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WHEN Ange Postecoglou first stepped into his role at Tottenham, he infused the club with renewed vigor.
Yet, in recent matches characterized by injuries, his team has faltered, leading some supporters to wonder if his groundbreaking tactics are beginning to falter.
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The Australian coach now faces the challenge of proving that his strategies can still thrive amid a demanding fixture list and an extraordinary wave of injuries that he describes as the worst he’s encountered in his 26-year coaching career.
His beleaguered team is currently in a downward trend, with only one win from their last eight matches.
This lone victory, a 4-0 triumph over Manchester City at the Etihad last month, was celebrated as one of their most remarkable performances in Premier League history.
This landmark success illustrated the heights that the 59-year-old’s team can reach when operating at peak performance.
Nonetheless, as many supporters have observed, this achievement seems insignificant in light of a 2-1 loss to Ipswich at home and a disheartening defeat to Bournemouth just 12 days later.
With pressure building, Postecoglou has unusually called out one of his players in public this week.
He labeled Timo Werner’s performance during Thursday’s 1-1 draw against Rangers as “unacceptable”.
Werner struggled in the match and was substituted at halftime for Dejan Kulusevski, who ultimately helped to secure an important point at Ibrox.
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Despite being a Champions League victor and seasoned German international, Postecoglou’s critique of Werner was not without merit.
However, it was noteworthy to hear the Spurs boss take such a public stance against a player under his care.
Ange Postecoglou calls Tottenham flop’s performance ‘unacceptable’ in brutal blast after hauling him off at half-time
This remark came just a day after Postecoglou discussed his hesitance to publicly criticize players while addressing Cristian Romero’s comments regarding Daniel Levy and the club hierarchy.
Postecoglou refused the idea that he had reprimanded Werner in Friday’s press conference, referring to it instead as merely “an assessment of his performance”.
What one might interpret as criticism could be viewed by another as constructive feedback.
Nevertheless, for those closely observing Postecoglou’s time at Spurs, it was striking to hear him openly critique his underperforming loanee.
He supported his criticism with statements that succinctly captured Spurs’ predicament: “We’re in a fight here.”
Kulusevski echoed this combative sentiment in a brief interview after the Rangers match, asserting: “Football is war. You have to be prepared 100 percent. If not, you’ll be eaten alive.”
Injury crisis
So far, Postecoglou has managed to avoid becoming another casualty like many coaches before him during Levy’s reign.
Following Sunday’s 4-3 defeat at home to Chelsea, where Spurs squandered a 2-0 advantage, it was felt that Postecoglou still had the club’s confidence, acknowledging that a vicious injury list was a considerable hurdle.
Guglielmo Vicario, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Ben Davies, Wilson Odobert, Mikey Moore, and Richarlison are all currently unavailable.
Additionally, midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur is serving a seven-match ban due to his racist comments aimed at teammate Son Heung-min.
Postecoglou evidently enjoys strong support from his squad, as evidenced by Romero’s remarks last week amidst his criticisms of the board.
Fan reactions appear to be mixed, with some questioning whether Postecoglou’s philosophy will deliver the “glorious” success he has assured.
Daniel Levy backing
Some supporters have even expressed their discontent towards him from the stands during a lackluster 1-0 loss against Bournemouth just over a week ago.
Others believe the former Celtic manager needs more robust backing—beyond merely recruiting young talents for the future, which characterized the club’s summer transfer approach, with the exception of the £65 million acquisition of Dominic Solanke and the return loan of Werner.
Chairman Levy’s commitment to Postecoglou—whom he claimed had “revived our Tottenham ” with his dynamic style last September—will be put to the test if upcoming matches worsen.
Next, they will face Southampton, the site of Antonio Conte’s infamous tirade where he criticized the players, ownership, and club.
Most teams are eager to meet Russell Martin’s struggling squad, which has mustered just five points this season and is eight points short of safety.
However, on their good days, they are still capable of delivering quality performances, as Liverpool recently discovered—despite being thwarted by Mohamed Salah’s brilliance.
Possible saving grace
With Spurs frequently squandering chances under Postecoglou’s dynamic approach, a victory for the North Londoners seems tenuous.
Following that, a crucial Carabao Cup quarter-final against Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United is set for Thursday.
The cup competitions might offer Postecoglou a vital opportunity this season, allowing him to fulfill his seemingly unfounded claim from September that “I always win things in my second year” in management.
However, an exit against Amorim’s team would raise alarms ahead of Liverpool’s visit the following Sunday.
Every match this season feels pivotal for Postecoglou due to the evident inconsistency, but it genuinely feels as though critical moments are drawing near.
The outcome may hinge on how much discontent Levy faces from the supporters.
Protests against ENIC, the club’s majority owners, have happened before, with another demonstration reportedly set for the upcoming Liverpool matchup on December 22.
Historically, Spurs managers have found it challenging when their appointing authority is under fire.
If results don’t show signs of improvement, expect the heat to increase, placing Postecoglou’s position in jeopardy.
