Did Ange Postecoglou get the summer transfer window wrong?
With a squad stretched to its limit and results beginning to waver, could the problem be from the choice of summer transfer dealings under Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham?
Tottenham have endured a stuttering start
Thirteen games into the 2024/25 Premier League season, Tottenham Hotspur sit seventh in the table with 20 points.
Six wins, two draws, and five losses mark a notable decline from last season, where the Lilywhites had already accumulated 26 points and held fifth place.
The difference is striking, and it reflects a team struggling to maintain consistency.
The challenges Spurs face are compounded by a significant injury crisis. First-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, key centre-backs Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven, and backup striker Richarlison are all sidelined.
Even Dominic Solanke, the team’s primary goal threat, missed the last match due to illness. Additionally, promising squad players like Mikey Moore and Wilson Odobert have been hit by setbacks.
This has left Spurs heavily reliant on unproven talent, as evidenced by their recent bench selection, which included just two players with Premier League experience.
The parallels with past injury crises at other clubs—such as Manchester City without Rodri or Liverpool during Virgil van Dijk’s long-term absence—highlight how debilitating these situations can be.
But Tottenham’s problems are not solely down to bad luck; they also stem from questionable squad-building decisions.
Did Tottenham and Ange Postecoglou get summer strategy wrong?
To understand the current predicament, we must examine the squad’s depth—or lack thereof.
| Position | First Choice | Backup Options |
|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Vicario | Fraser Forster, Brandon Austin |
| Right Back | Pedro Porro | Djed Spence, Archie Gray |
| Left Back | Destiny Udogie | Ben Davies, Archie Gray |
| Centre Back | Micky van de Ven | Ben Davies, Radu Dragusin |
| Centre Back | Cristian Romero | Ben Davies, Radu Dragusin |
| Midfield | James Maddison | Lucas Bergvall, Pape Matar Sarr |
| Midfield | Yves Bissouma | Pape Matar Sarr, Rodrigo Bentancur, Archie Gray |
| Midfield | Dejan Kulusevski | Rodrigo Bentancur, Archie Gray |
| Striker | Dominic Solanke | Lankshear, Richarlison |
| Left Wing | Heung-min Son | Wilson Odobert, Mikey Moore, Timo Werner |
| Right Wing | Brennan Johnson | Dejan Kulusevski, Mikey Moore |
From the table, we can see that Spurs have a pretty solid starting eleven but a really poor squad depth, as certain positions just do not have enough cover or, shall I say, quality cover.
And this is where the problem lies. The quality of the players Ange Postecoglou brought in this summer—apart from Solanke, the new additions simply do not elevate the team.
The strategy for last summer was clear: sign young players and develop them into first-team regulars.
This approach might work for clubs like Dortmund or Brighton, but for Spurs—a top club in England competing in four competitions—it falls short. That’s why the squad feels stretched; the summer signings are not yet ready to provide first-team quality.
Bergvall is only 18, Gray is 18, Odobert is 19, and Min-hyeok Yang is 18. These are promising talents, but they are not ready to step into the first team at this level—not yet.
Currently, Spurs are still heavily reliant on last season’s core. Imagine a scenario where Bergvall, Gray, Odobert, and Yang were more senior and experienced; the squad’s depth would look entirely different, with quality options across the board.
It’s baffling that a club like Spurs operates in the transfer market as though they were Dortmund or Brighton, while rivals like Chelsea and Arsenal are signing established internationals to strengthen their squads.
Even more frustrating is the lack of a backup for van de Ven. It was foreseeable that he might pick up an injury, yet the club failed to secure an adequate replacement.
Ultimately, I think Ange and the club got it wrong this summer. Arsenal, for instance, signed Calafiori for £42 million—roughly the same amount Spurs paid Leeds for Gray. It highlights the stark difference in strategy and ambition.
January must be decisive for Tottenham and Ange Postecoglou
If Tottenham are to salvage their season, the January transfer window will be crucial. The current situation highlights a fundamental flaw in the club’s summer strategy: the prioritisation of potential over proven quality.
While developing young talent is an admirable goal, it should not come at the cost of immediate competitiveness.
The upcoming window must see Spurs target experienced, first-team-ready players who can provide the depth and quality needed to navigate the challenges ahead.
The club’s rivals, such as Arsenal and Chelsea, have demonstrated the value of investing in seasoned internationals, and Tottenham must follow suit if they wish to remain competitive.
Ultimately, the summer’s transfer activity feels like a missed opportunity. The young players brought in have potential, but in a squad already stretched thin, potential alone is not enough. Spurs cannot afford another window that leaves the team vulnerable; the stakes are simply too high.
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