Tottenham Hotspur fans have all the love in the world for Ange Postecoglou despite his troubles in the Premier League, as he will always be a club icon for his charisma and the 2025 Europa League title he brought to North London. However, Spurs fans would not trade the upgrade of having Roberto De Zerbi, who is already taking the Lilywhites to another level in terms of tactical ideas, leadership, and the players he is recruiting.
The problem is that even a great manager who is doing well like De Zerbi has to break a few eggs, and one of his best young players will have to face situations he won't like. Tottenham fans were upset by how often Postecoglou played Archie Gray out of position in his first season in 2024/25, including arguably more spells as a center back than as a center midfielder, which hurt the club's ability to evaluate the player properly.
After last season, Tottenham know what they have in Gray, and even when De Zerbi had to switch to playing more experienced players, he made sure to praise Gray as important to the future. This summer, Gray has been getting starts at the base of the midfield even after the signings of Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes, though, against Chelsea, he was back in another position other than his own, playing at right back on a team that may not have a backup right back option for Pedro Porro if Djed Spence forces his way out.
Archie Gray won't have his ideal season
Roberto De Zerbi told reporters of Archie Gray, via Alasdair Gold of Football.London, “I spoke with Ben Davies before speaking to Archie Gray, because the natural captain was Ben but I think it has been more important for Archie than Ben because it's like to give Archie something more for his confidence. Last season I said he's the future of the club but also the present. It's important for us because he can cover two or three positions. I think to be a captain you have to think first for the group and the club rather than yourself and it was something more to give him. He deserves it. It's the same for Bergvall. I have the same feeling for him.”
So the Lucas Bergvall bone at the end feels a bit weird and almost like pandering to a player who wants out, but, that aside, there are two big takeaways from RDZ here. The first is that Gray really is someone Tottenham are grooming to be the next leader of the team with Ben Davies's full endorsement - and Davies is essentially as much assistant coach as he is player at this stage.
But the other takeaway is less pleasing to Gray, and it is something De Zerbi admitted. As a leader and a piilar role player despite being a backup to Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes, Gray is going to have to swallow taking on the jobs he doesn't necessarily want to help the team. That is what a future captain and a true Spur does. Credit to De Zerbi for framing it like that and Gray for taking on the role, but it doesn't change the fact that Gray's 2026/27 may look a lot like his 2024/25 under Ange Posteclgou. And Spurs fans are going to have to get used to that and be OK with it.
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