LONDON — Tottenham Hotspur’s dedication to “Angeball” was so full final season that their supporters reacted to a 4-1 residence defeat to Chelsea in November 2023 by serenading supervisor Ange Postecoglou.
On Sunday, 13 months later, following a 4-3 loss to the identical opposition, those self same followers had been left questioning greater than ever whether or not he’s the best man to take them ahead.
There have been boos at full-time, however the environment was not mutinous. Son Heung-Min‘s 96th-minute comfort aim drew a number of the sting from any hostility, though in reality, 1000’s of Spurs followers had lengthy since headed for the exits after Chelsea’s fourth aim ended the competition greater than 10 minutes earlier.
When the mud settles on one other undeniably entertaining however totally manic afternoon, although, there can be lots of the view that there needs to be some type of management added to all of this chaos for Postecoglou to level to progress.
After the dour soccer Antonio Conte served up throughout his 16 months in cost, Postecoglou’s expansive method felt liberating to many on this a part of north London. The swashbuckling, uncompromising fashion was extra in step with the membership’s traditions, a lot in order that the often reserved chairman Daniel Levy felt sufficiently moved to declare “We have our Tottenham again” at a followers’ discussion board occasion in September 2023, barely three months after appointing Postecoglou.
What a distant reminiscence that feels now. In truth, this sport is at risk of resembling a metaphor for Postecoglou’s time at Spurs: begin effectively, generate dizzying pleasure, lose gamers to harm, look more and more one-dimensional and find yourself defeated.
These nonetheless retaining religion with Postecoglou will level to the primary quarter-hour when Spurs had been mesmeric. They required two embarrassing slips from Marc Cucurella: the primary punished ruthlessly by Brennan Johnson crossing for Dominic Solanke to steer residence a fifth-minute strike; the second gifted an opportunity that Dejan Kulusevski took brilliantly, working a gap on his left foot and firing low previous Robert Sánchez.
Chelsea’s ongoing teething issues in enjoying out from the again had been brutally uncovered, however when Jadon Sancho jinked his manner in off the left and produced an excellent low end in off Fraser Forster‘s left submit to halve the deficit on 18 minutes, instantly it was Tottenham’s fragility that appeared extra apparent.
Blues boss Enzo Maresca cited an necessary tactical tweak at half-time. Romeo Lavia felt a hamstring harm and was withdrawn as a precaution, prompting Malo Gusto‘s introduction, with Moisés Caicedo switching from right-back to a extra pure defensive midfield position.
“Watching the best way they had been urgent, we had Cole Palmer on one facet and Enzo Fernández on the opposite facet, second half we had Palmer on one facet and Cucurella on the opposite facet and we modified one thing in behind,” Maresca mentioned after the match. “It labored fairly effectively.”
Maresca is benefitting from a deeper squad to make such modifications than Postecoglou has obtainable to him, however there can be some disgruntled Spurs followers who query whether or not their supervisor is able to making them, such is his resolute dedication to assault.
Tottenham’s prolonged absentee checklist doesn’t assist him. Spurs had already misplaced considered one of their centre-backs to harm after Postecoglou gambled on the health of Cristian Romero, who returned to the lineup after collaborating in a single coaching session on Saturday following a toe harm that stored him out for almost a month. He lasted quarter-hour earlier than struggling an unrelated drawback along with his quad.
Johnson lasted 53 minutes, compelled off with sickness, because the momentum and power fell away from Spurs’ efficiency.
A Chelsea equaliser felt inevitable, and so it proved when Yves Bissouma recklessly introduced down Caicedo within the field and Palmer slotted residence the ensuing spot kick. Palmer probed once more and his deflected shot fell completely for Enzo Fernandez to fireside Chelsea in entrance with 17 minutes left.
Micky van de Ven, thrown in forward of schedule following a hamstring harm after coaching effectively, might solely play 79 minutes.
Pape Matar Sarr fouled Palmer for second penalty he transformed on 84 minutes to turn out to be the participant with one of the best conversion fee in Premier League historical past, now standing at 12 from 12. In truth, Palmer’s fiftieth aim involvement — 33 objectives and 17 assists — got here in his forty eighth Premier League sport, and solely Erling Haaland for Manchester Metropolis (39), Andy Cole for Newcastle United (43), and Mohamed Salah for Liverpool (46) have ever reached that whole in fewer appearances.
Son lowered the arrears late on, however by that stage the talk about Postecoglou was in full swing. The Australian instructed officers “froze” out of concern of creating a tough resolution when the VAR dominated that Caicedo didn’t use extreme drive in his late first-half problem on Sarr.
Fan unrest has been effervescent beneath the floor. Thursday’s 1-0 defeat at AFC Bournemouth ended with ugly scenes during which Postecoglou confronted indignant travelling supporters, following on from comparable flashpoints, together with when dropping at residence to Ipswich City final month.
“Honest play to them, I believed the gang had been good as we speak, they received behind the crew however when the season has gone prefer it has for us … at 2-0 to lose your centre-back, it does disrupt you,” Posetcoglou mentioned. “You began the sport so effectively and you must make substitution, which implies you’re hampered making substitutions within the second half. These items come alongside and also you go, ‘Right here we go, one other problem for us and nothing is operating easily.’ The gang in all probability senses that as effectively. It nearly turns into a self-fulfilling factor the place you expect issues to go fallacious.
“It’s a robust second as a result of there are all these instruments you might presumably use as a supervisor when you’re in robust moments to show issues round, and our restricted sources from a enjoying perspective would not enable us to try this, so we have got to search out different methods. It’s not by means of a scarcity of effort. The gamers who’re always on the market as a result of we won’t rotate are giving all they’ll. It diminishes efficiency as effectively as a result of they in all probability want a relaxation.
“It’s one thing we have to sort out head on. Hold pushing on. There may be nonetheless loads to play for, for us. I nonetheless sense inside this squad there’s a actual conviction in what we’re doing, and if we preserve that, we’ll flip our season round. Sooner or later hopefully we hit some smoother waters.”
Tottenham want to alter course shortly for Postecoglou to not be thrown overboard.