Following defeat to Leicester City in the Premier League, Ange Postecoglou’s position as manager of Tottenham Hotspur is thought to be increasingly under pressure.
After 23 games Tottenham are 15th in the Premier League, a far cry where both Postecoglou and Daniel Levy would have expected to be at this stage of the season.
When he first arrived in N17, Postecoglou looked destined for great things at the club – Spurs even looked to be in the title-race after 10 or so games in 2023.
However, that challenge was curtailed by injuries, and it’s been a familiar tale in north London ever since.
Spurs fans aren’t able to judge the full potential of their manager because of how hamstrung he’s been by injuries, and that perhaps explains why Tottenham will give Postecoglou more time.
Gary Lineker suggests that Tottenham might be best to stick by Ange Postecoglou
Of course, the merits of Spurs sticking by Postecoglou is now being widely debated, a topic Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer discussed on ‘The Rest Is Football’ podcast.
On his part, Lineker seemed to suggest that Tottenham should stick by their manager, pointing to the limited bounce sides around them have had when parting ways with their own boss.
Discussing the situation, Lineker began: “He needs to turn it around quickly, I suspect. And that result today won’t help.
“But I think of paramount importance, if they stay patient, will be the second leg at Anfield.”
Shearer replied: “Yeah, absolutely. I totally agree with that. I think you look at that game and you think if they perhaps weren’t in that position, then maybe the worst would have already happened.
“But I think when you look to that game, that is a huge game for them.”
Shearer continued: “I just wonder today though, if we’re listening to the crowd towards Levy in the stadium, I don’t know, I just think for him to pull the trigger now would be a huge decision.
“It was hugely loud in the stadium against the chairman today.”
Lineker: “Also, I mean, we’ve said this many times, but it’s always the manager’s fault, it’s always the coach’s fault.
“And you look at the teams that have, say, sacked their managers so far this season, some have had a little bounce at the very beginning, like Wolves, like Leicester did, and then they go back pretty much. Well, Everton have had a bounce, we’ll see now whether they can sustain that.”
Three games for Postecoglou to save his Tottenham job?
As the duo suggest, Spurs’ Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Liverpool could be crucial at Anfield – not the kind of game you’d potentially want your job riding on.
In all competitions this season, Liverpool have only lost at home once to Nottingham Forest back in September last year.
Of course, with their 1-0 lead, Tottenham only need to draw at Anfield, a feat managed by just Fulham and Manchester United since Arne Slot arrived.
It remains to be seen who Spurs will have fit for that tie, and the club’s two games before their meeting with Liverpool shouldn’t be overlooked either.
Spurs are currently in the automatic qualifying places of the Europa League league phase, but they’ll want to win against IF Elfsborg to guarantee that position.
And the games then don’t get much easier for Spurs, who will head to Brentford in the Premier League, who also have an excellent home record this season.