Tottenham Hotspur is enduring a challenging season in the Premier League, currently positioned 14th in the standings with more than two-thirds of the season completed. The team has been significantly impacted by injuries, with key players such as Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, Brennan Johnson, and James Maddison expected to return in the next fortnight. Manager Ange Postecoglou has frequently cited the club's injury crisis as a reason for their lackluster results, emphasizing that he should be judged once his full squad is available.
The injuries have forced Tottenham to compete with a weakened squad, missing as many as 12 first-team players during a recent victory over Elfsborg. This situation is compounded by the club's inactivity in the transfer window, where goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky was the sole addition, leaving the outfield positions unaddressed.
Fan dissatisfaction with Tottenham's performance is palpable, with supporters vocally calling for Chairman Daniel Levy's dismissal. Chants of "we want Levy out" echo through the stands, as fans hold him accountable for the team's struggles. Meanwhile, scrutiny mounts on Postecoglou, with pundits questioning whether he is feeling the pressure.
"People can judge me. They can say I've done a bad job, I'm not up to it or whatever. That's fine," said Ange Postecoglou.
"What I'm saying is you can't be critical of our players' performances at this time," Postecoglou added.
Postecoglou insists that evaluating his team's performance under the current circumstances is unfair, suggesting that any assessment lacking consideration of their injury plight is biased.
"If you want to measure anything on what they're doing at the moment, other than the extreme situation they're dealing with, then I think your analysis is skewed and it's not objective," he remarked.
Adding to the pressure on Postecoglou is commentary from former players and pundits. Joe Hart, ex-England goalkeeper who played under Postecoglou at Celtic, highlighted the team's cautious play.
"Tottenham mean well but they are playing with fear," Hart observed.
Dion Dublin also weighed in on the situation, noting a lack of confidence among players.
"The players who should be giving options don't have the confidence to have the ball in positions where they should receive it, they don't back themselves," Dublin commented.
Dublin further noted that Tottenham's star player Son Heung-min is also experiencing a dip in form.
"Son Heung-min, he is their best player and he is going through that phase," he said.
Alan Shearer pointed out that fan discontent seems directed more at club management than at Postecoglou himself.
"We talk about the pressure that Ange Postecoglou is under. If you speak to Spurs fans it is obvious what they want – and it's not to do with the manager," Shearer explained.
Despite this, Shearer believes that more immediate responses are necessary from the manager in critical matches.
"Having said that, you shouldn't be waiting for a reaction until 10 minutes into the second half when you have been done at Anfield like that. That has to come straight away – and that can only come from the manager," he asserted.
As Tottenham navigates these turbulent times, their Europa League campaign remains their sole opportunity to end a 17-year trophy drought. The club's upcoming schedule features challenging fixtures against Manchester United, Ipswich Town, and Manchester City – matches that will test their resilience and skill.
Postecoglou has a track record of clinching silverware in his second season at new clubs. With the Premier League title out of reach, success in Europe stands as his last chance to uphold this reputation. Fortunately, a rare free week provides an opportunity for rest and recovery for Tottenham's fatigued squad, which might ease some of the mounting pressure.
"It is a tough moment and you can see Postecoglou feels it. He is being tested in his belief, he is asking questions of himself. But that is where you need support," commented Joe Hart on the current state of affairs at Tottenham.
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