Ange Postecoglou, the inaugural head coach of Tottenham Hotspur, is in a tight spot. He has a critical London derby with Chelsea coming up in the EPL. That’s why Saturday’s match at Stamford Bridge is about so much more than three points. Perhaps most importantly, it provides Postecoglou with an opportunity to find some much-needed momentum following a run of frustrating results. The Spurs’ season began auspiciously, with an extraordinary winning streak. Their fortunes quickly zipped in the other direction after getting spanked 4-1 by Chelsea at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last season — his first league loss in charge.
Under the gritty Australian renown for pulling rabbits from hats, Postecoglou, Spurs at first wowed supporters with an attack-minded ‘Angeball’ trademarked aesthetics. They boasted a powerful run of ten straight matches unbeaten. At one point they even reached the summit of the Premier League. Injuries and tactical challenges have been extremely detrimental to performance. Since that ill-fated November fixture with Chelsea where the wheels came off, the Catamounts have lost twice as many league matches as they’ve won.
The Decline of ‘Angeball’
Tottenham, who kicked off the campaign on a scintillating high-flying note, have since plummeted. Yet this sudden dip in form has fans and pundits up in arms. Postecoglou’s side has struggled to maintain the free-flowing attacking football that endeared them to supporters early in his tenure. This is not an aberration this season, as Spurs have failed to register a single shot on target in the first half of a Premier League match nine times. That’s quite the jump from their last two permanent managers, Antonio Conte and Nuno Espirito Santo, combined.
Jamie O’Hara, a former Spurs player and current Talksport pundit commented on the dramatic turnaround on fortunes.
“I get it when Ange Postecoglou came in. We had 10 games unbeaten, top of the league and we had this exciting football and everyone loved it. Well, I haven’t seen that really since.” – Jamie O’Hara
The drop has manifested itself both in the accuracy of their calls as well as their standing on the league table. Tottenham has lost five out of nine London derbies this campaign, raising questions about their ability to compete against local rivals. As the heat continues to be heaped on the gaffer, O’Hara said Postecoglou is in a dangerous situation.
“Ange is clinging on to his job right now.” – Jamie O’Hara
A Critical Match Against Chelsea
The concurrent match against table-topping Chelsea is now absolutely pivotal for Postecoglou and his new-look Hoops. After defeats to Bournemouth and Brighton, a victory against their London rivals would raise the confidence. It would be a much-needed positive development after a long string of setbacks.
Postecoglou’s squad has faced challenges this season, particularly following their November defeat to Chelsea, which seems to have triggered a downward spiral in form. O’Hara emphasized this point, stating,
“Ever since we lost to Chelsea, we’ve just been exposed and teams have figured Spurs out.” – Jamie O’Hara
As Tottenham prepares for this critical clash, they must overcome not only their recent form but the psychological burden of past defeats. The team’s ability to bounce back will be tested as they aim to reclaim some semblance of their early-season glory.
The Road Ahead for Spurs
A lack of squad depth and injuries have haunted Tottenham all season, leading to drastic drop-offs in some players’ performances. Despite these setbacks, there remains a glimmer of hope that they can rediscover the form that made them title contenders earlier this season. Hopeful supporters have been scouring every indication for proof of the team’s resurgence. They miss the days when fun football wasn’t the expectation, but instead the exception.
Given Tottenham’s woeful form in London derbies this campaign, the heat is on Postecoglou and his squad. O’Hara, understandably, was disappointed in the team’s performances with a clear desire to do better.
“Tottenham fans are booing them off the park [at Fulham]. If you take Europa League out of it for a second, if you’re looking at the Premier League table and you’re looking at the performances and the output from the players, it’s not good enough.” – Jamie O’Hara
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