AliousWhen Ange Postecoglou held his first press conference as Tottenham manager last July, he laid out his vision for the team.
Besides striving to be “successful”, Postecoglou wanted Tottenham “to be an aggressive team, a dominant team, a team that takes the game to every opposition home and away”.
With Postecoglou’s debut Premier League season behind him, it’s clear the Australian has delivered on his promise, especially in showing no fear against Spurs’ opponents.
However, the same pundits who praised Postecoglou’s bold tactics at the start quickly turned on him when results dipped.
This reaction was predictable and one Postecoglou has faced throughout his managerial career.
Nevertheless, one game—and one defining moment—proved that regardless of the criticism, the Australian would not abandon his principles.
Here’s how Postecoglou silenced his critics, at least for now, and guided Tottenham back to European football, even without the club’s record goal scorer.
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Postecoglou made it clear that Tottenham’s transformation wouldn’t happen overnight but wanted fans to see the foundations of what was to come.
“We had a massive rebuild at Celtic but even though results weren’t immediate, the supporters could see our vision and got behind us,” Postecoglou said.
“What I hope and desire is to give supporters the hope that we’re embarking on something special.”
Complicating Postecoglou’s rebuild was the prolonged transfer saga involving superstar striker Harry Kane.
Kane, who scored 43% of Tottenham’s 70 league goals in the 2022-23 season, was much more than just a goal scorer. He embodied Tottenham.
Kane was sold to Bayern Munich for $157 million just before Tottenham’s Premier League opener against Brentford, though Postecoglou had planned for his exit.
Instead of replacing Kane directly, Postecoglou strengthened several positions across the squad.
Dejan Kulusevski and Pedro Porro’s deals were made permanent, while Guglielmo Vicario, James Maddison, Mickey van de Ven, and Brennan Johnson all joined in the summer, with Johnson arriving on deadline day.
With the loss of Kane and the squad adapting to Postecoglou’s methods, the Australian set no specific expectations for the season.
“From the outset, it’s important to establish key principles of who we want to be,” Postecoglou said.
Postecoglou’s stunning unbeaten run at the start of the season gave fans plenty of reason to dream.
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In Postecoglou’s first season at Celtic, early poor results had some fans doubting his credentials. It was the complete opposite at Tottenham.
After a thrilling 2-2 draw against Brentford, Tottenham’s 10-game unbeaten run, featuring wins over Manchester United and Liverpool, sparked optimism among fans.
The one game that truly united the fan base was a 2-1 victory over Sheffield United, with a dramatic late comeback.
Tottenham led the league with 26 points from a possible 30, and Postecoglou was celebrated by fans, even getting endorsed by pop icon Robbie Williams.
However, Tottenham fans were brought back to earth in their 11th game, fulfilling a pundit’s prediction about Postecoglou’s first season.
Despite early praise for his attacking football, critics turned on Postecoglou as results became harder to come by in the second half of the season.
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After a heavy defeat to Chelsea, Tottenham struggled with a mounting injury list and kept just one clean sheet from November to March.
Calls for a specialist set-piece coach were dismissed by Postecoglou, who trusted his assistants with the role.
Despite a patchy second half, the 4-0 win over Aston Villa gave hope for a top-four finish, but Tottenham won just four of their last 11 games.
Facing tough opponents like Newcastle, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester City in their final stretch, Tottenham’s Champions League hopes faded.
The defeat to City, amid a subdued atmosphere, prompted Postecoglou to deliver a scathing post-match press conference, highlighting the club’s “fragile foundations”.
The Telegraph’s Matt Law suggested either Postecoglou or Tottenham had to adapt to each other to avoid a messy end.
Postecoglou called the experience his “worst” as a manager but ended the season on a high with a 3-0 win over Sheffield United, securing a Europa League spot.
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Despite some wondering what could have been, Postecoglou’s debut season should fill supporters with optimism.
Tottenham improved under Postecoglou, finishing with more points, wins, goals, and fewer conceded goals compared to the previous season, all without Kane’s contributions.
Postecoglou’s second seasons at previous clubs have historically been even better, giving hope for further improvement.
The summer transfer window offers another opportunity for Postecoglou to shape the squad to his vision.
With potential changes at rival clubs, a return to the top four and a trophy win—something Tottenham haven’t achieved since 2008—could be within reach.
No matter what, Postecoglou will do it his way.
Alious
