Tottenham forging a new era in women’s and men’s teams

At this early stage of the season it could be simple to counsel that is a new and improved Tottenham Hotspur — model 2.0, with go-faster stripes and a cup holder included as commonplace — however maybe nonetheless with the identical dodgy wheels that have a tendency to come back off on the most inopportune moments. Yet throughout each the men’s and women’s teams there actually is a sense of a newer, extra developed and dynamic Spurs. The complete membership appears to have purchased into the “one badge, one team” values.

Having struggled with muddled kinds and underperforming gamers in latest years, it was clear a change was wanted. The women’s group sacked Rehanne Skinner in March with the membership sitting two factors above the relegation zone, and ended up ninth — their lowest place since they have been promoted to the Women’s Super League (WSL) in 2019 — below interim boss Vicky Jepson. Spurs’ males completed the season with their very own interim boss (Ryan Mason), missed out on Europe by ending eighth, then let star striker Harry Kane depart for Bayern Munich.

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But momentum was discovered because the recruitment group oversaw the arrivals of two new managers this summer season, Ange Postecoglou (men’s group) and Robert Vilahamn (women’s), as leaders who might implement a comparable attacking fashion. And each teams have hit the bottom operating: The males lead the Premier League with seven wins from 9 video games; the ladies are third in the WSL with three wins from 4. And, for a temporary second on Saturday, each teams have been in the No. 1 spot.

More than merely a place in the desk, or objectives scored, the idea is again.

“The vibes are amazing, we’ve signed really good players and I’m loving working with the new manager,” women’s star Rosella Ayane mentioned. “The vibes around the training ground are really good. So, it’s a really positive place to be.”

Ashleigh Neville, the longest-serving participant on the women’s group, informed ESPN: “We’ve began afresh, we have had Robert come in and a new captain [Beth England], new vice-captains [Molly Bartrip and Olga Ahtinen] and everyone seems to be invested in what he needs and what the membership needs as a group. This season we have now no expectations after final season, we’re simply working behind the scenes to get the job finished.

“I feel the primary factor for us was to be enjoying thrilling soccer that the followers need to watch. It was extra in regards to the efficiency, than ‘we need to be in the Champions League,’ for instance. It was extra about getting set on how we need to play and then the factors will comply with and the desk will present that.”

Meanwhile new men’s signing James Maddison informed TalkSPORT final month: “He [Postecoglou] has come in and had his means of enjoying and his strategies. The means he needs us to coach day in, time out is infectious. There’s not a day the place you may exit and be half-hearted. Every day and each coaching session is intense, it is laborious and it is his means, however we’re reaping the rewards of that on the pitch.”

New manager bounce

The renewed sense of identity comes from both teams being led by men with their own steadfast philosophies.

Much has been made of Postecoglou’s attacking ideals and history of keeping a barrier between himself and those he coaches, with the former Celtic and Australia boss always one to aim for improvement even if it means focusing on the negatives.

But this is where he and Vilahamn differ most, with the Swede never short of praise to lavish upon his players. Vilahamn is more concerned about the bigger picture and the oft-heard Swedish refrain about improving every day, or as compatriot and Matildas boss Tony Gustavsson puts it: “One day higher, not simply at some point older.”

Where Postecoglou was typically restrained after Spurs’ 2-0 win over Fulham on Monday night — noting that “it was most likely the worst 45 minutes we have had all yr [with the ball]” — Vilahamn was full of positives after his team’s 4-2 comeback win over Aston Villa on Saturday, highlighting the overall performance in the second half and how his players have bought into his style of play. “You can see we have now actually good character in this group,” he said. “We know the way to preserve going. You can see how courageous we’re in the buildup, how we play in the Tottenham means. That’s additionally a massive step for us.”

However, much like Postecoglou, Vilahamn is keeping his feet planted firmly on the ground when it comes to the lofty position of his team in the standings. When speaking to the media ahead of the Villa game, the Swede reiterated that player development is key and his job is not just to bed in a more attacking style of football, but to help their mentality so they can bounce back from setbacks.

“There are going to come back occasions the place we do not succeed, and video games are going the place we lose as properly,” he said. “I’m simply ensuring that we proceed to develop as a result of the season is all about that, to maintain going.”

It’s a far cry from Vilahamn’s early days at Swedish side Häcken, where poor performances punctuated a rocky start to his first half of the season in 2021. But much like his players, the young coach grew and developed during those tricky early months. The experience was undoubtedly one that has helped him adapt to life outside of Sweden as he has fast-tracked Spurs to the top end of the table. So far, everything seems to be going right.

Trust in the players and the system

One Tottenham women’s player thriving under her new coach is Scotland international Martha Thomas, who was signed on deadline day to fill the void left by the injured Beth England. The 27-year-old has already surpassed her best WSL tally of goals for a season (five in 18 games two years ago) to net six in her first four outings, including an eye-catching hat trick against Villa.

“Those gamers, nationwide group gamers who’re on the bench on the largest golf equipment and so on, yow will discover that in them, in case you give them the belief — [20-year-old Manchester United loanee] Grace Clinton is identical — you give them belief and they shine,” Vilahamn mentioned.

In Thomas’ own words: “He has allowed us to have our personal character, so long as we stick along with his fashion. He needs to press and be on the ball, be a possession group, and he is received the best personnel for that. I feel it is thrilling for us to have that tradition.”

Although there are many Spurs followers who’re used to seeing the membership fail to reside as much as their potential, on each the men’s and women’s teams, there is no such thing as a query it has entered a new era. All the squads — together with at youth and academy degree — now work in a comparable means, selling attacking soccer and collaboration.

“We spoke about it the other day when the men’s team won 2-0, the way their goals came about were very similar to how ours did,” Neville informed ESPN. “It’s great to see across the board that the men’s team and some of the academy teams are top of their leagues, we’re pushing for that at the moment. But it’s kind of showing on the pitch that we’re all under the same club and are aspiring to be the same.”

One of the enhancements for the women’s group has been transferring Hannah Sheridan, who labored as a nutritionist for the men’s facet for a few years, to a position as head of efficiency. Increased funding in sports activities science has seen higher working practices and Vilahamn now has spreadsheets detailing sweat loss throughout coaching (to assist monitor his participant’s hydration ranges) which is one thing of a novelty for the women’s group. There can be elevated emphasis on streamlining the pathway from the academy to the senior squad, with Vilahamn introducing a newly created position of “transition coach” for Anton Blackwood.

It is working thus far, however the plan for Spurs is not about this yr in the Premier League or WSL, it is in regards to the new path being trodden, long-term stability and success for the membership, and growth of the gamers. Both managers can dream of titles ultimately, however getting their sides to play attacking soccer and cashing in on their potential is what issues for now.

“I think me and Ange try to do the same stuff with how to play, trying to be brave enough to play good, offensive football,” Vilahamn mentioned earlier than the season began. “In the long run you’re going to see a Tottenham that dictate games, press high, want to lean forward and try to score a lot of goals.”

Already followers of each Spurs’ senior teams are seeing greater than they may have ever bargained for.