Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou on the need of having a striker as last season they we're short within that position stating that 'It's really important we have two recognisable strikers on the team'
23/08/2024
Tottenham Training Ground, London, UK
23/08/2024
Tottenham Training Ground, London, UK
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00:00How do you get that consistency out of him, I know he's had an injury problem?
00:27But that is a big part, you talked about the Everton game last year, but that was a spell of him playing really regularly.
00:33I thought last year whenever he got a series of games he'd just look better and better and better, but then invariably an injury hit.
00:40I think that chance the other night, if he'd had a full pre-season and played half a dozen games, he'd probably bury it because he's so good in the air.
00:48I remember last year I think it was Sheffield United's second game, it's a very similar header he buried, but he'd had a pre-season with us.
00:55So that's the thing with Richie, just trying to get him fit and obviously we've got to be a little bit careful with him because he hasn't played for quite a while.
01:02But I think I've said before, whenever he's been really fit and available I've always chosen him because he's a handful for oppositions.
01:11He's a real physical presence in the box, he's a good finisher, he works hard for the team.
01:18But hopefully now getting Dom in the whole idea was that we can share that workload and not be so reliant on one player.
01:25But I think he's still at a good age, Richie, where he can still play some fantastic football for us and we've just got to make sure we keep him fit and manage his workload so we get the best out of him.
01:39Is this exact scenario that's come up with Dom's injury somewhat why it's important to keep him at the club and have two top strikers?
01:47Yeah, absolutely. Richie's not going anywhere but if he did leave I'd definitely sign another striker.
01:53We had that issue last year, we were really short in that area.
01:59To be fair, the whole pre-season we did play without a striker.
02:03I was playing Deki Kulosevsky through the whole pre-season because we obviously hadn't signed Dom and Richie was out.
02:09It makes a difference to the way we play when we have a striker in there.
02:13Yeah, it's really important for us that we have two recognised strong strikers in the team.
02:19You mentioned the presumption that the Bridge building continues, I'm just wondering what his reaction and his behaviour has actually been like this week?
02:28You know what it's like when you punish your child and they do everything right for the next two days.
02:34He's first in the meetings, he's doing everything right but there's always temptation down the road so we'll see.
02:43Like I said, I've always believed in opportunity for redemption and learning.
02:50We're still in that space at the moment with Biss but obviously that door closes after a while if there's repeated.
02:58He's been good but I would have been surprised if he wasn't.
03:03It's always the key with Biss, it's just the consistency of that.
03:07Consistency of behaviour, what he does.
03:12It's not that he's doing a lot of bad things, the last transgression obviously was very serious.
03:18It's the little things along the way also.
03:21I think sometimes that manifests in his game as well, where he's really good and then he'll have a moment where he's not.
03:28I think it all correlates.
03:30From our perspective it's about trying to continually guide him but as I keep saying, that's up to him.
03:35He's got to continue to try and be the best version of himself he can possibly be.
03:42Is decking of centre forward still a live option for you?
03:47Yeah, it's an option. I don't think it's his best area but he's certainly through the pre-season.
03:53We used him a couple of games at the back end of last year, at least one game we used him there.
04:02Look, he's such a hard worker, he runs the line really well.
04:07He can link up with the rest of the team in the build-up where I think he can do a job for us there.
04:16But I don't think that's his best position.
04:20What about Dom? I suppose every striker comes in and wants to score a goal and then make a big move like that but it's a big blur.
04:30Yeah it is but every story is written differently mate.
04:35They're not all just fairy tales where you make your debut and score a hat-trick.
04:39He was very good for us last week and I guess we're just as disappointed because it's really exciting to see that he's going to fit in really well with what we're doing.
04:48I've got no doubt about that. It's just a small hiccup mate, he misses a game or two.
04:54Like I said, it's game one of 50 plus games, he'll have plenty of opportunities to recover from that.
05:03For me, the exciting bit was just watching him in our team last week. I can see he's going to be a really good fit.
05:11Paul?
05:22Well he's fit to start the game because he's training but can he play 90 minutes? No.
05:26So that's where the decision lies because of course he's fit to start a game because he came on last week, you don't come on a pitch unless you're fit.
05:35But game time and match fitness is different and he hasn't played a minute in pre-season so that's the challenge.
05:45So he could start for sure but he's not going to play 90 minutes so it's where we give him his minutes.
05:58Don't know mate, they don't come to me if they've got interest, they go to other people.
06:06Yeah, he's not one that we were looking to move on from my perspective anyway.
06:14Yeah, as I'll say right now, we need two strikers and that's what we've got.
06:30When is that mate?
06:35I think he should be picked up after the Newcastle game.
06:56It's obviously a blow to him isn't it? He's got the big new signing, have you had to put your own number in to worry about it or do you not need that?
07:06He's a big man. I've always said that to footballers, nothing runs smoothly.
07:17Think of the poor old manager, forget the player, what about me? I've just lost my key striker a week after buying him, what about me?
07:26Who puts an arm around me? Yeah, see I need an arm around me.
07:30No, it's all good. Like I said, we didn't sign Don for one match and he knows that.
07:38He's here for hopefully a long time to have a real impact on this football club and bring success to it.
07:45I thought it was exciting last week what we saw and this is just a small bump in the road and we'll get over it and move on.
07:52I'm sure he'll be looking forward to getting back out there.
07:59Thanks.