While Ange Postecoglou’s doubters would have you believe that Tottenham Hotspur are on a hiding to nothing with a man who’s tactics lie somewhere between the brave and the naive, the triumph of last season’s fifth place finish should not be underestimated.
Now, you won’t find the former Celtic boss popping champagne and firing off confetti cannons after finishing outside of the Champions League spots.
“I’m not aiming for fifth spot, mate,” was Postecoglou‘s typically straightforward reaction when asked if he was content with where Tottenham Hotspur ended up.
In private, however, the prickly Postecoglou may see things a little differently. Certainly large sections of the Spurs fanbase do. After losing star man and all-time top scorer Harry Kane to Bayern Munich, a season in which they won more points, finished higher, scored more goals and played an altogether far more enticing brand of football undoubtedly represents a shift in the right direction.
If Tottenham are to make the next step – and crash into the Champions League places – then the next three months feel, if not make or break, then certainly very important.
Tottenham Hotspur need a new striker
“We need change. Change has to happen,” Postecoglou insists, further reinforcements required to build a team in his image.
“We’ve had two windows and we’ve had some development of players, for sure. But when I say we’ve still got a long way to go, that’s what I’m talking about.
“I’ve got to change this squad. I have to, because I’ve got to build a squad I think can play our football.”
A centre-forward, HITC understands, is right at the top of Tottenham’s wishlist. Only Richarlison and Heung-Min Son broke into double figures in the Premier League last season, Spurs’ flirtation with the top four made all the more impressive when you consider the lack of reliable goalscorers at their disposal.
HITC have been told Santiago Gimenez of Feyenoord if Tottenham’s first-choice target for the number nine spot. There is, however, another Netherlands-based centre-forward fluttering his eyelashes in Spurs’ direction, Brian Brobbey mentioning Tottenham when asked by HELDEN Magazine to name his ‘dream’ destinations.
“Real Madrid, Manchester United, Arsenal, Tottenham…” Brobbey says. “Those are nice clubs.
“But, if I stay at Ajax, that is certainly not a punishment.”
Brian Brobbey opens door to Spurs move
A broad-shouldered battering ram of a centre-forward, Brobbey has often been likened to a young Romelu Lukaku. The comparisons certainly make sense when watching Ajax’s 22-goal top scorer receive the ball with his back to goal, spin his marker into submission and fire home into one of the corners.
Whether Brobbey fits the style of striker Postecoglou wants, however, is a point worthy of discussion.
His Celtic side were at their free-flowing best with the mobile, subtle presence of Kyogo Furuhashi up top. Postecoglou likes his forward players to alternate their positions, Richarlison and Son often drifting out wide even when fielded through the middle.
Brobbey, a physical, old-school throwback of a striker, feels like a potentially quite awkward fit.
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