Tottenham’s season is in disaster with the stress ramping up on Ange Postecoglou.
Spurs’ 3-2 defeat to Everton has left them fifteenth within the Premier League desk – nearer to the relegation zone than the European locations.
The loss, which noticed Postecoglou’s facet go 3-0 down at half-time to a group that had scored 15 objectives in 20 video games beforehand, was Spurs’ 12 defeat of the season and continues a dismal run of 1 win – towards basement membership Southampton – of their final 10 video games.
Spurs’ dozen defeats this time period is probably the most they’ve suffered after 22 league video games in over 1 / 4 of a century – whereas they solely have 9 Premier League wins within the final 9 months – dropping 24 out of the final 50 matches.
So what’s subsequent for Postecoglou and Tottenham forward of a busy finish to January each on and off the sector? Sky Sports activities Information’ Michael Bridge explains all…
Is Postecoglou below any extreme stress?
My understanding is he is not below any extreme stress. I feel there’s stress as a result of they’re fifteenth within the league. To them, it’s unacceptable.
However Postecoglou mentioned that himself. He additionally mentioned, and he is proper, that they’re nonetheless in three cup competitions, however the league place will not be acceptable.
So, there’s stress. However by way of his job safety, I do imagine he nonetheless has the complete backing of the board.
However the subsequent three or 4 weeks decide Tottenham’s season. If the likes of Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero come again within the subsequent few weeks, they might qualify for the Europa League final 16, they could get to the Carabao Cup remaining, they could beat Aston Villa within the FA Cup.
Then you definately’re turning round and saying, truly, this might nonetheless be an excellent season.
Nevertheless, they might lose to Hoffenheim in Europe on Thursday, get knocked out of that prime eight, after which they have two additional video games to succeed in the latter phases of the Europa League. They may lose at Anfield within the second leg within the Carabao Cup and so they might exit to Villa.
If that have been to occur it may very well be a troublesome few months till Could.
Why are the board giving him this time?
I feel there’s an acceptance that these accidents are severely derailing the facet. They don’t seem to be simply the odd accidents, they’re unhealthy accidents.
Folks can blame him on the type of play which has led to hamstring accidents. You can’t blame Postecoglou on Dominic Solanke kicking a ball in coaching and his knee going.
Postecoglou has mentioned for the final two or three weeks to me and colleagues: Dom wants assist. And now Dom is injured.
It is the twentieth of January and no outfield signing has are available in. Sure, January is tough, however he actually does want some assist now.
Will Postecoglou get that help within the January switch market?
I do imagine so. They need to deliver gamers in. January will not be simple, however it’s achievable. Spurs have had some good January home windows.
For instance, Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur have been January signings and now they’re Tottenham’s two greatest gamers. So it could actually occur.
However European golf equipment aren’t as eager to present away their gamers in January. We have got European soccer in January now, which has by no means occurred earlier than.
Besides, I nonetheless imagine that Spurs will herald not less than one participant, nevertheless it must occur fairly quickly.
The place do the Spurs followers sit on Postecoglou?
Blended might be a good evaluation proper now after the defeat to Everton.
When he joined, I’ve by no means recognized love prefer it. Postecoglou mentioned it himself, the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was like being in a nightclub. Even Robbie Williams began singing songs about him.
After which they went on a poor run once they had that Chelsea sport, that 4-1 defeat on Monday Evening Soccer. The season simply derailed after that and Postecoglou did not actually get that again.
Many followers simply suppose it is not his fault and that he is not been backed. They really feel the squad’s not adequate, he wants cash, they want higher recruitment.
Whereas some followers are upset with how he is solely obtained a technique of taking part in. Some really feel the accidents are all the way down to him, and so they’re not proud of the excessive line and the open midfield.
Some really feel he’s cussed and a few really feel it may be time for a change, however who do you herald? We have seen Ruben Amorim being so not sure about becoming a member of a membership mid-season with a lot work to do.
Daniel Levy has sacked Spurs managers mid-season earlier than, how would that look?
I do not know if the followers would settle for an interim like Ryan Mason, like they’ve the final two instances. With the murmurings I hear, I do not suppose they’d settle for that.
Postecoglou nonetheless retains an excellent relationship with the Spurs hierarchy. The top of soccer operations is Scott Munn, who’s an Australian and is a supporter of Ange.
Postecoglou works with Johan Lange very properly, the Tottenham technical director. However the subsequent three to 4 weeks are pivotal to Tottenham’s season.
If Postecoglou was to be sacked quickly, the place wouldn’t it depart Daniel Levy with the Spurs followers?
I do not suppose Daniel Levy personally would wish to be in any rush to fireside one other supervisor.
But when he did, it might trigger a really tense previous few months of the season within the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium by way of environment.
Spurs are riddled with accidents in the meanwhile, is there any clarification as to why?
There is no such thing as a doubt that given Tottenham’s type of play, there’s that danger.
I additionally suppose poor recruitment has caught up with the membership. I take a look at the squad, and I do not take into account it a top-six squad in the meanwhile.
I feel in equity to Postecoglou, he did not in all probability give himself sufficient credit score for once they completed fifth within the first season with out Harry Kane.
Spurs spent a number of seasons taking part in poorly, successful 1-0 with a Kane thunderbolt. They used to overly depend on him. They did not have him final season, and so they nonetheless had a fairly good season.
This season, you have seen numerous accidents, poor performances, after which the likes of Heung-Min Son, who has had a troublesome season, is a 12 months older.
And some of the disappointing details is I do not suppose, and that is possibly a collective duty, they did not actually plan for the additional European matches.
Final season, Spurs weren’t in Europe. They obtained knocked out of the FA Cup. They obtained knocked out of the Carabao Cup within the second spherical. In order that they basically solely had about 42 video games.
This 12 months, they’ve performed their thirty fourth sport already. They have two extra European matches this month. They have a second leg within the Carabao Cup. They have the FA Cup.