Tottenham Hotspur had excessive hopes of a profitable 2024/25 season heading into the brand new marketing campaign.
And whereas these hopes have not been completely dampened, there’s been a little bit little bit of expectation administration following three rounds of Premier League fixtures.
Spurs have taken 4 factors from a attainable 9, beating Everton however faltering on journeys to Leicester Metropolis and Newcastle United.
This is what we realized concerning the north Londoners from their first three fixtures.
Dominic Solanke, a person who had beforehand not been sidelined with damage because the invention of the wheel, has thus far missed two video games for Tottenham by damage.
Spurs’ new star striker confirmed promising indicators in his debut away at Leicester and nearly actually would have feasted in opposition to Everton, nevertheless it was the loss at Newcastle the place Ange Postecoglou actually missed Solanke.
A scarcity of a pure striker was a two-fold cause behind Tottenham’s inefficiency at instances final season, missing one other finisher but additionally a bodily determine to guide the road in Postecoglou’s preferrred approach.
Solanke ticks all of the bins for what Postecoglou and Spurs want. It has been an actual supply of frustration that he is already needed to take a backseat function so early in his north London profession.
On paper, Spurs had a fairly respectable switch window.
They’ve continued to convey down the common age of the squad and have strengthened in key areas that clearly wanted addressing. Nonetheless, they did not full the entire mandatory enterprise and there are questions over how younger was too younger for these incomings.
Left-back Future Udogie lacks competitors and his performances have dipped since his breakout at first of final season, whereas Micky van de Ven is the one centre-back who is actually able to sweeping up in Postecoglou’s excessive line.
The shock £25m deal to usher in Wilson Odobert from Burnley might age fantastically, with the 19-year-old the right match for Tottenham’s system. Nonetheless, if Spurs are to compete immediately, it is regular to ask whether or not they need to have moved for a extra proved and senior possibility.
Tottenham will in all probability view this because the second summer season out of three or 4 making an attempt to construct a squad in Postecoglou’s imaginative and prescient. They could additionally look again at this as a missed alternative to enhance within the right here and now.
Tottenham’s downfall final season started with an unlucky spate of accidents, and it is evident they’re in no temper to be derailed by such a disaster once more.
No possibilities have been taken over Solanke, Van de Ven or Richarlison after they picked up minor issues in August. With an extended season together with an prolonged Europa League marketing campaign forward, they might thank themselves later for being so cautious.
Alright, 4 factors from three video games doesn’t recommend a crew has wonderful depth, however Postecoglou has way more arms to play than he did final yr.
The midfield division is tremendous stacked, with Archie Grey and Lucas Bergvall making such a robust impression over the summer season that Spurs determined in opposition to including yet one more physique in that space.
In the meantime, Radu Dragusin impressed within the absence of Van de Ven, and Brennan Johnson rediscovered his mojo after approaching as an alternative quite than beginning.
Even when Tottenham are lacking key gamers, they now have a number of completely different varieties they will tackle.
This is not actually an August studying, however one to bear in mind for a number of months down the road.
Postecoglou has pressured that his groups play his model of soccer as a result of, in the end, it wins video games and titles.
Perhaps for the primary time in his managerial profession, he’s dealing with questions over whether or not his facet can really succeed when taking part in such a dangerous defensive recreation.
Twice already this season, Tottenham have ceded management in video games they have been dominant in, and that is not simply right down to lacking their very own possibilities.
If Postecoglou is to ship tangible success, then he must adapt and show he can discover new methods to win.
