Tottenham Hotspur

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We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Tottenham and Newcastle.

Here are some of your comments:

Tottenham fans

Kelechi: The boys put in a decent shift. That equaliser, so soon after our goal and with the controversy around it, was psychologically damaging for us in the first half. Say what you will, but a hand caused the ball to go in the direction of the goalscorer - that should be a handball foul. How Joelinton and Dan Burn survived getting sent off is still surprising to me. We move on.

Colin: I am so confused with the handball law now. I think we should revert to the original interpretation: ball to hand only. Ifab have totally confused us all, referees included. We played much better in the second half but we are too vulnerable defensively.

Peter: I thought Lucas Bergvall was outstanding, I was surprised he was substituted off. Spurs needed to score to equalise, with proven attacking players. Full credit to the substitute goalkeeper, he was confident and played very well.

Michael: At least we are consistent about being inconsistent! We are definitely going backwards!

Josh: Our youngest team for 10 years. A goal that arguably shouldn't have stood for the opponents. And 45 minutes played without a recognised centre-back. Injuries have devastated Spurs but winning ways will return with the players. Ange Postecoglou shouldn't be blamed for these results. I like Daniel Levy but he has a massive window to ensure the team is fleshed out to compete across all tournaments.

Newcastle fans

Geoff: A game of two periods. First half, we were outstanding and well worth the lead at half-time. However, we were a different side in the second half and, in the end, were fortunate to win. I know Eddie Howe has his eye on midweek but his substitutions were bizarre. Every time he made one, we got worse. We still gained three points but we were nowhere near as good as previous games.

Mike: That was a hard three points. Where did the 12 minutes of extra time come from? My fingernails were down to my knuckles.

Ian: Newcastle need to take more of their chances when they come. They can't quite kill the game off when they are leading and this allows teams the opportunity to keep fighting when they think they have a chance to get back into the match.

Jamie: I'm very happy with the result. We don't travel down south well, so a win is always important. I have to feel sympathetic to Spurs, I hope they stick with Postecoglou and build a squad with the depth that makes them able to compete. We also need greater depth, but the result proves again that Newcastle's first XI can challenge most sides in the league.

Randal Kolo Muani could leave Paris St-Germain this month, with Tottenham, Aston Villa, AC Milan, Juventus, Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig all interested in the 26-year-old France forward. (Ben Jacobs), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis from Saturday's seven Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea

• Brighton 1-1 Arsenal

Matthew Howarth
BBC Sport journalist

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Ange Postecoglou's team could hardly have wished for a better start against in-form Newcastle, but Dominic Solanke's early goal was as good as it got against the Magpies.

Spurs were behind seven minutes before half-time and despite an improved second-half display, they failed to trouble goalkeeper Martin Dubravka enough to salvage something from the game.

Spurs were adamant Joelinton should have been penalised for handball in the build-up to Anthony Gordon's equaliser, but the officials deemed that the contact with Lucas Bergvall's pass was accidental and that the Brazilian's arm was in a natural position.

Their latest defeat means Spurs have picked up only five points from their last eight in the league, while their run of six home league matches without a win is their longest since an eight-game streak under Juande Ramos in 2008.

They have not kept a clean sheet in the Premier League since a 4-0 victory over Everton back in August - 10 matches ago.

Debutant goalkeeper Brandon Austin could do little about Newcastle's two goals, while the introductions of Son Heung-min, James Maddison and Yves Bissouma with half an hour to play failed to turn the tide on another deeply frustrating afternoon for Postecoglou and his players.

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Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has been speaking to BBC Sport after the defeat: "On the balance of play - any balance you want - with all things being equal, we would have won. We were outstanding. I couldn't be prouder of the players. I couldn't ask any more. It is a game that we would have won if all things were equal.

"If all things were equal and balanced, we would have won. Things weren't equal and balanced."

On what wasn't equal in the game and whether he was hinting at Newcastle's opener: "You can talk about whatever you want. You want my opinion: if all things were equal and balanced, we would have won.

"We had plenty of chances. Our football was outstanding, considering everything we are going through.

"If it was an even playing field, we would have won."

On goalkeeper Brandon Austin: "He was really good. The moment we are going through, we are putting big tasks on players and they are rising to occasion.

"The performance deserved a victory."

Martin Keown
Former England defender on Final Score

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Tottenham are always in such a rush to play with high energy. There is a balance to be had, just slow down a little bit.

If you can't complete a pass, come down to a lower level and make it work.

They have good players but they aren't consistent enough - 10 defeats is a really awful showing.

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Tottenham have gone six league games without a home win (D2 L4) for the first time since October 2008 (D3 L5).

The average age of Tottenham's starting line-up was 23 years and 336 days, their youngest starting XI for a Premier League game since March 2015 (23 years and 290 days v QPR).

Since the start of the 2023-24 season, Dominic Solanke has scored more goals in the opening five minutes of Premier League games than any other player (4), while only Erling Haaland (14) has scored the opening goal in more games than Solanke in that time (11).

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Spurs fans - let us know your post-match thoughts

What did you make of the game, Newcastle fans?

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

There are seven games in the Premier League on Saturday, and we will bring you every moment.

• Tottenham v Newcastle (12:30)

• Aston Villa v Leicester

• Bournemouth v Everton

• Crystal Palace v Chelsea - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Man City v West Ham

• Southampton v Brentford

• Brighton v Arsenal (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times 15:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all the action and reaction here

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Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou has said he has "no problem" with James Maddison after the playmaker spent Sunday night watching World Championship darts despite reporting ill for the Wolves game earlier in the day.

Maddison received criticism on social media after being pictured with Spurs team-mate Brennan Johnson at Alexandra Palace.

The 28-year-old had come on as a substitute in the 64th minute of the 2-2 draw at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as Postecoglou's side dropped to 12th in the table going into Saturday's Premier League game against Newcastle.

"I've got no problem with that," Postecoglou said when asked about Maddison being at the darts.

"I've got no problem with the players having lives. It's a lot different trying to play a game of football and living a life. I don't see any problem with that and I don't think it hurt him.

"He wasn't 100% and it was a game where we needed someone to be 100%. He was still well enough to play so it wasn't like he was bed-ridden.

"If he was bed-ridden, didn't turn up to the game and then still went to the darts, there may be an issue there. But I had no issue with that."

Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season, against a variety of guests.

For week 20, he takes on The Zutons frontman Dave McCabe, who supports Liverpool.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2

Newcastle's form is incredible, with five wins on the spin in all competitions. They have scored 16 goals in those games, with only one conceded.

Tottenham, in contrast, are on a poor run of results - although they did not perform badly in their defeat by Nottingham Forest or in their draw with Wolves last time out.

This is going to be a great game and, while I think Spurs will score, I just can't go against Newcastle at the moment.

Eddie Howe's side have got goals in them and it is not just Alexander Isak who is a threat - Jacob Murphy is playing really well and their midfield of Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton looks very strong.

McCabe's prediction: 1-2

Newcastle are too good for Tottenham. The way Spurs are under Ange Postecoglou, even if they turn up and play well, they might score four goals but then the other team would score five. I don't think he is a bad manager but you would need to have Virgil van Dijk and Marcel Desailly at the back for his approach to work.

Read the full predictions and have your say here

As we enter a new calendar year and the halfway point of the season, the Opta Supercomputer has been busy making its predictions.

But who has the best chance of securing Champions League football next season?

With England given a 97.8% chance of finishing in the top two of Uefa's coefficients rankings and receiving a bonus place in next season's competition, it is highly likely to be a race to finish in the top five of the Premier League this campaign.

One team essentially guaranteed a Champions League spot season, according to the Supercomputer's simulations, is high-flying league leaders Liverpool (100%).

Following closely on their heels are Arsenal and Chelsea, who occupy second and fourthgoing into this weekend's fixtures, with a 99.8% and 91.7% chance of finishing in the top five respectively.

Despite their unprecedented drop-off in form over the past two months, Manchester City fans will be pleased to hear Opta still gives them a 89.1% chance of clinching the potential final Champions League spot next season.

It then becomes a hotly fought battle between two of the most in-form teams in the league right now.

Despite third-placed Nottingham Forest's incredible campaign so far, Nuno Espirito Santo's side still fall below Newcastle United in the predictions for fifth place - with a 33.6% chance compared to the Magpies' 44.6%.

Four teams still have an outside chance of getting that coveted spot, with Aston Villa (13.8%), Bournemouth (9.8%), Fulham (6.2%) and Tottenham (5.4%) in the race.

Ben Ramsdale
BBC Sport journalist

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game at home against Newcastle (kick-off 12:30 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Postecoglou confirmed defender Destiny Udogie will face "around six weeks out" with a hamstring injury. It is likely defender Sergio Reguilon "will get more opportunities" as a result.

• He added that none of the other current injured players are ready to return though Richarlison, Mikey Moore, Ben Davies, Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero could all be back later this month.

• When asked about the January transfer window, Postecoglou said he was "not sure" whether any signings were imminent but said any new players must be of a "suitable fit."

• He does however think Spurs are active behind the scenes: "The club is working hard to get some help for the playing group. We need to bolster up our numbers a little bit. January is obviously not an easy time to bring players in quickly and we still want to do what's best for us rather than panic."

• He said striker Dominic Solanke has been "outstanding" in all areas of his game and has "carried the position on his back" during a challenging time.

• With new England boss Thomas Tuchel visiting Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for his first official assignment, Postecoglou said: "I've got no doubt Thomas Tuchel will be impressed with [Solanke]. Hopefully, we will put on a show, he gets a nice seat and enjoys the spectacle."

• Finally, on potentially changing his style of play in a bid to stop the current injury crisis, he said: "There is always the opportunity to change and the one constant with me is that I'm not going to in terms of my beliefs."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news.

On Thursday, we asked for your views on whether Ange Postecoglou has improved Tottenham since taking over in summer 2023.

We have been inundated with responses.

Allow us to lay out the argument from both sides - and you can make your own mind up...

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Simon: Unequivocally yes. Unlike managers since Tim Sherwood, Ange Postecoglou has not had Harry Kane, and Son Heung-min is no longer the player he was. To have lost these two, but still have so many players scoring is a great success. He must do more to prevent recurring injuries and the club must strengthen our defence; then trophies will come.

Peter: Definitely a yes from me. The results will improve when Ange has a squad that has more depth and not so easily decimated by a few injuries. There has been enough signs of what could be if we had a regular full team of first-teamers with a decent bench. No return to turgid, robotic football by numbers please!

Colin: Absolutely yes because he is one-and-a-half years into a five year project. Look at Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United and Mikel Arteta at Arsenal, both good managers who stamped their ethos on a club and, after being given time, came good. We have to stick with a manager and see it out and Ange is so honest and different we just need to let him do his thing for a few more years.

Anthony: I firmly believe that Ange has made a huge positive impact at Spurs. They are back to playing attacking football and, although they sometimes concede too many goals, they play football that the punters want to see. Give him time. Too many people want instant glory, rather than playing the longer game. I believe it will come.

Justin: I believe the coach has improved things but the players at the club have not been. The team is weaker then six or seven years ago. That is down to the hierarchy spending little and what they have bought did not work out for example Tanguy Ndombele. We cannot keep changing manager on average every 18 months. Again, a hierarchy issue.

Laurie: As a fan of 61 years, I love the Ange approach and style of play, after the dire offerings under Jose Mourinho, Nuno Espirito Santo and Antonio Conte. The squad has been decimated by injuries yet the style of play has not changed and the players are still playing for the manager and the club. It would be futile to change the manager so let him stay until the end of the season and see what we have to show for his efforts.

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Dan: Ange Postecoglou hasn't improved the team. Yes we've had bad luck with injuries - but we can't hide behind that. Our defence is too leaky with a fully fit squad, and the fact that we're threadbare sits not only with the club's recruitment policy but also with the manager who should be signing off on these players. I hate that we only have one way to play, with no plan B, and that we seem to have forgotten how to shut up shop and maintain a lead. I don't think Ange is the man to take us forward but the reality is I don't know who will want to take us on. For me, it's time for a change of manager and a new chairman.

Nick: The back line is like a sieve - again. Players shine but all too briefly and then they fade. The league table doesn't lie.

Chris: The main aim for any manager is to win matches. Pundits and supporters have all argued that Ange needs to be more pragmatic in his approach. He has refused to do that, arguing that he will not change. Can a teacher do that, a policeman, a mechanic, nurse or doctor? No. In lots of professions that means one thing - the sack.

Toby: No, he hasn't improved us. Jose Mourinho had slightly better points per game. And while we might be the leagues entertainers, it's not entertaining being a Spurs fan. But that won't change until Daniel Levy and co are out.

Simon: Ange is a nightmare. His training techniques and style of play is injuring the players, and I'm fed up with losing week after week as a result of his crazy tactics.

Martin: If losing games and suggesting "are you not entertained?" means improvement, then I think not.

Image source, Getty Images

Tottenham v Newcastle is the most played Premier League fixture never to finish 0-0 (59 meetings).

There have been 189 goals scored in games between the sides, the third-highest scoring fixture in Premier League history.