Ange Postecoglou’s stubborn approach played into the hands of Liverpool as the Premier League leaders extended their gap at the top and left Tottenham in 11th place
At half-time of this bizarre encounter Ange Postecoglou appeared on the big screens that hang from all four corners of the country’s plushest stadium to deliver a Christmas message. This, the Australian said, is “a time for reflection.”
But when he looks back on a shambolic display, there remains no chance of Tottenham ’s gung-ho style being revised. And that poses a major problem for Postecoglou and a team drifting to a place where the solution so often is to change head coaches.
His tactical stubbornness was always going to play beautifully into Liverpool ’s hands and the sight of Djed Spence caught in no-man’s land as Trent Alexander-Arnold began the move to make it 3-1 summed up the flawed approach that leaves Spurs in 11th position.
Spence, who had made three potentially goal-saving blocks, was five yards from Alexander-Arnold but 50 away from where he could be useful to his team-mates as Dominik Szoboszlai capitalised on Radu Dragusin’s poor positioning before eventually finishing.
Except, really, Tottenham were never in this game against a side that preyed on their glaring deficiencies, cutting through an anonymous midfield at will.
A minute after Luis Diaz had scored an opener that seemed inevitable from the off, Tottenham supporters had raised black balloons labelled “Levy out” and “Enic out” to protest against the club’s owners.
It was hardly raucous and were it not for the sound of the balloons popping, the 24th-minute demonstration – to mark the number of years since ENIC took over – would have passed by without much notice.
But there is a growing sense of anger at a club that is slipping further behind the best because the level of investment is dwarfed by so many of their supposed rivals.
For all of Postecoglou’s flaws this is not a squad equipped to consistently beat the Premier League ’s best when everyone is available.
Equally having to put out a second-string defence because of injuries and still refusing to adapt his tactical approach is a recipe for defeat that he alone must own.
For Postecoglou to reflect and change, however, is not on the cards. And that leaves Levy in a position he has found himself in so often: pondering whether another managerial switch is required.
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