The clash between Tottenham’s principled Ange Postecoglou and West Ham’s pragmatic David Moyes in north London sets the stage for two coaches with vastly different football philosophies. Despite this contrast, they both faced a similar challenge this season: how to rebound from the departure of their respective club’s top player?Spurs reluctantly allowed their record goal scorer Harry Kane to join Bayern Munich, while West Ham parted ways with captain Declan Rice, selling him to rivals Arsenal. Both England internationals had declined new contracts, leaving their clubs with little choice but to prepare for their exits. However, Spurs and West Ham have coped admirably with losing their influential players and find themselves in an upward trajectory as they meet tonight.MATCHDAY! 🔥 🆚 West Ham🏟️ Tottenham Hotspur Stadium🏆 Premier League⏰ 20:15 (UK) pic.twitter.com/PBjAPxLVnX— The Spurs Web (@thespursweb) December 7, 2023 Under Postecoglou, Spurs have transformed, showcasing a style distinct from their previous conservative approach under Antonio Conte, despite having a similar number of wins at this stage compared to the previous season. Meanwhile, West Ham, still seeking consistency, have recovered from relegation worries and are aiming for another top-seven finish along with a solid European campaign. Both clubs have transitioned from the eras of Kane and Rice, already feeling like distant memories while being integral parts of past successes. Postecoglou and Moyes have handled the situations impressively, fostering an atmosphere of respect and positivity around their departed stars, aiding the clubs and their supporters to move forward.##NAJAVA_MECA_7722671##The wise utilization of their windfall has allowed both clubs to construct more well-rounded squads without their star player. Although Spurs have felt the absence of Kane’s scoring prowess, the acquisitions of Guglielmo Vicario, Micky van de Ven, James Maddison, and Brennan Johnson have proven successful. Postecoglou is assembling a team adept at executing his attacking game plan. Previously reliant on Kane’s contributions, the team’s structure and attacking strategy now take precedence under Postecoglou, evident in their commendable 3-3 draw against Manchester City despite numerous absences due to injuries and suspensions. Maddison, before his injury, contributed to filling Kane’s creative void, while Heung-min Son has thrived as a centre-forward.West Ham displayed ambition in replacing Rice, bringing in James Ward-Prowse, Edson Alvarez, and Mohammed Kudus. All three have made promising starts, with Alvarez and Kudus adapting well to English football despite the uncertainties surrounding players transitioning from the Dutch top flight. Moyes reshaped his midfield, deploying Ward-Prowse and Alvarez as a double-pivot and moving Tomas Soucek to the “10” role. Soucek’s goal-scoring talent has flourished this season, with Moyes acknowledging that Rice’s former role somewhat restrained the Czech’s attacking capabilities.Swap in the making – outcast for an average wingerBoth clubs have witnessed emerging heroes, such as Jarrod Bowen for West Ham, who has established himself as a key figure and local favourite, while players like Maddison, Vicario, and a revitalized Yves Bissouma have won over the Spurs faithful. The clubs’ strong starts to the season helped offset any potential fallout from the departures, showcasing Spurs and West Ham’s ability to transition beyond the influence of their former stars. The success of the two London teams in moving on from their key players raises the question of whether other clubs, dominated by a singular star player like Brentford with Ivan Toney, might benefit from embracing change by selling their best player and ambitiously rebuilding.So, what about tonight’s game? It promises to be an intriguing clash of two teams brimming with confidence.”Jarrod Bowen has stepped up since we lost Declan Rice, so has a lot of Tottenham players since Harry Kane left” 🙌David Moyes heaping big praise on both his West Ham side and his opponents tomorrow, Tottenham 🤝🗣 pic.twitter.com/MuVmeUsejM— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) December 6, 2023 Tottenham, facing injury concerns, welcome back defender Cristian Romero, who has served a three-match suspension. Forward Richarlison might see increased playing time following a brief substitute appearance on Sunday after recovering from a groin injury.West Ham’s captain Kurt Zouma is back in contention after missing the Crystal Palace draw due to personal reasons. There are no reported injuries for West Ham from the previous game, but Michail Antonio continues to struggle with a hamstring issue.Tottenham are looking for a fourth consecutive home win over West Ham in all competitions. West Ham have won just two of their last 21 Premier League away games versus Spurs, losing 12 over that period.ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE – MATCHDAY 15TuesdayWolverhampton – Burnley 1-0 (1-0)/Hwang 42/Luton – Arsenal 3-4 (1-2)/Osho 25, Adebayo 50, Barkley 57 – Martinelli 20, Jesus 45, Havertz 60, Rice 90+7/WednesdayBrighton – Brentford 2-1 (1-1)/Mbeumo 27 pen, Hinshelwood 53 – Gross 31/Fulham – Nott.Forest 5-0 (2-0)/Iwobi 30, 74, Jimenez 34, 55, Cairney 86/Sheffield Utd – Liverpool 0-2 (0-1)/van Dijk 37, Szoboszlai 90+4/Crystal Palace – Bournemouth 0-2 (0-1)/Senesi 25, Moore 90+1/Aston Villa – Man.City 1-0 (0-0)/Bailey 74/Man.Utd. – Chelsea 2-1 (1-1)/McTominay 19, 70 – Palmer 45/Thursday22:30: (3.15) Everton (3.45) Newcastle (2.40)23:15: (1.80) Tottenham (3.90) West Ham (4.70)***odds are subject to change**
