24 September 2023 , 05:00
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The handbrake is off at Tottenham – but the north Londoners are in the safest of hands under new captain Son Heung-min.
That’s the view of Darren Anderton, the former Spurs favourite who believes that the smile on Son’s face is a reflection of the new mood of optimism sweeping through the white half of North London.
“When Harry Kane has been out injured at various points in the past few years, Son was always the player who stood-up,” he says. “Making him captain makes complete sense – the fans adore him, he plays the game in the right way. So many players are reaping the benefits of the manager and he’s definitely one of them.
“He’s the perfect ambassador, He’s a great guy, the players love him, he’s someone you hear nothing but good things about. He’s leading by example but, for me, it just looks like a very happy camp at the moment.”
It’s a world away from the furrowed brows and frustration that accompanied the regimes of Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho. The new man from Melbourne has re-introduced a sunny disposition to a club which hasn’t won a trophy in 15 years.
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That drought may well continue this season, with Spurs tumbling out of the League Cup back in August. But that remains the only blot of Postecoglou’s copybook, with the club going into Sunday’s clash with Arsenal unbeaten in their first five Premier League outings this season.
“Both teams will believe they can win it this afternoon and both are playing attacking, exciting football,” says Anderton. “But any derby can go either way. Spurs certainly aren’t going to change their approach. Watching them is suddenly exciting again. It’s a breath of fresh air.
“The reaction from the fans and the players, who are playing with a smile on their face again – it’s great to see. The speed of his impact has been incredible. These are players who want to play exciting football, they want to get people off their seats.
“They’ve been given the freedom to do that and they didn’t have that before. He’s a manager who has given them confidence and belief to go and win games. They’re playing the Tottenham way. People always like to watch Tottenham, and that’s the case again now.
“No-one likes dull football – and that’s what the last three or four years have been. Dull. Spurs are going into games with a real belief, and those fans are now coming to the stadium knowing that they’re going to be entertained.
“The players who have those special talents are being given the freedom to show them off. Am I surprised at how well they’ve coped without Harry? They still miss him, I’d be interested to know how he feels about watching the way this team are playing.
“He would score a ridiculous number of goals in this side. But the goals are coming from lots of different places, different players are getting on the scoresheet. Credit to the team for galvanising, putting Harry’s departure aside and getting on with the game.
“That’s part of being a professional footballer. Great players move on. You just have to get on with it.”