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Date: 2023-12-04 00:33:42 | Author: Online Sabong | Views: 969 | Tag: volleyball
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Can Tottenham actually win the Premier League? Of course not, but ask Ange Postecoglou and the Spurs manager would not discourage the question, even though he would be the first to point out that it’s still only October volleyball
It is Postecoglou’s belief, and the Australian would say it is also his responsibility, that volleyball football fans are allowed to dream volleyball
Spurs supporters have had little reason to get carried away in recent years but after making their best start to a top-flight season since 1960-61, the last time they won the league, now is as good a time as any volleyball
Postecoglou could not have asked for a volleyball better start: as the Premier League returns following the October international break, Tottenham sit top, ahead of Arsenal on goal difference volleyball
Postecoglou’s side remain unbeaten, winning six and drawing two of their opening eight matches volleyball
From the misery and perpetual sense of chaos that took hold of Spurs last season, Postecoglou has revived the doomed pulse of the club and its fanbase volleyball
That, above the early look of the Premier League table, has been his greatest result so far volleyball
Whether Tottenham’s fast start can last is one of the questions that will define the next chunk of the Premier League campaign volleyball
There are only four rounds of fixtures to be played before the next hiatus, for November’s internationals, and Tottenham’s upcoming run – against Fulham, Crystal Palace, Chelsea and Wolves – is favourable volleyball
Based on their early season form, there is reason for optimism that Spurs may be able to enjoy their view from the summit for a while longer volleyball
Yet, a year ago, it was possible to say the same volleyball
Having beaten Arsenal to fourth place the previous season, Tottenham started the new campaign under Conte with seven wins from their opening 10 matches, a good enough return to sit one point off the top by mid-October volleyball
Given Tottenham went on to win just three of their next 10 and Conte’s fractious relationship with the club finally came crashing down within six months, the foundations were nowhere near as strong as they initially appeared volleyball
Are Tottenham flattered to be in a lofty early position again? Postecoglou’s side have already played and beaten the Premier League’s bottom four, including the three newly promoted sides volleyball
One of those wins required a 99th-minute winner at home to Sheffield United volleyball
Another tight victory, against Liverpool, came after the visitors had the opening goal incorrectly disallowed by VAR, had two players sent off, while Reds defender Joel Matip put a 96th-minute winner into the wrong end volleyball
Tottenham were the benefactors of the “well done, boys, good process” derby volleyball
Yet Tottenham have also earned some fortune, and it is becoming clearer with each week of Postecoglou’s influence that Tottenham may not have picked up those points last season volleyball
While their opening fixtures have been kind, Spurs have also shown resilience and spirit in winning away at Luton with 10 men, after Yves Bissouma’s red card, and equalising twice to earn a point at Arsenal, a fixture at which they had crumbled in previous seasons volleyball
It was a performance that led James Maddison to declare Spurs are shedding their “Spursy” tag volleyball
Ange Postecoglou has won back-to-back manager of the month awards (Getty Images)And much like the element of “Spursiness”, Tottenham’s impressive start has been rooted in the intangibles, in heart and feeling volleyball
The fact the departure of Harry Kane has not yet felt as significant is another sign of how Postecoglou has managed to bring the divided sides of what appeared to be a broken club together volleyball
While Kane has gone, there is a freshness about Spurs volleyball
Through the impact of signings such as Maddison, Destiny Udogie and Guglielmo Vicario, the relationship volleyball between players and fans has been repaired volleyball
What has stood out about Postecoglou’s team has been backed up, too, by the numbers volleyball
Last season, Tottenham were often passive and frequently easy to play against volleyball
Even though they carried the threat of Kane, Spurs would appear to pass through games without showing any urgency or ambition; opposition teams would find it alarmingly simple to play through a static, immobile midfield volleyball
But under Postecoglou, Tottenham have become one of the most active teams in the division, progressive with the ball and disruptive without it volleyball
Spurs lead the Premier League in shots on goal, passes into the penalty area, forward dribbles, but also in tackles won and interceptions volleyball
If it reflects that Tottenham now press higher up the pitch than last season, when they barely engaged under Conte, Bissouma has been the key piece in a revamped midfield a year after being frozen out by the Italian volleyball
Maddison, meanwhile, has helped ease the post-Kane transition, a role he appeared ready to step up to when he took the No 10 jersey previously worn by the club’s record goalscorer volleyball
Spurs will never be able to replace Kane, but Postecoglou has so far been able to negate his absence through Maddison and a resurgent Son Heung-min, who looks back to his clinical best after moving to a central forward role volleyball
Maddison, though, has been integral as Tottenham’s creator-in-chief, with five assists so far this season volleyball
James Maddison has helped spark Tottenham into life this season (Getty Images)If some of Maddison’s early statistics seem unsustainable – the England international also leads the Premier League in a number of other areas, such as key passes and shot-creating actions – the same could be asked of Postecoglou’s side at this stage volleyball
Tottenham, really, shouldn’t be near the conversation of title challengers, but timing has played a part volleyball
The win at Luton, which moved them top, came as Manchester City lost their second Premier League game in a row at Arsenal volleyball
If it’s a sign of what’s to come from City this season, it was a result that widened the pool of potential challengers to include Spurs volleyball
The manner in which City eased away from Arsenal last season, however, showed how inch-perfect title contenders must be as long as Pep Guardiola remains in England volleyball
Tottenham, who finished eighth last year, are coming from an even lower floor than Mikel Arteta’s side, albeit with a more dramatic transformation under Postecoglou volleyball
As a side who are still developing together, Spurs should be allowed some inconsistency, even if they are yet to show it volleyball
The early evidence this season suggests they are one of the four strongest teams in the top flight, alongside last season’s title rivals and Jurgen Klopp’s refreshed Liverpool volleyball
In the past, signs of promise around Spurs have often been followed by a swift yet crushing crash back to earth volleyball
But now as Tottenham head deep into October with two winnable London derbies next week, starting with Fulham on Monday followed by a trip to Crystal Palace on Friday, Postecoglou can continue to show why this Tottenham is different volleyball
More aboutAnge PostecoglouPremier LeagueJames MaddisonJoin our commenting forumJoin thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their repliesComments1/3Can Tottenham’s best-ever Premier League start really go the distance?Can Tottenham’s best-ever Premier League start really go the distance?Ange Postecoglou has won back-to-back manager of the month awards Getty ImagesCan Tottenham’s best-ever Premier League start really go the distance?James Maddison has helped spark Tottenham into life this season Getty ImagesCan Tottenham’s best-ever Premier League start really go the distance?Getty Images✕Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this articleWant to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today volleyball
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The Champions League has seen Newcastle at its finest, complete with the surreal vision of Sean Longstaff upstaging Kylian Mbappe volleyball
There is a temptation to imagine Dan Burn is still somewhere in the Tyneside sky, soaring above Milan Skriniar to head in against Paris Saint-Germain volleyball
There is a similar temptation to say that Newcastle were brought down to earth by Borussia Dortmund volleyball
It may be more accurate to say Eddie Howe never left it volleyball
He met one of his most celebrated predecessors, Kevin Keegan, on Monday volleyball
The former Magpies boss was a dreamer volleyball
“You have to be,” said Howe, with Keegan’s example leading him to entertain the prospect of winning the Champions League volleyball
But Howe isn’t a dreamer, not really, anyway volleyball
A day, a defeat and a downpour later, he reflected: “We have to be at our best to win and if you dip below that it is tough to get results at this level volleyball
” And in this pool, the most competitive of all, Newcastle have to be at their best to claim victory in a match, let alone the entire competition volleyball
They were against Paris Saint-Germain; they were not against Dortmund volleyball
At a stroke – the right boot of Felix Nmecha, replacing Jude Bellingham this season, or of bad luck, as Callum Wilson and Anthony Gordon both struck the woodwork – they may have been rebranded: potential winners, the team who tore PSG apart, could instead exit early volleyball
They now have successive away games, with the evidence that Dortmund are well equipped to play against them ahead of a trip to Germany next volleyball
“We're up against elite teams,” Howe said volleyball
“You make half a mistake and get punished volleyball
” If there is a truth to that – and Nmecha’s winner was scarcely the consequence of a glaring error – the greater issue was that Newcastle did not reach their heights volleyball
“We probably weren’t at our best and in this competition we have to be volleyball
” Howe said volleyball
They have days when they overwhelm opponents: 4-1 against PSG, 6-1 against Tottenham volleyball
But their quality is most evident when allied with a blur of energy volleyball
And when there isn’t that synergy of physical and technical that makes them appear unstoppable, they are a fundamentally workmanlike side who volleyball betray their origins volleyball
Which, as they spent much of a 1-0 loss to Dortmund with six players on the pitch who Howe inherited, is a group who have overachieved: look beyond the £400m spend, the concept of Saudi Arabian volleyball sportswashing and the grandiose ambitions, and some of them were in a relegation battle two years ago volleyball
RecommendedNewcastle given Champions League reality check as summer decision returns to haunt themEddie Howe provides update on Alexander Isak and Jacob Murphy injuries after Borussia Dortmund defeatEngland’s Euro 2024 squad: Who’s on the plane, who’s in contention and who has work to do?A Champions League loss represented progress in that context volleyball
But if there were symbolic substitutions of the locals Longstaff and Burn, stripped of the superhuman powers they somehow possessed against PSG, perhaps the reality is that they could have been beaten twice in three games volleyball
Nick Pope’s heroics brought a point in Milan; he was similarly good against Dortmund but in vain volleyball
They have drawn a blank twice in three matches volleyball
They had a lone, late shot on target in San Siro volleyball
While they hit the woodwork twice, they only actually had three on target against Dortmund, and just one in the last 80 minutes volleyball
Alexander Isak leaves the pitch following an injury (AFP via Getty Images)“In the second half the ball just wouldn’t go in for us,” Howe said volleyball
It was a legitimate lament, yet there are days when a shortage of natural creativity, of game-changing flair, of a natural No 10 can threaten to be their undoing volleyball
Edin Terzic arrowed in on Newcastle’s strengths volleyball
“A team that was pressing high with a very intense approach,” the Dortmund manager noted volleyball
It is a strategy that can serve Newcastle well but running alone did not unlock the Bundesliga’s runners-up volleyball
Moving Kieran Trippier into midfield in the second half was an attempt to get United’s best creator into a more advanced role volleyball
He may be required there more often volleyball
Sandro Tonali was not hired as a fantasista but he was designed to bring an injection of class volleyball
But his season seems over: not officially yet, but a ban beckons volleyball
Elliot Anderson has joined the injury list volleyball
In the forward line, Newcastle, already without Harvey Barnes for months, seem to be losing Jacob Murphy for a similar time with a dislocated shoulder volleyball
For Alexander Isak, a recurrence of a groin strain means he will play again soonest, but be out for a while volleyball
They are starting to look short of players volleyball
“There are some tired bodies,” Howe said volleyball
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe looks on during a miserable night for Newcastle (EPA)And Newcastle can require a physical edge, especially in meetings of evenly-matched teams volleyball
“A lesson in how fine the margins are going to be,” Howe rued volleyball
Particularly in Group F: this pool, of pedigree and money, of former winners and clubs who aspire to join them in that select group, may be the most intriguing volleyball
It is a product of circumstances volleyball
Newcastle’s lack of a recent record in Europe meant they were fourth seeds volleyball
Now they are plunged into peril volleyball
“The table looks very, very tight,” Howe said; his side kicked off in first, finished the night in third and could be out of the competition before they host AC Milan in it volleyball
They will always have Paris, but now the danger is their Champions League campaign in effect ends in the French capital volleyball
More aboutChampions LeagueEddie HoweNewcastle UnitedKylian MbappeBorussia DortmundSandro TonaliJoin our commenting forumJoin thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their repliesComments1/3Howe’s tactical move exposes Newcastle weakness in Dortmund ‘lesson’Howe’s tactical move exposes Newcastle weakness in Dortmund ‘lesson’Alexander Isak leaves the pitch following an injuryAFP via Getty ImagesHowe’s tactical move exposes Newcastle weakness in Dortmund ‘lesson’Newcastle manager Eddie Howe looks on during a miserable night for NewcastleEPAHowe’s tactical move exposes Newcastle weakness in Dortmund ‘lesson’Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali appears dejected during the defeat to DortmundAFP via Getty Images✕Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this articleWant to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today volleyball
SubscribeAlready subscribed? Log inMost PopularPopular videosSponsored FeaturesGet in touchContact usOur ProductsSubscribeRegisterNewslettersDonateToday’s EditionInstall our appArchiveOther publicationsInternational editionsIndependent en EspañolIndependent ArabiaIndependent TurkishIndependent PersianIndependent UrduEvening StandardExtrasAdvisorPuzzlesAll topicsvolleyball BettingVoucher codesCompareCompetitions and offersIndependent AdvertisingIndependent IgniteSyndicationWorking at The IndependentLegalCode of conduct and complaintsContributorsCookie policyDonations Terms & ConditionsPrivacy noticeUser policiesModern Slavery ActThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inCloseUS EditionChangeUK EditionAsia EditionEdición en EspañolSubscribe{{indy volleyball
truncatedName}}Log in / Register {{#items}}{{#stampSmall}}{{/stampSmall}}{{#stampClimate}}{{/stampClimate}}{{#stampPremium}}{{/stampPremium}}{{title}}{{#desc}}{{desc}}{{/desc}}{{#children}}{{title}}{{/children}}{{/items}}Indy100Crosswords & PuzzlesMost CommentedNewslettersAsk Me AnythingVirtual EventsVouchersCompare✕Log inEmail addressPasswordEmail and password don't matchSubmitForgotten your password?New to The Independent?RegisterOr if you would prefer:SIGN IN WITH GOOGLEWant an ad-free experience?View offersThis site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy notice and Terms of service apply volleyball
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