It’s been a fun preseason! The 24/25 Premier League season is now only days away, so let’s look back at all the good, the bad, and the ugly as we wait for Tottenham Hotspur to get their season underway.
There’s been some encouraging signs, some worries, and some questions raised throughout the six fixtures Spurs have played to prepare themselves for the coming battles. We’ve got to see previously unseen youth take the pitch, senior players play in new and unfamiliar positions, and a few fringe players either cement themselves in Ange’s plans or write themselves out of them.
In this series of three, I’m going to break down who I think has impressed, who has struggled, and the big question marks around Spurs’ squad as we head into the season, starting today with the winners. Here’s the Tottenham footballers who I think really took their chances through preseason.
Lucas Bergvall
Could it be anyone else? A breath of fresh air every time he stepped onto the pitch, Lucas Bergvall looks like he’ll be at home in the senior team. He has a calmness that belies his age, and his skill, vision, and unbelievable movement off the ball will be a huge asset in the Premier League. He’ll be pushing for a starting spot this weekend, and I think he’ll potentially become almost a lock in the XI as the season wears on.
Am I hyping up a young player too much too early? Probably, but he’s so damn cool to watch.
Will Lankshear
Often strikers struggle to step up from the age grade levels, as defenses are much more aware of space, physical, and quicker. Lankshear, however, looked like he belonged, immediately looking like a senior striker from the moment he took the field. His movement was excellent, and his goal against Hearts was a very tidy finish.
He quickly took the lion’s share of the backup striker minutes from Alejo Veliz and Dane Scarlett, and continued to impress through Spurs’ preseason campaign. With the signing of Dominic Solanke (and retention of Richarlison), I’d say he’ll go on loan this season; but his opportunity in the senior team is possibly closer than we think.
Brandon Austin
Backup goalkeeper has long been a funny position for Spurs, with the club never really having prioritized a strong #2 in recent years, while also not really providing opportunities to youth talent coming through the ranks. Brandon Austin, though, finally managed to get his opportunity with the senior team last season following an injury to Fraser Forster, before putting some excellent shot-stopping skills on display through preseason.
He’s still a little shaky with the ball at his feet, but I’d say he’s done enough to cement himself a place backing up Guglielmo Vicario.
Mikey Moore
It’s really the youngsters who were the kings of preseason, wasn’t it? Getting called up to the first team during the run-in last season, Moore really took his opportunity with both hands during preseason, reportedly training brilliantly and signing his first professional contract with the club.
More importantly, though, he sparkled on the football field playing with fearlessness and aggression, scoring his first goal for the senior side and putting pressure on even the Bayern Munich defense. The only question now is whether he gets minutes here, or on loan.
