Premier League blown away by Ange Postecoglou’s ’addictive’ act

Ange Postecoglou’s first season as manager of Tottenham is quickly becoming one of the most enjoyable storylines of the sporting year.

Ange Postecoglou is the talk of the English Premier League after reviving Tottenham. Pictures: AFP

New Australian football fans turned on to the world game by Matildas’ World Cup fever have been handed an obvious next move. Get on the Ange Postecoglou bandwagon.

The Australian coach’s first year as Tottenham manager is shaping up to be one of the most enjoyable storylines of the sporting year.

After taking an unorthodox path through the A-League, Japan and Scotland to the world’s biggest stage, Postecoglou is quickly becoming the darling of the English Premier League.

Fans are lapping up Spurs’ tantalising new style of play, the English press is delighting in his sharp sense of humour – and most importantly of all the results have been spectacular.

Spurs momentarily took ownership of top spot after following last week’s 2-0 win against Manchester United with another 2-0 victory against Bournemouth overnight Saturday.

A club that was in the depths of despair after its worst finish since 2009 and the loss of its best player, is suddenly the talk of the league and it’s all down to a 57-year-old man from Melbourne.

Not sure if I’ve mentioned it but I am utterly in love with Ange Postecoglou

— Billie (@Billie_T) August 26, 2023

The only negative thing with Ange Postecoglou is that his football is so addictive. I’m currently shaking from the thought that I have to wait another 3 days to witness this

— 🇸🇪 (@axelthfc) August 26, 2023

Tottenham’s bright start to the season continued as James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski struck at Bournemouth.

Postecoglou’s men have so far shrugged off the departure of the club’s all-time record goalscorer Harry Kane to Bayern Munich with new signing Maddison at the heart of most of their good work.

The England international’s first Tottenham goal on 17 minutes was just reward for the visitor’s dominance of the first half.

Maddison had been a doubt after leaving the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after last weekend’s 2-0 win over Manchester United in a protective boot.

But the $79 million (AUD) signing from Leicester was passed fit and is already appearing a bargain as he thrives in Postecoglou’s system.

“There wasn’t anyone happier than me when we got him,” Postecoglou said of Maddison. “Overjoyed with how he’s been so far.”

James Maddison and Ange Postecoglou appear to be a match made in heaven. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

As Maddison shines, Richarlison is struggling to fill the boots of Kane as the Brazilian striker endured another frustrating afternoon.

Richarlison should have doubled Tottenham’s advantage before the break when he tried to cut inside when clean through, allowing Lloyd Kelly to get just enough of a touch with a last-ditch tackle to divert the ball to safety.

“He’s just got to keep working hard and keep contributing to the team,” Postecoglou said of the former Everton star.

Spurs could have paid for their failure to put the game to bed as Bournemouth started brightly after the break.

Antoine Semenyo came closest to an equaliser with a curling effort from outside the box that hit the side-netting.

Postecoglou had seen enough, making a match-changing intervention by replacing Richarlison and Pape Matar Sarr and his intervention paid immediate dividends as Kulusevski steered Destiny Udogie’s cross into the far corner just after the hour mark.

Tottenham’s all-important second goal came from another fresh face making a strong start to the new season.

Tottenham Hotspur's Italian defender #Destiny Udogie passes the ball before his team's second goal. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)

Udogie was signed last summer when Italian coach Antonio Conte and sporting director Fabio Paratici were at the club but was then loaned back to Udinese for the 2022/23 season.

The left-back could turn out to be one of the few positive legacies of the Conte and Paratici era for Spurs.

Udogie surged forward, exchanging a one-two with Son Heung-min, before pulling the ball back for Kulusevski to finish.

Victory took Spurs a point clear of Brighton and Manchester City at the top of the table, having played one game more.

Arsenal wasted a chance to move back above their north London rivals when they recovered from a halftime deficit against Fulham to lead 2-1, before conceding a late equaliser despite the visitors playing with 10-men.

– with AFP