Tag: Chris Sutton

Ange sat on the brink of PL ruin. One $90m phone call could flip familiar Spurs script

Ange Postecoglou’s job is on the line, there’s no two ways about it — but his role in securing the signature of Mathys Tel proves to be a pivotal moment in his Tottenham tenure.

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The 19-year-old was desperate for game time after playing limited minutes for Bayern Munich this season and it was Spurs, alongside Manchester United and Chelsea vying for his signature.

Tottenham officials agreed a $120m AUD fee to sign Tel, but after chairman Daniel Levy flew to Munich to pitch his vision to the young gun, he baulked and declined the move.

That’s where Postecoglou stepped in.

The Australian picked up the phone and called Tel, offering his own view of the path forward and exactly where he saw the rising star fitting in his side.

Suddenly, Tel had a change of heart. Moving quickly, he travelled to London to initially sign on loan before he was convinced to insert a $90m AUD buy option in his contract, for a potential six-year deal.

READ MORE: Spurs’ coup as Ange call swings race for gun teen; City’s $360m frenzy: Deadline Day wrap

His conversation with the former Celtic boss was a clear turning point, and that sequence of events sums up the situation Postecoglou finds himself precariously placed in.

“Remember on Friday, Spurs agreed a permanent deal with Bayern Munich but the player said he didn’t want the move and preferred a move to Arsenal, Aston Villa or Manchester United,” Sky Sports News’ Dharmesh Sheth said.

“They didn’t peruse the move. But Ange Postecoglou got on the phone, spoke to Tel personally and convinced him Spurs were the place to be.”

Multiple reports over Postecoglou’s future in north London have not been able to produce a consensus, with some putting the Australian on the brink, and others saying he’s safe for the foreseeable future.

Postecoglou himself admitted in January “I reckon there is probably a fair chunk that will say no” when asked if he will be Tottenham manager beyond the next three weeks.

However, Spurs’ Tel saga — specifically the way it ended — is suggestive of a slightly more secure future for Postecoglou than some have predicted.

Levy turned to Postecoglou in an attempt to try and finish the job he was unable to complete, while also allowing him to sign other players during his stint as manager.

Premier League legend Gary Neville said that Tel had made a good decision to join Spurs, with Postecoglou’s philosophy part of the reason.

“Tottenham are a huge draw, the stadium and the training ground – and the manager with his style of football. It’s a thrilling style that creates chances,” Sky Sports’ Neville said.

“I’m glad Tel is going there after flirting with a couple of other clubs. Tel will improve Spurs.

“They have a big couple of weeks coming up. Sometimes players like the idea of playing for a club but the important thing is to play football. That’s what Tottenham can provide him.

“They are an amazing football club with an amazing fanbase and they have some great games coming up that he can contribute in.”

Postecoglou being handed the keys to the Tel transfer, and personally speaking to the young gun in a bid to change his mind, hints at a manager who’s been backed by the club for its next phase — not one who is being sacked imminently.

Even so, managing under the rule of Levy comes with an ominous history that Postecoglou will hope his new signings can help him defy.

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Levy has been in charge at Tottenham since ENIC’s takeover in 2001, winning one League Cup in 2008 during his tenure as the longest current serving chairman.

During his 24 years, he’s sacked and hired 16 managers.

Postecoglou is just the latest in a long line of mentors who have failed to deliver without the significant financial investment to compete with the Premier League’s heavyweights.

Yet he was still able to convince one of the world’s brightest talents to join him in North London, and the chairman was not.

But should Spurs’ struggles continue to close out the 2024/25 season, it will be Postecoglou who is thrown out the door — not Levy, who refuses to listen to fan’s criticisms.

Levy watched on as Postecoglou struggled to field a starting eleven in recent weeks, with injuries tallying almost every game.

Fans have protested openly against the club’s ownership in recent weeks, even staging a mass event at the Tottenham club shop to try and enact change.

However, Levy has previously said that he doesn’t listen to criticism from the club’s faithful, with former Premier League striker Chris Sutton questioning the chairman.

“Daniel Levy is such a powerful figure – he wants to win trophies, but that’s not his primary objective, he wants to make money and that’s why Tottenham fans are angry,” he said on BBC.

“But, does Daniel Levy listen to anybody? He’s a stubborn so and so, we can talk as much as we like about it but he’s such a powerful figure – what is going to change?

“You can have your banners up, you can sing Levy out – but is he really going to listen to that?”

While Levy has been the focal point of fans’ woes, former Manchester United scout Mick Brown explained prior to deadline day that Postecoglou’s position was shaping as a familiar story.

“It’s mapping out at Tottenham as it often has done over the years,” he said to Football Insider.

Mathys Tel (R) will join Spurs.Source: Getty Images

“The manager of the time needs players, it gets to a point where the chairman is accused of keeping his hands in his pockets, he starts getting pressure from the fans, and he sacks the manager.

“He’s sacked 15 managers during his time there. It’s ‘watch this space’ at Tottenham at the moment.

“They’ve been down this road before.

“Chairmen, particularly Daniel Levy, don’t like pressure from the fans so they react and make a decision. That’s not my opinion, it’s a fact, it’s history.”

However, Tottenham’s pair of signings could be seen as a renewed show of faith in Postecoglou.

Last month, the club was in freefall with losses in the league piling up each week, while Levy’s pursestrings remained largely tightened.

But a pressure-relieving 0-2 away win over Brentford on the weekend, followed by two key coups late in the transfer window have offered new hope for Postecoglou’s future at the club.

Alongside Tel, Lens centre back Kevin Danso has also joined the club in a timely boost for the Australian’s injury-ravaged side.

Even so it wasn’t all good news in the market for Postecoglou, he was desperate to sign a second centre back, with Chelsea’s Axel Disasi snubbing Spurs in favour of Aston Villa.

AC Milan’s Fikayo Tomori also rejected the club’s approach, while Crystal Palace declined a $140m AUD bid for England representative Marc Guehi.

The Guehi move in particular highlighted the difference between Spurs and other heavyweights, refusing to up their offer to secure a player who has been a proven Premier League performer.

Spurs still sit in 14th in the Premier League, losing four-straight games before breaking that streak against Brentford.

It is therefore likely that results in a trio of cup competitions, the Europe League, Carabao Cup and the FA Cup, will be pivotal in Postecoglou surviving the 2024/25 season.

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Spurs have a 1-0 lead after the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi finals, with the second clash with Liverpool scheduled for Friday morning.

The recent return of Micky van de Ven proves crucial for Spurs, but the likes of Christian Romero, Dominic Solanke, James Maddison and Guglielmo Vicario, among others, still sidelined.

Postecoglou will be desperate for Tel and Danso to hit the ground running in the hopes of helping Tottenham delve deeper into their cup campaigns.

The equation is simple for Postecoglou — win silverware and he will likely keep his job.

But the fact that he is still here to hold onto that hope represents an uptick in fortunes for a manager who, just last month, was struggling to field an XI in what some where billing as a relegation fight.

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February 4, 2025
‘Best win yet’: How Ange doubled down in ‘monumental gamble’… and won back over PL – UK View

Backed into a corner, Ange Postecoglou has once again punched his way out.

After disappointing losses to Newcastle and arch rival Arsenal, the pressure was mounting on the Australian. But, in typical Postecoglou fashion, he has doubled down on his attacking style — affectionately dubbed ‘Angeball’ — which has yielded back-to-back Premier League wins amid four consecutive victories in all competitions.

Spurs now sit eighth on the Premier League table with ten points from six games after they humiliated Manchester United 3-0 at Old Trafford on Sunday.

The post-match coverage focused on growing calls for United manager Erik Ten Hag to be axed, but among the hysteria was high praise for Postecoglou’s aggressive tactics which delivered a win against a ‘big-six’ rival for the first time in a year.

So effective they were that the Red Devils would be somewhat thankful the damage was not worse.

Spurs were wasteful in front of goal at times – missing two one-on-ones with United goalkeeper Andre Onana – in the absence of injured star Son Heung-min.

Their inability to pile on more pain was reflected by the expected score statistic stating that Tottenham was expected to score 5.33 goals based on the chances they created.

Nevertheless, Postecoglou would have few complaints as the pressure on him starts to ease.

Spurs lead the Premier League for shots on targets, touches in the opposition’s box and expected goals as well as having the second most shots and the third most goals to affirm themselves as arguably the best team to watch in the competition.

One of the signature ‘Angeball’ ploys in Sunday’s statement victory was centre back Micky van de Ven strolling around the field gathering touches all over the pitch and providing an assist like a midfielder in a player of the match performance.

To The Telegraph’s chief football correspondent Jason Burt, it came as no surprise that Postecoglou’s side roamed more freely and pressed harder than they had earlier in the season.

“It is typical of Ange Postecoglou’s boldness that his response to questions being asked about how he has set Tottenham Hotspur up is to even more attacking,” Burt said.

“Maybe it would have been expected that under such pressure a coach would choose to be conservative and bring in another defensive-minded player such as Pape Sarr or Yves Bissouma. Not Postecoglou.”

On commentary for Sky Sports, Manchester United legend Gary Neville took time out from blasting his former side – he labelled them as playing “pub football” — to heap praise on Postecoglou and his players.

“Tottenham have been really good and have got the scoreline their performance deserved,” Neville said.

“A really good day for Ange Postecoglou, who has had a few questions asked of him in recent weeks.

“I love watching them. I have loved Ange Postecoglou since he came to England. He has had a rough patch, it has not been as good as he would have liked, but he is a massive asset to the Premier League.

“The style of football, his personality – he hasn’t had the backing of some of the other top clubs in Europe. He has been backed, but not to the level of others. But they are always a good watch. They won this game today. They dominated and absolutely deserved it.”

The love for Postecoglou continued from Neville’s Sky Sports colleague Chris Sutton.

The pundit, who also works for BBC Sport, posted on X his admiration for Postecoglou while spelling a warning for his counterpart.

“No finer sight in the Premier League than Angeball played at its best,” Sutton said.

“The pile-on earlier on this season was so over the top…”

For all the critique of Ten Hag and United,The Guardian’s Jonathan Liew insisted that the Red Devils’ insipid performance was just as much of Tottenham’s doing as it was their own.

United certainly did not help themselves as they played more than a half with ten men courtesy of captain Bruno Fernandes’ controversial red card, but Tottenham had 61% possession, took 24 shots – ten of which were on target – and passed the ball with an impressive accuracy of 88%.

“For Ange Postecoglou, this may well have been the most impressive win of his Spurs tenure,” Liew said.

“Not simply because of the magnitude of the opponent, the weight of history, the late withdrawal of Son Heung-min, but because this was a game they willed and bent into their own weird shape.

“United did not simply turn up dazed and disintegrated; in large part they were rendered that way by a dazzling first-half performance that forced them to doubt everything.

“Take the starting line-up, which on the face of things felt like a system inspired by the Garth Crooks ‘team of the week’ on the BBC website: heavy in forwards and almost entirely devoid of midfield cover, with Rodrigo Bentancur the sole shield behind James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski, and then a front three ahead of them.

“It felt either like a monumental gamble or a monumental ruse, and in a way, it turned out to be both.”

Tottenham have an away trip to Brighton at 2:30am AEST on Monday 7 October as their next Premier League assignment, but before then they travel to Budapest, Hungary for a Europa League date with Ferencváros at 2.45am AEST on Friday.

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September 30, 2024
‘Scented his blood’: How Ange silenced ‘naive’ haters as Spurs face moment of truth

After a 2-1 defeat to West Ham United, the claws were out for Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou.

Despite the mitigating factor of injuries to key players, a run of four defeats in five had pundits questioning if Postecoglou was too naive for the rigours of the Premier League.

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Yet Postecoglou — like he has at every stop in his managerial career — remained true to his footballing ethos amid the growing volume of naysayers.

So it was no surprise Postecoglou didn’t alter his approach one bit against a club also dealing with a significant injury crisis themselves in Newcastle.

Tottenham blew Eddie Howe’s side out of the water in a resounding 4-1 victory and the scoreline could — and perhaps should — have been greater in favour of the hosts.

Spurs skipper Heung-Min Son was shifted to the left and tore a visibly knackered Kieran Trippier apart all night long while Richarlison scored a confidence-boosting double.

The performance was, as The Telegraph’s Luke Edwards noted, “Angeball at its best.”

“When Tottenham Hotspur play as well as this, it is hard to keep up,” Edwards wrote.

“It is football played in a whizz and a blur, the ball and players moving at such speed, that you always feel you are a split-second behind the action.

“You are never quite sure who just played that pass, or performed that piece of skill. Your brain is still trying to compute that passage of play as your eye is busy trying to absorb the next one.

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“This was ‘Angeball’ at its best. A thrill a minute, white knuckle, adrenaline ride, but what you could easily see is the man inspiring it all against Newcastle was the magnificent, irrepressible Son Heung-Min.”

Former England international Chris Sutton also lapped up Tottenham’s display with a sarcastic dig at those who wanted Postecoglou to adapt and take a more pragmatic approach.

“Really enjoying how naive Ange and Tottenham are today,” Sutton wrote on X.

The Daily Mail’s Oliver Holt also took aim at those who questioned Postecoglou’s tactics for an injury-ravaged Tottenham, with the win against Newcastle proving Angeball “had never really been away.”

“It is the way of English football that when a man like Ange Postecoglou comes along and dares to do things a little differently, there are those who lust for his downfall,” Holt wrote.

“They had scented his blood as darkness fell over north London yesterday and Postecoglou’s Spurs side faced the prospect of losing for the fifth time in six matches.

“If Spurs had been beaten by Newcastle and the free fall had continued, there would have been talk of a crisis, more suggestions that Postecoglou’s brand of attacking football was just too naive for the Premier League and that he had been found out. English football is a cosmopolitan place but it struggles with outsiders who break the mould.

“But the glee about the defrocking of the new boy did not last. Spurs did not lose their fifth in six. They won and they won at a canter.

Son Heung-Min was in fine form against Newcastle. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

“They beat a ragged, dispirited, depleted Newcastle side with ease and with a style that said Angeball was back and that, actually, it had never really been away.”

Victory over Newcastle ensured Tottenham kept pace with those in the Champions League hunt, although the club’s 30 points is just four more than eighth-placed Brighton.

It is perhaps a little remarkable to think of what Postecoglou has done at the club in the short time he has been in north London, especially since he lost club record goal scorer Harry Kane on the eve of the season.

That’s why former Premier League winners Alan Shearer and Tim Sherwood believe Postecoglou’s body of work to date must convince Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy to loosen the pursestrings in the January window.

“I think come January, Daniel Levy now knows he has to trust this man,” Sherwood said on Optus Sport.

“I trust him, because I know the way he wants to play. And the fans will certainly trust him, even on the back of a poor run.

“If he wants to bring recruits in, let him bring them in. Give him the strength, because I think he will take this team to the Champions League next season.”

Postecoglou snapped a five-game winless run. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP)Source: AFP

Shearer agreed and also pointed to Kane’s departure as the catalyst for every other Tottenham player to raise their performance levels.

“I think what he’s (Postecoglou) done in the short amount of time … he’s sent a message not only to other clubs, but more importantly players who want to come into Tottenham Hotspur, because it’s an exciting project,” Shearer said.

“One or two might be worried. (James) Maddison wasn’t and (Micky) Van de Ven wasn’t, that Harry Kane would have been leaving.

“Harry’s gone now and that’s perhaps made them a better all-round unit where everyone now has to chip in. Everyone’s had to say, ‘OK, now it’s my opportunity to improve at least 10 per cent.’ And I think certainly in the forward positions, the players have done that.

“They’ve had a really good start up until now. But I do think in January, if they were to get another two or maybe three, they could have a really, really exciting second half to the season.”

With Postecoglou and Tottenham now back in the winners circle, it gives them some needed momentum in a packed festive schedule.

How long it will last remains anyone’s guess, but you can be sure Postecoglou won’t tweak his approach no matter how loud his detractors become.

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December 10, 2023
EPL 2023: Burnley to sack Paul Heckingbottom, Chris Wilder, sack race, Premier League managers sacked, news, latest, results

The first Premier League sacking of the season is imminent, with Sheffield United expected to announce the departure of Paul Heckingbottom in the next 24 hours.

The Blades have won just once in 14 matches this season, and this weekend slumped to an 11th loss in a 5-0 thrashing from fellow relegation candidates Burnley.

That saw Burnley leapfrog the 10-man Blades, who now sit bottom of the ladder and four points from safety.

Ex-England captain Alan Shearer said United’s performance was “a disgrace”.

“From the first minute, they lost three tackles in three or four seconds. It summed them up,” he said on BBC Sport.

It has been a torrid return to the top flight, with Sheffield United losing nine of their first ten matches with a goal difference of -22, the worst start from any side in Premier League history.

That included bruising defeats such as an 8-0 thumping from Newcastle at home, and a 5-0 loss away to Arsenal.

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But Heckingbottom has been dealt a rough hand at Sheffield United since taking over at Bramall Lane in November 2021, with the club battling financial issues and being placed under a transfer embargo in January 2023.

The team has been mired in financial uncertainty since Saudi Arabian owner Prince Abdullah announced his intention to sell the club prior last season – even before they over-achieved by winning promotion with a second-place finish in the Championship.

A deal has still not been concluded, but the financial struggles saw the club sell its two best players – Iliman Ndiaye and Sander Berge – in the off-season.

Heckingbottom was given hardly any funds to reinvest in new players.

“I wanted to keep the group together but we couldn’t,” Heckingbottom said after the Burnley game. “We couldn’t because of the last few years and the financial implications. If we’d tied them down [on longer contracts] then we probably wouldn’t have sold those players.

“There wasn’t a desire from the ownership to sell but a necessity from a business point of view. We’ve been making financial decisions rather than football decisions. Of course that affects me. I didn’t want it to happen.”

He recently compared his club’s transfer capacity to relegation rivals Bournemouth and Burnley, the two teams to have beaten the Blades in consecutive fixtures.

“In terms of other clubs, good luck to them,” Heckingbottom said. “Bournemouth last week: you go through the last four windows and we’ve been cutting the wage bill, transfer embargoes, selling the best assets and they’ve spent £200m.”

The Blades had a net transfer spend of £29m while Burnley spent over £90m after their promotion as Championship winners.

Sander Berge left Sheffield United for Burnley.Source: Getty Images

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Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, ex-Chelsea striker Chris Sutton said Heckingbottom’s sacking seemed ‘inevitable’ after the poor defeats to Bournemouth and Burnley.

“What chance did he have? Are we all surprised that Sheffield United are bottom of the Premier League? This is where we all thought they would be,” said Sutton.

“He overachieved in the Championship, there was a transfer embargo. He would’ve been better getting a play-off spot, then he would still be in a job.

“But you can’t lose to a direct rival in the manner they did and expect to keep a job. Newcastle smashed them 8-0 early in the season, but if you’re losing heavily to Bournemouth and get absolutely battered by Burnley with the ill-discipline of certain players, then it’s inevitable.

“I have massive sympathy for Paul. When they get relegated, and they will get relegated, they could do with Paul Heckingbottom to get them back up.”

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Former Blades manager Chris Wilder is in talks to return, roughly 1000 days after he was sacked by the club. Wilder led the Blades from League One all the way into the Premier League in 2019.

He secured a ninth-place finish in the top flight in 2020 with an innovative overlapping centre-back strategy.

But the next season United slumped miserably and Wilder was sacked with ten games remaining in the 2020-21 season, the club sitting dead last.

Now he’ll arrive with the club in a similarly dismal position, with no team conceding more than Sheffield United’s 39 goals this season.

Wilder is currently out of a job after a couple of ill-fated stints in Middlesbrough and most recently Watford, where he left in May after a short-term contract expired.

Heckingbottom will be the first manager to lose his job this Premier League season. This time last year, five managers had already been sacked – Scott Parker (Bournemouth), Thomas Tuchel (Chelsea), Bruno Lage (Wolves), Steven Gerrard (Aston Villa) and Ralph Hasenhüttl (Southampton).

Sheffield United host Liverpool on Thursday (6.30am AEDT).

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December 4, 2023
‘Fortune favoured the brave’: Why Ange’s refusal to change proved ‘something is stirring’ at Spurs — UK View

Prior to his team’s fixture against Manchester City, Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou was asked by a reporter if he would stick to his gung-ho style of play against the defending Premier League champions.

“If you had to take a punt, what do you reckon I’d say?” Postecoglou responded.

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The Tottenham boss elaborated and stated if you want to win, you must have a plan and “stick to it and believe in it.”

It was a fair question from the reporter given Tottenham are ravaged by injuries and went into the City clash on the back of three consecutive losses.

Unsurprisingly, Postecoglou stuck to his word and implored his players to take the game to the hosts.

Tottenham rode their luck in the first half and were fortunate not to be completely out of the contest as the score read 2-1 to City courtesy of a Heung-Min Son own goal and Phil Foden.

Postecoglou implored his troops to show more “conviction” in the second half and that message, coupled with the introduction of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, proved pivotal.

The players heeded the message as Giovani Lo Celso and Dejan Kulusevski scored either side of a late Jack Grealish goal to secure a point.

Not only did the draw continue City’s wretched run of form against Tottenham — they have won just twice in their last eight Premier League encounters — but it proved Postecoglou’s unwavering tactical approach was the right call.

“A defeat here would have been a fourth in a row for Postecoglou but, despite the circumstances, despite the mitigation he could have turned to, that others would have turned to, he did not change,” The Telegraph’s Jason Burt wrote.

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“Not a bit. And with that fortune favoured the brave.

“The Premier League, and not just Spurs, is lucky to have him.

“This is what football is all about. This is why we love the game. Pep Guardiola will not change either and more power to the pair of them.”

Burt added: “He was never going to abandon ultimate gain for short-term damage limitation because what message would that send to the club and the players? No, it is his way or no way.”

The fact Tottenham were even able to come away with something from the contest had The Guardian’s Barney Ronay believing the result “will have felt like a kind of victory in itself.”

“This was a breezy, while at times deeply confusing, game of football; but a game that will, above all, have felt like a kind of vindication for Ange Postecoglou,” Ronay wrote.

“Tottenham Hotspur really, really shouldn’t have been able to come away from this injury-ravaged trip to the champions of Europe with a point, certainly not after falling behind twice; and even more certainly not after playing in the first half like a team intent on walking the opposition backwards into their own goal.

“And yes, the points were shared from a 3-3 draw that could, with better Manchester City finishing, have gone the other way quite dramatically.

“But the performance will stand as the most satisfying moment of Postecoglou’s time as Tottenham manager to date; and as confirmation in spirit, discipline and the boldness of his tactics, that something really is stirring here.”

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Former England international Chris Sutton also threw his support behind Postecoglou for his willingness to stick to his guns.

“All the jabs from pundits and commentators about Tottenham and their naive brand of football … everyone is entitled to their opinion but it’s refreshing someone going up against Manchester City and showing some balls and belief,” Sutton wrote on X.

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher was another who voiced his backing for the Tottenham manager.

He also believed the fact the players were able to complete the late comeback against a team of City’s might could be a pivotal moment that reinforces belief in players that Postecoglou’s methods work, if they aren’t already convinced.

“Ange Postecoglou deserves credit, and not just today,” Carragher told Sky Sports.

“The run they’ve been on, they’ve been very unlucky.

“I think Spurs have always been a top team in terms of trying to challenge for top four. I don’t think Spurs are going to be in any sort of title race or anything like that.

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“The important thing is the manager said before the game that people were going to question their set-up today. It’s not about today, this is about the long-term in the next two or three years to make Spurs the real deal.

“He’s not going to change anything, he’s trying to instil something within the club. He got the payback in the second half.

“Son said the manager told them to play even more. They were a lot better in the second half.”

Postecoglou is set to be handed a major boost ahead of Friday’s clash against West Ham United as centre back Cristian Romero returns from suspension.

Senegalese midfielder Pape Matar Sarr could also return to the squad by the end of the week, while Richarlison got some much-needed game time late in the clash against City.

Although a number of players are slowly returning, Postecoglou is not completely out of the storm just yet as the likes of James Maddison and Micky van de Ven remain sidelined until the new year.

Until then, Postecoglou will charge head on through the rough waters because, as Tottenham’s recent stretch of games has shown, it’s all he knows.

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December 4, 2023
What is the quickest goal in Prem history? Southampton stunner tops list

There can’t be many better things as a football fan than to see your side score within the first minute of a game.

And since the Premier League’s creation, we have seen some very early goals.

10

In early 2023, Philip Billing scored a very quick goal for Bournemouth against Arsenal

It seems incredible, but all the goals that make the top ten were scored in under 14 seconds from the initial kick-off.

And these players will forever be etched in top-flight history.

What are the quickest Premier League goals ever?

10. James Beattie (Chelsea vs Southampton, 2004/05) – 13.52 seconds

The majority of the goals on this list come from some form of defensive mistake.

However, James Beattie’s goal for Southampton at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea was an absolute screamer.

Immediately after the game started, the ball dropped to the Englishman 25 yards out.

He watched it onto his foot and sent a stunning dipping half-volley beyond Petr Cech.

Unfortunately, he later scored an own goal in a 2-1 defeat.

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Beattie was mobbed by his jubilant teammates

9. Kevin Nolan (Blackburn vs Bolton, 2003/04) – 13.48 seconds

Nolan, in his prime, was a great goalscoring midfielder, and he showed his instincts here to put Bolton into the lead at Ewood Park.

As a long ball was pinged into the Blackburn half, Kevin Davies managed to flick it into the box, and Nolan slammed a shot into the roof of the net beyond Brad Friedel.

He went on to score another in a thrilling 4-3 win for the Trotters.

But this is the goal everyone remembers, and rightly so.

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Nolan’s goal left his teammates shocked

8. Chris Sutton (Everton vs Blackburn, 1994/95) – 12.94 seconds

This goal is about as route one as you can get, and the original SAS combined for it.

From kick-off at Goodison Park, Blackburn launched a long ball up to the edge of Everton’s box.

Chris Sutton headed it across for Alan Shearer.

The striker then returned the favour as he flicked the ball into the box for Sutton, who brought it down and finished as Rovers went on to win the Premier League for the first and only time.

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Sutton and Shearer were a sublime partnership

7. Dwight Yorke (Coventry vs Aston Villa, 1995/96) – 12.16 seconds

Coventry fans were left wondering where on earth their left-back had gone when Dwight Yorke headed home in this Premier League clash.

Aston Villa started the game and launched a ball down the right for Ian Taylor.

He raced onto it, chopped back in on his left and curled a cross into the box.

Yorke rose above everyone to power the ball home and for a long time, this was the Premier League’s quickest goal.

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Yorke’s goal was the Premier League’s fastest for the rest of the 20th century

6. Mark Viduka (Charlton vs Leeds, 2000/01) – 11.9 seconds

There was a time when Leeds were one of the Premier League’s best teams and regularly competed in Europe.

And in Mark Viduka, they had a born goalscorer, and on this day, he was too sharp for the Charlton defenders.

Ian Harte drilled a pass up the pitch.

Alan Smith flicked it on, and Viduka finished as Leeds won 2-1 at The Valley.

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Viduka’s goal got Leeds off to the perfect start

5. Christian Eriksen (Tottenham vs Manchester United, 2017/18) – 10.54 seconds

Before Eriksen played for Manchester United, he was a key part of Mauricio Pochettino‘s Tottenham side.

The Dane is one of the Premier League’s most creative players, and here he popped up with a ridiculously early goal.

While Spurs played at Wembley, Jan Vertonghen smashed a pass up towards Harry Kane, who flicked it on for Dele Alli.

He diverted a pass into Eriksen’s path, who curled home from ten yards to set Tottenham up for a 2-0 win.

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Eriksen’s goal left Jose Mourinho wondering what was going on

4. Alan Shearer (Newcastle vs Manchester City, 2002/03) – 10.52 seconds

From a defensive point of view, this could be the worst goal on this list because Man City had kick-off!

The Citizens played the ball all the way back to the goalkeeper, Carlo Nash, who took a heavy touch.

And as he tried to clear it to make up for his mistake, he whacked the ball straight off Shearer.

He then tapped into the empty net to send St James’ Park wild before Craig Bellamy added a second to seal a 2-0 win.

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Shearer couldn’t believe his luck

3. Ledley King (Bradford City vs Tottenham, 2000/01) – 9.82 seconds

We are now at the sub-ten-second mark, and this goal by King was the quickest in the Premier League for nearly 20 years.

From kick-off, Tottenham played the ball forward.

Bradford cleared as far as King, who was relatively far out.

He aimed and hit a low shot that took a huge deflection and bounced into the bottom corner.

10

Billing’s goal left the Emirates stunnedCredit: Getty

2. Philip Billing (Arsenal vs Bournemouth, 2022/23) – 9.11 seconds

This is the most recent addition to this list and set Bournemouth off to a flier in north London.

Gary O’Neil’s side worked a really clever kick-off routine that set Dango Ouattara away.

His cross bobbled into the box, beating every Arsenal defender but not Billing, who tapped in from close range.

10

Long was too quick and too clever for Cathcart

1. Shane Long (Watford vs Southampton, 2018/19) – 7.69 seconds

It’s hard to see how anyone will ever beat this record.

Watford started the game, and hard-working striker Long charged down Craig Cathcart’s attempted clearance.

He raced through, brushed Cathcart off and then delicately chipped Ben Foster to write his name into Premier League history.

The mistake leading to the goal was poor, but the finish was excellent. Andre Gray did save Watford with an equaliser in the 90th minute.

However, we doubt Long is bothered about that anymore, who will most likely have his name in the record books forever.

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November 15, 2023
How Ange calmed $81m ‘volcano’ and filled glaring Spurs hole with ‘shrewd’ moves: UK View

Eight games into their first league campaign under Ange Postecoglou and having sold Harry Kane, there are precious few Tottenham fans who would have believed they would sit top of the table heading into October’s international break.

Not for the first time since Postecoglou took charge, Spurs were forced to go the hard way round getting three points at Luton.

Yves Bissouma’s dive that brought a second yellow card left his side down to 10 men for the entirety of the second-half.

Yet, they still found a winner through Micky Van de Ven and showed a steel to see out an aerial bombardment that would have undone many more talented Tottenham sides of the past.

Postecoglou has already installed a winning mentality that has seen him lift league titles in Australia, Japan and Scotland in his coaching career.

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Postecoglou takes Tottenham to the top | 03:18

Doing so at Spurs would dwarf any of those achievements, but with no European football to drain their energy, Tottenham are entitled to start dreaming about what could be possible.

Postecoglou though was sure not to get too far ahead of himself after the win over Luton Town.

“I don’t think you read too much,” the Australian said.

“They’re not silly, they know it’s only October and being top of the league now doesn’t really mean anything tangible apart from the fact that we’ve started the season well.

“It’s not like they’re sitting in there thinking we’ve achieved anything. We haven’t achieved anything. All we’ve done is lay some really good foundations.”

Foundations set up by some shrewd summer signings which have helped fill the void left by Kane while offering Tottenham fans with a reason to believe in what Postecoglou is building.

As Jim White The Telegraph UK of wrote, it is quite the turnaround given Tottenham’s offseason additions — at least on the surface — were initially quite underwhelming and didn’t exactly inspire much confidence at the time.

Ange Postecoglou has had a successful start to his Premier League career. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

“There were many Spurs fans disappointed by the additions over the summer,” he wrote in a column for The Athletic.

“The likes of Micky van de Ven, Destiny Udogie, Guglielmo Vicario and James Maddison were not the headline acts they wanted to see brought in to replace their long standing hero.

“But while other clubs have forked out many millions and still show little sign of cohesion (mentioning no names, Manchester United) Spurs’ recruitment looks shrewd indeed.

“All four were magnificent at Luton, Maddison especially doing much to console those supporters still mourning the departure of Kane. The grin he wore when trotting back to the halfway line after brilliantly setting up Van de Ven for the game’s only goal will have particularly cheered every Tottenham follower.

“It was a smile that said this is a player loving every minute playing for the club. Which is not something that was much in evidence last season.”

Heung-min Son described Maddison, who took out the Premier League’s player of the month award for August, as “something special”.

Emirates ERUPTS as Martinelli sinks City | 00:45

The 26-year-old leads the Premier League with five assists while also being involved in seven of Tottenham’s 18 goals this season.

It is not just the new additions though, with Postecoglou also bringing the best out of some of Tottenham’s previously underperforming players — most notably central defender Cristian Romero.

Micky van de Ven described Romero as an “amazing and unbelievable player” while Destiny Udogie called his teammate a “real leader”.

“Cristian Romero, so often under Conte playing like a volcano about to erupt, was simply superb,” wrote White.

“Controlled, dynamic, disciplined, it was not hard to see what Lionel Messi was talking about when he called him the best defender in the world.”

Romero originally joined Tottenham on loan before a transfer fee of £42 million ($81m) was later agreed on to make the deal permanent.

Cristian Romero of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates after his team scored the winning goal. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

“But for all his obvious talent spent his first two years in London as if one reckless tackle from suspension or injury, while giving off strong vibes that he’d rather be playing for Argentina,” added Matt Barlow in a column for the Daily Mail.

“It has been a different story under Postecoglou from the moment early in the first game of the season at Brentford when he scored despite taking a blow to the head and pleaded to stay on when it was clear he had to come off.

“There is more composure and control to his football. It appears the decision to make him one of the team’s new vice-captains at the dawn of this new era seems to have had the desired effect.”

On a broader scale though, former England defender Rio Ferdinand said Postecoglou’s Spurs have developed a “belief and steel” that was lacking in previous Tottenham sides.

“A huge result for that Spurs dressing room,” Ferdinand said on TNT Sports after the win over Luton Town.

“Previously there has been a softness; a weak underbelly. Last year had they come here and gone down to ten men, they would lose that game.

“Ange Postecoglou has implemented a confidence, belief and steel to this side. They have shown that they can grind out results today.”

Tempers flare following City’s defeat | 00:32

Even still, former Premier League players Chris Sutton and Stephen Warnock both agreed Postecoglou would have seen plenty of room for improvement out of Tottenham’s latest win.

“In the first 10 minutes Tottenham had 97 per cent of possession, which just tells you how dominant they were,” Stephen Warnock said on BBC’s Final Score.

“Five opportunities at goal. They should have done better. They should have been out of sight. As great as Tottenham are, he will still want to improve them and he’ll still be saying, ‘That can’t happen against other teams where we’re dominant for so long because you will get punished’.”

“He’s finding the English Premier League really easy, Ange Postecoglou,” Sutton added on BBC’s Final Score.

“He’s got off to a phenomenal start. His brand of football is excellent but getting results and today was big for him, especially when they went down to 10 men.

“The truth is they could have been out of sight in the first 10 minutes. It could’ve been two or three up, didn’t take the chances which is unlike Tottenham a little bit… but getting over the line, three points and top of the table. Spurs fans are in heaven.

“To think that Harry Kane has left the club, a guy who lost so many games for them. They’re playing a wonderful brand of football. It’s front-foot football, they take the game to the opposition and Spurs are absolutely flying.”

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October 9, 2023
Liverpool win but star’s reaction says it all as red card drama divides opinion — EPL Wrap

Tottenham showed there is life after Harry Kane with a 2-0 win over Manchester United as Liverpool shrugged off a red card for Alexis Mac Allister to beat Bournemouth 3-1.

Spurs were playing for the first time at home since record goalscorer Kane departed for Bayern Munich.

But in Ange Postecoglou’s first match at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the home side showed promising signs of a new era as Pape Sarr’s strike and Lisandro Martinez’s own goal continued United’s sluggish start to the season.

Ange claims first EPL win against United | 02:46

Erik ten Hag’s men escaped with a 1-0 victory at home to Wolves on Monday despite being outplayed.

This time United were punished as they faded after a bright start. Bruno Fernandes should have headed the visitors in front midway through the first-half.

Spurs ended the opening period in the ascendency as Pedro Porro rattled the crossbar.

And the Postecoglou’s men got their reward when Sarr smashed home his first goal for the club on 49 minutes.

A comedy of errors summed up United’s day for the second goal as Ben Davies failed to connect with Ivan Perisic’s cross and Martinez could only turn it beyond the flat-footed Andre Onana.

United’s decision not to rival Bayern with a bid for Kane will now face more scrutiny as they looked toothless without new striker Rasmus Hojlund due to injury.

Kiwi Chis Wood the hero for Forest | 01:25

LIVERPOOL OVERCOME HORROR START TO GET WIN

Liverpool recovered from a terrible start and the controversial loss of Alexis Mac Allister to get their frist win of the season.

Bournemouth had lost 9-0 on their visit to Anfield a year ago but led inside three minutes when Antoine Semenyo drilled into the far corner.

Liverpool needed some inspiration to kickstart their season after a 1-1 draw at Chelsea last weekend.

Luis Diaz provided it as he flicked up Diogo Jota’s cross and then acrobatically fired an overhead kick into the bottom corner.

Jurgen Klopp’s men led nine minutes before half-time, but Mohamed Salah needed a second opportunity to tap in the rebound after Neto had saved his penalty.

The Egyptian has now failed to score three of his last five penalties, but edged ahead of Steven Gerrard as Liverpool’s fifth highest scorer of all time on 187.

Momentum could have swung back Bournemouth’s way when Mac Allister was harshly shown a straight red card for leading with his studs on Ryan Christie, despite minimal contact with the Scotland international.

“I saw the red card back and for sure we have to talk about it. I understand 100 percent how it looks for a ref in that moment, but when you see it back it is the inside of the foot and no power behind it,” Klopp said.

Mac Allister was shown a red card. (Photo by Darren Staples / AFP)Source: AFP

Former Premier League referee Mike Dean defended the call on Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday.

“His foot’s raised, the guys cleared the ball and the lads caught him,” Dean said.

“[He’s] probably caught him shin high, foots off the floor, I’ve got no issues with it. It was looked at by VAR, that’s been checked and cleared, it’s the right decision from Tom Bramall.”

Arsenal legend Paul Merson though disagreed.

“Because it’s slow motion and it hits his shin, when you look at it you go ‘ooh’. I see what Mac Allister was trying to do, he was trying to play a sidefoot pass but the lad was too quick for him,” he said in response.

“Sometimes that we have to understand, sometimes if someone is too quick for someone, he didn’t mean it. I’ve seen people do people, I didn’t think it was. Best move before Mike [Dean] says anything.”

BBC pundit and former Chelsea striker Chris Sutton said: “I thought the McAllister sending off was a shocking decision”.

A 10-man Liverpool added to their lead within four minutes when Jota pounced after Neto could only palm Dominik Szoboszlai’s effort into his path.

Japan captain Wataru Endo was then introduced after Liverpool finally landed a defensive midfielder on Friday after losing out on Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia to Chelsea.

HAALAND FIRES BLANKS BUT CITY STEP UP TO CHALLENGE

Meanwhile, Manchester City laid down an early-season marker in the Premier League title race as Julian Alvarez’s stunning strike earned a 1-0 win over Newcastle at the Etihad.

A club record 17th consecutive home victory for the treble winners was thoroughly deserved despite their exertions in lifting the UEFA Super Cup in midweek.

Newcastle’s 5-1 thrashing of Aston Villa last weekend had raised hopes on Tyneside they could be the pick of the challengers to City’s crown as English champions.

But on this evidence, Pep Guardiola’s men will take some stopping in their quest to become the first side to ever win four consecutive English top-flight titles.

Guardiola was furious at the Premier League for scheduling the game just three days after his side were forced to penalties to beat Sevilla under baking heat in Athens.

City’s squad has also been stretched early on in the campaign by the absence of Bernardo Silva and John Stones, while Kevin De Bruyne will be out for up to four months with a hamstring injury.

But dreams the Magpies could pose a challenge for their frist top-flight league title in 97 years were dampened by City’s dominance before tiredness crept in late on.

City scored a crucial win. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

The visitors were happy to surrender possession before the break, but it took a moment of magic for City to find a way through.

Alvarez could be one of the benefactors of De Bruyne’s lengthy lay-off. The Argentine scored 17 goals in his debut season in Manchester despite having to play largely second fiddle to Erling Haaland.

Guardiola may now be forced to pair Alvarez with the Norwegian more often and he showed what he is capable of with a stunning finish into the top corner from Phil Foden’s pass on 31 minutes.

Haaland was not as accurate moments later as he dragged a shot inches wide when played in by another Foden through ball.

Newcastle’s more attacking intent in the second half only succeeded in leaving City more space to exploit in behind.

Erling Haaland reacts after missing a goal opportunity. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)Source: AFP

However, a rare off night for Haaland in front of goal continued. Foden stepped up in the absence of De Bruyne and Silva to be the creative spark in the City midfield.

The England international’s turn and pass picked out Haaland once more on his favoured left foot only for last season’s Golden Boot winner again fail to hit the target.

Haaland went for raw power with his next effort, but was repelled by the legs of Nick Pope as City were made to wait for a second goal to kill the game off.

The European champions were nearly made to pay when Rodri’s slack pass presented Callum Wilson with a huge opportunity.

But 90-million-euro ($99 million) defender Josko Gvardiol showed his worth on his home debut to hold up Wilson and Harvey Barnes’ shot was comfortably held by Ederson.

Despite his side’s fatigue, Guardiola refused to make a single substitution and told one City fan to take his place on the bench when urged to make some changes.

But it all ended in smiles for the home side as City maintained their perfect start to the Premier League season to sit second behind Brighton at the top of the table.

BRIGHTON, BRENTFORD BANK WINS

Brighton banked a British record transfer fee that could rise to £115 million ($146 million) for Caicedo.

But the Seagulls continue to soar under Roberto De Zerbi despite seeing their best players picked off by the Premier League’s elite.

Kaoru Mitoma may be the next big-money departure and the Japanese international opened the scoring in stunning style at Molineux as he slalomed past four Wolves defenders before producing a classy finish.

In stark contrast to their performance at Old Trafford, Wolves had no answer to Brighton’s speed of passing and movement as the visitors scored three times in the first 10 minutes of the second half.

Mitoma teed up Pervis Estupinan to smash home for 2-0 before Solly March scored twice from Julio Enciso assists.

De Bruyne to miss 4 months with injury | 01:17

Wolves pulled a goal back through Hwang Hee-chan, but a chastening afternoon for Gary O’Neil’s men was rounded off by a red card for Matheus Nunes in stoppage time.

Brentford are also making light of the absence of the suspended Ivan Toney as they won 3-0 at Fulham.

Yoane Wissa opened the scoring before Bryan Mbuemo scored twice after Fulham captain Tim Ream was sent off for a second yellow card.

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August 19, 2023
Why Spurs’ ‘shambolic’ 17-game episode should frighten Ange amid ‘huge potential’ to shake up PL

Australian manager Ange Postecoglou is in hot contention for a move to Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur, with the Celtic coach among the favourites for the vacant managerial position.

Numerous reports from England have named Postecoglou a strong chance to take over at Spurs, with the Athletic saying the club is “strongly considering” the Australian and The Independent’s Miguel Delaney labelling him a “primary candidate.”

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Postecoglou’s exceptional work in Scotland has won him plenty of suitors in England’s heavyweight sides, but whether the Australian would – or should – move to Tottenham is a contentious point.

The North London club has hardly been a fertile ground for silverware, with just one trophy this millennium, the 2008 League Cup.

It’s also been a harsh environment for managers, something on full display again this season. Antonio Conte departed in March, before his assistant-turned-interim-boss Cristian Stellini was bounced out the exit door soon afterwards.

Now 31-year-old Ryan Mason is caretaker coach, and wants to take over the full-time gig at season’s end – but three losses in five games in charge means that appears unlikely.

The club’s problems have become deeply ingrained down the years, and an overhaul is required.

Much of the issue can be traced to the club’s problematic hierarchy. The owner, Joe Lewis, is almost entirely absent, leaving things up to chairman Daniel Levy – a canny businessman who has seemed hopelessly out of his depth at times when it comes to the football side of running a club.

That was the case in 2018, when the club failed to sign a single player in the off-season – while Levy’s attentions were directed almost completely on the club’s new stadium.

Daniel Levy has long been a target for Spurs fans’ frustrations. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

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The club’s lack of leadership frequently seems to come down to a lack of an effective football director running the ship, leaving Levy holding the reins.

Managing director of football Fabio Paratici in January was handed a 30-month ban from any football activity within Italy, dating back to a financial scandal from his days as football director and managing director at Juventus (2019-21).

11 other officials (past and present) from the Turin club were also banned and the club handed a points deduction for the false accounting charges.

But in late March – just days after Spurs manager Antonio Conte was sacked – the Italian ban was extended by FIFA to become a worldwide ban.

Paratici, in the middle of searching for a new manager, was suddenly banned from the kinds of duties that make up a football director’s nine to five – transfer negotiations included.

The Italian is currently appealing the global ban, but for now he’s been sidelined, leaving Levy in complete control. Again.

There has been a significant change in recent weeks, however. A six-month review into Spurs’ structure resulted in them signing an Australian for a new role as the club’s chief football officer – effectively second in command behind Levy, and above Paratici should the Italian have his ban overturned.

Scott Munn spent ten years as the CEO of A-League side Melbourne City – from when it was founded as Melbourne Heart in 2009 – before taking over the Chinese operations for City Football Group. Like Postecoglou, Tottenham is a massive step up for him.

He doesn’t technically begin working at Spurs until July 1st, but there’s surely no doubt that he’s in talks with Levy about who should be Tottenham’s next manager.

And having been on the other side of Postecoglou’s brilliance, when the manager was dominating the A-Leagues with Brisbane Roar in 2011 and 2012, Munn might just prove decisive in bringing his fellow Australian to Tottenham.

Australian Scott Munn will commence work as Spurs’ chief football officer on July 1. Picture: Zak SimmondsSource: News Corp Australia

For now, however, the situation at Spurs closely resembles the one when Paratici first arrived in June 2021.

Jose Mourinho had been sacked on April 19 – and the search for a managerial replacement was bumbled to say the least.

Almost daily, a new manager was linked to the role. Former boss Mauricio Pochettino was linked to a return. Then came a parade of other names – Antonio Conte, Paulo Fonseca, Gennaro Gattuso, Brendan Rodgers, Julian Nagelsmann and Erik ten Hag.

Eventually, they ended up with former Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo, landing him on June 30 – a full 72 days after Mourinho’s sacking.

Nuno lasted just 17 games in total, including 3-0 defeats to Chelsea, Manchester United, and Crystal Palace, and a 3-1 defeat to Arsenal.

As The Athletic’s Charlie Eccleshare pointed out, the Portuguese coach was facing an uphill battle the moment he was appointed.

“Nuno, fresh from leaving Wolves that summer, had no authority or credibility from the minute he walked through the door,” Eccleshare wrote.

“The players knew it, the fans knew it, and he only lasted 10 league games in charge.”

However, BBC Sport chief football writer Phil McNulty believes the managerial circus reflected worse on the club’s hierarchy rather than the recently-disposed boss.

“The sacking of Nuno Espirito Santo is the conclusion of a shambolic episode that arguably reflects more badly on Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy and his boardroom cohorts than on the departing manager,” McNulty wrote.
“Nuno has not lasted much longer than the time it took Spurs to decide to appoint him after a horribly botched and drawn-out managerial search in which potential candidates seemed to appear and disappear in the blink of an eye.”

Nuno was practically set up to fail at Spurs. (Photo by PETER POWELL / POOL / AFP)Source: AFP

As of publication, Tottenham’s managerial search has lasted 61 days and counting.

The worrying sign is it looks increasingly likely it will eclipse the 72-day wait before Nuno was appointed.

It spells danger for Postecoglou, should he get the gig.

However, Sky Sports News reporter Rob Dorsett believes Spurs’ lengthy wait for an appointment is different to the first time around.

“When Nuno Espirito Santo was appointed, it took Spurs 76 days before he got the job,” Dorsett said.

“It’s been exactly 60 days since Antonio Conte was sacked as Spurs manager. This isn’t happening quickly for Spurs – but that’s deliberate, from my understanding.

“They want to be thorough and do their due diligence in their process of appointing a new manager. They will take their time.

“I understand Spurs fans’ frustrations: they would like to know who their new manager is going to be so the club can start working out transfer plans. But there is no rush from Spurs’ perspective.”

Whether that is deliberate or not is up for debate.

But refusing to pay the reported €20m fee to Feyenoord for their top choice, Arne Slot, was an embarrassing mistake for Spurs – one that is far too similar to the chaos of two years ago.

Antonio Conte struggled to have any success at Spurs. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

Although a large section of the Spurs fanbase have voiced their displeasure about the potential capture of Postecoglou, many pundits have taken a different perspective.

The Australian manager’s talents have been widely recognised and respected by the media, even if it has taken them quite some time to finally come around.

After all, who could forget that radio segment featuring talkSPORT’s Alan Brazil.

“He does not hold the required licence – oh, this has got to be a wind-up,” Brazil said.

Asked how he’d fare, Brazil sarcastically replied: “Oh, he’d be a great manager. Where do they come up with these guys from?”

But the perception from the UK media isn’t about whether Postecoglou could make the step up.

It’s all about whether he should.

“He’s a very good manager isn’t he?” former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan told talkSPORT.

“And there’s a natural progression there, whether Celtic fans want to hear that or not. The Premier League is a natural progression.

“Celtic are a wonderful football club and nothing I’m saying is detracting from that, but the Premier League is the biggest in world football.

“Managers are going to want to find themselves in that space if they have anything about them. If he feels his time at Celtic has run its course – but going to Tottenham has its challenges. And not just because of (Spurs chairman) Daniel Levy, but because of Daniel Levy.

“Any manager looks in to there and thinks ‘I’m a Levy appointment, I’m going to have the same challenges any manager has had’.

“They would be rowing against a stream of great toxicity and negativity towards the ownership model of this football club.

“‘Do I want that? Or do I think there might be an opportunity if I keep winning everything with Celtic? Keep progressing Celtic and I might even get a bigger job than Tottenham’.”

Postecoglou’s continued success in Scotland has gained plenty of admirers in the Premier League. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

For Celtic great Chris Sutton, he’s taken note more and more clubs down south are taking a keen eye to what Postecoglou is doing in Glasgow.

But his eyebrow-raising moment has been the mere fact it’s taken this long for one of the bigger clubs to wake up and see what the Australian boss has been building for the past two seasons.

“I’m not shocked Postecoglou is high up on Spurs’ list,” Sutton told the Daily Record.

“I’m more surprised he wasn’t high up on it in the first place and it’s taken a few to drop out of the running for him to move up.

“I would love Postecoglou to stay at Celtic. It’s a huge job and there is unfinished business for him at Celtic Park, like the Champions League. But I am also a realist and I know Spurs would be a huge draw. We don’t know what Postecoglou is thinking but it’s not a leap to believe he would want to test himself in the English Premier League one day.

“He’s been linked with numerous jobs down south and there is a feeling clubs are starting to sit up and take notice of his achievements in Scotland, but also his CV from Japan and Australia. It’s clear they now know he’s a top class coach. Celtic fans are right to be concerned.

“I know Spurs have their issues but this is not a club struggling at the foot of the division in danger of relegation. Even after an apparently disastrous campaign, they have still been in the running for the Champions League places.”

Postecoglou has refused to entertain speculation linking hm away. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

Sutton also touched on the attractiveness of Postecoglou’s style of football.

Having spoken with a number of disenfranchised Spurs fans on the radio who have vented their fury at the club’s dour style of play under Mourinho and Conte, Sutton feels Postecoglou fits the ball for what they’d want to see.

“I speak to a lot of Spurs fans on the radio and a lot of them are fed up with the way the club play,” Sutton said.

“They were sick of the style of football under Jose. They were sick of the defensive approach under Conte.

“There is a historical demand for entertaining, attacking football at the club – and Postecoglou ticks those boxes. I’m sure a lot of Spurs fans would be happy to see him come in, even if he might not be the big name appointment some of the other candidates might be.

“This is a club that is craving silverware – they’ve only won one trophy in 20 years. Postecoglou is a serial winner. But Postecoglou would back himself. Would he be tempted? Of course he would be.

“He has been in the game long enough to know you sometimes have to move when you are hot. Celtic will be aware of it as well.

“They know he won’t be around forever and I’ve got no doubt they will have a contingency plan in place. But I would think even Celtic fans would understand if he made that decision, even if they would be desperately disappointed.”

With Celtic’s season not over until June 4, Postecoglou’s focus remains firmly fixed on his team and the pursuit of the domestic treble.

But once that final whistle blows at the end of Celtic’s Scottish FA Cup final against Inverness Caledonian Thistle, questions regarding the Hoops boss’ immediate future will come thick and fast.

In trademark Postecoglou fashion, he’ll likely bat them away with a witty remark as we have become accustomed to throughout his managerial journey.

And even if Spurs elect to go in a different route for their new manager, this will almost certainly not be the only time a ‘Big Six’ team comes knocking for Postecoglou.

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May 27, 2023
‘Could cost him’: Ange must ‘seriously consider’ Spurs job… but legend warns ‘danger’ lurks

Socceroos great Robbie Slater says Ange Postecoglou must “seriously consider” taking charge of Tottenham if the English Premier League club offers him the manager’s job.

Celtic boss Postecoglou’s continues to be linked to the Spurs coaching role, which has just been rejected by reported top target, Feyenoord’s Arne Slot.

Others reportedly in contention for the gig include ex-Spain coach Luis Enrique, former Bayern Munich boss Julian Nagelsmann and Sporting’s Ruben Amorin.
However, with the appointment of former Melbourne City chief executive Scott Munn as Spurs’ chief football officer, ex-Socceroos coach Postecoglou – who has led Celtic to back-to-back Scottish titles and can secure a domestic treble with a win in next weekend’s Scottish Cup final – has emerged as a leading contender for the coveted job.

“Munn being there certainly isn’t going to do Ange any harm,” former Premier League winner Slater said.

“Ange is definitely going to have to seriously consider this job if it’s offered to him.

“He’ll have the chance to work with world-class players, the likes of (England captain) Harry Kane and (South Korea skipper) Son Heung-min

“The danger is that if he has a slow start, it could cost him his job.”

Will Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou give the thumbs up if offered the Spurs job? Picture: Ian MacNicol/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images

Slater said Postecoglou – who seems destined to become the first Australian to manage an English Premier League club whether it’s soon or in future years – would also need to weigh up whether to forego the likelihood of further success in Scotland with Celtic as well the chance to again guide the Hoops in the UEFA Champions League next season.

Former Celtics star Chris Sutton hoped Postecoglou’s “unfinished business” in the Champions League would keep him at the Scottish giants for at least another season.

“But I am also a realist and I know Spurs would be a huge draw, Sutton told theDaily Record.

“We don’t know what Postecoglou is thinking, but it’s not a leap to believe he would want to test himself in the English Premier League one day.

“He’s been linked with numerous jobs (in England) and there is a feeling clubs are starting to sit up and take notice of his achievements.”

Those achievements includes titles in Australia and Japan, as well as guiding the Socceroos to 2015 Asian Cup glory.

“It’s clear they now know he’s a top-class coach,” Sutton said.

“Celtic fans are right to be concerned … but I would think even Celtic fans would understand if he made that decision, even if they would be desperately disappointed.

“I’m sure a lot of Spurs fans would be happy to see him come in, even if he might not be the big-name appointment some of the other candidates might be.

“There is a historical demand for entertaining, attacking football at the club, and Postecoglou ticks those boxes.”

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May 26, 2023