Ange Postecoglou, at the helm for 79 matches, has now tasted defeat 28 times while leading Tottenham.
Words like “abject,” “damaging,” and “disgraceful” have become startlingly familiar in summarizing Tottenham’s performances—particularly following their recent collapse against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup semi-final. What, you might ask, went wrong this time?
The journey to Anfield with a slim one-goal lead held the promise of a different outcome. Yet, under the hallowed lights of Liverpool’s stadium, it all unraveled as Spurs surrendered meekly in a disheartening 4-0 defeat. This crushing loss extinguished their aspirations of clinching their first significant title in 17 years.
Intriguingly, for the first time during Postecoglou’s tenure—renowned for a fervent and attacking playstyle—Tottenham failed to register even a single shot on target. What can this stark deviation from ‘Ange-ball’ tell us about that night at Anfield?
Jamie Redknapp, a former midfield lynchpin for Tottenham, couldn’t cloak his bewilderment while discussing the game on Sky Sports. “A semi-final without a shot on target? Simply abject,” he noted with no small amount of disbelief. It seemed, in his eyes, that even stirring memories couldn’t summon a performance more somnolent than this.
Since 2001, when Daniel Levy donned the chairman’s mantle, the Spurs have etched only one trophy into their annals. Glimmers of hope flared earlier when Postecoglou boldly stated in September that he “always” clinches silverware in his sophomore seasons. This semi-final was ostensibly his golden opportunity. Now, Tottenham fans must look elsewhere for triumph.
On BBC Radio 5 Live, former Manchester United defender Dion Dublin lamented the lackluster demeanor shown by Spurs. “Look at the body language. They were ambling about. Liverpool turned it into a training session,” he observed bluntly.
Revisiting the stage where they once battled Liverpool in a dramatic 6-3 Premier League showdown, Spurs’ latest endeavor was disappointingly unrecognizable. Critics of ‘Ange-ball,’ marked by its high-octane tempo and daring high lines, found this latest offering unsettlingly drab.
Consider this: throughout this season, Tottenham has averaged 13.9 shots per game, landing 5.6 on target. At Anfield, they mustered just five shots total—none threatening the goal. Liverpool, by contrast, enjoyed an overwhelming 55 touches in Tottenham’s box, compared to only eight for the away side.
Michael Dawson, imparting his insights as a former Spurs defender, remarked, “This lack of fight? It was unexpected. There’s no character, nothing in defense or attack. To concede four without a shot on target is damning.”
Speculation surrounds Postecoglou’s strategy—he seemingly adopted a defensive stance, with a deeper setup meant to protect their aggregate edge. Averse to his usual flair, such plans failed to bear fruit.
Newcomer Mathys Tel, making his competitive debut, couldn’t breathe life into their insipid offensive display, either.
Sky’s Redknapp reflected on Tottenham’s vulnerabilities, stating, “Teams always seem to find a way against this Tottenham. Sometimes, I find his tactics perplexing. Has he lost his way?”
Without analyzing Tottenham’s performance, one cannot ignore their injury troubles. A depleted squad saw 10 regulars on the sideline, potentially swelling to 11 if Richarlison’s concerning calf strain from the first half proves severe.
Devoid of midfield maestro James Maddison, and with the likes of Dominic Solanke and Brennan Johnson absent, Spurs struggled. Liverpool’s midfield astutely capitalized, with Yves Bissouma’s error leading to the first goal, and Rodrigo Bentancur’s impact virtually nil, both defensively and offensively.
Reflecting on his former club, Jamie Carragher—a Liverpool stalwart—critiqued Spurs’ midfield. “They were disappointing,” he said. “No aggression there. It was an easy afternoon for Liverpool.”
Remember Son Heung-min, the magician of yesteryear? This campaign, his brilliance feels dimmed, incapable of changing the tide alone.
To Carragher, it circles back to perceptions surrounding Tottenham. “There’s a mental block—it’s ingrained. Beautifully they play at times, yet falter when it truly counts,” he opined. “Ange’s restored some spirit, but alas, this is vintage Tottenham: artistic sans trophies.”
Looking at the bigger picture—for Tottenham, the Premier League paints a miserable tableau, marred by a 14th place standing with just eight victories. Spurs faithful cling to the notion of Postecoglou’s second-season miracle.
Ange has celebrated second-season successes in Australia and Japan, his tenure at Celtic bringing trophies too, notably a domestic Treble in the latter term. Skeptics may note the rare absences of triumphs at clubs where his chapter closed prematurely.
Yet again, Tottenham squanders an opportunity—arguably their prime chance—to offer North London the joy of silverware.
“We forsake a prime chance tonight, and there’s no avoiding that acknowledgment,” Postecoglou admitted candidly. “We stood poised for the finals.”
Fret not, for hope’s fading light remains flickering. Although their FA Cup duel places them against Aston Villa’s formidable challenge, a Europa League last-16 berth buoys their spirits.
According to Opta’s ‘supercomputer,’ Tottenham ranks as second favorites for this continental chase, holding a 15% chance—trailing only Lazio at 19%. Athletic Bilbao shares Spurs’ odds while Manchester United lags slightly with a 10% prognostication.
The spotlight sharpens on Postecoglou now. Though back-to-back league wins partially masked Spurs’ tribulations, fans have vocalized discontent at the ownership, sparing Ange from the lion’s share of accountability. The transfer window saw reinforcements provided, yet with this latest setback comes renewed scrutiny on the boss—especially with upcoming showdowns against Manchester United, Ipswich, and Manchester City looming large.
Postecoglou, reflecting on Anfield, remarked, “Liverpool earned that victory. We couldn’t seize control or find our rhythm. That urgency was missing, and we struggled to wrest it back.”
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International–Monitoring
