Tottenham looks to build on their Champions League return to end their long trophy drought in the 2022/23 season. With manager Antonio Conte having a full season to plan out this time and Fabio Paratici able to wave his wand on transfers aided by the injection of funds at the club, Spurs are looking stronger than ever to pose a more serious threat to the rest of the Premier League’s top sides. The task is now to build a decisive mentality and not repeat the mistake of their past.
Last season Review
Everything is well when it ends well is what described Tottenham’s season last time out. After the fall-off from the managerial selection merry-go-round and the transfer saga of Harry Kane last summer followed by a disastrous start under Nuno Espirito Santos, Spurs recovered well under predecessor Antonio Conte despite early issues frustrating him to such an extent that he started questioning his position at the club. The team started an excellent winning streak afterwards and eventually beat Arsenal to the berth for Champions League football by two points. A fine finish to the campaign mired by so many problems at the start of it. Spur’s South Korean superstar
Son Heung-Min finished as the top scorer alongside Mohamed Salah of Liverpool in the Premier League in another stellar display of his class. Kane also won back the supporters’ hearts refiguring his form and contributing to 26 goals.
Summer Signings & Contract Renewals
Tottenham engaged themselves properly this summer having made some important business in the winter window earlier this year. The first of the arrivals was Ivan Perisic from Inter on a free transfer who transformed into an outstanding left wing-back during Conte’s tenure at the club and carried forward to the season after. Inter decided not to renew the Croatian’s contract even though he contributed to 18 goals in all competitions. The 33-year-old now has his old manager’s backing who gave a nice dimension to his play and penned a two-year deal at Spurs. The pricey transfer for the club, however, came in the form of the record signing of Richarlison from Everton in a deal that amounted to $72 million. The Brazilian is the sort of winger Conte loves those who provide goals along with robust defensive work. He will accompany Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son for the front trio of Spurs taking his turn with the flashy Dejan Kulusevski. There is reinforcement made in the midfield after the transfer of Yves Bissouma from Brighton costing $42 million until 2026 to join Pierre Emile Hojbjerg and Rodrigo Bentancur in the position. Talented right-back Djed Spence added himself to the list sealing the move from Nottingham Forest in a $24 million deal. Spence has been regarded as one of the future stars citing a remarkable business from Spurs for him ahead of other suitors. It doesn’t end here as goalkeeper Fraser Forster arrived on a free transfer from Southampton to be a worthy option with captain Hugo Lloris for the number one role. Lloris’s team-mate from the national side, Clement Lenglet also joins the club on loan from FC Barcelona. Spurs are also looking at Roma’s talent, Nicolo Zaniolo to secure his signing this summer.
Incomings of this magnitude are viable for out-of-favor players to seek pastures new and so it happened. The notable departure was Steven Bergwin returning back to the Netherlands in demand of game time to play for Ajax with an initial fee of $31 million agreed. Defender Cameron Carter-Vickers made his loan move to Celtic permanent with right winger Jack Clarke transferred to Championship side, Sunderland. Goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini returned back to Atalanta after an unsuccessful loan spell at Spurs while the Wales international Joe Rodon joined Ligue 1 team Stade Rennais on loan to receive more minutes to prepare himself for the World Cup. More outgoings are expected with the Argentinian playmaker Giovanni Lo Celso attracting interest from Villarreal, the club he was at on loan last season and uncertainty over Tanguy Ndombele whom Lyon refused to buy permanently because of the high price set on him following a loan spell.
Pre-season Results & Fixtures
3-6 vs K-League All Stars (W)
1-1 vs Sevilla (D)
1-2 vs Rangers (W)
1-0 vs Roma (L)
Tottenham had a mixed pre-season with two wins to show but without a clean sheet. Their trip to South Korea to face the All-Stars team from the K-League resulted in a goal bath with the win only achieved by Spurs once Son and Kane took the pitch in the second half. The 1-1 draw with Sevilla next was a feisty affair even though it was a friendly match. A goal here and then a brace in the second half of the game against Rangers coming from behind showed Harry Kane is possibly braced for a big scoring season. The 1-0 unwanted loss to Roma at the end of the month only pushes Spurs to show their true colors in the competitive games ahead.
2022/23 Premier League Season Tottenham Hotspurs Fixtures
Spurs open their 2022/23 Premier League season at their home stadium facing Southampton on Saturday, 6th August. Conte’s men want to start on a winning note as rivals Chelsea comes calling next in the first big huddle to overcome next weekend. Tottenham faces the holders Manchester City at Etihad Stadium, the place where they triumphed 3-2 in a thriller, in an exciting clash next month before the first North London derby rolls in on the first day of October. The rest of the top six, Manchester United and Liverpool are massive tests to gain reputable results for placing themselves in a decent position before the World Cup in November. The penultimate month of the season is the major worry for Spurs as both United and Liverpool to face once again, this time at back-to-back weekends.
06/08/2022 - Tottenham vs Southampton
14/08/2022 - Chelsea vs Tottenham
20/08/2022 - Tottenham vs Wolverhampton
28/08/2022 - Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham
31/08/2022 - West Ham vs Tottenham
03/09/2022 - Tottenham vs Fulham
10/09/2022 - Manchester City vs Tottenham
17/09/2022 - Tottenham vs Leicester
01/10/2022 - Arsenal vs Tottenham
08/10/2022 - Brighton vs Tottenham
15/10/2022 - Tottenham vs Everton
19/10/2022 - Manchester United vs Tottenham
22/10/2022 - Tottenham vs Newcastle
29/10/2022 - Bournemouth vs Tottenham
05/11/2022 - Tottenham vs Liverpool
12/11/2022 - Tottenham vs Leeds
26/12/2022 - Brentford vs Tottenham
31/12/2022 - Tottenham vs Aston Villa
02/01/2023 - Crystal Palace vs Tottenham
14/01/2023 - Tottenham vs Arsenal
21/01/2023 - Fulham vs Tottenham
04/02/2023 - Tottenham vs Manchester City
11/02/2023 - Leicester vs Tottenham
18/02/2023 - Tottenham vs West Ham
25/02/2023 - Tottenham vs Chelsea
04/03/2023 - Wolverhampton vs Tottenham
11/03/2023 - Tottenham vs Nottingham Forest
18/03/2023 - Southampton vs Tottenham
01/04/2023 - Everton vs Tottenham
08/04/2023 - Tottenham vs Brighton
15/04/2023 - Tottenham vs Bournemouth
22/04/2023 - Newcastle vs Tottenham
25/04/2023 - Tottenham vs Manchester United
29/04/2023 - Liverpool vs Tottenham
06/05/2023 - Tottenham vs Crystal Palace
13/05/2023 - Aston Villa vs Tottenham
20/05/2023 - Tottenham vs Brentford
28/05/2023 - Leeds vs Tottenham
(Key games are in bold)
Also Read | 2022/23 Premier League Season Preview: Liverpool
How will Tottenham Hotspurs set up?
The classic 3-4-3 will be used by Antonio Conte at Spurs as usual with the new personnel coming right into the first team picture. The midfield for instance will carry a lot of competition as faces in the double pivot are expected to change due to injuries or for tactical reasons. One man who has been a constant in the middle of the park is Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg at least in the pre-season with Oliver Skipp, Rodrigo Bentancur and new arrival Yves Bissouma partnering him in turns. The Denmark international is expected to play a big role in the new season henceforth. The wingbacks, central to the Italian’s tactics, will also have a rotation policy with Emerson Royal, Matt Doherty who can play on the other side, Djed Spence and even winger Lucas Moura offered to play the role. Sergio Reguilon, Ryan Sessegnon and Ivan Perisic are options on the left. In the front three, Harry Kane and Son will be the regular figures allowing Richarlison or Dejan Kulusevski to make the most of the opportunities either starting or from the bench given they are two different kinds of wingers that can change the game anytime. The unseen depth of this team is helpful for them this season.
Prediction for the 2022/23 Premier League Season
Spurs will be a difficult team to predict in the 2022/23 Premier League Season given their manager’s management of situations that will arrive. Antonio Conte could easily take this side to enormous height or can fail miserably out of expectations. The signs are that if Conte gets the team of his wish, he works wonders with it. The transfers that unfolded showed the club is now in full support of his manager to deliver, something not heard in chairman Daniel Levy’s era at Spurs often, giving Conte a clear headspace to repay the trust by meeting the standards on the pitch. With their rivals strengthening up their squad too in the market, the top four should be the minimum guarantee for Spurs in the new season with an eye for silverware to end their14-year wait for one.
Also Read | 2022/23 Premier League Season Preview: Arsenal
