What's going wrong for Ange Postecoglou and Tottenham after one Premier League win in nine sees club looking down table
Updated 16/01/2025 at 12:30 GMT
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Tottenham's latest defeat to bitter rivals Arsenal sees Ange Postecoglou's men sitting in 13th in the Premier League table, some 14 points adrift of fourth-placed Newcastle, and just eight ahead of Wolverhampton Wanderers in the relegation zone. With just one win in nine games - a 5-0 dismantling of bottom club Southampton - we assess where it may be going wrong for Postecoglou.
Postecoglou criticises ‘passive’, ‘unacceptable’ Spurs performance – ‘Needs to stop’
Video credit: TNT Sports
With every week that passes, Ange Postecoglou's position as Tottenham manager appears more precarious.
Spurs' 2-1 Premier League loss to bitter rivals Arsenal on Wednesday evening was their sixth loss in the past 10 games.
Indeed, such form sees Postecoglou's men languishing in 13th place on 24 points, some 14 adrift of fourth-placed Newcastle United and merely eight above Wolverhampton Wanderers in 18th.
The stats further exemplify how poor Spurs' form has been. The club have lost their joint-most Premier League games at this stage of a single campaign (11), while the only sides they have claimed more wins than are the three teams currently occupying the relegation zone - Wolves, Leicester and Southampton.
They have also failed to win in their past five Premier League games, and claimed just one win in nine, against bottom-side Southampton.
So where is it going wrong for Postecoglou?
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Postecoglou has to be ‘more adaptable’ to deal with injuries - Ferdinand
Video credit: TNT Sports
Injuries
Spurs have an extensive injury list, having gone into the north London derby with nine players ruled out.
Their defence has been particularly affected, with shot-stopper Guglielmo Vicario, and first-choice contenders Destiny Udogie, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Ben Davies all out.
In turn, Spurs have been made to field inexperienced January signing Antonin Kinsky in goal, and 18-year-old midfielder Archie Gray at centre-back, with the latter admittedly having excelled.
Nevertheless, TNT Sports pundit and former Spurs and Liverpool striker Peter Crouch insisted the club had enough in the squad to compete further up the table.
"We all know the injury problems," Crouch said in the wake of the north London derby. "But the two 18-year-olds [Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray] were the best players.
"If I'm a more experienced player, I feel embarrassed. I look at Son, he has had a disappointing season.
"They need players back - that team out there is not good enough in the league. I don't see them catching the top teams."
Postecoglou's adaptability
Since arriving in north London, Postecoglou's tactical flexibility and willingness to adapt has frequently been scrutinised by fans and pundits.
Among those questioning the Australian's 'are you not entertained?' mantra was Rio Ferdinand, after Spurs' latest defeat saw the club move two places below West Ham, despite having a goal difference that is 25 superior.
"Maybe he has to be more adaptable with his tactics," Ferdinand told TNT Sports.
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"I understand and respect Ange's principles but with the injuries, surely you have to adapt them. Adaptability would be sensible at this time."
Next up for Spurs is Sunday's trip to David Moyes' struggling Everton, a match the 59-year-old's side will be expected to win.
"No other way of looking at it," Postecoglou said in his post-Arsenal press conference. "If you give up now, there's no point. Right now, we have a big game against Everton this weekend. That's our focus."
From there, Tottenham's next league games might also be considered more winnable. A week later, they entertain Leicester City, followed by a trip to Brentford, a home match against Manchester United and an away game at Ipswich.
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