Ange Postecoglou says he is not focused on talk about his future after James Maddison labelled Tottenham’s first-half display in the 3-2 defeat at Everton “unacceptable”.
Everton had only scored 15 times in their first 20 league games this season but they hit the net three times in the first 45 minutes on Sunday, cutting through some terrible Tottenham defending.
“No excuses over the first half,” said midfielder Maddison. “It was a tough afternoon. We had 11 fit senior players, so there is context. But we had 11 starters and the first half was unacceptable.”
Postecoglou had set his team up in a back three amid an 11-player injury list and later admitted the plan clearly had not worked. Radu Dragusin, who suffered a cut, had to be subbed off at half-time and another change of formation at least gave Spurs the platform to pull a couple of goals back and set up a nervy finish for their hosts.
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FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from Everton’s match against Tottenham in the Premier League.
But with just one league win in their last 10 games, Tottenham are languishing in 15th, just eight points above the drop zone and four ahead of an Everton side considered by most to be in the relegation battle.
Spurs have a 1-0 lead going into the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final with Liverpool, but after being forced into extra-time at non-league Tamworth in the FA Cup, losing at arch rivals Arsenal in midweek and now being humbled at Everton, the pressure is on Postecoglou.
“I separate myself from it,” said the Spurs boss when asked about speculation over his future. “This is not about me. What’s about me is I have a responsibility of the group of players I do have to try to get through this. That’s all I’ve got to focus on. For me to focus on anything else is abstaining myself from the responsibility I have.
“I’m determined to get us out of this. The club is doing its best to help – it’s more about helping the players than me. We’re asking massive jobs of 18-year-olds, 17-year-olds out there trying to win games of football for us and others playing week on week.”
Postecoglou remains optimistic that once Spurs start to get their injured players back they will be able to produce performances and results to lift them from their lowly league position and help them compete for silverware success.
“We look at the situation we’re in, it will eventually dissipate in terms of player availability, then we give ourselves an opportunity to at least get some consistency in games and performances,” he said. “Keep fighting. I haven’t lost belief or determination to turn it around. The second half the players showed they’re not throwing the towel in. We’ll get our way through this.”
However, the Australian later said that there are unlikely to be many players back from the treatment room imminently – other than Rodrigo Bentancur who is going through concussion protocols, and Yves Bissouma, who could return next weekend.
Dominic Solanke, who was injured in training before the Everton game, could be out for “a few weeks” with a knee problem, Brennan Johnson is “probably three to four weeks” out with a calf issue sustained against Arsenal, while Spurs will also be without Djed Spence and Sergio Reguilon against Hoffenheim in the Europa League on Thursday as they are not registered for that competition.
Spurs’ shocking stats
- This was Tottenham’s 12th defeat in the Premier League this season. They haven’t lost this many after 22 games since 1997/98.
- Tottenham Hotspur have lost each of their first three Premier League matches of a calendar year for the first time since a run of seven in 1994.
- Dominic Calvert-Lewin hadn’t scored for 16 games before facing Tottenham. Everton hadn’t scored three in a first half since February 2017.
- Tottenham won eight and drew two of their first 10 Premier League games under Postecoglou. In the next 50 they have lost 24.
- Tottenham have nine Premier League wins in the past nine months.
O’Hara: Big Ange is in big trouble!
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Jamie O’Hara believes Spurs have been awful this season and criticises their form under Ange Postecoglou.
Former Spurs midfielder Jamie O’Hara on Sky Sports News:
“He’s in big trouble. That’s where he is. Big Ange is in big trouble.
“It’s a shocking first half. They were better in the second half, they created chances. But Everton are always going to sit in. They’re 3-0 up.
“I understand there are injuries. I get that. But you’re professionals. You can’t tell me Ben Davies isn’t good enough, Dragusin isn’t good enough, Pape Sarr, Maddison, Heung-min Son, Dejan Kulusevski… You’ve got good players in that team. Pedro Porro, Djed Spence. You’ve still got top players in the team to go and get results.
“I know there’s some young kids in there, but you’ve brought them in to play when other players can’t play. So they’ve got to perform. And they’re not performing.
Everton’s Idrissa Gueye and James Tarkowski tackle Tottenham’s Heung-min Son
“Where are the leaders on the pitch? Where are the characters? Where’s your captain? Son’s meant to be the captain. He’s not a captain. Listen, he’s a great player, been an unbelievable servant for Tottenham Hotspur Football Club. He’s not a captain.
“He ain’t going to dig you out of a hole. He ain’t going to get players by the scruff of the neck. He’s the nicest guy in the world. Everyone loves him. He’s a really nice person. Is that what you need?
“Look, it’s easy for me to sit here and say, ‘Ange out’. I’m sure it’s going to be trending. What’s the answer? You’ve still got them injuries, even if Ange goes. Who’s available? Bournemouth’s manager? Fulham’s manager? Is there a manager out there you can go and take?
“You’ve seen Ruben Amorim, who’s done an unbelievable job at Sporting, go to Man United and they look awful. So what is the answer? I’m not sure. I don’t think Ange is going to change. I don’t think Ange is going to sort this mess out.
“Spurs are 15th in the table and if it carries on, they’re in a relegation fight. And you can’t keep a manager in charge of a football club just because you beat Liverpool 1-0 in the first leg of a Carabao Cup [semi-final].
“You’ve still got to go to Anfield. Do you wait until then and see if we go through and get to the final because he says he wins trophies in his second season? Premier League is bread and butter. You have to perform week in, week out in the Premier League and Spurs are not doing that.”
Are Spurs in a relegation battle? Here’s who they play next…
Hoffenheim (a) – Thursday, Jan 23, Europa League
Leicester City (h) – Sunday, Jan 26, Premier League
IF Elfsborg (h) – Thursday, Jan 30, Europa League
Brentford (a) – Sunday, Feb 2, Premier League
Liverpool (a) – Thursday, Feb 6, Carabao Cup
Aston Villa (a) – Sunday, Feb 9, FA Cup
Man Utd (h) – Sunday, Feb 16, Premier League
