It feels like it’s been ages since Tottenham’s 2-1 win over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. A lot has changed since that win for Ange Postecoglou’s lads, who have gone into the November international break on a low.
After months of rip-roaring, attacking football, blossoming new signings and a steady accumulation of points, the past weeks has brought defeats, injuries, selection headaches and a sense of angst among fans. Back-to-back defeats to Chelsea and Wolves respectively have seen Spurs drop to fourth in the table.
Ange Postecoglou has done a fantastic job since taking charge of the club, and by doing so has earned the right to be trusted to find the answers for the recent setbacks himself. As the players have left for the international break, it is perhaps the best time to run an analysis of Spurs’ season. That being said, here are three things we have learned till now.
#Tottenham genuine contenders for Champions League qualification
Ange Postecoglou has been quick to implement his eye-catching, crisp and free-flowing style of football and Spurs’ shrewd transfer business has got them to a good place. Harry Kane’s exit was a hammer blow and will always be harshly felt, but the fact Spurs have been able to score consistently since the start of the campaign shows they have quickly moved on and are more than capable of banging in goals without him.
The north London club have easily been this season’s early entertainers, scoring goals at will but also conceding a few in return. They have shown togetherness, spirit, resilience and quality which were not visible for large parts of the last campaign. And with Manchester United, Newcastle United and Chelsea all faltering due to various reasons, you wouldn’t bet against Spurs sneaking into what could be a top five and returning to Champions League next term.
#Son Heung-min’s positional change worked wonders
Postecoglou has made some strong calls and altered a few things since becoming the manager of the club; one such decision includes moving Son Heung-min centrally from the left wing.
Son Heung-min has vindicated Postecoglou’s decision to use him down the middle following Kane’s summer departure to Bayern by netting eight times and supplying an assist in 12 league appearances. It is a really good return for a player who has mostly played the entirety of his Spurs career on the wings.
The South Korean has eliminated all the early concerns of sharing the goalscoring responsibility with aplomb, using his experience, movement, link-up play and intelligence to become the perfect striker for Postecoglou’s flexible system.
#James Maddison has been the real deal
James Maddison has arguably been the best thing about the first few months of the season for Spurs.
What a start to his career at Spurs. Three goals and five assists in 11 games, the difference he has made with his guile and creativity, and as one of the highly-rated English talents, he has gone to the north London club from relegated Leicester City and looked as if he has played there for his whole life.
The great thing about Maddison is his maturity and calmness. It’s no wonder the Spurs fans worship him already. In a short span of time, he has become a hero already. The England international is a creative midfielder with flair, dynamism, running power, set-piece expertise, goals and assists.
However, with Maddison ruled out until January with an ankle injury sustained in Spurs’ 4-1 home defeat to Chelsea, Postecoglou faces the mighty challenge of replacing him in the team after the international break.