Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has come under intense scrutiny after a difficult start to the season
Tottenham Hotspur have endured a rocky start to their Premier League campaign as Ange Postecoglou’s side have only accumulated four points from as many games.
The most recent setback came against Arsenal at White Hart Lane, with the visitors taking all three points back to the Emirates Stadium. Before the international break, the Lilywhites were beaten 2-1 by Newcastle United at St James’ Park.
This has left head coach Ange Postecoglou under massive pressure, especially considering the summer transfer window that the club enjoyed. Understandably, a few pundits and fans have started to ask questions regarding the Greek-Aussie tactician’s status at the club so early in the campaign.
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Reliable journalist David Ornstein spoke about the situation on The Athletic FC’s podcast on Monday, insisting that Tottenham continue to have faith in Postecoglou despite the fans being annoyed with the defeat to bitterest rivals Arsenal. The Athletic journalist said:
“So, this noise and understandable reaction from a lot of the public, and Spurs fans post the north London derby defeat, I suspect will not be replicated inside the club and in the hierarchy.
“If they are fully behind Ange Postecoglou in the way that Arsenal were when Mikel Arteta was facing external pressure, then you’d like to think that in time, things will improve.
“Whether it’s in the way that Arsenal have, or better, or worse, we will have to wait and see.”
Big Ange worked closely behind the scenes with chairman Daniel Levy and the recruitment team over the summer to reshape the Spurs squad that had finished fifth in the Premier League last season. The North Londoners invested heavily to reinforce the squad, bringing in five new faces to the club including record signing Dominic Solanke.
Owners in the modern era are more result-oriented and financially driven—and managers at present are generally not afforded a lot of time to fully develop the squad, give their side a playing identity and nurture youth than they did in the years bygone. Mikel Arteta’s tenure at Arsenal is a rarity for a manager in the modern era getting complete backing, resources and time from the board to lay strong foundations and gradually develop the squad for a bright future.
If the Spurs bosses are trying to take a leaf out of Arsenal’s strategy with Arteta and give Postecoglou time to turn the club’s fortunes around, we may be in for short-term pain but there will be long-term gains—just as it happened with the Gunners in the Spaniard’s early tenure—even if hugely hurts saying that.
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It comes as no surprise that Levy and Co. are backing Big Ange. He remains the right man for the job and deserves time to turn things around.