Tottenham Hotspur: West Ham friendly, Lo Celso stars, and attacking play
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00:00 James, first things first, Tottenham are, of course, away in Australia on pre-season tour.
00:05 I think the first big thing to talk about is their match against West Ham.
00:08 It was a 3-2 loss, but as we've chatted before, we've started recording here.
00:12 Lots of positives to take from that game for Tottenham.
00:16 Yes, I think it's a classic case of result not telling the whole story there.
00:19 I mean, obviously disappointing to lose. You never like to be defeated, especially by a London rival.
00:24 But really, really positive performance.
00:27 We dominated in all aspects of the game. We had a lot of the ball.
00:31 Loads more shots, more possession, more intent.
00:34 And you could really see how things are starting to shape up under Postacoglou
00:38 in terms of progressive football, attacking football, taking risks at the back, patterns of play.
00:46 We had some terrific chances and carved West Ham open at times with some really, really good football,
00:52 which was really pleasing to see.
00:54 After the turgid stuff we've had to put up with for the last couple of seasons.
00:58 However, the big asterisk remains over the defending.
01:01 I think West Ham had four shots on goal and scored three times.
01:05 It did definitely shine a spotlight, if it ever needed shining, to be honest,
01:10 on defensive reinforcements and what we need to work on going forward.
01:14 West Ham scored from two set pieces pretty much.
01:16 Two short corners, two crosses into the box, two headers.
01:19 The defending was pretty poor. And then the last goal was a breakaway goal, really.
01:24 We lost possession in the middle of the park and Skamaka ran through and put away a decent finish.
01:30 He's a good finisher, Skamaka.
01:33 But overall, really, really impressed with the positivity, the way we want to approach the game.
01:39 And I think, as Postacoglou alluded to, after the game, results matter.
01:43 But you'd have been disappointed had we won not playing the brand of football that he wants to see
01:47 and implement at Spurs. And I think that tells you a lot, really.
01:49 So, positive signs from the off.
01:52 Who stood out in that game?
01:53 I think we've mentioned before the chat, Lasalos, as one who you probably didn't think would.
01:59 But anyone else?
02:01 Yes, I think it's interesting because, obviously, we've taken 31 players to Australia,
02:04 which is a huge amount. In previous summers, we've left players behind to seek transfers away from the club.
02:09 But Postacoglou clearly wants to have a look at everybody.
02:12 I think in terms of winners and losers, Lasalos definitely was a winner yesterday.
02:17 He pretty much ran the game in the second half, came on at half-time.
02:20 He played that number eight in the pocket.
02:23 And I really rate him as a player.
02:25 I mean, I'm sure I've said to you before, in the Jose Mourinho era, for half a season,
02:30 he was absolutely outstanding.
02:32 I saw him a couple of times live and he really did boss the midfield for Spurs.
02:36 And I really thought he was going to be that creative answer and be that sort of lock-picker that we've been missing.
02:41 Yesterday, he performed very, very strongly.
02:43 He obviously scored a good goal on the volley, took that nicely.
02:46 But it was more his little pockets of positions that he was taking up.
02:50 He was really dictating the play.
02:52 He's always got a bit of a tackle in him as well.
02:54 He's quite tenacious for an attack-minded player.
02:57 But he was spraying the ball out left and right.
02:59 He put Richarlison through a couple of times.
03:01 So, really positive.
03:02 I mean, there's a big question mark over whether he wants to stay at Spurs and/or whether Spurs will want to cash in on him.
03:07 But I definitely think that he should have a future with Spurs.
03:11 I do think he's a real good backup for Madison that could potentially play together with Bissouma in the six as well.
03:16 Because, as I say, he has got a bit of the nasty side to his game.
03:20 He can get his foot in as well.
03:22 So, he was definitely a winner.
03:23 I think Alfie Devine did himself no harm as well.
03:26 He played a little bit out of position on the right-hand side.
03:28 Obviously, a young player coming through, but taking his chance to impress Bostockoglou.
03:33 He was bright.
03:34 Bissouma was excellent in the first half, as was Solomon as well.
03:38 He was very, very bright.
03:39 Almost scored with a terrific effort that Fabianski tipped over the crossbar.
03:43 And he linked up nicely down the left-hand side with Sergio Reguilon.
03:47 Reguilon showed flashes of what we know he can do going forward, albeit he was at fault for one of the goals.
03:54 So, I think that's the yin and yang of him.
03:56 Reguilon, he's got a great engine, really good going forward.
03:59 But he is suspect at the back in terms of his defending.
04:03 And I think Destin Udogi as well, performed very, very well in the second half.
04:07 Obviously, he scored a goal as well.
04:09 But he looked bright getting forward.
04:11 He's got a real burst of pace.
04:12 He's very dynamic.
04:13 He loves to get on the overlap.
04:15 And he teamed up very nicely with Perisic in the second half.
04:17 And Perisic, actually, there's another question mark over his future.
04:21 But he produced a solid display in the second half.
04:24 Although where he fits in long-term into a Bostockoglou system, I'm not sure.
04:29 So, there were several who did themselves no harm at all.
04:34 Shame we didn't say on Tanguy Ndombele, he was injured.
04:37 He's another one who has perhaps got a chance for a bit of redemption should he want it at Spurs.
04:42 We know his talent, but it's whether he's got the mental side of the game and whether he's got the will, I suppose, to do it in a Spurs shirt.
04:51 He's looked quite bright in pre-season training from what we've seen.
04:53 But he was injured in the last session before the match.
04:56 So, he missed out with a knock.
04:58 One or two others we didn't see as well.
04:59 But I think, as I say, overall, very positive.
05:03 Lots of work to do on the defending side, obviously, but certainly from an attacking point of view.
05:07 One or two didn't have the shooting boots on, but some positive signs.
05:11 And just before in the first question, you alluded to, of course, the manager's comments about playing the right way despite the result.
05:19 What does that say to you about how André Bostockoglou is going to approach managing Tottenham?
05:26 Well, I think it gives us hope as a fan base.
05:28 I think it's exciting.
05:29 I think it gives us real cause for optimism.
05:32 I've not felt like this as a Spurs fan probably since Pochettino came through the door.
05:36 He's pretty much set out his stall.
05:38 We will play attacking football.
05:40 We will look to dominate games home and away.
05:42 He wants to see people take risks at the back.
05:44 I mean, there was a period of play yesterday where Davinson Sanchez, who was not ideal on the ball, took a little bit of a risk with a little one-two with Emerson almost on the goal line.
05:54 And it ended up with Spurs basically launching a counter-attack and almost scoring a goal.
05:59 So that was the positive side of it.
06:01 Obviously, there's going to be some negatives.
06:03 You know, Vicario kicked the ball out of play with a pass back that led to the second goal.
06:10 So, you know, there's high risk, high reward, I suppose, in the way he wants to play.
06:15 But I think it's exciting.
06:16 And, you know, he is a really, really positive influence so far.
06:20 You know, as I say, the proof will be in the pudding.
06:23 But so far, you know, I think every Spurs fan is quietly optimistic, although we do need those reinforcements, particularly in defence.
06:30 [BLANK_AUDIO]