Sports Buzz

Tag: Brisbane Roar

  • Poppa masterstroke as exiled star fires; wake-up call behind forgotten prodigy’s return: Talking Pts

    Poppa masterstroke as exiled star fires; wake-up call behind forgotten prodigy’s return: Talking Pts

    The Socceroos might’ve finished 5-1 winners against Indonesia in their crucial World Cup qualifier in Sydney and taken a giant step towards automatic qualification for next year’s World Cup in North America, but coach Tony Popovic made it clear there’s still plenty of room for his side to improve describing the performance as “solid but it wasn’t great.”

    Get all the latest football news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!!

    Goals to Martin Boyle, Nishan Velupillay, Lewis Miller and a double from Jackson Irvine send Australia to China with three vital points in the bag and full of confidence, but all too aware that its job half done when it comes to jumping the hurdles this international window presented.

    The mental resilience the side showed to escape unscathed – albeit with some fortune – from a tricky 15-minute opening period is also a sign of growth as is a welcome surge in the way chances were finally converted into goals. This result bloats Australia’s goal difference column too and that could be one less thing to worry about come the final matchday of round three in June.

    It wasn’t all good news though with Martin Boyle and Adam Taggart coming off at halftime. Popovic revealing post-game that both have fitness concerns.

    OMINOUS SIGN BEFORE A BALL WAS KICKED

    A crowd of 35,241 packed into the Sydney Football Stadium and the Indonesian fans not only made their presence felt but had the decibel reader reaching its upper limits.

    The Indonesian national anthem was greeted with full voice by those in red and more than one Socceroos player turned to look at the raucous away end. It did not sound,

    look or feel like a Socceroos home game until the goals started flying in.

    Remarkably, the Team Garuda faithful were still chanting at 5-1 down in the second half.

    “It’s part of football and it’s what we love about it, that teams can come away from home and bring that energy and atmosphere,” midfielder Jackson Irvine said.

    “I thought our fans were equally brilliant and pushed us in the key moments of the game and gave us that extra leg up probably when we needed it.”

    A TALE OF TWO PENALTIES

    Perspective is in the eye of what colour jersey you were wearing.

    The decision to award Indonesia a penalty in the seventh minute after the Brisbane Roar’s Rafael Struick was ruled to have been fouled by the recalled Kye Rowles was

    contentious through an Australians lens, but while it was on the softer side it was the right call.

    Kevin Diks dulled the debate by hitting the woodwork. A sprawling Mat Ryan guessed the right way in any case and might’ve saved it.

    Indonesia coach Patrick Kluivert, in his first match in charge, believed his side struggled to shrug off that setback.

    “If you shoot the penalty in it would be a totally different match of course,” Kluivert said.

    “From that moment we changed something in our minds.

    “We had a grip of the game. I think that we played better than Australia.

    “If you score 1-0, I’m sure it will be a totally different game.”

    10-minutes later Australia was sent to the spot after Nathan Tjoe-A-On pulled off a tackle on Lewis Miller in the box that looked more like something James Tedesco would execute on this ground in a Roosters jersey. Boyle did the honours from the spot.

    The goal helped calm the nerves after the Socceroos were let off the hook just moments prior. The side looked far more settled from that point and Australia led 3-0 at the break thanks to two more goals from Velupillay and Irvine.

    “It’s the hardest I’ve been pressed in a home game in a long time,” Irvine said.

    “There was absolutely no time on the ball in the middle of the park.

    “Once we broke that pressure it looked like we were going to score every time we went through.”

    3-0! Socceroos dominant first half surge | 01:31

    POPPA PULLS THE RIGHT SELECTION CALLS

    This was not an easy squad to pick.

    Six regular starters were missing through injury and Popovic had key calls to make when it came to his starting wingers and striker.

    As Velupillay wheeled away to celebrate with the fans in the 20th minute he had fellow winger Martin Boyle and striker Adam Taggart to thank for the opportunity.

    Boyle’s pass found Taggart whose lunging effort resulted in Velupillay being able to run onto the ball and calmly slot Australia’s second.

    “It’s a special moment for the boy,” Popovic said.

    “Starting your first game, pressure, a stadium that’s full. It doesn’t come bigger than that.

    “When he looks back, he should be really proud of that.”

    This was the first time Boyle had seen minutes under Popovic after failing to get on the pitch in the November window against Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. 14-goals and 9

    assists in 36 games for Hibernian in Scotland made a compelling case for selection.

    Velupillay is working his way back into form after a nasty ankle injury suffered against Saudi Arabia in Melbourne. To start him in a game of this magnitude was bold. Taggart deserved his spot after five goals in his last 11-games for Perth Glory in the A-League but hadn’t even been picked in a squad by Popovic yet before this window.

    For a goal that released the pressure valve in this campaign to be created by two players who’d never featured under this manager and scored by one still not quite at

    top form domestically must be applauded.

    Unfortunately, Taggart and Boyle were both substituted at half time with potential fitness issues. Taggart appeared to feel for his groin multiple times just before the break. Asked if there was anything amiss with both players Popovic said “there could be.”

    “They both had a bit of a niggle, maybe Adam a little bit more than Martin Boyle.”

    “Adam was definitely coming off and Martin was a bit of a precaution.”

    IRVINE GOAL A FULL CIRCLE MOMENT

    Jackson Irvine is the heartbeat of the Socceroos midfield. His goals in the 34th and 90th minutes were the 12th and 13th of his international career and came on the same

    ground where he scored his first ever for Australia in 2017.

    “From a personal point of view a special night,” he said.

    “I never take it for granted being here and I haven’t played in this stadium since that night.”

    THE RETURN OF DANIEL ARZANI

    Arzani replaced Velupillay in the 72nd minute and was greeted by warm applause. It was his first appearance for Australia since a 26-minute spell in a World Cup qualifier

    against Bangladesh in June last year.

    His last minutes prior to that came against Kuwait in a friendly match in 2018. That was just before the anterior cruciate ligament tear on debut at Celtic that would change the trajectory of his then skyrocketing career.

    It took just two minutes for Popovic to call Arzani to the sideline for a chat after his introduction, but generally he worked hard in defence and looked lively in attack.

    All of this after Popovic told Arzani his effort in camp during the October international window last year “wasn’t good enough” and that his “level was really poor in

    training.”

    It appears to have been the wake-up call the 26-year-old – once dubbed the next big thing in Australian football – needed.

    Five months on from that camp and Arzani has impressed his mentor this time around. Popovic does not give out easy minutes even with Australia 4-0 up at the time.

    It was an impressive response from a player who can only enhance the fortunes of himself and his country with similar application.

    Socceroos calm ahead of crucial clashes | 01:56

    STATE OF THE PITCH

    There’d been concerns about the state of the Sydney Football Stadium pitch in the days prior to kick-off and those fears weren’t alleviated once the game got underway.

    Several players lost their footing or looked unsure on the ball. It was not ideal and hampered the fluidity of the game.

    “Tough pitch for the players,” Popovic said.

    “Very hard underneath and slippery on top. The players were in two minds. Half the players wore studs, and half the players had moulds. It was a difficult one for them tonight. It took a lot out of them.”

    MAT RYAN BACK TO HIS BEST ON AN HISTORIC NIGHT

    Lost in the euphoria of scoring five goals was the three incredible saves Mat Ryan pulled off between the sticks.

    On a night where the goalkeeper became the third most capped player in Socceroos history with 97, moving ahead of another former skipper in Lucas Neill and now only

    behind Mark Schwarzer with 109 and Tim Cahill on 108 appearances, Ryan was immense.

    He stopped Jay Idzes’ header from a freekick in the 5th minute, made a superb diving save to his left in the 53rd minute and another clutch reflex save down low to his right

    in the 84th minute.

    “I have to say I’m not surprised after seeing him when he came into camp,” Popovic said.

    “Just a different demeanour and that comes from playing.

    “You can see he’s full of confidence and he showed that when he came in. He was a real presence around the group and tonight he stood tall.”

    The fact the captain was dropped to the bench for the first three games of Popovic’s tenure now seems a distant memory. His move to Lens in France from Roma in Italy

    has been a masterstroke.

    Davidson hoping to re-ignite Roos career | 02:26

    ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT AT THE BACK

    Australia’s backline was hardest hit by the current run of injuries between November and March.

    Popovic picked Lewis Miller, Jason Geria, Cameron Burgess, Kye Rowles and Aziz Behich.

    Geria, Burgess and Rowles formed the central trio of that combination, and the coach made it clear there was plenty to work on. Indonesia’s goal was well taken, but the lead-up was scrappy.

    “The goal they scored probably summarised how we defended,” Popovic said.

    “They didn’t create, we gave them chances, we gave them the penalty, we gave them the goal as well.

    “Defensively we weren’t great, we were a little bit on edge, a little bit sloppy in our defending.”

    WHERE ARE THE SOCCEROOS AT WITH PROJECT POPPA AND WHAT’S NEXT?

    Project Poppa is progressing, but it’s far from the finished article. That’s not a bad thing, but just the reality of only being in the job for six-months.

    “I aim quite high,” Popovic said with a smile when asked how far along the side is when it comes to implementing his game style.

    “They’re not where we want to be, but that’s not a negative that’s a positive. They’ve taken strides forward and it’s not easy to do what they did tonight.”

    Popovic pointed to decision making as an area that needs work.

    “How do we identify quicker what is happening on the field?” he said.

    “That will happen with more games together.

    “I felt that this camp or this window of the first game is the first time I’ve felt in training and just around the hotel that this group is now starting to build into something.”

    Now, it’s off to China for their next qualifier on Tuesday night.

    Australia remains second in group C and in control of its own fate when it comes to securing automatic qualification for next year’s World Cup.

    That goal could be a maximum of three games away.

    Source link

  • Axe rumours to player rift claim: Why Ange’s Spurs plea could be his last…or end doom spiral

    Axe rumours to player rift claim: Why Ange’s Spurs plea could be his last…or end doom spiral

    The defining moment of Ange Postecoglou’s time at Tottenham has arrived.

    Get all the latest football news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!!

    Spurs host Dutch outfit AZ Alkmaar on Friday morning Australian time in the second leg of their Round of 16 tie, needing to come from behind to keep their hopes of winning a trophy alive this season after losing the first leg 1-0 in the Netherlands a week ago.

    Postecoglou’s statement back in September that “I always win things in my second year”, in reference to titles with Celtic, Yokohama F. Marinos, the Socceroos, Brisbane Roar and South Melbourne, has seemingly become a rod for his own back during his second season in north London.

    It is a quote that is brought up constantly, and when asked about it again in his match eve press conference, he passionately defended his words once again.

    “I wasn’t making anything up. I was asked the question, and I answered it,” Postecoglou explained.

    “Critics have used it for their own purposes, suggesting I’m making a bold claim, but I was stating a fact.

    “Usually in my second season, I win things.

    “That’s the whole idea. The first year is about establishing principles and creating a foundation. Hopefully, the second year is going to win things.

    “If that doesn’t happen this year, then I can’t say that anymore. What am I supposed to say? I’ve always won in the second year; I have in the past, everywhere I’ve been, but here (at Tottenham) it won’t happen.

    “Is that what people want to hear? People can twist these things, use them, and you know what, maybe we defy all the odds and we do win something.”

    With the FA Cup and Carabao Cup gone, and Tottenham sitting a lowly 13th place on the Premier League table, Postecoglou is all-in on the Europa League.

    Spurs won five, drew two and lost one of their league phase matches to avoid a playoff and gain automatic passage to the Round of 16.

    But a second poor showing in the first knockout stage would end Postecoglou’s stunning second-year streak and the knives are sharpening in preparation.

    Tottenham are winless in their past three matches in all competitions despite clearly playing better football as the cavalry returns following their injury crisis.

    Key players getting out of the medical room and back on the pitch built positivity, which was boosted by a hat-trick of league wins before an arguably unlucky 1-0 loss to Manchester City started their current winless stretch, but the discontent, that has bubbled away for several months, quickly resurfaced.

    Spurs salvage draw against Bournemouth | 01:30

    Reports from Italian outlet TuttoSport emerged this week that Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy is keeping a close eye on Inter Milan manager Simone Inzaghi as a possible replacement for Postecoglou.

    Meanwhile, former Tottenham and England striker Jermain Defoe revealed to TalkSport that he and other coaches at Spurs in 2023 wanted now England manager Thomas Tuchel appointed instead.

    The Athletic’s Tottenham-focused podcast, ‘The View from The Lane’, spent much of their most recent episode debating whether Spurs would be more likely to win the Europa League if they moved on the Australian now.

    Former Tottenham and Barcelona striker Gary Lineker also poured fuel on the fire, suggesting on the Rest is Football podcast that Postecoglou may have had a falling out with attacking midfielder James Maddison because he started on the bench in their 2-2 draw with Bournemouth on Sunday.

    Defender Cristian Romero made his return from injury in the same game, having not played since December, but the World Cup winner increased speculation of unrest by thanking the Argentinian physiotherapists, and not Tottenham’s, on Instagram for getting him back on the park.

    But despite the huge amounts of negativity swirling about, Postecoglou is pushing ahead with trying to orchestrate a memorable comeback victory.

    Son Heung-min started on the bench along with Maddison against Bournemouth, in a call seemingly made to ensure they are fresh for this European clash.

    Romero played a little over an hour before making way for Micky van de Van, who has also returned from injury to offer Postecoglou the chance to start his preferred pairing in central defence.

    But midfielders Rodrigo Bentancur, after a third booking in the competition, and Dejan Kulusevski, foot injury, will be absent because Tottenham could not possibly have their first-choice team available at the same time this season.

    The key addition that Postecoglou is most counting on, however, is a supportive home crowd.

    Reds fall in penalty shootout to PSG | 03:28

    Tottenham fans are routinely ridiculed for their negative antics, and Postecoglou has experienced a testy relationship with the supporters.

    It was all sunshine and roses when they sat atop of the Premier League table ten games into the Australian’s maiden season at the helm.

    He was serenaded with “I’m loving big Ange instead” to the sounds of Robbie Williams’ hit Angels upon the full-time whistle after home wins, but by the end of the season, Postecoglou blasted the club’s fragility as fans pleaded for the team to lose the penultimate game of the season to eventual champions Manchester City to deny rivals Arsenal the title.

    The tension increased throughout the current campaign as Postecoglou clashed with verbally abusive fans on several occasions after disheartening losses.

    He was also met with choruses of boos instead of jubilation upon the final whistle as well as calls for his sacking on social media and talkback radio.

    But the 59-year-old has asked the faithful to channel their passion into supporting the team rather than ridiculing.

    Postecoglou believes the players need a vibrant crowd to feed off rather than becoming engulfed by an anxious one.

    “Yeah, look, again I said before, I can’t sort of dictate to people how they sort of interact, but, AZ’s crowd certainly helped them on Thursday night,” he said after the Bournemouth match.

    “We need our crowd to get behind the boys on Thursday to make it an atmosphere where maybe we lose some of that nervousness and anxiety within our game.

    “But the reality is, we as a team have to respond irrespective of the atmosphere and one may follow the other. If we start the game strong, it’ll get the place nice and loud, which will help us.”

    Utd eyes historic move from Old Trafford | 01:24

    Tottenham have undeniably been a team of moment throughout the Postecoglou era.

    When they are good, they have ran over the top of teams and piled on goals, proven by the fact only league leaders Liverpool have scored more goals than them despite such an underwhelming campaign.

    When they are poor, the reverse is true. Unable to stem any bleeding with defensive frailties causing unrest in the stands.

    An early goal would be a nightmare for Postecoglou’s side, while like Liverpool in their Round of 16 defeat to PSG in the Champions League, the fans would scarcely be able to handle the drama of a penalty shootout.

    But the reality of the situation is that the feeling of impending doom will not disappear if they can advance to the quarter-final.

    Tottenham have infamously not won a trophy since the 2008 League Cup, and their European drought dates back to the 1984 UEFA Cup, the precursor to the Europa League.

    Patience has not been Tottenham’s strong suit in the 17 years following their 2-1 triumph against Chelsea at Wembley, with Postecoglou their eighth full-time manager since Spaniard Juande Ramos, who lifted the trophy that day.

    The nerves will likely get greater if they can make it deeper into the competition, but that is far better than Postecoglou being given his marching orders.

    Source link

  • ‘What sort of question is that?’: Ange’s fury with reporter over Spurs star’s skiing saga

    ‘What sort of question is that?’: Ange’s fury with reporter over Spurs star’s skiing saga

    Ange Postecoglou clashed with a journalist over questions about one of his Tottenham players’ behaviour away from football ahead of the first leg of Spurs’ crunch Round of 16 Europa League tie against Dutch outfit AZ Alkmaar.

    Get all the latest football news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!!

    Having been knocked out of the FA Cup last month, Tottenham had the weekend off and on Monday, midfielder Yves Bissouma posted photos on Instagram from a ski resort.

    The Australian was then asked during his match eve press conference whether he had given the players extra time off ahead of an important match in the last competition in which Tottenham can win silverware this season.

    Postecoglou was less than impressed by the insinuation that his team were not treating the trip to the Netherlands with respect.

    “Seriously, what sort of question is that?” Postecoglou fired back before chuckling to himself.

    “No I didn’t, we were training but he decided to go skiing… “Come on mate, you’re better than that!”

    The reporter refused to back however, following up by asking Postecoglou whether the Mali international did actually go skiing to which the former Socceroos boss replied “well, obviously he did”.

    Postecoglou was then probed further about whether he had any concerns about one of his players undertaking a potentially dangerous activity when Tottenham’s season has been embroiled by an injury crisis.

    “I don’t worry about those things, mate,” Postecoglou said.

    “They’re adults, they’re human beings, they had a couple of days off.

    “They can choose to use that time as wisely as they can to help them be ready for what’s in store for us.

    “You kind of hope that they’re sensible about these things and go about whatever they do in a manner that befits the position they hold, but I have no concerns… and he’s fine.”

    Yves Bissouma posted this photo, and others, of him skiing on his Instagram earlier this week.Source: FOX SPORTS

    Bissouma started on the bench in Tottenham’s last outing, a 1-0 home loss to Manchester City in the league, and Postecoglou’s starting XI remains unclear with several stars a chance to return from injury, including centre back pairing Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero, as well as striker Dominic Solanke.

    Son Heung-min is likely to return to the starting XI after coming off the bench against City due to Postecoglou’s desire to rest and rotate, clearly with this European opportunity in mind.

    But unfortunately for Spurs, Postecoglou said that Dejan Kulusevski’s foot injury is likely to keep him sidelined until after the next international break later this month.

    Tottenham finished fourth in the standings after the league stage with five wins, two draws and a loss, including a 1-0 victory at home against AZ Alkmaar, who are sixth in the Eredivisie, courtesy of a Richarlison penalty.

    It has been highly publicised that Postecoglou has a habit of winning trophies in his second season in charge, as he did at Celtic, Yokohama F. Marinos, the Socceroos, Brisbane Roar and South Melbourne.

    Plus, Spurs have a much-discussed trophy drought, dating back to 2008 and they last triumphed in Europe in the 1984 UEFA Cup – the predecessor to the Europa League.

    So, Postecoglou shared that there is no need to remind him or the players of the importance of the upcoming tie.

    “Yeah, I think it is fair to say the boys really understand there is a great opportunity for us,” he said.

    “It’s a competition we obviously want to do well in. We’ve got ourselves in a good position. We’re in the round of 16, we’ve got two tough games against AZ and that’s the first thing to overcome.

    “The club hasn’t in recent years done well in this competition, but it’s a major European competition, we’re in the last 16 and for us there’s an opportunity there and we’ll see how far we can go in it.

    “With us tomorrow night, we’ve got to make sure whatever happens at the end of the game, we’ve still got an opportunity to go back to Tottenham and win the tie.

    “We understand with the home support — I’ve been here with Celtic in a Europa game, so I know the experience of it and they’re a good side — but we’ve got to make sure we play our football and dictate the tempo of the game to make sure we take a result back to Tottenham.”

    Source link

  • ‘Laughing stock’… or ‘village idiots’ who can’t hack an Aussie? Making sense of Ange ‘agenda’ claim

    ‘Laughing stock’… or ‘village idiots’ who can’t hack an Aussie? Making sense of Ange ‘agenda’ claim

    The tight rope Ange Postecoglou is walking is getting narrower.

    Get all the latest football news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!!

    That is to be expected when a big six club like Tottenham sits 14th on the Premier League table almost two-thirds of the way through the season.

    This time last week Spurs were still in the Carabao Cup, FA Cup and the Europa League.

    Now, only the latter remains.

    The results are not stacking up in the Australian’s favour, but there is an unshakeable feeling among his backers that if he was not an outsider in English football, he might be afforded more rope.

    It has been highly publicised that Tottenham have been hit with an injury crisis in recent months.

    It was back in December that Postecoglou grumbled “I’m just going to stop answering these questions. If people can’t see the obvious, I’m not going to point it out,” when asked yet another question about what is going wrong after his side were battered by Liverpool 6-2 at home.

    Spurs out of FA Cup with loss to Villa | 01:18

    Then on Sunday, he called out the English media once again, saying there is an “agenda” against his team.

    “There’s got to be a better appreciation for what a very small group of players have been doing for the last two and a half months,” he said.

    “It can’t be that people think that’s an excuse. That’s just not anywhere near close to objective analysis. That’s just agenda-driven stuff.

    “If it’s to get rid of me that’s fine. Good on ya. Go for it a million times.

    “But in terms of this group of players, what they’ve given over the past two and half months has been outstanding, it’s a credit to them, I can’t speak highly enough of them.”

    Yet, the questions keep coming despite the most glaring issue being clear for all to see.

    Postecoglou has been repeatedly forced to put out a makeshift defence with first choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, centre back pairing Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven, and left-back Destiny Udogie all spending extended periods on the sidelines.

    Further afield, midfielders Rodrigo Bentancur and Yves Bissouma have been regularly unavailable, while their goal scoring stocks have suffered the blows of injuries to Dominic Solanke, Brennan Johnson and James Maddison at various times.

    Logically, it is no surprise that the losses have mounted.

    Liverpool sink Spurs in run to final | 02:05

    Just as they did for Newcastle United last season.

    The Magpies lost ten of their first 21 Premier League encounters last campaign.

    Undeniably, not good enough for a club with a lot of financial power considering its 80% per cent ownership by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, well-known for funding LIV Golf and spreading their wealth throughout the sporting world in recent years.

    But manager Eddie Howe faced nowhere near the level of scrutiny Postecoglou has received.

    It was widely accepted that the Englishman, who made his name by taking Bournemouth to the Premier League for the first time, had his hands tied by an injury-riddled squad.

    The added pressure of mid-week European competition, Newcastle played in the Champions League for the first time in 20 years, as well as cup fixtures and always demanding league schedule took its toll.

    It sounds familiar to Postecoglou’s current predicament.

    But unlike in Howe’s case, the English press, pundits, former players and fans have been baying for blood.

    And despite sometimes justified criticism of Postecoglou’s polarising tactics, some of the reasons for doing so have not always been fair.

    “Spurs’ Australian head coach is the latest target of the village idiots; the half-pint pundits and critics who prefer to laugh at the fact he finishes his sentences with ‘mate’ than listen to him contextualising his team’s problems,” football news correspondent for the UK Telegraph Matt Law wrote.

    The mockery unfortunately goes hand-in-hand with the club Postecoglou is at.

    Tottenham are repeatedly a laughing stock among rival fans courtesy of the well-documented absence of silverware in their trophy cabinet since 2008.

    The regularity with which they sack managers, Postecoglou is their 12th permanent manager this century, is the bud of many jokes.

    So too is the behaviour of their fans, who even wanted their own team to lose the penultimate game of last Premier League season at home to Manchester City, which they did 2-0, to deny arch enemies Arsenal the title.

    Therefore, of course, when an Australian arrived in north London with tales of how he has won a trophy in his second season with Celtic, Yokohama F. Marinos, the Socceroos, Brisbane Roar and South Melbourne, the punch lines were being written.

    Add to that the fact he had shown an unwavering commitment to attacking football, even when times are tough. That was until their last Premier League outing, a 2-0 victory away at Brentford, as a more defensive approach broke a seven-game winless streak in the league.

    Spurs sat deeper and gritted their teeth for 90 minutes, showing that they can be more resolute in defence, but Postecoglou is still spoken of as a madman.

    There are choruses of laughter in pubs and football clubs across England at Postecoglou’s and Tottenham’s expense, and they have only grown louder in recent days.

    Ange denies Tel initially rejected Spurs | 01:11

    In the past week, another dismantling by Liverpool, in the form of a 4-0 drubbing at Anfield in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final after leading 1-0 following the first leg, was followed by a 2-1 defeat at Villa Park in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

    There is little shame in losing to the Premier League leaders, or Aston Villa have qualified for the Champions League Round of 16, but that did not prevent the pile on.

    Former Tottenham midfielder Jamie Redknapp was scathing on Sky Sports after the Liverpool loss, saying “I cannot remember a team in my lifetime go down with less of a fight with what Spurs did today”.

    “Not having one shot on target in the semi-final of a second leg when you’re trying to change the course of your history?” he added.

    Fellow former Spurs midfielder Jamie O’Hara, who has been a very vocal critic of Postecoglou, took to X to call for his sacking.

    “It’s time to go now, Ange is out of his depth. [Unai] Emery is on a different planet compared to him and his players bopped us off the park. Should have been five, we’re like reserve team playing in academy games that don’t matter, it’s crazy,” O’Hara wrote.

    It did not help things for Postecoglou either that Liverpool great Jamie Carragher opted to rub further salt into Spurs’ wounds.

    “It’s Tottenham!” Carragher said on Sky Sports. “When do Tottenham ever win a big game? When do Tottenham ever go and surprise, win against the odds?”

    The last few months it must have felt like Postecoglou was being forced to play game after game at a casino where the house always wins.

    With the injury crisis, the odds have been massively skewed against them, but the cup competitions kept the hope alive.

    Now, only the European dream remains to fulfil the Postecoglou prophecy of winning yet another trophy in his second season in charge of a team.

    Spurs finished fourth in the new look league phase of the Europa League with five wins, two draws and a loss to automatically advance to the Round of 16.

    Awaiting them will be one of Midtjylland, AZ Alkmaar, Real Sociedad or Galatasaray but arguably more important than the opponent they face, will be the respite Postecoglou’s injury hit squad receive.

    Their next European clash is not until March 6 as they will enjoy some much-needed breathing space between matches this month after a manic December and January.

    Tension eases as Spurs advance in Europa | 01:57

    Spurs played 17 matches across all competitions in that stretch as the casualty ward overflowed.

    It was reported by the UK Telegraph on Monday that Postecoglou has implemented a much-needed reset by affording the squad two days off this week to recharge the batteries before facing Manchester United at home in the league on Sunday.

    “The boys who are coming back, we’ll get the opportunity to give them a whole week of training, which is great,” Postecoglou said.

    “By the time we get to the back end of the week we should have something resembling a squad of players to prepare for a big game. That then folds into the following week when, again, we’ve got seven days and no midweek game to prepare for the next game.

    “So that gives us a real good opportunity to get some work into the guys who have been out for quite a while and give some rest to the guys who have been going at it. So by the time we get back to being in Europe and having midweek games we’ll be in a much better shape.”

    Postecoglou will be hoping the refresh, along with the possible returns of Vicario, Udogie, Maddison, Johnson and Wilson Odobert will be the morale booster the playing group desperately needs.

    Their frustrations came to the fore during the Villa loss on Sunday.

    “Spence ripped off his sock tape, threw it on the ground and headed straight down the tunnel with Yves Bissouma at full time,” The Athletic’s Jay Harris wrote.

    “Pedro Porro jumped up after being nutmegged and left in a heap on the floor by Marcus Rashford. He then brought Villa’s new striker down with a wild kick on the edge of the box and somehow escaped punishment. The Spain international received a yellow card in the final 10 minutes for a tackle on Ramsey.

    “Bentancur was booked for dragging down Rogers. Bergvall jumped into a tackle on Rogers and then clattered into him later on. He eventually picked up a booking for a foul on Ramsey, too.

    “These are the moments when Postecoglou needs his senior players, including the captain Son and Dejan Kulusevski, to calm everyone down.”

    Jovial Ange jokes before crucial goal | 00:57

    If the players can reset, they may be able to claw their way back to the days of Postecoglou’s honeymoon period at Spurs.

    The 59-year-old was a breath of fresh air when Tottenham amassed 26 points in his first ten games in charge, a Premier League record, when he took over last season.

    Most promising for Postecoglou is that the formula is still there.

    “The statistics still tell us this Tottenham team, for all their struggles this season, play a little differently to everyone else. The principles of play that had Postecoglou’s Spurs five points clear at the top of the table early last season remain in place,” Sky Sports’ Adam Bate wrote.

    “No team in the Premier League has won the ball high up the pitch more times than Tottenham. No team allows so few passes per defensive action. No team plays with more width than Tottenham. By design, it is supposed to be intense and expansive.”

    The numbers are a promising sign that if the medical staff can get most of their stars back on the pitch, the performances may turn quickly.

    Who knows what will happen in the Europa League knockouts, but for what it is worth, Howe’s Newcastle won nine and drew four of their final 17 Premier League games last season once the midweek grind subsided.

    They finished seventh, and currently sit sixth, two points shy of fourth-placed Chelsea and one of the lucrative Champions League places.

    Perhaps if Postecoglou is afforded the leniency of an Englishman, he may have the time to turn things around in a similar fashion.

    Who knows, they still have one chance to fulfil his trophy prophecy.

    Source link

  • 19yo Aussie striker ‘could’ve had a couple’ in dream English debut. Why Socceroos could be next

    19yo Aussie striker ‘could’ve had a couple’ in dream English debut. Why Socceroos could be next

    Socceroos hopeful Thomas Waddingham produced a Portsmouth debut he’ll never forget after the striker scored for the Championship club.

    Watch every ball of The 2025 Women’s Ashes Series LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on Kayo | New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer.

    Waddingham, who only completed his transfer to Portsmouth from the Brisbane Roar last week, came off the bench in the 57th minute and slammed one home from close range in the third minute of added time as Pompey slumped to a 5-1 defeat to West Bromwich Albion.

    “I’m really pleased for him,” Portsmouth coach John Mousinho said after the game.

    “For him to come on and make an impact so quickly, I think he’ll be absolutely thrilled.

    “To get a taste of the level as well is probably a really, really important thing.

    “He probably could’ve had a couple and, yeah, he took his goal well.”

    The goal continues the 19-year-old’s incredible rise after he found the back of the net 15 times in 40 appearances for the Roar across the A-League and Australia Cup before Portsmouth came calling. Waddingham, a product of the Roar’s NPL program, only made his debut for Brisbane in August of 2023.

    While it’s still early days for Waddingham in England, the fact the forward was not only included in a matchday squad so soon after his arrival but also got on the field for just over half an hour, speaks volumes about the regard in which he is held at Fratton Park.

    The speed with which the Cairns born product has been thrown into the first team, while still a teenager, is slightly unusual for Australian players making their way to the second-tier Championship.

    If he’s able to continue to feature for Portsmouth it could provide a somewhat unlikely answer to one of the most pressing questions facing Socceroos coach Tony Popovic ahead of two crucial World Cup qualifiers in March against Indonesia and China.

    Popovic lacks depth in the striking role with Kusini Yengi, who is also on the books of Portsmouth, not expected back from a knee injury until late February, 34-year-old Mitch Duke scoring just three-times in 20-games in green and gold since the start of 2023 and Apostolos Stamatelopoulos continuing to struggle with a calf injury after a rich run of form at Motherwell in Scotland. 31-year-old Adam Taggart is trying to make a late run with three goals in his last six games for Perth Glory.

    Even if Yengi is integrated straight back in Portsmouth’s first team following the completion of his rehabilitation, he’ll still be a little short of match fitness ahead of the clash with Patrick Kluivert’s Indonesia in Sydney on March 20. It leaves the door ajar for a new name.

    In an expansive interview with reporters last week Popovic laid bare what it would take for players like Waddingham to thrive after making the move to Europe.

    “Physically the demands are extremely high and what you do one day in training; that’s expected every single day and if you can do that, well then you can make the jump,” Popovic said.

    The Socceroos boss is currently keeping an eye on a talented crop of young strikers, including Archie Goodwin, Jed Drew and Noah Botic, who are turning in impressive performances in the A-League, but Waddingham could pull away from the trio in the pecking order with a big few weeks.

    “Now the question is, in three or four years’ time, can we be watching one of them playing in the bigger leagues in Europe? That is the question,” Popovic said when asked about Goodwin, Drew and Botic.

    “Can they take their game to another level? The level they are at now is not good enough to play in Europe. That’s just the reality.”

    Waddingham has shown his level is good enough to play in Europe and if he can back it up then he would’ve formed a strong case for a call-up to the Socceroos.

    Source link

  • ‘Always really wary’: Socceroos star’s ‘frustrating’ injury blow in striker’s nervous wait

    ‘Always really wary’: Socceroos star’s ‘frustrating’ injury blow in striker’s nervous wait

    Socceroos striker Kusini Yengi is awaiting scan results after missing Portsmouth’s 2-2 draw with Swansea in the Championship with a knee injury.

    Get all the latest football news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!!

    Portsmouth claim Yengi suffered the injury while on international duty with Australia over the last fortnight.

    “He picked up an injury during the game when Australia played Bahrain,” Portsmouth manager John Mousinho said prior to his sides latest outing.

    It’s unclear at this stage how bad the injury is or how long Yengi will be sidelined for.

    The revelation comes as a slight shock given the 25-year-old played the entirety of the contest in Riffa and scored both goals, as it finished 2-2.

    Mousinho said Yengi picked up the injury “just before half-time.”

    “His knee was slightly swollen,” Mousinho added.

    “He was scanned on Friday afternoon. So, we’re just awaiting the final scan results and for him to see a specialist.

    “With knees, ankles and hips we’re always really wary.”

    It has been a stop-start season for the forward.

    He missed Pompey’s first two matches of the Championship campaign with a groin injury before being sidelined just two games into his comeback for a further five fixtures with the same complaint.

    Brighton move to second on EPL ladder | 01:02

    Yengi had just come off a run of six games in four weeks prior to linking up with the Socceroos in Melbourne.

    He came on as a late substitute in a scoreless draw with Saudi Arabia in the Victorian capital before the side flew out to Bahrain.

    “Any injury is frustrating for us,” Mousinho said.

    “People do pick up injuries on international breaks. It’s probably one of the reasons why certain players don’t necessarily want to go on international duty.

    “We’re not one of those clubs. I want players to go away and play and represent their countries and I think it’s a really proud moment for anybody connected with Portsmouth when they do that.

    “It does come with a slight risk and unfortunately (Kusini) has ended up picking up an injury.”

    Any absence isn’t of immediate concern for the Socceroos.

    Roar & Macarthur duel ends in 4-4 draw | 02:04

    Tony Popovic’s side isn’t back in action until they face Indonesia and China in two must-win World Cup qualifiers in March.

    While Yengi has made a bright start to life for the national team, scoring six goals in 11 games, the interrupted nature of his season has impacted his output for Portsmouth. He’s yet to find the back of the net in the Championship after scoring 13-goals in 31 appearances in all competitions last season, while they were in League One, following a move from the Western Sydney Wanderers in the A-League.

    Source link

  • ‘Get behind him’: PL winner all in on Ange as ‘proactive’ Maddison move silences critics — UK View

    ‘Get behind him’: PL winner all in on Ange as ‘proactive’ Maddison move silences critics — UK View

    A fortnight on from their loss to Brighton, described as the worst of Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs tenure, Tottenham needed an emphatic win to ease their manager’s pressure.

    An emphatic win is exactly what they got, coming from behind to beat West Ham, with Postecoglou’s “strange” halftime tactical change proving a masterstroke.

    For now at least the win, as well as the performance, has silenced the noise around Spurs, providing Postecoglou with a stable foundation to continue building Tottenham into the side he wants them to be.

    Get all the latest football news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!!

    The Australian has come under fire at times during his reign in North London for a lack of ‘Plan B’, as well as some questionable in-game management decisions that have proven costly.

    In the Brighton loss Postecoglou failed to make any changes until the 80th minute. Ange’s substitutes that day – Pape Matar Sarr and Yves Bissouma – were unable to effect the result and rescue a point for Spurs.

    The same could not be levelled at the 59-year-old against their London rivals after Postecoglou removed attacking midfielder James Maddison at halftime for Sarr, a more traditional, physical midfield presence. He later insisted the move was purely tactical.

    Sarr’s introduction provided Spurs with two deeper midfield presences, fortifying central areas against a physical West Ham side, and allowing Dejan Kulusevski to take greater attacking reign.

    The move worked, with Sarr winning the ball in his own half and finding Heung-Min Son for the Spurs’ fourth goal.

    Writing in the Independent, Miguel Delaney praised Postecoglou’s ‘proactive’ move, as well as Spurs’ general performance, which showed elements of a steeliness widely perceived to be lacking at the club.

    Similarly, The Athletic’s Jay Harris and Liam Tharme argued Ange ‘identified a weakness in his team, corrected it and Maddison will surely come to accept it benefitted the team because it helped them achieve the right outcome.’

    Generally, the mood in the English media about the substitution is positive, particularly given it could provide Spurs a potential confidence boost moving into their next three games against Palace, Villa and Ipswich respectively.

    However, Delaney was quick to add the result isn’t as comprehensive as perhaps some might feel, noting it was ‘a very Spurs win.’

    ‘At least in terms of really going for it and looking convincing when it’s easy. Not when it’s hard.’

    Such criticisms can easily be viewed as harsh. Delaney himself addresses as much, adding: ‘This was still one of those games where you can see how enjoyable a Postecoglou display is when everything works.’

    That term Delaney alludes to – ‘Spursy’ – is such a common stick to beat Tottenham with that it even has its own entry in the Collins Dictionary, which defines it as: ‘To have success in reach but ultimately chuck it away.’

    The Brighton loss is a fine example of this characteristic, as is Spurs’ 1-1 draw with Leicester to open this season. So too is last year’s 4-1 loss to Chelsea, or that season’s four-game losing streak between rounds 32 and 36 that played a key factor in Spurs’ failure to qualify for the Champions League.

    There are countless more examples of Spurs being ‘Spursy’ dating back over a decade, with Mauricio Pochettino, Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham sides all falling victim to this characteristic that’s so deeply ingrained in the North London club.

    And while the term is directly associated with Tottenham, Tim Sherwood, who coached the club in 2013-14, insisted his former club weren’t the only Premier League side that show signs of being ‘Spursy’.

    “Every team is ‘Spursy,’” he said.

    “Let me tell you, unless they’re the Man Cities and the Arsenals of this world, and the Liverpools, everyone has a ‘Spursy’ moment.”

    Sherwood insisted Ange is a “top drawer manager,” before praising the current Spurs head coach for facets of his coaching that others have criticised him for

    “I think he’s playing his own way,” Sherwood said.

    ‘Angeball’, as Postecoglou’s style has come to be known, sees his side press high and keep their foot on their opponents’ throat without relenting. At times, an insistence on playing their way regardless of game state has been their Achilles heel.

    However, as Delaney noted above, when it all clicks Spurs are both highly entertaining and effective.

    This season no Premier League side has scored more goals than Postecoglou’s side, while their widely criticised defence has conceded the same number of goals as Manchester City, and just one more than their highly pragmatic rivals Arsenal.

    For this reason, Sherwood insisted Spurs “have to get behind him. Give him more finances to strengthen and let him take this team as far as he can.”

    The former Premier League winning captain feels Postecoglou’s coaching should give the club confidence to back him heavily in the transfer market.

    “I’ve always criticised the recruitment but I think now, because of this manager, because of the offensive players and Micky Van de Ven who’s been a revelation, I think Ange Postecoglou is shining them in the correct light,” he said.

    “All of a sudden the recruitment department must be saying ‘see. We must be doing something right.’ And I think they’re working hand in hand.”

    “At the moment, and I know it’s game to game and they need more consistency, because before the international break the Brighton game, second half, they were the whipping boys.

    “You can’t criticise that performance.”

    As Sherwood alluded to, Spurs need to carry this form into their next few games if they are to truly silence the noise around the club and it’s trajectory.

    Auckland FC start A League with win | 01:25

    Club-record signing Dominic Solanke stated as much following their West Ham win.

    “Speaking to a couple of the boys after, I think we need to play like this as much as we can because we know we can do it,” he said.

    “(In) the last game before this (Brighton) we showed we can do it in one half and not in the second half, but we need to do this consistently.”

    Consistency will be crucial for Spurs, and their manager. Few doubt Postecoglou’s coaching ability. He’s said many times, much to the dismay of some UK pundits, that he tends to win things in his second season.

    Having laid that marker down the pressure is on Ange to deliver results, and at least one trophy, before season’s end. Doing so and breaking Spurs’ lengthy trophy drought would be a significant step in the right direction for club and manager, one which could set them up for a fortuitous future.

    And, when all’s said and done, the catalyst for any success during Ange’s Spurs tenure could be a halftime substitution that showed the Australian’s pragmatic edge and brilliant in game management at a time both were seriously doubted.

    Source link

  • Ange’s ‘strange’ gamble pays off in comeback win; Arsenal’s title dream fades: PL Wrap

    Ange’s ‘strange’ gamble pays off in comeback win; Arsenal’s title dream fades: PL Wrap

    On the day Spurs’ fiercest rivals’ title challenge took a significant hit, Ange Postecoglou showed his pragmatic hand to guide Tottenham to a big comeback win.

    Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal were victims of their own ill-discipline once again, although William Saliba wasn’t the only player to see red in a wild night of Premier League football.

    Read about all that and more in our wrap of the overnight Premier League action!

    Auckland FC start A League with win | 01:25

    ANGE’S ‘EYE-RAISING’ SPURS GAMBLE PAYS OFF

    Throughout this Tottenham career, Ange Postecoglou has come under fire often. At times the Australian has been perceived as lacking pragmatism, and the ‘Plan B’ so loved by English football.

    Translation: Instead of taking the safe option, Ange goes for the jugular. He’d rather win 5-4 than 1-0.

    And yet with his side level with West Ham at half-time Ange did something many thought unthinkable. He made a pragmatic substitution.

    Off went attacking midfielder James Maddison, at times the creative jewel in Postecoglou’s Spurs crown. On came Pape Matar Sarr, a more conservative and traditional central midfielder.

    Speaking on Optus Sports’ Matchday Live, Premier League legend Emannuel Petit described the move as “strange because he’s (Maddison) a really good player.”

    “So I was quite surprised. It’s quite strange from the manager.”

    Maddison hadn’t been poor by any stretch of the imagination. He’d created Dejan Kulusevski’s equaliser and had five key passes in the opening 45 minutes, but as Ange noted post-game he needed different profiles in midfield.

    “I just felt West Ham ask you certain questions in midfield areas and I just felt Pape’s running power would help us in the second half,” he explained.

    “They obviously worked hard in the first half and I thought he could give us some real energy.

    “I thought he did really well and he gave us a platform to be really threatening every time we went forward and clinical in our football.”

    Former Brighton striker Glenn Murray described it as an “eye-raiser” but conceded the decision ultimately worked.

    “Hindsight proves it was the right decision,” Murray said.

    As Murray noted, Ange’s gamble paid off. Spurs scored three times in eight minutes to win and climb to seventh on the ladder. Sarr too was strong, dispossessing Jarrod Bowen as he moved towards Tottenham’s goal and finding Heung-Min Son with a beautiful assist for his 60th minute goal.

    Spurs could’ve scored more too. Son hit the post in the 61st minute while the free-flowing attack continued throughout the second half, forcing West Ham keeper Alphonse Areola into three saves.

    “When they are good they are nearly irresistible, Tottenham,” Connor McNamara said on commentary.

    Former Spurs manager Tim Sherwood heralded the character Spurs showed during the win.

    “To go behind and then come out with that character in the second half, after what happened at Brighton before the international break, I think not only the ability of his side, but the character of his side, really shone through,” he said.

    Writing in The Guardian, Jacob Steinberg described Tottenham as ‘exhilarating,’ while noting ‘Ange Postecoglou was there to see another defensive implosion, but this time he would not be the coach who will have to deal with the fallout.’

    Indeed the post-mortem will centralise on West Ham and new manager Julen Lopetegui, who has failed to inspire the tactical shifts expected of him in pre-season. Their second half capitulation means they sit 15th.

    For Postecoglou though the win alleviates some of the pressure on his shoulders following Spurs’ bitter loss to Brighton in their last Premier League outing.

    That game that overshadowed a five game winning streak and inspired further doubts about Postecoglou’s Premier League suitability.

    For now at least those pressures are alleviated.

    James Maddison’s half-time substitution was a turning point in Spurs’ 4-1 comeback win over West Ham.Source: AFP

    ARSENAL’S CHARGE TAKES SIGNIFICANT HIT

    At the end of the season if Arsenal fail to break their Premier League title drought, Mikel Arteta will reflect on this loss as the moment the title slipped through his side’s fingers.

    Arsenal were unbeaten heading into the weekend, with their defence the envy of the Premier League and their attacking improving weekly.

    Bournemouth are a good side, coached well by Andoni Iraola, but their start to the season had been indifferent.

    Few would have predicted the game to unfold as it did.

    Arteta, and Arsenal fans, will argue William Saliba’s controversial 30th minute red card, awarded after the Frenchman brought down Bournemouth striker Evanilson just beyond the halfway line.

    There was no Arsenal defender between the Brazilian and goal, a factor that ultimately led VAR Jarred Gillett to instruct referee Rob Jones, who initially awarded a yellow card, to send the Arsenal defender off.

    For the third time this season Arsenal would need to see out a game with a man down.

    Raheem Sterling initially shifted to right back, with Ben White moving into the heart of defence in Saliba’s place. However, Antoine Semenyo breezed by the pair twice, prompting Arteta to introduce Jakub Kiwior and return White to right back.

    Arsenal, who were without Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka, their two most important creators, held Bournemouth scoreless until the 70th minute, when a lovely corner move resulted in Ryan Christie’s strike breaking the deadlock.

    The Premier League’s set-piece masters were breached by a set-piece.

    Seven minutes later Evanilson was again involved. Fouled by David Raya in the box the Brazilian won a penalty, converted by Justin Kluivert to secure a big win for Bournemouth, a monumental loss for Arsenal.

    William Saliba was initially shown a yellow card against Bournemouth. VAR intervened and changed it to a red card, leaving Arsenal to play with 10 men for much of the match.Source: Getty Images

    The Gunners were not without their chances. Gabriel Martinelli had a great chance to score moments before Bournemouth’s opener, but missed the target, while Mikel Merino pushed a shot wide earlier in the game.

    Speaking post-game, Arteta described the task set for Arsenal following Saliba’s send off as “impossible.”

    “We are very disappointed with the result and gutted because we had to play in that context again,” he said.

    Discussing Saliba’s red card, the Spaniard conceded he’s not expecting it to be overturned during the week.

    “It was a decision made on the pitch. The decision was changed. I don’t think it will change twice. The decision has been made,” he said.

    Auckland FC start A League with win | 01:25

    ETH SAFE FOR ANOTHER DAY

    Boos rang around Old Trafford at halftime, though perhaps not the kind of boos some may have expected after the last fortnight at Manchester United.

    Brentford’s Ethan Pinnock had just scored an injury time header from a corner to lift his side into the lead at the interval.

    The strike didn’t come without controversy after United’s Dutch central defender Matthijs De Ligt was forced to leave the pitch and have some blood cleaned from his face.

    Instead of waiting for De Ligt to return, referee Sam Barrott allowed play to continue, ultimately resulting in Brentford’s opener.

    United’s bench erupted after the ball rifled into the back of the net. Erik Ten Hag, arguably the manager under the most pressure in world football, was booked for his protests of the decision to allow play to continue while De Ligt was sidelined.

    Given the storm surrounding the future of the Dutchman’s managerial tenure, Ten Hag’s frustration was justified. In a must-win game his side entered the interval behind against a difficult to break down Brentford side.

    Writing in The Athletic, Mark Critchley said Pinnock’s goal ‘felt like the end. The chances of a second half fightback appeared remote.’

    At the break United, who were without six first team players, were yet to create a big chance. By full-time they’d created three, scoring two, to record a big win both in the context of their season and their manager’s future.

    Alejandro Garnacho got the ball rolling in the 47th minute, meeting a sublime Marcus Rashford cross to score his first goal of the season, before a delightful Bruno Fernandes flick set Rasmus Hojlund up in the 62nd minute.

    Even more impressive was the way United managed their lead in the dying stages of the contest, something Critchley noted.

    ‘Not only did (United) turn this game on its head, but once in front, they managed the final stages relatively well – something which has not often been said of this side in the past,’ he wrote.

    Post-game Ten Hag insisted the victory “showed we are together.”

    “We showed determination and scored two beautiful goals.”

    Erik Ten Hag wasn’t happy with the decision to allow play to continue while Matthijs De Ligt was off the field receiving treatment.Source: AFP

    Goals have been a major problem to United in what has been their worst-ever start to a Premier League season. Prior to their Brentford win they’d scored just five. That figure is now seven, two less than 19th placed Wolves.

    Ten Hag will be hoping goals to Garnacho and Hojlund, as well as Rashford’s creative output, will kick his side into attacking gear as they look to kick their season into life.

    “This team has the capacity to score very good goals,” he stated post-game.

    “Today the two goals we scored were high quality and when you score and win you add confidence.

    “At the start of the season we had some good performances but didn’t score enough, then everyone is negative.

    “This result can help us, but it is only one win and we must build on it.”

    LATE DRAMA SEALS FOXES COMEBACK

    After half an hour Southampton were 2-0 up against Leicester, courtesy of goals to Cameron Archer and Joe Aribo, and seemingly on their way to a first win of the season.

    Their lead remained after an hour, before Facundo Buoanotte’s fortunate strike found the back of the net, giving Leicester a way back into the game.

    10 minutes later they were level, courtesy of a Jamie Vardy penalty that came after the striker’s shirt was pulled by Saints winger Ryan Fraser as he attempted to sweep the ball into the back of the net from close range.

    Jordan Ayew’s late strike sealed Leicester’s comeback win over Southampton.Source: Getty Images

    Fraser was sent off, the fifth player to see the red in the Premier League overnight, and Vardy converted the penalty, drawing the Foxes level with plenty of time to play.

    Despite their man advantage, Leicester’s winner came with essentially the final kick of the game after Jordan Ayew swept the ball home from a corner in the 98th minute.

    The win lifts Leicester to 14th, six points clear of the relegation zone – although both Palace and Wolves have a game in hand.

    For Southampton, losing from such a winnable position has turned the pressure up on manager Russell Martin, who has constantly been accused of playing beautiful, possession-based football without getting results.

    VILLA’S MARCH CONTINUES AS NEWCASTLE FALTER

    Aston Villa’s towards the top of the Premier League table continued against Fulham overnight.

    Unai Emery’s side fell behind to an early Raul Jimenez strike but scored three times before full-time to seal a crucial three points.

    Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins both scored, continuing their fine seasons, before an Issa Diop own goal sealed the win after 70 minutes. Emi Martinez saved an Andreas Pereira penalty with the scores locked at 1-1.

    Fulham lost central defender Joachim Andersen to a red card six minutes before Diop found the back of his own net.

    The win leaves Villa fourth on 17 points, two clear of fifth-placed Brighton, who narrowly beat Newcastle overnight.

    Danny Welbeck’s fifth goal of the season proved the difference between the two sides

    Source link

  • Matildas beaten by Canada as growing injury toll causes concern ahead of Olympics

    Matildas beaten by Canada as growing injury toll causes concern ahead of Olympics

    Injuries continue to trouble the Matildas ahead of their Paris Olympic Games opener against Germany in less than two weeks, with key forward Caitlin Foord a late withdrawal from Australia’s 2-1 loss in its warm-up clash against Canada.

    Having already announced last week that captain Steph Catley and Kaitlyn Torpey would miss the game against the Canadians due to lower leg injuries, the Matildas suffered another blow pre-match when Arsenal star Foord withdrew from Sunday morning’s contest after experiencing tightness in her quad.

    Others who weren’t considered for selection for the game played at the Matildas training base in Marbella, Spain were Brisbane Roar’s Tameka Yallop, who suffered what was described as a “minor impact” leg injury at training, and back-up goalkeeper Teagan Micah, who continues to recover from an ankle injury she suffered in May while on duty for her club Liverpool.

    “You always want to have all your players fit and in form … (but) sometimes it’s a challenge,” Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson said.

    “I’ve also been around long enough to know that the only thing that we can focus on is what we can control.

    “Caitlin felt something in the warm-up, and I said `let’s play it safe’.”

    In the absence of Foord, Yallop’s Roar teammate Sharn Freier, who had originally been named among the substitutes, was called into the starting side, and made the most of her opportunity by scoring in the 24th minute to give the Matildas the lead after being fed by playmaker Mary Fowler.

    Sharn Freier (right) scored Australia’s only goal in the Matildas’ 2-1 loss to Canada. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images

    However, it was a goal that came against the run of play, with the Canadians having been the better team in the first half.

    Gustavsson wouldn’t have been happy with the Matildas’ sloppiness in possession particularly when faced with Canada’s pressing tactics.

    It was also an error from Australian goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold that gifted the Canadians an equaliser in the 41st minute.

    Arnold fumbled a cross from Cloe Lacasse, with Nichelle Prince pouncing on the loose ball to level the scores.

    The Matildas made a host of changes at the start of the second-half, with Charlotte Grant, Clare Polkinghorne, Emily van Egmond, Michelle Heyman and Courtney Nevin entering the contest.

    The five players replaced were right-back Ellie Carpenter – who had worn the captain’s armband in the absence of Catley – central defender Alanna Kennedy, midfielder Katrina Gorry and attacking weapons Hayley Raso and Cortnee Vine.

    Winonah Heatley also came on later in the half for centre-back Clare Hunt.

    Despite the changes, the Canadians continued to assert their superiority, leading to the game’s winning goal in the 85th minute from substitute Evelyne Viens.

    Gustavsson said his side’s error-ridden display was partly due to a heavy training load in camp.

    He was more concerned about Australia’s creativity in attack.

    “I don’t think we created enough. We normally create a lot of chances when we play,” Gustavsson said.

    “I want to create more. I want to attack.”

    The Matildas are set to relocate to France later this week ahead of the opening match of their Olympic Games campaign against Germany in Marseille on July 26 (AEST).

    Source link

  • ‘Suicidal’ tactics to undeniable $157m truth: Ange’s wild first year — and why best is yet to come

    ‘Suicidal’ tactics to undeniable $157m truth: Ange’s wild first year — and why best is yet to come

    When Ange Postecoglou sat down for his first press conference as Tottenham manager last July, he revealed his vision for his new team.

    Aside from being “successful”, Postecoglou wanted Tottenham “to be an aggressive team, a dominant team, a team who takes the game to every opposition home and away”.

    Get on board Kayo and watch every game of every round of the NRL + AFL Seasons live and ad break free during play. New to Kayo? Start Your Free Trial Today >

    With Postecoglou’s debut season as a Premier League manager in the rear-view mirror, it’s hard to argue the Australian hasn’t delivered on his plan, especially the desire to show no fear against Spurs’ opponents.

    However, the same pundits who lauded Postecoglou’s bravery and ingenuity for the style of play at the start seemed to turn on him just as quickly once results began to slide.

    It was a predictable discourse and one Postecoglou has faced at almost every stop in his managerial career.

    However, one game – and one specific moment – proved that no matter what the pundits said, the Australian would not waver from his beliefs.

    This is how Postecoglou silenced the doubters, at least for now, and guided Tottenham back to the bright lights of European football, all without the club’s record goal scorer.

    Postecoglou laid out his ambitions for Tottenham in his first press conference. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    MORE COVERAGE

    ‘Dream come true’: Mbappe reacts as football’s worst-kept $285m secret finally confirmed

    Iconic moment in touching tribute as Matildas put on a show in final Olympics hit-out

    Rumour Mill: Dizzying numbers behind Mbappe mega move; Utd talisman in talks with Euro giant

    ANGE REVEALS GREAT SPURS ‘HOPE AND DESIRE’ AMID GLARING $157M HOLE

    Along with an outline of what he wanted from Tottenham during games, Postecoglou made it abundantly clear it would be no overnight transformation.

    But, at the very least, he wanted fans to see the foundations for what was to come.

    “We had a massive rebuild at Celtic but at the beginning, even though the results weren’t there, the supporters could see what we were trying to do and get behind us,” Postecoglou said.

    “I don’t know whether it’s going to be a rocky start or a good start for us but my hope and desire and what I’m going to try to do is give supporters hope that we’re going to embark on something special.”

    What made Postecoglou’s rebuild all the more difficult was the drawn-out transfer saga surrounding superstar striker Harry Kane.

    In the 2022-23 campaign, Kane accounted for 43 per cent of Tottenham’s 70 league goals but he was so much more than just a goalscorer. Kane was Tottenham.

    Kane left Tottenham to go to Bayern Munich. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    Kane was sold to Bayern Munich for $157 million on the eve of Tottenham’s Premier League opener against Brentford, although Postecoglou insisted he planned for the superstar’s exit.

    It’s impossible to replace Kane directly, so Postecoglou opted to upgrade several positions across the squad prior to Kane’s departure.

    Dejan Kulusevski and Pedro Porro’s temporary deals became permanent while Guglielmo Vicario, James Maddison, Mickey van de Ven and Brennan Johnson all arrived in the summer, with Johnson joining on deadline day.

    With the loss of Kane coupled with the squad needing to adapt to Postecoglou’s methods, the Australian was reluctant to set any expectations for the season ahead, at least externally.

    “Again, from the outset what’s important is that we try and establish some key principles of who we want to be first of all,” Postecoglou said.

    Well, if Postecoglou didn’t want to vocalise any concrete goals, the stunning unbeaten run to start the season gave fans plenty of reason to dream.

    Maddison was one of Postecoglou’s first signings. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    POP ICON GETS BEHIND ANGE AS SPURS DARE TO DREAM

    In Postecoglou’s first season at Celtic, a draw and three losses in the first seven league games — including a defeat to bitter rivals Rangers — had some sections of the fanbase already doubting his credentials.

    It was the complete opposite at Tottenham.

    Postecoglou oversaw a pulsating 2-2 draw against Brentford to start and the results that followed led to a tidal wave of positivity and optimism from Spurs supporters.

    Tottenham went on a staggering 10-game unbeaten run featuring victories over Manchester United and Liverpool, albeit the latter result was dripping in controversy as the Reds were wrongly denied a goal.

    Not even bitter rivals Arsenal could stop Tottenham as the first north London derby of the season ended 2-2.

    Yet the one game in this dizzying run that truly united the fan base was a 2-1 victory over lowly Sheffield United.

    Tottenham celebrate after scoring a late, late winner to beat Sheffield United. (Photo by Stephen Pond/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    The Blades looked set to escape north London with a highly valuable victory and were ahead as late as the 97th minute.

    Just 180 seconds later, Kulusevski scored what proved to be the game winner as the stadium erupted in a chorus of joy.

    As The Athletic’s Jack Pitt-Brooke wrote, “it felt as if a club that had been so fractured only a few months before had been united overnight” by Postecoglou.

    Tottenham sat in first with 26 points from a possible 30, Postecoglou was constantly serenaded to the tune of Robbie Williams’ Angels — with the pop icon even signing the amended version himself — and fans dared to dream of what could be.

    But Tottenham supporters were quickly brought crashing back to earth in the club’s 11th game of the season as a reporter’s prediction about how Postecoglou’s first season would unfold came true.

    Postecoglou laps up the support from the adoring Tottenham fans. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    HOW EERIE PREDICTION CAME TRUE AS LOSS SPARKS GREAT DEBATE

    In early November, Tottenham welcomed a Chelsea team stuck in mid-table having won just three of their opening 10 games.

    Postecoglou’s side began brightly as Kulusevski scored in the sixth minute and looked a threat every time they went forward against Chelsea’s fragile backline.

    But the contest flipped on its head in the 33rd minute when Tottenham defender Cristian Romero got sent off and Cole Palmer buried the resulting penalty to equalise.

    It went from bad to worse for Tottenham when star duo Van de Ven and Maddison were forced off with significant injuries just before half time.

    If that wasn’t grim enough, Destiny Udogie’s second yellow in the 55th minute reduced the hosts to just nine men.

    Much to the surprise of the wider football community — except those who have followed Postecoglou’s career closely — Tottenham refused to park their nine men behind the ball and continued to pour numbers forward in attack.

    Yes, it meant Chelsea’s speedy wingers got behind Tottenham’s defensive line with ease, but it is not the Postecoglou way to simply roll over and accept defeat.

    An iconic image emphasised how wedded Postecoglou is to his philosophy and also proved The Athletic’s Charlie Eccleshare correct in his pre-season prediction.

    “I think there will be quite a tedious debate,” Eccleshare told The View From The Lane podcast in August.

    “The way this will pan out is that Postecoglou will get a lot of plaudits early on because he plays attacking football.

    “But there will come a point at which they lose badly to a team they’re expected to beat because they play in this certain way.

    “There will be a lot of pundits saying, ‘I’m sorry, I’m all for good football but there comes a time you’ve got to shut up shop. I don’t care who you are, you’ve got to show more respect to the opposition.’”

    Despite going down to nine men, Postecoglou still used a high defensive line against Chelsea. Picture: SuppliedSource: Supplied

    Those critical pundits came out swinging after the Chelsea defeat.

    “I have to say, there was a bit of an arrogance about not changing it,” former Chelsea defender and talkSPORT pundit Jason Cundy said, adding Postecoglou’s stubbornness was “naive”.

    Ex-Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson was equally critical.

    “I’d never seen anything like it,” Merson told Sky Sports.

    “But Ange Postecoglou should have changed tactics. It was very easy. If that was Man City playing Tottenham, it would have been 10-1 at least.”

    Even Tottenham legend and former England manager Glenn Hoddle was stunned at Postecoglou’s refusal to adapt.

    “If Tottenham keeps playing that high, near the halfway line, then I think it’s footballing suicide with 10 men,” Hoddle told Premier League Productions during the halftime break.

    “They had defenders in there that they’ve had it work, but it seems to me they haven’t changed their tactics. They’ve got to change.”

    Unsurprisingly, Postecoglou was peppered with questions as to why he did not change his approach with nine men on the park.

    “It is just who we are mate,” Postecoglou said in his post-match press conference.

    “It is who we are and who we will be for as long as I am here. If we go down to five men, we will have a go.”

    Only Postecoglou could have the ability to make Tottenham fans view a 4-1 defeat to a rival team through an optimistic lens.

    However, the debate slowly turned against him as results became harder to come by in the second half of the season.

    Postecoglou’s approach against Chelsea had pundits questioning his bold tactics. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    ANGE’S BRUTAL VERDICT AS ‘WORST EXPERIENCE’ LEAVES AUSSIE SEETHING

    After the Chelsea defeat, Tottenham failed to win any of their next four games as Postecoglou grappled with a mounting injury list that exposed a worrying lack of depth, especially in defence.

    Tottenham ultimately kept just one clean sheet from the Chelsea clash on November 6 through to the 4-0 thrashing of Aston Villa on March 10.

    Conceding goals off of set pieces also proved to be problematic, with Tottenham shipping the fifth-most (16) throughout the season.

    There were calls from the external world for Postecoglou to appoint a specialist set piece coach to combat the issue but the Aussie refused, insisting his assistant coaches Ryan Mason and Mile Jedinak were well-equipped at the role.

    “There are far more important things that we need to concentrate on at the moment in terms of the team we’re building,” Postecoglou said.

    Although Tottenham’s form in the second half of the season was patchy, the 4-0 victory over Villa had many believing a top four finish was achievable.

    But Postecoglou’s side won just four out of their final 11 games as the Champions League dream slipped further and further away.

    Granted, Tottenham had to face Newcastle, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City in their final seven games.

    Tottenham’s form dropped off a cliff at the end of the season. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    The defeat to City proved to be especially bruising — and eye-opening — for the Aussie boss.

    Tottenham had to win if they were to remain in the mix for the Champions League, but victory would have also put Arsenal in the box seat to win the Premier League title.

    Lose or draw that match and they could kiss the Champions League goodbye for another season.

    Sections of the Tottenham fan base made it clear they weren’t terribly fussed about losing to City, especially if it robbed their bitter rivals of a first league title in 10 years.

    When asked before the game about the supporters being okay with defeat, Postecoglou bristled and responded: “I understand rivalry, but I have never, and will never, understand if someone wants their own team to lose.”

    Tottenham would lose 2-0 to City amid a subdued atmosphere within the stadium as Postecoglou delivered an explosive post-match press conference where he criticised the club’s “fragile foundations”.

    The defeat to Manchester City left Postecoglou with a bitter taste in his mouth. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    It left The Telegraph’s Matt Law believing either Postecoglou or Tottenham had to fully adapt to the other and could not maintain their stubbornness.

    “In many respects Ange Postecoglou and Tottenham Hotspur are a match made in heaven,” Law wrote.

    “But if the marriage is not to ultimately end in another messy divorce, then something will have to give.

    “Put simply, either Tottenham have to change or Postecoglou does because the last three months have demonstrated that stubbornness from both sides will grow into something much more damaging.”

    A few days after the game, the Aussie boss conceded it was “probably the worst experience” he’s had as a manager during a match and “got it wrong” in terms of what he expected the atmosphere and the fans’ sentiments to be.

    Postecoglou and Tottenham managed to end the season on a high as a comfortable 3-0 win over Sheffield United ensured a spot in the Europa League for next season.

    Tottenham qualified for the Europa League. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    HOW PL VACUUM COULD GIVE SPURS BIG BOOST AS HISTORY ON ANGE’S SIDE

    Although some may look back on Tottenham’s season wondering what could have been, Postecoglou’s debut Premier League campaign should fill supporters with optimism.

    Objectively it was a better season than the 22/23 one: under Postecoglou, Tottenham finished with more points, won more games, scored more and conceded less.

    Let’s not forget Postecoglou did all of this without Kane’s goals.

    Another cause for a positive outlook is how Postecoglou traditionally fares in his second season at a club.

    During his stints with the Brisbane Roar, Yokohama F. Marinos and Celtic, the 58-year-old averaged more points per game in his second season.

    The summer window will give Postecoglou another chance to shape the squad further into his mould and ship out those who he does not believe can play his high-octane brand of football.

    There could also be a serious vacuum at the top of the ladder which opens the door wide open for Postecoglou and Tottenham to return to the top four.

    With Jurgen Klopp no longer at the helm for Liverpool, new boss Arne Slot will hope to avoid the slump attached to those replacing long-term managers.

    There’s plenty to look forward to in Postecoglou’s second season at Tottenham. (Photo by Barrington Coombs/PA Images via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    David Moyes couldn’t do it at Manchester United after he replaced Sir Alex Ferguson and Unai Emery struggled at Arsenal as Arsene Wenger’s successor, so there’s every chance Slot and Liverpool slide down the ladder.

    Chelsea will also have a new manager in Enzo Maresca as the Blues parted ways with Mauricio Pochettino despite the latter leading the club to a sixth-place finish.

    There’s also a chance Aston Villa take a slight tumble as they contend with the club’s first Champions League campaign in 41 years.

    A return to Europe’s elite club competition next season would represent yet another improvement for Postecoglou.

    So too would winning a trophy, something Tottenham have not done since 2008.

    No matter what, Postecoglou will do it his way.

    Source link