It was Mourinho who brought Hojbjerg to Spurs from Southampton back in 2020, with the midfielder being a mainstay in the club’s starting eleven for the past three seasons.

However, things have changed for the Dane under Ange Postecoglou, who has preferred a central midfield pairing of Yves Bissouma and Pape Sarr behind James Maddison.

The 28-year-old was handed his first start of the Premier League season against Fulham on Monday as Bissouma was suspended, with Postecoglou praising the player for the way he handled that ball in Tottenham’s 2-0 win (Football.London).

Hojbjerg himself admitted after the game that it felt ‘amazing’ to get the first 90 minutes of the season under his belt and called on his teammates to continue building on their momentum by taking one game at a time (The Independent).

Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Hojbjerg was Conte and Mourinho’s favourite

While discussing how the former Saints star’s situation at Spurs has changed this season, The Athletic have now pointed out the close relationship the player had with Postecoglou’s predecessors.

In fact, the publication asserts that some at Tottenham felt that Hojbjerg was close to Mourinho and Conte in ‘a borderline sycophantic way’.

Spurs Web Opinion

Postecoglou has demonstrated that he trusts Hojbjerg, with the Australian bringing him on as a substitute on seven occasions this season before the clash against Fulham.

Although the Dane has different characteristics to Bissouma, he has showcased that he is technically good enough to play in Ange’s system

The post Report: Some at Spurs felt one player was too close to Mourinho and Conte  appeared first on Spurs Web - Tottenham Hotspur Football News.

Despite being a product of the club’s academy, Japhet Tanganga has not really progressed to the level Tottenham Hotspur would hope, it seems. The defender was little more than a peripheral figure under both Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte.

The former gave Tanganga his big break at Spurs, but under Conte, the player found his opportunities drastically limited.

As a result, Tanganga had been consistently linked with a move away from Tottenham, with interest from Serie A clubs in January and over the summer. That interest failed to turn into a transfer, however, and Tanganga is now on loan at German side FC Augsburg for the season.

The problem is, the 24-year-old is currently injured so has yet to feature for the Bundesliga outfit, but he is due back in the near future.

(Photo by Amphol Thongmueangluang/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Tanganga had two moves fall through in recent years

Now, De Fanti has been speaking to TuttoMercatoWeb about Tanganga and the reasons why he is not at an Italian team right now.

De Fanti said: “His arrival [to Torino] was linked to an exit. The negotiation began when [Alessandro] Buongiorno was about to go to Atalanta. [Davide] Vagnati has always had a great passion for Tanganga, a defender who debuted with Mourinho and also played with Conte, who blocked his transfer to AC Milan in 2022.

“It then happened that Buongiorno did not go to Atalanta and the negotiation fell through. In the end, we defined the transfer on loan with the right of redemption to Augsburg, a German club very oriented to take players from the Premier League.”

Spurs Web Opinion

I feel for Tanganga, as he has never been given a proper chance at Spurs but was then not allowed to leave, either. Hopefully, he can get back fit as soon as possible and show what he can do at Augsburg.

The post Player’s agent claims Antonio Conte blocked Spurs man from joining AC Milan appeared first on Spurs Web - Tottenham Hotspur Football News.

It has been seven months since Conte was sacked by Spurs following his explosive rant where he hit out at the club’s players, accusing them all of being selfish following the 3-3 draw at St Mary’s (ESPN).

It was reported by Sport Mediaset (via VoceGiallorossa) at the start of this month that Roma could turn to the 53-year-old to replace Mourinho but that speculation has died down as the Giallorossi’s form has improved.

Sky Sport Italia claimed last week that the former Tottenham head coach was being considered by Napoli as a potential replacement for Rudi Garcia.

The report added that the Serie A club’s hierarchy held a meeting about the Frenchman’s future and that Conte’s name was discussed.

Conte has now admitted that he would be open to taking over at the Stadio Olimpico or the Diego Armando Maradona stadium.

When asked if the Roma or Napoli hot seats would interest him, he told Rai TV program Belve, (as relayed by Football Italia): “Those are two clubs that I’d like to try for the passion fans have. I hope one day I’ll have a chance to live this experience.”

Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images

No love lost between ex-Spurs Conte and Mourinho

He made it clear that he will not take a job in the middle of the season, remarking that “those situations have been created before I arrive”, which is perhaps a reference to his time at Spurs.

Conte and Mourinho had a high-profile public spat a few years ago when the former was in charge of Chelsea and the latter of Manchester United (Sky Sports).

Talking about that argument, the Italian revealed that he once said to the Portuguese coach: “I’ll see you in my office.” When pressed on further details, the former Spurs boss added: “I come from the street, never forget it.”

Spurs Web Opinion

I have a feeling that we are going to keep hearing digs about Tottenham from Conte over the next year or so as his ego will not allow him to accept that he ultimately failed.

It certainly helps that Postecoglou has shown him up so far by bringing the best out of the players that he deemed to be not good enough.

The post ‘Created before I arrive’ – Antonio Conte may have hinted towards Spurs mistake appeared first on Spurs Web - Tottenham Hotspur Football News.

Conte left Spurs following his infamous rant back in March, where he accused all the players of being selfish and not being able to handle pressure (ESPN).

Tottenham appointed Ange Postecoglou as his replacement in the summer and the Australian has led the Lilywhites to their best start to a season in over 60 years, with Spurs now sitting at the top of the Premier League table with six wins from eight matches.

Conte has been linked with a return to management over recent weeks, with Sport Mediaset (via VoceGiallorossa) claiming two weeks ago that AS Roma could potentially appoint him as Jose Mourinho’s replacement.

A couple of days ago, Sky Sport Italia suggested that Rudi Garcia’s position at Napoli was under consideration after their poor start to the season, with the Serie A club’s hierarchy alleged to have discussed Conte as an option.

(Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images)

Conte is focused on family after Tottenham exit

When asked about potentially taking over at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, Conte has now told CalcioMercato: “Future? I enjoy my family, I made a clear choice when I decided to stop with Tottenham. I want to rest and enjoy my family but many things can happen along the way. Napoli? Great respect and education are needed.”

Spurs Web Opinion

I have no doubt that Conte will be back working in the game well before the end of the season. He is the first person that all the top Serie A clubs will turn to if they decide to make a managerial change.

The post ‘Made a clear choice’ – Antonio Conte mentions Tottenham in latest interview appeared first on Spurs Web - Tottenham Hotspur Football News.

It has been seven months since Conte was sacked by Spurs following his explosive rant where he hit out at the club’s players, accusing them all of being selfish following the 3-3 draw at St Mary’s (ESPN).

It was reported by Sport Mediaset (via VoceGiallorossa) two weeks ago that AS Roma could turn to the 53-year-old to replace Jose Mourinho but that speculation has died down after the Giallorossi registered three back-to-back wins.

(Photo by Robin Jones – AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images)

Napoli could make a move for Antonio Conte

Sky Italia have now claimed that Napoli could turn to Conte after their disappointing start to the season.

Rudi Garcia only took over from Luciano Spalletti this summer but the Frenchman’s position is allegedly being evaluated after the reigning Serie A champions have won just four of their first eight league games.

It is revealed that Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis and other club officials held a meeting on Monday to discuss Garcia’s future, with the Partenopei said to be eyeing Conte as a potential replacement.

Spurs Web Opinion

Even though Conte struggled to compete in the Premier League against the best managers in world football, he is still a very good manager, who organises his sides well and I have no doubt that he will do well in the Serie A when he returns to management.

The post Report: Former Spurs boss Antonio Conte is being considered for manager job appeared first on Spurs Web - Tottenham Hotspur Football News.

Conte has already replaced Jose Mourinho in North London (although they were both separated by a short spell by Nuno Espirito Santo in the middle) and it now looks like the Italian could once again follow the Portuguese coach at Roma.

Sport Mediaset say that Mourinho is coming under pressure after Roma’s poor start to the season, with the club currently sitting in 13th place – a long way off their objective of Champions League qualification.

It is suggested his departure from the Giallorossi has thus become a serious subject as rumours of the club seeking a replacement are starting to intensify.

(Photo by Robin Jones – AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images)

Roma could go from Mourinho to Antonio Conte

The report asserts that Conte, who parted ways with Tottenham a little over six months ago, is ready to return to the game and could become an option for Roma.

The outlet explains that while the 54-year-old’s great relationship with Romelu Lukaku could help attract him to the Stadio Olimpico, his salary demands might prove an obstacle for the Serie A giants.

Spurs Web Opinion

Even though the Conte experiment backfired for Spurs and he proved not to be the right fit for the club, the Italian is undoubtedly a good manager, who has complete faith in his principles. 

There is no doubt that he is an upgrade over Mourinho, whose ideas are now completely outdated, and I would not be surprised if the 54-year-old does well at Roma if he does get the job.

The post Report: Serie A side are eyeing up the same manager sequence Spurs went for appeared first on Spurs Web - Tottenham Hotspur Football News.

While Romero was outstanding in his first full season in the Premier League following his switch from Atalanta in the summer of 2021, he was one of several Tottenham players who performed significantly under par last season.

The centre-back’s displays, particularly during the second half of last season following his return from Argentina’s victorious World Cup campaign, left a lot to be desired.

(Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images)

Speaking to The Athletic in the summer, Romero admitted that the standard of his performances last season was not up to the mark but insisted that he remains fully committed to Tottenham and expressed his desire to showcase his best self this season.

In a different interview, the centre-back was also quite complimentary of Ange Postecoglou, admitting that the Australian is exactly the kind of manager that the Lilywhites needed (Evening Standard).

Cristian Romero would have asked to leave Spurs

Bridge has now explained that the 25-year-old and Conte simply did not get along.

The journalist said on the Last Word On Spurs podcast: “With Romero, I got told by a very good source that if Conte would’ve stayed, Romero would’ve left. It’s irrelevant now, but I don’t think them two really clicked at all.”

Spurs Web Opinion 

Conte has a history of falling out with his players towards the end of his spell at various clubs and the same thing appears to have happened at Tottenham.

However, I do sympathise with the Italian as he was going through a difficult time in his personal life while also having to cope with some health problems.

The post Journalist reveals one key Spurs star would have left if Conte had stayed  appeared first on Spurs Web - Tottenham Hotspur Football News.

Just two games into the 2023/24 Premiere League season, and the impact of two 20-year-old prodigies has been instrumental to Tottenham’s flourishing display of football.

Under Ange’s guidance, Spurs have implemented possession-orientated, free-flowing tactics that have allowed for bounds of creativity and freedom for players across the board.

As a result, the coach has garnered a positive, likeable admiration from players like Dejan Kulusevski and Yves Bissouma– who have both been quick to publicly praise the new manager (Evening Standard, Sky Sports).

But as the dust begins to settle around a tumultuous string of events at the club, a newfound confidence has been imposed by youngsters Pape Matar Sarr and Destiny Udogie who have taken ‘Ange-ball’ by storm.

Udogie and Sarr have been quick off the mark this season. Sarr scored his first Premier League goal in the home fixture against Manchester United, and Udogie has started both games.

The two twenty-year-olds have provided a breath of fresh air to all Spurs supporters; their hunger for success and confidence on the pitch has been a joy to watch, but where did they come from?

Rewind back to August of 2021. Ryan Mason was four months into his first spell as interim manager at Hotspur Way, but negotiations for world-class talent were well underway.

Enter Fabio Paratici, an ex-Italian pro that had joined the club in June, after an 11-year spell as chief footballing officer.

Quick to settle down, Fabio’s eye for talent and potential had jerked him into motion – Pape Matar Sarr, a Senegalese midfielder, had caught Paratici’s attention, as Sarr had begun to make his presence known at Ligue 1 side, FC Metz.

In his short spell at FC Metz, the Senegalese international had tallied up four goals in 26 games over the 20/21 season, predominantly playing the role of a defensive midfielder (TransferMarkt). On the 27^th of August 2021, Sarr signed for Spurs for a modest fee of £14.6 million (SkySports).

As part of the deal, Sarr was loaned back to FC Metz for the 21 -22 season. He made 33 appearances, tallying up four goal contributions (Transfer Markt), but the 22/23 season would be the start of his highly anticipated career at Spurs.

August 2022, Tottenham fans are full of optimism and hope going into the new season. Antonio Conte, now entering his ninth month in charge, has defied odds, securing Champions League football and a fourth-place finish, excitement builds for the new campaign.

LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 19: Destiny Udogie of Tottenham Hotspur is substituted off during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on August 19, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

Conte and his Italian outfit had worked wonders, and it looked like they were cooking up something special for the coming season, as Fabio Paratici signs a teenage Italian left back known as Destiny Udogie.

Destiny Udogie piqued Fabio’s interest after a sensational Serie A season. The 21/22 season saw Udogie shirt a total of 37 appearances, in which he netted five goals and assisted three (Transfer Markt).

Following his impressive performance over the season, Fabio signed Destiny for a fee of £15 million (SkySports). Similar to the deal with Pape Matar Sarr, Destiny was loaned back to Udinese for the 22/23 season. The left-sided player closed his account with 33 appearances and seven goal contributions (Transfer Markt).

Ange ball and the prodigies Destiny and Pape

Jump to current day, Ange Postecoglou is at the helm. His tactics are proving to be a joy to watch as Sarr and Udogie slot into the starting XI with relative ease.

Under Ange, Udogie finds himself sliding behind the holding midfielder along with Pedro Porro, the other fullback. This system is known as inverted fullbacks. It allows for more space down the flanks of the pitch, whilst it reinforces the central midfield.

In this position, Destiny can receive the ball, and penetrate the opposition, creating a space and a distraction to the opposition as he runs up the pitch. The tactics are high risk yet high reward, as it frees up the other midfielders.

Sarr on the other hand is finding his own responsibility amongst the likes of Yves Bissouma and James Maddison. Alternating between each other, the trio are the powerhouse of ‘Ange ball’.

As we saw in the Man United game, Sarr and Co. will sit on the outside of the box passing the ball into space, then by timing his run to perfection, he can sneak into spaces unnoticed as play evolves around him – when done well, he can deal a deadly blow to the opposition – as the Red Devils found out.

The pair’s unpredictability is certainly working in their favour. Destiny for one made his premiere league debut on the opening weekend, and Sarr, although we saw glimpses of him under Conte, he remains obscure to most oppositions.

As a result, the duo exudes excitement, the sky’s the limit for either one of their abilities, and with such offensive freedom it will be truly intriguing to see where Ange Postecoglou will take them and the rest of the team.

The post Opinion: How two 20-year-olds could define Ange-ball at Tottenham this season appeared first on Spurs Web - Tottenham Hotspur Football News.

Signed for what is still a club record fee of over £60m (TransferMarkt) from Lyon, amid great fanfare, Tanguy was supposed to be the fulcrum around which a new side could potentially be built.

A part of Pochettino’s brave new world along with Gio Lo Celso that would push on from the Champions League final defeat.

Julian Finney/Getty Images

Things started promisingly enough, a solid enough debut against Aston Villa saw him find the net in a 3-1 win (Evening Standard), but things never really ignited for the Frenchman. He struggled with injuries and was in and out of the team.

The manager who signed him departed and was replaced by the far more practical/defensive-minded Jose Mourinho; his game time diminished and Tanguy struggled to complete 90 minutes even when he was selected.

The following season was arguably the best in the Frenchman’s time at the club. He played consistently under Jose, who had seemed to get the best out of him, scoring several goals – including the audacious lob against Sheffield United. However, once again, the end of the season saw diminishing game time for the mercurial midfielder.

In some fairness to the player, being at Tottenham recently has been a rather turbulent experience and, by the start of the 2021/22 season he was onto his fourth Tottenham manager in Nuno Espirito Santo, then quickly onto his fifth in Antonio Conte.

Even those with limited understanding of the Premier League and those that frequent it, could see that Ndombele and Conte was a car crash waiting to happen, with the flair and audaciousness of Tanguy firmly at odds with the Italian manager, who valued industry, hard work and discipline above all else.

Therefore, it came as no surprise when, in the January of 2022, Tanguy was allowed to return, on loan, to his former club Lyon. Despite the erratic displays, many hoped that this move would energise Ndombele, allowing him to rediscover the form that had made him such a sought-after talent in 2019.

Disappointingly, his time back in France was unable to do this. After a bright start, the same patterns emerged and his game time decreased further and further until he returned back to London.

The following year was spent at Napoli. Once more, Tottenham fans rushed to see the positives – with an attacking manager in Luciano Spalletti, this could be the making of the man. Could it?

On paper, the season was a success – Napoli romped to the Serie A title, but Ndombele played a peripheral part in that – failing to finish 90minutes in Serie A, and ultimately being an unused sub for the five games – even when the league had been sewn up (TransferMarkt).

There is a Spanish word – ‘remontada’ that has often been used in conjunction with Tanguy Ndombele. It means ‘comeback’ and almost every Tottenham fan has hoped, on multiple occasions, for a Tanguy comeback.

Now, in Ange Postecoglu, we finally had a manager who embraced free-flowing, relentless, attacking football. If the Frenchman was ever going to succeed at Tottenham, it would be now. This was it – last chance saloon.

One straw that fans have always clutched at is that Tanguy has never had a manager who has ‘got him’. Pochettino, arguably, was that man, but the succession of managers after were very different.

Ange, although he has made it quite clear he is not overly close with the players, definitely has a ‘human’ quality and a natural warmth and made it quite clear that all would be given a clean slate.

Initially, the signs were good, Alasdair Gold, an openly dedicated ‘Tanguy-Enthusiast’ reported that the signs were good and he was impressing in training (Spurs Web). How was he going to fit in? Where would he play?

The first seed of doubt emerged when it was announced that he had taken a knock and would not play against West Ham, and then the Lion City Sailors. It seemed horribly predictable. Following the Leicester friendly debacle, he was not even mentioned in relation to the friendlies against Shakhtar or Barca. Something was amiss.

The news then emerged that no one wanted to hear, yet were completely unsurprised to find out. ‘Ange Postecoglou unimpressed with Ndombele’s attitude and timekeeping’ (Express) and that he was available for transfer. Cue the mass exhale and heads going into hands.

This was it – the death knoll was sounding loud and clear for Tanguy’s Tottenham career. Even the most ardent fan of the Frenchman can no longer identify a path of return.

As several tweets mourned, Tanguy Ndombele Remontada June ’23 – July ’23.

Upon reflection on Tanguy’s time in North London, I find it hard to fathom. I have seen very few players with such extraordinary levels of skill and control. He was able to do the unexpected, and in the process make it look so simple; making opposition players look foolish and in doing so delighting the fans.

Unfortunately, there was the other side. The player who did not work for the team, the player who was unfit and was described by Jamie Carragher on national television as ‘a disgrace’ (Evening Standard).

Despite such performances such as the one at Burnley and then Morecambe, the Tottenham fans have been remarkably forgiving, it goes to show that a play with immense talent is afforded far more ‘slack’ than a player with limited ability, who always gives it their all. Those reading between the lines understand to whom I am referring.

What next for Tanguy Ndombele?

Yet, my overriding feeling about Tanguy is sadness. It would be easy to point the finger at him and brand him ‘lazy’ or ‘greedy’. Similarly, I could engage in a diatribe about how ‘If I was on £200k a week, I’d at least get to work on time’.

But – if the situation with Dele has taught us anything – we may only be seeing the tip of the iceberg. We do not know what is going on in his life now or what has happened in his past. We cannot see the workings of his mind or where he is emotionally right now.

I have no doubt, a little bit like with Adel Taarabt, that Tanguy could have been one hell of a player. Indeed, when we signed him, I remember saying to a friend that I expected clubs like Real Madrid to be in for him in twelve months’ time. I was wrong – conclusively.

What a player he could have been. Talked about in the same breath as midfielders such as Modric, Van der Vaart or, dare I say it, Hoddle. His touch, vision, agility and passing ability alone are what many players, even at the highest level, could only dream of.

I hope, genuinely, that Tanguy can rediscover the form that once made him one of the most sought-after youngsters in European football.

At the very least I hope he enjoys playing football again, whether that be in Turkey, France or even Saudi. If he does, then one thing is for sure – the fans will be electrified by this footballing enigma.

The post Opinion: Tottenham’s Tanguy Ndombele, we barely got to know you appeared first on Spurs Web - Tottenham Hotspur Football News.

At the epicentre of this was Yves Bissouma, who put in a performance evocative of former Spurs midfielder Mousa Dembélé.

(Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Bissouma played what was undoubtedly his best game for Spurs, and he was magnificent. Every touch of the ball was lightning fast, and every turn was as graceful as a ballerina. He played free of any restraints and was so composed in every moment.

With each press, Brentford aimed to dispossess him, but very few prevailed. He was unpressable, and with each ball fired into his feet, he was able to half-turn around a Brentford player and spray a pass into James Maddison or Destiny Udogie.

Bissouma was almost faultless in the game and earned himself the Man of the Match award. Despite playing 90 minutes of high-intensity football, he hardly put a foot wrong, and his pass accuracy reflected this, with 92% of his passes reaching their destination (Sofa Score).

Bissouma was a dynamo in midfield with 138 touches, the highest amount from either team and the rest of the premier league this weekend (Squawka). It was a truly stunning performance.

Although Bissouma only started 10 games under Antonio Conte, he has now become Ange Postecoglou’s, starting No. 8. Postecoglou has grown to be a huge admirer of Bissoumas play style, and he has been extremely complimentary of him.

Postecoglou has said: “He’s got bags of energy, you know when he’s around and it’s great. He’s got a great personality.”

He added: “He’s a very, very good footballer. I’m looking forward to working with him. I think he can play a big part for us” (Football.London).

From the pre-season games and the masterclass that he delivered against Brentford, it is clear that Bissouma will be the regular starter in the Postecoglou midfield. 

Could Bissouma be the next Mousa Dembele?

Bissouma has quite a unique playstyle that is very reminiscent of a former Spurs midfielder, Mousa Dembélé. Both of these players played off to the left-hand side with another midfielder to their right and an attacking No. 10 in front of them.

This is not the only common denominator between these two. Both have a unique speed on the half-turn that is guarded by their extreme strength. This agility, blended with their strength, makes them an opponent’s nightmare.

Both of these players were essential cogs in the system in which they worked. They were the keystones that held the team in place and formed the path ahead. Playing around the press is the ignition of any attack on goal, and both of these players are that spark that lights the fire.

When Dembélé arrived at Spurs, he received a similar amount of game time as Bissouma did in his first season. This, however, did not dishearten him, and he went on to play 250 games for Spurs (Fotmob).

Dembélé was admired by not just Spurs fans but midfielders past and present. Spurs fans can only hope for a similar story with Bissouma.

The post Opinion: Bissouma’s Man of the Match showing had shades of Spurs midfield legend appeared first on Spurs Web - Tottenham Hotspur Football News.

He was not being arrogant, as he says himself, but that was his mindset. He was a player brimming with confidence and self-belief and within Graham Potter’s Brighton team, he was an instrumental player – especially in games against Spurs!

(Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Just watch this video (YouTube) and you will be reminded just why Spurs fans were so excited to see him signed in the summer of 2022 (BBC Sport) – and for just £25m, an absolute coup.

Undoubtedly, Bissouma has all the attributes to be one of the best central midfielders in the Premier League. He is composed on the ball and his close control, especially in tight areas, is impressive. He reads the game well and is strong in winning the ball back.

He also has the ability to beat his man with a turn of pace or sleight of foot. Occasionally he chips in with a goal, but that’s not why you play Bissouma. So why did it not go to plan last season for Yves?

The easy answer seems to be – he was a ‘club signing’ or at least not a ‘Conte signing’ and we know how our former boss felt about those – not my choice, therefore I don’t really want anything to do with them – just ask Djed Spence!

Conte even came out and publicly announced that Bissouma was struggling to adapt to his way of playing (Evening Standard). Even if this were true, to have it broadcast to the world is sure to undermine a player’s confidence.

What is for certain is that the player we saw last season was not the player we saw in the blue and white of Brighton. He seemed unsure and lacked his sharpness and confidence on the ball.

Injuries also prevented Bissouma from settling at the club. After the mid-season break for the World Cup, many hoped he would become more of a fixture in the side, however, he was unfortunately struck by a shoulder injury that meant he missed fifteen games (TransferMarkt) – the most games he has missed consecutively in his career due to injury.

Yves Bissouma could be like a new signing for Spurs

Fast forward to the beginning of this pre-season and Yves Bissouma seems like a man reborn. With Ange Postecoglou taking the reigns at the club, Bissouma has been all smiles and you can see from his body language and performances on the pitch, that the player who believed he was the ‘best in the league’ might be getting back to this headspace once again.

Bissouma looked like the cat who’d got the cream when he bounced back into training at Hotspur Way – and from social media, it appears that he has become a central part in the Spurs dressing room, alongside new signing James Maddison.

Crucially, his relationship with Ange Postecolglou seems to have begun strongly. Of the boss, Bissouma had this to say: “He gives us confidence. He’s like a dad, uncle, friend for us, so we’re happy to be with him and we’re trying to do what he wants.” (Evening Standard)

Similarly, the love appears to go both ways as Ange has informed Bissouma that he will play a key role this year for the club, and that he sees his as his ‘general’ in the middle of the park (The Athletic). The foundations are in place for something special to grow.

Tactically as well, this year will serve to suit Bissouma down to the ground and I spoke to professional football coach, Coach B (@InvertTheWing) about what we can expect from how Ange plays and what this means for our Malian maestro. All quotes in the last section of this article come from him.

Personally, I actually felt sorry for the central midfielders playing at Tottenham last season. Playing in the middle of the park as a two was not much fun, especially as the majority of opponents favoured a three in midfield, leaving them overrun and overwhelmed; with little time on the ball.

As good as our front three were offensively, they offer little in terms of defensive support. It was a thankless task.

This is all changed now with Ange Postecoglou’s 4-3-3 formation, which we have begun to see in pre-season. Our new number 8, will play the role of the ‘six’ in the midfield and without wishing to sound melodramatic, the success of the team and the pace at which they play will, in no small part, depend on him.

Last season it was infuriating watching the central midfielders dropping almost into the back three; taking the ball from one of the centre backs and inevitably playing the ball sideways or inviting pressure onto the backline.

The reasons for this were twofold. Firstly, with the midfield being usually a 2 v 3 battle the player – usually Hojbjerg – would drop deeper to find space to allow him more time on the ball. The second reason was fear of failure and incurring the wrath from the sidelines, this encouraged more conservative play.

In the Postecolgou system, Bissouma will have to be, good on the ball. This is an absolute must. Being able to carry the ball as a six, is also an absolute must. Often times you see gaps in the field, Ange expects the ball to be played into that space. He will expect Bissouma to carry the ball into such areas,” We know Bissouma has the athleticism and close control to do this with aplomb.

We know that Ange will expect his wide players to get wide and his two, adventurous eights to take up positions in the half spaces. This means that “Bissouma must be able to switch play swiftly and with fluidity. This applies for a lot of possession manager – but switching the ball into a less concentrated area of the field allows for completely new attacks to stem and creates a lot more pressure.”

Bissouma has a solid range of passing and these expectations will allow him to display these skills far more than he could have last season.

Although on paper, Bissouma’s number 6 role looks like a single pivot, in an attacking sense it is at the base of a box midfield, linking with whichever fullback is inverting. Bissouma will have to martial this and communicate effectively to ensure there is a clear gap between the defence and midfield.

This will allow defenders like Romero (and hopefully Van de Ven) to bring the ball out and play through the lines to the number 8s or out wide.

These central defenders will also have to “fill in for Bissouma if he drives forward” like we have seen him do several times in preseason, where he has adopted several advanced positions around the edge of the box. In those situations, potentially “having a player like Van de Ven, who has express pace can cover effectively.”

Therefore, to conclude, we have always known that Bissouma is one hell of a player. With a manager who clearly believes in him and in a formation in which he can excel, I am sure by the time the Premier League comes to a close, in May next year, everyone will know that Yves Bissouma is one of, if not the best, in the league.

The post Opinion: Yves Bissouma will dominate the upcoming Premier League season appeared first on Spurs Web - Tottenham Hotspur Football News.

Romero’s performances last season left a lot to desired, with the centre-back particularly struggling after returning from Argentina’s victorious World Cup campaign.

(Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

The Lilywhites’ backline was extremely leaky during the second half of the campaign, and the club eventually finished in eighth place -their lowest league position since 2008.

Romero insisted that winning the World Cup did not impact his motivation to do well for Spurs but the 25-year-old did accept responsibility for some of the side’s struggles.

Cristian Romero opens up on divide at Tottenham

When asked about his showing after the tournament in Qatar, the centre-back told The Athletic: “Nothing changed with regard to my motivation. It was always the same. It was just that they were different circumstances. The group were somewhat separate from the staff. This is very difficult.

“My first match (after the World Cup) was against Aston Villa at home (on January 1). That’s where it all started. We won one game, then we’d lose two and when things are divided and not everyone is pulling in the same direction — coaches, players, not pulling in the same direction — it becomes very difficult, but I’m the first to take responsibility for the poor season we had.”

The defender also revealed that all was not well behind the scenes at Tottenham during Conte’s final few months at the club, remarking that the problems had seeped in before the club’s 6-1 defeat at St James’ Park.

When asked about the loss at Newcastle, he responded: “I think before (the 6-1 defeat) the group were already in a bad way and there was a divide between the players and the coach.

“In a competition like the Premier League, if you’re not all pulling in the same direction, it’s really tough and you saw that, not just against Newcastle but in the Liverpool game too. In the first 20 minutes, they put three past us. Against Manchester United, they were 2-0 up in the first half.”

Spurs Web Opinion

Conte has tended to eventually lose the dressing room during his second or third seasons at every club, and it is not surprising that the same thing transpired at Spurs. His extremely intense style and repetitive drills have a short shelf life as players quickly tire of it.

The post Cristian Romero admits there was ‘a divide’ between Spurs players and Conte appeared first on Spurs Web - Tottenham Hotspur Football News.

It was a tumultuous season for the Lilywhites last time out, as they struggled for consistency under Conte before the Italian was handed his marching orders.

(Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

One particular low point came when Spurs threw away a commanding lead in the dying minutes against Southampton to draw 3-3, prompting Conte to erupt in his press conference.

The former Inter Milan boss accused his Tottenham players of being ‘lazy’ and ‘selfish’ (Football London), adding that they were nothing more than a team of eleven individuals.

A number of Spurs players were reportedly irritated by these comments, and by Conte’s managerial style in general by this point (DailyMail).

Son does not think Conte meant what he said

However, Heung-min Son has no bad feelings towards his old manager, and does not believe Conte really meant what he said to the press.

Son said (Football London): “Urmmm… it is a bit painful but I think people see it in different ways. I don’t think he meant it. He was just in an aggressive way, an emotional way after the game.

“I’m grateful to him. I can’t say anything bad about him because I take the blame. I should have done much, much better. Two years ago I won the Golden Boot and the expectation was high.

“The team needed me in a different way in the difficult moments and, for any reasons, pain or whatever, I couldn’t perform so I still feel sorry for him.

“I was good with him. The season before was fantastic. I won the Golden Boot with him. I can’t say anything bad about him. I’m grateful to have worked with him.

“Obviously, the end was not ideal, not what we wanted but I’m grateful and I’ve learned lots of things about football and being a human being, and about being more passionate.”

Spurs Web Opinion:

Conte’s techniques probably work really well with certain players, but I think plenty in the Spurs squad needed an arm around the shoulder at times last season too.

In the end, he drove a wedge between himself and the squad, which is always a recipe for divorce in football.

The post ‘It is a bit painful’ – Heung-min Son on that famous Antonio Conte rant appeared first on Spurs Web - Tottenham Hotspur Football News.

Following Tottenham’s elimination from the Champions League back in March, Richarlison was not happy with his non-selection, and the Brazilian did not mince his words after the second-leg loss to AC Milan.

He told ESPN at the time: “Let’s see what [Conte] will say tomorrow, but there are no fools here either, I’m a professional, I work every day and I want to play. There are minutes left, time left.

“This season, excuse the word, it’s been s***, because I don’t have minutes, I suffered a little with the injury. But, when I enter the field, I give my life. I came from two games well, I think that’s it, I think I should have played and I don’t have to cry about it.”

As one would expect, Conte was far from pleased with the forward’s words and hit back in his next press conference a couple of days later, labelling Richarlison as ‘selfish’ and pointing to the fact that he had not scored a goal in the Premier League until that point.

The former Spurs head coach said (via Sky Sports): “He said his season was s*** and he’s right. His season has been not good. He had injuries, played and scored in the Champions League and then went to the World Cup and then had a serious injury.

“He’s scored no goals for us. I think he was really honest to say his season was not good. His season has not finished yet. If he deserves to play I’ll give him the opportunity. For the rest of the interview, I think he understood he made a mistake. When you speak of ‘I’ and not ‘us’ you are being selfish.”

LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 27: Richarlisonu of Tottenham Hotspur in the tunnel prior to the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 27, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images)

Richarlison got a long telling-off from Conte

Richarlison has now opened up on what happened behind the scenes after his comments, revealing that he was quick to apologise to Conte, who berated him in front of all of his teammates to demonstrate that he was still in charge of the dressing room.

The former Everton man has now said on the YouTube channel Que Papinho (as relayed by ESPN Brazil): “No, we sorted it out in the locker room.

“Of course, I was wrong to have said in the interview that I needed time and everything, it was after the elimination in the Champions League, but later I apologized to him. 

“I even told him that if you wanted to punish me, you could. We resolved it there, then I tried to get a sequence again and another injury came. Like it or not, it ends up affecting the head too.

“He was tough, he has to show firmness to the group too, to say he’s there, that he’s still in charge.

“It’s his way of dealing with people, with the group, and he stayed for almost two hours just scolding me at the meeting, in front of everyone (laughs).

“Then the players even said ‘Richi, don’t do that anymore. Wait two hours (laughs)’.

“After they sacked him, I sent him a message. I apologized because he was the guy who asked for my signing and I couldn’t help him as much as he thought.

“The least I could do was apologize for what happened there.”

Spurs Web Opinion

I think this is the sort of thing most managers would have done when a player publicly criticises their selection decisions.

Conte had to demonstrate to the rest of the squad that this sort of behaviour would not be tolerated, which is probably why he berated Richarlison in front of his teammates. 

The post Spurs star reveals Conte scolded him for ‘almost two hours’ in front of the squad appeared first on Spurs Web - Tottenham Hotspur Football News.

Antonio Conte was famous for his punishing pre-season training sessions but the report states that the sessions under Postecoglou last no longer than 90 minutes and are often ball-oriented.

(Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

The report states that many of the sessions have been used to implement drills focused on the quick one and two-touch football that the Australian will demand from his side.

It is explained that Postecoglou is not a micro-manager and is happy to allow different Spurs departments to run themselves.

Ketchup is back on the menu at Tottenham

The Evening Standard add that, unlike Conte’s regime when ketchup and mayonnaise were banned from the canteen and the players went long periods eating only plain chicken, salmon and pasta, the food has been more varied under the new head coach.

It is revealed that the staff at the club describe Postecoglou as ‘charismatic, affable, professional and single-minded’, with the 56-year-old also said to be a meticulous time-keeper.

Spurs Web Opinion

While one cannot criticise Conte’s almost dictatorial methods, given his CV, there is certainly a shelf life for such a regime, which is perhaps why the Italian does not last long at clubs despite tasting initial success.

In contrast, Postecoglou’s methods are seemingly reliant on getting the players onside and creating a safe environment for them so that they can express themselves freely without fear of failure.

The post Report: The main difference between Postecoglou and Conte on the training ground appeared first on Spurs Web - Tottenham Hotspur Football News.

The Australian was appointed permanent manager of Tottenham at the start of June and has very quickly improved the mood around the football club in the wake of a disastrous season in 2022/23, which saw the club finish eighth in the Premier League.

(Photo by Berengui/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

Long gone is the idea of defensive football instilled by Antonio Conte, replaced by Postecoglou‘s preference for attacking, exciting play.

The squad is being transformed, too, it seems, with two new signings already, and further additions set to follow.

While a ball is yet to be kicked, the atmosphere appears to be overwhelmingly positive right now among the players and supporters alike heading into the new season.

Ange Postecoglou is planning ahead

In a report from the Daily Mail, it has been revealed that Postecoglou has already improved the way things work at Tottenham, simply by giving his players a training schedule for the month ahead.

Described as an “early victory” for Postecoglou, it is believed the 57-year-old’s decision to let those around him know what’s happening in advance has been regarded as “a big step towards winning over” the players and staff at Spurs.

Apparently, this is a “marked change” from how things worked under Conte, who would often leave it until the night before a training session to let the players and staff know what time they would be required.

It is suggested this method caused “pain” for those involved as they were unable to organise time with their families.

Spurs Web Opinion

It’s amazing how something so simple could be taken for granted under Antonio Conte.

The fact that Postecoglou has come into the club and knows exactly what he wants his players to do for the next month as they prepare for the new season certainly bodes well for how his tenure might go.

The post Report: The simple thing Postecoglou has done to already win over Spurs players appeared first on Spurs Web - Tottenham Hotspur Football News.

There was plenty of optimism surrounding Spurs coming into the 2022-23 season, with many fans hoping that the team could build upon their impressive fourth-place finish in the previous campaign.

Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images

However, the performances left a lot to be desired right from the start of the season and results quickly went downhill, eventually leading to the club parting ways with Conte in March.

Kulusevski opens up on joyless season at Tottenham

Kulusevski revealed that even though the players were training extremely hard during the mid-season break, they did not feel energised when the campaign restarted.

The Swede told Aftonbladet: “The months during the World Cup were really bad, I must say, it was really, really bad. We trained so hard but there was no energy, it was dark and we were in London. 

“We drove and we drove and really thought we would be prepared when the season started again, but the joy wasn’t there, the desire to play wasn’t there, the energy… everything was down.”

Kulusevski remarked that the players found it difficult to understand why things were not clicking into gear on the pitch.

He added: “We started playing matches and were 3-0 down, situations you have never experienced in your entire life. You just think, what is going on? You go home and are shocked. It was difficult to explain to your family and friends what is happening because I didn’t know myself.”

The darkest moment in the club’s season came after Conte’s departure, with Cristian Stellini overseeing a 6-1 humiliation at St James’ Park, which proved to be the Italian’s final game in charge.

When asked about the drubbing against Newcastle, Kulusevski said: “It’s a match you don’t want to remember. It’s the sickest thing that’s happened in my career. Incredibly strange feeling when playing, the match doesn’t even start and it’s 2-0 and then 3-0. 

“It can be like that when an entire arena can create an incredible energy and positivity that helps the team forward and notices that we are completely shaky and weak. They ran over us. I hope it never happens again.”

Spurs Web Opinion

One of the reasons that Conte does not tend to stick around at clubs for more than two years is that his messages and training methods can get tiring.

The Italian relies on the same training drills on a regular basis and on perfecting the same system, and the players do eventually end up losing their enthusiasm as they are not allowed to express themselves.

The post ‘The joy wasn’t there’ – Kulusevski opens up on Conte’s last few months at Spurs  appeared first on Spurs Web - Tottenham Hotspur Football News.

In the season gone by, Spurs conceded 63 goals – this was simply not the standard for any team looking to get into Europe. Spurs finished with over 60 goals scored and conceded. The last team to do this was also Spurs in the 2007/08 season (BBC).

(Photo by ISABEL INFANTES/AFP via Getty Images)

The blame cannot solely lie with the formation, as Antonio Conte’s teams have historically been defensively strong in the shape used at Spurs. During his time at Chelsea in 2016/17, they conceded 33 goals, a far better defensive record than Spurs this year (Fotmob).

The players in Tottenham’s defence have been heavily criticised over the last three seasons, yet little has changed. Since Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld left Spurs, the defence has been consistently weak.

The rebuild under Ange Postecoglou will see the shift to a 433 formation. This does not currently suit the Spurs defence, and it will lead to a number of outgoings and some new talent coming to Hotspur Way.

One outgoing could be Eric Dier (Fabrizio Romano). He has been a regular starter in Spurs’ defence since José Mourinho decided he would be best suited as a centre-back. Since the position change, Dier has been inconsistent in his performances, with this year by far being his worst season in Lilywhite.

Another likely exit will be Davison Sanchez, who has also had a disappointing season. The 27-year-old has only featured in 18 Premier League games (Fotmob).

In each one, he received extensive criticism for his underwhelming performances. Against Bournemouth, he came on for an injured Clement Lenglet, and he was booed off after only 23 minutes.

Ivan Perišić could be a victim of the rebuild under Postecoglou. Perišić has had a mixed season where he was Spurs’ best creator with 8 assists in the premier league (Fotmob), yet his defending let him down on numerous occasions. Due to this, it’s unlikely that he will be used as a left-back, and therefore he could be sold.

For Ryan Sessengon, it looks like his time is up. Last season, we saw him lose his spot to Perišić, and he then struggled with injuries for a large majority of the season.

When Sessengon was purchased from Fulham, it looked like we had a future star on our hands, but unfortunately, his light has burned out and he could be replaced by another young wingback, Destiny Udogie.

Japhet Tanganga could look for a move this summer. Tanganga has not received the game time he would like, and when he has played, he has looked rusty. We saw this in the 4-1 loss to Leicester, where Leicester ran rings around the Spurs backline.

Hugo Lloris will most likely leave Spurs in this transfer window. The club captain has made 447 appearances for Spurs and, despite his poor form of late, will go down as a Spurs legend.

Due to the extensive list of outgoings for Spurs this summer, Postecoglou will have to reinforce the backline.

Christian Romero looks like the obvious starter at centre-back; he will most likely be supported by Pedro Porro and Udogie on the flanks. If Postecoglou looks for a more conservative model, he will favour Emerson Royal on the right-hand side.

One transfer that looks to be gaining traction and could be completed very soon is David Raya (Fabrizio Romano). The Brentford keeper had a stellar season and he could be the heir to Lloris’s throne.

Options at the back – Starting with Aymeric Laporte

The spot Spurs will have to reinforce is the left centre-back. Over the years, Spurs have just patched over this position due to the rare and costly nature of a left-footed centre-back. Nevertheless, we will have to invest this year if we want a firm backbone for Postecoglou’s rebuild.

A great option would be Aymeric Laporte. The Manchester City centre-back hasn’t featured as much as he would have liked this season due to the arrival of Manuel Akanji and the form of Nathan Ake.

Man City are working hard to purchase Josko Gvardiol (Fabrizio Romano), which would likely see the end of Laporte’s tenure at Man City (Sport.ES).

Laporte would be a perfect signing for Spurs, as he is an elite-level defender who has shown clear leadership for the Spanish national team. Where he lacks pace, Romero could make up for it. With these two in the Spurs defence, Postecoglou could have a formidable duo.

Pau Torres has been forever linked with Spurs (Football Transfers), with constant transfer sagas across different windows. Right now would be the perfect time to cash in on him as his contract expires next year. However, he could be tempted by his former manager, Unai Emery, at Aston Villa.

A younger and cheaper alternative could be Roger Ibanez. The 24-year-old defender has thrived at Roma under Mourihno.

Despite his age, he has started in 32 games, putting in consistent performances. One issue is that he is right-footed but nevertheless, he has played most of his games on the left side.

No matter what the choice, Spurs will have to invest. One can only hope that Levy does this properly instead of papering over the cracks that have been apparent since the departure of the Belgium wall of Vertonghen and Alderweireld.

The post Opinion: Aymeric Laporte and two others who could transform Spurs’ defence appeared first on Spurs Web - Tottenham Hotspur Football News.

Stellini was appointed by chairman Daniel Levy as the club’s interim head coach for the remainder of the campaign following Conte’s Spurs departure which came after he pulled no punches in his post-Southampton press conference in March after his side threw away a 3-1 advantage at St Mary’s to eventually draw 3-3.

The Italian had a first taste of action on the sidelines after Spurs ran out winners under Stellini when they beat Marseille 2-1 in their Champions League group stage meeting in November, with Conte serving a suspension for the fixture.

Conte’s gallbladder issues saw Stellini step back in charge and enjoyed Premier League victories against Manchester City, West Ham and Chelsea, however disappointing defeats against Leicester City and Wolves marred his stint.

After Conte’s departure, Stellini only managed to win one of his four matches and the 6-1 thrashing at Newcastle United proved to be enough for Levy to instead give the responsibility to Ryan Mason, who was initially overlooked for the role.

Stellini also highlighted the passing of Gian Piero Ventrone, their fitness coach in October of last year, the 61-year-old had been battling leukemia.

Ventrone, nicknamed ‘The Marine’ in Italy because of his rigorous training regimes, was a popular figure among the Tottenham squad (The Sun).

(Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images)

Stellini admits it was a difficult season at Spurs

Stellini told TMW Radio: “The experience you gain by being close to top-level professionals helps you gain experience at certain times. It was a difficult season, I think it was a season never experienced like this, because it was crowned with a thousand problems and dramatic situations.

“Ventrone’s death was devastating for us and with the World Cup in between, everything was generally difficult. Mister Conte was also ill, so it was very complicated. It’s a year that will help everyone for the future.”

Stellini was asked further about Tottenham’s win against Manchester City in north London which proved to be the last Premier League defeat of the campaign for Pep Guardiola’s side.

He added: “We were the last team in the Premier League to beat them before the Champions League final. We actually faced City at a time when they weren’t in the best shape, they had many at the World Cup and had yet to get back to their best. We did very well but they were good at defending and restarting.”

Report: Tottenham tell Harry Kane a decision has been made on his future

The post ‘Thousand problems’ – Cristian Stellini speaks about his ‘difficult’ season at Spurs appeared first on Spurs Web - Tottenham Hotspur Football News.

Conte initially made a positive start to life at Spurs, taking the club from mid-table to a Champions League finish after replacing Nuno Espirito Santo at the helm.

(Photo by ISABEL INFANTES/AFP via Getty Images)

He also oversaw some positive transfers in North London, including Dejan Kulusevski, Rodrigo Bentancur, and Pedro Porro. However, Conte didn’t make it as far as his second summer window.

After a troubling run of form following the World Cup restart, Conte was relieved of his duties despite Spurs still being in a race for the top four at the time.

His assistant, Cristian Stellini was put in charge, before even he was sacked and Ryan Mason was handed the reins until the end of the campaign.

Conte claims some at Spurs wanted to settle for less

Speaking out on his Spurs exit, Conte has now implied that some within Tottenham were not willing to be ambitious – although he doesn’t clarify whether this was the board, the players, or both.

He said (Football Italia): “The last experience, like all of them really, had some things that were positive and some less so. The experience was wonderful, we did the maximum possible and gave all that we had.

“When I arrived, the team was in eighth or ninth place, yet we qualified for the Champions League.

“Then this season, with the side in fourth position, I decided we should part ways with Tottenham. Some had decided to settle for less.”

Spurs Web Opinion:

A lot of what Conte is saying is probably true, but he is also trying to control the narrative a little. The players and the hierarchy were to blame, but Conte also has to take some responsibility for the kind of football he was playing in North London.

The post ‘Some had decided to settle for less’ – Conte speaks out on his Spurs exit appeared first on Spurs Web - Tottenham Hotspur Football News.