Amidst the sounds surrounding Harry Kane‘s transfer, Tottenham Hotspur have silently appointed Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou as their new coach for the upcoming season. The Australian is set to replace Antonio Conte and his arrival announces a huge change in the system of play and players to be played.
After a two-trophy-filled season, the 57-year-old will head over to London in lieu of getting the Pochettino era back and reviving the lost dominance of Tottenham Hotspur in the top four fight.
How will Tottenham look under Ange Postecoglou?
Postecoglou’s style of play is extremely recognisable from his days at Brisbane Roar FC and Melbourne Victory FC. The Australian also lead a national team and a club in Japan where it helped the former win Asian Cup and also qualify for the World Cup. However, he came into the limelight thanks to two trophy laden seasons with Celtic, including a treble win.
More than the positions, the hunger of every player is pertinent if you are a player for the Australian. Every midfielder or forwards must have the zeal to win back the possession and keep on doing so till the dying minutes of the game. The front six of Tottenham will be no exception.
Tottenham will most likely lineup in the same manner as Celtic did under Ange. He prefers a 4-3-3 formation and if he sticks with the same we may see Heung-Min Son in the wide left flank with Richarlison or Kane (if he stays) in the center and someone like Kulusevski in the extreme right flank. For Celtic he had mastered this formation where Maeda and Jota stayed wide of the pitch making in-balles for Kyogo.
The most important position with Postecoglou will be of number 8. For Celtic we could see Callum McGregor
being used as a holding midfielder where he would make late runs inside the box whilst the ball was with the wingers.
New Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou’s record at Celtic 🧐 pic.twitter.com/xt7TIinxCF
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) June 6, 2023
If this is the case, we may see Tanguy Ndombele or Giovani Lo Celse return to the club after serving 18 months out of loan. They will have an important role to play, hold the ball, and determine the game. Like McGregor, they will be tasked to speed up the anti of game when required and slow down and hold possession as and when needed.
And then, there are full-backs. Perhaps, most notable of all under Postecoglou. The Australian relies heavily on his full-backs and we could well see Destiny Udogie playing alongside Pedro Porro next season. With the former on left, he will not only be tasked to support wingers but more importantly he will be trusted to open up the play and then provide passes to the midfielders; the same will be expected of Porro on the right.
The centre-backs in his 4-3-3 formation will most likely be Romero and Eric Dier unless he signs and brings Starfelt or Carter-Vickers from Celtic; two of the robust defenders whom he trusts badly.
The only doubtful position in his team will be between the woodworks after Hugo Lloris called an end to the era of service at Tottenham.
