HOTSPUR STADIUM IN TOTTENAM— Ange Postecoglou, the fall guy who refuses to fall, has become one of Tottenham’s rarest managers. Expect the constant clamor about his future to intensify after the loss to Newcastle, but attempt to stop the bluster.
No lasagnas in sight. This week’s virus that tore through the training field may have been a turning point, but not for the reasons you may think. All guns blazing, kids on the bench, backs against the wall, and the world is Postecoglou at his barnstorming best.
There is only one problem with all of this: Tottenham Hotspur lost their tenth Premier League game of the season against the same team who caused the first. Since the game against Aston Villa on November 3, they have not won three points at home.
Despite their aggression and bug infestation, they fought to the end. Accordingly, this was a commendable demonstration of defiance and tenacity that might have merited a point. But once more, they went down.
Postecoglou later stated that, considering the situation, he was “extremely proud.” “I’m devastated that the lads didn’t achieve the outcomes we were due. We would have won that game if it had been a different day and the playing field had been level and fair.
He has stated time and time again that he is “sick of excuses.” That could lead to an unjustified judgment of him.
Spurs’ first half was both their finest and worst, and it was also the handball rule’s lowest point. Lucas Bergvall was the focal point of it all. His uncontested charge into the final third resulted in Pedro Porro’s cross, which Dominic Solanke headed in before Sven Botman returned.
Bergvall‘s cross would have found a teammate at the other end if Joelinton‘s arm hadn’t stopped it before 120 seconds had passed. According to the VAR’s remark, in a “natural position” or not. Unquestionably, the advantage is absurdly unfair.
Bruno Guimaraes only needed to tee up Anthony Gordon, a forward, with the icy coldness that Thomas Tuchel, who was watching, would have been used to during his winter vacation in Bavaria. The England boss must have been thrilled by both of the early goals when work began this week. Gordon’s goal was his 17th in 23 outings against the Big Six since he arrived two years ago.
It was equally lucky for Dan Burn that referee Andrew Madley did not issue him a second yellow card for a handball. At least Newcastle’s second was unquestionable. Jacob Murphy’s frequent exploits of the gap created by Djed Spence (at left-back) being dragged into the middle made it inevitable.
On its way to Alexander Isak for the tap-in, Radu Dragusin was touched by Murphy’s cross. Eddie Howe speculates that if Anthony Gordon had received a penalty for colliding with Dejan Kulusevski, it might have been more.
Let’s go on to mitigation. It seems like this Spurs team can’t become much more exposed, but it always does.
Out of position were two of the back four. In goal for his first and just his 24th professional game, Brandon Austin, who turns 26 on Wednesday, deserves a great deal of praise for his performance.
At halftime, Sergio Reguilon replaced Dragusin, one of the players Postecoglou claimed had “gotten off his sick bed” to play, forcing Spence to start at center back. After Ben Davies, Micky van de Ven, and Cristian Romero were injured, the Romanian was the last player left. By the end of the afternoon, Postecoglou had absolutely no center-backs available.
In those conditions, how can one judge any coach? One response is in the boardroom. We are rapidly nearing Ryan Mason season while Michael Buble’s tardiness thaws out for Christmas.
The significant distinction is that Postecoglou still has enough goodwill left for his relationship with Daniel Levy to remain intact. After a point of no return in that regard, Harry Redknapp, Jose Mourinho, and Antonio Conte all left.
Spurs were 14th in the table when Mauricio Pochettino left in November, which is not far from where they are now based on the other outcomes from the weekend. Since Pochettino in 2018–19, the Australian has been the only Spurs manager to stay on for the entire season. It’s a familiar, unpleasant pattern.
Not often does Levy’s dilemma—whether to stay or twist—occur so early in the season and with such an unusual roster of absences, which includes two elite center backs, a left back, two strikers, and their finest midfield player.
However, if Liverpool steps up and defeats his club by another six goals, this season may be finished by 10 p.m. on Wednesday, or at the very least, its final realistic hopes would be dashed. Spurs will find it difficult to maintain their participation in the FA Cup and Europa League, two lengthy and difficult competitions.
His choice is made much more difficult by the fact that last season’s second half saw such inconsistent outcomes, which casts doubt on the notion that injuries and other misfortunes are the only cause of current problem. Determining where the true warnings stop and the reality checks need to start has grown more challenging.
It would take a really astute, well-timed, and effective appointment to make firing Postecoglou now the appropriate choice, but the highs are so steep when his tactics truly take hold. There is no history of those for Levy. At least until the conclusion of the season, it is time for the unimaginable: patience.
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