Tottenham’s season is in crisis as the pressure mounts on Ange Postecoglou.
A 3-2 defeat at Everton left them 15th in the Premier League table, closer to the relegation zone than the European places.
The loss, which saw Postecoglou’s side 3-0 down at half-time against a side that had scored 15 goals in 20 games to that point, was Spurs’ 12th defeat of the season and continued their dismal run of one win – against basement side Southampton – in their last 10 games :
Spurs’ dozen defeats this season are the most they have suffered after 22 league games in a quarter of a century, while they have won just nine in the Premier League over the past nine months, losing 24 of their last 50 matches.
So what’s in store for Postecoglou and Tottenham ahead of a busy end to January both on and off the pitch? Sky Sports News. Michael Bridges explains all the…
Is Postecoglou under any intense pressure?
I understand that he is not under any strong pressure. I think there is pressure because they are 15th in the league. It is unacceptable for them.
But Postecoglu said it himself. He also said, and he is right, that they are still in three cup competitions but the league position is not acceptable.
So there is pressure. But in terms of his job security, I believe he still has the full support of the board.
But the next three or four weeks decide Tottenham’s season. If the likes of Mickey van de Ven and Christian Romero return in the next few weeks, they can qualify for the last 16 of the Europa League, they can reach the Carabao Cup final. they can beat Aston Villa in the FA Cup.
Then you turn around and say actually this might still be a good season.
However, they could lose to Hoffenheim in Europe on Thursday and then they would have two extra games to reach the last round of the Europa League. They could lose the Carabao Cup second leg at Anfield and go out. Villa”.
If that happens, it could be a tough few months until May.
Why does the advice give him this time?
I think it’s a given that these injuries are seriously debilitating. They’re not just freak injuries, they’re bad injuries.
People can blame him for the style of play that led to the hamstring injury, you can’t blame Postecoglou for kicking the ball in training and his knee going down.
Postecoglou told me and my colleagues in the last two or three weeks. Dom needs help, and now Dom is hurt.
It’s January 20th and no contracts have come in. Yes, January is tough, but he really needs help.
Will Postecoglou get that support in the January transfer window?
I believe so. They have to bring in players. January is not easy. Spurs have had some good January windows.
For example, Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancourt were in January and now they are Tottenham’s two best players. So it could happen.
But European clubs are not so willing to give their players in January. In January, we have European football, which has never happened before.
But despite that, I still believe that Spurs will bring in at least one player, but it will have to happen very soon.
Where do Spurs fans sit on Postecoglou?
Mixed is probably a fair assessment right now after the defeat at Everton.
When he joined, I’ve never known such love. Postecoglou himself said, “Tottenham Hotspur stadium is like being in a nightclub. Even Robbie Williams started singing about him.”
And then they had a bad run when they had that Chelsea game, that 4-1 loss on Monday Night Football. The season just went off the rails after that and Postecoglou didn’t really bring it back.
A lot of fans just think it’s not his fault and that they don’t support him. They feel the team isn’t good enough, they need money, they need better recruitment.
While some fans are upset with how he only has one way of playing, others feel that injuries have to do with him and they are not happy with the high line and open midfield.
Some feel he’s stubborn and some think it might be time for a change, but who do you bring in? We’ve seen Ruben Amorim so unsure of joining a club that has so much work to do this offseason. to do.
Daniel Levy has fired Spurs coaches in the off-season before, how will that go?
I don’t know if the fans will accept an interim like Ryan Mason has had the last two times, I don’t think they will.
Postecoglou is still on good terms with the Spurs hierarchy, head of football operations Scott Moon, who is Australian and an Ange supporter.
Postecoglou works very well with Tottenham’s technical director Johan Lange. But the next three to four weeks are pivotal to Tottenham’s season.
If Postecoglou were to be sacked soon, where would that leave Daniel Lewin with Spurs fans?
I don’t think Daniel Levy personally would want to rush to fire another manager.
But if he did, it would make for a very atmospheric final few months of the season at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Spurs are riddled with injuries at the moment, is there an explanation as to why?
There is no doubt that, given the way Tottenham play, that risk is there.
I also think the poor recruitment has reached the club. I look at the squad and I don’t see it as top six at the moment.
I think in fairness to Postecoglou he probably didn’t give himself enough credit for them finishing fifth in the first season without Harry Kane.
Spurs spent a couple of seasons playing badly, winning 1-0 with Kane’s lightning strike. They used to rely on him too much. They didn’t have him last season and they still had a pretty good season.
This season you’ve seen a number of injuries, poor performances, and then Heung-Min Son, who has had a difficult season, is a year older.
And one of the most disappointing facts is that I don’t think, and this is maybe a collective responsibility, they didn’t really plan the extra European matches.
Spurs were not in Europe last season. They were eliminated from the FA Cup. They were eliminated from the Carabao Cup in the second round. So they’ve essentially only had about 42 games.
This year they played their 34th game. They had two more European matches this month. They got the FA Cup.
Tottenham’s upcoming matches: Europe, Carabao Cup and FA Cup
Hoffenheim (A) – Europa League – Thursday, January 23, 17:45
Leicester City (H) – Premier League – Sunday, January 26, 14:00
Elfsborg (H) – Europa League – Thursday, January 30, 20:00
Brentford (A) – Premier League – Sunday, February 2, 14:00
Liverpool (A) – Carabao Cup semi-final – Thursday, February 6, 20:00 (Agg 0-1)
Aston Villa (A) – FA Cup fourth round – Sunday, February 9, 17:35
Manchester United (H) – Premier League – Sunday, February 16, 16:30