VAVEL.com

Tottenham Hotspur have suspended Yves Bissouma for their opening match of the season after he filmed himself taking nitrous oxide on social media this week.

Possession of nitrous oxide, where a person intends to wrongfully inhale it for a psychoactive effect, is now an offence since last November under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

Bissouma, 27, previously apologised for his actions, stating that there was a "severe lack of judgement." During his pre-match press conference ahead of Monday night's clash, Ange Postecoglou was clear in his words, highlighting that some "trust-building" is needed between Bissouma and the group.

"I've been in the game for a long time and I've always tried to look at them in a couple of different ways. He's made a really poor decision. You want to understand that and help him through that.

"As a club, what we can do is make sure he does not make those kinds of choices in the future. Within that context, there are also sanctions involved. Some of those sanctions include education, giving him an understanding of what he did was wrong," the former Celtic manager said.

"You always want to give people an opportunity to learn from their mistakes. The second part of that is that he's a footballer at this club. He has responsibilities for the club, his teammates and our supporters. He's failed in those duties, so he will not be available for Monday; we've suspended him.

"Beyond that, there's some trust building needed between me and Bissouma and Bissouma and the group. That's what he needs to work hard on to win that back. He's going to have to earn that. Hopefully, the door is open for him and we can help him to realise that the decisions he makes impact more than just him."

When asked how he rebuilds trust, Postecoglou said: "Behaviour mate. It's quite simple — him making better choices moving forward. He's obviously disappointed and he was very apologetic, but that's just the first part of the process. The next part is that he does the things we need to do. We all make mistakes; it's how you come back from them."

With Bissouma unavailable, it opens up room for Archie Gray to make his debut for Spurs. Gray, 18, joined from Leeds United at the start of July, and has since played in a multitude of positions during pre-season.

Acting as a right-back and centre-back at times, his preferred position is in the middle of the park — and Postecoglou stated he could play on Monday.

"Archie has settled in really well. He's a great kid, but a really strong mindset. We've asked him to play different positions, but he's held it really well," Postecoglou outlined.

"Part of the attraction when bringing him to the club is that, when required, we can use him in those areas. He's going really well, I'm really happy with him, and there's every chance he can play on Monday."

On Tottenham's different expectations

Tottenham finished fifth last campaign in Postecoglou's first season in charge. After the signings of Gray, Dominic Solanke and Lucas Bergvall, there is a natural sense that progression is expected.

It's been a different time in charge for Postecoglou this year compared to last. With a more settled squad, and notably no major loss in Harry Kane, the Australian highlighted this in his press conference.

"It's been a different pre-season. I think we feel better prepared for what's ahead. Last year, this time there were a lot of unknowns. Having said all that, it didn't stop us from having a great start to the season. It's one of these things where just because you're better prepared does not guarantee anything," Postecoglou said.

"For the most part, we got some guys in late last week. This last seven days when we've had everyone in, the level of training's gone up from what we had on tour. That's created a really good squad environment for us. The pleasing thing is pretty much everyone on the list is available."

There are still over three weeks left of the transfer window — and, after making three first-team signings, Spurs are still expected to make further signings. As usual, though, Postecoglou kept his cards close to his chest.

"There's always a little bit of uncertainty, but as supposed to last year, where there were a lot more moving parts, you're working in a smaller spectrum, for me anyway," the Australian said.

"I can plan for the season knowing that a lot of the work is done and whatever we get from here on in is not going to disrupt us too much. I still expect there to be activity, but the uncertainty is a lot less than last year.

"Solanke was important. Even though it was settled, it was a tricky pre-season for us, because we had the majority of the backline missing and we didn't have a striker as Richarlison was injured. When you didn't have those key elements, we tried to build a team.

"Super pleased to sign Solanke and that's coincided with Richarlison coming back. From that perspective, it does give us a settled look to see what the team will look like moving forward."

With just under a week to go until Tottenham Hotspur open their Premier League season against Leicester City under the lights of the King Power Stadium, fans are wondering whether the Lilywhites can push on after Ange Postecoglou's maiden campaign showed many positive signs.

Despite Spurs' tumultuous form resulting in a season of highs and lows, Postecoglou restored hope and ambition to a beleaguered set of fans after the chaotic and underwhelming spell of Antonio Conte.

Now after a summer of smart business and a positive pre-season tour, Tottenham fans will be hoping for a successful second campaign under their Australian manager.

VAVEL has you covered with everything you need to know about Tottenham Hotspur, from reflecting on last season's progress to the club's transfer activity, as well as previewing their prospects for what lies ahead.

Season Recap

After a protracted managerial search following the dismissal of Conte, Tottenham Hotspur finally landed on the relatively unknown candidate of Postecoglou, albeit one with a glowing CV following trophy laden spells in Australia, Japan and at Celtic.

Postecoglou was thrown into the deep end straightaway, with a disrupted pre-season seeing fixtures cancelled while the departure of the club's record goalscorer and team talisman, Harry Kane, saw a dampened mood engulf the club before a ball had even been kicked.

However, Spurs would take to life under Postecoglou like a duck to water, remaining unbeaten until November as they won 8 of their opening 10 games.

A fateful fixture against Chelsea would spell the end of Tottenham and Postecoglou's honeymoon as a nine man Spurs side slumped to a 4-1 defeat, following the dismissals of Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie combined with a devastating hamstring injury to Micky van de Ven.

While the match would prove disastrous to Postecoglou's team selection, the way in which Spurs responded to the adversity would enthuse the whole club and become a point of reference for how his Spurs wanted to play.

With a return of a clear identity and fast paced, attacking football, the remaining six months would see Tottenham continue to show glimpses of promise that was so evident in the first half of the year.

However, a poor run of form come the end of season, in which Tottenham lost to Newcastle, Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea in the space of six games, would see them miss out on Champions League football and settle for a place in the Europa League.

While Postecoglou won't be afforded the same sympathy when things don't go his side's way in his second season, the hope is that Tottenham can push on following a summer of clever signings and a positive pre-season and finally make a strong claim for either domestic or European silverware.

Transfer window so far

Written by Johnny Davies

Tottenham have been busy this window in terms of their business, scouting more towards the club's future rather than the now.

Postecoglou has set a clear vision for the club with what he wants. And with the new structure of Johan Lange as Technical Director and Rob Mackenzie as Chief Scout, Spurs have had a busy summer getting players in and out of the door.

Incomings

The first two signings of the window for Spurs demonstrated their emphasis on youth, with 18-year-old Swedish talent Lucas Bergvall and Leeds United's, EFL Championship Young Player of the Season, Archie Gray, signing on long term deals for the club.

Spurs picked up Bergvall for the small fee of £8.5 million back in the summer of 2023, with the player always set to play another season at Swedish club, Djurgården. Meanwhile, Gray attracted the larger fee of £40million after an impressive season in the Championship.

Spurs also brought in Timo Werner on a loan extension deal from RB Leipzig while 18 year-old Min-Hyuk Yang was signed for around £1million from Gangwon FC.

Yang will stay at Gangwon until January 2025 where he will then join up for Spurs ready to be part of Postecoglou’s plans.

The final incoming for Spurs this year is the main one they’ve needed, a new striker. In a club record deal, Spurs signed Dominic Solanke from AFC Bournemouth for fee that could approach £65million.

Solanke produced some standout performances amongst strikers in the Premier League last season, scoring 19 goals in 38 games for the Cherries.

Outgoings

The Lilywhites also saw several outgoings this window, many of which being free transfers with expiring contracts.

Those free transfer outgoings include Japhet Tanganga to Millwall, Ivan Perisic to Hadjuk Split, Tanguy Ndomeble to OGC Nice, Ryan Sessegnon to Fulham, and Eric Dier to Bayern Munich.

The transfers of Dier and Perisic were already set in stone after having been at their retrospective clubs in the 2023/24 season.

Joe Rodon also left the club this window for a fee of around £12 million to Leeds while Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg joined Marseille, initially on loan but with an obligation to buy that could see the club earn up to £17 million for the Danish midfielder.

Youngsters Bryan Gil joined Girona, with a view to the move being made permanent for a fee of £12 million, while Alejo Veliz joined Espanyol for a season long loan.

Emerson Royal has also departed Spurs to join AC Milan for a transfer fee worth around £15 million after three seasons in North London.

Spurs arguably sold their players that were deemed to be ‘deadwood’ and managed to get quite a lot off their wage bills off their book.

With time still left in the window, Postecoglou stated that, “there is still more activity to be done”.

Manager and Tactics

Written by Brandon Williams

With his swashbuckling style of play and endearing Aussie charm, Postecoglou won over swathes of Tottenham fans during his first season with the club. Two thoroughly successful years at Celtic gave him a reputation for full throttle, attacking football – something he duly delivered on in north London.

Fifth place, which secured a return to Europa League football, was sufficient enough for an opening campaign. Despite disappointments in the domestic cups, the maiden campaign under Postecoglou saw positive steps in the right direction.

Tactics-wise, the majority of the first eleven suited his ideas. Pedro Porro and Udogie worked as inverted full-backs, Brennan Johnson and Werner liked to stretch the play to feed the ball into the area, while Cristian Romero and van de Ven thrived as a centre back pairing who push up high and looked to effect the midfield.

But Tottenham were still shaky. The lack of a solid No.6 certainly a factor alongside getting up to speed with a change of intensity. The addition of Gray should give the side a stronger spine alongside further moulding to Yves Bissouma and Pape Sarr.

Solanke, meanwhile, is a near-perfect box striker - a player profile Postecoglou sets his teams up to have but was largely lacking in the last campaign.

It is said his methods take a season to embed - ideal for a Spurs side hungrier than ever to win silverware.

Strongest XI

Written by Harrison Nathan

Whilst Postecoglou has spent the majority of pre-season experimenting with his side, and not giving any real clue as to who his go-to starting line-up will be, here is how we are expecting the Australian to line up on the opening day of his second season in charge.

Vicario; Porro, Romero, Dragusin, Van der Ven; Bissouma, Sarr, Maddison; Johnson, Solanke, Son

At the base, and what will come as no shock to supporters, will be Guglielmo Vicario. Last season, the £17 million man kept seven clean sheets and became the first Spurs goalkeeper since 2007/08 to go an entire league season without making a mistake leading to a goal.

In defence, Porro will start as the right full back - as he has done in every single pre-season game to date - and he should be accompanied by the reliable Cristian Romero, who is fresh off the back of winning Copa America.

Postecoglou is expected to bring Radu Dragusin into the backline while moving van de Ven out to left back in order to deal with the potential absence of Udogie, as the former Udinese man has completed just 45 minutes of action since returning from his injury, which saw him side lined since April.

In midfield, Bissouma has been a regular in pre-season matches and will be expected to feature along with Sarr and James Maddison.

However, the former Foxes man has failed to rediscover his early form in a Spurs shirt and will have to work hard to keep Dejan Kulusevski from taking his role, who has made six goal contributions in six pre-season matches.

In attack, captain Heung-Min Son will begin on the left of the front three, with Johnson set to begin on the right. Through the middle, new club record signing Solanke, who scored nineteen Premier League goals during the 2023/24 campaign, will likely spearhead the attack.

Key Talking Points

Written by Harrison Nathan

A chance for youngsters to star

The new season will bring many opportunities for the fine young prospects on the books at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Last season, during the rotten injury crisis, Jamie Donley was often called upon and used on a number of occasions, including a chance to make his professional debut in the thrilling 3-3 draw at the Etihad Stadium.

Towards the end of campaign, Mikey Moore - who was just sixteen-years-old at the time - was often named amongst the substitutes, and became Tottenham's youngest ever player when he came on during the 0-2 home loss against Manchester City. In pre-season, Moore and the likes of fellow youngsters Donley, Gray, Bergvall and Lankshear have impressed supporters.

With Postecoglou's men fighting on all four fronts, integration of these promising youngsters will be pivotal for Spurs.

Options galore for Postecoglou

Ahead of the new season, Postecoglou will be very happy with the squad he currently holds the keys to, and there is still time for signings to be made in the remaining weeks of the transfer window.

To date, his side have completed just three signings, but the former Celtic manager now has multiple options all over the field, including in the striker role where Solanke and Richarlison will be expected to compete for the number nine spot allowing Son to be moved out to his preferred position on the left.

Straight in depth will be the key to a good and competitive season for Tottenham Hotspur, who suffered a barren injury crisis which dented hopes of a title charge in the Premier League, following an unbeaten opening ten games of the season.

Predicted Finish

Written by Jude Deedigan

When all aspects are considered, it’s not unreasonable to suggest Tottenham will get their hands on one of the coveted Champions League spots at the end of the season.

Spurs arguably should've finished fourth last campaign, but a turbulent run of form in the closing stages put a stop to that, as they narrowly missed out to Unai Emery's Aston Villa.

That finish resulted in qualification to the UEFA Europa League for the upcoming term, their first appearance in the competition since the 2020/21 season.

Furthermore, Postecoglou’s philosophy has had a whole year to manifest itself and the large majority of the players have acclimatised to their new role, whether that be inverting at full-back, pressing with more intensity or being braver and riskier in possession.

Spurs have recruited well in this transfer window thus far, addressing all the key areas that needed improving. Solanke provides necessary competition for Richarlison, whilst securing Werner on a season-long loan is a smart addition. 18-year-old Gray brings versatility in abundance, and he is only going to get better.

They've also succeeded in selling a plethora of players that were on the fringes of the squad and, in the process, they have dramatically decreased the wage bill, which was of paramount importance this summer.

Before an injury crisis hit the Lilywhites in November, the North London club were cruising at the top of the table. If they can replicate that impeccable form and sustain it over a longer period , fourth place or higher could be more than achievable.

Tottenham Hotspur's fanbase expands to all four corners of the world, with a particular hotspot in Asia, more specifically South Korea.

Of course, Spurs' captain Heung-min Son has a lot to do with that. The South Korean national team skipper is cherished in his homeland, with thousands of passionate supporters from his native country travelling to the Tottenham Hotspur stadium every season just to catch a glimpse of Spurs' No. 7.

So it comes as no surprise that the North London club have again decided to show a sign of appreciation as they made the trip to South Korea for consecutive summers.

Three games in just seven days posed a challenging test physically and mentally for Ange Postecoglou's side, with a wide variation of opposition from J-League giants, Vissel Kobe, to serial European winners, Bayern Munich.

Spurs began the tour by narrowly edging out J-League outfit Vissel Kobe 3-2 in Japan before brushing aside Team K League4-3 before concluding the tour with a defeat to Vincent Kompany's Bayern Munich 2-1.

But with scorelines being largely considered arbitrary in pre-season, here are four key outcomes that will give Ange and his coaching staff food for thought for the campaign ahead.

Spurs' youngsters impress

The future of the Lilywhites' team appears to be in more than safe hands, with Tottenham possessing some potential world beaters in the academy.

Academy starlets Jamie Donley, Will Lankshear and 16-year-old Mikey Moore have particularly flourished this tour, with the latter earning countless of plaudits for his level of maturity and skill at such a tender age.

Teenagers Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall, both 18, can also be thrown into that conversation, but more on them later...

Remember the name; Mikey Moore. Moore announced himself on the senior stage at the backend of last season as he came on as a late substitute against Manchester City to become Spurs' youngest Premier League player ever aged 16 years and 277 days old.

The excitement around the player is palpable and he is living up to the expectation already this summer.

In his boyhood club's first three friendlies back in the UK, prior to the Asia Tour, Moore registered a goal contribution against Queens Park Rangers, Cambridge United and Hearts, with his goal against the latter being taken with impressive composure.

Moore's 88th minute winner against Team K League proved he can be a player for the big occasion, a necessary attribute of being one of the world's best. His development over the course of the campaign will be intriguing to track and as long as he nurtures Moore with care, Postecoglou could have a generational talent on his hands.

Jamie Donley was in fine form for Tottenham's U21's last season, recording six goals and 13 assists in only 20 Premier League 2 games. However, a completely different role has been asked of him by manager Ange Postecoglou this pre-season.

Due to the absence of Destiny Udogie, who has only just returned to training after a quadriceps injury he suffered back in April, Tottenham have been without a recognised 'inverted left back.'

With that role requiring a very specific skillset, it has resulted in 19-year-old Donley, an attacking midfielder, being deployed at left-back.

In a typical tactical setup, an attacking midfielder playing left-back would seem ludicrous, but due to the inverted nature of both full-backs in the Postecoglou system, the 'defender' ends up more centrally and much higher up the field, which of course suits Donley down to the ground.

He has excelled in this role, providing an assist for Son's stunner against Team K League from a more central position and Mikey Moore's late winner against Vissel Kobe with a cross that is becoming synonymous with "Ange Ball". The low, drilled cross, typically fired towards the near post, has become a customary avenue for goals and this could favour a certain young striker.

Will Lankshear has also benefitted from some sizeable senior minutes in friendlies and as a natural, classic number nine his innate ability to find himself in the right place at the right time could see him fit into Tottenham's squad this season, especially with European football retuning to N17.

After a goal in a friendly against Scottish Premiership outfit Hearts a few weeks ago, Lankshear also found the net in Asia, as he was in the right place to tap home Spurs' fourth goal against Team K League from a driven cross by Timo Werner. Exactly the sort of situation that has paid dividends for Tottenham countless of times since Postecoglou's arrival.

Dejan Kulusevski at False Nine?

Replacing Harry Kane was never going to be easy.

Last campaign saw Postecoglou play Son and Richarlison through the middle, and despite both players performing well, a large portion of Spurs supporters have been crying out for a natural striker to come through the door this transfer window.

Unsurprisingly, Daniel Levy and technical director Johan Lange have been looking to address these complaints, with the club being linked with forwards such as Bournemouth's Dominic Solanke, Lille's Jonathan David and Sporting Lisbon's Viktor Gyokores.

However, the answer to the Spurs' striker conundrum could arguably be staring everyone in the face. Dejan Kulusevski.

The Swede has been implemented as a 'False 9' in this system and it has bore fruit on multiple occasions this tour. He is not a complete stranger to this role, as he has played through the middle whilst in Serie A with Parma and Juventus during the formative years of his career and he has even been quoted as saying that it is his preferred position.

Kulusevski has never been blessed with pace, so he has always relied on his attacking acumen and nous to succeed on the flanks. Playing him centrally seems to play to his strengths, and when played through the middle last season, it looked like the right position for all parties.

The 24-year-old's ability to improve the players around him is an invaluable asset and one that very few possess.

As we saw against Team K-League, his link-up with Son was almost telepathic for the South Korean's second and earlier on in the game he opened the scoring with a poachers finish.

Notably, he has attempted multiple back heel 'flicks' in recent times that not only excite the crowd, but catch out opposition defenders.

Changing his position also allows the frontline to be more fluid as the likes of Son, Werner and Brennan Johnson can drift more centrally, whilst he drops deeper and all three are technically gifted enough to interchange positions.

Is Djed Spence set for a redemption arc?

A man that was virtually out of the picture a mere few weeks ago, it seems Spence has turned his fortunes around at the club.

The 23 year-old has become the face of Spurs' social media in the past fortnight, with his seemingly nonchalant and cavalier attitude making for humorous viewing. Furthermore, he appears to be a popular member of the dressing room, another indicator that this season might be different.

He fits the mould of a Postecoglou full-back like a glove. His technical ability allows him to be comfortable in the advanced areas and his athleticism and speed enables him to transition from one end of the pitch to the other in an instant.

While the fullback's loan spell at Leeds United last term didn't exactly gone to plan, it appears as if the Englishman has turned a page, and fans will be hoping this isn't a temporary change.

Spence's revival could mean the outgoing Emerson Royal can be replaced internally.

The midfield is set for years

This Tottenham midfield is endowed in talent and potential, with newest recruits Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall at the forefront of that sentiment.

The two technicians are the newest members of the squad. Gray is Spurs' only first team signing of the summer so far from Championship side Leeds United for roughly £35 million and Bergvall has been fully integrated this summer after signing for the Lilywhites back in January from Djurgården before being loaned back to the Swedish team for the remainder of their league campaign.

The silkiness and confidence that the pair exude on the ball mean they are tailor-made for possession based football under pressure. They are also versatile, with both players having the ability to play in every position across the midfield and Gray can even slot into the right side of defence.

The physical demands of the Premier League would be the only question mark over Bergvall's availability straight away, but despite his slender build, the midfielder stands at 6'1 tall, so the Swede is no slouch.

One game remains of pre-season for Tottenham Hotspur, as they bizarrely face the same opponent in consecutive friendlies, hosting Bayern Munich at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium on Saturday 10th August.

Goals from Pedro Porro, Heung-Min Son and Mikey Moore ensured that Tottenham Hotspur would keep their unbeaten run in pre-season going, as they edged a victory against Vissel Kobe at the Japan National Stadium in Tokyo.

Although the scoreline may have been slightly tighter than expected, it is worth remembering that The Lilywhites' Japanese opponents are currently 25 games into their J-League campaign, whilst the English side are only three matches into their Premier League preparations, and the entirety of the starting eleven were yet to play more than 45-minutes in their opening two pre-season outings.

Despite a leggy first half, which may have been partly down to scorching conditions and jet lag, considering Spurs only arrived in Asia four days ago, its was another good showing from Ange Postecogou's men, who sealed a victory with two minutes of the ninety to spare.

Here are the main talking points.

Another excellent display from Mikey Moore

Although this may be a very cliché thing to say amongst the Spurs fanbase at present, you simply cannot ignore the fact that Mikey Moore is a very special talent, which The Lilywhites have at their disposal.

Scoring the winner in the capital of Japan means the youngster takes his pre-season tally to two goals and one assist in three official games, whilst in unofficial behind closed doors games against Cambridge United and Japan's u20 national team, he has also notched two goals.

When the winger arrived to the playing field on the hour mark, he instantly made his mark on the game. Silky dribbling in tight areas, electric pace and a deadly attacking ability, culminating in match-winner which was assisted by fellow academy star Jamie Donley.

Speaking after the game, Ange Postecolgou had this to say about the stunning 16-year old: "Mikey has been fantastic since we brought him in. He’s earned his spot on the roster at the moment — he did at the end of last year.

He’s been good in all the games - he probably should have had three tonight, to be fair - but he did take his goal well by being in the right areas. All we can do is keep allowing him to develop."

It's safe to say the manager and the fans have seen the potential, now it's up to the player to ensure he keeps working hard and striving towards the end goal - following in the footsteps of the likes of Harry Kane and co. and becoming a superstar in North London.

Headache for Postecoglou

The Australian Head Coach now has a major headache to deal with, but it's a good issue to have.

With the academy stars shining in pre-season so far, Ange Postecoglou now has a major headache to contend with as he looks to improve and finalise his squad for the 2024/25 season in the coming weeks.

As Tottenham are set to fight on all four fronts in the upcoming season, the former Celtic boss will need a large squad to ensure he can meet expectations and progress as far as possible in all competitions.

Whilst Spurs are yet to dip into the transfer market for any marquee signings, Postecoglou now has a decision to make - does he opt for homegrown talents which are proving their worth, or does he look to purchase some experienced, big money names in the remainder of the summer transfer window.

Mikey Moore has added a goal contribution in every pre-season appearance, whilst Will Lankshear has impressed up front - two positions which Spurs were in dire need of strengthening following the end of the 2023/24 season.

In defence, Djed Spence appears to have knuckled down as is taking the chance given to him by storm, and is continuing to offer hope that he can finally match the expectations placed on him by fans when he first joined in 2022.

Nineteen-year old Jamie Donley, normally deployed in midfield, has unusually been selected at left back during the three pre-season contests but has looked very assured in that role, leaving Postecolgou with multiple options in that area. That means Spurs, who have been rumoured to be interested in a left-sided defender this summer, will not ned to spend in that role and can put the money towards different options.

With the North London side heavily rumoured to be in the market for a winger and striker, these issues may have already been solved with players already on their books. Although the names mentioned above are still raw, perhaps Postecoglou could look to embed them into the first team squad in the new season, especially with plenty of opportunities in the UEFA Europa League and Carabao Cup.

Bissouma back to his best?

Yes, it's only pre-season and it's important not to get carried away, but the Yves Bissouma's performances in a white shirt have looked very promising so far.

Less than a year ago, he was comfortably the best performing midfielder in the Premier League, but after his red card in the first half at Luton away, his form took a turn for the worse and he never recovered his early season form, often struggling in the final 28 games of his second season at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

However, in his first two 45-minute cameos in wins against Hearts and Queens Park Rangers, the Malian has looked sharp and has offered plenty of glimpses of his elite ability that we saw at the start of Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham career. He even broke his duct in a Spurs shirt with an impeccable goal at Loftus Road, just over a week ago.

Bissouma was at the centre of the majority of The Lilywhites' build up play during his first half appearance, keeping the ball moving and starting attacks with his powerful, penetrating runs from deep. The deep-lying, tough-tackling has an immeasurable partnership with Pape Matar Sarr, with the duo often starring when lining up together.

If the former Brighton and Hove Albion man can get back to his best, stay fit and keep his performances consistent throughout the entire season, then Tottenham will have a beast in their midfield and Ange Postecolgou will have a very strong option available.

'Ange ball' is back

The second half of last season was torrid for Tottenham Hotspur and Head Coach Ange Postecoglou, who said Spurs had "lost their identity", as his side suffered a horrendous injury crisis following their November collapse against Chelsea.

They were missing Micky van de Ven and James Maddison until January, Heung-Min Son jetted off to the Asian Cup, Richarlison struggled to maintain fitness and Destiny Udogie's season ended early due to needing surgery.

However, in pre-season we have seen a return of the fast tempo, possession-based build up play which wad first offered to fans during the early months of Postecoglou's reign. Spurs dominated proceedings in their opening game thrashing of Hearts and in the first half at QPR, they did exactly the same.

Both goals scored in that game epitomised the Australian's philosophy, and in Japan, he would have been extremely pleased with the manner in which Tottenham scored all three goals to beat one-time J-League champions Vissel Kobe.

The opener saw Pedro Porro end up in the centre of the penalty box, whilst Spurs' second goal, which gave them the lead, was a move we have seen so often. Brennan Johnson, who has largely impressed so far in the new campaign, found captain Son with a low cross, and he calmly finished past Daiya Maekawa.

In training, the boys from N17 can often be spotted perfecting a low bye-line cross for an easy finish from close-range, and Mikey Moore's winner saw their work on the training pitch put into action in a game scenario. Jamie Donley, playing on the left of the back four, broke into the box before finding Moore, who scored an open goal to win the game.

Tottenham Hotspur are set to complete a deal - rumoured to be in the region of £4m - for eighteen-year old Min-Hyuk Yang, who will become the club's third summer signing.

The Gangwon FC winger, who will see out the season with the Korean side before arriving in North London in January, has been directly involved in 12 goals so far during the 2024 season, scoring eight and assisting four.

Yang will become the third eighteen-year old to be signed by Ange Postecoglou, who has a knack for talent-spotting in Asia, since he took over the reigns at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium a little over a year ago.

The Australian Head Coach previously signed Kyogo Furuhashi, Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate at Celtic, but is yet to explore the market in the Far East since becoming Spurs boss until now.

Spurs fans will get a taste of what their new signing can offer, as he is set to play against them when the English side face Team K-League in South Korea next weekend (3rd August), as their Premier League preparations continue.

South Korean football expert Sungmo Lee was full of the praise for the highly-rated attacker, when speaking to football.london: “Yang Min-hyuk is the best young player in the K-League right now, and most significantly, he’s still a high school student.

"His talent was so exceptional so his club Gangwon proposed a professional contract to a high school student which was the first ever case in K League’s history.

"He showed great performances in K-League this season, winning the Young Player of the Month award three times in a row from April to June. He is a great dribbler but also possesses great finishing skills which makes Korean fans hope that he can become the next Heung-min Son, especially if he joins the same club.”

The likenesses to legend Heung-Min Son, who joined Spurs in 2015, is a positive sign, although he will still have plenty of work to do once he arrives in North London until he establishes himself as a regular starter, just like his international compatriot did.

Fitting the system

Although it is still very early to call, it appears that the South Korean winger epitomises an 'Ange Postecoglou winger.'

In January, when the Lilywhites signed Timo Werner, he fit the system like a glove - being incredibly direct, quick, providing many assists and forcing many own goals with those dangerous balls along the floor of the black. Although the German may not be the most clinical in front of goal, which led to many fans growing increasingly frustrated, he was still signed on another loan deal for the 2024/25 season, and has already claimed a trademark assist in the 1-5 thrashing of Hearts.

Since Thursday, when the rumours first broke about Spurs signing the talented winger, Min-Hyuk Yang has bagged a goal and assist, including a thunderbolt into the top corner from range, as Gangwon FC won 4-2 - giving Tottenham fans reason to believe this is more than just a hopeful purchase.

Strengths

Despite being just eighteen-years old, we can still get a grasp of the strengths which Yang possesses, thanks to the data available to us.

Compared to other K-League 1 wingers in 2024, he ranks first for goals scored, non-penalty goals scored, expected goal, progressive runs, accelerations and tackles.

As well as these impressive figures, the youngster also lands in second place for dribbles, offensive duels won, touches in the box and defensive duels won.

These statistics will give reason for Postecoglou and his scouting staff to think that he will fit the system like a glove. The fact that he is so strong in not only the attacking phase of play, but also the defensive phase, means he will be perfect for the high-pressing philosophy which is run by the Australian Head Coach in North London.

Opinion of the writer

It is still very early in Min-Hyuk Yang's career to comment on whether he can be a future star in the Premier league, however, the early showings are extremely promising.

He is already into double figures for the current K-League season, and Tottenham having a great track record when it comes to these sign-and-immediately-loan-back type of signings. Previously, they signed Papa Matar Sarr, Destiny Udogie and Lucas Bergvall in similar deal structures.

The Premier League is always filled with fun and surprises and no matter how many huge names and expensive transfers take place, there are always at least three new, young stars that are born as injuries take place and they are called upon.

Kobbie Mainoo, Cole Palmer and Adam Wharton all got themselves their first England call-ups to the Euros just gone as they all had a breakthrough season last year.

Could Mikey Moore be that person this year and follow Harry Kane's footsteps to be one of Tottenham's own?

Tottenham Hotspur is notoriously known for developing young English talent over the past years. However, it seems to have died down recently, with Harry Kane moving to Bayern Munich, Dele Alli not reaching his full potential, and players like Jack Clarke, Kyle Walker-Peters, and Harry Winks being sold off.

No Tottenham players were to be seen in the England squad for the Euros when back in the 2018 World Cup in Russia they had five.

The upcoming 24/25 season is different with many fans' mouths watering at the plethora of raw talent at Tottenham's disposal. Names like Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall, Pape Matar Sarr, Will Lankshear, Jamie Donley, Tyrese Hall and Ashley Phillips are all 21 years-old or younger.

Who is Mikey Moore?

The 16-year-old, turning 17 in August, Mikey Moore has blown Tottenham fans away with his excellent performances in the academy and pre-season. It is seeming more likely that he will be given chances in the first team this year.

Mikey Moore is the stand out player from that list. The 2007-born made his UEFA Youth League debut against Marseille, re-writing history as he became the youngest-ever Spurs player to play in the competition at 15 years and 27 days.

As well as that, he made his first team debut last season against Manchester City in a 2-0 loss, becoming the youngest-ever Tottenham player to step on a pitch to play in the Premier League (16 years and 277 days). He then went on to get a cameo against Sheffield United the following game for a couple of minutes.

Head coach Ange Postecoglou spoke on what he thought of the debutant after the City game and said:

"He still has a long way to go, he’s only 16, but he’s a good kid and hopefully that encourages him.”

Mikey Moore's profile

The Englishman is 5"9 inches tall and plays predominantly at left-wing, although he has been seen on the right at times during pre-season.

Being right-footed, he likes to cut in to shoot but we know that Ange likes his wingers to stay wide in order to fizz a low cross into the box to cause issues for the opposition's defence and to make room for the under-lapping full-backs in the half-spaces.

Moore got himself 25 goal involvements in only 16 games in both U18's league and Youth Fa Cup last season, winning both competitions. He also managed three goal contributions in three starts during internationals with the U16 England squad, making enough of an impression to get in Postecoglou team sheet five times at the back end of last season.

The Englishman has already moved up through the ranks at international level, being called up to the U17s, after playing in the U15s and U16s as well.

It only took him less than a minute and a half to bag his first goal against France in a 4-0 group-stage win and helped put England 2-1 ahead against Spain in the Round of 16, where they went on to win 3-1.

Contract situation

From joining Tottenham's academy at Under 9s level in 2016, it has recently been reported from FootyInsider that Spurs are confident on getting the teenager to sign a new contract after apparently rejecting an eight-figure deal from London rivals Chelsea last summer.

It is clear that Tottenham are keen to get this deal done as soon as possible to fend off clubs like Manchester City, Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund, who are all interested in the player.

His current contract runs until June 2026 and the last thing Tottenham want is another Noni Madueke or Marcus Edwards situation, where they let them go as they cannot offer the player enough game time to develop.

Pre-season so far

Moore has been included in Tottenham's list of names for their pre-season tour in Japan and Korea, where he will continue to shine and push Ange to trust him this season rather than loan him out.

They have played three friendlies so far against Cambridge (behind closed doors), Hearts and QPR. Moore played one half only in each game and scored in the first two, whilst getting an assist in the last.

Mikey Moore spoke after the game against Hearts and said:

“To score my first goal, even though it was in a pre-season game, was probably the best feeling I’ve had so far, and to score in front of the fans as well... it was unreal!”.

What does this mean for him?

Spurs business this summer is far from done as they look to bolster up their attack as Ange demanded. It is likely that they buy a minimum of one winger with the potential of a number 10 as well who is capable of playing out wide and also a new striker.

Over the next two weeks, Tottenham Hotspur will spend time in Japan and South Korea, as the squad continue to rack up the flight miles, having been to Australia to face Newcastle United in an end of season friendly just two months ago.

The trip will give Head Coach Ange Postecoglou the chance to assess the fitness of the regular first team names, whilst continuing to give youth players the chance to show that they are capable of lending a helping hand to the senior side, as they battle on all four fronts in the 2024/25 season.

Rejoining the squad after injuries are Ben Davies, Destiny Udogie and Richarlison, who has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia in the past few days.

Guglielmo Vicario has returned from his short holiday after he went away with Italy at Euro 2024 and played zero minutes, whilst Radu Dragusin will link up with teammates in South Korea. He chose not to cut his holiday short, having played ninety minutes in every game throughout Romania's run to the round of sixteen.

Amongst those on the plane was 16-year old Mikey Moore, who has impressed, scoring a goal and registering an assist, across the two 45 minute cameos he has been given so far. Jamie Donley and Will Lankshear, who are both expected to leave on loan this summer, have been named in the travelling party.

The Lilywhites have already played two official friendlies on British soil. They opened their pre-season campaign with a 5-1 drubbing of Hearts before dispatching Queens Park Rangers by two goals to nil at Loftus Road on Saturday.

As their Premier League preparations now ramp up, they will make the trip to the Far East, offering a chance for more minutes in the tank, some crucial team bonding and the opportunity for the new signings to continue to accustom themselves to the style of football that their Australian boss wants them to play.

Match details

Tottenham will play three friendlies whilst in Asia, with one game taking place in Japan's capital, Tokyo, and the final two to be played in Seoul, South Korea.

vs Vissel Kobe: Saturday 27th July, National Stadium (Tokyo), 11:00 BST, SPURSPLAY

vs Team K-League: Wednesday 31st July, Seoul World Cup Stadium, 12:00 BST, SPURSPLAY

vs Bayern Munich: Saturday 3rd August, Seoul World Cup Stadium, 12:00 BST, SPURSPLAY

The latter two games, which will be played in South Korea, are part of the Coupang Play series, which Tottenham participated in when they made the visit to captain Heung-Min Son's birth country two years ago.

Player to watch: Brennan Johnson

Having scored a hat-trick in a behind closed doors friendly against League One side Cambridge United and following it up with the opening goal against Hearts in Scotland last week, Brennan Johnson has had an exciting pre-season campaign so far - he even offered a solid first-half cameo at Loftus Road on Saturday.

After a slow start to life in N17, which drew plenty of frustration from some Tottenham fans, the Welshman and former Nottingham Forest attacker ended the season in good form and drew plenty of praise from fans, and it seems as though he has started the 2024/25 season in a rich vein of form.

With a starting spot on the right wing up for grabs, Johnson now has the chance to prove this worth against the trickier opponents that he will face whilst on the tour, and nail down that role as his own.

The travelling party

Ange Postecoglou has picked a 31-man squad, which is as follows:

Goalkeepers: Guglielmo Vicario, Brandon Austin, Alfie Whiteman, Luca Gunter.

Defenders: Pedro Porro, Emerson Royal, Djed Spence, Ashley Phillips, Radu Dragusin (Korea only), Destiny Udogie, Ben Davies.

Midfielders: Yves Bissouma, Pape Matar Sarr, Lucas Bergvall, Archie Gray, Oliver Skipp, Alfie Devine, George Abbott, Tyrese Hall, Jamie Donley, Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison.

Attackers: Brennan Johnson, Heung-Min Son, Richarlison, Will Lankshear, Alejo Véliz, Dane Scarlett, Manor Solomon, Timo Werner, Mikey Moore.

Absences from the squad

Pierre-Emile Højbjerg was not named in the squad, as he put the finishing touches on a move to Ligue 1 side Olympique Marseille, which has now been officially confirmed.

Goalkeeper Fraser Forster, who joined the club in 2022, will remain at Spurs' Enfield training base, as he continues rehabilitation from a fractured foot which cut his 2023/24 season short.

Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Rodrigo Bentancur and Giovani Lo Celso will join up with the squad closer to the start of the Premier League season following their national team's late ventures into the Copa America and European Championship - you can expect to see them in pre-season action for the first time when Tottenham host Bayern Munich on Saturday 10th August.

Sergio Reguilon, who spent the entirety of the 2023/24 season out on loan, and Bryan Gil have both been granted permission not to travel to the far east, as the Spanish duo explore prospective transfer opportunities.

Neither have featured in a pre-season fixture for Tottenham so far, with Gil reportedly in talks with both Girona and Sevilla over a prospective move.

More minutes in the tank. That's the most important part of pre-season, as Tottenham Hotspur beat Queens Park Rangers 2-0 at Loftus Road.

Pre-season results rarely mean anything significant. It's an opportunity to build fitness, implement tactics and improve squad cohesion; results don't affect that, but there were plenty of positives for Spurs to take from their win against QPR.

Yves Bissouma gave the visitors the lead in the 40th minute with an outstanding solo run. He drove forward, combined with Dejan Kulusevski for a quick one-two on the edge of the box, before rounding the goalkeeper and tapping it in calmly.

It was part of a first half which saw Spurs firmly on top. They dominated the ball, dictated the tempo of the match and consistently created chances. As is almost always the case in pre-season, the Lilywhites opted to fully rotate their team for the second half.

Not a single player that started the match featured in the second 45, allowing the club's young stars to take centre stage. Mikey Moore did in particular, registering an assist as Dane Scarlett tapped it home with three minutes remaining to seal victory for the visitors.

Tottenham's midfield is brimming with young life

Tottenham's philosophy since Ange Postecoglou became manager has focused on bringing in youth. Nothing epitomises that more than the energetic duo of Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall.

Gray, who joined from Leeds in June, won over plaudits during his debut season for the Whites last campaign. He was named EFL Young Player of the Season — and it's easy to see why. With an aggressiveness coupled with a composure that sets him apart from everyone, it's clear to see Gray's natural talent. Even as a centre-back against QPR, his maturity stood out like a sore thumb in the first half.

Alongside Gray is new signing Bergvall, who joined from Djurgården after turning down a move to Barcelona. You would be mistaken for thinking the 18-year-old is older, as he possesses a maturity, just like Gray, well beyond his age.

Bergvall opted on the left-hand side of the midfield three against QPR early on, but he was given the role of the 'advanced eight' as part of it. By pushing forward, but also dropping deep to act as a deep-lying playmaker, the Swede was in his element early on.

Freedom is all players want — and in the world of tacticians such as Pep Guardiola harbouring specific roles for every single player, Postecoglou's freedom given to Bergvall is a breath of fresh air. It came crashing down the youngster when he was subbed off in the 25th minute due to injury, but it's clear to see his potential.

The duo seem like the 'new exciting kids on the block', and their relationship with one another, which seems to already be strong, will only help their future. "The future is bright. The future is Lilywhite," Tottenham fans have sung in the past; they have every reason to sing it now.

Donley's versatility may prove crucial

Jamie Donley is one of Spurs' most promising youngsters. He picked up five goals and 12 assists in 17 Premier League 2 matches last campaign as a second striker and playmaker. He's held in high regard within Hotspur Way, and his versatility may prove crucial for his future.

The 19-year-old has started the past two pre-season matches at left-back — and he was the only academy player to feature in the opening half in West London. It's not his natural position, far from it, but he looked assured in the role.

Postecoglou's system sees the left-back invert into the centre, essentially acting as another option in the middle of the park. In a similar scenario to Gray and Bergvall, Donley possesses maturity well beyond his age. He understood the task and looked confident, combining neatly with both Oliver Skipp and Gray at the back and Yves Bissouma further forward.

Donley is not expected to play a prominent role at left-back this season, but his performances in pre-season will have only given Postecoglou confidence that he should feature in some form, particularly with the Europa League group stage coming up.

Mikey Moore stood out in Tottenham's young second half side

Mikey Moore may only be 16, he turns 17 at the start of August, but he is already a prominent member of this Spurs squad. He made his debut at the end of last season at home to Manchester City — and, in pre-season, he has continued to impress.

The winger scored a stunning solo goal against Hearts midweek, whilst his second half appearance against QPR will only bolster his confidence. He came on alongside nine other players as Spurs fully rotated their team.

Moore was composed throughout the second half in West London. His passes were well-weighted, controlled and precise. It might sound simple, yet even in a pre-season friendly, it is easy for an inexperienced youngster to feel the weight of pressure; Moore didn't, consistently linking up with James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski with ease.

The youngster picked up a stunning assist in the 87th minute, as he drove down the left flank and placed a low ball into the box with the outside of his boot. It takes an incredibly high level of confidence to pull that off.

He even squandered a golden chance one-on-one with the goalkeeper after latching onto a stunning through-ball from Kulusevski, but his overall play was what you expect from a consistent winger, not a 16-year-old.

Alongside Moore, other youngsters took to the centre stage with confidence. As Spurs came under considerably more pressure from QPR in the second half, Ashley Phillips acted as an aggressive centre-back in the backline.

The 19-year-old, who was on loan at Plymouth last campaign, always looked confident, particularly in a defence which harboured Emerson next to him and George Abbott, a midfielder, at left-back.

Tottenham Hotspur opened their pre-season campaign with a five star victory in the capital of Scotland, on an evening that was heavily dominated by the youngsters selected by Ange Postecoglou.

Throughout his first season as Spurs boss, there was plenty of opportunities for Hotspur Way prodigies to get a taste of being around the first team match day squad. Most notably, Jamie Donley - who started on Wednesday - and Mikey Moore received opportunities in the Premier League, whilst there was also regular spots on the bench for the likes of Alfie Dorrington, Yago Santiago and even Ashley Philips, before his loan move to Plymouth Argyle in January.

Last season, the under 21 side won the league phase of Premier League 2, losing just twice, before rounding off a fine season by winning the play-off stage.

Wayne Burnett's side also reached the final of the Premier League u21 Cup, where they suffered a heavy defeat in the final against Fulham, in only their third defeat of the season.

Thirteen players who had climbed the ranks in the academy were named in the squad as The Lilywhites' Premier League preparations officially got underway.

In the first half, the former Celtic manager named a strong side, consisting of the likes of James Maddison, Brennan Johnson and Heung-Min Son. However, in the second period, plenty of experimentation allowed for the youngsters to get a chance to impress, and they certainly did just that.

Lankshear labelled as Kane heir

Will Lankshear - who won the Premier League 2 Player of the Season and Golden Boot in 2023/24 - made his first ever appearance for the senior team under Ange Postecolgou, after he trained for the entirety of the past week with the big boys.

The Welwyn Garden City-born nineteen year old came on as a half time substitute at Tynecastle and didn't look out of place for even a split second throughout his 22 minute cameo, which saw the striker find the back of the net.

Lankshear has previously been on the books of North London rivals Arsenal and Sheffield United, but now looks to have found his feet at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium - he even kissed the badge after his goal in Edinburgh.

He had no issues playing up against the senior defensive partnership in the centre of the Hears defence, who he bullied for the majority of his short spell on the pitch. Lankshear registered four shots on goal, successfully completed his only attempted dribble and also won his one and only duel, in an impressive showing.

After scoring 25 goals in all competitions last season, the 19-year old will be hoping to break into the first team under Postecoglou this season, and there is absolutely no reason why he cannot, especially with the amount of football Spurs will play in the next ten months as they battle on all four fronts.

New signings impress on debut

Archie Gray made his Tottenham Hotspur debut at Tynecastle on Wednesday night, after completing a £40m move from boyhood club Leeds United.

Starting at centre back due to the lack of regular first team options, Gray offered Spurs fans a glimpse of what he can do, as he stepped into the midfield with the ball on plenty of occasions, looking to drive forward and create an attacking chance for the front three, who he said he is "lucky" to be able to play with.

On social media, many fans were raving over his 45-minute cameo, before he was brought off at half time as Postecoglou made wholesale changes. The eighteen year old successfully completed all but two of his 53 attempted passes and his defensive work was top notch too. Nothing got past the ball-playing midfielder, as he produced three interceptions, won all four of his duels and made one tackle .

One of the youngsters who came on to replace the versatile Englishman, was fellow 18-year old Lucas Bergvall. Signing from Djurgårdens IF in Sweden in January, the midfielder only joined up with the squad on the first day of pre-season, when the move officially went through.

He took no time at all to get into the thick of it, always looking to pick up the ball from the centre back and get attacking moves underway. Just twenty minutes into his first ever appearance in the famous white shirt, Bergvall registered an assist, as he turned and played a defence splitting pass to Mikey Moore for the third goal of the evening.

Both new signings are expected to heavily feature for the first team this season and on their debuts, both looked well accustomed to the style of football Ange Postecoglou wants to pay. At such a young age, they really do have the world at their feet, and these two signings could prove to be a transfer wi dow masterstroke from The Lilywhites hierarchy.

Moore continues where he left off

For the final five matches of the 2023/24 season, sixteen year old Mikey Moore was named in the match day squad by Ange Postecoglou, and became the club's youngest ever player when he came off the bench against Manchester City on a bizarre night in North London.

Daniel Levy has already moved to secure the future of the prospect - who has attracted continental recognition - with Moore agreeing professional terms with the club, which will officially go through when he turns seventeen next month. This is a statement of intent from Tottenham, who have fended off interest from some of Europe's elite in order to keep their teenage sensation in N17.

Given the entire second half to show Tottenham fans what he can do, Mikey Moore shone as he played on the right hand side of the front three at Tynecastle, where he scored Tottenham's third goal of the evening.

Picking up the ball from 18-year old new signing Lucas Bergvall, Moore drove into the penalty area before cutting back onto his right foot and finding the bottom corner.

Well-known for his silky dribbling and elite ball skills, the sixteen year-old completed both of his attempted dribbles and won four fouls on Tuesday evening, giving fans a taste of his impeccable abilities, especially considering he is really just a kid. Reports from reliable journalists also state that he found the back of the net in a behind closed doors friendly with League One side Cambridge united on Saturday.

With UEFA Europa League football, in a revamped and expanded format, coming The Lilywhites' way this season, we expect the attacker to feature prominently in Ange Postecoglou's plans as he looks to have a solid first full season in the men's game at such a young age.

Donley shows versatility

Just eighteen months ago, Jamie Donley was a striker. Fast forward to the present day, and he's fresh off the back of completing a half of football at left back, and didn't look out of his depth in any way, shape or form.

He is highly-rated by both academy and first team staff at Tottenham, and he was even given his Premier League debut by Ange Postecoglou in December 2023. Donley has even attracted interest from the Championship, and could move to the second tier on loan this summer.

For the academy, he has moved further down the pitch into a number ten, or an advanced-eight role, mainly due to his similarities to Harry Kane when it comes to his playmaking qualities. This is a natural move for the 19-year old, who had a knack for dropping in deep and creating opportunities for fellow attackers in behind - in the 22/23 season he hit the back of the net and assisted on four occasions each, in his eleven matches played as a striker.

Although Ange Postecoglou admitted at full time that Donley wouldn't have expected to start in the back four, the move is one that he will be familiar with, due to both full backs being told to invert into the midfield as often as possible.

The Lilywhites kicked off pre-season by heading up north and cruising to a 5-1 win over Heart of Midlothian, who finished 3rd in the Scottish Premiership last season.

Hearts found themselves 1-0 down in the first half, despite having the majority of chances, after a slick move by Tottenham Hotspur which ended in a Brennan Johnson goal.

Hearts then found an equaliser early on in the second half, but a fantastic display put on by Tottenham's youngsters ended up with Spurs in full cruise control, seeing them score four to record an impressive win.

Here are some takeaways for Ange Postecoglou.

​​​​​​Brennan Johnson growing into life at Spurs

Brennan Johnson had a rough start to his time at Tottenham in terms of his finishing ability, but with the start of pre-season he seems to have found his shooting boots.

With a hat trick in a behind closed doors friendly against Cambridge United and a goal against Hearts, Johnson is finding his form on the right-wing in this pre-season.

Last season was all about finding the right position for Johnson, playing off the left, right and centrally, it was never comfortable for the Welsh International. Postecoglou now seems to have found his perfect position on the right wing, with Johnson hoping to have a prolific season.

Youth could prove vital for Tottenham

Tottenham over the last year have been praised for their talent in the academy and their young signings. With their u21s winning the Premier League 2 final against Sunderland, this year was always going to be a big one.

The players that stood out mostly against Hearts were the youth, with the Premier League 2 player of the season Will Lankshear getting his name onto the scoresheet as well as 16-year-old Mikey Moore also scoring.

Defender Djed Spence, who spent last season out on loan at Leeds and Genoa looked a completely refreshed player in the game. With a goal and an assist to his name, Spence played the second half in top form.

Brandon Austin, who has been Tottenham's 3rd choice goalkeeper for a while now, always shone brightly with a few fantasic saves to keep Tottenham in the game.

Defensive struggles continue

Tottenham started the game with two makeshift centre backs and a makeshift left-back which saw Hearts have many chances and Tottenham let off massively after a few big chances missed.

Archie Gray was one of the names at centre back who all in all played well despite out of position, yet it still looked slightly unnatural.

Tottenham conceded early in the second half due to a big defensive error from Emerson Royal, who is linked away with a move from Tottenham.

Tottenham's lack of depth in defence and individual errors is what cost them last season, and it seems so far that the theme is continuing heading into the 2024/25 season.

Is Son Heung-Min's age catching up to him?

Son Heung-Min played the entirety of the first-half against Hearts, but looked miles of the pace of how he used to look in previous seasons for Tottenham.

There's no denying that Son was not at his best last season, having to play off the left and as a temporary number 9 due to Tottenham's striker issue, and it seems it is carrying on into pre-season.

Son had a few chances in the 45 minutes that he played, yet none of them seemed to find the back of the net for him. One major chance saw him free in the box, but unable to control the ball well to get a proper shot away.

Son will be hoping to regain his once unstoppable form again, and pre-season is the chance for him to shake off any rust.

Many pre-season games are left for Postecoglou's team, but with a strong victory to kick things off, things are looking good. The few individual errors need to be dusted off, but with a full month still left of the transfer window, they can always add to their locker room.