New Additions
With several key players such as Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Radu Dragusin, and Rodrigo Bentancur being involved in international competitions over the summer, Tottenham's squad faced further challenges in terms of fitness and readiness for the new season. The addition of Johnny Cardoso from Real Betis on transfer deadline day is seen as a necessary move to bolster the squad’s depth.
The North London Derby Looms
The stage is now set for one of the most anticipated fixtures on the Tottenham calendar: the clash with Arsenal. Last season saw a thrilling 2-2 draw at the Emirates and a narrow 3-2 defeat at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. These encounters highlight the fine margins that often decide the outcome of the North London Derby.
For the forthcoming match, Tottenham's chances might receive a boost due to possible absences within the Arsenal ranks, with key figures Declan Rice and potentially Martin Odegaard expected to miss the fixture. Postecoglou remains focused on striking a balance between an attacking philosophy and defensive solidity. This balance will be crucial as Tottenham seek to turn possession and passing superiority into tangible results.
In summary, Ange Postecoglou’s first season at Tottenham can be seen as a foundation-laying period, characterized by a blend of promise and recurring challenges. The next steps involve not only integrating young talents and new signings but also finding the consistency needed to break into the Premier League's upper echelon. As Tottenham fans look ahead, the blend of youth and tactical prowess offers a vision of hope and potential success.