Slipped, Tripped, Fell in Love with Ange’s Spurs

/ Alan

So where are we with – let’s do each other a favour and not call it Angeball, he’s the manager and we kick a ball but like the ball in cricket’s Bazball, it’s become a suffix stripped of meaning. So into the bin with it, decomposing alongside spursy. So as I was saying, where are we with Spurs playing attacking bloody brilliant football?

Fourteen games plus a league cup tie in, and it feels longer, not because time has dragged. If there’s one thing you can’t level at Spurs this season, it’s the accusation that they are boring. More about so much has happened, so radical has the change from the last four years been, it feels like March or April 2024. We’ve been through a whole cycle already. An unremarkable pre-season, then transformative attacking football, the squad revitalised and rejuvenated by an inspirational leader, who can communicate to his players and to supporters. New signings look like old hands. From the dark to the light.

Then, a pothole in the road punctures progress. The aftershocks of the Chelsea game are still being felt, and there may still be reverberations come May. Part self-inflicted wounds, part fate, a combination that’s tough to overcome. A good Spurs friend of mine is convinced we are cursed, the only possible explanation for the misfortune that befalls us. I chuckle along, but just when we’ve got things together, after so long in the doldrums, playing football the Spurs way, the way fans want us to play, and this happens.

As ever, it’s the fans who are most attuned to circumstances. Joy unconfined at the Lane early on this season, celebrating not just good football, not merely the unsurpassed delight of late winners but also celebrating being us, rejoicing in having something to celebrate. Then, the remarkable, genuinely moving reaction to the CFC defeat, cheering the team to the rafters because of the shift they put in, for us. Versus Villas, by about 3.30, the atmosphere in the South Stand dropped to a low hum. It lifted later, but at that point, optimism had dissipated to a collective, unspoken agreement. We’re not going to score, are we?

Now we’re back on it, enlivened, entertained and inspired by Sunday’s draw. Limbs in that away end, a familiar sight over the last few years, limbs on sofas across the world. Walking on air. Never beaten till the final whistle blows. Knowing our team can do that is precious, even if they can’t always succeed.

It’s worth thinking about what that means for supporters. Going into a game knowing that anything is possible. Not expectation necessarily, hope certainly. Expanding the limits of what is achievable. Moving forward. Joining manager and players on the journey without being sure of the exact destination.

That’s what I want to feel as a fan. In supporting a PL team, I have no arrogant expectations or overbearing entitlement. I want a tilt at the possible, to be contenders, to be part of that and see where it takes us. Spurs have made massive progress under Postecoglou, and that’s the biggest leap forward. He’s given us the most precious gift – a future. We’re short at the back but we can always buy another centre half. You can’t buy what Ange gives us.

This is the new Spurs Way, with due respect shown to the old ways. Pass and move. Push and run. It’s not so radically different. The football world knows this already. Say Spurs and people know what that means and how we play, with a flourish, not waiting. The world is an uncertain, risky place, but here is something to rely on. And there’s a morality to it, with the right values, doing things the right way. It’s what I want to feel as a fan.  

And fans have a big role to play, not just in getting behind the team but also in giving something back to the team – patience. There will be mistakes, like Bissouma’s, and we need at least two more windows to add the players in key roles at the back and as central striker. I’m prepared to wait.

Also, having been heavily critical of the club’s approach to football strategy, I have more confidence that we have recruitment and analysists to properly support the manager. It’s imperative the chairman supports this too.

It’s no real secret why we prosper against City. Their defenders are quick and tough, good on the ball, and because of that and their possession game, they don’t spend long periods actually defending. Reminds me of another team, sounds familiar…

Anyway, there’s always space, and that suits our strengths. Enter Sonny, terrific movement on Sunday across the front line from a central starting point. Against Villa, that hindered us because they fell back to limit that space, rendering him less effective. Granted, it helps if Haaland misses because it was just too easy to score.

Johnson darted and dashed, relatively freed from tight marking. City bet on their defenders one-on-one, my money’s on Brennan. I’m fast becoming his oldest fanboy. Kulu was excellent again, tireless and purposeful. But no need for that extra touch every time.

Our attacking football was utterly, stunningly, dazzling. The opener tore City asunder in a few devastating seconds, a move that began 12 inches from our goal-line. Thing is, this is us now. Not a one-off moment of inspiration but the way Spurs play football. Doesn’t always work, but no matter, we’ll try it again next time, and the time after that.

It’s transformative coaching, remarkable in such a short period of time, and the players are lapping it up. It is a world away compared with the last four seasons where caution and apathy, fear too, appeared to be drummed into the squad, where individuality and thinking for yourself were suppressed rather than nurtured. This is eager, front-foot football.

Porro’s a good example of this. Last season he never looked confident, whereas now, he’s by no means a perfect defender but for the entire game he’s on the go, going forward or going in hard. His body shape epitomises our game – he’s stronger than I first thought, slightly leaning forward, muscular, eyes ahead.

I’m somewhat mystified as to why Angeb… Spurs attacking football has so amazed the media. Perhaps it’s the stark contrast with what had gone before. On balance, Neville and Carragher are worth listening to on Sky. At least they try to analyse the game, in contrast to most pundits who are happy to blather on about hard work and scoring a goal when the ball’s in the box (Dion Dublin, I’m looking you right in the eye). But Neville’s chortling away about fun while Carragher suggests lumping it long, whereas in front of him a Spurs team without half its best players passes its way through and round the puzzles set by City.  

Ange isn’t a football purist for the aesthetics. He plays this way because he believes this is how to win, and so do I. It’s not gung-ho attack. Rather, it’s crafted, patterned football based on endeavour and team work. Players know what it expected of them. Where they are supposed to be and what they should be doing in different situations, leaving plenty of room for individuality and inspiration.

I wince at the high line, and confess I felt against Villa he over-thought it and left us weak in other situations like set pieces. But again, it’s not just the high line. It’s about having pacy, mobile defenders who are strong one-on-one. The high line maximises the effectiveness of those attributes. Even with Davies and Emerson, that gives forwards another problem to deal with and goes some way to mitigate the obvious weakness there until Romero and VDV can return.

Whatever you call it, I’m all in. Bloody love this team, bloody well love them.

28 thoughts on “Slipped, Tripped, Fell in Love with Ange’s Spurs”

  1. Wonderful read again. I can see you’re really enjoying writing about us again Alan. Rightfully full of confidence of our future like many other Spurs fans.

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  2. The reason we’ve taken so quickly to it is that it’s in our DNA!

    Thank you Alan, for, as ever, getting all the right words in the right order, ie: being able to say what we all wish we were able to say.

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  4. Foghat? In a Tottenham blog? World’s are colliding. Next thing, we’ll be winning trophies.
    I have no idea which Spurs will turn up each week but I recognise when a team wants to play for its manager. The last time that happened was during the Poch era. Our new Latin motto should be ’90 minutes of chaos and maybe three points at the end of it.’ But I wish that Mr. Post could coach his team on how to protect a lead instead of all ball’s out until the final whistle. With a calmer approach we coulda/shoulda got the win at Wolves and squeezed a draw out of Villa and we’d still be top of the table. We’ll need to learn this skill soon enough because if we try and take it into Europe then we’ll get creamed by some very good teams and crafty managers. But that’s next year. In the meantime, I’ll keep my expectations in check and hope we sort ourselves with a nice run in the Cup.

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  6. Here’s a thought, or two in response Alan Ange knows what he likes. Simply put, its what we all realised when we first kicked the ball, It’s fun, Its easy (ish). Wether played in the Garden, Park, or Street. The greatest fun was putting the ball between the jumpers. however most of us rarely have the unthinking poise to actually manage that final part.
    The children who did went on to have the opportunity to play for teams be they Pub, Club of professionally.
    Many then had their gifts trained out of them. Push and Run and it’s present incarnation relies on two factors. One is shape the other is fearlessness. Ange gives the first and attempts to alleviate the second. IT works at every level of sport. Which I think is why we have as fans experienced the season we have. Shape is easily ( relatively ) fitted, fear is a much harder drug to let go of. The bumps against wolves and villa contain misunderstanding of shape and fear of letting go of the past highs.
    Thanks again for your inspiration. See ya soon, hopefully.

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    • IKnowAlanGilzean not anonymous. Can’t sign in for some reason. Hello. You are enjoying watching and writing about Spurs again Alan. Lovely all round.

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  9. IKnowAlanGilzean not anonymous. Can’t sign in for some reason. Hello. You are enjoying watching and writing about Spurs again Alan. Lovely all round.

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  10. I’m just glad that Lo Celso has finally been given the chance to show what he’s capable of (100% passing rate on Sunday). After all the guy does play for Argentina doesn’t he?
    I agree Alan, hopefully by the start of next season squad depth will have improved but let’s not forget the potential in the current U21 squad.

    Hibberni

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  11. Hi, Alan, Ashley here in sunny LA. It sure feels better, when we have to get up for 4.30am games, to have pleasing-on-the-eye football to not ruin the day like the previous 4 years. In a pre-season podcast, I asked if proactive “Ange-ball” would get us through the inevitable sticky patch (injuries, suspensions, bad calls, bad luck). We’re still in it, right now, winless in four. And no big change in player fortune this way comes (VDV, Madders out till Jan/Feb and all those others, and then three starters off to Tournaments in Jan/Feb). So, let’s continue to build and entertain, while not having unreal expectations…just yet. PS Yes, we’re mostly all calling it “Ange-ball” so good luck with swimming against the tide, Alan, haha! PPS Season’s greetings and let’s try to be nice to each other, because there’s a lot of other stuff about, unfortunately. PPPS Some troubles also signing in, Alan.

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  14. There was a planned decision yesterday which was to overload N’castle’s right wing & ergo Trippier for which we have to congratulate Ange on his tactical nous.

    Hibberni

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  16. Yesterday
    Well I’m pretty sure I just witnessed a return to Conte ball, I certainly suffered!
    Perhaps the most obvious case of a Conte hangover was Skipp who really has no idea of providing the pass lane out of defence or moving Everton’s front 2 out of position.
    Standing between them, facing the goalkeeper, left Vicario with only the two wide CB’s for pass options. The idea, Skip, is to move at least one of them out of position and maybe open up a third passing lane.
    Son was poor at committing himself to control the passes he received (not for the first time).
    Full marks to Emerson for a much improved performance from his last one.
    Hibberni

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  17. B’ton
    Oh Discipline, wherefore art thou Discipline?
    Son still guilty of failure to protect the ball and I suggest that he takes a good look at his first half performance before commenting on the team’s (performance).
    Hibberni

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  18. B’mouth
    A tale of two halves.
    First: Give B’mouth their due they played on the front foot & won the 50/50’s but failed to take their chances.
    Second: We scrapped more & were rewarded; needs must. Can’t remember the last time we were scoring near post goals!!!
    Lo Celso
    Now we are seeing the player that he can be. His outstanding strength is his ability to read the game in the middle of the park, which is why he plays for Argentina. QED
    Sonny
    Much better, but please keep out of our defensive third.
    Emerson & Davies
    You guys are the best, scrapper gold medals…
    Hibberni

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  19. Interesting to note that, as of today, we have scored 4 more goals than last season, (42/38) in the EPL after 20 games.
    Is it reasonable to say that Ange’s change in our playing style has negated the loss of HK?
    On va voir…
    Hibberni

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  21. Burnley
    Well, for most of the match, I saw little wrong with our approach play but the final ball was missing & maybe Richarlison was lacking in his positional play also.
    The final minutes were abysmal; Gil & later Sessegnon made little impact and both proved just how light-weight they are as if we didn’t know that already!
    Hibberni

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  23. Werner
    He did provide 21 assists during his 89 game spell with Chelsea in addition to 23 goals.
    Given some of the dross who have passed through our ‘hallowed halls’ I, for one, would have welcomed that performance.
    Hibberni

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