July 18th 2023.
Tottenham's first outing under new manager Ange Postecoglou ended in a 3-2 defeat to West Ham in Perth on Tuesday, but the scoreline did not reflect the overall performance. Spurs were full of attacking intent and energy, dominating possession and territory, and working a constant stream of openings with dynamic build-up play. It was clear that Postecoglou's philosophy is a stark contrast to his predecessors, with the players displaying a fluidity and freedom that was not present under Antonio Conte.
Spurs created a total of 30 shots and had 72% of possession, yet defensive issues were exposed in the match. Transition and set-pieces were especially problematic, with Divin Mubama left unmarked for West Ham's second goal. It is clear that Postecoglou will need to find centre-backs better equipped to play the high line his system demands. Both Sergio Reguilon and Pedro Porro were at fault for West Ham's first half goals, while a high line was exposed with Gianluca Scamacca's winner.
The second-half saw the introduction of Spurs' three summer signings, and it was Manor Solomon who impressed the most. The Israel international linked up well with Reguilon down the left and provided an explosive, dribbling, one-v-one threat. James Maddison played a more orthodox number 10 role than many had been expecting, while Guglielmo Vicario was mixed on his debut. However, it was Destiny Udogie who stole the show, impressing in his 45 minutes with a brilliant flicked header and energy down the left flank. Yves Bissouma was also exceptional and has shown why he has been labelled a 'like a new signing'.
Overall, it was a highly encouraging performance from Tottenham and it shows that Postecoglou's system will bring the best out of the squad. With some tinkering in defence, Spurs could be a real force this season.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
