Tottenham's Resilience Shines Under Ange Postecoglou Amid Harry Kane's Departure as Roy Keane Urges Game-Changing Striker Signing

Tottenham's resilience was lauded by Ange Postecoglou as they managed to avoid distraction from Harry Kane's departure in their 2-2 draw at Brentford. The result came just a day after Kane completed his highly anticipated £100m transfer to Bayern Munich, making him the club's all-time leading scorer.

Postecoglou's debut as head coach was marked by a promising performance, with the visitors taking 18 shots and commanding 69 percent of possession. However, the Tottenham coach is eager for his team to enhance their attacking prowess in the offensive third, especially after the departure of the English captain to Germany.

"Football clubs swiftly move on," remarked Postecogolou during his post-match press conference, addressing Kane's departure. "There was no need for me to discuss or offer them comforting reassurance. We had a game to ready ourselves for and the players were well aware of that fact."

We believed it was crucial for us to stay focused. If it seemed like any of us, including me, were distracted, I believe you would have noticed signs of it [on Sunday], especially after the first half and how it unfolded.

We displayed exceptional determination, which will be necessary as this year is expected to present numerous difficulties.

It served as a solid foundation for us, but we are determined to enhance our performance and undoubtedly, we will.

"In spite of being behind by 2-1, with the setback of conceding a penalty and an own goal, it could have been effortless for us to lose motivation, yet I never perceived any signs of discouragement within the team."

Keane: Spurs must sign a striker

Richarlison took Kane's place as Tottenham's number nine at Brentford but the Brazil international failed to impress.

According to seven-time Premier League champion Roy Keane, Tottenham must now prioritize signing a striker in the final weeks of the summer transfer window. Keane stated, "Spurs have profited financially from the sale of Kane, which is a significant amount. Certain deals benefit all parties involved, including the player, the board, and both clubs, and this is one of those instances."

I believe it is wonderful news for Kane, and Tottenham Hotspur has obtained a considerable amount for him. This saga will not be prolonged, allowing the manager to concentrate and acquire a new striker. Undoubtedly, they urgently require another player.

Losing Kane is a significant blow, but I am genuinely pleased for him as he deserves the chance to pursue trophies, especially in the Champions League. This departure is also a major loss for the Premier League, but the player's merit cannot be denied.

Former Premier League champion Micah Richards concurred with Keane, expressing doubts about Richarlison. "Having only Richarlison going into the season is challenging," he stated to We. "The timing of Kane's departure is peculiar."

"I personally agree that Kane wants to win trophies. However, I believe that if he waited for one more year, he would have more options to choose from. He could consider clubs like Barca, Real Madrid, Man City, and even have Bayern Munich as a potential option.

In my opinion, this move may have come a bit early. Nevertheless, we should not underestimate the potential of Bayern Munich. Although the Bundesliga may not be the most competitive league, they could prove to be a strong contender in the Champions League. It's clear that this factor has influenced Kane's decision-making process."

Frank: We didn't set up differently for Kane-less Spurs

Thomas Frank admitted his Brentford side did not alter their tactics against Spurs following the news of Kane's departure.

When asked if he made any changes to his team's setup, the Brentford manager simply responded in his post-match press conference, "No."

Naturally, I am aware that he is a different player compared to Richarlison. He is England's number nine in contrast to Brazil's number nine.

"We must remain alert to Kane's superb passing abilities and adjust our positioning accordingly, should he retreat deeper into the field."

Regarding Spurs' new approach under Postecoglou, the Dane remarked, "They were certainly more focused on attacking."

"I think everyone could see that, so no surprises compared to what I've seen in their four friendlies and the matches of the Celtic team."

Richarlison fails his first audition to be Kane's successor

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Tottenham striker Richarlison failed to impress at Brentford

We' Declan Olley at the Gtech Community Stadium:

Concerns about Richarlison's ability to be a long-term replacement for Harry Kane at Tottenham have grown after the team's 2-2 draw against Brentford. Despite being given the responsibility as the number nine by new manager Postecoglou at the Gtech Community Stadium, the 26-year-old Brazilian failed to impress and repay the trust placed in him.

Richarlison failed to make a significant contribution to the game and missed a crucial chance by shooting straight at Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken. This was his only shot on target, and he had the second-lowest number of touches (34) among the starting players, disregarding Cristian Romero who got injured after only 14 minutes.

Richarlison still has an opportunity to prove himself as the answer to the Kane predicament. Postecoglou, expressing his support for the £60m forward during the post-match press conference, believes that his team failed to utilize him adequately. However, considering the insufficiency in attacking options within the Spurs squad, it becomes crucial for the club to prioritize signing a forward before the summer transfer window concludes.

What's next for Spurs?

Tottenham Hotspur

Manchester United

Saturday 19th August 5:00pm

Kick off 5:30pm

Postecoglou takes charge of his first competitive Spurs home game as they host Manchester United in a 5.30pm kick-off, live on We.