Three reasons Ange Postecoglou should be sacked despite winning Europa League, and three reasons he should be kept on
The Aussie made good on his promise to end Spurs' 17-year trophy drought - but what next?
STICK OR TWIST Three reasons Ange Postecoglou should be sacked despite winning Europa League, and three reasons he should be kept on
IT was a horrific game, won by a joke of a goal.
But there isn't a Spurs fan in the land who cares about any of that now.
Advertisement
6
Ange Postecoglou has delivered Tottenham fans the trophy they so desired
Credit: Alamy
6
The club now face the question of whether to stick with the Aussie or move on
Credit: Getty
The big question, though, is whether Ange Postecoglou's reward for breaking the club's 17-year trophy drought should be to get another go, or receive his P45.
Sun Sport looks at the arguments both ways...
ANGE IN - The hoodoo is broken
The big Aussie put himself under huge pressure when he pointed out, 'I usually win a trophy in my second season'.
He then made it tougher when he doubled down to insist, 'I ALWAYS win a trophy in my second season'.
Advertisement
READ MORE ON FOOTBALL
TOTT OF THE WORLD Inside Spurs' wild dressing room celebrations as stars down beer & pizza
Having done that and delivered on his promise, many will think it would be utterly unfair for Postecoglou's reign to be cut short.
That Postecoglou believes this can be the turning point is clear, too, after he spoke of his desire to move the club on over coming seasons.
Postecoglou feels that the lack of silverware was a huge albatross hanging over the club.
BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK
Advertisement
By ending that jinx, everything can be easier.
In the aftermath of victory, he said: 'I'd be disappointed if I couldn't continue on this path but I understand why it would be difficult for a club like this to buy into one person's vision.
Ange Postecoglou fumes after being labelled a 'clown' and refuses to answer question during press conference
'But mate, I'm a winner. I've been a serial winner my whole career.'
The Europa League trophy is the physical embodiment of his self-confidence and proof that Postcoglou has the courage of his own convictions. Now, he would argue, he deserves the time to underline all that.
Advertisement
Loyalty counts
When James Maddison and Sergio Reguilon raised the banner showing a picture of Postecoglou complete with THAT quote to the Spurs fans amid the Bilbao celebrations, it said a great deal about the bond between the manager and his players.
Maddison is understood to have had his own fall-outs at times with the Aussie this season, while Reguilon was sent out on loan twice and barely kicked a ball for Spurs over two campaigns.
But they were making a statement on behalf of the dressing room - that whatever their various issues might have been, they clearly like the manager on a personal level.
Other players have also voiced their positive feelings about Postecoglou.
Advertisement
And while football is about tactics and intelligence, it is also an emotional game - if you like a manager and want to play for him, you are more likely to perform better.
Tottenham ratings: Bissouma dominates Europa League final as occasion gets to Udogie
BRENNAN JOHNSON was Tottenham's hero as they finally ended their 17-year trophy drought in the Europa League final.
Despite being without James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski for the clash in Bilbao, Spurs came up with a massive win against Manchester United.
Johnson scored the goal as he helped bundle in from a corner in a tussle with Luke Shaw to send fans into dreamland.
But Spurs also owe a huge thanks to Yves Bissouma who was totally dominant in midfield.
At the other end, Destiny Udogie struggled to get up to the pace of the match as he was up against Manchester United's Amad Diallo.
Spurs had just three shots, only 27 per cent of the ball, and completed a mere 115 passes over 90 minutes.
But it didn't matter, as United never really looked like finding a leveller to take it to extra time.
SunSport's Henry Tomlinson gave his ratings for the Tottenham players…
Continuity counts
Now Spurs have won a trophy, it will ease so much tension - both on and off the pitch.
Change for the sake of change now threatens to blow all that up and bring in a new level of uncertainty.
A new manager means a new coaching team, and probably a new set of players as well - any boss worth his salt will want to have a level of autonomy.
Advertisement
While this has been a roller-coaster of a season - admittedly one with more plunges than ascents - Postacoglou has managed to cope with the intensive gaze of scrutiny and come out the other side reinforced and stronger.
The Australian has admitted the domestic season has been 'unacceptable' but success does tend to breed success and he will now be emboldened to be the manager who can lead a bold new Spurs era.
6
Sergio Reguilon and James Maddison paraded a banner of Ange in Bilbao
Credit: Getty
ANGE OUT - Months of misery
One night of glory - albeit glory earned through cussed defiance and one-dimensional anti-football - cannot wipe away everything that has gone before.
Advertisement
Postecoglou won 26 points in his first 10 games at the Spurs helm.
The subsequent 65 have garnered just 77 points.
That is relegation form, by any standards. By far the club's worst campaign of the Premier League era, arguably worse than the relegation season of 1976-77 given the resources at his disposal.
And simply not good enough for Tottenham Hotspur.
Advertisement
Yes, Postecoglou's squad has been plagued by injuries for much of the past 18 months.
6
But plenty feel a major contributor to those absences has been Postecoglou's playing style - if your defenders are permanently playing on the margins, rather than being able to relax a little during games, they are more likely to be injured.
And while his personnel was in a constant state of flux, Postecoglou was wedded, for far too long, to a style of play that failed to take the actual manpower into consideration.
Advertisement
It's all well and good playing a high line, with inverted full-backs, and playing out from the back, if you have Micky van der Ven and Cristian Romero available.
But not if your central defenders are Radu Dragusin and Archie Gray, with Ben Davies at left-back, in front of a stand-in keeper who cannot kick.
6
Postecoglou's Spurs have endured a disastrous Premier League campaign
Credit: PA
Fan unrest
Daniel Levy has long been the Aunt Sally for the Spurs supporters.
Advertisement
But the relationship between the fans and the manager has suffered as well - perhaps irretrievably.
In those early months it was all Robbie Williams and 'Oh, oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh, Ange Postecoglou'.
Those have not been heard too much in recent months.
Postecoglou lost a lot of the fans at the end last season, when he simply did not understand how any of them - let alone many - were willing to lose at home to Manchester City to help ensure Arsenal did not win the title.
Advertisement
His arguments were sound - he is a football manager, whose job is to win games and get the best possible finish for his club.
But football is not just about 'football'. It is about so much else - and tribal rivalries run deeper than blood.
This season, as Spurs lost game after game - 21 and counting in the league - the simmering discontent has boiled over.
Not in chants, perhaps. But in the bars and the stands, on the podcasts, in the social media chat rooms.
Advertisement
Does one night of joy transcend that?
6
Tottenham fans continue to protest against the club's ownership
Credit: Alamy
One swallow does not make a summer
No fan who was in Bilbao, or watching at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, in a pub or at home, will ever forget that feeling of sheer, unbridled ecstasy at the final whistle.
All those seasons of frustrations, the near-misses, the agony, gone, in one blast of the referee's whistle.
Advertisement
Yet Tottenham SHOULD be winning things.
They are the ninth-richest club in the world. With the best stadium in England. And one of the best training grounds anywhere,
For all the koans about the club being reluctant to dig deep, Spurs HAVE spent money, too.
My conclusion by Martin Lipton
I am beyond thrilled that Spurs won in Bilbao.
And I believe Ange Postecoglou is a decent bloke and a decent manager, who deserves his day in the sun. He had faith in himself when plenty did not.
But I do not feel that he is the right man for the next stage.
It is for Daniel Levy and the board to make the final call.
And if Postecoglou is sacked, and the next appointment does not work out, I will not blame Levy and Co for the decision. It would be the right one.
Last season, finishing fifth having lost Harry Kane - if he had not been sold, that would surely have been third or fourth - felt like a decent return.
Advertisement
Even then, plenty of fans looked at the Europa League as a competition Tottenham genuinely could win.
But when Juande Ramos won the League Cup in 2008, it was not the start of anything. He was gone before the end of the year.
Manchester United stuck with Erik ten Hag last summer basically because he beat City to win the FA Cup.
It was an epic mistake and keeping Postecoglou on the basis of an emotional response would represent Spurs doing pretty much the same thing.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
an hour ago
- Metro
Man Utd and Tottenham respond after learning Antoine Semenyo's price tag
AFC Bournemouth have slapped a £65million price tag on Antoine Semenyo amid transfer interest from Manchester United and Tottenham. Both clubs are looking to add more firepower to their squad this summer, with the Red Devils signing Matheus Cunha, while Spurs have made Mathys Tel's loan from Bayern Munich permanent. Bryan Mbeumo has also been linked with both teams, with Thomas Frank hoping to hijack United's transfer for his former Brentford talisman. Semenyo is another name on their shortlists after a stellar 2024/25 season where he scored 13 goals and made seven assists in 42 appearances. Liverpool are also looking at the 25-year-old, though their interest may have cooled as they are already on course to spend over £200m this summer on Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link so we can send you football news tailored to you. The Reds' spending spree could even continue, with Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi now a top target. Capable of playing on either flank, or even as a centre-forward, Semenyo is a key part of Andoni Iraola's side, hence his high valuation. However, the Ghana international's price tag seems to be a little too high, with The Athletic reporting that it has 'deterred short-term interest' from the aforementioned suitors. More Trending It is said Tottenham have made an enquiry to the Cherries about the forward but are 'not proceeding with a move' at this point in time. Bournemouth seem unlikely to lower their valuation any time soon as Semenyo, who joined the club from Bristol City for £10m in 2023, still has four years left on his contract. Moreover, the Premier League side have already banked £90m this transfer window by selling Kerkez to Liverpool and Dean Huijsen to Real Madrid. They have also rejected two bids, the latest worth £55m, from PSG for their highly-rated Ukraine centre-back Illia Zabarnyi, who they value at upswards of £70m. For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: £48m star Man Utd failed to sign linked with transfer to Premier League rivals MORE: Second club in Man Utd talks to hijack Jadon Sancho transfer after Napoli agreement MORE: Manchester United begin talks to sign Marco Carnesecchi after Andre Onana approach
Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Man Utd ‘keen on Europa League winner to replace Andre Onana as Monaco consider shock transfer move for under-fire star
Scroll down to see their season stats Chilli con Carne Man Utd 'keen on Europa League winner to replace Andre Onana as Monaco consider shock transfer move for under-fire star Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MANCHESTER UNITED have identified Europa League-winning goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi as a possible replacement for Andre Onana, reports suggest. Goalkeeper is a position Red Devils chiefs want to address following an error-strewn season from No. 1 Onana. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Marco Carnesecchi has been contacted by Man Utd Credit: Getty 3 They will move for him if Andre Onana is sold amid interest from Monaco Credit: Alamy Having signed the Cameroon international for £47million two summers ago, his high-profile mistakes have continued to cost Man Utd. And Ruben Amorim is said to be willing to cash in on the goalkeeper to shore up the defence. Onana, 29, has attracted interest from Ligue 1 side Monaco, according to Gianluca Di Marzio. However, Man Utd have wasted no time lining up a replacement in the form of Italian goalkeeper Carnesecchi. The 24-year-old has been the No.1 in Bergamo under Gian Piero Gasperini since his arrival at the club in the summer of 2023. He has kept 28 clean sheets in 76 games and was part of the squad which won the Europa League in 2024 as Ademola Lookman scored a hat-trick against Bayer Leverkusen to secure the club's first-ever European trophy. However, he could now follow Gasperini in leaving the club after Man Utd made contact with his representatives about a switch to England. The Old Trafford outfit have not made contact with Atalanta yet, and the Serie A side will need a substantial offer to sell. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK This news comes on a magical day for the shot-stopper as he tied the knot by getting married. On he is valued at £21.4m (€25m). Gyokeres trying to force Arsenal move | Newcastle eye Rashford deal | Transfers Exposed Man Utd have also reportedly been in talks for World Cup-winning goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, 33, who Sun Sport revealed is up for the challenge of signing for the fallen giants. 3 Join SUN CLUB for the Man Utd Files every Thursday plus in-depth coverage and exclusives from Old Trafford
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
Man Utd ‘keen on Europa League winner to replace Andre Onana as Monaco consider shock transfer move for under-fire star
MANCHESTER UNITED have identified Europa League-winning goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi as a possible replacement for Andre Onana, reports suggest. Goalkeeper is a position Red Devils chiefs want to address following an error-strewn season from No. 1 Onana. 2 2 Having signed the Cameroon international for £47million two summers ago, his high-profile mistakes have continued to cost Man Utd. And Ruben Amorim is said to be willing to cash in on the goalkeeper to shore up the defence. Onana, 29, has attracted interest from Ligue 1 side Monaco, according to Gianluca Di Marzio. However, Man Utd have wasted no time lining up a replacement in the form of Italian goalkeeper Carnesecchi. The 24-year-old has been the No.1 in Bergamo under Gian Piero Gasperini since his arrival at the club in the summer of 2023. He has kept 28 clean sheets in 76 games and was part of the squad which won the Europa League in 2024 as Ademola Lookman scored a hat-trick against Bayer Leverkusen to secure the club's first-ever European trophy. However, he could now follow Gasperini in leaving the club after Man Utd made contact with his representatives about a switch to England. The Old Trafford outfit have not made contact with Atalanta yet, and the Serie A side will need a substantial offer to sell. This news comes on a magical day for the shot-stopper as he tied the knot by getting married. On he is valued at £21.4m (€25m). Gyokeres trying to force Arsenal move | Newcastle eye Rashford deal | Transfers Exposed Man Utd have also reportedly been in talks for World Cup-winning goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, 33, who Sun Sport revealed is up for the challenge of signing for the fallen giants.
