Ange Postecoglou 'outclassed’ as day gets very ugly

Ange Postecoglou has been torn to shreds after a display of “arrogance” that nobody could have seen coming.

Ange Postecoglou. Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images.

Ange Postecoglou is under fire after Tottenham blew a golden opportunity to move into the Premier League’s top four after slumping to a shock 3-0 defeat at Fulham on Sunday morning.

The Australian’s team would have climbed above Aston Villa into fourth place with a win, but instead they handed the initiative back to their top-four rivals.

Fifth-placed Tottenham were punished for a sloppy performance as the in-form Rodrigo Muniz netted twice either side of Sasa Lukic’s first goal for Fulham.

A 4-0 win at Villa last weekend was expected to act as Tottenham’s springboard to finish above Unai Emery’s team in the battle to qualify for next season’s Champions League.

Instead, the north Londoners crashed to a first league defeat at Craven Cottage since 2008 and failed to score for the first time in 40 games.

The 3-0 result is the equal biggest margin Fulham has ever had against Spurs, having also won 3-0 in 2003 and 4-1 in 1965.

The manner of the defeat has put pressure on Postecoglou.

The most scathing criticism came from Liverpool great Jamie Redknapp.

“I thought those types of performances were a thing of the past, I didn’t think we’d be seeing them anymore under Ange Postecoglou,” he said on Sky Sports.

It was a shocker. Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images.

“There was no energy. Players that have had big performances, Destiny Udogie has been fantastic but today so off it. Bisssouma and Maddison in midfield never won individual battles.

“I was amazed. I almost want to hear an excuse from the manager that there was a lasagne-gate, a flu in the team. I can’t fathom what I’ve seen in terms of their energy. The goals epitomised it.

“After the way they played against Aston Villa in the second half when they blew them away, they came into this game with an air of arrogance. The Premier League isn’t like that, this might be the warning Ange Postecoglou needs.

“I’d been in that dressing room if I was him absolutely fuming and pointing fingers at players saying, ‘If you think that’s good enough we won’t make the top four or even the top five’.”

Postecoglou said after the game his team’s performance simply wasn’t good enough.

“It is very disappointing and very frustrating,” he said.

“Everybody has to look in the mirror and say ‘it is my fault’.

“It was not good enough. We didn’t put in the effort we have put in this season. The performance, the attitude was not good enough.

“Everyone needs a big wake-up call. In the Premier League if you are not ready you get punished. Aston Villa are an amazing team, but so are Fulham. If you are not giving 100 per cent you get punished. You don’t get three points for free.

“This is two steps backwards. We now need to step forward.

“It is unacceptable, including me it was unacceptable. We are representing Premier League teams, we are representing Tottenham.

“This was not close to what we have been doing this season. It is very sad to watch this. The fans don’t deserve this. They are coming here with positive energy and good vibes. Losing this way is very tough.

Tottenham Hotspur's Ange Postecoglou. Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS / AFP.

“The players are very down.”

The response from pundits has been brutal.

“Unless something sensational happens, this is now going to feel like a long two weeks for Postecoglou,” Sky Sports’ Alan Smith said.

“It is one thing losing, but it is the manner of their defeat that will hurt today.”

Former Wolves winger Matt Jarvis said on BBC there were times when Spurs players had stopped talking to each other.

English football journalist Charlie Eccleshare posted on X: “Given the quality of the Spurs’ lineup, this has to be the worst performance of the Postecoglou era. No mitigating circumstances.”

The Daily Mail’s Josh Hughes wrote: “There is 100% a conversation to be had about Ange Postecoglou’s single tactical approach to every game.

“This performance was certainly not all on the players - as abysmal as everyone to a man was.

“Intrigued to hear what Ange has to say. Pathetic approach and performance.”

Even the 4-1 against Chelsea was a better performance.

I will not speak much, I am sure the Tottenham fanbase knows how shambolic that was.

Not a single thing to praise. Not a single player. Not the manager. Not a single sequence of play.

— B. (@InvertTheWing) March 16, 2024

I don't usually say this, but for once, Ange Postecoglou has genuinely been outclassed. Completely.

It is not often that happens, so take a bow Marco Silva.

Something needs to change at half time. Not even in terms of personnel, in terms of tactics.

— B. (@InvertTheWing) March 16, 2024

Tottenham sit two points behind Villa, who can extend that lead to five if they win at West Ham on Sunday.

With Micky van de Ven sidelined by a hamstring injury, Radu Dragusin made his first Tottenham start.

Worryingly for Postecoglou, Romania centre-back Dragusin, signed from Genoa in January, was often exposed in a rocky display.

Fulham took the lead in the 42nd minute when Muniz cleverly drifted away from Dragusin as the Brazilian forward found space to meet Antonee Robinson’s low cross with a clinical finish from 10 yards.

Tottenham’s defensive deficiencies were exposed again four minutes after half-time.

Iwobi was allowed to advance unchecked and he slipped a pass to Timothy Castagne, whose cross hit Lukic and deflected into the net.

Tottenham were in tatters and Muniz struck again in the 61st minute. Joao Palhinha’s header reached Calvin Bassey and when his shot was saved by Guglielmo Vicario, Muniz reacted quicker than Dragusin to stab home.

— with AFP

Originally published as Ange Postecoglou 'outclassed’ as day gets very ugly