Former manager Mark Warburton talks to The Football News Show about how managers can deal with mental health struggles while working at a club and what support there is available to them.
The latest episode of You'll Never Beat Kyle Walker sees the Manchester City full-back joined by former Premier League midfielder Michael Brown.
This week, they discuss away days, intimidating grounds, pre-match meals and tricky flights between matches.
There's chat about shower gel at Spurs, Pep Guardiola's superstition and hostile trips to Anfield.
Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds
Tottenham are interested in Bournemouth's 24-year-old forward Antoine Semenyo, 24, but the Ghana international is also attracting interest from Liverpool and Newcastle after his impressive start to the season. (Give Me Sport), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column
Image source, Getty ImagesTottenham Hotspur striker Dominic Solanke says it is his "dream" to represent England and that he is "grateful to be back" following a seven year absence.
Solanke has been included in the latest Three Lions squad for the first time since his one and only appearance in 2017.
"I didn't think it wouldn't come around," he said. "My mindset was to keep doing well and scoring, I am grateful to be back.
"When I first came I was quite young, so I have done a lot of learning and developing. I am a lot more mature so naturally I am going to be in a better position. I feel good in myself.
"That is what the dream is, to represent the country. Hopefully I can get some minutes."
Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesTottenham assistant boss Ryan Mason has held talks with Anderlecht about their vacant manager position.
Mason is in the running to replace Brian Riemer, who was sacked last month, at the Belgian side.
The former midfielder has twice taken charge of Spurs on an interim basis - first in 2021 following the sacking of Jose Mourinho and again in 2023 following the dismissal of Cristian Stellini.
Image source, Getty ImagesWe asked for your views on whether Tottenham are the ultimate fair-weather team and whether Ange Postecoglou's side need to show more ability to dig in.
Here are some of your thoughts:
Dave: Comparing us to a year ago: are we better, more consistent, or progressing? For me that's key, but I don't see it. Unless that changes, Ange will run out of time. It is obvious that we must be more resilient, win individual battles and adapt tactically in games, but we don't seem to have the types of players or a manager for that. 'Weak' screams out so often.
Laurence: Unfortunately it is the Tottenham DNA. I have supported them for 62 years! One commentator said it was the worst in 40 years, but he has forgotten when Spurs were 3-0 up at half-time at home against Manchester United and lost 3-5. It happens. The team will pick themselves up and do better. It is still a great club, but maybe we're not champion material - yet.
Doug: The players are the problem, not the style of play. I'm 100% behind the manager. I believe in what he is trying to achieve. This is going to take time and the players have to be on the ball for the full game. If they play like they did in the first half at Brighton, for the whole game, we will be in the top four.
Jojo: All elite teams have a great plan A to dominate matches, which is scoring goals and conceding as little as possible. Typically, they also have a plan B to win ugly when really needed. Spurs have a decent plan A but the main issue is they don't even want to entertain any kind of plan B. Most Premier League managers are good enough to beat plan As.
David: I think Ange's style will win absolutely nothing. He hasn't got a plan B and fails to change things up when the tide is going against us. Instead of tightening up against Brighton, after their first goal, he did nothing. I'm bored of this risk-reward nonsense - that describes Spurs from the year dot. They flatter to deceive year in, year out.
Image source, Getty ImagesFormer Premier League striker Chris Sutton says Tottenham fans have to maintain their belief in manager Ange Postecoglou because it takes time to form a successful team.
"Tottenham's biggest issue is that there are some exceptional teams in the Premier League who have been building for years," Sutton told BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club.
"Mikel Arteta has been at Arsenal for five years and Pep Guardiola at Manchester City eight years and they have been constantly building.
"Postecoglou has not been there that long so it is important they keep the belief in him and let him build.
"There will be bumps in the road as that is really natural."
Ali Speechly
Fan writer
Image source, Getty ImagesIs anyone else relieved James Maddison has not been selected for the England squad?
I’m thrilled for Dominic Solanke – it is great to see his hard work rewarded. Although unlikely to feature much in the games, it is a useful confidence boost to be recognised in this way, and a good opportunity to train with a different set of elite professionals.
But Madders? We will keep him wrapped in cotton wool thank you very much. After a blistering start to his Spurs career last season, Maddison struggled following the injury he sustained against Chelsea. In fact, last season followed a familiar pattern for the midfielder: a strong start followed by an injury, resulting in an ultimately unsuccessful attempt to regain his form before the summer break.
Clearly he was devastated not to be included in the England squad for Euro 2024, but it gave him the perfect opportunity to rest, train and return to the Premier League in optimum condition. So I was expecting big things this season. Captivating creativity. An abundance of assists. Glorious goals.
So far he has two assists and two goals in the Premier League, and one assist in the Europa League. Not exactly electrifying, but pretty decent statistics nonetheless.
In addition, his overall play has improved – particularly his movement off the ball. He is starting to play with that swagger again, and confidence is everything with playmakers like Maddison.
It also helps when he has a point to prove as his play becomes more purposeful and unrelenting – something that was evident in his first half performance against Brighton. The less said about anyone’s performance in the second half of that game, the better.
Selfishly, I hope missing out on a spot in the England squad will help Maddison have a better season for Spurs.
Find more from Ali Speechly at Women Of The Lane, external and on X, external
Image source, Getty ImagesAre Tottenham the ultimate fair-weather team?
Great when everything clicks and the opposition are vulnerable but, when the opposition are in control, unable to dig in or make small tactical changes for a short period to regain control of the game?
The discussion on the BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club came following Spurs' 3-2 defeat at Brighton on Sunday in which they capitulated in the second half.
"That could describe a lot of the teams who are just below the elite," said New York Times journalist Rory Smith.
"Everything has to click in order for them to be at their best potential. That could also be said for Chelsea or Aston Villa.
"I get what Ange Postecoglou is doing and why he sticks so resolutely to his football. I don't think it is out of stubbornness, it is just because he thinks it is the best way to get results.
"But as a football fan there are times when I think they just need to dig in for a quarter of an hour regardless of what the vision is. It is about keeping things compact and tight and making the game boring.
"That feels like an important trait to have and Spurs don't seem to have it."
Former Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given added: "Postecoglou wears his heart on his sleeve. He wants his football to be entertaining, free flowing and to score lots of goals.
"I love that but sometimes you have to shut up shop."
Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton says he is conflicted about Tottenham's performance against Brighton because it showed "a complete lack of aggression".
"Ange Postecoglou won't change," Sutton told BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club.
"Tottenham fans were saying: 'We don't win trophies so we want to see entertainment.' There isn't one fan in the world that can dispute that they are getting entertainment week in, week out now. Maybe just not always for the better.
"I have mixed feelings about the weekend. There is a complete lack of aggression in the team.
"Were the Brighton goals avoidable? Yes."
Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds
Image source, Getty ImagesA VAR related question was put to chief football writer Phil McNulty on Monday's Q&A.
@nubiblue on 'X' asked: Is the new improved VAR working? To me it continues to favour certain clubs.
Phil answered: First of all, I don't believe VAR favours certain clubs and quite honestly, I've not noticed too much difference or huge improvement.
Maybe a little less interference but I confess I lost a lot of faith in VAR after initially being a strong advocate.
I would be happy with semi-automated offside and line technology.
Image source, Getty ImagesA Tottenham related question was put to chief football writer Phil McNulty in Monday's Q&A.
James asked: Hi Phil, as a Spurs fan, I can't help but feel like we're slowly falling into a similar pattern of behaviour that has been present over the last few years. I like Ange but his stubbornness seems to be a blessing one week and a curse the next. Do you have any advice on how we can gain a bit of consistency? Looking forward to hearing a bit of positivity on this dreary Monday morning.
Phil answered: Hi James, what a different Monday morning feeling to seven days ago for Spurs fans. All was light after a fantastic performance and win at Manchester United, then you have the collapse from 2-0 up at Brighton. If you look for positivity, I think Spurs are an incredibly good team to watch but with Ange Postecoglou’s all-out attacking approach, lows may well come with highs.
I’ve said before I feel he needs to be more pragmatic to sustain a top four challenge and win the big prizes and you have seen both sides to that in the last seven days. I honestly do not think he will change and will succeed or fail on those principles. And while we talk about the manager, the Spurs players should really have managed that situation better yesterday. Postecoglou took responsibility but he was right, the second half was “unacceptable”.
Image source, Getty ImagesFormer Premier League midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker says the players have to take responsibility for the 3-2 defeat by Brighton on Sunday because they did not take the sting out of the game in the second half.
"The players have to bare the brunt of this," said Reo-Coker on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast. "They had a two-goal cushion away from home at one of the best sides in the Premier League and they gave it away.
"It should not have to take Ange Postecoglou to tell them it will be a tough second half in the dressing room at half-time. There are experienced, trophy-winning players in this team so they have to take responsibility.
"It is not the same young side that they played in Europe last week, it was an experienced side who should know how to win a football match at a professional level.
"They made mistakes and let Brighton back into the game, which then led to them capitulating and giving up. That is on them."
Image source, Getty ImagesWe asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Brighton and Tottenham.
Here are some of your comments:
Brighton fans
Biggles: We normally go two down and it’s game over. What a fighting spirit we saw! That's two from two against Spurs at the Amex. Superb.
Jezz: What I’d really like to know is what Hurzeler put in the oranges at half-time! We looked so naive in the first half, with our high line getting bypassed so easily. They came out for the second half like a team possessed! What a game! It certainly saved MOTD2, which was looking a bit short on excitement before the Brighton game!
Brightoncynic: Fabulous comeback that showed the players can perform as a team. It could have been 4-4 at half-time and 6-6 at the end. Both teams looked like they could concede at any point, but Georgino Rutter's battling, never-quit physicality was what won it. Brilliant.
Keith: Absolutely amazing. What a comeback. Game of two halves. So deflated at half-time. Must have been a great team talk, they were a different side after the break.
Spurs fans
Mob: Game of two halves. First half we were absolutely brilliant and should have scored more than three. Second half we lost the plot. Ange got his wish to keep the game wide open. Brighton exploited our non-existent midfield and Porro and Udogie couldn't live with Mitoma and Minteh. Game management was lacking. Loss is down to both Ange and the players. Shocking!
John: The second half was pathetic - we played like school kids in a park. I have been a fan for 40 years and that was as bad a second-half performance as I have seen.
Herman: Some fans are blaming the manager and the style of play, but that’s got nothing to do with how we played in the second half. No aggression, no belief and not playing forward. Most players weren't there any more in the second half. That's unacceptable and unbelievable. I really hope Mikey Moore will be in the starting XI more often.
Matty: A perfect illustration of Spurs' split personality.
Highlights and analysis from Sunday's three Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from the rest of the weekend.
If you missed Match of the Day 2, catch up now on BBC iPlayer.
And you can watch Saturday's Match of the Day here.
Listen back to the weekend's full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:
Liverpool have joined Tottenham and Newcastle United in the race to sign 26-year-old England attacking midfielder Eberechi Eze from Crystal Palace. (Football Insider), external
Michael Emons
BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty ImagesBrennan Johnson has six goals in six games
At half-time, all the headlines looked like they would be about Tottenham winger Brennan Johnson continuing his superb run of form.
Having scored five goals in his first 38 games for Spurs, the 23-year-old Wales international has now scored in each of his past six games in all competitions.
He opened the scoring at the Amex when he timed his run perfectly to connect with Dominic Solanke's through ball and calmly slotted past home goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen.
After James Maddison added a second, Johnson had a chance to get a third for Tottenham just before the break, but shot over after racing through following Dejan Kulusevski's pass.
But that two-goal lead was as good as the afternoon got for Tottenham, as they somehow threw away control of the match as Brighton scored three times in an 18-minute spell in the second half.
Boss Ange Postecoglou called the collapse "probably the worst defeat since I've been here", although the impressive form of Johnson did at least provide one positive for Spurs.
Image source, Getty ImagesTottenham boss Ange Postecoglou, speaking to Sky Sports: "Disappointing. Frustrated and absolutely gutted with that. Worst defeat since I've been here. Unacceptable second half. Nowhere near where we should be. We got carried away with how were were going.
"We kind of accepted our fate and it is hard to understand as we've not done that while I've been here. We paid the price.
"The problem is we are travelling along too smoothly, football and life will trip you up if you get too far ahead of yourself."
On message to the players: "There is no message. It is a terrible loss for us - as bad as it gets. Only one way to fix it and that's my responsibility.
"We lost all our duels and if you're not competitive it is not going to work - we were not competitive.
"They all go international duty the majority of them. They will process it individually and I will process it when everyone gets back."
