Harry who? Ange Postecoglou’s revamped Spurs can score from everywhere with Angeball

Once branded the ‘Harry Kane team’, Tottenham’s attack has been revolutionised by Ange Postecoglou. But can Spurs continue to win with one glaring absence in the line-up?

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou celebrates his team's Premier League victory at Burnley. Picture: Gareth Copley/Getty Images

Regardless of whether Harry Kane had stayed at Tottenham Hotspur or not, Ange Postecoglou was ready to rip up their style book and start again.

The Australian knew that the side whom Pep Guardiola once referred to as the “Harry Kane team” were no longer going to be reliant on a single goalscorer as he aimed to create an exciting, attacking team in which everyone contributes.

In ten seasons at the club Kane scored an average of 31 per cent of Spurs’ Premier League goals each season, peaking at 43 per cent last year, so naturally there was going to be concern as to where the goals would come from once his departure to Bayern Munich was confirmed.

“If someone had to [leave], you have to respect that,” said Son Heung-min, Kane’s fellow striker and the scorer of a hat-trick at Turf Moor in a 5-2 win over Burnley. “It’s about how you move forward now we have no Harry. Everyone has to take a big responsibility on the pitch to make and score goals, you have to be hungry for the goals and to win the game.”

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou celebrates his team's Premier League victory at Burnley. Picture: Gareth Copley/Getty Images

With Richarlison benched, Son was deployed through the middle of Spurs’ front three, flanked by Manor Solomon and Dejan Kulusevski and Postecoglou was unsurprisingly asked if the South Korean’s ability to play through the middle was the reason why they had not signed a No 9 in the transfer window.

“No, it’s not exactly why,” the Spurs head coach said. “But it’s one of the reasons. I’ve got a picture in my head about what I want the team to look like and I keep saying we’re still at the beginning of it, we’re still building and there’s a lot to be done. It’s about putting all the pieces together.

“There are some really good footballers in this club and they have the ability to play in the way this team needs to set up. Sonny, whether he’s playing central or right, has got all the characteristics to play the way we want to play.”

Heung-Min Son of Tottenham acknowledges fans and carries the match ball after scoring a hat-trick against Burnley in a 5-2 win at Turf Moor. Picture: Gareth Copley/Getty Images

But do this team actually need a proper No 9? The way Tottenham played against Burnley, which will not be successful against every opponent, suggested not.

Already after four games they are averaging more shots, more entrances into the box, more passes in the final third and more goals than they did last season.

Without the focal point that Kane provided for more than a decade, they are having to find different ways to attack, and instead of seeking out the England record goalscorer each time they are considering different attacking patterns, with the full backs key to Postecoglou’s forward-thinking system.

Pedro Porro provided two excellent assists at Turf Moor and his ability to push forward freed up his teammates, pushing them further into the centre of the pitch and into the space that Kane used to occupy.

“He wants to have the ball, he wants to dominate the game and he wants to play as high as possible,” Son said of his new head coach’s style of play. “You could see on the pitch that everyone is playing with joy, with the happiness which is very helpful for the team.”

Heung-Min Son and James Maddison celebrate yet another goal against Burnley. Picture: Gareth Copley/Getty Images

The Australian, who was serenaded by the travelling supporters for the majority of Saturday’s victory, prefers a fluid front-three system, led by the majestic James Maddison. He is being deployed back in his most effective position as a No 10, having been forced on to the wing by Leicester City, his previous club, as they struggled to plug gaps in their attack in recent seasons.

Maddison’s movement and ability to drop deep to spark attacks, just as he did for Spurs’ fifth, is key to the way they attack, but so is an interchangeable system, with Postecoglou keen to emphasise that his players should not focus solely on occupying one position.

It has led so far to six different goalscorers in their opening four league games, with Son getting three, Maddison two, Romero two and Emerson Royal, Pape Matar Sarr and Kulusevski all scoring one goal each.

While the focus was on Tottenham not bringing in a No 9 in the window they did add to their attacking pool with Brennan Johnson, who, on the face of it, seems a perfect fit for Spurs’ new versatile attack.

Johnson has shown at Nottingham Forest that he is capable of playing on the wing or as a central striker; he can also play as a second striker, so should have no problem filling whatever role he is asked to under his new regime.

Spurs’ lack of a “proper No 9”, instead possessing several players who are comfortable in all attacking positions, fits Postecoglou’s fluid style and makes them more unpredictable when going forward.

– The Times

Originally published as Harry who? Ange Postecoglou’s revamped Spurs can score from everywhere with Angeball