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Amanda Staveley’s long-rumoured hopes of investing in Tottenham Hotspur may have just hit a major hurdle, due to changes in the way the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) operates.

PIF are changing their strategy

Though Staveley is no longer directly involved with PIF after leaving Newcastle United, the businesswoman may still be looking to Saudi investors for her next move.

If so, she would likely find it more difficult to get what she wants this time around. That’s because, according to Al Arabiya, the Saudi sovereign wealth fund is scaling back its operations in the future.

Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan announced at the Future Investment Initiative Summit that PIF will be reducing its overseas investments from the current 30%, to closer to an 18-20% share.

While PIF directly would not be able to invest in Tottenham due to a conflict of interests, virtually all funding from Saudi Arabia comes from the state fund. So, though Staveley’s potential backers may be separate legal entities to PIF, if the state is reducing its investment, that affects all Saudi groups.

Is Amanda Staveley investing in Spurs?

Staveley is known to be keen on investing in a new sporting project, with Spurs thought to be at the top of her list of potential investment opportunities.

It is believed Staveley and Spurs chairman, Daniel Levy, are now close friends. According to The Athletic, the former has possible backing from investors in the Middle East and the USA, but would only be looking for a minority stake in another club.

Staveley has apparently been very vocal to those closest to her about her interest in Tottenham.

A complex matter

It’s really hard to ascertain whether Staveley will actually get a deal across the line and become a shareholder in Tottenham. There’s so much going on behind the scenes, and business opportunities like these require plenty of negotiations and there are so many obstacles that can get in the way. Hopefully, something can be arranged, but it’s best not to expect a deal anytime soon.

After Spurs’ recent Carabao Cup Victory against Man City, Postecoglou opened up about the resilience of his squad and his belief that Spurs can shed the ‘Spursy’ tag narrative, especially when competing against the league’s strongest teams.

Tottenham’s Carabao Cup triumph

Tottenham Hotspur’s dramatic 2-1 win over Manchester City in the Carabao Cup showcased the team’s newfound intensity and composure, elements rarely associated with the ‘Spursy’ tag. The night started brightly as Spurs seized control early on; Timo Werner, looking revitalised, opened the scoring within five minutes with a precise finish set up by Dejan Kulusevski.

Minutes later, Pape Matar Sarr doubled the lead with a stunning long-range strike from 30 yards out. The home crowd was electrified, as Tottenham’s first-half display held City at bay.

Despite City’s possession dominance, Tottenham’s defensive discipline limited their typically prolific opponents to a single goal before the break. Postecoglou’s tactics allowed Spurs to absorb pressure effectively, shutting down City’s final-third creativity.

In the end, Spurs came away with a 2-1 win over one of the toughest teams in England, a victory that showcased both skill and determination, prompting questions about whether Postecoglou’s Tottenham can finally shake off the ‘Spursy’ label and build a reputation of resilience.

Postecoglou’s response to the ‘Spursy’ question

In his recent press conference, Postecoglou faced a question many Spurs managers have encountered over the years – whether his team had finally broken free of the ‘Spursy’ reputation.

In his response, the Tottenham manager acknowledged the persistence of the label, suggesting it’s something fans and critics alike won’t easily forget.

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Speaking to football.london he said: “Yeah, I don’t know about that. I still think that’s something, what I’ve said before, people will always kind of, every time we have stumble people are going to throw at us.

“You have to accept that, whether you believe that you’re not that any more, you have to accept that you can prove otherwise.

“I think the other night was a really strong performance against a pretty formidable side where we had to show every aspect of our game. We had to defend well, which I thought we really did because they didn’t really create too many clear-cut opportunities against us which against City that’s your best possible case of keeping them out – because it’s the volume of chances that kind of erodes your ability to keep them out.

“I think we had quality the other way, we created the best chances of the game, had a little bit of everything. It was an unbelievable physical effort from the lads. Even the physical numbers we did after, the amount of running the boys had to do.

“That’s just, I think, what you have to do against a team like City if you want to be successful. So, there’s a lot of positives for us but again, I said this after the game, we’re still the same team that performed poorly against Crystal Palace.

“Nothing changed in those three days apart from us addressing some aspects of our football to stay true to that. If we don’t veer from that, we’ll get to where we want to.”

Reflecting on Tottenham’s evolving identity

Postecoglou’s response resonates with a fanbase long frustrated by missed opportunities and near-successes. His straightforward take highlights Tottenham’s growing resilience under his leadership, a shift apparent in their Carabao Cup performance.

However, as the season progresses, the coming fixtures will reveal if Postecoglou’s Spurs are truly moving beyond the ‘Spursy’ tag or if that shadow lingers yet. For now, Spurs fans can relish the hope of change, a hope that’s beginning to feel justified under Ange’s guidance.

Former England midfielder Fara Williams put Tottenham’s inconsistency down to Ange Postecoglou’s style of play, suggesting that a couple of Spurs players are being left exposed.

Tottenham yet to find consistency

While all the metrics suggest that Spurs’ performances have improved when compared to last season, the displays are yet to really translate into consistent results for the Lilywhites.

Postecoglou’s men also continue to struggle away from home, having won just one of their five Premier League away fixtures this season.

That is something the Australian has to fix if he wants his side to compete near the top end of the table, but Williams believes that it is the 59-year-old’s system that is the main issue.

Fara Williams on Spurs’ inconsistency

Williams admitted that while she enjoys watching Tottenham’s style of play, it is not the ideal tactical set-up to pick up consistent results.

The 40-year-old suggested that by turning each game into a shootout, Spurs are always reliant on opposition sides not taking their chances.

Williams wrote in her BBC Sport column: “Tottenham create so many chances and are an exciting team to watch but they are lacking consistency. They signed a lot of young players in the summer so I do not know if that is one of the reasons or if their high-risk style of play is contributing as well.

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“With the way Spurs play, they are always going to give up chances to the opposition. The risk of the high line is if you are against a team that are more clinical than you then there is the possibility you will lose.

“As a neutral, I like the way Ange Postecoglou has them playing, but as a fan, I probably would not because it is risky.”

Williams on Tottenham’s defence

Willaims believes that Postecoglou has assembled defenders who are aggressive and can drive forward with the ball, but suggested that neither Cristian Romero nor Micky van de Ven are good at sensing danger.

She added that the Tottenham centre-back pair are being exposed by their hyper-attacking system.

The former Everton star added: “There is also the question mark over the back line. If you look at Micky van de Ven, the majority of his work is recovery defending and along with Cristian Romero, they are not very good at reading the game.

“Postecoglou wants them to be the one driving the ball forwards but as a back four, they are all front-footed and highly aggressive players. As a unit, it does not work and they are quite disconnected. Their style of play is exposing them defensively.”

The latest stat revealed by WhoScored shows just how important Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero are to Tottenham.

Underappreciated partnership

While most Spurs fans rightly feel that van de Ven and Romero are up there with the best centre-back partnerships across the Premier League, the pair perhaps do not get the credit they deserve from the footballing media.

That is partly down to Tottenham’s perceived defensive weaknesses, with Ange Postecoglou’s men tending to play an open, aggressive style that leaves their backline exposed.

However, a stat has now emerged that shows just how effective the Dutchman and the Argentine have been this season.

Telling stat for Romero and van de Ven

WhoScored have now provided the list of the players who have won back possession most times in their defensive third this season.

Both of Tottenham’s centre-backs make the top four, with van de Ven coming in at third with 32 ball recoveries and Romero coming in at fourth with 30 so far this season.

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It is interesting to note that the list is dominated by full-backs, with Tottenham’s central defensive pair being out of place. That shows that Spurs’ centre-backs are exposed a lot more to players running at them than their counterparts across the Premier League.

Why Micky van de Ven’s injury will be a big miss for Spurs

While Spurs are still waiting for an official confirmation on the severity of van de Ven’s injury, this stat shows exactly why the defender will be a huge miss for Postecoglou’s men if he is ruled out for a couple of months.

Given the way Tottenham play, they rely on their centre-backs to be able to defend in one-v-one situations and win the ball.

According to the latest reports emerging from Italy, the race for one of Serie A’s rising stars is now heating up, with Tottenham Hotspur at the front of the queue to land the player.

Tottenham short of options at the back

Spurs do not currently have much strength in depth at the back, with Djed Spence being used as Destiny Udogie’s backup at left-back so far this season.

That is an area that Ange Postecoglou’s men reportedly want to address in January, and they are seemingly looking to the Italian market to do that.

Various outlets over the last few weeks have credited Tottenham as well as their London rivals, Chelsea, with an interest in Lecce wing-back Patrick Dorgu (FiorentinaNews).

Patrick Dorgu race now heating up for Tottenham

It has now been reported by Saturday’s edition of Gazzetta dello Sport (as relayed by Sport Witness) that AC Milan have also set their sights on Dorgu.

However, the report makes it clear that the Serie A side will have to battle Chelsea and Spurs, who are in ‘pole position’ to sign the 28-year-old.

The outlet states that the ‘auction has already started’ for the left-back, with Postecoglou’s men currently in the lead. The publication adds that Lecce are expected to ‘achieve a historic capital gain’ from the Denmark international sale.

Patrick Dorgu is very similar to Destiny Udogie

One can understand why Tottenham are looking at Dorgu, whose attributes are not too dissimilar to Udogie’s. Like the former Udinese man prior to his switch to N17, the Dane is also a touchline wing-back, who prefers staying out wide rather than inverting.

Australian international Massimo Luongo has made an admission about his experience working with Ange Postecoglou and has explained the kind of relationship he now shares with the Tottenham boss.

Ange Postecoglou still trying to silence critics

In the eyes of many observers, Postecoglou is still yet to prove that he is good enough to succeed at the highest level.

The 59-year-old’s journey to the top has been quite unusual, partly because of the fact that he is from Australia, which is certainly not considered a traditional footballing powerhouse.

The fact that Postecoglou had not managed in any of the top five leagues in Europe prior to getting the Spurs job has meant that he has had an added burden to prove that his style of play can work in the Premier League.

Massimo Luongo never had any doubts

Luongo, who spent a couple of years in the Tottenham academy, played under Postecoglou at the Socceroos, and the midfielder explained that he was always convinced that his compatriot had what it takes to succeed at the highest level.

Speaking to the Optus Sport Football Podcast, the Ipswich Town midfielder about the Spurs boss: “I always thought, I just thought once he gets the opportunity, and he, like, believes in his coaching and his methods so much that he could do it at any club, whether it’s Barcelona or Tottenham or League One team.

“You know, he’ll implement the same style and the same tactics and the same ideas and culture and everything so yeah, I thought once he gets a chance, like a lot of us actually, once he gets a chance then I think he’ll definitely take it, and he has, everyone loves him, I think, from the outside.”

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Luongo admits he speaks to Postecoglou regularly

The 32-year-old admitted that he speaks more with the Aussie coach now than he did when he played for him.

When asked about Ipswich’s upcoming clash against Tottenham, Luongo said: “Yes, yes, especially, I’ll just say to you, he doesn’t really talk to you when you’re his player, he talks to me more when I’m not his player, but yeah, that’ll be exciting, and it’s the first club that I come over.”

The Stoke manager confesses that he is impressed with Tottenham’s Ashley Phillips after giving him his first couple of starts this week.

Tottenham youngster has had to be patient

Ashley Phillips has had to be patient since new manager Narcis Pelach replaced Steven Schumacher at Stoke City back in mid-September.

The Tottenham youngster finally got his first start under his new boss last weekend as the Potters fell to a 2-0 loss against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.

The 19-year-old kept his place in the starting eleven for the Potters’ 3-2 loss against Southampton in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night, and his display has left Pelach impressed.

Narcis Pelach praises Ashley Phillips

Even though Stoke were knocked out of the League Cup after a 3-2 defeat at St Mary’s, Phillips had a decent outing, evening finding the back of the net towards the end of the first half.

Speaking after the game, Pelach admitted that he has seen enough in the Blackburn academy graduate to suggest that he will be a top centre-back in the future.

The Stoke boss said about Phillips after the game (via StokeOnTrentLive): “He had chances against Sheffield United the other day. I’m impressed with his performance today and the other day and he needs to continue in this direction because I think he’s a good centre-back, can be very good in the future.”

Have things shifted for Ash Phillips?

With these two performances, Phillips has put his hand up and shown that he can be relied upon, particularly considering that he held his own against Premier League opposition.

Based on the Stoke manager’s words, one would expect the teenager to get a lot more game time over the coming months.

Tottenham fans will love hearing what Pep Guardiola said about the Lilywhites following the Carabao Cup clash on Wednesday.

Spurs bounce back in style

Ange Postecoglou would have wanted a response from his players on the back of their lacklustre showing at Selhurst Park, and he certainly got that, with Tottenham playing with a lot of intensity and emerging deserved 2-1 winners.

While Spurs were irresistible at times in the first-half, they showed great resilience and grit in the second period as the away side dictated play.

Postecoglou would have been pleased to have seen a different side to this Spurs team as they now march on to the quarterfinals of the Carabao Cup.

Pep Guardiola complimentary of Spurs

After seeing his side fall to their first defeat of the campaign, Guardiola was full of praise for Spurs, referring to them as an ‘incredible side’.

The Spaniard insisted that he was pleased with his players’ showing but conceded that Tottenham had the chances to put the game to bed on the break.

Guardiola told Sky Sports about Spurs: “An incredible top side they are so fast and I am really pleased. We play so good. If you play a game that quick they attack quicker, we played really good.

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“Of course, in the second half, there was transitions they could have finished the game – I know perfectly how good we played.”

Tottenham showed they can cope with pressure

Questions have been raised about the mentality of this Spurs side and whether they can come through difficult spells in matches.

They showed in the second half that they can keep things tight at the back even when things are not clicking for them in certain phases.

Tottenham Hotspur have not won a trophy for more than 16 years now, and club legend Glenn Hoddle has discussed why that may be and how the club’s footballing philosophy plays into things.

There’s a generational divide at Spurs

The League Cup-winning side of 2008 are still the last Spurs team to lift a trophy, and the fanbase are hungry to see the club fix that as soon as possible.

As other teams in the Big Six continue to challenge for major honours, Tottenham have been the nearly-man far too often, and have developed a reputation as perennial losers.

According to Spurs legend Glenn Hoddle in a recent appearance on The Overlap, the issue comes down to two different types of Tottenham supporters wanting different things from the team.

He said: “I think there is a tradition in that club, winning the double in the ’60s, and the way they played even before that with the push and run team that was put together, and I think there’s a split in the generations at the moment.

“There’s the older generation, living in those memories and they want a certain style of play. And it’s always been that, if you didn’t play attractive attacking football… with players you want to go and watch, who at least if they don’t win, you’ve been to see top players… There’s a generation that lived through that and are happy with that.

“And there’s a younger generation that haven’t seen us win things for a long long time. They want to go to school and say we’ve won trophies, when Arsenal and Chelsea in London have won them. We’ve had to sit there and watch that. There’s a demand from the crowds, but they’re split.”

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Tottenham’s motto is wrong

For Hoddle, Tottenham’s whole philosophy doesn’t quite fit the demand for trophies. In fact, Hoddle believes the ‘To Dare is to Do’ motto is wrong.

He added: “To do is to dare is the club motto. Perhaps that’s not really what it should be? It doesn’t tell me that we’ve got to control games and win trophies. That we’ve got to be the very best. I think the club have lost their way a little bit on the football side. The stadium and training ground don’t win you trophies.”

Glenn Hoddle has a point

I do think there is a way for clubs to play exciting football AND win trophies, but what I think Hoddle is getting at is that perhaps we need to be more pragmatic sometimes.

Tottenham Hotspur are back in Premier League action this weekend against Aston Villa as they look to take three points off a direct top-four rival. Pascal Chimbonda has offered his prediction for the game.

Tottenham Hotspur vs Aston Villa

It was Aston Villa who pipped Tottenham to fourth by two points last season and Ange Postecoglou will be hoping to see his side climb above the Villans come the end of the campaign.

As things stand, Unai Emery’s side remain in the Champions League spots and already have a five-point lead over Spurs in the Premier League table.

However, the Lilywhites could get that down to just two points with a win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday. They could even have captain Heung-min Son back in time for the clash.

Tottenham vs Aston Villa score prediction

Pascal Chimbonda has offered his prediction and thinks Tottenham will bounce back from that Crystal Palace defeat with a 2-1 win over their top-four rivals Aston Villa this weekend. We, meanwhile, think Spurs could play out a high-scoring draw against the Villans.

Pascal prediction – 2-1 Tottenham win

Spurs Web prediction – 2-2 Draw

The Table

What do you think the Tottenham vs Aston Villa score will be?