Ange Postecoglou Tottenham sack verdict issued after Leicester defeat

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Ange Postecoglou remains under immense pressure at Tottenham following the in the Premier League against Leicester.

Richarlison opened the scoring at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday afternoon before two goals in just four second half minutes from Jamie Vardy and Bilal El Khannouss turned the game on its head. Another defeat in the Premier League has seen it become seven games without a victory.

Despite beating Hoffenheim in the Europa League earlier this week, Spurs have followed it up with a shocking display against a newly-promoted team. Given their latest damaging result, Postecoglou's tenure in north London could soon be coming to an end.

Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, he said: "Yeah, it hurts. It hurts a lot. The players gave everything again. We are going to look at a lot of things, but in terms of effort I can't ask anymore of this group, things just didn't go our way today.

"We created some good opportunities and unfortunately things just didn't drop for us because not because the players weren't trying and that's the main thing.

"The players are giving everything they can. That is all we can ask for as a football club and me as a manager. They are trying their hardest and that is all anyone can ask for. You can analyse the goals, they were disappointing goals for us to concede, but I thought we had enough chances in the game to come out on top.

"When you're in this situation, they are trying as hard as they can and sometimes that doesn't give you he clarity in decision making. You can ask is for people to do as much as they can and from my perspective I see a group of players that are giving as much as they can.

"I know it will turn. We'll get some players back, we were short again today but in the next couple of weeks there's some really important players coming back that I know will help this group. We've not hit a ceiling. We've been going like this for two months.

"They put in an enormous performance on Thursday to make sure we're OK in Europe and they had to back it up today but there were probably at least two or three players that weren't at 100 per cent. I'm a football manager and I get judged on results, that is the way of the world."

Following that verdict, football.london's writers have offered their thoughts on whether the Australian should be relieved of his duties.

Kieran Horn

I have been a staunch supporter of Ange Postecoglou over the last few weeks, but something has now got to change. Based on the past few weeks, it certainly will not be backing in the January transfer window from chairman Daniel Levy and sporting director Johan Lange.

The absence of James Maddison was further proof that the squad are absolutely knackered and yet no help has arrived. This is of course not all on transfer decisions with Spurs having been inconsistent and more often than not, quite poor for some time.

Though players don't magically return to fitness when a manager is sacked, nor does a fatigued squad suddenly have a new lease of life, however it is perhaps the only way an actual change occurs. As was the case after the defeat to Everton, the potential replacements are hardly awe-inspiring and bigger names are unlikely to be interested in managing Tottenham.

Ultimately, the club may have to stick with Postecoglou in the context, especially as it appears the playing squad are still behind him. Their performances are starting to say otherwise, however.

James Quinlan

This is a difficult one to answer. On the one hand it is historically proven that managers of Premier League clubs need time to make their vision come to life. Ange Postecoglou has not had anywhere near enough.

But on the other, he is hardly able to escape criticism. The only way injuries happen is from the manager's methods in matches, training and recovery. In the face of these injuries, he hasn't changed the system and played suicidal football. What is the point of scoring three if you are only going to concede four? He hasn't managed this situation at all well.

His project needs time and backing, but he's making it increasingly difficult for himself to stay on the good side of the board and supporters.

Hannah Pinnock

I think it’s fair to say the problems at Tottenham extend way beyond the manager and fans are rightly asking questions of the senior leadership. That being said, the likes of Levy are not responsible for team selection and tactics.

The fact of the matter is, they are closer to the relegation places than they are the top four and they are living extremely dangerously at this stage in the season. Postecoglou is managing a squad severely depleted by injuries and you have to feel for him over the minimal investment.

But, a change in manager could be the spark Spurs desperately need to reignite their form. Any new manager will undoubtedly face the same struggles as Postecoglou, but it feels like they are a team in desperate need of a fresh voice in order to get the best out of what they have.

Jack Flintham

The definition of madness is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. The adage could not be truer for Postecoglou and Spurs.

There is sticking by your guns as a manager and being so stubborn that you fail to see when you need to change just to get results in the short-term. We are now passed the stage where injuries can save Postecoglou, his position is now surely untenable.

Only the clubs in the bottom four and West Ham have conceded more goals in the Premier League than Spurs. The Hammers have sacked their manager and you feel that outcome is now inevitable for Postecoglou.