'Not Acceptable' – Postecoglou Under Fire as Spurs Struggle

'Not Acceptable' – Postecoglou Under Fire as Spurs Struggle
By: Gordon from statstriker.com

Tottenham Hotspur’s season continues to unravel, with six defeats in their last ten games leaving them closer to the relegation zone than the top four. A 2-1 loss to rivals Arsenal on Wednesday has only deepened their woes, as Spurs sit 13th in the Premier League with 24 points—14 behind fourth-placed Newcastle and just eight clear of 18th-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Despite Son Heung-min giving Spurs an early lead in the 25th minute, they failed to muster another shot on target, allowing Arsenal to come back with two goals in four minutes.

Manager Ange Postecoglou was blunt in his assessment: "We were nowhere near the levels we needed to be at today. To be so passive in the first half of such a big game is unacceptable, and we paid the price for it."

A Season of Alarming Decline

Tottenham’s current struggles have raised concerns among fans and pundits alike. Former Newcastle striker Alan Shearer called the situation “unacceptable” on Match of the Day, emphasizing the alarming nature of the team’s performance in crucial fixtures.

Spurs’ poor form is reflected in a series of dismal statistics:

The team has won just one of their past nine Premier League matches—a 5-0 victory over bottom-placed Southampton. Even with injuries plaguing the squad, these numbers paint a bleak picture of Tottenham’s campaign.

"It Has to Stop"

After their September defeat to Arsenal in the first North London derby of the season, Postecoglou tried to instill confidence by claiming, "I always win a trophy in my second season." However, those words have come back to haunt him as poor results pile up.

Though Spurs remain in contention for silverware, with a Europa League campaign and a 1-0 first-leg advantage over Liverpool in the Carabao Cup semifinals, Postecoglou knows improvement is urgent.

"Of course, the defeats hurt me," he admitted. "Too many losses this year, too many games getting away from us. It needs to stop."

Pressure Mounts on Postecoglou

Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown criticized Postecoglou's tactics, claiming his high-pressing system leaves the team vulnerable. "Tottenham took so many risks, and Arsenal took advantage. The game was so open," Keown said. "The manager is skating on thin ice."

Ex-Spurs winger Aaron Lennon echoed the sentiment: "One win in nine—it's not good enough at all. Without the Carabao Cup semi-final, there would be serious problems."

Son Heung-min also acknowledged the players’ role in the team’s struggles: "It's up to the players as well. I think we were not disciplined enough. We have to do better in every aspect. When you look at the table, it’s not good enough."

Rio Ferdinand took aim at Tottenham’s defensive frailties, describing their display as "like watching an under-18s academy game." He added: "Play over the press, not into it. I’d be screaming at my goalkeeper and defenders."

The Impact of Injuries

Tottenham’s injury crisis has undeniably hampered their season. Key players such as Guglielmo Vicario, Destiny Udogie, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, and Ben Davies were unavailable for the Arsenal clash. However, former Spurs striker Peter Crouch argued that the squad still has enough quality to perform better.

"We all know the injury problems, but the two 18-year-olds [Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray] were the best players," Crouch said. "If I’m a more experienced player, I feel embarrassed. This team isn’t good enough right now. I don’t see them catching the top teams."

Ferdinand suggested Postecoglou adapt his tactics to suit the circumstances: "I respect Ange’s principles, but with these injuries, surely you have to adapt. Flexibility would make sense at this time."

A Crucial Match Ahead

Next up for Tottenham is a visit to Everton on Sunday—a game Postecoglou knows is a must-win.

"No other way of looking at it," he said. "If you give up now, there’s no point. Right now, we have a big game against Everton this weekend. That’s our focus."

For Postecoglou and Spurs, the clock is ticking, and failure to turn things around soon could lead to serious questions about the future of the manager and the club’s direction.