Ange Postecoglou is 'sensitive' to critics in 'stubborn' refusal to adjust Tottenham tactics

Ange Postecoglou is 'sensitive' to critics in 'stubborn' refusal to adjust Tottenham tactics - Martin Keown

Published 27/03/2025 at 09:03 GMT

Pressure continues to mount on Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou as his side sit 14th in the Premier League table. A 2-0 defeat to Fulham saw Spurs record their 15th Premier League loss of the season before the international break, and TNT Sports pundit Martin Keown believes the Spurs boss has become "sensitive" to critics over his reluctance to adjust his tactics this season.

‘He’s become very sensitive’ – Keown questions Postecoglou’s refusal to adapt style

Video credit: TNT Sports

Martin Keown feels Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has become "sensitive" to criticism over his tactics, as his side remain on pace to record their lowest Premier League finish in over 20 years.

After a 3-1 win over AZ Alkmaar sent Spurs through to the UEFA Europa League quarter-finals, Postecoglou's side suffered a chastening 2-0 loss to Fulham in the Premier League heading into the international break.

It marked their 15th loss in the league this season and having picked up just 34 points, Postecoglou has nine matches left to ensure his side do not make unwanted history with a record low total.

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Speaking on TNT Sports' The Breakdown, former Arsenal defender Keown suggested Postecoglou is not receptive to "new information" regarding his tactics, and questioned the Spurs manager's response to being criticised over his approach.

"I think Postecoglou, he's become very sensitive to what we're saying," Keown said. "And it doesn't matter what we're saying, you need to find a way to win games.

"I feel sometimes that in the book of knowledge there has to be spare pages for new information. I'm watching him thinking, 'Where is the new information? Can you take that on board if you're working with him?'"

Spurs' lowest points tally in the Premier League era came in 1997/98 with 44, when they finished 13th in a season which saw Christian Gross succeed Gerry Francis as manager.

Should Spurs remain 14th, it would be the lowest Premier League finish since 2003/04. Since the top-flight's rebrand in 1992, the club also finished 14th in 1997/98 and 15th in 1993/94.

Postecoglou has been tasked with overcoming a sizeable list of injuries to key squad members this season.

Micky van de Ven has missed 30 games across all competitions for Spurs due to injury, while central defensive partner Cristian Romero has also missed much of the campaign. Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, left-back Destiny Udogie and striker Dominic Solanke have also been among the long-term absentees.

However, Keown said that Postecoglou's high-octane playing style may have contributed to their injury woes.

"They play a high press game which is probably detrimental to injuries anyway," added Keown.

"And the two central defenders, they don't come up and stand sideways on ready to drop - they're square on and it's demanding. Van de Ven, the amount of times he's pulled a hamstring doing that.

"I was in an Arsenal team that was famous for offsides, but sometimes we were like, 'hold on a minute this isn't working, we're gonna drop 20 yards, we're gonna adjust.'

"But when a manager is just hard-fast, seems stubborn, doesn't want to adjust to any tactics... there's got to be more than that to management. I've not done it myself so it's bloody easy sitting here saying it.

"But we do question it because we can't believe that you don't adjust."

Modern managers 'clinging onto a style that is non-negotiable' - Ferdinand

Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand said that Tottenham's injury crisis meant Postecoglou should have been more "adaptable" this campaign.

"You can't rip out the goalkeeper and two centre-halves and one of the best of left-backs from the season before, have a captain [Son Heung-min] that's in indifferent form, a striker you've invested massive money in whose injured, and go 'oh we're gonna be the same," Ferdinand said.

"You have to be adaptable. That's been the common word that has been used here that isn't being played out in the league this year."

Postecoglou is not the only manager wedded to a fixed style. Manchester United's Ruben Amorim also has a clear philosophy and has shown little inclination to deviate from it.

"I think the problem is that today's generation of managers are all clinging onto a style of football that is non-negotiable," added Ferdinand.

"Only the best teams can do that. Only Barcelona under Pep Guardiola, Man City in their pomp... even Sir Alex Ferguson was adaptable. When we played away from home in Europe, we would play 4-5-1 at times without the ball. In the Premier League against teams we should beat, it was 4-3-3, gung-ho.

"But nowadays, it's almost fashionable to say 'this is me, this is my style of football, and you are going to have to work with it no matter what'."

United sit one place above Spurs in the Premier League, with the two clubs on a collision course to meet in the UEFA Europa League final - a final shot at silverware that doubles up as a route into next season's Champions League.

Tottenham meet Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League quarter-finals, while United face Lyon.

Watch the Premier League and UEFA Champions League live on TNT Sports and discovery+

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