What a difference a year makes

On the eve of the 2022/23 season, the chaos of last summer feels like a distant nightmare. The recent publication of more bitter quotes from Gattuso and Nuno Espirito Santos getting the opportunity to make the Al-Ittihad fans “proud” should remind us of how far we have come in the last 12 months. I still occasionally forget just how bad we were before Conte arrived and gave the whole club the kick up the arse it so desperately needed. We have so many reasons to be cheerful, especially when you compare where we were this time last year.

An Antonio Conte pre-season

Our dear Italian leader’s impact was both immediate and staggering last season. However, it was obvious he was in firefighting mode, rapidly trying to get us up to speed with his 3-4-3 system and squeezing some square pegs into round holes. Despite some frustrating defeats to Burnley, Southampton and Brighton, we still were only behind Man City and Liverpool in the form table since he joined.

Conte’s preseason is legendary and hopefully there is no excuse not to hit the ground running come August. With a squad at peak fitness, we should hopefully look forward to some more late goals and the hard pressing that we got used to under Pochettino. Contrast this to our time under Mourinho where conceding late goals became a habit, it will be refreshing to go back to the aggressive football we love so much at Spurs.

If it means Harry Kane being sick after running 42 lengths of the pitch, it’s a sacrifice I am willing to make.

Champions League Football

I really enjoyed how early Woolwich fans went with their tweets about hearing the Champions League anthem and seeing elite European football back at the Emirates. Better luck next time, lads.

Rivalry banter aside, it is very exciting seeing Spurs back at the top-table of European football. The best games I have been to have been in the Champions League, and when we were knocked out in 2019/20 I honestly thought it would be many years before we got back. We aren’t just there to make up the numbers either. While Woolwich waxed lyrical about managing to press City for 20 minutes (yet still losing), we took 6 points from City and drew twice with Liverpool.

The Champions League is a far richer competition for having us there. We may be outsiders with the new bookies but truly special players such as Kane and Son, performing in a hot-bed atmosphere at our amazing stadium, all orchestrated by our elite manager will be a privilege for all to watch.

On top of this, we get to enjoy Saturday 3pm kick-offs back in Tottenham for the first time since god only knows when. As a fan, there is so much to be excited about and we should savour every minute.

A Hungry Harry Kane

After some magisterial performances last season, most notably against Manchester City, it is easy to forget how bad Kane was at the start of last season. He couldn’t get a goal for love nor money, he wasn’t fit and he wasn’t motivated. Although Kane has always had a reputation for being a slow starter, missing your best player for the first 3 months of the season will no doubt have a huge impact.

Furthermore, at the end of last season Kane was running on empty, but Conte had no other choice but to play him. With ankles like poppadoms, we are lucky his season wasn’t derailed much earlier.

Squad depth

When was the last time Spurs bought arguably the best player from another team in the division? I can’t remember, but with the arrival of Bissouma and Richarlison we have arguably done it twice. Arguably Richarlison is signed for our bench, and in a season where 5 substitutions are allowed, this is smart business.

Having a player who can cover all of the positions in the front 3 means that we should also see a better Kane and a better Son next year, as both can be rested more. There is also that much needed competition for places which should drive every first team player to higher performance levels. We now have decent cover in all positions, and Conte has trusted names he can call off the bench to change a game in a way we have not been used to.

More still to come

Following the permanent signing of the incredibly athletic Perišić (33) and loan signing of experienced centre-back Lenglet (27), there were accusations of Conte turning Tottenham into a retirement home.

Kulusevski (22), Romero (24), Bentancur (25), Bissouma (25), Richarlison (25), Spence (21), Sarr (19), Sessegnon (22) and Skipp (21) all have their best years ahead of them and will only continue to improve. Conte is an elite coach with a clear plan and the whole club appears to be singing from the same hymn-sheet. We have seen this all before but football is about the ups and downs. I hope we have plenty more ups to enjoy over the next season and I can’t wait for it to begin.

Come on you spurs!