Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham transformation has begun

The Premier League season may only be two weeks old, but Yves Bissouma is yet to play a match for Ange Postecoglou and not be named the best player of it. And to think he couldn’t even get a game under Antonio Conte.

It seems improper to dredge up an unhappy past when the positive energy coursing through the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium could light every home in N17, but with each passing week it becomes increasingly unfathomable that Conte could find no place for Bissouma in a midfield that was consistently overworked and overwhelmed. He was right there, Antonio.

The Italian singled Bissouma out for struggling with the “tactical aspect” of his instructions, which considering the 26-year-old’s comfort in possession is unsurprising when the principal role of Tottenham’s midfielders last season was to hurry around plugging gaps, like two 10-year-old’s playing whack a mole at a seafront arcade. What a difference a new manager makes.

From being on the fringes last year, Bissouma is suddenly front and centre of the Ange revolution, dictating and driving, passing and probing, tackling and tidying up. He was excellent as Spurs controlled possession at Brentford on the opening weekend, and arguably even better in a pinball machine match against Manchester United six days later.

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Before Saturday’s game, Bissouma’s best performances at Spurs’ magnificent stadium had come in Brighton colours. Finally, supporters are seeing the player they thought they were getting 14 months ago.

It is no surprise that Bissouma’s renaissance has come while playing in a team that wants to have the ball rather than one that treats it as though it is a bludger from a Harry Potter film.

Spurs had 70 per cent possession against Brentford and 55 per cent against United. Only Manchester City pass-master Rodri and Brighton line-breaker Lewis Dunk have attempted more passes than Bissouma so far this season. Both statistics paint a picture of the tactical evolution taking place.

Bissouma had to get through plenty of defensive work against United, making a team-leading seven tackles, but it is his dribbling qualities that have most caught the eye.

According to Opta, he has attempted more ball carries, defined as “any movement of the ball by a player which is greater than five metres from where they received the ball” than any other player in the division.

Although Bissouma has been the standout, Spurs’ first two matches under Postecoglou have been about a collective effort. For the best part of a decade, Spurs were defined more by their star player than any other club in the Premier League, but in the absence of a world-class figurehead, the responsibility is now being shared around.

James Maddison was superb at Brentford, capping his Spurs bow with a pair of assists, while Pape Matar Sarr enjoyed a coming of age performance against United with his first ever goal for the club. It was only the sixth strike of the 20-year-old’s professional career, but given how frequently he popped up in dangerous areas, it looks like a skill he could well hone in the coming years.

The crowd loved Sarr’s goal, a satisfying half volley into the roof of the net and the first of the Postecoglou era in north London. But they roared almost as loudly when he matched Marcus Rashford stride for stride before sliding in to perfection to prevent him from racing clear on the counter.

Sarr, like Bissouma, barely got a look in under the previous regime but has benefited from a fresh start. His display was a throwback to a bygone era when midfielders did everything: he flung himself into tackles (making three), had three more shots on goal (five in total) than any other Spurs player, hurtled forward when his team attacked, and rushed back again when they defended.