Warning to Spurs Fans: Growing Displeasure with Daniel Levy may lead to Ange Postecoglou’s dismissal instead of the Chairman.
WHEN Ange Postecoglou first joined Tottenham, he introduced an invigorating atmosphere.
Recently, however, his injury-plagued squad has encountered difficulties in several games, leading some supporters to question if his creative strategies are starting to falter.
The Australian coach now faces the challenge of proving that his strategies still hold merit amid a demanding schedule and unprecedented injury difficulties, which he asserts are the worst he has encountered in his 26-year coaching career.
His struggling team currently finds itself in a disheartening trend, with only one victory in their last eight matches.
This lone win, a 4-0 triumph over Manchester City at the Etihad last month, was celebrated as one of their brightest performances in Premier League history.
This significant victory highlighted the potential heights Postecoglou’s squad can reach when performing at their peak.
Nonetheless, as many fans have pointed out, this achievement feels overshadowed by a 2-1 home loss to Ipswich and a lackluster defeat to Bournemouth just twelve days later.
As the pressure continues to build, Postecoglou has, rather unusually, called out one of his players publicly this week.
He labeled Timo Werner’s performance in Thursday’s 1-1 draw against Rangers as “unacceptable.”
Werner struggled against the Scottish team and was substituted at half-time for Dejan Kulusevski, who managed to secure a crucial point at Ibrox.
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As a Champions League winner and experienced German international, Postecoglou’s remarks regarding Werner’s performance were certainly valid.
However, it was notable to hear the Spurs manager take such a public stance against a player.
Ange Postecoglou calls Tottenham flop’s performance ‘unacceptable’ in brutal blast after hauling him off at half-time
This statement followed closely after Postecoglou had discussed his reluctance to publicly scold players concerning Cristian Romero’s comments about Daniel Levy and the Spurs management.
Postecoglou dismissed the idea that he had reprimanded Werner in Friday’s press briefing, framing it instead as “an assessment of his performance.”
What some might interpret as a reprimand could also be seen as constructive feedback from another perspective.
However, for those who have been closely following Postecoglou’s time at Spurs, it was significant to hear him criticize his underperforming loanee publicly.
He complemented his defense of this critique with remarks that succinctly summed up Spurs’ situation: “We’re in a fight here.”
Kulusevski echoed this battling spirit in a quick interview after the Rangers match, stating: “Football is war. You have to be prepared 100 percent. If not, you’ll be eaten alive.”
Injury crisis
So far, Postecoglou has not yet become another statistic among the coaches who have succumbed under Levy’s leadership.
After Sunday’s 4-3 defeat at home to Chelsea, where Spurs relinquished a 2-0 lead, the prevailing thought is that Postecoglou still enjoys the club’s support, as the significant injury list has been a critical factor.
Guglielmo Vicario, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Ben Davies, Wilson Odobert, Mikey Moore, and Richarlison are all currently unavailable for selection.
Meanwhile, midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur is serving a seven-match suspension following his racist remarks about teammate Son Heung-min.
Postecoglou certainly has the backing of his players, as Romero suggested last week amidst his critiques directed at the board.
Fan opinions appear to be divided, with some questioning whether Postecoglou’s philosophy will lead to the “glorious” success he has promised.
Daniel Levy backing
Some supporters even expressed their discontent from the stands during a dull 1-0 defeat against Bournemouth just over a week ago.
Others believe that the former Celtic manager requires more substantial support—beyond simply filling the roster with young talent for the future, which characterized the club’s summer transfer strategy, with the exception of the £65 million acquisition of Dominic Solanke and the re-loaning of Werner.
Chairman Levy’s commitment to Postecoglou—who he claimed had “revived our Tottenham ” with his dynamic approach last September—will be tested if the performance in the subsequent games deteriorates.
Next on the schedule is Southampton, the site of Antonio Conte’s infamous press conference outburst where he criticized the players, ownership, and the club.
Most teams are eager to face Russell Martin’s struggling squad, which has only gathered five points this season and sits eight points away from safety.
However, they can still display quality football on their day, as Liverpool recently discovered—only to be thwarted by Mohamed Salah’s brilliance.
Possible saving grace
With Spurs frequently missing chances under Postecoglou’s aggressive style, a win for the North Londoners feels elusive.
Following that, a critical Carabao Cup quarter-final clash against Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United looms on Thursday.
The cup competitions could provide Postecoglou with a lifeline this season, allowing him to fulfill his seemingly unfounded assertion from September that “I always win things in my second year” in management.
Nonetheless, an exit against Amorim’s team would raise concerns ahead of Liverpool’s visit the following Sunday.
This season, every match feels vital for Postecoglou due to the glaring inconsistency, and it genuinely appears that crunch time is approaching.
The outcome may hinge on the degree of criticism Levy faces from the fans.
Protests against ENIC, the club’s majority owners, have occurred in the past, with another demonstration reportedly planned for the upcoming Liverpool match on December 22.
Historically, Spurs managers have struggled when the authority which appointed them is under scrutiny.
If results do not show improvement, expect the pressure to intensify, placing Postecoglou’s position at risk.