Ange Postecoglou set for challenge of second season at Spurs

Ange Postecoglou's first season at Tottenham would have to be characterised as some kind of success. The North London outfit were in a state of flux last summer. Spurned and then publicly ridiculed by former boss Antonio Conte, they faced the prospect of captain Harry Kane fleeing the nest, and they needed a new manager to begin reshaping the culture of the club.

Postecoglou, despite a couple of trophy laden seasons as Celtic manager, was still a left-field appointment, but Tottenham moved quickly to get their man and he'd duly become the first Australian to manage in England's top flight.

Marking his first season isn't straightforward. Kane's protracted departure came against the backdrop of a stunning start that saw the Spurs top the table after a flying start.

In early November, the speed wobbles began, as Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie saw red against Chelsea in what eventually became a 4-1 home loss, though only after Postecoglou's nine-man side unexpectedly took the game to their visitors, going against footballing convention in doing so with a numerical handicap.

Injuries to key men like James Maddison and Micky van de Ven put the bandwagon in trouble, and over the second half of the season, Tottenham couldn't find that consistency, eventually settling for a fifth spot as Aston Villa pipped them in the race for Champion League qualification.

If it was an examination, a B-minus would be fair. There was so much promise on show but ultimately Spurs couldn't get it right at the back and they reverted to type, somewhat. As a first album, it showed immense promise for Postecoglou as the Tottenham manager established a thoroughly likeable persona.

Now, after his first summer recess, he's ready to unleash that often troublesome second album, knowing that he must provide a positive soundtrack at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to maintain the goodwill that almost certainly still exists. Postecoglou has made some important additions, with Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall and Dominic Solanke as headliners.

Solanke showed his qualities last season for Bournemouth, scoring 19 Premier League goals. The 26-year-old forward is just the type to excel in the Ange-Ball environment, with his willingness to run the channels and proven ability in front of goal. His presence should be a plus for Heung-Min Son, too.

Gray is one of the most talented teenagers in Britain and was a key signing from Leeds. He impressed in the Championship last season and, as a Celtic fan, has already professed himself to be a major Postecoglou fan. Swedish teen Bergvall could be one to keep an eye on, given the excellent contributions he's been making in pre-season. The other two came with more fanfare, but the 18-year-old isn't to be overlooked.

Injuries to key players last season were massive factors in Tottenham failing to build on a fast start that brought eight wins and two draws from their first 10 games – Postecoglou raising the bar for a new Premier League manager at that benchmark.

A rough November and December yielded one point from five games despite the Spurs getting the first goal in all of them. Skipper Son then joined Pape Sarr and Yves Bissouma at the AFCON in January, while the season ended with five defeats in the last seven games as Tottenham ran out of gas and got pipped to fourth by Aston Villa.

By any means, it was a huge improvement after Conte walked away the previous spring, citing a poor mentality that would haunt the club for years to come if it wasn't eradicated.

In his first year, the Aussie boss has gone some way to turning that around, though until he provides a tangible result, the doubters will linger.

What constitutes such an outcome this season? A top four finish would surely do it, while raising either the FA Cup or Europa League would go a long way too.

Big Ange has allowed Tottenham fans to dream big in the early stages of his tenure. Success has been a constant in his managerial career, and if he can lead Spurs to the promised land of winning a major trophy, it will surely rank amongst his greatest achievements so far.

The likes of Chelsea and Manchester United still have as many questions in front of them as answers, while Arne Slot at Liverpool must prove he can thrive in the shadow left behind by Jurgen Klopp at Anfield.

His new signings look shrewd, and if the Spurs can enjoy just an even share of luck with regard to injuries, their manager is tipped to pass the second-season test with flying colours. A title looks a few steps too far, for now, with Postecoglou can lead Tottenham to the top four and maybe even add a silver lining with one of those cups.

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✒️ Enda McElhinney – GAA and Football Betting Expert

Enda McElhinney is an Irish-based sportswriter, specialising in written content on the GAA, horse racing and football. He has more than a decade of experience across many publications, bringing a wealth of knowledge and betting nous to his craft. When he isn't at this desk or the racecourse, he loves to unwind on the golf course – though sometimes that can be more stressful than working!