A quick glance at Tottenham’s shambolic run of results and embarrassing league position would make you think that Ange Postecoglou was on the brink.
But Spurs fans have seen this movie before. And while the ex-Celtic manager’s days be well be numbered in North London, sacking him won’t pull the wool over the fed-up Lilywhites fanbase – who lay the blame firmly at the door of controversial chairman Daniel Levy.
Sunday’s defeat at Goodison Park marked a new low for Big Ange as relegation-threatened Everton stormed into a three-goal lead at half-time. Consolation goals from Dejan Kulusevski and Richarlison spared Ange’s injury-ravaged flops from another heavy defeat but sees them slip further down the table into 15th – just eight points above the relegation zone.
It’s a remarkable downfall in a campaign where the straight-talking Aussie boldly declared that he would end the club’s agonising 16-year trophy drought. What hangs in Ange’s favour is the fact that Spurs have one foot in the Carabao Cup Final, holding a 1-0 semi-final first-leg advantage over Liverpool. And the prospect of a Wembley showdown on March 16 may well be why trigger-happy Levy has yet to wield the axe.
Yet regardless of whether Ange holds a trophy aloft this term or not, it’s clear that patience has run out with the man truly responsible for the car crash season – Levy. Despite the injury crisis that has destroyed Ange’s second year in charge and left him without his first-choice goalkeeper, central defenders and left-back, Spurs have yet to spend a penny in the January window.
Levy has effectively thrown his struggling manager to the lions and, taking the temperature of an angry fanbase on X, then there’s an overriding feeling that the cycle will just continue if Ange pays the price with his job.
One fan wrote: “My prediction…. Ange gets sacked, new manager in, we get a few players back and stay up & win no trophies. New manager gets a few signings in summer, then 12 months later we are in a similar situation to now (underperforming) New manager gets sacked.”
Another said: “Negligence at the highest level. Whatever you feel about Ange, its been this way 14 managers before. Nothing will ever change.” A third commented: “I really like Ange, it’s not all his fault, but ultimately you are at risk of getting sacked as a football manager if you lose every single football match.”
This supporter wrote: “Ange Postecoglou clearly has his faults. However, we all know the problem stretches far beyond just him. This man has made wrong decision after wrong decision since #THFC first entered a title race with Mauricio Pochettino in charge, and now is reaping what he’s sown.”
A fifth posted: “If you think Ange is a bigger problem than Levy, I have nothing to say to you.” Another bemoaned: “Back him or sack him. Don’t just leave Ange out to dry. 19 days into the window and no outfield signings. It’s a farce. Do something.”
This fan sighed: “Ange getting sacked leaves us with the same injuries/players and same owners. Nothing changes sacking him.” While one other added: “Sacking Ange here seems both like the most likely and most stupid thing we could do. But it’ll happen, because modern fans and modern football won’t allow us to push through this. I think he’s gone. And I think it’s so unfair.”