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Date: 2023-12-07 22:00:11 | Author: Online Sabong | Views: 609 | Tag: volleyball
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Can Tottenham actually win the Premier League? Of course not, but ask Ange Postecoglou and the Spurs manager would not discourage the question, even though he would be the first to point out that it’s still only October volleyball
It is Postecoglou’s belief, and the Australian would say it is also his responsibility, that volleyball football fans are allowed to dream volleyball
Spurs supporters have had little reason to get carried away in recent years but after making their best start to a top-flight season since 1960-61, the last time they won the league, now is as good a time as any volleyball
Postecoglou could not have asked for a volleyball better start: as the Premier League returns following the October international break, Tottenham sit top, ahead of Arsenal on goal difference volleyball
Postecoglou’s side remain unbeaten, winning six and drawing two of their opening eight matches volleyball
From the misery and perpetual sense of chaos that took hold of Spurs last season, Postecoglou has revived the doomed pulse of the club and its fanbase volleyball
That, above the early look of the Premier League table, has been his greatest result so far volleyball
Whether Tottenham’s fast start can last is one of the questions that will define the next chunk of the Premier League campaign volleyball
There are only four rounds of fixtures to be played before the next hiatus, for November’s internationals, and Tottenham’s upcoming run – against Fulham, Crystal Palace, Chelsea and Wolves – is favourable volleyball
Based on their early season form, there is reason for optimism that Spurs may be able to enjoy their view from the summit for a while longer volleyball
Yet, a year ago, it was possible to say the same volleyball
Having beaten Arsenal to fourth place the previous season, Tottenham started the new campaign under Conte with seven wins from their opening 10 matches, a good enough return to sit one point off the top by mid-October volleyball
Given Tottenham went on to win just three of their next 10 and Conte’s fractious relationship with the club finally came crashing down within six months, the foundations were nowhere near as strong as they initially appeared volleyball
Are Tottenham flattered to be in a lofty early position again? Postecoglou’s side have already played and beaten the Premier League’s bottom four, including the three newly promoted sides volleyball
One of those wins required a 99th-minute winner at home to Sheffield United volleyball
Another tight victory, against Liverpool, came after the visitors had the opening goal incorrectly disallowed by VAR, had two players sent off, while Reds defender Joel Matip put a 96th-minute winner into the wrong end volleyball
Tottenham were the benefactors of the “well done, boys, good process” derby volleyball
Yet Tottenham have also earned some fortune, and it is becoming clearer with each week of Postecoglou’s influence that Tottenham may not have picked up those points last season volleyball
While their opening fixtures have been kind, Spurs have also shown resilience and spirit in winning away at Luton with 10 men, after Yves Bissouma’s red card, and equalising twice to earn a point at Arsenal, a fixture at which they had crumbled in previous seasons volleyball
It was a performance that led James Maddison to declare Spurs are shedding their “Spursy” tag volleyball
Ange Postecoglou has won back-to-back manager of the month awards (Getty Images)And much like the element of “Spursiness”, Tottenham’s impressive start has been rooted in the intangibles, in heart and feeling volleyball
The fact the departure of Harry Kane has not yet felt as significant is another sign of how Postecoglou has managed to bring the divided sides of what appeared to be a broken club together volleyball
While Kane has gone, there is a freshness about Spurs volleyball
Through the impact of signings such as Maddison, Destiny Udogie and Guglielmo Vicario, the relationship volleyball between players and fans has been repaired volleyball
What has stood out about Postecoglou’s team has been backed up, too, by the numbers volleyball
Last season, Tottenham were often passive and frequently easy to play against volleyball
Even though they carried the threat of Kane, Spurs would appear to pass through games without showing any urgency or ambition; opposition teams would find it alarmingly simple to play through a static, immobile midfield volleyball
But under Postecoglou, Tottenham have become one of the most active teams in the division, progressive with the ball and disruptive without it volleyball
Spurs lead the Premier League in shots on goal, passes into the penalty area, forward dribbles, but also in tackles won and interceptions volleyball
If it reflects that Tottenham now press higher up the pitch than last season, when they barely engaged under Conte, Bissouma has been the key piece in a revamped midfield a year after being frozen out by the Italian volleyball
Maddison, meanwhile, has helped ease the post-Kane transition, a role he appeared ready to step up to when he took the No 10 jersey previously worn by the club’s record goalscorer volleyball
Spurs will never be able to replace Kane, but Postecoglou has so far been able to negate his absence through Maddison and a resurgent Son Heung-min, who looks back to his clinical best after moving to a central forward role volleyball
Maddison, though, has been integral as Tottenham’s creator-in-chief, with five assists so far this season volleyball
James Maddison has helped spark Tottenham into life this season (Getty Images)If some of Maddison’s early statistics seem unsustainable – the England international also leads the Premier League in a number of other areas, such as key passes and shot-creating actions – the same could be asked of Postecoglou’s side at this stage volleyball
Tottenham, really, shouldn’t be near the conversation of title challengers, but timing has played a part volleyball
The win at Luton, which moved them top, came as Manchester City lost their second Premier League game in a row at Arsenal volleyball
If it’s a sign of what’s to come from City this season, it was a result that widened the pool of potential challengers to include Spurs volleyball
The manner in which City eased away from Arsenal last season, however, showed how inch-perfect title contenders must be as long as Pep Guardiola remains in England volleyball
Tottenham, who finished eighth last year, are coming from an even lower floor than Mikel Arteta’s side, albeit with a more dramatic transformation under Postecoglou volleyball
As a side who are still developing together, Spurs should be allowed some inconsistency, even if they are yet to show it volleyball
The early evidence this season suggests they are one of the four strongest teams in the top flight, alongside last season’s title rivals and Jurgen Klopp’s refreshed Liverpool volleyball
In the past, signs of promise around Spurs have often been followed by a swift yet crushing crash back to earth volleyball
But now as Tottenham head deep into October with two winnable London derbies next week, starting with Fulham on Monday followed by a trip to Crystal Palace on Friday, Postecoglou can continue to show why this Tottenham is different volleyball
More aboutAnge PostecoglouPremier LeagueJames MaddisonJoin our commenting forumJoin thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their repliesComments1/3Can Tottenham’s best-ever Premier League start really go the distance?Can Tottenham’s best-ever Premier League start really go the distance?Ange Postecoglou has won back-to-back manager of the month awards Getty ImagesCan Tottenham’s best-ever Premier League start really go the distance?James Maddison has helped spark Tottenham into life this season Getty ImagesCan Tottenham’s best-ever Premier League start really go the distance?Getty Images✕Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this articleWant to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today volleyball
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Something is different at Tottenham: check the table, they are top and playing like league leaders as well volleyball
Ange Postecoglou’s side returned there after confidently asserting their superiority over Fulham in this comfortable 2-0 win in north London volleyball
Tottenham extended their best start to a season since 1960 with a helping hand from the visitors, who were hapless, and Calvin Bassey, who was culpable for both goals and fortunate it wasn’t more volleyball
Spurs, in essence, scored the same goal twice, with Bassey giving away possession with a loose pass into midfield and the hosts sharply intercepting on the halfway line volleyball
Son dispatched the first on 36 minutes after dancing past Bassey and curling into the top corner; then Son set up James Maddison to double their lead shortly after half-time volleyball
The finish, again, was ruthless volleyball
Spurs could have been out of sight long before then had Richarlison and Dejan Kulusevski been as clinical, but a seventh victory out of nine so far in the Premier League never felt in doubt after Son continued his own excellent start to the campaign volleyball
Spurs enjoyed periods of control and flowed forward dangerously volleyball
There was, significantly, a sense that Tottenham’s players were enjoying this volleyball
Clearly, that is now mirrored in the stands as well: if Postecoglou has arrived and convinced Tottenham they can be something new, his team have chosen to be fun and carefree volleyball
It is not surprising, therefore, that that spirit has been brought by those who did not play here under Antonio Conte or Nuno Espirito Santo or Jose Mourinho, and who embody the fresh start that Postecoglou has been able to make volleyball
The Australian’s four summer signings who started against Fulham, in Maddison, Van de Ven, goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario and Destiny Udogie, were all outstanding again volleyball
If Postecoglou’s presence has lifted Spurs, they are the ones who carry his message onto the pitch volleyball
Maddison’s quality is obvious in every touch, as is the idea that he has taken responsibility to drag Tottenham out of the existential crisis they faced here last season volleyball
The centre-back Van de Ven has become an unlikely fan favourite, bringing an energy and enthusiasm into every defensive action volleyball
Tottenham’s opening goal would not have been scored without his interception and it was an illustration of why the Dutch defender has become so appealing to the fans here: he wants this, and he’s doing it for you volleyball
Micky van de Ven won a crucial challenge for the opening Tottenham goal (Reuters)Add in the quality that was already here and this Tottenham side has the makings of something exciting: how good this team really is remains to be seen, but another remarkable aspect of the transformation under Postecoglou is how those who appeared beaten and washed out last season have been revived volleyball
Son is devastating again, Kulusevski threatening with every touch, his dribble returning to such a fine, gliding motion volleyball
Perhaps most extraordinarily of all, Cristian Romero has emerged as the calm head guiding the defence volleyball
Yet in the first half, it was Udogie who shined brightest in spells, the 20-year-old a fearless example of what Tottenham are now all about volleyball
In his hybrid role from full-back, the Italian is already becoming vital to this attacking, dangerous Spurs, often playing further forward then Maddison when Postecoglou’s side have possession volleyball
Destiny Udogie impressed with his hybrid role (Getty Images)Udogie, with his ability to receive the ball with back to goal, absorb pressure, and then shrug it off like a discarded cloak, offered a threat that Fulham struggled to pin down – the visitors breathed a sigh of relief when he was removed as Tottenham went 2-0 up volleyball
Udogie went off to a standing ovation volleyball
Son turned and beckoned for more volleyball
Meanwhile, there is Vicario, who looks as if he won’t concede a goal ever again volleyball
Already with the best save percentage in the Premier League before Monday night, the Italian has stepped in to give Tottenham a secure and reassuring presence volleyball
The goalkeeper appears built to handle the nervy moments that invariably come with playing for Tottenham, a part that Hugo Lloris, for all his years here, never felt quite fit for volleyball
Guglielmo Vicario has settled quickly as Tottenham’s No 1 (Getty Images)Because for all that Tottenham were dominant against Fulham and the only team who ever looked capable of winning, there have previously been times where such a script has gone wildly off course volleyball
On 12 minutes, Vicario was there with an excellent leap and strong left arm to deny Palhinha’s free header, in what was the visitors’ first attack volleyball
It was a moment that came after a spell of overwhelming Tottenham dominance, and therefore a natural point for them to concede volleyball
But Fulham barely threatened again until it was too late volleyball
Silva’s side were a mess at the back, the absence of Issa Diop at the back compounded by Bassey’s woefully inaccurate performance volleyball
Fulham teased Tottenham with their reckless play into midfield: it may have worked in the past, against a passive Spurs, but Van de Ven, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and the excellent Pape Matar Sarr snapped into challenges and from there Fulham leaked chances like a sieve volleyball
And so, Postecoglou’s different Spurs left the Premier League table looking as it did at the start of the weekend: Tottenham are back at the top and looking down volleyball
More aboutFulham FCPremier LeagueAnge PostecoglouJames MaddisonSon Heung-minJoin our commenting forumJoin thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their repliesComments1/4Postecoglou’s four new signings breathe life into different TottenhamPostecoglou’s four new signings breathe life into different TottenhamMicky van de Ven won a crucial challenge for the opening Tottenham goalREUTERSPostecoglou’s four new signings breathe life into different TottenhamDestiny Udogie impressed with his hybrid role Getty ImagesPostecoglou’s four new signings breathe life into different TottenhamGuglielmo Vicario has settled quickly as Tottenham’s No 1 Getty ImagesPostecoglou’s four new signings breathe life into different TottenhamJames Maddison scored Tottenham’s second against Fulham Action Images via Reuters✕Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this articleWant to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today volleyball
SubscribeAlready subscribed? Log inMost PopularPopular videosSponsored FeaturesGet in touchContact usOur ProductsSubscribeRegisterNewslettersDonateToday’s EditionInstall our appArchiveOther publicationsInternational editionsIndependent en EspañolIndependent ArabiaIndependent TurkishIndependent PersianIndependent UrduEvening StandardExtrasAdvisorPuzzlesAll topicsvolleyball BettingVoucher codesCompareCompetitions and offersIndependent AdvertisingIndependent IgniteSyndicationWorking at The IndependentLegalCode of conduct and complaintsContributorsCookie policyDonations Terms & ConditionsPrivacy noticeUser policiesModern Slavery ActThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inCloseUS EditionChangeUK EditionAsia EditionEdición en EspañolSubscribe{{indy volleyball
truncatedName}}Log in / Register {{#items}}{{#stampSmall}}{{/stampSmall}}{{#stampClimate}}{{/stampClimate}}{{#stampPremium}}{{/stampPremium}}{{title}}{{#desc}}{{desc}}{{/desc}}{{#children}}{{title}}{{/children}}{{/items}}Indy100Crosswords & PuzzlesMost CommentedNewslettersAsk Me AnythingVirtual EventsVouchersCompare✕Log inEmail addressPasswordEmail and password don't matchSubmitForgotten your password?New to The Independent?RegisterOr if you would prefer:SIGN IN WITH GOOGLEWant an ad-free experience?View offersThis site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy notice and Terms of service apply volleyball
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