Tottenham Hotspur’s start to the season has been nothing short of spectacular, with Ange Postecoglou’s influence being both immediate and revolutionary.
The Australian was a highly-liked figure from his past jobs with the Australian national team, Yokohama F. Marinos, and Celtic, among others, but few could have imagined that a guy with little experience in such a high-pressure job would fit in so well in north London.
In reality, the 58-year-old has shown to be one of the best tacticians in the Premier League, creating a positive vibe in N17 that hasn’t been seen since Mauricio Pochettino’s reign.
As a result, he has urged fans to let their imaginations go wild when it comes to season expectations, saying, “No, no, no, let them go, let them enjoy it.” As I’ve already stated, my role is not to bust people’s bubbles. Allow them to become excited and ahead of themselves; that is the beauty of being a fan.
“They’ve been through enough pain; let them enjoy themselves, and if they think we’re going to be world-beaters great, it’s up to us to live up to those expectations.” Our fans deserve to be happy, and they can do it in whichever way they wish.”
While he is being attributed as the sole driving reason behind this comeback to form, James Maddison’s contributions on the field cannot be overstated. Following his relocation, he, too, has struck the ground running and promises to be a true spearhead for their movement.
How talented is James Maddison?
The cost of £40 million paid for the newly demoted maestro was undoubtedly questioned considering Leicester City’s weakened bargaining position. However, with Newcastle United also interested, it seemed sense to secure a smooth transaction.
Especially given how well the 26-year-old has settled into life in north London, scoring twice and assisting five times in just eight Premier League games.
His unrelenting ingenuity and deceptive cleverness have seen him play a major role in some key results, with Joe Cole claiming his signing was the best of the window: “The more I think about it, he could be the best signing of the summer.” I’m extremely happy for him, especially with the way Ange plays.”
Not only are his visible stats outstanding, but the underlying trends support the notion that this is a long-term alliance. After all, according to FBref, he is in the top 1% of attacking midfielders in Europe for assists and shot-creating actions per 90, the top 6% for progressive passes per 90, and the top 3% for predicted assisted goals.
It should come as no surprise that he has established himself as one of the division’s top creators, with his assist total placing him among the top three in the Premier League.
TalkSPORT analyst Andy Townsend’s praise for Maddison makes perfect sense, as he stated: “I have really enjoyed watching Maddison.” I’ve enjoyed watching him play because I believe he appreciates being a key member of the squad. That seems to fit his nature. “I was blown away.”
However, one of the trio with five assists on the season is a former Lilywhites player whom they undoubtedly regret dumping. After all, few could have guessed Kieran Trippier’s final years would be so memorable.
Why did Tottenham sell Kieran Trippier?
Although the former Burnley player had become a real Spurs mainstay, as a major piece in their run to the Champions League final with a couple of weak title chases, the 33-year-old would disclose to The Athletic exactly how devastating his 2019 leave would be.
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