New Spurs Coach Ho Hums Right Notes To Boost Wsl Side’s Confidence

“We’re each successful nan aforesaid boat, successful nan aforesaid way, and nary one’s drilling holes,” says nan caller Tottenham caput coach, Martin Ho. “The ambition and committedness to women’s sports and women’s shot is there. Daniel Levy’s sewage very large plans for this nine and this squad moving forward.”

Ho, backmost successful nan WSL aft 2 years successful Norway pinch Brann, namechecks different elder Spurs unit and sounds a further statement of optimism. “When you’re each aligned strategically and you’re each going successful nan correct guidance I judge you tin make things happen,” he says, having joined Spurs past month.

In nan 2023-24 season, Ho guided Brann done qualifying into their first Champions League group stage, wherever they vanished 2nd earlier being eliminated by nan eventual champions, Barcelona, successful nan quarter-finals. That influential first caput coach’s domiciled had followed clip arsenic an adjunct pinch Everton and Manchester United.

“It was astir apt nan correct clip to travel back,” nan 35-year-old says. “There’s an description to nan WSL and truthful connected and I’ve astir apt travel into it astatine nan correct time. More importantly, I deliberation this nine has immense value and immense imaginable that we’re not fulfilling. It’s my occupation to make judge we do. There’s a batch of value wrong nan squad that possibly has not been capable to beryllium shown arsenic overmuch arsenic group would person liked. The playing style, I feel, will thief that.”

Ho says he inherited a squad “low connected assurance and possibly belief and information too”. A sixth-placed decorativeness and tally to nan Women’s FA Cup final successful nan 2023-24 play was followed by a disappointing 11th-placed decorativeness that resulted successful nan exit of nan head Robert Vilahamn. Vilahamn and Ho are very different characters, nan softly spoken Swede contrasting pinch nan animated, large coach from Merseyside.

Tottenham’s Toko Koga fends disconnected Arsenal’s Alessia Russo during past Saturday’s pre-season friends victory. Photograph: Unnati Naidu/SPP/Shutterstock

Ho says: “The first point I said to nan players was astir motivation: ‘You person specified a awesome occupation arsenic a person. There’s a batch of group that would emotion to beryllium successful that privileged position; nan slightest we tin springiness is an energy, committedness and difficult activity connected nan transportation and nan value and accomplishment group will travel from nan coaching staff.’

“Importantly, I’ve sewage to make judge that they consciousness valued, respected and trusted, and I want to return nan reins disconnected a small bit, to show we tin beryllium brave and that we’re bully capable to play a definite way.”

Five weeks into nan task things look to beryllium going successful nan correct direction. You cannot return excessively overmuch from a pre-season friendly, but a 4-3 triumph against nan European champions Arsenal connected Saturday points to an improved ruthlessness and has lifted spirits.

“I learned wherever we’re astatine arsenic a group and individually and past nan steps we request to take,” says Ho. “It’s really bully to spot what we’re moving connected successful training and nan aspects we’ve discussed successful acquisition successful nan study room travel to fruition. I’m really impressed pinch really they’ve applied themselves and really they’ve embraced thing wholly different to what they’re utilized to.”

What does his shot look like? “I don’t want to beryllium back. I cognize you get pushed back, that’s different, I don’t want america to driblet back. We’ll beryllium front-footed, for illustration we were against Arsenal successful moments. I want to make judge that we’re consistently stepping guardant and defending guardant and, pinch nan ball, being exciting, being brave and allowing individual players to show their individual qualities. I want america to beryllium much expressive arsenic a squad truthful that we’re breathtaking successful games and group want to watch us.”

Against Arsenal, Ho appeared to edifice to a scheme B erstwhile things weren’t rather working. How galore plans does he have? “A to Z,” he says, pinch a laugh. “The crippled is going to propulsion you truthful galore different problems. In England now it’s much of a chess crippled and you person to beryllium very tactically flexible. In nan first half we established bully building but we weren’t utilizing nan building decently truthful we readjusted that somewhat successful nan 2nd half and that gave america much power and much opportunities to play guardant and beryllium brave. You person to admit Arsenal, they are a super, ace squad and they’re gonna person possession and are going to make america surrender astatine times, and we did, but nan important point for maine was nan ruthless separator we had going forward.”

Tottenham’s player’s enjoyed a invited pick-me-up pinch a 4-3 triumph complete northbound London rivals Arsenal astatine Meadow Park. Photograph: Unnati Naidu/SPP/Shutterstock

A large occupation is improving Tottenham’s consistency. “I judge persistence gets you location and consistency keeps you there,” says Ho. “We’ve sewage to get persistent earlier we tin get consistent.”

Up first for Tottenham is simply a London derby against West Ham a week connected Sunday. West Ham vanished past play powerfully but Ho wants Tottenham to works their flag. “The first crippled of nan play is astir apt really you’re remembered and I want to make judge that we’re remembered successful nan correct light,” he says.