Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou was left frustrated as their pre-season friendly against Leicester City was canceled due to heavy rain in Bangkok. Postecoglou, who took charge in July, was eager to see his team in action and continue implementing his attractive style of play. While Tottenham impressed in their previous friendly against West Ham, Postecoglou was keen to test his team against a competitive Championship side like Leicester.
The canceled match denied Postecoglou the opportunity to field a strong starting XI. His initial lineup featured new signing Guglielmo Vicario in goal, with Destiny Udogie and Pedro Porro as full-backs. Cristian Romero and Ben Davies formed the center-back partnership. In midfield, Yves Bissouma, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, and James Maddison were expected to play, although the specific roles of Hojbjerg and Bissouma remained uncertain. Dejan Kulusevski, Harry Kane, and Son Heung-min completed the front three.
Postecoglou’s decision to field a near-full strength team indicated that he may already have a preferred starting XI in mind. He aims to build chemistry and familiarity among the players quickly as they adapt to his system. While some positions, such as right-back, could see competition between Porro and Emerson Royal, other spots in the team appear more fixed. Romero’s center-back partner might change if Tottenham makes further defensive signings.
However, Hojbjerg’s place in the starting lineup could be at risk due to ongoing transfer speculation. If Rodrigo Bentancur recovers from his ACL injury, he could take Hojbjerg’s position temporarily. As a result, Postecoglou’s upcoming pre-season lineups will provide more insight into his preferred team before Tottenham’s opening Premier League game against Brentford.
Fans will be eager to see how Postecoglou’s team evolves and who will claim a spot in the starting XI. There is potential for young prospects to make an impact in the first team or be loaned out for additional experience. The next pre-season games against Lion City Sailors and others will reveal further clues about Postecoglou’s plans for the new season.
Overall, the canceled friendly against Leicester was a setback for Postecoglou and his Tottenham team, as they missed a valuable opportunity to fine-tune their playing style. However, as they continue their pre-season preparations, fans and pundits are eagerly anticipating the unveiling of Postecoglou’s preferred starting XI and how they will fare in the upcoming Premier League campaign.
