Roy Keane was in no mood for sympathy when discussing Ange Postecoglou’s struggles at Tottenham, launching into a typically no-nonsense assessment of the Australian’s current woes on The Overlap.
With Spurs suffering from a major injury crisis that has left them without key players for months, Arsenal legend Ian Wright was quick to defend the former Celtic boss. Wright insisted it wasn’t Postecoglou’s fault and expressed sympathy for the situation. But Keane wasn’t having any of it.
“When Ange was the manager of Celtic, he’s playing Dundee and Hibs every week, and they’ve got the smallest squads ever,” Keane fired back. “I don’t think Ange was feeling sorry for them, so no, it’s Ange’s time now to suffer. You have to suffer, Ange, like lots of other managers. Celtic have the biggest budget and the best players, and you think he had sympathy at Dundee [Utd] when he was winning 7, 8, 9-0?”
The Irishman’s trademark bluntness left no room for debate. He essentially dismissed the idea that Postecoglou deserved any special consideration, pointing to the clear advantage Celtic had during his time in Scotland.
Wright, however, pushed back slightly, conceding that Celtic are “obviously the guys” in Scotland but arguing that Postecoglou now faces a very different challenge at Spurs. “He’s got an owner now that’s not going to back him like they did at Celtic,” Wright added.
Keane’s words will no doubt divide opinion, but his point was clear: success at Celtic, where Postecoglou had the best squad and biggest budget, was a very different reality to the brutal demands of the Premier League. And as far as Keane is concerned, it’s just part of the job.
While Keane hit some very pertinent points, people forget how far Celtic had fallen during that Covid season and how bad a shape the club was in when he flew halfway across the world to take charge. He picked us up from the rubble of the lockdown season and restarted the Celtic juggernaut that we’re continuing to enjoy today.
Former Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou has defended his Tottenham players after Spurs were knocked out of the FA Cup following a 2-1 defeat at Villa Park against Aston Villa yesterday.
With Tottenham knocked out of the League Cup on Thursday against Liverpool at Anfield, Spurs’ only real chance of a trophy this season is the Europa League.
Ange, who previously told journalists he always wins a trophy in his second season, has backed himself to secure Spurs’ first trophy since 2008 when they won the League Cup.
With players like Wilson Odobert, Guglielmo Vicario, Cristian Romero, Radu Drăgușin, Destiny Udogie, Timo Werner, Dominic Solanke, Brennan Johnson, and James Maddison all injured, Ange has had to manage one of the biggest injury crises of his managerial career.
Tottenham currently sit 14th in the Premier League table, 10 points clear of 18th-placed Leicester City and 16 points off fourth-placed Chelsea. Injuries have played a large part in a poor season by Postecoglou’s high standards, which he set for himself during his time in charge of Celtic.
Whether Tottenham will stick with the Australian remains to be seen, but given his consistent success throughout his career, it’s clear that a culture at the club has affected their inability to win a trophy in 17 years, with Ange attempting to overturn this.
For Ange, the move to take over at Tottenham was seen by some as a great opportunity after Celtic, while others saw it as a poisonous chalice, with world-class managers like José Mourinho and Antonio Conte failing to end the trophy drought.
Postecoglou is now facing the same problem, while attempting to play a more attractive style of football than fans in North London have not become accustomed to over the last decade.
Postecoglou’s time at Tottenham won’t define his career, but he will look to turn things around.
It’s clear to see he isn’t blaming players and instead feels that a terrible time with injuries has affected results undoubtedly.
Tottenham Hotspur have secured the signing of Mason Melia, the highly-rated 17-year-old Irish striker from St Patrick’s Athletic—despite Celtic previously attempting to bring him to Glasgow.
While the January transfer window has closed, Spurs have confirmed the deal as they continue to stockpile young talent for the future. However, Melia won’t officially join the North London club until he turns 18, due to Brexit regulations.
Melia had previously spent time in Glasgow, with Celtic hoping to tempt him into a move to Scotland.
Melia has already made history, becoming the youngest goalscorer in League of Ireland history when he netted against UCD at just 15 years and 281 days old.
With Tottenham securing his services, Celtic will have to look elsewhere for future attacking prospects as their search for young strikers continues.
He was not someone that the Hoops could have brought in in the January window.
Former Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou is feeling the pressure in his second season at the helm of Tottenham Hotspur, with tensions boiling over during a post-match interview after Spurs’ 3-2 defeat to Everton.
The loss, Tottenham’s 12th of the Premier League campaign, has left them languishing in 15th place and sparked further questions about Postecoglou’s ability to turn things around.
In what has become a frustrating pattern for Spurs this season, the first-half performance was riddled with errors. Postecoglou himself shouldered some of the blame, admitting that his tactical choices and lineup adjustments contributed to the poor start. Everton capitalised, leaving Spurs chasing the game by half-time. Despite showing improvement in the second half, Tottenham ultimately fell short, with the defeat adding to a growing list of disappointing results.
The frustration of the situation spilt into Postecoglou’s exchange with a BBC reporter after the match. When the interview began with the phrase, “Ange, familiar story,” the Aussie bristled, responding sarcastically, “Yeah, okay, great way to start an interview,” before proceeding with his analysis. He later took responsibility for guiding his struggling squad, saying, “I have the responsibility of the group of players I do have, to try and get us through this.”
However, the mounting losses and a lack of cohesion on the pitch have only intensified speculation about his future at the club. Postecoglou’s second season, expected to be one of progress, has instead been derailed by injuries and underwhelming performances. Despite his success at Celtic, where he revolutionised the team and won back-to-back titles, his methods appear to be facing greater resistance in the more unforgiving Premier League environment.
Australian journalist Vince Rugari, who has followed Postecoglou’s career closely, highlighted how the pressure can sometimes get the better of the Spurs boss, tweeting: “This is unfortunately a bit of a character flaw. When things aren’t going well he snaps at totally fair questions. Happened with Socceroos towards the end. He’s better than this.”
At Celtic, Postecoglou could be sharp when pressed by journalists, but he often defused moments with humour or a well-timed “mate.” His current spikiness appears to reflect the mounting strain of a season that hasn’t gone according to plan.
Injuries to key players have undoubtedly hampered his efforts, while critics of his appointment—some of whom were quick to dismiss his credentials because he came from the Scottish Premiership—have been vocal during his struggles.
The coming weeks will be pivotal for Postecoglou if he’s given more time to turn things around.
Celtic have bolstered their scouting department with the addition of veteran talent-spotter David Pleat, who joins the club after his long association with Tottenham Hotspur ended last year.
The 80-year-old will use his vast experience to identify talent for the Scottish champions, working under Celtic’s head of football operations, Paul Tisdale.
Pleat’s appointment comes as a boost for Brendan Rodgers, who has been vocal about the need to strengthen the scouting network, particularly as Celtic compete in the Champions League and continue their domestic dominance.
The former Spurs manager brings decades of experience.
Pleat’s departure from Spurs last year highlighted the growing divide in football recruitment strategies.
Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy informed Pleat that his traditional scouting methods were being phased out in favour of a data-driven approach.
Speaking to the Telegraph at the time, Pleat revealed his disappointment at being let go but acknowledged the direction Spurs were heading.
“Daniel Levy called me in and said, ‘You know it’s all data-driven now, we don’t need eyes and ears,’” Pleat explained. “What a nonsense. I didn’t argue. He’s in charge.”
With Pleat now part of the team, Celtic hope to identify under-the-radar talents in England and beyond. His knowledge of the lower leagues in England, where he famously discovered Dele Alli playing for MK Dons, could be a significant asset.
It will be interesting to see how he fits in.
In the modern game, data is highly useful, but it doesn’t always tell the full story.
David Pleat has made a surprise return to football, taking up a scouting role with Celtic at the age of 80.
The experienced former manager and scout has been brought on board to strengthen the Scottish champions’ recruitment efforts in England, MailSport reports.
Pleat, who managed Tottenham Hotspur twice during his career, will now assist Celtic for the next 12 months, focusing on identifying talent south of the border. His appointment was facilitated by Paul Tisdale, Celtic’s new head of football operations and a former manager of Exeter City.
Tisdale was appointed after the summer transfer window, although he did help out before being given the role at Celtic.
Pleat is no stranger to talent-spotting, having worked as a scout for Tottenham until last year. With over three decades of experience in management and recruitment, he brings a wealth of footballing knowledge to Celtic’s scouting network.
The addition of Pleat will be welcomed by manager Brendan Rodgers, who currently operates with a relatively lean scouting department. Reports indicate that Celtic are served by only half a dozen scouts, meaning Pleat’s expertise and vast contacts in English football could prove invaluable as the club seeks to maintain domestic dominance and improve its European competitiveness.
The move comes at a critical time for Celtic, who are actively pursuing reinforcements during the January transfer window. With Brendan Rodgers keen to bolster his squad for the Champions League and the title run-in, Pleat’s knowledge of the English market could help identify under-the-radar talents or experienced players capable of making an immediate impact.
Former Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou is reportedly eyeing a January move for Celtic winger Nicolas Kuhn, with Tottenham Hotspur among several Premier League clubs considering an approach for the in-form German.
After joining Celtic for £3 million in January 2024, Kuhn had a slow start to life at Celtic, but he quickly found his form and this season as been spectacular.
This season, he has racked up 25 goal contributions in as many games, with 14 goals and 11 assists, cementing his place as one of the standout players in Brendan Rodgers’ squad.
His skill, pace, and creativity have made him a pivotal figure in Celtic’s domestic dominance and Champions League campaign.
Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa, and Newcastle United are among the clubs monitoring Kuhn’s situation closely, with Brentford, Brighton, and Crystal Palace also expressing interest, reports TBR Football.
Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou, who departed Celtic in 2023, is said to be particularly keen on adding the 24-year-old to his attacking arsenal.
Despite not working with Kuhn directly at Celtic, Postecoglou is said to be an admirer of the winger.
Celtic are understandably eager to retain Kuhn, especially with crucial Champions League fixtures and a potential knockout round on the horizon. Brendan Rodgers would be reluctant to lose such a key player mid-season, particularly given Kuhn’s importance in a squad managing injuries on the wing.
The Scottish champions are expected to resist any offers unless an extraordinary bid is tabled. Kuhn’s value to Celtic is immeasurable, but the club’s business model has historically seen them sell top talents if the price is right.
Postecoglou’s track record of raiding former clubs for players he knows well could make this rumour credible. When at Celtic, he went for players he had worked with, Daizen Maeda and Aaron Mooy, as well as tempting players he had watched in Japan from the opposition dugout.
Former Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou has named a Hoops supporter in his Tottenham side to face Rangers at Ibrox tonight in the Europa League.
Englishman Archie Gray revealed when he signed for Spurs that Postecoglou’s success at Celtic played a big part in his move to Tottenham in the summer for a reported £40 million.
With himself and his family hugely enjoying Ange’s time in Glasgow.
Gray said: (Tottenham Hotspur), “I’m a massive Celtic fan, so I love him, my whole family love him.”
It is a test for Gray at Ibrox tonight, starting at centre-back at just 18 years old.
However, in Postecoglou, he has a coach who is very clear in how he likes his players to play, particularly his defenders, to pass forward every time they are on the ball to constantly test the opposition.
Gray, who can also play in midfield and at right-back, has been shifted to centre-back due to a defensive injury crisis at the Premier League side.
Having played 44 games for Leeds United last season in the English Championship, Gray has consistent game time at an early age, and against the Ibrox side, he has a great opportunity to live a lifelong dream of winning a game at Ibrox.
Although it may not be for Celtic, it will still mean a lot to a lifelong Hoops supporter who appreciated Postecoglou’s two incredible seasons with Celtic.
Former Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou has been labelled ‘one-dimensional’ by Michael Owen, who believes the Australian’s expansive style may not be suited to the demands of the Premier League.
This criticism followed Tottenham’s recent 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace, which has sparked debate about whether Postecoglou’s approach will hold up in England’s top flight.
Since leaving Celtic for Tottenham, Postecoglou’s reputation has divided opinions. While fans and pundits alike appreciate his straightforward personality and attacking philosophy, there’s an ongoing debate over whether his style can sustain a title-winning campaign in the Premier League.
Owen is the latest to weigh in, expressing doubts about whether Postecoglou’s commitment to attacking football can truly compete with the league’s demands.
Speaking to the Wide World of Sports, Owen said: “He plays great football, I suppose there’s a little split. In terms of popularity, there is no split – everybody loves him, loves his interviews, he’s very direct, very straight, he’s got a sense of humour, he plays in a really attractive way. From that point of view, everybody loves him.”
Owen added: “But from the way he plays, and whether he can go and win a Premier League, there is a split. I think fans, pundits, et cetera doubt whether you can be that open, that expansive, and that one-dimensional to go and win a league.
“When I say one-dimensional, I don’t mean the way they play – I mean it’s this way or not.”
This isn’t the first time Postecoglou has faced scrutiny for his tactical approach. Although initially criticised at Celtic, his high intensity and attacking style delivered silverware and an eventual treble, proving hugely effective in Scottish football.
However, critics south of the border question whether his “all-or-nothing” tactics can survive the pace and defensive organisation in the English game.
With Tottenham aiming to break their long-standing trophy drought, Postecoglou must prove he can adapt and evolve his tactics to suit the challenges of the Premier League. Whether he will is a different equation, though.