Glenn Hoddle praised James Maddison and Emerson Royal for the part they played in Tottenham Hotspur’s opening goals against Brentford on Sunday.
This was Ange Postecoglou’s first Premier League game in charge of Tottenham and his team provided some serious entertainment upon first viewing.
Four goals. Plenty of chances. A stronghold in possession. Conceding a penalty and chances galore. Plus a stunning strike from Emerson Royal.
Before the rejuvenated Brazil star could fire in Tottenham’s second goal. Inside five minutes, James Maddison’s brilliant free-kick was headed home by Cristian Romero to open the scoring.
Before Emerson’s strike on the edge of the box levelled the scores heading into the break.
That moment was described as ‘sensational’ by Hoddle, who also shared his thoughts on the right-back’s new role, as he told Premier League Productions (13/08/23 at 3:10 pm).
“What a ball from Maddison, by the way,” said Hoddle. “It’s debatable whether it was offside, it was just given onside and rightly so. A great header. A hell of a goal and a great ball by Maddison.
On Emerson: “We see Skipp coming on the outside a lot more, then we see Emerson going into that central position. That’s a slight tactical change. Has it worked? Deeper in the pitch, I am not sure it has worked, even though it has given Tottenham a lot of possession.
“Emerson ends up back there again. This time it works out for Tottenham because the finish is sensational. If he was playing his normal right-back position, then he would have been wide right.
“But he ends up on the edge of the box and that’s probably the advantage you do get. It’s a really good finish.”
Tottenham’s new style under Postecoglou
In recent years, the Spurs fans have been frustrated and annoyed by the club’s decline on the pitch, not helped by the fact that Harry Kane has now gone.
Part of that was down to the club’s style of play. The defensive nature to it all and how many felt that it didn’t match Tottenham’s DNA.
Well, from an attacking sense, there can’t be too many complaints about what they are seeing under Postecoglou so far.
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