These days, the mark of a modern, forward-thinking head coach can often be seen in how they utilise their goalkeepers.
And Joe Hart’s evolution from last-line-of-defence to first-line-of-attack under Ange Postecoglou at Celtic should serve as indication as to what Tottenham Hotspur supporters can expect from whoever replaces Hugh Lloris between the sticks in North London.
Hart, you will remember, was shipped out of Manchester City by Pep Guardiola back in 2016 due to concerns over his distribution. And while Hart’s new role at Celtic has resulted in the odd mistake – that Champions League howler against RB Leipzig comes to mind – it’s telling that the veteran now credits Postecoglou with adding an all-new string to his bow at the age of 36.
Whoever said old dogs cannot learn new tricks?
“I love being part of (Postecoglou’s Celtic),” Hart told the BBC. “This is the first time I have been part of a team with a real way of playing.
“I genuinely feel comfortable making risky passes, short passes. If someone does miss a pass and the ball goes in, I don’t think any of us would even flinch. That’s what we are being asked to do.
“We believe in what we are being asked to do. And we are enjoying trying to be better at it.”
Tottenham Hotspur must back Ange Postecoglou
Hart’s pass completion rate of 89.7 per cent in 2022/23 was, per WhoScored, the best of his career. He averages more passes per game at Celtic than he did at Manchester City under Manuel Pellegrini and Roberto Mancini.
Compare Hart’s near-90 per cent pass success rate to Hugh Lloris’ 73.5 per cent average at Spurs. It should come as no surprise that Brentford’s David Raya continues to be linked with a move to North London.
Raya, per The Sun, is ‘ready’ to join Tottenham this summer, even if Brentford’s £40 million asking price is double the fee Spurs are currently willing to pay for the contract-rebel Spaniard.
Raya is so composed with the ball at his feet that Jurgen Klopp once quipped – following a Premier League meeting between Brentford and Liverpool – that he would not look out of place with the ‘number ten’ shirt on his back.
The perfect Postecoglou signing
With 1,367, Raya attempted more passes than any top-flight goalkeeper in 2022/23 (Fbref). Lloris, in contrast, finished 19th in that particular table with less than 550.
Raya had the fourth-highest completion rate when it came to long passes, and also completed 54 ‘defensive actions outside the penalty area’ to Lloris’ 29. Thus, highlighting Raya’s confidence with regards to racing off his line and sweeping up danger, allowing his Brentford team-mates to push higher up the pitch and take the game to the opponent.
“When I was growing up, I would meet up with my friends at a futsal pitch,” Raya recalls (Brentford website).
“All my friends used to meet there every Sunday. And a lot of other people from the town used to play there as well. It would end up like a tournament, or you’d just go there to have fun.
“And obviously no one wanted to go in goal! So we took turns. And, obviously, when I was playing outfield, that would develop my ability with the ball at my feet.”
At Old Trafford, Erik ten Hag’s attempts to build a Manchester United in his own image continue are undermined by the presence of David de Gea; one of the Premier League’s very worst with the ball at his feet.
If Postecoglou is to put his stamp on Tottenham almost overnight, shipping Lloris out and bringing in Raya instead would be a massive step in the right direction.
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