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Is it time for two defensive midfielders?published at 12:00 18 January
12:00 18 January
Media caption,
Since their 4-0 win over Manchester City in November, Tottenham Hotspur have managed just one Premier League win in nine games, with manager Ange Postecoglou regularly bemoaning injuries to key defenders and goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.
Ex-Spurs keeper Paul Robinson tells The Football News Show he thinks Tottenham have to be more pragmatic to provide more support to their inexperienced defence.
His former Tottenham team-mate Michael Brown also thinks their workrate has to increase when it comes to tracking back.
Everton v Tottenham: Did you know?published at 12:00 18 January
12:00 18 January
Image source, Getty Images
Everton have won just one of their past 24 Premier League games against Tottenham, beating them 1-0 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in September 2020.
'The responsibility weighs heavily on me'published at 11:06 18 January
11:06 18 January
Image source, Getty Images
Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou remains bullish in his determination to lead his side through their latest rough path.
The north London side have won just four of their past 14 matches and sit just eight points above the relegation zone.
Spurs are winless in their past five league matches but Postecoglou is hopeful they can get back on track when they face Everton this weekend.
"I understand how, externally, it may look and feel for somebody like me, but part of what I love about what I do is that there is this constant search for solutions and how to overcome challenges," Postecoglou said.
"I enjoy that bit. I always reflect on the alternative, which is me not being involved. OK, maybe I look a bit younger and a bit more handsome but I would be pretty bored! If I was sitting at home, I would be saying: 'I wish I was there.'
"Knowing me, I probably would be saying: 'I wish I was at Tottenham right now, I would love to see how we can get out of that situation.'
"I understand that, externally, you're probably going: 'He must be living a nightmare at the moment.' But it's not my existence.
"It's a big challenge, I get it. I've said before that the responsibility weighs heavily on me, I feel it. I feel the pain of it. I feel the disappointment of it, but I'm a fighter and this is where I want to be.
"I want to find a way to get us out of this so we can reap the rewards of the tough battles we've had."
'Postecoglou is under pressure'published at 19:34 17 January
19:34 17 January
Tottenham currently sit 14th in the Premier League and are reeling from a north London defeat by rivals Arsenal.
Can Ange Postecoglou's find a way to overcome their inconsistent form and potentially end their season with a trophy or will it be the end of the road for the Aussie?
Former Spurs midfielder Michael Brown has his say on their struggles so far this season.
'Frustrating' Postecoglou retains fans' backingpublished at 16:29 17 January
16:29 17 January
Media caption,
Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has been criticised for his attacking style during Spurs' run of just one win in nine Premier League games, but are the fans still behind him?
The Football News Show catches up with supporters Ali and Billie who both want the boss to be given more time - but accept his tactics can be frustrating.
Postecoglou on injuries, transfers and players 'hurting'published at 14:59 17 January
14:59 17 January
Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Everton (kick-off 14:00 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Postecoglou confirmed Brennan Johnson has a being assessed for a "calf complaint", Yves Bissouma is a "a bit sore" and Timo Werner will be out for three to four weeks with a hamstring issue. However, Fraser Forster is back in full training and Ben Davies "should be involved".
The Spurs boss said the club are "working as hard as they can" to bring in players this transfer window but it is "not easy" in January and "a lot of work is being done behind the scenes".
On missing out on signing Kolo Muani: "Depends. We were interested in and looking at a number of players. Did we get to point he was coming to us? No."
On the difficulties of this window: "It is tricky, as all clubs are finding. Traditionally it ramps up in the final week. We are approaching that for all clubs. It is trickier in January because you trying to acquire players from clubs who might want to replace that player, so a lot of logistics involved."
Postecoglou said that new goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky has been "thrown in at the deep-end" and added: "He has had three big challenges in different ways. Certainly gaining experience, looking at games he has played and those challenges. He has handled it really well. I said from day one he is a very assured young man. From a goalkeeping aspect, he has got all attributes we are looking for, he will be a good fit for us."
On if players are hurting over this season's difficulties: "I am sure they are. It's not acceptable for club like ours to have this many defeats in a season. As much as the defeat against Arsenal, it was also the performance in the first half where we did not do ourselves justice. But whether I'm hurting or the players are hurting, it is kind of irrelevant now, supporters are hurting and we are the only ones who can change that."
On wanting to give Pedro Porro a rest but being unable to with injuries in defence: "At the moment, yeah. We have got some alternatives with Djed Spence and Archie [Gray] who can play there, but they are needed in other areas. Those at the back are doing a hell of a job for us considering limited options."
Porro the 'weakness' and do Spurs need to use the 'dark arts'?published at 12:25 17 January
12:25 17 January
Image source, Getty Images
We asked you to tell us the one thing - good or bad - nobody is talking about around Tottenham.
Here are some of your comments:
Alex: Pedro Porro is our defensive weakness. Our defensive line is consistently breached on his side with him either 1) out of position 2) beaten one on one 3) with a ball between him and the central defender.
Vinny: Our throw-in routines are rubbish. I have no stats but we either seem to lose possession straight away or we put ourselves under so much pressure that we end up losing possession. Either way, having a throw-in never seems to be advantageous and we rarely benefit.
John: The one thing that should be discussed is that we should be putting all our resources into winning the Europa League. I see this has the only route to a Champions League slot next season. We are not going to finish in the top six, neither are we going to get to the Carabao Cup final. We have to bolster the squad with some experienced players and go all out to win the Europa League.
Peter: Why is no one talking about the criminal mis-management of Djed Spence by Tottenham managers for three years since he became 'a club signing'?
Jamie: When I watch visitors come to the Tottenham Hotspur stadium, I see dark arts galore - time wasting, faking injuries, tactical fouls, pressurising referees. Yet when Spurs are in control of a game, we rush around as if we are chasing a game, no little fouls and letting the officials get off lightly. Why are we the only ones behaving like this?!
Danny: Why have we sent our two fit centre-backs on loan? Ashley Phillips and Alfie Dorrington surely should get a game given the injuries.
How do Spurs compare with last season?published at 13:50 16 January
13:50 16 January
Phil Cartwright BBC Sport journalist
Tottenham's run of one win in their past nine Premier League games has left them 13th in the table.
They will fall a further place if Manchester United beat bottom club Southampton on Thursday and, should they drop to 14th, it would be their lowest position at the end of a Premier League matchweek since Ange Postecoglou took charge in the summer of 2023.
Postecoglou's first year in charge of Tottenham was largely a positive one.
Spurs were sixth after two games and they did not fall out of the top six from that point onwards. Despite dropping off after a spell leading the table early in the campaign, they ended fifth and qualified for the Europa League.
In contrast, Spurs have ended only two of this season's 21 matchweeks in the top six and only once have they ended a round of Premier League fixtures higher in the table than they were at the corresponding stage of last season.
Injuries to key players, particularly in defence, have clearly contributed to their recent poor run of results.
And, while Spurs have stuttered, others have flourished.
After 12 games, Tottenham - having just won 4-0 at Manchester City - were sixth, level on points with seventh-placed Nottingham Forest and one point clear of 10th-placed Newcastle.
Nine games later, Spurs are 17 points behind Forest in third and 14 behind fourth-placed Newcastle.
In September, Postecoglou defended a comment he made about "always" winning trophies in his second season in managerial jobs, adding he was "amazed" and "confused" by negative reaction towards it.
That scenario could still come to pass; Spurs have a one-goal lead after the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final against Liverpool, while they remain in the FA Cup and Europa League.
However, achieving a first trophy win since 2008 appears Spurs' best hope of reaching Europe again next season, with qualification via their Premier League position now looking unlikely.
'Sort it before our season is in ruins'published at 11:53 16 January
11:53 16 January
Image source, PA Media
We asked for your views on the latest defeat at Emirates Stadium.
Here are some of your comments:
Tom: Disappointing result to take. We lacked composure against Arsenal's press, leading to giving the ball away needlessly. I thought all three goals were terrible scraps. Both teams didn't play well. If Antonin Kinsky had saved the second goal, then 1-1 would've been a fair result. I can't wait to have some senior players back to help bring experience so the young ones can thrive.
Steve: Disappointing against our big rivals of course. Energy and work rate are minimum requirements and we didn't get that. However, the injuries are a major factor on both quality and energy and we need reinforcements, but I want us to judge Ange Postecoglou and the squad at the end of the season.
Gordon: Chopping and changing managers is not the answer for Spurs. Injuries have been cruel to Ange and we can argue over his tactics not being adaptable; however, the likes of Archie Grey and Lucas Bergvall are coming on leaps and bounds and are the future of Tottenham so clearly the coaching team must be doing something right. Senior players in the squad have to look at that themselves in the mirror and ask if they are doing enough? Everyone at the club has to take responsibility for the current situation and see what they can do to improve it.
Andy: Yet again this season, Arsenal didn't have to get out of second gear to beat us and kept us at arms' length. We look badly coached while every Arsenal player knew their role in the team - where to be and what to do, with or without the ball. You can't say the same for Spurs. We are a haphazard, inconsistent side, riddled with mistakes and with no shape or cohesion. We aren't exciting to watch - we are embarrassing.
Paul: Poor again. Too many times we gifted chances by giving the ball away and we seemed to lose every 50/50 challenge (not for the first time). Why does Ange persist in keeping our most creative player (James Maddison) on the bench until we are in a desperate situation. Bissouma has been poor for a while now but he is still being picked ahead of Maddison (unfathomable). Djed Spence, Archie Gray and Bergvall are the only players who can hold their heads up after this game. Come on Ange - get it sorted before our season is in complete ruins.
Arsenal 2-1 Tottenham - the fans' verdictpublished at 10:27 16 January
10:27 16 January
Image source, Getty Images
We asked for your thoughts after Wednesday's Premier League game between Arsenal and Tottenham.
Here are some of your comments:
Arsenal fans
Sam: Had enough of the overreactions - it's time to get behind the team, and trust MikelArteta. You didn't hear him talking about strikers for various reasons (common sense), not because he doesn't think we need one. Roll on our end-of-season drive
Lily: A great game of football with a lot of nervous moments. Arsenal played well and created some superb chances but the amount of scrambling in the box and especially right in front of the keeper highlights how desperate we are for a forward player.
Weenson: It was a most welcome win despite its laboured approach. While that is in part down to the absence of a cutting-edge striker, (how many of these are available? ) let's remember that thanks to and under this manager, we are still in the hunt while others are struggling.
Alan: An unnecessarily narrow victory against a poor Spurs side. The team worked hard to break down a side that showed no attacking ambition but there are several players who are just not good enough to get us to the title. Raheem Sterling is too slow and Kai Havertz simply isn't able to score, despite always being numerous given gilt-edged chances. There were some notable performances - Declan Rice and Gabriel were at their reliable best and Lewis-Skelly put in a fine performance. Are we good enough to win the Premier League? Without some January transfer action, I'm afraid not.
Tottenham fans
Tom: Disappointing result to take. We lacked composure against Arsenal's press, leading to giving the ball away needlessly. I thought all three goals were terrible scraps. Both teams didn't play well. If Antonin Kinsky had saved the second goal, then 1-1 would've been a fair result. I can't wait to have some senior players back to help bring experience so the young ones can thrive.
Steve: Disappointing against our big rivals of course. Energy and work rate are minimum requirements and we didn't get that. However, the injuries are a major factor on both quality and energy and we need reinforcements, but I want us to judge Ange Postecoglou and the squad at the end of the season.
Gordon: Chopping and changing managers is not the answer for Spurs. Injuries have been cruel to Ange and we can argue over his tactics not being adaptable; however, the likes of Archie Grey and Lucas Bergvall are coming on leaps and bounds and are the future of Tottenham so clearly the coaching team must be doing something right. Senior players in the squad have to look at that themselves in the mirror and ask if they are doing enough? Everyone at the club has to take responsibility for the current situation and see what they can do to improve it.
Andy: Yet again this season, Arsenal didn't have to get out of second gear to beat us and kept us at arms' length. We look badly coached while every Arsenal player knew their role in the team - where to be and what to do, with or without the ball. You can't say the same for Spurs. We are a haphazard, inconsistent side, riddled with mistakes and with no shape or cohesion. We aren't exciting to watch - we are embarrassing.
'I would be a little bit concerned'published at 09:04 16 January
09:04 16 January
Image source, PA Media
Since winning 4-0 at Manchester City on 23 November, Tottenham have won one of their nine Premier League matches and taken only five points from those games.
"If you're a Tottenham fan, you have to be [concerned]," said former England captain Alan Shearer on Match of the Day, following Wednesday's 2-1 loss to neighbours Arsenal.
"I know they've got injuries to the centre-backs and the goalkeeper, but you cannot go up against your rivals and your manager come out at the end of the game saying 'we were nowhere near our levels'. That's not acceptable."
Ex-England defender Micah Richards added: "I would be a little bit concerned.
"I'm a big fan of Ange Postecoglou, I think he wants to play the right football, but he needs to get results. We can talk about injuries all we want but he needs to find a way to win."
'There were times it didn't feel like a derby' - Lennonpublished at 08:10 16 January
08:10 16 January
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Former Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast about Wednesday's 2-1 loss at Arsenal:
"They're massive words coming from the manager and the club captain [Son Heung-min]. They were flat and listening to Ange speak, you could feel that even he was really flat and disappointed there.
"There were times in the game when you were thinking this didn't feel like a derby, especially in that first half. It was all too nice, Arsenal were very comfortable and they were letting them have possession.
"Even in the second half, you were going 'come on, let's go for it, we've got six forward players on this pitch'. We didn't really see the tempo lift and that's disappointing in this game.
"The fans will not accept that because this game means so much to the fans and the football club, and it didn't feel like a derby watching it."
On the club's injury list: "It's been a massive factor. You're not talking about one or two fringe players, you're talking about key players; your number one goalkeeper, your two centre-halves, Destiny Udogie is out - three of your back four are out, plus your goalkeeper, and that would affect any team.
"The boys who have come in - Archie Gray has been brilliant and Djed Spence has looked really good.
"The interesting thing to see now is will Spurs look to bolster their squad in this January window? They'll be looking to cover at centre-half and possibly another striker.
"They've shown today and over this season that the squad needs strengthening."
Arsenal 2-1 Tottenham: Did you know?published at 00:00 16 January
00:00 16 January
Image source, Getty Images
Tottenham have lost 11 games in the Premier League this season - their joint-most at this stage of a single campaign in the competition (also 11 in 1997-98, 2003-04 and 2008-09).
The only sides who have lost more this term are the three teams currently in the relegation zone (Wolves, Leicester, Southampton).
'Not acceptable' - Postecogloupublished at 23:32 15 January
23:32 15 January
Image source, Getty Images
Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou, speaking to TNT Sports: "Nowhere near good enough, especially in the first half. We were too passive. We let Arsenal dictate the game.
"Second half was a little better not nowhere near good enough. Not acceptable.
"Ultimately the responsibility lies with me and how I prepare the players.
"I'm more interested in how we play and we were not anywhere near the levels today.
"Go back to work and prepare for a tough game.
"Of course they [defeats] hurt me. Not acceptable. Too many losses this year. Too many games getting away from us. It needs to stop.
"No other way of looking at it. If you give up now, there's no point. Right now we have a big game against Everton this weekend. That's our focus."
'We have to do better in every aspect'published at 22:31 15 January
22:31 15 January
Image source, Getty Images
Tottenham captain Son Heung-min, speaking to TNT Sports: "Very disappointing. This game means a lot to the club and fans. Conceding goals like this is more painful.
"The manager is right. We were too passive. We always want to press and play high up as possible. In the first half we were way too passive. Second half was a little better. The first half was not good enough.
"It's up to the players as well. You have to listen to what we want to do. I think we were not disciplined enough.
"We have to do better in every aspect.
"When you look at table it's not good enough."
Arsenal 2-1 Tottenham - send us your thoughtspublished at 22:18 15 January
