Ahead of the 2023/24 Premier League season, Alex Keble takes an in-depth look at each of the 20 clubs.
Tottenham Hotspur
It’s amazing what a new manager can do. Just a couple of months ago Spurs were at their lowest ebb, still bruised from the ignoble ending to the Antonio Conte saga and finishing in their worst league position since 2009.
But a single pre-season under Ange Postecoglou has reinvigorated everyone connected with the club, and although he lacks experience in a major European league, Spurs fans don't seem too concerned.
They are understandably grateful to have an all-guns-blazing attacking coach who speaks with warmth and affection, the polar opposite of what they’ve endured in the years since Mauricio Pochettino departed.
See: Postecoglou: I want my Spurs team to excite fans
Even the news on Harry Kane seems to be more positive after he scored four in a pre-season friendly against Shakhtar Donetsk and reports suggested he might not be leaving this summer.
Things appear to be on the up. But these are the happy, care-free summer months when optimism is at its highest. The hard work begins now.
Performance last season
| Position Pos | Club | Played Pl | GD | Points Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 |
Aston Villa
AVL
|
38 | +5 | 61 |
| 8 |
Spurs
TOT
|
38 | +7 | 60 |
| 9 |
Brentford
BRE
|
38 | +12 | 59 |
| Competition | Performance |
| FA Cup | Fifth round |
|---|---|
| EFL Cup | Third round |
| UEFA Champions League | Round of 16 |
PL performance last five seasons
| 18/19 | 19/20 | 20/21 | 21/22 | 22/23 |
| 4th | 6th | 7th | 4th | 8th |
How to improve on 2022/23
Last year Spurs were listless and the ongoing situation with Conte badly damaged morale.
It was a psychological blockage more than a tactical or technical one, and it should hearten the new boss that Spurs were in the driving seat for a top-four finish as recently as late February.
Postecoglou’s challenge is to connect with supporters and implement a style of football more reminiscent of Pochettino than the sequence of reactive tacticians that have since been in the dugout.
Pre-season has provided plenty of reasons for optimism. The 5-1 victory over Shakhtar has supporters excited by the new style, while even in brief press conferences Postecoglou has come across well.
Key transfers
James Maddison is an exciting signing from Leicester City likely to be one of the leaders of the Postecoglou revolution, weaving through central midfield with a furious attacking intent that Spurs lacked last season. That he managed 10 goals and nine assists for a relegated team is testament to his talent.
Guglielmo Vicario joined from Empoli and replaces Hugo Lloris as the new No 1, while Manor Solomon arrives on to step in for the departed Lucas Moura.
Tactics
Postecoglou is a firm believer in hard-pressing, all-action attacking football. Utilising a 4-3-3, he expects his teams to defend from the front while dominating possession and using the ball with a constant forward-thinking intent.
It is an intense and high-risk way to play that promises to thrill supporters and catch the eye of neutrals. Most immediately noticeable is Postecoglou’s deployment of two inverted full-backs; both players moving into central midfield to allow the No 8s to venture further forward.
Reasons to cheer
If Kane could score 30 Premier League goals in such a dour Conte team, what kind of numbers could he hit for Postecoglou, if he stays?
Son Heung-min, Richarlison, and Dejan Kulusevski should all improve under the new management, creating far more opportunities to dazzle Spurs fans.
On a similar note, the reset offers the chance for fringe players to come in from the cold. Yves Bissouma and Pape Sarr both have the chance to fulfil their promise, while Destiny Udogie, who spent the year on loan at Udinese, has been a regular in pre-season.
Reasons to fear
There remains the risk that Postecoglou’s football is a little too idealistic. Is there a Plan B? His Celtic team played the same expressive style no matter the opponent, which led to some very heavy defeats in the UEFA Champions League.
His inexperience of managing a club of Spurs' size may also count against him in the early weeks of the season, and should things start slowly the chance of Kane staying on could diminish.
TV Info - Broadcasters
Opening six matches
There is a nice balance of easier matches and opportunities for a raucous home atmosphere in Postecoglou’s first six.
Brentford (A), Manchester United (H), AFC Bournemouth (A), Burnley (A), and Sheffield United (H), are all winnable, offering the chance to build momentum before a home derby against Arsenal.
Predicted XI v Brentford
4-3-3: Vicario; Porro, Romero, Davies, Udogie; Sarr, Bissouma, Maddison; Kulusevski, Kane, Son.