It seems that everybody and their dog has an opinion on where Tottenham Hotspur football club is going wrong: if it’s not the perceived naive tactics of manager Ange Postecoglou, then it’s the long-touted notion of a lack of investment from the board. If it isn’t because of the recruitment of mostly teenagers this season, then it’s because of a lack of rotation of available personnel while that was still an option for the manager. There is plenty of fault to be pointed out, and it certainly has been, although much of it has been reflective of the values or agenda of the individual sharing their view. There are no easy answers to be given, yet their are objective points to be made, so let’s examine what has precipitated this difficult situation at the club.
The fact that cannot be avoided is the amount of games that have been lost this season. As of today’s date, Spurs have won just eight in their last twenty-two games in all competitions – a figure that is understandably concerning, and is the most indicative factor of the rot that has set in. When this fact is taken into consideration in isolation of any context, then it is a stark indictment of a side in what many have termed ‘relegation form’. However, when that twenty-two game period is seen in context, then it is clear that the squad have been stretched by the punishing schedule of games. Since November, there has been a never-ending Thursday and Sunday fixture format, which undoubtedly pushes players to the limits of their endurance – physically, mentally and emotionally, the latter being overlooked by supporters when expressing their displeasure in the wake of bad results. When you factor in the amount of minutes the likes of Archie Gray (an 18 y.o, no less) and Pedro Porro have played, it’s clear that the club’s failings haven’t occurred due to any lack of application from the playing staff.
There is another underlying facet of the punishing schedule that has taken a large toll: the sheer amount of injuries. Spurs found themselves at recent points in time with only seven senior players training, the rest of the number being made up of youth players. Any team would be severely tested if they were deprived of their key players all at once, and for a sustained period of time, though other clubs might have found themselves in a stronger position because of their squad depth. The January transfer window saw an early acquisition in Antonin Kinsky, a young and relatively untested goalkeeper from Slavia Prague who nevertheless started quite strongly. That represented a move for squad depth which very few could have reasonably argued against. However, fans and the general football community alike looked on with concern and bafflement as the weeks of the transfer window crawled by without any other acquisitions being made, despite the still-present injuries and the clearly tired team. Eventually, defender Kevin Danso was added to the ranks in the last days of the window, a move that appears to be a good fit for what was needed. In the very final hours of the window, young forward Mathys Tel was also brought in on loan. These three transfers brought in rotation options, but it hasn’t been sufficient. Just a casual glance at the names on the bench during the last two cup games (in which Spurs crashed out of each cup competition) reveals youth players being relied upon to make up the numbers. No one can rightfully place any blame on them – in fact, the likes of Ajayi and Scarlett gave very good accounts of themselves during the Europa League game against Elfsborg. What can be criticised about this situation with youngsters on the bench is the fact that it leaves the team light in experience and decisive tactical options. A huge section of the supporters have been crying out for experienced players to be identified and brought in, to shore up the numbers in terms of squad and promote competition for places, but also to guide our younger players and lead by example. This is a failing that has evidently cost the team dearly.
There is a very vocal section of the fanbase that point their finger squarely at the manager: they believe his tactics and training demands have both cost the club points and has also contributed to the levels and rates of injuries. It is hard to be objective about these factors, as no fan has access to the information of match tactics or training programs, despite how they might think. When circumstances don’t dictate otherwise, Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs is a high-pressing side that promotes mobility and fast passing, which is a demanding style of play that naturally drains players. Regardless of that, Spurs isn’t the only team in the league that plays that way, with the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea and even Nottingham Forest playing in a similar fashion without experiencing the same level of injuries that Spurs has. While the style of play and perceived strong emphasis on fitness in training haven’t helped the situation, it seems the injury situation can’t be explained away by these factors alone.
With regards to the manager, other fans look at his demeanour in games and see a comparatively passive figure who doesn’t seem to be trying to impose himself on the players, or to visibly be calling for any sort of reaction. This has come as a surprise to many; when Ange was first hired, there were videos being shared around Spurs social media of the manager during his time as Celtic manager animatedly shouting at his players to “stop passing it back!”. Once again, it is hard to be objective about perceptions of an individual, therefore no concrete conclusions can really be drawn on this aspect of his in-game management. In my view, I do see some uncomfortable parallels between our present and our recent past as a club; a major source of frustration during the tenures of Mourinho and Conte was the fact that they could be watching the team failing to break down an opposing team for minutes on end during a game, yet no changes or adaptations would be made. I would make no claim to being a tactical expert in any shape or form, yet it seems that Ange shares certain characteristics with these failed Spurs managers: inflexibility, stubborness and either a lack of pragmatism or an inability to switch tactics. Is there a ‘plan B’ in the way the team trains? It’s hard to say with any certainty, yet it doesn’t appear to be the case. Indeed, if you ask Ange himself, he would probably reiterate that there is one way in which the team plays. While this commitment to a playing ideology is somewhat understandable, it doesn’t seem to promote much in the way of adaptability, which must be a consideration when fighting on as many fronts, against so many diverse teams, as Spurs has this season.
Naturally, when times are as hard as they are for Spurs, finding themselves in the lowest league position at this point in time of the season this century, then the old conflict of fans vs board rears its head once more, but with even more fervour. The ENIC group have been in place as owners of the club since 2001, and the lack of silverware during that time has been covered in impassioned length. Despite this, the board has also been given credence (perhaps not so much by the fans as the media at large) for the strength of the club’s financial position. This strength, seen most clearly in the level of wiggle room the club has in terms of Financial Fair Play, has made it all the more baffling to see the club fail to strengthen significantly enough in the summer or winter windows. Money has been spent, with the likes of Dominic Solanke being signed for a reported 50 million with add-ons being the most pleasing addition, due to his age and stature in the game. The other signings that have been made are all signings for the future: 18 year old players Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray have already been thrust into prominence due to the crisis at the club, yet they were almost destined to be used in a disproportionately prominent way due to the lack of other, more senior players that can play in their positions. It leads the question: what was the best the board could have hoped for this season with such a transfer policy? Can the club afford to look so far ahead when the integrity of the team in the present moment hasn’t been assured? This is where we see the major detrimental factor in the club’s painful current reality. As long ago as 2019, Pochettino claimed that a “painful rebuild” was needed; since then, it seems like the painful rebuild comes into focus every eighteen months with the firing of another manager. Perhaps the board’s reticence in spending to secure the team in the present is indicative of a lack of trust in the man holding the reins, but if that is the case, it is hardly a testament to any strategy the board might have had in the first place – like cutting off the nose to spite the face. It’s true that many fans see the solution as being far simpler than it really is: ‘just pay the money’ being a cliche in Spurs circles, with no thought as to how much over the odds the club would end up paying with this approach. Yet it is certainly the case that value can be found for players in the 25-27 age range, the so-called ready-made signings. It is achingly clear that these sorts of players have either been overlooked or not even prioritised in the first place, which would be baffling.
Even in a limited exploration of Spurs’ troubles such as this, it is clear that there are no easy answers or quick fixes. Several parties involved need to take their fair share of criticism, and those of us on the outside looking in should be sensitive to how much of a burden we might be adding to an already delicate situation. Of course the passion for the club is where the vitriol comes from, but people should take ownership of the way in which they react and should seek to be as constructive and supportive as they possibly can. Aside from that, all we can hope for as fans is that the club is identifying ways in which the damage of this current campaign can be limited, and that our newly-relaxed schedule of games might work in our favour for the remainder of the Europa and Premier League campaigns to finish as strongly as possible. Once every fight is fought and every race is run, then we might have the perspective needed to make truly valuable, meaningful assessments and evaluations.
Can you spare a second? 