Bissouma came back into the starting eleven for Sunday’s game after serving his suspension against Aston Villa last week, and the Mali international looked extremely rusty.

The 27-year-old could not get into the game in the first half as Spurs struggled to get a foothold and the Mali international gave the ball away in dangerous places on a couple of occasions.

While he was not punished for those, City did make him pay when he repeated the mistake on 81 minutes as Bissouma inexplicably attempted to nutmeg Rodri in Tottenham’s own third when he was surrounded by opposition players.

(Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)

Yves Bissouma did not look himself vs Man City

The home side won the ball back and they had the ball in the back of the net a couple of passes later, with Neville being shocked by what the Spurs midfielder was attempting.

The former Man Utd star said on commentary for Sky Sports (03/12/23 – as relayed by The Express): “What are Spurs doing? They have created their own problems. What is he [Bissouma] doing? The game of madness, Grealish does what Haaland couldn’t in the first half, as he sweeps the ball into a pretty open net.”

Carragher was also critical of Bissouma, suggesting that Ange Postecoglou would not have been pleased with what the former Brighton man did.

The Liverpool legend said after the game: “He needed that, Jack Grealish, he doesn’t score enough goals. That is just absolutely stupid from Bissouma. I certainly don’t think Ange Posteocoglou will think it’s okay either.”

Spurs Web Opinion

It is not that mistake from Bissouma that irks me but rather the fact that he decided to hide in another big game away from home.

This is becoming a bit of a pattern with the Mali international, who does not seem to want the ball in some high-pressure games and often takes the easy choice in possession rather than trying the drive the team forward.

At least Bissouma’s mistake for City’s third goal came as a result of him trying to take responsibility and drive the team forward.

I do not think Postecoglou would be particularly critical of the midfielder for that mistake as the Australian would want him to continue taking risks.

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The early season form of Yves Bissouma suggested Spurs were finally seeing the player they thought they had signed from Brighton, with the Malian dominating the middle of the park alongside Pape Matar Sarr.

Ange Postecoglou was clearly able to get a tune out of a player who struggled under Antonio Conte’s management. So, the prospect of adding the hugely talented Rodrigo Bentancur into that equation was tantalising.

Bentancur was out of action for eight months with an ACL injury sustained in February, but managed to return to fitness a little sooner than expected. Sadly, like two ships in the night, Bissouma and Bentancur have barely had a chance to combine.

(Photo by Nigel French/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)

Postecoglou wants Bissouma and Bentancur together

Despite sharing the field for parts of the defeats against Chelsea and Wolves, Bissouma was suspended for the Villa game last weekend, and now Bentancur is injured until February. Now, Spurs fans will have to wonder what could have been, at least for a while.

When asked about the disappointing situation preventing him from putting his two midfielders together, Postecoglou told the press (via Football.London): “It would have been lovely to see Biss and Rodrigo in there together. I had all these plans… That’s just me thinking out loud. (laughs)”

Spurs Web Opinion

I cannot wait to see what Postecoglou does with these two. Bissouma holding up play and winning back the ball and then letting Bentancur roam forward will be a treat to watch. Roll on February when Bentancur is back, and let’s just hope he’s able to get back to his top form quickly.

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After struggling to make much of an impact in his first season at Tottenham, Yves Bissouma has been a revelation so far this season, having now become one of the first names on Ange Postecoglou’s teamsheet.

(Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)

Has Yves Bissouma got shades of Mousa Dembele?

Udogie stated that the Mali international caught his eye immediately as soon as he arrived at the North London club in the summer.

He said about the former Brighton man: “You can’t take the ball off him. The confidence, the quality in driving the ball. The passes, he’s one of the top, top players. He impressed me from the first day. Though he always loses in training games. I don’t know why. Romero’s team always wins.”

When asked if that is because everyone is scared of the Argentine, Udogie responded with a smile: “Maybe.”

Udogie also admitted being mightily impressed by Son Heung-min’s finishing ability since he arrived at the club.

The 20-year-old said about his captain: “Sonny (Son Heung-min) is also a quality player. As a finisher, he’s so good.”

The left-back revealed that having Guglielmo Vicario at Hotspur Way has been a huge help in settling into the new environment.

Udogie said about the goalkeeper: “He is such a good guy. He helps me every day. We speak together in Italian and he’s a great player.”

The former Udinese man was suspended for the 2-1 loss to Wolves after receiving a red card in the London derby against Chelsea, and he confessed that he felt like he let the team down.

He said about his sending-off: “I was really sad for the team because we knew the importance of the game. Especially as we were already down to 10 men.”

When asked what the reaction in the dressing room was after the London derby, Udogie responded: “We’re a family. So we win together, we lose together. So the important thing was to stay together and come back stronger. That was the message from all the team — the captains, the manager.”

Spurs Web Opinion

It can often take teams a while to find their feet when there is a significant turnover of players in a transfer window but it sounds like the newcomers have quickly gelled into the environment at Tottenham, which is perhaps a testament to the kind of culture that exists at the club.

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Bissouma has been Tottenham’s best midfielder this season and arguably one of the best in the Premier League. He has had a renaissance under Ange Postecoglou after a disappointing first season under Antonio Conte.

The 27-year-old Mali international has played 11 times for the club this season in the Premier League. He needs to be wary of his discipline though as he already has five yellow cards and one red card (Transfermarkt).

Bissouma joined Spurs from Brighton for a fee of £35m, in the summer of 2022 (Sky Sports). His first season was marred by injuries which meant that Conte did not trust him with a prominent role.

Yves Bissouma is unavailable for the Aston Villa clash this weekend after picking up his 5th yellow card of the season against Wolves (Football.London).

Yves Bissouma says Spurs ‘try to live every moment’

Speaking in a special in-depth interview for the Premier League, Yves Bissouma has conceded that the Spurs team does not ‘feel pressure’ and just ‘try to live every moment’.

“It’s true, we take one match at a time. We don’t try to put pressure on ourselves because as I told you, it’s just football. I don’t feel the pressure. We don’t feel it in the team.”

“We try to live every moment to its fullest. That means in training, we give as much as possible. During the matches, we try to give everything. We know it’s the Premier League, it won’t be easy.

“There will be tough matches but we’re focused on ourselves and I think that if we do everything we need to do we have a good chance of fulfilling our ambitions and our goals.”

Spurs Web Opinion

Bissouma has been a revelation this season and is yet another shrewd acquisition that Fabio Paratici made back when he was our sporting director. I cannot imagine getting someone of the Mali international’s calibre at the price that we did.

Postecoglou’s Spurs have a few protagonists and Bissouma is certainly one of them. He embodies everything that the Australian manager stands for. He needs to learn to be more disciplined on the pitch though and try not to get into the referee’s book this often.

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Bissouma joined the North London club from Brighton & Hove Albion back in the summer of 2022.

The 27-year-old had a torrid time at the club last season but he has gone on to establish himself as one of the main players for Ange Postecoglou, featuring 11 times in the Premier League this season. (Transfermarkt)

Speaking to SpursPlay recently, Bissouma admitted that despite things not working out for him last season under Antonio Conte, he was grateful to the Italian coach for bringing him to N17 and that he still had immense respect for him.

This season though, Ange Postecoglou has placed his faith in the 27-year-old midfielder and we have seen the transformation on the pitch. Bissouma has established himself as one of the best players in the Premier League in his position.

LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 16: Yves Bissouma of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Sheffield United at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on September 16, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Mark Leech/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)

Bissouma was excited to join Tottenham

Speaking to Tottenham’s official YouTube channel, Yves Bissouma has explained his rationale behind joining Tottenham from Brighton last summer. He revealed that he had no hesitation when the opportunity came knocking.

He said: “Yes, I was ready [to leave Brighton]. I had spent four wonderful years at Brighton and I said to myself ‘It really is the time’. Even the club knew it was the time for me to leave and turn a page.

“Because I said in my career I want to make progress. As I said, even the club agreed. Tottenham came and I didn’t even hesitate”

When asked what made Tottenham a very exciting prospect at that time, he revealed that it was the opportunity to play with players like Harry Kane, Son and Lloris, amongst other reasons.

Bissouma explained: “Yes, really keen. First, playing with players like Harry, Sonny and all of them was incredible for me. With the journey I had been on, and arriving at Tottenham.

“As you said – new stadium, new training centre, Harry, Sonny. For me, I had to leave [Brighton]. I had to leave and it was incredible. I arrived, the fans’ reception, Hugo Lloris. It was wonderful”

Spurs Web Opinion

Two of the three names that Bissouma mentioned are no longer prominent figures at the club. Harry Kane has left for Bayern Munich whilst Hugo Lloris is no longer a part of the first-team plans.

Led by Son Heung-min though, Tottenham have been performing very well this season and Bissouma has been one of the main protagonists.

It looks like the signing of the former Brighton man was an absolute steal last summer and we can be thankful to Fabio Paratici and Antonio Conte for their decision to bring him in.

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Spurs fans were quite excited when Bissouma arrived at that club last year as he had frequently dominated matches during his final two seasons at the Amex Stadium.

However, he struggled to get a run in the side under Antonio Conte last campaign, with the Italian even publicly revealing that the 27-year-old was unable to adapt to the tactical demands of his system (The Athletic).

Just when he was starting to get some sort of rhythm, Bissouma picked up an injury that kept him out of almost the entirety of the second half of the 2022-23 campaign.

LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 16: Yves Bissouma of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Sheffield United at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on September 16, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Mark Leech/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)

Yves Bissouma and Postecoglou are clicking at Spurs

The Mali international has revealed that he was already preparing for the new season when he was out with an ankle problem earlier this year, admitting that things clicked between him and Postecoglou as soon as he met the Australian.

Bissouma told Spurs Play: “I take full responsibility when it’s time to work and to change things. So when I was injured at the end of last season I was already preparing for this one, right?

“So I came in and there was a new coach. We see football the same way. He talks to me before training, he gives me all his trust, he explains.

“After that, it’s up to me to do things well. You have a coach who understands football, who tries to talk to you as well. It’s so nice! It’s been a long time since anyone said anything to me.

“Sometimes you know you have something, but when people who know more than you, tell you, it gives you even more confidence. You know what I mean? I was already confident but what Ange told me was special. It changed something. You know?”

Spurs Web Opinion

While Bissouma has had an impressive start to the season, he faces a big challenge over the coming weeks as he needs to take more responsibility in the middle of the park to drive the team forward now that Maddison is out with an injury.

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Now, Yves Bissouma is one of the best midfielders in the Tottenham squad, and perhaps even the Premier League, on his day.

The Malian had a real breakthrough during his time with Brighton and Hove Albion, before making the move to Spurs last summer.

He didn’t have it easy in his first season in North London, with injury issues hampering his progress and Antonio Conte‘s system not quite suiting Bissouma’s talents.

That’s all behind him now, with Bissouma flourishing under his new coach, Ange Postecoglou. Indeed, the 27-year-old is now a key figure in the side and has been mightily impressive this season from the middle of the park.

BURNLEY, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 2: Tottenham Hotspur’s Yves Bissouma during the Premier League match between Burnley FC and Tottenham Hotspur at Turf Moor on September 2, 2023 in Burnley, England. (Photo by Rich Linley – CameraSport via Getty Images)

Bielsa tried to change Yves Bissouma

There is a chance we may never have seen Bissouma dominating the midfield for Spurs, however, at least if it was up to Marcelo Bielsa. Speaking to SpursPlay, Bissouma explained how his former manager tried to change his game entirely.

He said: “Marcelo arrived and I was having a nice time at first. Then I had a minor injury but I came back two weeks after, and after those two weeks there were certain things. Then I was told to play right-back, I just wanted to play so I accepted.

“I played well in the first match, I did really well in two, three matches. The season kept going, and I kept playing at right back, which I didn’t understand. I asked him why, and he said it was just to help out there, the right back, Kevin Malcuit, was injured so I said it was okay, I wanted to help the team.

“So I tried to help out, then Kevin recovered but I carried on there, he told me I performed well there, I could have a great career there and so on. I didn’t agree, I thought it would never work.”

Spurs Web Opinion

I’ve no doubt Bissouma is the kind of player who could perform wherever you ask him to play, but he would be wasted at right back. His ability to turn defence into attack and drive forward with the ball make him perfect for that central role.

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When Tottenham signed Bissouma in a £25 million deal from Brighton last summer, it set tongues wagging among the Spurs faithful, who assumed the club had secured an incredible deal for a top player.

Things didn’t quite go to plan for Bissouma in his debut season with Spurs, though, with the Malian seemingly falling out of favour with Antonio Conte and struggling to adapt to his system.

Thankfully, this season, Bissouma is looking much more like the player Spurs thought they had signed in the first place. The midfielder has become a key figure under Ange Postecoglou and is flourishing now.

(Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)

How does Bissouma feel about Conte now?

Speaking to SpursPlay about a multitude of topics, the conversation turned to Conte, and Bissouma remains thankful to his former manager for bringing him to the club.

He said: “It’s true, there was a coach who I owe respect to, because he helped me sign with Tottenham, and that’s it. We didn’t see football the same way… but he was the coach, the boss and I have always shown him respect. Even now.”

Bissouma clearly doesn’t blame Conte for his struggles, however, adding: “In hindsight I think I’d say it simply wasn’t meant to be my season because you get a feeling before the season begins. When you get injured in the pre-season or you catch Covid, all of that was a bit of an indicator.”

Spurs Web Opinion

It’s good of Bissouma to speak so openly, but also sincerely about Conte. I definitely think Conte misused Bissouma, and we are seeing the benefits of properly utilising this kind of player and keeping him happy right now.

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After an outstanding start to the season, Spurs have now fallen to back-to-back defeats against Chelsea and Wolves. The game at the Molineux Stadium was always going to be a difficult challenge given the number of players that Ange Postecoglou’s men were missing.

WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 11: Heung-Min Son of Tottenham Hotspur and Mario Lemina of Wolverhampton Wanderers challenge during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur at Molineux on November 11, 2023 in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom (Photo by Neal Simpson/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)

Unsurprisingly, Tottenham delivered what was their most lackluster display of the season but despite that, it looked like they were going to emerge with all three points.

However, the away side were hit with a sucker punch right at the end, with Wolves scoring twice in stoppage time through Pablo Sarabia and Mario Lemina to emerge with a dramatic win.

Yves Bissouma thanks Tottenham fans for support

Bissouma took to Instagram to vow to continue working hard to get back on track over the coming weeks and thanked the Spurs fans for their support.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by YB8 (@yves_bissouma)

Spurs Web Opinion

It was Bissouma’s performance that I was most disappointed by against Wolves as I expected him to grab the game by the scruff of the neck, given the stars we were missing. Instead, the former Brighton man always took the easy option in possession.

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After a few stellar seasons at Leeds and with an impressive European Championships under his belt, he got his ‘dream move’ to Manchester City – and with it an opportunity to dine at the top table of English football.

At the time, I have to admit to furrowing my brow. Good as Phillips is, there was no way he was going to be a regular starter at City, with the world-class Rodri in the team, it would have taken an injury for a projected run in the first team. Even at his best, Phillips doesn’t compare with the Spaniard.

My instincts were correct and sixteen appearances in the Premier League over two seasons is not a return he would be happy with (transfermarkt).

My brows were further furrowed when the Yorkshireman made the decision to remain in Manchester for the start of the season, despite a loan offer away (Daily Mail).

A strange choice, seeing as Pep obviously does not fancy him in his City team, with gifted youngster Rico Lewis being preferred in the middle.

Now, however, with a European Championships looming, Phillips seems resigned to his fate that he does not have a future at the Etihad.

Arguably his place in the England squad is not up for question, seeing as Southgate happily picks players who are never played, or play in a tin pot league.

That being said, Philips obviously would like to get minutes in his legs and build up a modicum of form before the tournament, and it seems like Tottenham are the latest club to be linked with him (The Sun).

So why has the link with Tottenham arisen and should he be considered a viable option? So far this season, the central midfield area at Spurs has been settled and impressive, with all three of the regular starters: Maddison, Sarr and Bissouma featuring in Sofascore’s top 50 players for average ratings (sofascore).

And with the return of Bentancur, Tottenham are genuinely looking at being able to rotate in the middle of the park with little, if any, drop-off in quality.

However, with the turn of the year comes the African Cup of Nations and the departure, and for a few weeks at least of Bissouma and Sarr will be on international duty, leaving the cupboard slightly barer when it comes to options. So is Phillips a signing that makes sense?

The biggest question would be, which Kalvin Phillips would we be getting? The one from Leeds under Bielsa would definitely be an asset. At his best Phillips is incredibly athletic and covers the ground well.

He would operate best in a single pivot at the base of the midfield – receiving the ball from the defenders, breaking the lines and distributing the ball forward. Arguably, his range of passing is better than that of Bissouma.

Photo by Craig Mercer/MB Media/Getty Images

Should Tottenham try and sign Kalvin Phillips?

Off the ball, he demonstrates excellent positional awareness and can be effective in predicting where counterattacks may originate and thwarting them at the source. For any who are interested in a deep dive into his qualities, I highly recommend this article – (Coaches Voice).

However, one thing that needs to be considered is Phillips’ injury record which is not the best and since October 2021, he has missed a combined 236 days with various injuries. Most notably, two shoulder injuries – a joint that is notoriously susceptible to re-injury.

As mentioned earlier, the amount of inactivity severely hampers players, especially over a significant period of time and it would take Phillips a number of games to get up to speed – but by that point, one of Bissouma, or Sarr, or both could be back at the club.

If we are signing someone with one eye to covering them, they need to be able to hit the ground running – not be in need of thawing out after being frozen out for eighteen months.

Another question is whether he is better than what we already have. Again, it is hard to judge based on the fact that we do not know what Kalvin Phillips might walk through the door. However, if we were to assume that he was relatively close to the player he was at Leeds, what’s the answer?

Frankly, he is a superior player to Oliver Skipp. The problem Skipp has, and it pains me to say it, is that he does not have a varied enough skillset to be a top-four midfielder.

Certainly, he is industrious and hardworking and has the ability to be a destroyer in the middle. However, he is not good enough on the ball and looks rushed and panicked when he receives it, especially in tight spaces.

The more complex comparison is with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. Admittedly, I am a big fan of the Dane and he has been the consummate pro this season, when relegated to the role of bit-part player.

More so than Skipp, he is more comfortable on the ball and when he has been brought off the bench to solidify the midfield he has done so. The reality is, that if Phillips were to be brought in, then one of Skipp and Hojbjerg would have to make way.

A significant question must be: what kind of deal would Tottenham would be looking to do? The Sun article, cited earlier, suggests that a loan deal or a permanent switch are both on the table – dependent on the £50m price tag being met.

The idea of a permanent move for Spurs is a non-starter. We are not a club that can happily splash that sort of money on guaranteed starters, let alone for a squad player, whose form and fitness are definitely in question.

Therefore it leaves a potential loan deal. Similar to a permanent deal, a loan with an obligation to buy would be too much of a gamble, and a loan with an option to buy looks unlikely, seeing as even if he performed well in the short term, he would struggle to break into the starting eleven and you’re left with the same pickle.

The only viable option, to me, would be a simple loan deal, but again, if he is unlikely to have a longer-term future at the club – what is the point? I would rather see someone brought in from the scouting department, who have been so successful recently.

So to conclude. Although a couple of years ago, Phillips was a top player at Leeds, at this current moment, he is too much of an unknown quantity.

Added to that, the chance of him being in Tottenham’s long-term plans looks unlikely and he doesn’t significantly improve upon Hojbjerg to warrant a short-term move.

The transfer policy appears to be looking for younger, slightly lesser-known players with a high ceiling like Vicario, Van de Ven and Udogie – not players, who in all reality have already peaked and are hoping to rediscover that zenith again.

Therefore, it’s a no from me.

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Ange Postecoglou has helped many of his Tottenham players flourish so far this season, but one of the most impressive elements of the squad has been the partnership between Yves Bissouma and Pape Sarr in the middle of the park.

After struggling last season in his first year with the club, Bissouma has finally begun to look like the player Tottenham thought they had signed from Brighton last summer.

Alongside him, Sarr has been able to displace Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg to hold down a regular spot in the first team. The young Senegal star had previously been unable to break through at Spurs, but has shown his quality this term.

The pair have been a key component of the Ange-ball system, helping to bridge the transition between defence and attack, and breaking down any opposition moves, too.

BURNLEY, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 2: Tottenham Hotspur’s Yves Bissouma during the Premier League match between Burnley FC and Tottenham Hotspur at Turf Moor on September 2, 2023 in Burnley, England. (Photo by Rich Linley – CameraSport via Getty Images)

Bissouma and Sarr up for big award

Needless to say, it’s been a great couple of months for both Bissouma and Sarr, and things just got a little better. The two players are listed among 30 nominees for the CAF Player of the Year award.

The award will be presented on December 11, 2023 in Marrakech, Morocco. Deciding the winner will be a selection of CAF Technical Committee members, media professionals, head coaches, and captains of member associations.

Pape and Yves have been nominated for the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Men’s player of the year award

Well deserved, lads

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) November 1, 2023

The Tottenham men are nominated alongside the likes of Riyad Mahrez, Edmond Tapsoba, Mo Salah, Victor Osimhen, Sadio Mane, and Achraf Hakimi.

Spurs Web Opinion

What an honour for both Bissouma and Sarr, and this recognition is very much deserved given their early season form. With the kinds of players listed among the nominees, it’s highly unlikely either of the Spurs boys will win the top prize, but if they keep up this form, you never know.

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It’s hard to pick the most impressive part of Ange Postecoglou‘s team right now, but if we had to choose just one, the midfield has to be considered the most successful area at present.

The central midfield pairing of Pape Matar Sarr and Yves Bissouma has been a revelation for Spurs, helping Postecoglou’s side to dominate games in possession. Meanwhile, James Maddison has arguably been the signing of the season.

The 26-year-old has had a huge impact since joining from Leicester City in the summer, and has three goals and five assists to his name already this term (Transfermarkt).

Aside from his attacking output, Maddison has proven himself to be a huge influence on the team in many other ways, and has relished his role as one of Postecoglou’s vice-captains.

(Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

Will Maddison be Spurs captain one day?

Speaking to Kick Game, Bissouma was full of praise for Maddison, and predicted the England international might be the captain of Tottenham Hotspur one day.

He said: “He’s a good guy, he’s really good. [He’s always] trying to know what’s happening and trying to check on everyone. I think he can be a good captain in the future as well, but as a player I love him.

Bissouma hasn’t always enjoyed Maddison’s performances though, but only because he had to play against him.

“Do you know what? When I was at Brighton there was only two players making me crazy when I was playing against [them],” Bissouma added. “First one was Madders, second was [Jack] Grealish. Now I’m playing with Madders, I’m so happy to have him on my team.”

Spurs Web Opinion

Maddison will make a great captain one day, and I’ve no doubt that he will succeed Sonny when the time comes. He seems like the perfect captain, in that he leads by example but also has such a strong personality and isn’t afraid to step up and speak for his team, too.

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It is not just the fact that Tottenham are sitting at the top of the table that has got Spurs fans excited but also the kind of performances that the team have delivered this season.

The Lilywhites have taken the game to the opposition in every single one of their encounters and have dominated proceedings.

The players are playing with a kind of self-belief that you would expect from a Champion side, which is why they have been able to score later winners on multiple occasions already.

The atmosphere around the club has been brilliant so far, with the players noticeably enjoying each other’s company and having developed a close relationship with the supporters.

BURNLEY, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 2: Tottenham Hotspur’s Yves Bissouma during the Premier League match between Burnley FC and Tottenham Hotspur at Turf Moor on September 2, 2023 in Burnley, England. (Photo by Rich Linley – CameraSport via Getty Images)

Yves Bissouma is a big fan of Ange Postecoglou

Bissouma admitted that the current squad at Tottenham feels like one big family and credited Postecoglou for creating the kind of atmosphere that exists at the club right now.

The midfield told Kick Game: “This group is very close, we are like a family. We work. We work so hard every day. 

“The manager is a very good manager, he gives the players very good energy. In football, if you have a really good manager who is very close to his players, I think it is really important. For me, he is one of the best coaches that I have had in my career.”

Spurs Web Opinion

The contrast between the atmosphere we saw at Tottenham at the end of last season and what we are seeing now is difficult to believe. Apart from other things, that shows the value of playing the kind of attacking football that both the players and fans enjoy.

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Bissouma was widely seen as one of the best midfielders during his time at Brighton and many expected the 27-year-old to kick on to the next level following his switch to Spurs last year.

However, the Malian had a campaign to forget in 2022-23, often being overlooked by Antonio Conte, and picking up an injury that kept him out for the majority of the second half of the season.

Right since the start of the pre-season this summer, there were signs that the midfielder would thrive in Ange Postecoglou’s system and that is exactly what has transpired.

Tottenham’s midfield three of Bissouma, Pape Sarr and James Maddison have complemented each other quite well and have helped the Lilywhites dominate proceedings in almost all of their encounters this season.

(Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)

Yves Bissouma rates himself as the best in the league

Bissouma is certainly not lacking in confidence, expressing his intention to continue in the same vein and show everyone what he is capable of.

When asked if he is the best number eight in the Premier League, the former Seagulls star told Kick Game: “Yes, I think it is true because I believe in myself. We have to continue with how we have because football is very tough. We have to continue to work and then one day people will see.”

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This sort of confidence (and even slight arrogance) can only be a good thing and Bissouma is not the only Spurs player who has got it, with the likes of James Maddison and Destiny Udogie also playing with a king of swagger that suggests that they believe they are better than everyone else.

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Bissouma had a season to forget in 2022-23 following his switch from Brighton, with the midfielder struggling to get game time under Antonio Conte, who even publicly stated that the Mali international was finding it difficult to come to terms with the tactical requirements of his system (The Athletic).

Just when the 27-year-old started getting regular game time, he picked up an injury that kept him out of action for almost the entirety of the second half of the campaign.

However, Bissouma has hit the ground running this season, looking much more like the player we saw at the Seagulls.

He has quickly made himself undroppable, given his tireless defensive work in front of the Tottenham backline and his ability to handle the ball in tight areas of the pitch.

(Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)

Yves Bissouma is impressing this season at Spurs

Adebayor has now told talkSPORT (26/10 9:11 am): “[Yves] Bissouma is playing one of the best football, him and [Pape Matar] Sarr in the middle, the coach has given them confidence.

“Bissouma is trying to take the maximum risk that he can take in the middle and Maddison is being the playmaker. When they are going in half-time [against Arsenal], he is the player that is calming them down, holding the ball quite well.”

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Bissouma’s press resistance and ability to carry the ball is undoubtedly one of the main reasons why we have won the midfield battle more often than not this season.

While the Mali international is not the best of passers, that is an area where Bentancur excels, which is why I am excited to see how those two play together.

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Opposition fans and pundits have been waiting for Tottenham’s bubble to burst and for them to fall away but there is no sign of that happening so far.

There has been plenty of discussion in the media regarding how long Spurs can sustain their current run of form, with the general consensus among pundits being that the Lilywhites have no chance of competing for the title (Football.London).

LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 23: James Maddison of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal with teammate Son Heung-Min during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 23, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images)

Can Spurs cope without James Maddison?

Murphy believes that Tottenham might struggle to pick up results consistently if they lose either Bissouma or Maddison to an injury.

The pundit also asserted that the real test for Ange Posteocoglou’s men will come when they hit a bad run of form as we will then see whether they are brave enough to continue playing the way they currently do.

The former Tottenham midfielder told talkSPORT: “The way they play, which is really brave, playing out. They continue to do it. They nearly, remember in the Arsenal game, shot themselves in the foot when Maddison dropped deep and Jesus missed that chance.

“The test will come for any group of footballers to maintain that footballing philosophy when you’ve lost a few games and there’s murmurs. That’s when we’ll see. I don’t think they’ll change. I think he’s given them the freedom to do it.

“They’ve got quality. If they keep Bissouma and Maddison fit, they’ll keep doing it. But if they lose a few players and a few of them hide a bit, you might see a little poor run of form.”

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The one thing we know about Postecoglou is that the style of play is a complete non-negotiable for him. So, there is no chance of Spurs changing their approach if they hit a bad patch of form, like they did under Mourinho for example.

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Apply this to a Premier League campaign and it means it is a large enough sample size for people to start getting excited – and justifiably so.

Let’s get it right then. A quarter of the way through the 2023-24 Premier League season, Tottenham Hotspur are top of the league. Now the cynical out there, and there are a few, will point to similar seasons where the club had good starts and roll their eyes.

Indeed, last season was the best the club has had in the Premier League. But even the most partisan of fans must admit that the football was not good. We were winning games solely through the brilliance of individuals and that formula does not last – just look at Manchester United this season.

Quite rightly, I believe, I laughed incredulously when some people tried to make a comparison between the manager of month successes of Ange and Nuno. Nuno won his after three 1-0 victories. Now I will not take anything away from him for the City win.

But the subsequent performances over Watford and Wolves were turgid and lucky. Conversely, Ange’s draw and two wins, were jammed full with daring, verve and panache. Above all, there is a plan and a clearly defined way of playing.

Roll on to the ninth game and very little has changed. The team has stayed true to their principles and sit on top of the pile. Unlike those previous campaigns, you cannot point to any lucky points acquired. Admittedly, we were, for once, on the right side of fortune with the Liverpool VAR debacle, but based on the stats for that game, we should have won.

People may argue that we could have won against Arsenal, but conversely, we could have lost quite easily – so a share of the spoils was about right.

Thus, I am left with a dilemma. Do I, in true Big Ange Cult tradition, commit to a wholehearted belief that we could indeed win the league? Or do I err on the side of caution and play down the possibility?

If I wanted to consider the title a viable option, I could draw on the Leicester experience of 2016. Weirdly, there are a number of similarities.

Both sides only had a fixture list consisting of mainly league games. In the make-up of the teams, there are genuine comparisons. A free-scoring forward: for Vardy, read Son. A centre midfielder capable of dictating play and breaking up attacks: Kante/ Bissouma, and a midfield maestro capable of scoring and assisting: Mahrez and Maddison. All of whom played in front of a solid, consistent and well-drilled defence and ‘keeper. Even as I write this, I am tempted to believe.

(Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

Can Tottenham really win the Premier League?

Yet I can’t do it – for two reasons.

Firstly, the ability Leicester had that season to put out the same starting eleven almost beggared belief. Too many of our key players have a history of picking up an injury and being out for a period of time: Maddison, Bissouma, Son and Romero have all had significant lay-offs in the last couple of years, and an injury to one or more of those players could prove fatal to any potential title charge.

Indeed, the Fulham gamed served to illuminate quite starkly our lack of depth outside the starting eleven. Without Bissouma, the slick play out from the back was just not possible at the level it has been. Credit to Sarr and Hojbjerg for trying, but they do not have the skillset to receive the ball, spin on a sixpence and release the forwards in a fluid motion.

Not many do. This in turn meant the defenders, Romero in particular, were more profligate on the ball and were trying to force the issue more than they have done recently.

Similarly, if Romero or Van de Ven were to miss games, the drop-off would be significant. The pace, awareness and technique of our defensive duo has been beautiful to behold and has evoked nostalgic memories of Jan and Toby.

However, with Sanchez being sold the back-up looks bare. Ashley Phillips has been commanding a place on the bench of late and I wonder if he is showing something in training that gives Ange the impression that the youngster could be ready to step up.

Even so, he is untried, unknown and ostensibly a shot in the dark. Our full-backs have defied expectations and have performed at a superb level so far this season, but an injury to either, Destiny in particular weakens our team significantly.

Further up the pitch, it has become apparent that James Maddison is the literal and metaphorical heartbeat of this team. There is no one in the squad who comes close to giving us what he offers. The same could be said of Son, who is proving to be ruthless in front of goal in his new central position.

Indeed, the striking options beyond Son and Kulu, don’t scream out ‘consistent high performance’. Brennan Johnson is an exciting prospect, but needs to be given time to bed into the forward three.

The injuries to Perisic and Solomon do not help the cause, the Croatian, in particular, seemed to finally have been clicking into the player we thought we had signed.

Then there is Richarlison. Although I was never convinced that he had the ability to play for a top Premier League team, I wanted to give the benefit of the doubt. Sadly, the previous eighteen months have brutally demonstrated that Tottenham is too much of a step up – especially in this new way of playing that demands high technical ability, vision and subtlety.

All this could be potentially excused if he was able to convert chances. Unfortunately, he is not and it even appeared against Fulham that the opposition were happy for him to be on the ball, whereas Maddison, Kulu and Son were instantly harassed and closed down.

He is just not good enough and Spurs should cash in as soon as possible, because he will only depreciate in value.

The second reason I can’t entertain a title tilt is the quality of opposition. In 2015-16, Tottenham should have won it. Not only did they fail to, they came third in a two-horse race.

There were few viable contenders that year in all fairness. Arsenal were limping towards to end of the Wenger era, Klopp’s time at Liverpool was just in its infancy, and Manchester City and Chelsea were awaiting the arrival of Pep and Conte respectively.

Manchester United, for those that are interested, were in another fruitless transitional phase as they desperately sought (and still seek) to effectively replace Sir Alex Ferguson.

This season the calibre of opposition is much greater. The Manchester City juggernaut shows little sign of abating, despite the De Bruyne injury. At Liverpool, Klopp’s recent reinvention is in full swing and, as much as we hate to accept it, Arsenal are a formidable opponent under Mikel Arteta.

To be finishing ahead of one of these teams would be impressive – all of them, highly unlikely. Add into the mix teams such as Newcastle, Villa and Brighton and it looks like a tough league to be competing in.

I am loving watching Tottenham, but any fans who truly understand football will understand that Spurs supporters saying ‘Why not?’ are saying so with their tongue firmly in their cheek.

Certain outlets and radio shows will try and advance the ‘Tottenham for the title’ talk because it provokes outrage and debate. The truth is that this team need to evolve and improve without the added pressure of being identified as title contenders.

The future is bright and undoubtedly exciting, so let’s just enjoy the ride without worrying about the destination just yet.

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Life at Tottenham is going pretty well for Pape Sarr right now. The 20-year-old signed for the club in the summer of 2021, but has only just started to flourish under his new manager, Ange Postecoglou.

The midfielder has formed a brilliant partnership with Yves Bissouma so far this season, and appears to be a key figure in Postecoglou’s squad now. Sarr has one goal and one assist in nine games this term (Transfermarkt).

It seems the sky is the limit for the young Senegal international, and he certainly has plenty of superstars to look up to, both in the current crop of Tottenham players, and among heroes from the recent past.

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Sarr creates his perfect Tottenham footballer

In an interview with Fubo TV Canada, Sarr was asked to look at his teammates, and those who have featured for Spurs in the past, and assemble a perfect footballer.

When asked for a right foot, Sarr named his club captain, Heung-min Son. For the left foot, he chose former Spurs man, Gareth Bale.

In terms of speed, Sarr selected Kyle Walker, and for strength, he picked his current midfield partner, Yves Bissouma. Then, in the heading department, Sarr chose Harry Kane.

Build the Perfect Footballer: Tottenham Edition with Pape Matar Sarr @fuboTVCanada pic.twitter.com/TBV0c9Q79N

— FOOTY CULTURE (@thefootyculture) October 25, 2023

To conclude, Sarr was asked if his creation could win the Ballon D’Or, and Sarr replied: “Yes definitely.

Finally, Sarr then added: “You just add Modric’s football IQ.”

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What a player that would be. Now if we can just find a way to make that player a reality and make sure he signs for Tottenham, we’ll be in business. I can’t really think of any other way to improve on Sarr’s choices, to be honest.

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Spurs seemed to be in a positive rhythm during the first half at Kenilworth Road, creating chance after chance, albeit without finding the back of the net.

However, on the stroke of half-time, Bissouma attempted to weave his way into the box and chose to take a dive over a Luton defender’s leg, earning him his marching orders and putting Spurs on the back foot.

Fortunately, the Lilywhites were able to come out of the away match with all three points thanks to a James Maddison moment of magic and Micky Van de Ven’s first goal for the club.

Bissouma was apparently relieved that his teammates had managed to spare his blushes, but Postecoglou thinks he will have taken a fair few lessons from the experience.

LUTON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 07: Yves Bissouma of Tottenham Hotspur leaves the pitch after being shown a red card during the Premier League match between Luton Town and Tottenham Hotspur at Kenilworth Road on October 07, 2023 in Luton, England. (Photo by Henry Browne/Getty Images)

Bissouma will learn from his red card at Spurs

On how Bissouma reacted to the red card, Postecoglou said (Football London): “In terms of Biss himself, he was disappointed but his teammates got the job done and he’s appreciative of that and he saw the team win without him. All these things are lessons.

“As I keep saying, I don’t need to keep reinforcing anything, the players are well aware of consequences of actions & I don’t need to make any further point on that.”

On the Bissouma vs Hojbjerg competition, Ange added: “It’s no different to any other week. They’re not really dilemmas, just choices that people in my position have to make and I’ve always made those decisions pretty simply and cleanly about what I think we need.

“Tomorrow night we’ll start with a certain group of players and finish with another and it’s about trying to get the job done. When that game is done, we’ll look to the next one.

“It’s good to have Biss available, he’s been a big part of what we’re doing. The team did well the other night so that should make us stronger.”

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I am in two minds about whether it makes sense to start Bissouma tomorrow. Part of me would rather Hojbjerg played to guarantee that Bissouma is available for the Chelsea match. One yellow against Palace and he would be suspended yet again.

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Postecoglou has had to deal with a lot of doubters every step of the way through his managerial journey and that was no do different at Spurs, with some people writing off the Australian before he even began.

In fact, #NoToPostecoglou was trending on social media when the 58-year-old was first seriously linked with the Tottenham job, with some supporters questioning his lack of experience at the top level.

However, in a matter of months, the new Spurs head coach has completely transformed the mood around the club, with fans now seemingly in love with him.

The same can be said of the Tottenham players, who appear to be loving life under the former Celtic boss, who has given them the freedom to express themselves.

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Ange Postecoglou reminds Bissouma of Potter

Perhaps the player to have improved the most since Postecoglou’s arrival is Bissouma, and the Mali international has now remarked that the energy that the Australian brings is inspiring.

He told Colinterview about the Tottenham boss: “I was going to say. He has this determination about him. He has this crazy energy, and it’s this energy that he transmits to the team.

“He has crazy energy. This coach is something crazy. He reminds a little of Graham [Potter]. He has this crazy energy, it’s incredible.”

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Trusting players and removing the fear of failure appears to be quite central to Postecoglou’s philosophy. Additionally, the 58-year-old is also an excellent communicator and we have snippets on how inspirational his team talks can be, which is perhaps what Bissouma is referring to.

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