Daniel Levy sent Ange Postecoglou clear sack timeline as Tottenham decision affects transfers
The pressure is piling up on Ange Postecoglou as the club blame horrendous luck with injuries for finding themselves 15th in the league in January - but some Spurs fans in the football.london comments section say that the blame should lie elsewhere, even if Postecoglou can't get a tune out of his available players for the rest of the season.
Tottenham fell to defeat against Everton on Sunday, and are now closer to relegation than the top half of the table. The prospect of first team-ready reinforcements in the January transfer window to take the strain from the remaining players has been scarce, with only Antonin Kinsky giving some immediate relief.
After Everton, Postecoglou said: "I'm sure like everybody, the club's well aware of our situation and they're doing their utmost. As far as I know at the moment there's nothing imminent, but you know, I assume between now and... we're getting to the end of the window that hopefully something comes up.
READ MORE: Arsenal and Tottenham watch on as Randal Kolo Muani loan falls into doubt despite confirmation
READ MORE: The real reason Tottenham recalled Dane Scarlett from Oxford loan amid new striker transfer talk
"I separate myself from that (his future being important). This is not about me, but what is about me right now is I have the responsibility for the group of players I do have, to try and get us through this, and that's what I've got to focus on. For me to focus on anything else is abstaining myself from the responsibility I have. I'm just determined to get us out of this. The club's doing its best to... it's more about helping the players than helping me because they're the ones."
Some fans do not want Spurs' current struggles to fall solely on Postecoglou. Reader Marlon1 says: “I’ll ask those who want Ange out, what’s your plan for the rest of the season? Enlighten me, because I can’t think of any action, nor have I heard of one, that could be taken that’d improve things at this time of the season, other than players coming back from injury or new signings. I wouldn’t tolerate this with a healthy squad myself.
"I’m always fearful about what’ll happen though cos we live in a world where the black or white brigade who don’t care about nuance or circumstance, angry, impatient, mean spirited, hungry for online attention and can’t ever EVER be wrong as an absolute priority have by faaaaaaar the loudest voices. I'm not saying all ‘Ange out’ fans are like this, there are fair and rational arguments to hold that opinion.”
Commenter ABorg agrees: “It's not Ange's fault, what other team could he have put out today. We've been crying out for reinforcements and Levy wasted two weeks of the window chasing someone he never got and wasn't likely to get. Not only that it was in defence where we most needed cover and Levy chases strikers. Levy needs to go, not Ange.”
Fitzgem1 writes: “Ange hasn’t helped himself as he didn’t rotate early in the season to protect the players, that much is clear. Bringing back Cuti and MVV for the Chelsea game as madness and has come back to bite him BUT the underlying issue has been the lack of investment in the squad, and whilst signing the young players has merit it has to be with some clear experience and leadership which is seriously lacking. This is completely down to the club/Levy, and sacking Ange at this point in the season is not the answer, in the summer yes but not now. Levy has to spend to plug the gaps he has allowed to impact the season.”
LXI_Martin says: “I think the pressure is getting to Ange now. The idea to restructure the formation to a back three seemed like a panic reaction to criticism, and it was doomed to failure. Losing 2-1 at Arsenal is not a disgrace, and he over-reacted due to all the noise. This is very worrying. Can he get his mojo back in the next couple of weeks? I certainly hope so. A change now could be devastating, and Ange at his best is what Spurs need.”
Ton1418 thinks a change is the only way forward: “At any level of football you play to your strengths yet Ange continually plays to our weaknesses. Sorry but I don't think Ange's style can be successful at this level. I too have lost faith and go into each matches expecting the worse and praying for the better, and not sure I even want to watch them. I'm a supporter going back to my first match way back in 1957, so have seen the good the bad and the ugly, but this style with the players available is naive and childish and arrogant. If we lose the next league game, it should be his last as manager.”
Have your say! Is there a manager who could do better in the current circumstances? Comment below, and join in on the conversation.