Who is laughing now
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Sarr, the midfield and a Maddison scare
Tottenham's midfield bossed their Manchester United counterparts, particularly in the second half, with a display that belied their age and values.
The Red Devils brought in Casemiro, Mason Mount and Bruno Fernandes for a combined £172m. Spurs put together Pape Matar Sarr, Yves Bissouma and James Maddison for almost £100m less, helped by the latter two being in the final year of their contracts.
It was the cheapest and youngest of them all though in Pape Matar Sarr who looks like being the bargain of the lot.
The 20-year-old was signed for around £15m in the summer of 2021 before being loaned back to Metz for a tough season spent battling against and eventually suffering relegation from Ligue 1. As a teenager the young Senegal international started the majority of the French team's games and, while ultimately disappointing, it would have been an important season of development for Sarr with lessons learned in the need to fight, work and deal with the pressure of carrying a fanbase's hopes and dreams in your hands.
After finally arriving at Spurs, Antonio Conte was impressed by Sarr's energy and technique particularly after he returned early from the World Cup midway through the season desperate to catch the Italian's eye.
That led to a big 90-minute performance at AC Milan alongside Oliver Skipp in a young makeshift midfield, only for the youngster to then pretty much disappear from Conte's thinking other than the odd late minute here and there in Premier League matches.
Conte is a man who likes to play it safe while Postecoglou wants anything but and that is why he has quickly identified Sarr as one to excel within his system.
He wanted to see what Sarr could do in a big match and the young midfielder did not disappoint. He was everywhere, having five shots at goal, two on target, making one key pass from his 36 passes with an 86.1% accuracy and he made two crunching tackles and won one aerial duel with one low cross deflecting on to United's right-hand post.
Most importantly he popped up with his first goal for Tottenham Hotspur and it epitomised his energy and ability as he raced into the box undetected before lashing home the ball on the half-volley.
The fans went wild and his team-mates were delighted. The youngster is a popular member of the squad, with many of the older players taking him under their wing such as Bissouma and Son and he effortlessly flits between the different friendship groups with his gradually improving English. The youngster could be seen laughing and squabbling with Richarlison on the bench after both had come off.
Spurs have waited a while to see a young exciting midfielder emerge as a potential star in the centre of their pitch.
It was entirely fitting that the last man to do so was in attendance to watch. Dele Alli was there, sat next to his friend Eric Dier, and he would have approved of that late Sarr run into the box to score. It was right out of his own playbook.
Spurs fans still carry a lot of love for Dele and all of them are hoping to see him back on a football pitch sooner rather than later and getting back to what he does best.
For Sarr, his journey feels like it is just beginning and he has a manager who is brave enough to start him over his older team-mates.
"Yeah, [Pape was] brilliant. He's been great from the moment I arrived," Postecoglou told football.london. "He's got a great energy about him, but he's got quality there too.
"He's one of those midfielders who causes the opposition real problems because whether it's him running with the ball or without the ball, he runs forward, he runs aggressively and he disrupts the opposition. He's just got a great temperament for a young guy. So I'm really pleased for him."
Some Spurs fans joked that if Sarr played for Brighton he would already be a £100m midfielder. Hands off Chelsea.
Tottenham's midfield bossed their Manchester United counterparts, particularly in the second half, with a display that belied their age and values.
The Red Devils brought in Casemiro, Mason Mount and Bruno Fernandes for a combined £172m. Spurs put together Pape Matar Sarr, Yves Bissouma and James Maddison for almost £100m less, helped by the latter two being in the final year of their contracts.
It was the cheapest and youngest of them all though in Pape Matar Sarr who looks like being the bargain of the lot.
The 20-year-old was signed for around £15m in the summer of 2021 before being loaned back to Metz for a tough season spent battling against and eventually suffering relegation from Ligue 1. As a teenager the young Senegal international started the majority of the French team's games and, while ultimately disappointing, it would have been an important season of development for Sarr with lessons learned in the need to fight, work and deal with the pressure of carrying a fanbase's hopes and dreams in your hands.
After finally arriving at Spurs, Antonio Conte was impressed by Sarr's energy and technique particularly after he returned early from the World Cup midway through the season desperate to catch the Italian's eye.
That led to a big 90-minute performance at AC Milan alongside Oliver Skipp in a young makeshift midfield, only for the youngster to then pretty much disappear from Conte's thinking other than the odd late minute here and there in Premier League matches.
Conte is a man who likes to play it safe while Postecoglou wants anything but and that is why he has quickly identified Sarr as one to excel within his system.
He wanted to see what Sarr could do in a big match and the young midfielder did not disappoint. He was everywhere, having five shots at goal, two on target, making one key pass from his 36 passes with an 86.1% accuracy and he made two crunching tackles and won one aerial duel with one low cross deflecting on to United's right-hand post.
Most importantly he popped up with his first goal for Tottenham Hotspur and it epitomised his energy and ability as he raced into the box undetected before lashing home the ball on the half-volley.
The fans went wild and his team-mates were delighted. The youngster is a popular member of the squad, with many of the older players taking him under their wing such as Bissouma and Son and he effortlessly flits between the different friendship groups with his gradually improving English. The youngster could be seen laughing and squabbling with Richarlison on the bench after both had come off.
Spurs have waited a while to see a young exciting midfielder emerge as a potential star in the centre of their pitch.
It was entirely fitting that the last man to do so was in attendance to watch. Dele Alli was there, sat next to his friend Eric Dier, and he would have approved of that late Sarr run into the box to score. It was right out of his own playbook.
Spurs fans still carry a lot of love for Dele and all of them are hoping to see him back on a football pitch sooner rather than later and getting back to what he does best.
For Sarr, his journey feels like it is just beginning and he has a manager who is brave enough to start him over his older team-mates.
"Yeah, [Pape was] brilliant. He's been great from the moment I arrived," Postecoglou told football.london. "He's got a great energy about him, but he's got quality there too.
"He's one of those midfielders who causes the opposition real problems because whether it's him running with the ball or without the ball, he runs forward, he runs aggressively and he disrupts the opposition. He's just got a great temperament for a young guy. So I'm really pleased for him."
Some Spurs fans joked that if Sarr played for Brighton he would already be a £100m midfielder. Hands off Chelsea.
I think it was a respect thing. Rashford reposted it. After losing to him lolLol he's not sending up Rashford is he
There is another angle to this which is Conte didn’t send him on loan and didn’t rush his development. Gave him big games (because he had to) but also held him down like a coiled spring.
Ange just released him.
Just me that loved how his goal looked?
Top of the net and rolling down the back.
Top of the net and rolling down the back.
I've not been as up on the hype as some others on this kid before now but that was the game he arrived.
I didn't realise he could be such a goal threat.
Must be a nightmare playing against him and Biss. Then with Madders buzzing around pulling the strings it really has everything.
I didn't realise he could be such a goal threat.
Must be a nightmare playing against him and Biss. Then with Madders buzzing around pulling the strings it really has everything.
He never had chances as a starter, he can't even start for England's U21 side.
He's made 57 starts for us. That's plenty of chances.
Mostly when we had no midfielders, well outside of Sarr who was overlooked by a manager who was actively trying to sabotage us. At the end of the day Skipp is a bottom half type of player, he was never going to become starter for a top half team.
It mens Sarr can empty the tank and then we can bring on a great replacement. It's all good.
Is Sarr a 1st choice starter now?
Certainly as long as Bentancur isn't available. But possibly even for the season and beyond if he can keep this up, there is absolutely no reason for now to put him on the bench again.
But he is still very young and we can only hope that he will be impressive again next week v Bournemouth.
Has to be, imo.
Was Lavia on the wonder boy list? Has he produced a performance like Sarr yesterday?
£50m+ is his bracket right now, not that it matters as we shouldn’t sell no matter what.
He says it a lot to stupid journalists asking silly questions. Fear the mateI think the 'mate' is always implied with Ange tbf
Yes it can be piss-taking as well!I was lip reading too and Ange actually said... "fantastic mate"