Inconsistencies are plaguing Tottenham Hotspur’s season, and there is a growing discontent around Ange Postecoglou’s methods now, but Mark Schwarzer insists the manager is not the main issue.
Tottenham Hotspur are up and down this season
This season, it seems just as Tottenham Hotspur get going, they trip themselves up again and take another step back.
The Lilywhites have registered some incredible results this term, including a 3-0 away win at Old Trafford, 4-1 wins over Aston Villa and West Ham, and some solid performances in the Europa League, too.
But, Ange Postecoglou’s men have also slipped up against the likes of Crystal Palace and more recently Ipswich Town, handing both sides their first wins of the Premier League campaign.
It is that latest defeat which has caused intense frustration among the fanbase, for the manner of the performance, and the fact that if Spurs had won that game, they could have been sitting in third place in the league table going into the international break.
Postecoglou is now thought to be under growing pressure at the club, with many starting to question his methods and his ability to motivate the Spurs players.
Ange Postecoglou needs better players
But, for Mark Schwarzer, it is not Postecoglou’s tactics that are letting him down, it’s the players at his disposal.
In a piece for Optus Sport, Schwarzer admits it is “natural to target the manager when things aren’t going perfectly,” but insists Postecoglou’s system has worked in the past largely because his players were more disciplined and better at defending.
Schwarzer believes it is the Tottenham “players who are letting [Postecoglou] down right now, rather than the other way around,” as the team are not performing to the required level, at least not consistently.
To fix this, Schwarzer suggests Spurs need more strength in depth, and cites the fact that when the likes of Micky van de Ven or Heung-min Son are out of the lineup, their replacements simply cannot successfully achieve the style of football Postecoglou demands.
Trust Postecoglou’s process
Schwarzer concludes his article by claiming Tottenham can definitely win a trophy under Postecoglou this season, they just need to keep players fit and find that consistency.
Ultimately, Postecoglou needs to be backed and the fans need to be patient to get through these tough times and think about the bigger picture. It will all come together, and Spurs will win silverware with this manager.