Premier League action has been on pause during the March international break but there has been little rest for Ange Postecoglou who has had plenty to mull over during the two weeks. The Australian came into the international break with his side a lowly 14th place in the table and himself the 3/1 second favourite to be the next sacked Premier League manager.
Although ‘Big Ange’, has endured a rather torrid season, there is still hope for him yet. A strong finish could be what keeps him in his job a little while longer. Continued struggles, on the other hand, may spell the end of his time in north London. Clearly, this is a critical moment in Postecoglou’s Tottenham career, so let us look at how things may pan out.
Season So Far
Welcome to Tottenham Hotspur, Ange Postecoglou 🤍 pic.twitter.com/OMXjY9XFhi
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) June 9, 2023
It is easy to forget but Tottenham actually began the season relatively well. Their shock 4-0 win over Man City in November pushed them up to sixth in the table, only three points shy of the top four. Additionally, they were the league’s top goal scorers (27), having netted four more than any other club. Even defensively they were relatively sound with their tally of 13 conceded being the fifth-lowest amount in the division.
At this point though, Postecoglou’s side suffered a major slump. Following the win at the Etihad, Spurs went on to win just one of the next 11 league games, this coming against a hapless Southampton side. Things were not quite so bleak in cup competitions, however. The Lilywhites had booked themselves into the semi-final of the League Cup where they secured a 1-0 first-leg lead, plus by the end of January, they had secured passage into the Europa League last 16.
Relegation Concerns
Despite the respite cup competitions provided, Tottenham’s league form was so worrying that some fans were genuinely concerned about relegation. On 1st February, Spurs were down to 16th place and only seven points clear of the drop zone. Many former Tottenham managers would have been sacked long before this but there has been a large degree of sympathy towards the horrendous list of injuries Postecoglou has had to deal with. The Australian has spent most of the campaign missing half his squad, leaving the ‘fit’ players overworked and suffering from fatigue.
Situation Improves
By around mid-February, the injury situation had improved drastically and for the first time in months, Postecoglou had nearly a full squad at his disposal. This made a noticeable difference on the pitch and enabled the Australian to secure three consecutive league wins in a row. In the process, Spurs moved well clear of the relegation zone and have all but secured their top-flight status for another year.
With many players back, it was expected Tottenham would push on and start playing some of the dazzling football occasionally seen under Postecoglou. This has not yet materialised however as Spurs looked uninspired in the weeks immediately before the international break. They gained one point from nine in the league, this coming from a fortunate draw against Bournemouth, and only unconvincingly eliminated AZ from the Europa League. This is not to say we will not see a different Tottenham side this side of the international break, however.
How Will Tottenham Finish the Season?
Having recapped the season so far, let us look at what the final two months of the campaign might bring for Spurs.
Squad Health Provides Timely Boost
Tottenham only had five absentees during the international break. One of these, the increasingly influential Lucas Bergvall, is only ill and should be back for the league test at Chelsea. Meanwhile, Kevin Danso, Dejan Kulusevski and Richarlison are not too far from a return and may be involved at Stamford Bridge. It is especially important to have Kulusevski back because despite a recent dip in form, he has been one of the club’s standout players this campaign.
Support Remains
You often hear about struggling managers ‘losing the dressing room’ but there has been no real indication this is the case at Tottenham under Ange. Even in fairly recent interviews, players have spoken positively about the Australian and his footballing philosophy. Additionally, there have been no credible reports indicating that the Spurs board are considering replacing the manager. They will surely conduct a review at the end of the season, but a sacking before the end of the campaign appears most unlikely.
That said, the fan base are much more divided and there is a growing ‘Ange out’ sentiment. This has led to the Australian getting involved in some heated discussions with irate fans who are desperate to voice their frustration. A less-than-upbeat atmosphere at the stadium does make his job harder, especially when the groans come, but it is nothing that some good football cannot fix quickly enough.
Remaining Opponents
Here are Tottenham’s remaining fixtures. At least two more matches will appear if they can defeat Frankfurt in the Europa League quarter-finals.
- Chelsea (A)
- Southampton (H)
- Eintracht Frankfurt (H)
- Wolves (A)
- Eintracht Frankfurt (A)
- Nottingham Forest (H)
- Liverpool (A)
- West Ham (A)
- Crystal Palace (H)
- Aston Villa (A)
- Brighton (H)
In the league, Tottenham do not have a great deal of easy fixtures left. Only three of their remaining nine league opponents are in the bottom half and they face two of them away. So, Spurs face quite the task to make much headway up the table. Even catching Crystal Palace, in 12th place, would be quite a tall order given the Eagles enjoy a five-point advantage.
| Position | Club | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 11th | Brentford | 41 |
| 12th | Crystal Palace | 39 |
| 13th | Man Utd | 37 |
| 14th | Tottenham | 34 |
| 15th | Everton | 34 |
| 16th | West Ham | 34 |
| 17th | Wolves | 26 |
Europa League the Priority
Realistically, Tottenham will finish between 12th and 17th this season – a disappointment whatever happens. The only positive aspect of the league situation is that it enables Postecoglou to focus on the Europa League, rather than launch a full fight on both fronts. Eintracht Frankfurt, currently fourth in the Bundesliga, cannot really afford to take the league easy so this gives Tottenham a slight upper hand in this regard.
Getting past the 2022 champions won’t be easy but if Tottenham can prevail, they will find themselves in the semi-finals of a European competition for the first time since 2019. Priced 7/4 to go the whole way in the Europa League, Tottenham have a realistic shot at silverware – and a spot in the Champions League next term. For a club that has not won a major trophy since 2008, it would be a huge feat and one that would surely give Postecoglou immunity from any summer sacking. Anything less than an appearance in the final however, could spell his end.