Hear that? The sound of straitjacket buckles being undone. Locked doors thrown open, barriers crashing down. The cracking of Conte’s concrete boots. That bloke who used to stand behind JM with his clipboard being ignored by the players, his pencil lead breaking.

Not that you could hear anything over the wall of glorious noise crashing out of the Park Lane to fill the stadium for 99 minutes to visibly lift the players. The old guard were surprised, the new guys lapped it up. All the players plus the manager were genuinely moved and inspired. None of these self-indulgent in-joke choreographed goal celebrations. Sarr leapt in delight and piled in towards the fans in the corner before being engulfed by his team-mates. Unconfined spontaneous joy, on the field and in the stands.

Someone should tell the new guys that it’s not always like this. Or maybe it will be. Kudos to the new singing section at the back of the south. If you build it, we will come, and join in.

This hullabaloo marked more than a fine win over benchmark rivals, excellent though we were in the second half. This was an uproarious celebration of us, of being Spurs, a triumphant sustained roar to exorcise demons and a rediscovery of who we are, of being Spurs, an identity and belonging that had been stifled and repressed by successive regimes.

Players inspired, raising their game, led by a manager whose values chime with ours. Get on the front foot, take the game to our opponents and if that doesn’t work, do it again only better. Ange gets us. JM and Conte paid lip service to the club’s heritage and to us, because in their hearts and heads, they were more important than the club. But Ange believes, so we believe in him. We sang Conte’s name, he thought, well yes of course you do. Sing Ange’s name, he is humble and proud. Such praise is earned. In Ange and his team, we see a reflection of ourselves as supporters, of who we want to be and how we want our team to play.

I like the relative peace and quiet of the close season where normally a measure of hope and optimism are the dominant emotions. This summer, I brooded in anguish over seasons of dull, unambitious football to be endured rather than enjoyed. Hardly an original observation, but the depth and consistency of the numbing awfulness of it all was inescapable. A lack of ambition was coached into our players. There was certainly no coaching to improve them as a team or to develop young players, and we have many of those.

And with a single bound Ange set us free! I read a quote from a manager over the summer, think it was Arne Slot, who said he didn’t like defensive football because it encouraged players not to think or take the initiative. I present Conte’s Spurs as a case study in evidence.

That’s all in the past now, than goodness, although I do fear for our defence while the manager coaches wing-backs to be full-backs and the promising Van der Ven settles. Romero had a good game, clear-headed and committed, more please.

With the leggy stride of the thoroughbred he is, Sarr was outstanding in midfield alongside the excellent Bissouma, who has found his form once free of injuries and through a manager who believes in him, who asks him to do what he does best, not confirm to rigid, cloying and outdated tactics. Good at holding the ball under pressure to help team-mates out and allow our shape to reset, just as the mighty Dembele did under Poch. Maddison on the ball to create chances, he does things a fraction quicker than the rest. With ball at his feet comes the thrill of expectation. Something is going to happen, how I’ve missed that feeling. And Udogie looks a real prospect, not just raiding with pace and strength from the back but the timing and positioning of his runs shows maturity way beyond his age.

This is a young side and there will be setbacks as they learn by doing, as well as successes. Being honest, the manner of our victory was the most significant part of the day, and I would be praising them even if we hadn’t won. That second half shift was remarkable and put United’s expensive midfield to shame. But we were fortunate that United missed those two first half headers and that Davies’ cunning plan to take everyone by surprise and shank the cross worked as well as it did.

But we have something to look forward to. My anticipation levels are off the scale, and fans will be alongside them win or lose because this is right way to play football. The team spirit and togetherness is energising in itself.

Ange hasn’t sorted out the front three yet. Richarlison is clearly being told to stay central, so he spends a lot of time waiting for the ball to come to him, rather than moving or interchanging with Son, which could make it harder for defenders. Son’s talents are not best served by expecting him to play as a wide man.

So a great day out at the Lane, all the sweeter knowing the promise of more to come. Strap in and enjoy the ride. It will take time, and patience can be our gift to the manager in return for the promise he brings.

By the end of the window, I’d like to see another striker and centre-back as a minimum. I’m leaning towards spending the Kane money on class and buying the best as opposed to skimping, that’s assuming the money hasn’t been spent already, but enough of the board in recent articles, I’m not going there for now.

There’s some concern about the number of players we need to move on but the reality for Spurs and every PL club is that the real business gets done to the sound of the window closing, when minds are focused as ifs and buts fall by the wayside. Happens every window, this will be no different. I think Dier and Hojbjerg will go, and will do so with my thanks and good wishes, sentiments not shared by others judging by social media.

N’Dombele will be somewhere, anywhere, other than N17, and the board have to take a big hit on such a poorly judged purchase. We scouted the football but not the character. I suspect they are waiting to see who can come in before selling Sanchez, he will stay if they can’t improve, and fair play to him for making the effort to play for a place when he could understandably want to get away.

It’s also worth noting that Spurs seem to have upped their game to compete for younger talent, both  buying potential in young men like Phillips or paying the going rate for salaries for top young talent, however unpalatable that may feel.

Getting to games isn’t guaranteed these days for various reasons I won’t detain you with. Last season, after 56 years, it didn’t seem to matter so much but on Saturday, another reminder of how precious it is to me, with the family, being there. Tottenham til I die is a cliched chant, heard it all before. So well beyond the final whistle, as players and fans linger to unite in celebration, why does it bring tears to this old man’s eyes? Bloody football.

Decided to stick with the football this week, given that it was a grand day and several recent articles have focused on my criticism of the board. But I must add that I fully endorse the Trust’s campaign against the ticket price rises and I was glad I took part in the pre-match demo. Stop exploiting loyalty. Maybe more on this and fans in the coming weeks.

And thanks so much for joining me for another season of Tottenham On My Mind. It does not evolve – same design, focus on the words, an old man shouting at the clouds in N17. I can’t write every week so stay in touch via twitter, Threads and subscribe via the button near top right.