A poor start to the 2024/25 season has already put Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou under pressure
Tottenham Hotspur were beaten 1-0 by arch-rivals Arsenal at home in Sunday’s North London derby, continuing their poor start to the new season.
A second-half towering header from Gabriel Magalhaes was enough to ensure the Lilywhites were beaten by Mikel Arteta’s side, leaving Ange Postecoglou’s side with just one win in four this season.
For Ange Postecoglou, who was adequately backed in the past summer transfer window, it was another derby defeat at the hands of the Gunners. Of course, there are several issues for the home side that Big Ange must address as quickly as possible.
And according to former Arsenal and West Ham United defender Matthew Upson, Big Ange is starting to look like a man under pressure after Tottenham’s wretched start to the 2024/25 campaign.
-> Tottenham Hotspur confirmed signings, transfers in, out, loan exits, releases for 2024/25
Commenting on the game for the BBC, the ex-England centre-back shed light on Spurs’ alarming defensive problems and suggested that if results don’t improve, Postecoglou will start feeling the heat.
“Tottenham are so susceptible defensively that it’s a real problem. They are not being clinical enough either which is what the real hammer blow is,” Upson said on the BBC.
“If you’re going to be that offensive and that open and free, you’ve got to bang the ball in the back of the net and they’re not doing that.
“Dominic Solanke is having a rough start. He was playing against two of the best today. The pressure is going to start to build a bit on the manager.”
It is difficult to argue with Upson as he is bang on here! Spurs have just not been good enough defensively, and despite the team vulnerable from set-pieces since last season, it is astonishing that Postecoglou and his coaching staff are yet to address
this glaring problem.
Big Ange has a certain style of play where he wants our team to operate in a high defensive line, on the front foot and press aggressively. While the intent to play an attractive, enterprising brand of football is good, the team is required to function as a unit in both defensive and offensive transitions and that’s when we lack.
-> Tottenham’s 5 best PL opening day wins
Big Ange’s side struggles in defensive transitions as the opposition finds it extremely easy to exploit large spaces either in wide areas or through the middle. Certainly, our gaffer will stick to his ideas and principles and that is how it should be. However, he needs to mightily improve the team’s defensive structure off the ball and from set-pieces.
As time goes on and if results don’t improve, the pressure will only ramp up and Postecoglou may end up being sacked.
