‘Big Ange has massive issues – Spurs should win or Levy will ship him to Coventry’

On Sep 16, 2024

No-one likes being sent to Coventry – but it feels like fitting punishment for Tottenham and their manager Ange Postecoglou.

Because Spurs fans are starting to ostracise Postecoglou, as history threatens to repeat itself at the north London club. Home supporters booed him and his team in the wake of Sunday’s derby defeat to Arsenal.

A result which added more fuel to the argument Spurs have nothing more to look forward to in the coming months than another underwhelming campaign. The season is barely a month old, but Big Ange has big problems.

One win in their opening four games has left Spurs 13th in the table and eight points behind leaders Manchester City already. It would be foolish to claim Spurs are out of the title race, because they were never in it to begin with.

But even the giddy ambitions of a top four finish and Champions League football appear far fetched. That challenge was too much for Spurs last season, and it seems nothing has changed to give fans confidence things will be different this time round.

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'Big Ange' has big problems at Tottenham — ‘Big Ange’ has big problems at Tottenham
(Image: PA)

It’s why Spurs will be taking part in the EFL Cup in the Midlands on Wednesday night, while the big clubs will be kicking off their Champions League campaigns. But it sounds like Postecoglou will be embracing his trip to Coventry’s CBS Arena, having vowed to win some silverware this season.

“I don’t usually win things, I always win things in my second year,” boasted Postecoglou in the wake of losing to Arsenal, “and nothing’s changed. I’ve said it now. I don’t say things unless I believe them.”

Postecoglou must be referring to an extensive trophy list which includes the National Soccer League Premiership in Australia, A-League Premiership with Brisbane Roar or the J1 League on behalf of Yokohama F Marinos in Japan.

Postecoglou did win the Scottish Premiership with Celtic twice, but let’s be honest, Celtic have won the title 12 of the last 13 times north of the border, so he’s not exactly in an exclusive club.

For the record, Spurs fans, silverware also means trophies. Some of you might have forgotten, considering there’s been six Prime Ministers, two ruling monarchs and 16 different winners of the Open Championship since Spurs last won one in 2008.

Daniel Levy is not afraid to pull the trigger when he thinks a manager is underperforming
(Image: Getty Images)

Which makes Postecoglou’s statement a bold one indeed. And also means defeat against Mark Robins’s Championship underdogs is unthinkable.

This time 12 months ago Spurs were surprise leaders of the Premier League. But Spurs also managed just three games combined in both domestic cup competitions, before crashing out of them.

Postecoglou is not managing Down Under or in Japan now, he’s operating in the most demanding and challenging league on the planet. A league where rivals expose weaknesses and are ruthless.

So losing two of four league games has put this week’s cup game into sharper focus. The clash has suddenly taken on greater significance.

Postecoglou might consider himself to be a winner, but it doesn’t matter what he thinks. The only opinion that counts is the one belonging to his chairman, Daniel Levy.

And he’s the bloke who has hired and fired 17 bosses since taking charge back in 2001.