The win at Villa this weekend brought the feel-good factor back to Hotspur Way and kept Spurs in contention for that much sought-after European qualifying slot.
It’s been a rough few months for Spurs with so many injuries, some serious and others just niggles, but the pressure was beginning to show with Postecoglou’s brand of fast-paced, on-the-front-foot football being frequently marginalised, simply down to absences and the reality of returning players needing at achieve match fitness again.
Two players key to our new and improved midfield have been recent signings, Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr.
Sarr is a remarkable player, just 21 years old, and has made himself indispensable in a top-flight Premier League side, without him, Spurs are looking at the likes of Oliver Skipp, who doesn’t offer what Ange needs. Postecoglou told the official website:
“He always gives everything. I thought he was unlucky with the yellow card, to be honest, but, again, he handled himself well. For a young man, he’s very mature and the beauty of guys like that, and we’ve a few in our team, they’ve got such a high ceiling… in fact, they’ve probably got no ceiling to the kind of footballers they can be.”
Clubs frequently talk about securing young talent and nurturing it, but in reality, it is a routinely tough, hit-and-miss process. For every Sarr, whose exceptional cross found James Maddison on Sunday, there is a Ryan Sessegnon. To also hear that Sarr has maturity is extremely welcome as that will hopefully keep him on the right path, moving forward.
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