Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Wolves (kick-off 15:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• It is "a bit early to tell" whether Radu Dragusin will be involved against Wolves after hurting his ankle against Nottingham Forest.

• Unfortunately, Ben Davies will be out for "another couple of weeks" after a setback in his recovery from injury.

• Asked about the defensive options available to him, Postecoglou said: "Not many. We're in a tough spot - we have been for a while. We've been getting through it for quite a while now and keeping our fingers crossed that we don't get more issues. It's another test for us, but whatever we need to deal with, we'll deal with and get ready for Sunday."

• He said that he has never experienced having so many players unavailable at any one time during his managerial career.

• On if the current squad situation will affect the club's transfer strategy in January: "I still think you can be disciplined. I've said it'll depend a lot on where we're at when the window opens and we're getting close to that now so we've got a clearer picture. It's not just about bringing anybody in, but there's certainly a need for us to reinforce if we can."

• Postecoglou said he "hasn't felt anything but support" from the Spurs fanbase and he "still feels the support is there" despite losing four of the past five Premier League games.

• He added: "I'll keep doing what I think is the right thing to get success for this club. That doesn't change. The task is difficult because of our situation but, like most things that are fairly difficult to traverse, it's only temporary, we'll get through it and we'll come out stronger."

• On Wolves: "Another good game for us and a good challenge for us. They have a new manager in Vitor Pereira who I know pretty well because we crossed paths in Asia a couple of times. They have some quality players who can hurt you, we saw that last year."

• On his overall feeling before the final match of 2025: "It's an important game for us back at home. We're getting through this period as best as we can but we certainly need to go out there, play our football and get a result to make sure we get some momentum going into the new year."

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We asked for your thoughts after Thursday's Premier League game between Nottingham Forest and Tottenham.

Here are some of your comments:

Forest fans

Matt: Definitely looking very solid. Never worried now when the opposition are attacking. Nikola Milenkovic and Murillo along with Ola Aina and Neco Williams are so strong at the back, leaving Mats Sels with very little to do, which is a goalkeeper's dream. The target now is to keep this squad of players and sign them on longer contracts. Every one of these players will go down in history as part of Forest's best Premier League side. Thirty years ago this season (1994-95), we finished third and that was the season that made me a Forest supporter.

Tim: It's time Forest started getting due notice. Breaking Brentford's long home record, now shutting down free-scoring Spurs. Everyone points out the rapid-fire counter-attacking tactics, but few teams can stop it. Forest are a brilliantly coached and organized organisation. Long may it last!

Abbott: After all the early-season chatter about tactics, one-off displays, punching above our weight and being a surprise package, it's now just plain and simple - we're just a good team. That's it... the sleeping giant is stirring in the Forest of Nottingham.

Dave: Rock solid at the back, clever, quick and incisive on the break - Forest are a joy to watch and set up perfectly to win matches. Nuno, the chairman, the players and the fans are all on the same page. Reminds me of the Brian Clough days.

Spurs fans

Alan: Fair play to Forest - they did a number on us and took their goal well. We didn't play that badly but we don't have the players to play a high line, yet we continue to do so and lo and behold we keep shipping goals. I get Ange Postecoglou's philosophy but if we don't start winning soon we are going to be bang in trouble.

Mob: Ninth loss from 18 games played. Another poor performance today where we struggled to break down a team playing a low block. Team performance was once again poor. We didn't look like we were going to score, period! It's pretty much a rinse-and-repeat situation, with the same one-dimensional tactics. Ange is out of his depth, and any optimism I had is well and truly gone.

Richard: Weak, stale, devoid of direction and leadership. We looked very ordinary, lacking any true star power, or even an in-form player. The Forest game was not about Ange's tactics; rather it was all about the skill level of our players and their ability to win a tackle and make an accurate, productive pass.

Neil: Seen all too often. Lack of desire among the players - no heart and no drive. It's clear they don't believe in what he's trying to do. Ange has no tactical insight to change the game - stubborn. Now's the time for change.

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Joe Hart told Match of the Day about the approach his former manager Ange Postecoglou will have towards his Tottenham players after a fourth defeat in five Premier League games: 'It's definitely a difficult moment as a team - Ange requires everyone to be singing from the same hymn sheet.

"It will be analytical - the meetings pre and post-match are very important in the way he works with his team. He's not necessarily one to sit down and have conversations but the pre and post are so important.

"There will be the 'dreaded ring' going round you when things are going wrong in those meeting rooms, so Spurs players are going to have to take it on the chin and take harsh criticism.

"Ultimately, he's going to want them purring, playing the good football we know they're capable of but just more consistently."

Watch Match of the Day on iPlayer

Highlights and analysis from Boxing Day's eight Premier League fixtures.

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

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Ange Postecoglou's post-match news conference lasted just 130 seconds.

The Spurs manager arrived in the City Ground's press room so quickly a number of writers either missed his brief appearance or crept in halfway through.

The manager might have been in a rush but it was short of any Christmas cheer after a sixth defeat in 10 games left Tottenham 11th and 10 points adrift of the top four.

In many ways, the visitors did a lot right. They dominated the ball and had chances - Matz Sels thwarting Brennan Johnson three times - but ultimately found little reward.

They did not stretch Forest enough and £60m striker Dominic Solanke, along with Son Heung-min, were ineffective.

Postecoglou appeared happy with his team's efforts but Spurs were still too soft when it mattered most.

Image source, Getty Images

Ange Postecoglou spoke to Amazon Prime after Tottenham's loss to Nottingham Forest: "Tight game, not much in it really. With the way Forest set up, it is never going to be too open and not have too many chances. We get a couple of good chances that kind of gave them the goal. Not much between us but obviously, they've got on top."

On energy in the team: "I didn't say we're struggling with energy, no. I do think you're putting words in my mouth. I said we needed energy but I didn't say we were struggling with it. It was a tight game, we had some good chances. They didn't have too many themselves but they got the goal and we tried hard to claw that back and we couldn't."

On positives: "It was a tight game but we lost, so we've got to take the disappointment of that."

On the schedule and losing Radu Dragusin and Djed Spence: "It doesn't make it any easier but nothing we can do about it. We will see what the full [situation] is."

On what is being done for the January window: "We are working hard behind the scenes, but we've got a game on Sunday and focus on that first. Then, we will look at January."

On what positive momentum his side can take going into Sunday's meeting with Wolves: "We just have to keep going, there's no other choice. They are all big games for us now. We're back at home and we just have to go out there and put on a positive performance."

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Tottenham averaged over 65% possession for the seventh time in the Premier League this season (70.4), though they've ended up losing five of those games (won one, drawn one).

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Nottingham Forest's performance

What did you make of Tottenham's display?

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

There are eight matches in the Premier League on Thursday, and we will bring you every moment.

• Manchester City v Everton (12:30)

• Bournemouth v Crystal Palace

• Chelsea v Fulham

• Newcastle v Aston Villa

• Nottingham Forest v Tottenham

• Southampton v West Ham

• Wolves v Manchester United (17:30)

• Liverpool v Leicester (20:00)

Kick-off time 15:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all the action and reaction here

Tottenham, Liverpool, Manchester United and RB Leipzig are interested in 26-year-old France forward Randal Kolo Muani, who will be allowed to leave Paris St-Germain Paris St-Germain in January. (Sky Sports Germany), external

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

Follow gossip on BBC Sport to keep up to date with the latest transfer rumours

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

This week, he takes on Eats Everything, aka DJ and producer Daniel Pearce.

Sutton's prediction: 2-2

Tottenham are flagging at the moment and missing a lot of key players but it is obvious that manager Ange Postecoglou will not compromise on his playing style - he has made that clear in the past week.

It makes this game fascinating because Nottingham Forest are in great form and they are also resilient defensively, and able to soak up pressure.

Spurs are such a strange team that I still feel they could go to the City Ground and win by three or four goals, but you have to fancy Forest to score a couple too.

I am very tempted to back Nuno Espirito Santo's side to win this, because they will sit in a mid to low block and just counter-attack, which will cause Spurs problems.

But Tottenham have got goals in them, so I am going for a draw.

Eats Everything's prediction: 3-1

One of my best mates, Matt, is a die-hard Forest fan so I follow them quite closely and I am really pleased they are doing so well. They have got some brilliant players too - if Manchester United signed Murillo then I would be over the moon, and I really like Chris Wood.

Forest were brilliant against United earlier this month and fully deserved to beat us. They have had some big results already this season and I think they will get another win here. I was going to go 2-0 to Forest, but Spurs always score.

Read the full predictions and have your say

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For me, wherever I played, I'd always see where the first game was, where the last game was, and where we were at Christmas.

There is such a big difference between being at home on Boxing Day versus being away because, depending on what your manager is like, if you've got an away game there is a chance you're training on Christmas Day.

Some of the toughest times I had was when we had away games on Boxing Day and we had to come in to train at four or five on Christmas. That's when everything is just starting at home and everyone is really enjoying themselves and you have to leave.

If you lose you are sat in the hotel having walked away from friends and family all for no points. It's not the best feeling and as a consequence you bring home some of that disappointment with you.

But, in reality, you just know it is the busiest time of the year. The floodlights are always on for the games, the conditions get that little bit tougher, you've got games it feels like every three or four days.

I think it's an exciting part of the season because you can gain real, significant momentum but ultimately it comes down to are you winning games.

I think the Christmas period itself can be tough if you have got family but in reality it always feels nicer when you get that win on Boxing Day. The atmosphere in the stadiums is a little bit different, the atmosphere among the players is a bit different.

You're very thankful to get the chance to do what you do, but if you end up losing on Boxing Day or around that spell it is rubbish because it almost feels like it was a waste of time with all the efforts you put in.

But, I get it. The fans love it, there is a lot of clamour around it. You lose track of days just like everyone else does after Christmas and before New Year but it is great to play in front of those types of crowds and it just does feel different playing during that week or two.

Nedum Onuoha was speaking to BBC Sport's Nat Hayward

Ali Speechly
Fan writer

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It has been another rollercoaster year watching Ange Postecoglou's Spurs.

The football has been entertaining and frustrating in equal measure but, for me, there is one moment that stands out for all the right reasons.

It started with me leaning forward on my sofa in response to Micky van de Ven intercepting a lose touch from Marcus Rashford well within the Spurs half at Old Trafford.

Before I knew it, I was on my feet screaming at the television as Micky was gliding past multiple United players with ease. It felt like watching a 100 metre race and cheering on your favourite athlete, willing them to the gold medal.

Micky running at speed is a familiar sight, but he is usually sprinting without the ball towards his own goal. This was something else entirely.

Brennan Johnson was already smiling before he tapped the ball into the goal from Micky's cross – a smile that encapsulated the joy among everyone associated with Spurs in that moment.

Indeed, it is a goal that captures everything good about Angeball: quick and daring, positive and purposeful, expansive and entertaining football to enjoy and be proud of.

If our defenders have the confidence, ability and permission to play this way, it is little wonder we have so many different goal scorers.

Many were keen to write off Spurs as an attacking team once Harry Kane left, and it is testament to what Ange is building at Spurs that goals can and do come from any one of our players, anywhere on the pitch.

Yes, there is still work to do defensively, but watching our centre-back run riot at Old Trafford and be the catalyst for such a comprehensive dismantling of the opposition really was a wonderful moment.

Hopefully we will experience more like it in 2025 and beyond.

Find more from Ali Speechly at Women Of The Lane, external and on Instagram, external

Holly Bacon
BBC Sport journalist

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has been speaking to the media before Thursday's Premier League game against Nottingham Forest (kick-off 15:00).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• On team news: "From the game as far as we know no issues. Obviously Destiny [Udogie] was on the bench - he wasn't 100%. He should be right for the next game. [Rodrigo] Bentancur is available after his suspension."

• On having Bentancur back after his suspension: "It's good to have him back. He has been working hard at training. In terms of Boxing Day - we'll see. Just to have an extra body, what the core group of players have had to deal with over the last three weeks or so has been very demanding on them. Most of them have got through it pretty well without getting more injuries, thankfully for us. It'll be nice just to have some ability to rotate some players and even make substitutions in games that hopefully will help us."

• He added that the club will try to make reinforcements in January: "It's fair to say we are still a little bit short in a couple of areas and we need to reinforce. January is tricky in terms of what sort of players you can bring in. You want to bring in people who are going to make you stronger but the fact that were are still in the Carabao Cup semi final, still in Europe, the FA Cup, in all the competitions, it's not like our schedule is going to ease up at any stage. I think it makes sense we will try and reinforce, where and what number, we'll have to wait and see."

• Postecoglou said he wasn't "angry" at the questioning around his team's tactics following the 6-3 defeat to Liverpool: "You don't get many managers who bounce into interviews after being beaten and feel cheery about it. It's fair to say I'm getting tired of the same questions and answering the same way. I just think people want to sort of poke the bear to see if I react and after a loss it's a lot easier for people to get a reaction out of me."

• He added: "I still feel like and I see that the players still have belief in what we're doing but it is difficult because it's a tough day for the supporters, it's a tough day for the players, all the people who work so hard at the club. From my perspective I take responsibility for that because I'm charting this course for us. I try and reiterate this, it's all hopefully for a greater purpose. That's my ultimate responsibility - to try and bring success to the club."

• On being 11th in the table: "There are circumstances with where we are at from the position in the table and a lot of that is down to both inconsistency in performance, sometimes inconsistency in games and inconsistency in the team we can put there. All those kind of things have damaged our ability to get into a stronger position in the league. I still think there's growth in the team during this period, I still think there's a lot of positive things within what we're doing. I'm not withstanding that we need to improve our position."

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

Former Premier League forward Clinton Morrison spoke to the Monday Night Club about Tottenham: "They're probably the most entertaining team in the Premier League, if you don't support them and want to go and watch someone, go to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium because you're guaranteed goals.

"Tottenham fans, they want attractive football but they're not even in the top 10, it's been nowhere near good enough. I do get that they have injuries but the way they defended against Liverpool, probably the best team in Europe at the moment, and big gaps that Tottenham left enabled it and made me upset because they're so frustrating.

"The fans are not happy at the moment and it's been nowhere near good enough."

Listen to the full episode here

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

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You friend says to you "I am driving to work the same way as usual today", but you tell him that one of the roads has changed overnight to a one-way street going the opposite way. How do you react when he proclaims, "I always drive that direction, so I will just drive that way anyway".

"But the circumstances have changed," you plead. "It will end up in a car crash, there will be casualties."

And so we come to Spurs against Liverpool at the weekend. A weakened back line and a phenomenal Liverpool team with a particularly strong attack, conspired against Spurs, but Ange was still willing to take the hit.

Not unlike the infamous all-out attack and high line against Chelsea when they went down to nine men, Ange is not for turning whatever the oncoming traffic looks like.

Had I been a player in any of those Spurs catastrophes, I would have felt like a passenger looking at the driver thinking, "are you sure you know what you are doing? Do you care about the damage to us?"

Ange's approach is spectacular to watch but he needs more players to make it work.

Just like an RTA happening in front of you, it is impossible not to look but remember the past four domestic games have a combined score of 15-13. With a fully fit squad, or just some trustworthy back up, it might have been even better and even more exciting.

I am already looking forward to the Arsenal v Spurs game in January, it will be carnage. Maybe I would feel different if I was a Spurs fan, but long live Ange's days behind the wheel on this demolition derby - although maybe, just maybe, he could quietly slip a seat belt on now and again.

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Tottenham have made an approach to sign Atalanta and England defender Ben Godfrey, 26, on a short-term loan deal. (Football Insider), external

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