Tottenham Hotspur spent a long time fearing what a future without Harry Kane would look like. The striker was their top scorer and best player for the best part of 10 years. The prospect of his departure loomed over the North London club all summer – until suddenly, Kane was playing in a Bayern Munich shirt.
Kane’s exit is still a source of pain and regret for Spurs supporters who used to call the 30-year-old their own. Tottenham should have been able to build around one of the best strikers in the world and the fact they failed to do this will forever be a black mark on the recent history of the club.
What fans did not expect were the signs that Spurs have already moved on from the loss of Kane. Tottenham have started the 2023/24 season well, collecting seven points from a possible nine in the Premier League. Most notable was Tottenham’s 2-0 victory over Manchester United, which highlighted the progress being made.
Ange Postecoglou is implementing new methods and ideas as Spurs manager. Tottenham are playing with more energy and intensity. They are attack-minded in a way that hasn’t been the case since the days of Mauricio Pochettino. These are the things Spurs fans wanted after three insipid seasons under Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho.
The influence of Postecoglou has been clear in the signings made by Tottenham Hotspur over the summer. Micky van de Ven arrived from Wolfsburg to forge a strong central defensive partnership with Cristian Romero. Guglielmo Vicario was signed from Empoli to be Spurs’ new first-choice goalkeeper after Hugo Lloris was pushed to the side.
No new signing, however, has reflected Postecoglou’s ideas about what Tottenham can become like James Maddison. The 26-year-old has filled the void of personality left by Kane and has given Spurs some much-needed creativity through the midfield and into the attacking third. Maddison is the North London club’s new main man.
“There wasn’t anyone happier than me when we got him. I was delighted,” said Postecoglou when asked about the impact made by Maddison at Spurs. “I wouldn’t say I’m surprised, but I’m overjoyed at the footballer I’ve got. The way he’s embraced the whole club, where he’s at in his life. He really wants to be the person.
“He’s that creative force for us. He works hard, wins the ball back, presses. He’s had a disrupted week. He only had one session with us, but for him to put on a performance like that is credit to him. And I think there’s more to come, when he gets more understanding with our forward players and they get more understanding with him.”
It’s not just new signings that are flourishing under Postecoglou. Indeed, several of the players he inherited over the summer have improved. Pape Sarr, for example, is catching the eye as a box-to-box operator with the freedom to get forward and join attacks while Yves Bissouma has also taken a leap forward.
Nobody truly knew what to expect from Tottenham Hotspur this season. This summer marked the start of a rebuild, both of the squad and the culture at the North London club. Most presumed it would take time for Postecoglou to remould Spurs in his own image, but progress has been achieved quicker than was reasonably imagined.
A top four finish would still be an overachievement, but a lack of European soccer could help Spurs rest between Premier League fixtures this season. This certainly helped Newcastle United qualify for this season’s Champions League and Postecoglou will have more time on the training pitch than some of his rivals.
More progress can still be achieved. Richarlison has been used as Tottenham’s first-choice centre forward since Kane’s departure, but the Brazilian is something of an awkward fit. Postecoglou might eventually wish to find a more proactive striker who can press from the front. Pedro Porro is also still adapting to the Australian’s style of play.
One wonders if Kane might come to rue leaving Tottenham just as they were about to round a corner. Spurs, however, might reflect on how the departure of the England captain accelerated their development and helped shift them into a new generation. They might even become a better team without Kane leading the line, if that isn’t already the case.
