The biggest compliment that one can give to Sarr is that Tottenham have hardly felt the absence of Rodrigo Bentancur so far this season, even though the Uruguayan was arguably Spurs’ most consistent performer before his ACL injury.

The 21-year-old has formed a formidable partnership in the middle of the park with Yves Bissouma, relentlessly running and pressing the opposition whenever Spurs lose the ball and also proving quite tidy in possession.

What is perhaps most surprising about the Senegal international is the tactical maturity that he is showing at such a young age, with many Tottenham fans hopeful that he will evolve into a world-class player as he gets more experience under his belt.

LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 6: Pape Matar Sarr of Tottenham Hotspur hangs onto the net during the pre-season friendly match between Tottenham Hotspur and Shakhtar Donetsk at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on August 6, 2023 in England. (Photo by Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)

Does Pape Matar Sarr get the credit he deserves?

Gold admitted that he is quite shocked Sarr is not heralded more in the media, given how well he is performing for the Premier League leaders at the moment.

The journalist said on the Gold & Guest talk Tottenham podcast about the midfielder: “He’s just 21, that’s what I just find so ridiculous about him as well.

“And I do wonder if he was playing for a [Manchester] City, Arsenal, even maybe Man United, just one of these clubs that are slightly more heralded than Spurs are right now.

“Or even let’s say a Brighton because of the talent they’ve produced, do you think everyone would be raving about him? I kind of think they would. He’s almost gone under the radar at Spurs.”

Spurs Web Opinion

I believe that one of the main reasons that Sarr has gone under the radar is because several Tottenham players have been in top form this season. 

The likes of Maddison, Bissouma, Son, Udogie, Van de Ven and Vicario have all caught the eye, which is why the contributions of a functional player like Sarr, who does not necessarily have a lot of flair, is being overlooked.

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There has been a lot said and written about the impact that new signings, James Maddison, Micky van de Ven and Guglielmo Vicario have had at Tottenham and how the trio, along with Destiny Udogie, have settled in seamlessly into the new environment in N17.

In addition, many column inches have also been dedicated to Yves Bissouma’s transformation from last season and Son Heung-min’s emergence as a leader.

Amidst all this, Sarr’s displays have gone under the radar, with the 21-year-old, who hardly got a look in under Antonio Conte last season, making himself a fixture in Ange Postecoglou’s midfield.

The Senegalese international’s ability to eat up ground has been a potent weapon for the Lilywhites off the ball while the youngster has also been quite tidy in possession.

LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 16: Pape Sarr of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Sheffield United at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on September 16, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Mark Leech/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)

Has Pape Matar Sarr gone under the radar for Spurs?

Speaking about Sarr’s impact, Gold has now said on the Gold and Guest Talk Tottenham podcast: “It just struck me that I don’t think people outside Spurs realise how good he (Sarr) is.

“I think he’s well respected on the continent, it was seen as a real coup that Spurs managed to get him in the first place from Metz.

“It’s almost like now, everyone’s drawn to the names and they’re ignoring the fact that this 21-year-old is running games at times from the midfield. I mean, he had more touches than any other midfielder on the pitch on Friday.”

Spurs Web Opinion

One of the reasons that Sarr’s contribution gets discounted is that he does not do anything flashy on the ball, especially compared to his midfield partners Bissouma and Maddison.

However, it is the 21-year-old’s engine and tenacity that enables the likes of Maddison to play with freedom as the youngster ensures that we are not as susceptible to counter-attacks when we lose the ball.

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Romero’s lacklustre performances last season were a source of much frustration for Spurs fans, particularly since it was clear that the 25-year-old was extremely talented, given his performances at the international level and the start he had to his Tottenham career.

Much to the supporters’ delight, the 25-year-old has returned to his old self this season, putting in the sort of dominant displays that we see him do for Argentina.

Romero has also managed to control his aggression much better, which is perhaps the consequence of him now becoming the leader of the new-look young Spurs backline.

Having a reliable centre-back partner beside him in the form of Micky van de Ven has certainly helped the former Atalanta man, who is clearly held in very high regard by his teammates.

(Photo by Amphol Thongmueangluang/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Cristian Romero is impressing at Hotspur Way

Pedro Porro labelled the defender as the best centre-back in the world on Instagram this week, and Sarr has now revealed that he is a cut above the rest in training.

The Senegalese midfielder told Footy Culture: “But for me, my best in training is Cuti Romero.”

Spurs Web Opinion

For Sarr to name Romero ahead of the likes of James Maddison, Son Heung-min and Yves Bissouma is certainly a big statement and it shows just how highly the Argentine is rated by his teammates.

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Tottenham desperately missed Rodrigo Bentancur during the final few months of last campaign and there was understandably some fear among Spurs fans about how the side would cope without the Uruguayan at the start of this season.

However, Sarr has stepped up to the plate and delivered some outstanding displays this season alongside Yves Bissouma in midfield, showcasing maturity beyond his years.

The 21-year-old, who hardly got a look in under Antonio Conte last season, has now become an important cog in Ange Posteocglou’s side, so much so that it remains to be seen whether Bentancur will walk back into the side when he reaches full fitness.

LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 24: Pape Matar Sarr of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium on September 24, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

Just how good can Pape Matar Sarr become?

Gold admitted that he is particularly excited by the fact that the former Metz man is nowhere near his ceiling as a player.

The journalist said on his YouTube channel following Tottenham’s win over Fulham: “Pape Matar Sarr, mentioned him very briefly earlier, just belies his age with every single match.”

He added: “He’s very tactically aware, he’s very intelligent on the ball and off the ball, and the most exciting thing with him is this isn’t the Pape we’ll be seeing in four or five years’ time, this is the early version.”

Spurs Web Opinion

Sarr’s energy and ability to eat up ground is of huge benefit to Spurs off the ball as it ensures that we are not exposed defensively when we lose possession. Having him and Bissouma in the middle of the park is almost like playing with an extra man in midfield.

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Things are going pretty well for Tottenham right now, with new manager Ange Postecoglou coming in this summer and transforming the club. The Australian’s brand of attacking football has been adopted by the players very quickly, and the fans are loving it.

Results haven’t been bad either. Spurs are now unbeaten in the first nine league games, with seven wins and two draws, and are currently sitting two points clear at the top of the Premier League table.

Players like Heung-min Son and James Maddison are taking the majority of plaudits, with the pair combining for the key goals that have propelled Spurs to the top. But it’s not just goals that are important.

(Photo by LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP via Getty Images)

Richarlison is the funniest Spurs player

One player who will probably be happy to hear that is Richarlison, who is still struggling to find the back of the net regularly for Spurs. But, he does come out on top in one area – according to Pape Matar Sarr, the Brazil striker is the funniest of all his teammates.

When asked by Fubo TV who the funniest player in the Spurs squad is, Sarr said: “Richarlison. He’s crazy.”

Given his pigeon-inspired goal celebration, incendiary showboating, and his regular ribbing of teammates (and rivals) on social media, it should come as no surprise that Sarr has picked Richarlison for this particular accolade.

Spurs Web Opinion

I’m going to keep defending Richarlison for as long as he keeps playing with the heart and energy as he did against Fulham on Monday night.

I thought he was absolutely fantastic, the way he chased down every ball, and he was rewarded with a fine assist, too. And yes, he is a very funny guy, too.

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Life at Tottenham is going pretty well for Pape Sarr right now. The 20-year-old signed for the club in the summer of 2021, but has only just started to flourish under his new manager, Ange Postecoglou.

The midfielder has formed a brilliant partnership with Yves Bissouma so far this season, and appears to be a key figure in Postecoglou’s squad now. Sarr has one goal and one assist in nine games this term (Transfermarkt).

It seems the sky is the limit for the young Senegal international, and he certainly has plenty of superstars to look up to, both in the current crop of Tottenham players, and among heroes from the recent past.

Visionhaus/Getty Images

Sarr creates his perfect Tottenham footballer

In an interview with Fubo TV Canada, Sarr was asked to look at his teammates, and those who have featured for Spurs in the past, and assemble a perfect footballer.

When asked for a right foot, Sarr named his club captain, Heung-min Son. For the left foot, he chose former Spurs man, Gareth Bale.

In terms of speed, Sarr selected Kyle Walker, and for strength, he picked his current midfield partner, Yves Bissouma. Then, in the heading department, Sarr chose Harry Kane.

Build the Perfect Footballer: Tottenham Edition with Pape Matar Sarr @fuboTVCanada pic.twitter.com/TBV0c9Q79N

— FOOTY CULTURE (@thefootyculture) October 25, 2023

To conclude, Sarr was asked if his creation could win the Ballon D’Or, and Sarr replied: “Yes definitely.

Finally, Sarr then added: “You just add Modric’s football IQ.”

Spurs Web Opinion

What a player that would be. Now if we can just find a way to make that player a reality and make sure he signs for Tottenham, we’ll be in business. I can’t really think of any other way to improve on Sarr’s choices, to be honest.

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Ange Postecoglou‘s unbeaten start in the Premier League continued tonight as his Spurs side overcame Fulham in a 2-0 win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Goals from Heung-min Son and James Maddison scored the goals that secured the three points for the Lilywhites in what was ultimately a fairly comfortable victory. In truth, Spurs probably didn’t actually play their best, but got the win nonetheless.

Tottenham fans will be more than happy to take the result and return to the top of the Premier League table. However, there was some concern when Destiny Udogie was replaced by Emerson Royal early in the second half.

Young midfielder Pape Matar Sarr was also taken off further into the game after seemingly being unable to play any longer, with Oliver Skipp taking his place.

(Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Postecoglou comments on Udogie and Sarr fitness

Speaking after the game (relayed via Nick Godwin), Postecoglou delivered an update on the potential injuries to Udogie and Sarr, and it sounds like fairly good news.

Godwin said: “Ange says Sarr had been a bit unwell before the game and he thought he’d only last an hour or so. Udogie felt some tightness but he doesn’t think it’s serious.”

It remains to be seen what the full extent of the issues are, but Postecoglou’s early assessment suggests there is very little to worry about.

Spurs Web Opinion

Hopefully, both players are good for the game against Crystal Palace on Friday, as they have been so solid for us this season. I think Udogie in particular was really impressive tonight and he is especially crucial to keep fit as we have very few options at left-back.

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Since the arrival of Ange Postecoglou, it’s fair to say a number of players have excelled in his attacking, expansive system.

The team as a whole is flourishing right now, and sits on top of the Premier League table as we head into the weekend’s action.

After a dismal campaign last year, the likes of Cristian Romero, Heung-min Son, and Dejan Kulusevski appear to be back to their best.

Meanwhile, Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr have formed a terrific partnership in the middle of the park and appear to be the choice pairing in central midfield, with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg losing his regular spot.

One of the stars of the season so far, has been young Destiny Udogie. Having signed for Spurs last summer, he spent the 2022/23 campaign on loan with his former club Udinese, but has certainly made his arrival in North London felt this term.

(Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)

Bissouma, Sarr, and Udogie are on the rise

Apparently, the trio of Bissouma, Sarr, and Udogie, were all ‘surplus to requirements’ at Tottenham previously, but have managed to salvage their careers, according to Tim Sherwood.

He told the No Tippy Tappy Football Podcast: “If you’re a player in that dressing room, the manager gives you the confidence to go toe-to-toe with any team. You have a manager who trusts you and he’s improved the individuals.

“There are loads of players there like Sarr, and Udogie who’s been fantastic when he’s come back from loan, Bissouma has been outstanding. Everyone thought they were surplus to requirements, but suddenly this guy has shown them a bit of love and now the recruitment doesn’t look half bad.”

Spurs Web Opinion

The idea that these three were surplus to requirements is a bit of a stretch. I think Bissouma was always going to be given the time to settle in, and Udogie stayed at Udinese to help his development.

Sarr is the only one who I think was close to leaving, and while they have all performed brilliantly this season, I don’t think they exactly needed to save their careers.

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Sarr started for his nation in a 1-0 friendly win over Cameroon on Monday before returning to London for club duty, as Spurs are set to face Fulham in the Premier League.

Fortunately, despite the ice pack being spotted, Sarr took part in Tottenham training on Wednesday, easing fears of a lasting injury.

(Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

Pape Matar Sarr looks to have shaken off a knock

Ange Postecoglou cannot afford to lose another key midfielder for the Monday Night Football London derby, with Yves Bissouma already suspended following his red card last time out.

Sarr has been a revelation in midfield alongside Bissouma and Maddison so far this season, showing experience well beyond his 21 years of age.

Spurs Web Opinion:

It’s good to hear that the ice pack didn’t hint towards an injury of any kind. The interesting thing will now be who Postecoglou names to partner Sarr and Maddison against Fulham. Hojbjerg as a steady option? Lo Celso as a more attacking midfielder? Someone else entirely?

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Of course, their leave depends entirely on whether they are selected and if they are injury-free at the time, but one would expect the high-flying Spurs duo to make the trip to Africa.

Bissouma has returned to his Brighton form in the pivot role under Ange Postecoglou, while Sarr has been a revelation in his breakthrough Tottenham campaign.

Of course, the Spurs youngster already has an AFCON winner’s medal to his name as he was part of the Senegal squad that lifted the trophy in 2022.

(Photo by Chloe Knott – Danehouse/Getty Images)

Pape Matar Sarr and Yves Bissouma off to AFCON

The AFCON 2024 draw took place last week and Senegal will face Cameroon, Guinea and The Gambia, while Bissouma’s Mali will play Tunisia, South Africa, and Namibia (FootballLondon).

Sarr will play his first game on January 15, and his final group stage match on January 23, while Bissouma will play between January 16 and January 24.

If either of the Spurs duo make it all the way to the final, they could be absent until February 11 and beyond (if celebrations are required).

Spurs Web Opinion:

I wonder whether Spurs will dip into the market early for midfield cover with both players leaving for a decent chunk of time. Tottenham already need more midfield depth, so it could be the perfect time to pull the trigger on a transfer.

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Tottenham go into the international break at the top of the Premier League table after an incredible start to the season under Ange Postecoglou.

The Spurs boss has bid farewell to a large portion of his squad for the next couple of weeks, as various players head out to join up with their national squads.

There are Euro 2024 qualifiers, friendly matches, youth squad action, and even some World Cup 2026 qualifiers on the way in the coming days.

On Wednesday, Ben Davies captained Wales to a 4-0 win over Gibraltar at Wrexham’s Racecourse Ground. The Spurs defender even opened the scoring on the night, nodding home from three yards out.

Meanwhile, Tottenham youngsters Luca Gunter and Ashley Phillips played the full 90 minutes as England U19s drew 0-0 with Montenegro. Alfie Dorrington was an unused substitute for the game, while Jamie Donley didn’t make the matchday squad.

Fellow youngster, Will Andiyapan, was in action for Wales U19s, playing the full 90 minutes in another 0-0 draw, against Austria.

SOLNA, SWEDEN – MARCH 24: Dejan Kulusevski of Sweden during the UEFA EURO 2024 qualifying round group A match between Sweden and Belgium at Friends Arena on March 24, 2023 in Solna, Sweden. (Photo by Michael Campanella/Getty Images)

When do Spurs players have international games?

Here are the upcoming international games for the Tottenham Hotspur players.

Heung-min Son: South Korea vs Tunisia (friendly) October 13 at 12pm, South Korea vs Vietnam (friendly) October 17 at 12pm

James Maddison: England vs Australia (friendly) October 13 at 7:45pm, England vs Italy (Euro 2024 qualifier) October 17 at 7:45pm

Dejan Kulusevski: Sweden vs Moldova (friendly) October 12 at 6pm, Belgium vs Sweden (Euro 2024 qualifier) October 16 at 7:45pm

Giovani Lo Celso and Cristian Romero: Argentina vs Paraguay (World Cup 2026 qualifier) October 13 at 12am, Peru vs Argentina (World Cup 2026 qualifier) October 18 at 3am

Micky van de Ven: Netherlands vs France (Euro 2024 qualifier) October 13 at 7:45pm, Greece vs Netherlands (Euro 2024 qualifier) October 16 at 7:45pm

Destiny Udogie and Guglielmo Vicario: Italy vs Malta (Euro 2024 qualifier) October 14 at 7:45pm, England vs Italy (Euro 2024 qualifier) October 17 at 7:45pm

Yves Bissouma: Mali vs Saudi Arabia (friendly) October 17 at 4pm

Pape Matar Sarr: Senegal vs Cameroon (friendly) October 16 at 7:30pm

Richarlison: Brazil vs Venezuela (World Cup 2026 qualifier) October 13 at 1:30am, Uruguay vs Brazil (World Cup 2026 qualifier) October 18 at 1am

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg: Denmark vs Kazakhstan (Euro 2024 qualifier) October 14 at 7:45pm, San Marino vs Denmark (Euro 2024 qualifier) October 17 at 7:45pm

Ben Davies and Joe Rodon: Wales vs Croatia (Euro 2024 qualifier) October 15 at 7:45pm

Dane Scarlett: England U21s vs Serbia U21s (Euro qualifier) October 12 at 7:45pm, Slovakia U21s vs England U21s (Euro qualifier) October 16 at 5:30pm

Alfie Devine: Romania U20s vs England U20s (Euro Lite) October 12 at 5pm, England U20s vs Portugal U20s (Euro Lite) October 17 at 7pm

Alfie Dorrington, Ashley Phillips, Jamie Donley, and Luca Gunter: England U19s vs Wales U19s (Euro qualifier) October 14 at 2pm, England U19s vs Austria U19s (Euro qualifier) October 17 at 5pm

Will Andiyapan: Wales U19s vs England U19s (Euro qualifier) October 14 at 2pm, Montenegro U19s vs Wales U19s (Euro qualifier) October 17 at 5pm

Josh Keeley: Latvia U21s vs Republic of Ireland U21s (Euro qualifier) October 13 at 1pm

Mikey Moore and Callum Olusesi: England U17s vs Norway U17s (friendly) October 13 at 12pm

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At 21 years of age, Sarr has already been part of an AFCON-winning Senegal side, has played in the World Cup, and is now an important cog in the midfield of a team sitting at the top of the Premier League table.

The hallmark of his game so far has been the ground he covers off the ball, constantly helping put out fires whenever Spurs lose possession, and he has now revealed that his work ethic was something that was instilled into him from a very young age.

Sarr told The Daily Mail: “My first contact with football was in Thies where I grew up in Senegal. I grew up in a footballing family, they drilled a hard-working mentality into me regarding football. They always prepared me to be successful.

“My dad was a manager. I was afraid of the comments he was going to make about me. It was a plus for me as he was often giving advice after games.”

LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 16: Pape Sarr of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Sheffield United at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on September 16, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Mark Leech/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)

Pape Matar Sarr has had a tough journey to the top

Sarr admitted that he had to make some big sacrifices to be able to rise to the top of the game, but insisted that he enjoyed his development journey back in his home country.

He explained: “Even in Senegal I left my family at a young age to live in Dakar. It’s not easy being so far away. I owe it all to my family, they’re a huge part of my success.

“I went through the Generation Foot academy. We would arrive on Monday and return home on Saturday. We were young lads. It felt like we were a real family. Every day we were together, it was such a beautiful experience.”

That family feel is something that Sarr has also found in North London, with the youngster often seen with a smile on his face during training.

Speaking about life at Tottenham, he said: “Here, we are a family. I am someone who likes to have fun and live in the present, I’m here to make the most of my time with my teammates.”

Spurs Web Opinion

The family feel that Sarr is talking about is apparent with the players’ body language and they clearly seem to be playing for one another. It is quite surprising how quickly the side has managed to build that sort of comradery, given the massive amount of player turnover that occurred this summer.

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Spurs signed Pape Matar Sarr from Metz in the summer of 2021, and allowed the young midfielder to remain with the French club for the subsequent campaign.

The Senegalese star joined up with Tottenham last season, but struggled to find opportunities in the first team under Antonio Conte.

However, since the arrival of Ange Postecoglou, Sarr’s Spurs career has shot to the stratosphere. The 20-year-old started strong this season, scoring a crucial goal in the win against Manchester United.

He has since formed an excellent partnership with Yves Bissouma in the heart of the Tottenham midfield and does not look like being dislodged any time soon.

LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 24: Pape Matar Sarr of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium on September 24, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

Is Pape Matar Sarr the weak link at Spurs?

It may come as a surprise, after a string of great performances, that Sarr has been earmarked as a player that Spurs would need to upgrade on.

That’s the opinion of Keith Treacy, however, who thinks Sarr is holding Tottenham back when it comes to competing with the likes of Manchester City.

He told Off the Ball: “Pape Sarr, he’s somebody who I don’t think is going to bridge that gap between Spurs and Man City or Spurs and Arsenal, so there are question marks there, but they have gotten an awful lot stronger this year.”

Spurs Web Opinion

Pape Sarr is 20-years-old, and he has so much scope to develop and become a top-class midfielder.

He’s already performing so well for Spurs and hasn’t put a foot wrong. To call him out as a weak link is really unfair and frankly, invalid. Any top club would want to nurture a talent like Sarr, not throw him aside and replace him. 

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Ahead of the start of the new season, some Spurs fans were concerned about how Tottenham would cope without Rodrigo Bentancur.

The Uruguayan had been one of the club’s most consistent performers in the 12 months prior to his ACL injury and he was sorely missed by the Lilywhites during the final few months of last season.

However, Sarr has stepped up to the plate and made the position his own, so much so that some might even question whether Bentancur will walk back into the starting eleven when he is fully fit.

The 21-year-old faced one of the toughest tests of his career at the Emirates on Sunday and he passed with flying colours, giving the likes of Martin Odegaard and Fabio Vieira no time to breathe in the middle of the park.

Tottenham Hotspur’s Senegalese midfielder #29 Pape Matar Sarr (L) vies with Arsenal’s German midfielder #29 Kai Havertz (C) during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium in London on September 24, 2023. (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Images)

Pape Matar Sarr is very popular at Tottenham

Gold said about the Senegal international in the Gold & Guest Talk Tottenham podcast: “Pape Matar Sarr was terrific against AC Milan.

“Antonio Conte went, well thank you for that, go and stand over there, and that was literally what he did. Whereas, [Ange] Postecoglou’s gone, no no, this kid’s going to be just a world-beater.

“Like I say, around the club they call him ‘Starboy’, that’s what the players call him because they believe he’s just going to be this phenomenal young player. I’m very excited about the way Postecoglou’s going with this team.”

Spurs Web Opinion

While Sarr does have some technical flaws, he more than makes up for it with his engine and his determination. The midfielder absolutely eats up ground and seems like he would be a nightmare to play against.

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While the resurgence of Yves Bissouma and the scintillating start that James Maddison has made to life at Tottenham dominating the headlines, their midfield partner, Sarr, has been quietly going about his work.

(Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

The Senegal international has established himself as a vital cog in Ange Postecoglou’s midfield, keeping the likes of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Oliver Skipp out of the starting eleven.

The 20-year-old delivered another tireless display against Sheffield United on Saturday, helping Spurs win the ball back on several occasions and intelligently recycling possession.

Pedro Porro says Pape Matar Sarr is his starboy

Porro is another man who has surprised many with the ease with which he has adapted to the inverted full-back role, nailing down the starting spot ahead of Emerson Royal.

The Spaniard was seen celebrating with Sarr on the pitch following the Lilywhites’ dramatic win on Saturday and he has now praised the youngster on X.

My starboy https://t.co/HHUAxLupsS

— Pedro Porro (@Pedroporro29_) September 16, 2023

Spurs Web Opinion

The biggest compliment that I can pay to Sarr is that Bentancur is no longer assured a place in the starting eleven when he gets back fit. That is no ordinary feat considering how good the Uruguayan has been since arriving at Spurs.

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At the start of the summer, many Spurs fans would have felt that the central midfield area was just as much of a priority to strengthen as central defence.

However, following the start Sarr has made to the season, reinforcements in the middle of the park no longer seem to be as much of an urgency for Ange Postecoglou.

(Photo by Chloe Knott – Danehouse/Getty Images)

The 20-years-old has not only moved ahead of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in the pecking order but one can perhaps even legitimately question whether Rodrigo Bentancur will walk straight back into the starting XI when he is fit, particularly if the Senegal international continues in the same vein.

New Spurs contract in the works for Pape Matar Sarr

Postecoglou has waxed lyrical about the former Metz man, admitting that he has a great temperament for someone so young (Football.London).

90 min have now asserted that Spurs are set to reward Sarr for his progress with a new contract.

Even though the youngster has three years left to run on his current deal, it is alleged that the North London club are ready to offer him an extension.

Spurs Web Opinion

Sarr is fully deserving of a pay rise and it would be a smart move by Tottenham to tie him down to a new deal as the midfielder will likely be on the radars of many top clubs at the end of this season if he continues in the same vein.

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After Saturday night’s 2-0 dismantling of Manchester United, when full-time came around, the Tottenham Hotspur stadium turned into a rave scene.

 You had delirious Spurs fans, me included, jumping up and down, singing Freed from Desire, Glory Glory Tottenham Hotspur etc.

ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images

You had the players down on the pitch celebrating, each with a huge grin on their faces, and of course, our manager Ange Postecoglou striding around the pitch clapping the fans who chanted his name all game long.

This was something I hadn’t seen in too many years.

The breath of fresh air that has wafted through n17 has gone from the pitch and into the stands. Gone are the days of muted atmospheres and toxicity from the fans.

Freed from Desire I thought was quite an apt song choice after full-time. Freed from the shackles of the Parmesan Pulis, Nuno and the so-called ‘special one’. Mind and senses purified with attacking, front-foot football. And we just want to see Spurs more and more.

I always have been a Spurs fan, my family have always been fully COYS as Paul O Keefe would say, but in recent times it has been quite easy to feel slightly disconnected with the club.

You have the failure in managerial appointments, you have the transfer of your best-ever player because he couldn’t win anything at Spurs, you have the fossil football, you have the fairly shocking transfer windows in past years, the list could go on.

While ticket prices have gone through the roof, it is fair to say the hierarchy of our club is still rotten to the core, but with Big Ange at the wheel, it finally feels there might be a shift of power over team affairs. Something that has been lacking for decades.

But enough of that boring stuff, let’s talk about the match.

Tottenham on fire against Man United

Where do I start, the first half hour or so I thought we were quite passive and shaky, not having the confidence to play our game and actually dictate the tempo.

With Bruno missing the absolute sitter, it felt like then the momentum had shifted and we finally got out of 2^ndgear.

Ever since then, the game was only going to end up one way.

As for the players well…

I’ve got to give Expressions Oozing credit here for this nickname, “Yves Saint Laurent Bissouma”, because it couldn’t be more fitting.

Bissouma rang rings around Casemiro and to think we stole him for 25 million pounds from Brighton  (The Athletic) is mind-blowing. That man oozes class, confidence and a certain degree of swagger as he just glides with the ball, effortlessly bypassing United’s hopeless midfield.

Pape Matar Sarr played like a combination of Yaya Toure and Paul Pogba. This lad is special, and I have to give credit to Fabio Paratici here because he’s found a star.

Last season in the Champions League against AC Milan, the Senegalese midfielder absolutely rang rings around Sandro Tonali and was a shining light in what was a pretty shoddy tie.

It is absolutely criminal that Skipp started ahead of him towards the second half of the season.

James Maddison, WHAT A PLAYER. The man I have been craving us to sign to finally fill the Eriksen-shaped hole in our side has not failed to disappoint. We got him as well for an absolute steal. There is no doubt he is world-class.

Vicario and Porro also deserve a fair few plaudits considering fans have not been completely sold on Vicario’s all-around game and Porro’s defensive abilities.

Vicario was a saving machine and looked far more comfortable on the ball than against Brentford. Porro was incredibly solid defensively as the game grew and now provides real competition for Emerson in the starting RB spot.

Overall, this game was a real signal of intent. Comfortably dismantling a team tipped for top 4 and now with the fanbase 110 per cent behind him, Ange Postecoglou can shut people like Paul Merson up and exceed preseason expectations.

The days of 5 at the back are over, Big Ange is here and it’s going to be a hell of a ride.

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Just two games into the 2023/24 Premiere League season, and the impact of two 20-year-old prodigies has been instrumental to Tottenham’s flourishing display of football.

Under Ange’s guidance, Spurs have implemented possession-orientated, free-flowing tactics that have allowed for bounds of creativity and freedom for players across the board.

As a result, the coach has garnered a positive, likeable admiration from players like Dejan Kulusevski and Yves Bissouma– who have both been quick to publicly praise the new manager (Evening Standard, Sky Sports).

But as the dust begins to settle around a tumultuous string of events at the club, a newfound confidence has been imposed by youngsters Pape Matar Sarr and Destiny Udogie who have taken ‘Ange-ball’ by storm.

Udogie and Sarr have been quick off the mark this season. Sarr scored his first Premier League goal in the home fixture against Manchester United, and Udogie has started both games.

The two twenty-year-olds have provided a breath of fresh air to all Spurs supporters; their hunger for success and confidence on the pitch has been a joy to watch, but where did they come from?

Rewind back to August of 2021. Ryan Mason was four months into his first spell as interim manager at Hotspur Way, but negotiations for world-class talent were well underway.

Enter Fabio Paratici, an ex-Italian pro that had joined the club in June, after an 11-year spell as chief footballing officer.

Quick to settle down, Fabio’s eye for talent and potential had jerked him into motion – Pape Matar Sarr, a Senegalese midfielder, had caught Paratici’s attention, as Sarr had begun to make his presence known at Ligue 1 side, FC Metz.

In his short spell at FC Metz, the Senegalese international had tallied up four goals in 26 games over the 20/21 season, predominantly playing the role of a defensive midfielder (TransferMarkt). On the 27^th of August 2021, Sarr signed for Spurs for a modest fee of £14.6 million (SkySports).

As part of the deal, Sarr was loaned back to FC Metz for the 21 -22 season. He made 33 appearances, tallying up four goal contributions (Transfer Markt), but the 22/23 season would be the start of his highly anticipated career at Spurs.

August 2022, Tottenham fans are full of optimism and hope going into the new season. Antonio Conte, now entering his ninth month in charge, has defied odds, securing Champions League football and a fourth-place finish, excitement builds for the new campaign.

LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 19: Destiny Udogie of Tottenham Hotspur is substituted off during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on August 19, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

Conte and his Italian outfit had worked wonders, and it looked like they were cooking up something special for the coming season, as Fabio Paratici signs a teenage Italian left back known as Destiny Udogie.

Destiny Udogie piqued Fabio’s interest after a sensational Serie A season. The 21/22 season saw Udogie shirt a total of 37 appearances, in which he netted five goals and assisted three (Transfer Markt).

Following his impressive performance over the season, Fabio signed Destiny for a fee of £15 million (SkySports). Similar to the deal with Pape Matar Sarr, Destiny was loaned back to Udinese for the 22/23 season. The left-sided player closed his account with 33 appearances and seven goal contributions (Transfer Markt).

Ange ball and the prodigies Destiny and Pape

Jump to current day, Ange Postecoglou is at the helm. His tactics are proving to be a joy to watch as Sarr and Udogie slot into the starting XI with relative ease.

Under Ange, Udogie finds himself sliding behind the holding midfielder along with Pedro Porro, the other fullback. This system is known as inverted fullbacks. It allows for more space down the flanks of the pitch, whilst it reinforces the central midfield.

In this position, Destiny can receive the ball, and penetrate the opposition, creating a space and a distraction to the opposition as he runs up the pitch. The tactics are high risk yet high reward, as it frees up the other midfielders.

Sarr on the other hand is finding his own responsibility amongst the likes of Yves Bissouma and James Maddison. Alternating between each other, the trio are the powerhouse of ‘Ange ball’.

As we saw in the Man United game, Sarr and Co. will sit on the outside of the box passing the ball into space, then by timing his run to perfection, he can sneak into spaces unnoticed as play evolves around him – when done well, he can deal a deadly blow to the opposition – as the Red Devils found out.

The pair’s unpredictability is certainly working in their favour. Destiny for one made his premiere league debut on the opening weekend, and Sarr, although we saw glimpses of him under Conte, he remains obscure to most oppositions.

As a result, the duo exudes excitement, the sky’s the limit for either one of their abilities, and with such offensive freedom it will be truly intriguing to see where Ange Postecoglou will take them and the rest of the team.

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Skipp was given the nod ahead of the Senegalese to partner Yves Bissouma in the Premier League opener at Brentford a fortnight ago and featured for 75 minutes before being replaced by Sarr (transfermarkt).

Sarr was called into the starting line-up for the visit of Erik ten Hag’s United to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last weekend and repaid the faith shown in him by his manager with an impressive display which also saw him score his first-ever goal for the club.

The 20-year-old put Spurs ahead four minutes into the second half after United failed to pick up his 40-yard run into the penalty area to get himself on the end of Dejan Kulusevki’s cross with the home side going on to win 2-0.

(Photo by Mark Leech/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)

Glenn Hoddle rates Sarr ahead of Skipp

Sarr was brought off to a standing ovation from the North London faithful in the 76th minute with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg taking his place, while Skipp remained as an unused substitute (transfermarkt).

Hoddle told: Premier League Productions (19/08/23 at 7:45 pm).“He (Sarr) showed a little bit of everything.  Astuteness is his defending. His covering the ground with and without the ball. He can pass as well. He gets his head up, at the right moments. 

“I think young Skipp has done nothing wrong, but for me, that’s an improvement in the team. Him and Bissouma look really good together. I think he has put himself right in there. I think he will play in the next game, not just because he scored. You have an all-round player there.”

SpursWeb Opinion

Sarr certainly has more to his game than Skipp, who is more of a steady player compared to his team-mate who looks comfortable both with and without the ball.  His energy levels and desire to track back and defend, while also making long sprints to join in with the attack were equally impressive.

With Rodrigo Bentancur also set to come back into the side by late November when he recovers from his knee injury and Yves Bissouma looking like a new man, it could prove that Skipp will struggle for regular first-team football this season.

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Despite signing for Tottenham two years ago, it is only now that Pape Matar Sarr has started to show what he is capable of after being given first-team opportunities by new manager, Ange Postecoglou.

The youngster was retained by Antonio Conte for the 2022/23 campaign, rather than being loaned out, but that decision did not prove to be beneficial for Sarr himself, as he only appeared 14 times last season with a total of 466 minutes on the field (Transfermarkt).

LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 19: Pape Sarr of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates the opening goal during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on August 19, 2023 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Mark Leech/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)

Having featured prominently for Postecoglou in pre-season, the Senegal midfielder was given his chance to shine with a starting role in the game against Manchester United this weekend.

Sarr rewarded his manager’s faith with a first goal for the club, and a goal which ultimately opened the door for Spurs to win the game.

Sarr is just like Heung-min Son in early Spurs days

Speaking to SPURSPLAY after that win over the Red Devils, Spurs captain Heung-min Son was full of praise for Sarr and the positive energy the young player has brought to the club.

He said: “I would say he’s little Sonny, he just reminds me of when I joined Spurs. He’s always laughing with good energy. He brings really positive energy, he’s a happy guy and I think that’s why I’m always around him.”

Spurs Web Opinion

It is so good to see a young player like Pape Matar Sarr flourishing now, after such a difficult campaign last year. The boy is clearly incredibly talented, and is obviously ready for top-flight action, too, so it’s great that Postecoglou has given him this chance, and hopefully there is no looking back for Sarr, now.

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