COMMENT: Titles in Australia... in Scotland... in Japan. But will that be enough? Does all that silverware. All that globetrotting. Will that have Ange Postecoglou prepared to handle what he's about to experience as a Tottenham manager...?
And we say about as Postecoglou and this dressing room are still at the honeymoon stage. It's all good vibes. Good intentions. They're feeling eachother out, sure. But it's all positive stuff. He's a mate. He's a Dad. He's an Uncle. The players love him. They love his staff. They love the football he wants to play. It's all rainbows and fairyfloss - but nothing we've not seen before.
They said the same about Antonio Conte. Ditto Jose Mourinho. Winners. Giants of the game. If those two will be let down by this lot. Betrayed. Then what chance the Aussie from Glasgow?
But forget comparisons. Put them to one side. Indeed, you can even ignore the inevitable (almost pre-programmed) backstabbing and whispers that will come from this dressing room as these players struggle to adjust to Postecoglou's playing demands. Not to mention that constant fifth column who's still around (we'll leave you to work that one out). Just drop all that and simply consider what he's walked into...
Harry Kane has a foot outside the club. Dad and brother Charlie have already settled contract terms with Bayern Munich. They've even been house-hunting in Munich for Harry and family. And we haven't needed the bits and bobs from Twitter's transfer experts to tell us this. Uli Hoeness let it all hang out last week. Bayern wants Harry. Harry wants Bayern. And Postecoglou is left on the outside looking in.
The club's one consistent world class player will go. His departure won't leave a void, but a chasm. And making it all the more concerning is the form of Heung-min Son. The South Korea international hit a wall last season. Year after year of progress. Of improvement. It all came to an abrupt halt. Can Postecoglou help Son rediscover his best? Which is a question we can also level at Richarlison after a paltry one goal in the Premier League last term.
Of course, the manager has a new goalkeeper to bed in. A foreign one at that. Guglielmo Vicario arrives from Empoli with a good reputation. And Paolo Zanetti, his old coach, is someone who's opinion deserves to carry weight. But he's no guarantee. And we all know, the Premier League have shattered the careers of more established imported keepers over the years.
So, a new-look attack. A new keeper. But the change of personnel is only half the story. There's also the new playing style. The demands of Postecoglou. Uncompromisingly so. Playing from the back. Playing a certain way. It's attractive. It's courageous. But will it work in the Premier League? Indeed, will it be allowed to at Tottenham?
There's always been growing pains for Postecoglou's teams in their initial development. Celtic saw this, as did Yokohama F Marinos and his teams in Australia. But they did always overcome the early jitters to play as the Australian wanted - and to bring success. But for this column, we don't see Postecoglou being afforded the patience he enjoyed at past clubs. Big clubs, with big (relatively speaking) budgets. Dominant in their small domestic leagues. Where they can afford a slow season start. They can drop points. But still have time to catch the early pacesetters.
In the Premier League, Postecoglou won't get this. And don't be mistaken. We're not talking about a title challenging Tottenham. No. A competitive Spurs team will do. Think top six. Even, sans Kane, a top eight finish could be reasoned. But given the playing demands of Postecoglou. Given the attitude of the dressing room he's now in charge of. It's difficult to see how all this succeeds.
That is, however, unless there's a lowering of expectations. An acceptance of the reality for where this team is. Tottenham are a great club. A Champions League club. The stadium. The support. It's all there. But this team. These players. After the demise of Mourinho and Conte. The unwillingness to embrace what is needed to actually compete at the highest level. It's difficult to see how this works unless targets and goals are reconsidered.
But even if things are re-adjusted. A top eight finish. A decent Cup run. There's no shame in that for a first season. Problem is, will Postecoglou be allowed to get that far? There's no history of these players, nor some staff, staying united and keeping it together when things go awry. And it will. Those growing pains will happen. Just as we saw against West Ham in Perth. The mistakes. The errors. It's inevitable.
But the scrutiny. The spotlight. Of Postecoglou's management. His approach. It will never have been pulled apart as it will these early weeks of the new season. And even if the fans hold their nerve. Even if the board keep cool. Can you really be so confident in this group of players? Particularly with no Harry Kane to shield them?
