Tottenham Hotspur

Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou speaking to TNT Sports: "To be honest the players that aren't here aren't in my head. We're not going to replace James Maddison as a player, because there isn't another one like him.

"What we have done is put out a lineup that can still play our football, make sure we are on the front foot and keep growing as a football team.

On opponents Wolves: "They are a good side, particularly here at home, and are very good on the counter. Irrespective of the lineup we would have had to be mindful of that threat, we can certainly negate that by making sure we impose ourselves on the game.

On changes and reacting to their first league defeat on Monday: "Emerson and Pierre [Hojberg] have contributed to the start we have had anyway, but yes it is an opportunity. And Eric [Dier] and Ben [Davies] have been working hard in training and get their opportunity today too.

"A fair bit going on last week, some bits I liked, some I didn't. But another chance to play our football today."

John Wenham, Lilywhite Rose, external

Monday's game was arguably one of the Premier League's all-time greats.

For Tottenham, the players had been clapped and left the field as heroes despite a 4-1 home defeat to rivals Chelsea. The nine men gave it a real go, but after everything that could have gone wrong went wrong, the damage from the game may be felt longer yet.

Spurs lost Micky van de Ven and James Maddison to injury, while Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie will serve three- and one-match suspensions respectively. All four have been influential to Spurs' start to the season and it means three of Ange Postecoglou's trusted back four are now unavailable.

Against Chelsea, Eric Dier came in from the cold and got 78 minutes under his belt. His experience will likely see him start at Wolves on Saturday, but who will partner him?

Emerson Royal played some of Monday's match at centre-back and, if Ben Davies can return from his own ankle injury, he could be an option at left centre-back.

Eighteen-year-old Ashley Phillips was pulled from the Spurs under-21 side to play Cambridge last night and has the pace to potentially play in Ange's preferred style.

The other academy player waiting for an opportunity is Alfie Dorrington. The 18-year-old is a boyhood Spurs fan from a stone's throw away from White Hart Lane in Edmonton.

He has performed exceptionally well for academy sides over the past few years and excels at transitioning the ball out of defence and up the pitch.

Nick Godwin
BBC Radio London sport reporter

The real damage caused by the baroque chaos of Monday night will only be truly revealed when Ange Postecoglou sits down to pick his team against Wolves.

We have never really stopped talking about the state of the Spurs squad. It looked thin at the start of the season, shorn of its talisman Harry Kane. Then the new signings showed their worth as Micky van de Ven, James Maddison, Destiny Udogie, Guglielmo Vicario, etc all demonstrated they had plenty to contribute. Suddenly there was much less to worry about.

Now the Tottenham boss finds himself without three of those four for the trip to Wolverhampton, while there will also be no Cristian Romero. That will mean a virtual reconstruction of the backline.

Eric Dier has been out of favour all season but did not let anyone down on Monday when he came on. He will have to play at centre-half. Ben Davies has also been out injured and cannot deputise at centre-half or left-back, so Emerson Royal may have to be pressed into service on the left. Perhaps Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg will be asked to move into the back four. He will love that.

Maddison’s potential absence is the hardest to cover. His impact has been so considerable it is actually quite hard to imagine a Postecoglou Tottenham team without him at the heart of it. Giovani lo Celso failed the audition to replace Christian Eriksen as Spurs creator-in-chief several years ago. He may be asked to step forward once again into the number 10 role.

However Postecoglou decides to fill in the gaps, there is no question that the cohesive unit that has performed so well so far has come apart. He’s attacked every problem like an opportunity up to now. This may be his thorniest task so far.

OK then, let's get into it - the standard of officiating. Referees. VAR. All that.

Do you think it's poor? If so, why? And what can be done about it? Offer us your thoughts and offer up some constructive criticism.

You can contact us on X/Twitter/whatever using #bbcfootball and text us on 81111 (UK only - standard message rates apply). Remember to out a name to your text.

Wolves

Wolves boss Gary O'Neil speaking to TNT Sports: "I don't think today will be straight forward. Tottenham were top of the league and hadn't lost a game until they went down to ten and then nine men against Chelsea, so it will be a tough test for us.

"Home form has been really good for us recently; Manchester City, Aston Villa, Newcastle, the fans managed to create a really good atmosphere inside the ground. Hopefully we produce another good display again today.

"Tottenham aren't just going to lose a few players and completely collapse, they have build a good squad over a number of years. If you ask me would I rather face them without Maddison, van de Ven and Romero of course the answer is yes.

On how the side will improve from last week's defeat: "I think the first half was good last week, it was the first time we had come up against a back five where we had to take the game to them. We created a lot of chances and were disappointed not to take more.

"Second half we lost our way a bit and had to scrap and didn't quite get the result. But that is long behind us and we focus on today.

On Tottenham's high line: "It is a well coached high line - I've worked with some of the coaches before and there is a lot of work that goes into it, it is not just a high line for the sake of it.

"It's not as easy to exploit at you would think. We have some ideas with how we can exploit it, and how to go about beating it. Chan has been in good form this season so hopefully he can help us with that."

Message received, Anthony. I won't use the term again. It's all just a bit of fun, isn't it. Football is fun, right?

Dazzling Dave, Always Wolves Fan TV, external

The Old Gold have had it tough so far this season already facing five of last year's top seven teams and we are not doing too badly. Add in the potential points we could have gained if it was not for refereeing and VAR blunders then it looks even better.

Under Gary O’Neil, we are starting to see a Wolves team that is developing an identity and the awful VAR decisions are helping to galvanise a team into an 'It’s us against the world’ mentality.

O’Neil has shown himself to be far more adept than many of his critics thought. He has improved the Wolves players mentality, confidence and understanding of how he wants to play each game, resulting in some encouraging team performances.

Pedro Neto has been on fire, something we had not seen in recent years and he will be a big miss but there are not many teams in the world that would not miss Pedro from the starting line up.

However, there are others that are stepping up, take Hwang Hee-chan who has already scored six goals and doubled his output from last season.

Most of all Wolves are showing some real grit, determination and quality, they are playing for each other, the badge and the fans. Roll on Saturday.

Image source, Getty Images

Wolves defender Nelson Semedo has had enough of poor refereeing decisions going against Wolves.

A stoppage-time penalty was awarded against Gary O'Neil's side in Saturday's defeat by Sheffield United, which the right-back feels is the fourth time Wolves have been wrongly penalised this season.

Speaking to BBC Radio WM after Saturday's defeat by the Blades, Semedo said "One thing I have to talk about is the referee decisions. It’s week after week, game after game, and it’s always against us.

"They have to improve their decisions, they have VAR, they have everything they need to do the right decision but it looks like they’re not getting it. I think it’s enough.

"I’m not the type of person that likes to talk about this, but when it’s game after game this season – we had Manchester United, we had Newcastle, we had Luton, we had this one – it’s time to talk about it, because it’s enough. We cannot continue with this type of decisions.

"We want them to improve their decisions. There are a couple of times they come to us after and apologise, or sometimes they don’t. But it’s the fourth time, already, and it’s going to cost us points.

"We would like to see these things solved."

On top of his frustration, Semedo does not believe the situation will improve any time soon: "No, I don’t, to be honest. Last week we had one that they said was a mistake. This game we have another one. So I hope they will improve it, but now I don’t have the confidence that it will get better.

"It looks like we are playing against two teams [the opponents and the officials]. This is Premier League, it’s very tough. When you have decisions like this, it gets harder. We’ve got to move on and try to focus on what we can control."

Hear the full interview on BBC Sounds

Matt Cooper, Talking Wolves, external

Wolves fans, as are most other fans in the league, are sick to the back teeth of Premier League officials constantly getting the big decisions wrong.

Another game week passes and it is the same old story.

Human error is part of the game and fans do not expect referees to get decisions right, in real time, every time.

The two latest shockers involving Wolves both looked like penalties in real time but thankfully, with VAR, we are able to take a look back at the decision with various different camera angles and speeds to either confirm the on-field decision is correct or to amend an error.

If only it was that simple.

Mistakes can be made but the technology is there to mitigate them. I think it’s time officials started using the VAR technology appropriately, for the better of the game rather than prioritising saving face for one of their colleagues.

Image source, Getty Images

Wolves' loss at Sheffield United last time out came as a result of an incident in the dying seconds of the game as Fabio Silva was adjudged to have fouled George Baldock in the box.

Wanderers have now conceded three penalties in the Premier League this season, more than any other side.

And it is fair to say their players and fans are not happy about then standards of officiating in their games.

Image source, Getty Images

Anna Howells, Spurs XY, external

All the joy of watching football has been sucked out of the sport.

VAR has ruined the game. Referees have ruined the game. Every team this season has seen mind boggling decisions go against them.

Officiating is not fit for purpose and it needs to change as soon as possible. Actually, it should’ve never got to this stage, it’s absolute chaos! There is no consistency, there is no clarity and there is a blatant disregard for written rules.

In Monday's 4-1 defeat to Chelsea, a beautiful and electric start to a London derby was ruined by incompetence. The referee should have taken control of the challenges (from both sides!) earlier and who knows, a lot of things could have been prevented. Why did it take so long for Chelsea to see a yellow card?

What will it take to change things?

You cannot play football like this.

Our best possible season is potentially down the drain due to the incompetence of officials.

The derby atmosphere was too much, but only because it got to the players' heads. Christian Romero, who has been so much more disciplined this season, should have known and done better as vice-captain. He didn’t lead by example and Destiny Udogie followed suit.

To make matters worse we had to watch Micky van de Ven and James Maddison suffer injuries.

I don’t know where we go from here.

I do know that the fans were behind the team through it all.

Image source, BBC Sport

Tottenham had their worst experience under the management of Ange Postecoglou as Chelsea ran out winners of a London derby characterised by chaos.

Spurs took an early lead through Dejan Kulusevski’s deflected shot but the dismissals of Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie either side of half-time proved hugely expensive, as they suffered their first Premier League defeat of the season.

Romero’s recklessness not only earned him a deserved red card but also led to Cole Palmer’s penalty, which put Chelsea back on level terms, with Mauricio Pochettino’s side eventually winning 4-1 on his return to Spurs.

Injuries to Micky van de Ven and James Maddison, which caused both to be replaced before half-time, made it a potentially very costly night for Spurs.

It leaves Postecoglou with the first major problems of his Tottenham reign, but he will draw some satisfaction from the manner in which his side showed great character and resilience before the handicap of numerical disadvantage proved too much, with Nicolas Jackson’s late hat-trick settling matters.

Their efforts were noisily appreciated by the home supporters.

Before this loss, Postecoglou had made managing Spurs look easy. In the short term, at least, it may now be more difficult.

I think it's worth showing you again what Ange Postecoglou had to say after the loss to Chelsea last Monday. It's revealing about his philosophy and the positive way he reacts to setbacks, even if they're out of his control...

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou, speaking to Sky Sports: "It's pretty hard to process. It is almost impossible to analyse the game because it just seemed to get out of control for large parts. I'm disappointed by the result, but really proud of the players. They gave everything and that is the positive we will take.

"We were very close to getting an equaliser a couple of times and it shows their spirit. It was just a bridge too far.

"I thought we started really well, scored a great goal and were inches away from another. The red card affected the game. I felt like I was standing around waiting for things to happen with VAR intervention. It felt like a lot of standing around."

On Chelsea's penalty and Romero's sending off: "They had a good look at it and gave it, so I have to accept it.

"There will be a forensic study of every decision out there - I think that's the way the game is going and I don't like it. If you look at all that standing around we did - maybe people enjoy that sort of thing, but I would rather see us playing football.

"You have to accept the referee's decision - that's how I grew up. This constant erosion of the referee's authority is where the game is going. They aren't going to have any authority and we're going to be under the control of someone with a TV screen a few miles away.

"The decision is the decision. In 26 years, I have had plenty of bad decisions and I have had plenty fall in my favour. It is what it is."

On playing a high line with nine men: "It's just who we are. It's who we are and who we will be for as long as I am here. If we go down to five men, we will [still] have a go."

Image source, Getty Images

So, Tottenham then.

I think it's fair to say that quite a few people have been waiting for something Spursy to happen after their stunning start to the campaign.

Monday's loss to Chelsea may well be that for some. It didn't feel like that to me, though.

Yes, they lost 4-1 at home, relinquished top spot in the league and suffered some important injuries and suspensions, but what was on show from Ange Postecoglou's side actually boded well for the future.

You can only applaud a manager whose philosophy is to try to attack a game with nine men. It is clear that the players have bought into it.

I don't think many think they'll win the league this season (although madder things have happened) but they'll give it as good a go as they have in them.

You can't say fairer than that.

When James Maddison went down holding his ankle against Chelsea after seemingly little contact, there would have been a lot of concern among Tottenham fans.

The playmaker, signed from Leicester City for £40m in the summer, has been winning plaudits aplenty for his standout performances during Spurs' impressive start to the season.

Maddison has slotted seamlessly into Ange Postecoglou's high-intensity style of play that - before their 4-1 defeat by rivals Chelsea - had seen the north London side top the table with an unbeaten run.

After the news that the 26-year-old had withdrawn from the England squad on Friday, the Spurs boss confirmed what many fans would have feared - that the injury is "a lot worse" than they thought.

How costly will his absence prove to be?

Maddison has scored three goals and provided five assists in his first 12 games for the club. He currently sits fifth in the league for assists, and top among Spurs players.

His influence in attack could be what his team-mates miss most in the coming weeks, with Maddison's 31 chances created in the Premier League second only to Newcastle United's Kieran Trippier's 32.

According to Opta, the 26-year-old also sits fourth for big chances created in the league this season (six) - again the most of any Tottenham player.

His work in attacking areas and service into other players has been a key part of Spurs' success.

Maddison sits in the top 10 this season for crosses played, while comes in second only to Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes for passes into the box. He is also fifth in the league when it comes to chances created from set plays.

His desire to get the team into attacking areas shows with his passes into the opposition half bettered among Spurs players only by Yves Bissouma and dribbles attempted topped by Dejan Kulusevski.

It's perhaps no surprise then that the opposition have struggled to stop the former Leicester man. Experienced Crystal Palace forward Jordan Ayew is the only player to have won more fouls than Maddison's 30 in the league this campaign.

With Postecoglou's side suddenly finding themselves in something of an injury and suspension crisis, it could be Maddison's lay-off until the new year that proves most damaging.

Ange Postecoglou is taking the positive side of Tottenham's selection upheaval for Saturday's game against Wolves as he contemplates handing a number of his squad players a start.

Shorn of three of his first choice defence, as well as playmaker James Maddison, Postecoglou will be relying on back-ups who he accepts have not had the game time he would have liked.

"Obviously we are going to have to make some changes," he said. "But the guys who come in have been training hard, they understand how we want to play and will give everything they can to make us successful.

"It's an opportunity not just for Gio [lo Celso} but for Bryan Gil, Skippy [Oliver Skipp], for Eric Dier... for all these guys. It's up to them to take it.

"People have said it is an advantage not being in Europe or in the cup competitions but the opposite is that if we had some of these players would have had more game time.

"We have to be really careful as we cannot afford more injuries."

Postecoglou also reflected on the amount of time spent for video assistant refereeing decisions in the defeat by Chelsea on Monday and wondered if that had some impact on the proliferation of injuries.

"It can absolutely lead to [more muscle injuries]," he said. "I am not drawing a direct correlation to Micky's [van de Ven] injury, but we were half tempted to throw balls on to the pitch.

"Playing 47 minutes of game time in 110 minutes is not ideal for the kind of athletes we have here."

Image source, Getty Images

James Maddison has been ruled out until January with an ankle injury, Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has confirmed.

The 26-year-old midfielder has withdrawn from the England squad for November's Euro 2024 qualifiers.

He sustained the injury in Tottenham's chaotic 4-1 defeat by Chelsea in the Premier League on Monday.

"Fair to say a fair bit happened after Monday," said Postecoglou, who revealed defender Micky van de Ven would also be out until the new year.

"[Maddison] is a lot worse than we thought. He came off with an ankle injury and the next day wasn't great, so we sent him for a scan."

Van de Ven, who signed for Spurs in the summer from Wolfsburg, pulled up with a hamstring injury in the same match.

"Micky obviously with that hamstring injury, we knew it was fairly significant, probably a couple of months for him looking into the new year," Postecoglou added.

Jean-Ricner Bellegarde and Joao Gomes start for Wolves this afternoon as Gary O'Neil's side look to bounce back from last weekend's 2-1 loss to Sheffield United.

They replace Tommy Doyle and Sasa Kalajdzic, who drop to the bench.

Hugo Bueno has recovered from a hamstring injury and is among the substitutes.

Wolves XI: Sa; Ait-Nouri, Lemina, Gomes, Hee-chan, Cunha, Dawson, Semedo, Kilman, Toti, Bellegarde.

Subs: Bentley, Doherty, Traore, Silva, Bueno, Kalajdzic, Otto, Doyle, Sarabia.

Image source, BBC Sport

Ben Davies returns after an ankle injury as Ange Postecoglou is forced to make four changes to his Tottenham starting line-up.

Cristian Romero and Iyenoma Udogie start their suspensions after being sent off in Monday's 4-1 defeat by Chelsea, while James Maddison (ankle) and Micky van de Ven (hamstring) are out with injuries.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Emerson Royal and Eric Dier are also introduced to the side to replace them.

Tottenham XI: Vicario; Hojbjerg, Heung-min, Bissouma, Royal, Dier, Kulusevski, Johnson, Porro, Sarr, Davies.

Subs: Forster, Skipp, Gil, Lo Celso, Bentancur, Phillips, Veliz, Donley, Dorrington.

Image source, BBC Sport

Tottenham's hosts today, Wolves, come into this game with a point to prove themselves, having lost their last game away at previously winless Sheffield United.

However, their home form is nothing to sniff at, with draws against Aston Villa and Newcastle preceded by that victory over Man City.

They currently sit on 12 points, which is pretty comfortable thanks to the woeful return of the division's bottom four sides...

Image source, BBC Sport