Ange Postecoglou talked a lot in his press conference ahead of tomorrow’s match vs. West Ham, but buried in between a bunch of weird questions about Thomas Tuchel, the England job, and the importance of English managers at top level football jobs was one important one about Djed Spence that should be highlighted.
We know Spence’s story — he was signed under Antonio Conte and dismissed by the same as a “club signing,” had some (understandable) issues with attitude in the wake of that dismissal, was sent out on loan including overseas, and was expected to be sold or loaned again this summer. But Djed made an improbable comeback during Tottenham’s preseason, earning minutes with some impressive performances and working his way back into the first team and Postecoglou’s plans
Just this week, Djed signed a new contract that extends his stay at the club by one year to the summer of 2028, and likely also includes a healthy bump in weekly salary. Postecoglou was asked about Spence’s journey back into Tottenham’s first team plans, and Big Ange gave an encouraging response.
“I said a couple of days ago and consistently say, most of a players future is in their own hands. They’re as much in control as anyone else. I think sometimes footballers forget that. With Djed, it could have been easy for to go out on loan again. But when he came into preseason, he was determined to make a career for himself here at Tottenham rather than wait to be loaned out.
“He did everything right in training, his attitude was great. He’s a good footballer, I think the way we play suits him and he’s knuckled down to that. And he’s earned himself a spot on the roster in our squad.
“The rest is up to him again. Because it’s an easy decision for me to make when I see that. Like I said, sometimes footballers think their fate is in other peoples’ hands. For the most part, it’s in their own. If they’re doing well and doing everything right, the future tends to take care of itself, whether that’s where you currently are or you move on. And Djed’s certainly done that.”
Now, that doesn’t answer every question about Djed Spence. Specifically, Postecoglou didn’t address Djed’s bizarre omission from the Europa League squad in favor of a third keeper in Fraser Forster. That remains a somewhat baffling decision, as the Europa League feels like the competition in which Spence would be the most likely to get significant minutes.
But even taking into account Tottenham’s difficulties in assembling a full Europa squad due to the lack of homegrown/club trained players, it’s still a positive outcome for Djed. That club-trained deficiency will resolve itself within a year or so thanks to the young players Spurs have signed in recent transfer windows, and there’s still a chance that Spence could be added to the Europa roster in January if Tottenham qualify past the group round of the competition.
This is the most we’ve heard from Postecoglou on Djed, and it’s encouraging to hear. It should also give some positive encouragement to other players, younger or older, on the fringes of Spurs’ squad — under Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham Hotspur is a meritocracy and with the right amount of work and attitude, anything is possible.