On Sunday afternoon, Tottenham Hotspur made history with four debut starters, a feat that hadn’t been seen in a Premier League game for 19 years. It signaled a new beginning for the team, characterized by change and fresh energy.
In addition to the new players, there was a new head coach, a new captain, and the absence of their star player, Harry Kane. The match against Brentford ended in a 2-2 draw, the same scoreline as their previous visit to this stadium eight months ago. However, the overall atmosphere and performance were drastically different.
The previous match at Brentford was a desperate attempt to salvage a 2-0 deficit, which had become a recurring theme for Tottenham at that time. It marked the ninth game in a row where they conceded the first goal. Fans were losing faith in Antonio Conte’s repetitive approach, which offered little variation or improvement. Prior to that, Spurs had drawn a scoreless match at Brentford, prompting criticism of Conte’s refusal to change his struggling 3-4-3 system.
This time around, only three players from the previous Boxing Day draw started the game. It was also the youngest lineup Tottenham had fielded in a Premier League match in three and a half years, with an average age of 25 years and 65 days.
Brentford manager Thomas Frank acknowledged the more offensive-minded approach of the new-look Tottenham team, citing their performances in friendly matches and Ange Postecoglou’s previous tenure at Celtic.
While it wasn’t a flawless display from Spurs, the need for something different was evident. Tottenham fans remember the feeling of having a new manager who achieved early wins but lacked conviction. They understood that such wins only served as temporary fixes, masking underlying issues.
Before the match even started, the players initiated a huddle with the away fans, symbolizing unity and a fresh start. This sense of togetherness had been lacking in recent times. It was remarkable to hear the fans chanting the head coach’s name, demonstrating their support after just 11 minutes following Cristian Romero’s goal.
James Maddison, who made an impressive debut wearing Kane’s No 10 shirt, set up the goal. Another debutant, Micky van de Ven, also received recognition from the Spurs fans for his early involvement in the match. Among the new players, goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario and Destiny Udogie also earned praise from Postecoglou, as three out of the five defenders made their Premier League debuts.
The early minutes of the game witnessed tactical flexibility, with Emerson Royal moving from right-back to central midfield and Udogie mirroring this on the other flank. Royal’s goal just before halftime showcased Tottenham’s offensive potential as well as their defensive vulnerabilities, as he was caught out by long balls. This was reminiscent of last season when Spurs scored 70 goals but conceded 63.
Overall, Tottenham displayed a more ambitious and proactive style of play compared to the previous season. They attacked with purpose and creativity, even in matches where they weren’t trailing. In this game, they had 358 touches in the attacking third, surpassing their highest number from last season.
Postecoglou acknowledged that his team could have capitalized more on their territorial advantage in the second half. However, what was encouraging was their control and proactive approach during this period. Unlike last season, they didn’t retreat when a positive result was within their grasp. Instead, they maintained their attacking momentum, forcing Brentford into a passive stance.
With 69% possession and eight shots on target, Tottenham demonstrated their dominance. However, their expected goals (xG) of 1.26 non-penalty expected goals fell below 20 of last season’s 38 games. It is clear that it will take some time for Postecoglou’s attacking patterns to fully integrate and produce desired results.
No one, including Postecoglou, denies that Tottenham still has many flaws and issues to address. However, this game marked a significant departure from last season’s performances, offering excitement and promise for the future.
And that’s just the beginning.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
