Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou is facing criticism really for the first time since taking over the Premier League outfit in 2023.
With the novelty of his free-flowing football and his refreshing personality wearing off a little – Postecoglou was immediately taken to the hearts of Spurs supporters by the virtue of simply not being Antonio Conte or Jose Mourinho – some rather awkward conversations are now starting to be had as the critics grow both in volume and number.
Is Postecoglou really the man to take Tottenham back towards the summit of English football?
Is there a limit to what can realistically be achieved from a tactical approach which tends to leave the back door wide open? Why have Spurs not solved the issues that plagued them last season, in particular a vulnerability to quick transitions and that set-piece Achilles heel.
Tottenham lost the North London derby last week in very predictable circumstances. Gabriel Magalhaes – outstanding alongside William Saliba again – crashed in a header right from under the nose of Guglielmo Vicario.
Postecoglou, in the aftermath of that disappointing home loss, was quick to point at his CV.
A CV which shows that, to quote the manager himself, he ‘always wins things in my second year’, via BBC Sport.
Tottenham Hotspur survive Carabao Cup scare at Coventry
Well, arguably Spurs’ best shot at silverware nearly slipped through their grasp on Wednesday night as second-tier Coventry City took a 1-0 lead into the 88th minute in the third-round of the EFL Cup.
A dramatic late fight back – goals from forgotten man Djed Spence and the unfairly maligned Brennan Johnson – kept Postecoglou’s second-season record intact.
And, while the straight-talking Aussie is facing a growing throng of doubters these days, Coventry boss Mark Robins was quick to defend his opposite number. The stats – for better or for worse – prove this is a Tottenham team with Postecoglou’s fingerprints all over it.
“They are the best pressing team in Europe at the moment,” Robins said, via Coventry’s official YouTube channel. “Also, they have more possession than any other team in Europe too.
“Those are the stats of the team we played against tonight. Even though there were some changes, they all train the same way and they are all top players.”
Substitutes Djed Spence and Brennan Johnson rescue Spurs
Lucas Bergvall, Archie Gray, Radu Dragusin, Wilson Odobert, Fraser Forster and Timo Werner all came into the team.
But with Coventry taking the lead given to them by Brandon Thomas-Asante into the dying stages, Postecoglou was forced to dip into his fearsome armoury and bring on his sharp-shooters in an attempt to rescue Tottenham’s Carabao Cup campaign.
James Maddison, Heung-Min Son, Dejan Kulusevski and matchwinner Johnson all entered the fray.
“I’m going to try not to swear,” a deflated but proud Robins tells the Coventry Telegraph. “I thought we were good. I thought we were really good out of possession and got most things right.
“We still have to be more ruthless, let’s be honest. I keep saying; when life presents you with chances, we seem to not take those chances at this moment in time.
“I look back to the play-off final (in 2023) and the game against Manchester United. It was there for us, and the game was there for us again tonight. And we just didn’t manage to take it. There’s the disappointment but there are so many positive from the game.”
“From our perspective, yes, it’s disappointing that we didn’t see the job out and get over the line but there are lots and lots of positives from that tonight. And if you’re Tottenham Hotspur you are probably relieved to go through at our expense.”
The post Coventry boss says Tottenham are 'the best team in Europe' at one thing after EFL Cup clash appeared first on HITC.
from HITC https://ift.tt/ZkearYb
No comments: