Tottenham's promising summer continued in Japan as Ange Postecoglou's side overcame an early deficit to beat Vissel Kobe 3-2.
Spurs' pre-season kicked off with two home wins over Hearts and Queen's Park Rangers and Saturday's outing represented a major rise in quality for the Japanese side during their 2024 campaign.
The young Lilywhites impressed again with another pre-season win and Postecoglou suggested after the game that his side had taken a “good step” in Japan before heading to Korea for the second leg of their tour.
Here are three takeaways from Tottenham's 3-2 win over Vissel Kobe.
Tottenham haven't been as creative in their production since Harry Kane broke through and became the club's top goalscorer.
However, there is real hope that the current crop of Spurs can improve to a higher level. Their leading light is 16-year-old Mikey Moore, who has managed to measure up in Kobe during a great summer.
Moore was in the right place at the right time to score Tottenham's third in the closing stages, his third goal in as many pre-season outings.
The free-spirited player is a key talent who looks set to contribute to Postecoglou's side. He is capable in a variety of forward roles but is particularly tricky in and around the opposition box.
“Mike has been good since we brought him in,” said the manager after the game. “He's got his place in the squad right now – he did it at the end of last year. He's been running with the first team because we've seen in training that he's doing well and that's followed by pre-season training.”
Moore came to the fore following a productive Under-17 Euros campaign with England earlier this year and it may not be long until Premier League watchers are enjoying the magic of Spurs' youth.
Vissel Kobe has given Spurs a tough challenge. Being in mid-season mode, they were able to push Postecoglou's side up, thus testing their formation.
Tottenham stuck to the task and managed to break into the third, getting the likes of Dejan Kulusevski and full-back Pedro Porro between the lines with surprising frequency.
While Spurs found the net three times, they were frustrated in front of goal, with Postecoglou suggesting young Moore could have scored a hat-trick given the chances he squandered. However, their problems in the final third are not limited to waste in front of goal.
In Son Heung-min, Timo Werner and Brennan Johnson, Tottenham have players who are underrated for their ability to keep the ball. They are all very straightforward and there is little chance of changing pace. Everything is very fast. These specific profiles make the likes of James Maddison and Kulusevski, players who enjoy having the ball, even more important. They are able to change and control the protective block before choosing the right time to jump.
Kulusevski promised in Kobe as a withdrawn nine and Ange will hope that the Swede can return to his strong form because his profile is very important in measuring this straight forward line.
Moore has grabbed a lot of headlines this summer, but he's one of many Lilywhite stars who could shine in the preseason.
Will Lankshear is a name to keep an eye on, especially if Spurs choose not to sign a striker ahead of the 2024/25 campaign, as happened with newcomers Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall.
The two 18-year-olds have quickly formed a good relationship off the pitch and both could find themselves involved in Postecoglou's XI from the start. Gray, in particular, showed before the season why he had a long list of clubs on his tail before Tottenham secured his services for £30m along with Joe Rodon.
The young player has played the role of an unfamiliar left-back, but he was not bored by Vissel's team that wanted to catch Tottenham at the top. Gray was smooth in tight spaces and unrelenting in his desire to get the ball up as quickly as possible. His ability to cut lines is amazing, as is the calmness with which he plays in the construction phase.
He will be out of defense for Ange in the Premier League, while Gray hopes to slot into midfield. He could compete with close confidant Bergvall in the middle of the park, with the Swedish sensation offering glimpses of his quality between the lines.
Bergvall combines a strong physical presence with impressive technical attributes and appears ready for the rigors of the English game.
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