Tottenham’s promising summer time continued in Japan with Ange Postecoglou’s aspect overcoming an early deficit to beat Vissel Kobe 3-2.
Spurs’ pre-season started with a pair of home victories over Hearts and Queen’s Park Rangers and Saturday’s outing represented a substantial step up in high quality with the Japanese aspect halfway by way of their 2024 marketing campaign.
The youthful Lilywhites as soon as once more impressed to seal one other pre-season triumph and Postecoglou prompt post-match that his squad had taken a “constructive step” in Japan earlier than heading to Korea for the second leg of their tour.
Listed here are three takeaways from Tottenham’s 3-2 victory over Vissel Kobe.
Tottenham have not precisely been proficient at producing their very own since Harry Kane broke by way of and have become the membership’s greatest-ever goalscorer.
Nevertheless, there’s actual hope that Spurs’ present crop could make headway at a senior stage. Their main gentle is 16-year-old Mikey Moore, who proved to be the match-winner in Kobe amid an imposing summer time.
Moore was in the best place on the proper time to faucet dwelling Tottenham’s third within the closing phases, his third objective contribution in as many pre-season outings.
The free-spirited playmaker is a severe expertise who’s seemingly already able to contribute to Postecoglou’s aspect. He is adept in a spread of ahead roles however is especially artful in and across the opposition’s field.
“Mikey has been unbelievable since we introduced him in,” the supervisor stated post-match. “He’s earned his spot on the roster in the mean time – he did on the finish of final yr. He received a run with the primary crew as a result of we may see in coaching that he was dealing with himself very well and that is adopted by way of into pre-season coaching.”
Moore rose to prominence following a productive Underneath-17 Euros marketing campaign with England earlier this yr and it will not be very lengthy till Premier League watchers are having fun with the magic of Spurs’ teenage sensation.
Vissel Kobe supplied a stern problem for Spurs. Given they’re in mid-season kind, they have been in a position to press Postecoglou’s aspect excessive, thus testing their build-up.
Tottenham largely caught to the duty nicely and have been in a position to progress by way of the thirds, accessing the likes of Dejan Kulusevski and inverted full-back Pedro Porro between the traces with spectacular frequency.
Whereas Spurs did discover the online thrice, they have been frustratingly profligate in entrance of objective, with Postecoglou stating that teen Moore may have bagged a hat-trick given the possibilities he squandered. Nevertheless, their points within the ultimate third do not completely concentrate on wastefulness in entrance of objective.
In Son Heung-min, Timo Werner and Brennan Johnson, Tottenham have wingers who aren’t precisely revered for his or her skill to retain possession. They’re all very direct and there is little scope for a change of tempo. It is all very quick. These direct profiles render the likes of James Maddison and Kulusevski, playmakers who take pleasure in having the ball, all of the extra vital. They’re in a position to shift and manipulate the defensive block earlier than selecting the correct second to pounce.
Kulusevski supplied promise in Kobe as a withdrawn 9 and Ange will hope the Swede can return to his most potent kind as a result of his profile is ever so vital to balancing this direct ahead line.
Moore has gained loads of headlines this summer time, however he is one among a number of younger Lilywhite stars to shine in pre-season.
Will Lankshear is a reputation to keep watch over, particularly if Spurs decide in opposition to signing a striker forward of the 2024/25 marketing campaign, as are new arrivals Archie Grey and Lucas Bergvall.
The 2 18-year-olds have rapidly struck up a healthful off-field rapport and each may discover themselves concerned in Postecoglou’s XI from the get-go. Grey, particularly, has proven in pre-season why he had an extended listing of golf equipment on his tail earlier than Tottenham acquired his companies for £30m plus Joe Rodon.
{The teenager} has operated in an unfamiliar left centre-back function, however he was by no means flummoxed in opposition to a Vissel crew that sought to catch Tottenham out excessive up the pitch. Grey was silky easy in tight areas and unrelenting in his need to get the ball upfield as rapidly as attainable. His skill to interrupt traces is so spectacular, as is the composure at which he performs within the build-up part.
He won’t be enjoying on the coronary heart of Ange’s defence within the Premier League, with Grey hoping for midfield minutes. He might be competing with shut confidant Bergvall in the midst of the park, with the Swedish sensation providing glimpses of his high quality between the traces.
Bergvall combines a sturdy bodily presence with majestic technical attributes and appears prepared for the rigours of the English recreation.