The Boy Hotspur

Former Watford skipper Troy Deeney has defended Ange Postecoglou amid criticism following Tottenham’s defeat to Brighton.

After a slow start to the season, Tottenham did turn things around as they went on a five-match winning streak across competitions. But, it seems all their hard work came crashing down with a defeat against Brighton prior to the international break. They had a 2-0 lead heading into half-time but ended up losing 3-2 when the final whistle blew.

Ange Postecoglou has received a lot of criticism following their defeat at the hands of the Seagulls. But, Troy Deeney feels the manager is not the one at fault. He feels sorry for the Australian boss and calls out the Spurs defence who ended up conceding thrice and giving away the game at American Express Stadium.

In a recent appearance on TikTok, Deeney said: “I actually feel sorry for the fella you know.

“You look at how Spurs play, they play some good stuff, they attack well and score loads of goals, but when it comes to defending, people blame the manager for defending, but how can you put on a session that stops people mis-kicking a ball?

“You can’t do anything about poor defending, the last goal for example, Rutter shouldn’t be getting that, foul him, then when you get to the byline Bentancur is there, just get it.

“I think when you look at Ange, I would challenge people to look at the goals they concede, they’re not structural damage ones, they’re not struggling, it’s man to man, me vs you, that’s more mentality.”

As long as Spurs win, everyone tends to praise Postecoglou for his attacking approach but as soon as things don’t go their way his tactics are questioned. The fact that he plays with an extremely high backline always comes into the limelight along with their inability to deal with set-pieces.

Deeney feels people need to change how they look at Spurs’ defensive errors. He believes these are mistakes at an individual level and it has nothing to do with the defensive structure that has been used by the former Celtic boss. It’s the mentality of the defenders that cost them the game.

He feels Postecoglou has got them playing an attacking and attractive brand of football. The manager is doing great things at the club and he can’t be blamed for people not doing their job defensively.

Tottenham are willing to battle rival clubs for the services of SC Braga’s Roger Fernandes.

Roger Fernandes has attracted much interest thanks to his impressive rise in recent years. It has been five years since he moved to Portugal to join SC Braga and the teenager has only gone from strength to strength. The 16-year-old is on the wishlist of some of the biggest clubs from across Europe and according to O Jogo via SportWitness, Tottenham are one of the clubs interested in the young winger.

Spurs are well covered on the flanks. They added Wilson Odobert to their team in the summer and highly rated Mikey Moore has managed to break into the first team. But, that doesn’t stop the North London club from exploring opportunities to strengthen the wide areas on the pitch further.

Fernandes prefers playing as a right-winger but he can feature on the left flank as well. His versatility is one of the reasons why Spurs are keeping a close eye on him. He has already featured in 52 matches for Braga and has even contributed towards 16 goals (8 goals, 8 assists). The teenager has huge potential and Tottenham do not want to miss out on him.

Spurs have focused on signing young players with huge potential under Ange Postecoglou and Fernades seems to be an ideal fit for their project. But, they will have to compete with quite a few top clubs from across Europe to get their hands on his signature as Chelsea, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Brighton & Hove Albion, Newcastle United, Atlético Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, PSV and Ajax are all believed to be keen on his signature.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou would ‘100%’ improve Manchester United were he to replace Erik ten Hag.

That’s the view of former Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor, who is a big fan of the Australian’s style of play.

Postecoglou took the reins in north London at the start of last season and guided Spurs to fifth in the Premier League, returning them to the Europa League after dropping out of Europe entirely the year prior.

However, there was criticism levelled at Spurs, who passed up multiple opportunities to catch Aston Villa in the fourth and final Champions League spot.

This season hasn’t started in convincing style, either, with Spurs currently ninth with 10 points from seven games, four points adrift of the top four following Sunday’s 3-2 collapse at Brighton.

Agbonlahor makes sensational Ange Postecoglou Man Utd claim

Despite his flaws, there’s no denying Postecoglou brings an exciting brand of football to his teams.

According to Agbonlahor, that would be a big improvement for Man Utd, who are currently floundering and must surely be considering sacking Ten Hag.

“If Ange Postecoglou was manager of Manchester United, they’d be in the top four this season. No doubt. Because they lack organization, they lack an identity, they lack a style of play. They lack phases of play when you watch them. They don’t look like a team that have been coached on the training ground.

“Spurs know what they’re doing. Getting it to your number 10s. Get it out to your winger. Number 10s make their runs into the box. They’re a joy to watch. Manchester United are [coached by] old school managers, maybe I played under, go out there and then and do your jobs today, lads.

Don Hutchison believes Tottenham forward Timo Werner will never get over his frustrating habit of missing chances, but still believes he has plenty to offer to Ange Postecoglou’s side.

Werner returned to Spurs on loan from RB Leipzig during the summer following another temporary spell in the second half of last season.

However, the 57-time Germany international has been incredibly disappointing so far, failing to score in any of his eight appearances across all competitions so far this season.

Werner has already missed two ‘big chances’ in Premier League play, while his failure to find the net in five outings in the competition is all the more disappointing considering he’s started the last two in the absence of Son Heung-min.

The 28-year-old has also been guilty of getting into some great positions before failing to find a teammate with what should be a simple killer pass, meaning he has just one assist to his name this season.

Hutchison gives worrying assessment of Timo Werner’s finishing

Werner boasted an incredible record with Leipzig between 2016 and 2020, netting 95 goals in 159 appearances.

However, his output has been on a downward spiral ever since his move to Chelsea in 2020, with Werner scoring just 43 goals in 164 games at club level since then — and just four in his last 35.

Former Everton, Liverpool and Scotland midfielder Hutchison believes the ship has already set sail on Werner’s finishing ability, but he still thinks the German adds value for Spurs.

“I don’t want to be unkind on Timo Werner, but you sort of can’t help it, because you want him to succeed,” Hutchison said (via TBR).

“He’s not a bad player, he’s got loads of strengths, in that Man United game he could’ve scored three or four. There was one moment in that game that summed him up, he ran 50 yards and all he had to do was find a Spurs player, he missed them both and found a Man United player.

“It’s a technique thing, at his age he won’t find the goals because he’s proven that he can’t finish, but he stretches games, that’s why Spurs signed him.”

Lecce left-back Patrick Dorgu has been told he ‘can join a top club’ by his sporting director amid links to Tottenham Hotspur.

Just 19 years old, Dorgu has been a rumoured target for Spurs for some time now. However, the Lilywhites have thus far been unable to meet Lecce’s €30m demands for the player.

But that doesn’t mean Spurs won’t come back again for the teenager who, despite his tender age, is attracting glances from across Europe.

Already, Dorgu has two senior caps to his name for Denmark, scoring on his debut in the Uefa Nations League against Switzerland in September.

Dorgu also has one goal in six appearances to his name in Serie A this season, while he’s second among Lecce players for tackles (13).

Spurs receive Patrick Dorgu encouragement

Spurs are likely to hunt for a new left-back in the next couple of transfer windows with Destiny Udogie somewhat injury-prone, Sergio Reguilon outcast and Ben Davies the only remaining option, though he more often covers at centre-back nowadays.

And the powers that be in north London will be encouraged by the words of Lecce sporting director Stefano Trinchera.

“It’s not true that we had already sold him,” Trinchera told TuttoMercatoWeb (via Spurs Web).

“He is one of our young players, who are being looked at by many important clubs. Today we are all thinking about survival, but Dorgu’s future is in his hands. He can join a top club due to the qualities he has.”

Tottenham defender Cristian Romero has been slammed for his performances this season.

The Argentine World Cup winner, who was a key figure in Ange Postecoglou’s successful debut season at Tottenham, has struggled to replicate his form, leaving fans and pundits questioning his defensive sharpness.

Romero’s partnership with Micky van de Ven last season earned widespread acclaim, with many labelling them as one of the Premier League’s top centre-back duos.

Postecoglou even elevated Romero’s role by naming him vice-captain, which initially seemed to enhance his maturity and discipline on the field.

However, this season has seen a noticeable dip in his performances. He has not looked as sharp enough, and has made quite a few mistakes which has either directly or indirectly resulted in goals. In fact, club insider John Wenham has named him responsible for most of the goals Spurs have conceded this season.

One notable error occurred in the recent 3-2 loss to Brighton, where Tottenham squandered a two-goal lead. Romero was caught ball-watching, leaving Brighton’s Danny Welbeck unmarked to score the winning goal.

Former Spurs star Glenn Hoddle was particularly vocal in his criticism, calling Romero’s defending “poor” and accusing him of being a “spectator” during the decisive moment. Hoddle pointed out that Romero’s failure to track Welbeck’s movement and his poor positioning contributed to the goal.

Discussing Romero’s role in the goal on Premier League Productions, Hoddle said:

“This is just poor defending all round, you can’t believe it from a Tottenham point of view. There is one attacker in the six-yard box. It’s 3 vs one.”

“It is poor defending from (Destiny) Udogie. You have got to stand up, he gets too tight and gets turned. I think (Rodrigo) Bentancur has to slide in earlier as well and take that the ball out for a corner.”

“If we just watch this, from an experienced defender, look at Romero here. Eyes on the ball. He’s not looked at (Danny Welbeck). He has actually put himself in a poor position; hasn’t opened his body up once and has actually walked from a good position to get into a bad position. Then he has just ball-watched. He is a spectator. He might as well be in row Z watching from behind the goal. If you defend like that, then you are going to get punished.”

Despite his current form, Romero’s quality is unquestionable. Tottenham fans and Postecoglou will be hoping Romero can quickly turn things around and help solidify the backline, especially as the team looks to push for a top-four finish in the Premier League.

A supercomputer has predicted that Tottenham will clinch a top-four spot in the Premier League this season, despite their poor start.

Spurs have endured their worst start in 16 years, with only three wins, three losses, and one draw from their first seven games.

Their most recent defeat came against Brighton, where they squandered a two-goal lead, conceding three goals in 18 minutes in a dramatic second-half collapse.

While the results have been disappointing, the performances have not, as Tottenham have played some of the most exciting attacking football in the league under Ange Postecoglou.

However, if Tottenham are to secure a top-four finish, they need to start converting these performances into wins. Their defensive struggles have been costly, with careless mistakes often leading to goals.

According to Opta’s supercomputer (via The Mirror), which simulates each Premier League match 10,000 times based on expected goals (xG) values, Liverpool are tipped to win the title, with Arne Slot leading the Reds to Premier League glory in his debut season.

Chelsea are predicted to finish second, while Manchester City, the reigning champions, are expected to end in third place.

The supercomputer predicts that Spurs will finish fourth, beating out Arsenal, Manchester United, Aston Villa, and Newcastle for the final Champions League qualification spot.

Despite Tottenham’s shaky start, there remains optimism that they can turn their fortunes around and achieve a successful season.

TBH Says:

We are not going to get overly excited by some supercomputer’s prediction that, quite frankly, is one of the most unrealistic ones we have seen so far.

That said, there is no reason why we can not finish 4th. The season has only just begun, and there is still plenty of time to turn our fortunes around.

Attacking wise, there seems to be no major problem, with the team scoring plenty of goals. However, we do need to solidify the defence and stop making careless mistakes leading to goals.

Watford legend Troy Deeney has revealed how close he came to joining Tottenham Hotspur during the 2019/20 season, after Watford’s relegation from the Premier League.

In an interview with talkSPORT, Deeney shared details of his conversations with then-Spurs manager José Mourinho, highlighting how the move almost materialised.

Following Watford’s relegation, Deeney attracted interest from both Spurs and Arsenal. However, it was his talks with Mourinho that brought him closest to sealing a move to North London.

Deeney explained that Tottenham’s primary target at the time was Brazilian striker Carlos Vinicius, but Mourinho was clear that if the Vinicius deal fell through, Deeney would be next in line.

The forward appreciated Mourinho’s honesty and was excited about the possibility of joining Spurs, even though his role would have shifted from being Watford’s talisman to a supporting player.

Reflecting on the potential move, Deeney said:

“Yeah, I had a chat with Jose. I didn’t speak to Mikel, that was more board-level interest at Arsenal. They were dealing with it, thinking about how we could make it happen.

“Obviously I wasn’t going to these places looking to start, so it was kinda like the clubs were thinking, ‘Yeah let’s do it, as long as [his attitude is right].

“They wanted Carlos Vinicius. He was their man target. And it got to the point where, if that didn’t happen, they’d bring me in. I had a chat with Jose and it was like, ‘What do you want to do? How do you want to do it?’ And Jose wanted to check that I could deal with going from being a main man [at Watford] to being one of the squad.

“I was thinking about Fernando Llorente who went there previously, who kept scoring when he played. I said all I’m going to do is push Harry Kane to be the best version he can, and be his biggest cheerleader. Playing for Spurs was massively beyond my dreams.

“Jose was straight with me, about Vinicius being a better fit and that they wanted to get that deal done. Unfortunately for me, they did sign him.”

Although Deeney was eager to make the move to North London, Spurs eventually signed Vinicius, ending the possibility of Deeney’s transfer.

Despite the missed opportunity, Deeney remains proud of his career at Watford, where he spent 11 years and played a crucial role in their promotion to the Premier League.

Tottenham Hotspur defender Cristian Romero has come under fire for his below-par performances this season.

The Argentine international, who is widely regarded as one of the Premier League’s best defenders, has struggled to replicate the form that made him an essential part of Ange Postecoglou’s side last year.

During the previous season, Romero was appointed to the club’s leadership group by Postecoglou, and the added responsibility saw him elevate his game. His partnership with Micky van de Ven was rock solid at the back, making it one of the best centre-back partnerships in the league.

However, this season has been a different story. Romero’s performance level has dropped, and he has made several costly mistakes, directly or indirectly leading to goals for the opposition.

The latest example came in the recent loss to Brighton, where he was caught ball watching, allowing Danny Welbeck to score the decisive goal unmarked.

Club insider John Wenham has singled him out and blamed him for most of the goals Spurs have conceded this season so far.

Speaking to Tottenham News, he said:

“Romero was poor against Brighton. If you look at the goals we’ve conceded this season, quite a lot of them have come down to mistakes from Romero. Therefore, that is very concerning.”

“During the first few games of the season, you can accept it, maybe there is a tiredness after the Copa America success in the summer.”

“However, we’re into October now and he’s played quite a lot of games for Tottenham this season, yet we’re still seeing these same mistakes.”

Despite his current slump, Romero’s quality is unquestionable. His talent and experience have made him a key figure in Tottenham’s defence, and fans will be hoping that his current struggles are merely a temporary dip in form.

If Romero can regain his confidence and composure, he could once again become a cornerstone of the team’s defensive stability, which has been lacking in recent games.

Spurs supporters are eager to see him return to his best and help shore up the backline as the season progresses.

Tottenham assistant manager Ryan Mason is reportedly in talks with Belgian club Anderlecht over their vacant managerial position, according to The Guardian.

Mason, who has been part of Spurs’ coaching staff since 2018, is now contemplating his first full-time managerial role.

Mason’s connection to Tottenham runs deep. After rising through the club’s academy, he broke into the first team in 2012, making 70 appearances, scoring 4 goals, and assisting another 4.

His playing career, however, was cut short after a skull injury while playing for Hull City in 2016, forcing him into early retirement at just 26 years old.

He returned to Tottenham in 2018 to join the coaching staff and has been part of the club since then, taking on several roles, including head of player development.

Over the years, Mason has worked alongside top-tier managers like José Mourinho, Antonio Conte, and current head coach Ange Postecoglou. He has also twice stepped into the role of interim manager—first after Mourinho’s sacking in 2021, and then last year following Conte’s departure. Despite expressing his readiness to take on the managerial position full-time, Tottenham opted to appoint Postecoglou.

Now, Mason is being linked with Anderlecht, one of Belgium’s most respected clubs. As per the report, he is the leading candidate for the vacant managerial role. Should talks progress successfully, it could be a significant milestone in Mason’s career, marking his first full-time managerial appointment.

A move to Anderlecht would also see Mason reunite with former Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen, who currently plays for the Belgian side.