The pressure continues to mount on the Australian head coach, who has always divided the Spurs fanbase, and former Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe insists that Ange needs to start taking responsibility for his philosophy given how easy it is to break the defensive line at Hotspur Way.
Arsenal icon Paul Merson correctly predicted that Tottenham would be on the losing side in their trip to Vitality Stadium on Thursday night. This is the Lilywhites sixth defeat of the 2024-25 campaign, something that has proven daunting to their objectives of qualifying for the Champions League.
What did Jermain Defoe say?
Speaking on Amazon Prime (via BBC), the 42-year-old said:
“You have to go over and take responsibility. He’s [Ange Postecoglou] the manager and he picks the tactics. Those are his principles and he likes to play on the front foot. Sometimes you have to adapt because you can become too easy to play against. I respect that he went over to the fans.”
Former Tottenham man is making a valid point
Spurs have had defensive problems for some time, even when there is a first-choice duo of Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero available, and while this could be attributable to individual mistakes at times, it is also down to the all-attacking system that the Lilywhites have deployed in a league highly dominated by pace and power.
The point that Jermain Defoe makes is the ease with which opponents are breaking through Spurs’ defensive line can be seen consistently in ample games this season, and it’s something that the Australian head coach in charge of the North Londoners must address if Tottenham are to have an outside opportunity to qualify for the Champions League this season.
The vulnerability on transitions and set piece situations has cost the club precious points in the ongoing campaign, and without a more balanced approach, it is difficult to see the club qualify for UCL.
More Tottenham Hotspur News:
- Tottenham in three-way transfer battle as Conte plans to sign Spurs target this summer
- Not Toney – Tottenham put off by €50m asking price for striker whose contract expires in less than 12 months
- Tottenham now in position to hijack Chelsea deal for Serie A ace
It’s high-pressure time for Postecoglou now, and if he were to succeed at Tottenham, the former Celtic manager needs to evolve his approach to ensure that both ends of the pitch are balanced and functioning properly.
