NewsBite

‘Put out of his misery’: Postecoglou frenzy erupts as surprise claims emerge

Ange Postecoglou has been told to leave Tottenham for his own good with the Australian suddenly walking the plank.

Ange Postecoglou and Son Heung-min.
Ange Postecoglou and Son Heung-min.

Ange Postecoglou has been told to leave Tottenham for his own good with the Australian suddenly walking the plank.

Spurs imploded after giving up a 2-0 lead to Chelsea on home turf on Monday morning (AEDT) in a loss that drops Postecoglou’s team to 11th on the Premier League table.

The former Celtic and Socceroos manager has been the lightning rod for criticism over Tottenham’s turbulent season with his controversial tactics continuing to divide the football world.

Right now, the 4-3 defeat to Chelsea, has the team in a tailspin after Postecoglou was also involved in a confrontation with angry supporters following last week’s loss to Bournemouth.

It is hard to believe it has been just two weeks since Tottenham blew Manchester City away 4-0 at the Etihad.

Postecoglou said his side must show more discipline after blowing an the early lead, on the back of two penalties conceded.

Spurs have won just once in seven games in all competitions and the pressure is building on Postecoglou. It did not go unnoticed that fans were heading for the exits before the final whistle.

Ange Postecoglou and Son Heung-min.
Ange Postecoglou and Son Heung-min.

Cole Palmer scored twice from the penalty spot in the second half to turn the game around, while Jadon Sancho and Enzo Fernandez were also on target for the Blues, who go second in the Premier League.

“It is a sore one, a painful one,” said Postecoglou.

“We started the game really well but as our season has been going, we lose Romero after 20 minutes and that disrupts us a bit and they score straight after.”

He went on to say: “I thought both penalties were poor decisions by us, we have to show more discipline. In the end the critical moments got us.

“We had moments to get our third and at half-time we were in a decent position. The second half is a ding-dong, especially at the start, they scored but we had a big chance with Son, we didn’t take it and then they go 3-2 up.

“We didn’t play well against Bournemouth but we played well today. They’re a good side. A top team. We got disrupted in key moments and the key moments decided the game.”

His suggestion that his team played well has left some commentators flabbergasted.

According to Opta stats, this was the 11th time that Tottenham lost a Premier League game after having been two or more goals ahead – at least four more such defeats than any other side in the competition’s history.

Ange Postecoglou speaks after the game.
Ange Postecoglou speaks after the game.
Ange Postecoglou couldn’t believe it. Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images.
Ange Postecoglou couldn’t believe it. Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images.

The stats agency also pointed out in Ange Postecoglou’s 53 Premier League games in charge, Tottenham have both scored and conceded in 36 of them (68 per cent). Of all managers to oversee more than 50 matches in the competition’s history, only Ossie Ardiles’ games had a higher ratio of seeing both sides score (69 per cent).

While some fans want Postecoglou’s head, others have showed sympathy for how he has been let down by his players.

One popular football commentator on X posted: “Again, I find myself aching for Ange Postecoglou.

“Daniel Levy (Tottenham team owner) is a parasitic entity, draining Tottenham of its potential. They have been blessed with a generational manager, however, Levy does not want to back him.

“Anyone blaming this result on Ange is clueless.

“This is on the individuals. Regardless of Ange’s tactical instruction, he cannot make the decisions for these players. Therefore, don’t blame the reckless decisions on the manager.

“This squad needs dramatic reform. Romero, Sarr, Bergvall, Kulusevski & Solanke. The rest need to be shipped.

“Heung-Min Son today was atrocious. He is finished; his legs have evaporated. If Levy sacks Ange after this, then no manager can stop the rot.”

Another popular post showed a brief video of Postecoglou looking into the abyss on the ground with a call for Postecoglou to save himself from the sinking ship.

One fan posted: “Those two years Ange Postecoglou gave us at Celtic will live with me forever.

“He walked in, picked us up after a complete implosion, and put us back on top where we belong.

“But... this Spurs team are not for him a loser club with losers mentality he needs putting out his misery.”

Football greats, however, have claimed Postecoglou deserves his share of the blame.

Liverpool great Jamie Carragher said on Sky Sports “I don’t think they’ll ever win anything.

“There’s this idea of playing a pure game and the Tottenham fans signing ‘we’ve got our Tottenham back’, but you won’t win anything, you won’t challenge,” he said,

“I wake up every morning hoping the sun is shining, so I can put some shorts and a t-shirt on but if it’s raining, you put your coat on. You can’t have this idea about playing one way, it won’t work. If it doesn’t change, he won’t be here next season.”

Originally published as ‘Put out of his misery’: Postecoglou frenzy erupts as surprise claims emerge

Add your comment to this story

To join the conversation, please Don't have an account? Register

Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout

Original URL: https://www.themercury.com.au/sport/football/premier-league/put-out-of-his-misery-postecoglou-frenzy-erupts-as-surprise-claims-emerge/news-story/ac7662cc8284542d56f9c56a0487debd