A new era begins in Tottenham’s history on Sunday, as the club looks to the future under new manager Ange Postecoglou.
Following a disappointing 2022-23 season, here are three things I hope to see under the Aussie’s leadership in 2023-24.
(Photo by Vince Mignott/MB Media/Getty Images)
1. A more entertaining brand of football
Let’s face it, Spurs have not been the most enjoyable watch for supporters since the departure of Mauricio Pochettino in 2019.
Even with the arrival of top managers Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte during the last few years, performances have often been mixed.
Spurs have been unable to put together positive results for more than a few matches at a time, while also being a difficult watch due to oftentimes playing a more defensive, counter-attack-heavy formation.
Enter Ange Postecoglou, whose arrival from Celtic was seemingly met with scepticism, perhaps due to his lack of coaching experience in a top European league.
Although he has only been in charge for a handful of pre-season friendlies and held only a few press conferences, he has already endeared himself to many supporters with his personality and playing style.
And even with the Harry Kane transfer saga hanging over Spurs throughout the summer, Postecoglou has already found a way in the preseason to make Tottenham more potent in attack.
Even if the results don’t particularly matter and Spurs have matched up with some lesser competition in the four preseason matches, they are producing much better results on the offensive side of the ball.
In the four matches, Spurs tallied a total of 14 goals, including picking up a pair of 5-1 victories. They have registered a total of 115 shots, or an average of nearly 29 per game. The side has also directed 50 shots on goal, a 12.5 per-match average.
While they likely won’t have as astounding of numbers in the Premier League, it is clear that they are generating more chances and playing a more enjoyable brand of football already under the Aussie.
2. A return to European competition
Say what you will about their record when they qualify, Spurs have been a regular in European competition for a little more than 15 years.
From 2006-07 up to last year, the club qualified for a UEFA competition 16 times in 17 seasons. Included in the run were 13 straight appearances in Europe from 2010-11 to last season, which was the joint-longest streak in the Premier League, alongside Manchester City.
Needless to say, missing out by a single point on a Europa Conference League berth on the final day of the campaign was disappointing to many. If the Brighton vs. Aston Villa match had ended in a draw, Spurs would have had a chance at European glory this season.
Sure, it was the third-tier UEFA competition that many supporters didn’t want any part of, especially after a disastrous group-stage exit in the 2021-22 edition. But European football is still European football, and a top-seven finish should be the bare minimum expectation for a Spurs club that considers itself one of the top in England.
This is why Tottenham must qualify and return to European competition for the 2024-25 season.
Competition for European slots will be challenging this year, with the likes of Manchester City, Arsenal, Newcastle United, Manchester United, and Liverpool all likely to qualify. Brighton and Aston Villa will also look to return to Europe once again, while clubs like Chelsea, West Ham, and Brentford will be in the mix as well.
While reaching the Champions League with a top-four finish seems unlikely, a Europa League berth would be a great opportunity for Spurs in Year 2 to make a potential run in the competition and book a spot in the following season’s UCL.
3. A deep cup run
Even under a new manager in a new system with a – potentially – very different squad from last season’s disappointment, the upcoming campaign is the perfect opportunity for Spurs to advance deep in a domestic cup competition.
As we well know, Tottenham has not won silverware since lifting the EFL Cup in 2008. They certainly did not come close to ending the drought last season, either.
Spurs exited in the fifth round of the FA Cup for the fourth straight time, suffering an embarrassing 1-0 away defeat to Championship side Sheffield United.
The Carabao Cup performance was somehow even worse, with Tottenham knocked out in a 2-0 third-round defeat at Nottingham Forest, their first match in the competition.
While the club has had a few runs in recent seasons in domestic cups, it hasn’t been able to get over the last hurdle and claim a title.
The last final Spurs took part in was the 2021 Carabao Cup Final, a 1-0 loss to Manchester City that was not as close as the scoreline might indicate. They also reached the semifinal stage in the tournament in both the 2019 and 2022 editions but fell to Chelsea on both occasions.
The recent FA Cup performances from Spurs have been even shakier, having not reached the semifinal stage since 2017-18 (a 2-1 defeat to Manchester United). Tottenham have not appeared in the FA Cup Final since 1991, which also happens to be the last time they lifted the trophy.
With not having a European competition to focus on this year, a less congested schedule would be the perfect opportunity for Spurs to potentially break the silverware drought.
What are your hopes for Spurs under Postecoglou in Year 1?
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